Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

8 “But you, Israel, are My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
The descendants of Abraham My friend.

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its farthest regions,
And said to you,
‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

10 Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 41:8-10

1. Israel was a chosen servant of God

2. The nation was given every promise to succeed as a servant of God

3. The sad reality was that Israel became idolatrous

4. The nation had to be rebuked and chastised by the Lord

5. God would have to show Israel what it means to be a servant through the example of the Messiah whom God would send

THE ADVENT OF THE MESSIAH

30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Luke 1:30-33

1. The words of the Angel Gabriel

a) He brought a message from God

b) He declared tremendous words of truth and glory

2. The Child that Mary bore would not be ordinary

a) He would be great

b) He is the Son of the Highest

c) He will inherit the throne of David

d) He will reign over an everlasting kingdom

THE PROPHECY OF THE MESSIAH AS A SERVANT OF GOD

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

Isaiah 42:1

1. It would be an amazing truth

a) That the Messiah would be a Servant!

b) That He would come to earth to serve humbly

2. The Messiah’s mindset

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

a) He made Himself of no reputation

b) He took the form of a bondservant

c) He humbled Himself

d) He was obedient to the point of death

GOD’S COMMITMENT TO THE MESSIAH

1. God will uphold Him

2. He is God’s “Elect” (“chosen”)

3. God will take special delight in Him

a) For who He is

b) For what He would do to become Saviour

c) For His humility

d) For His obedience

e) God will uphold His servant!

CONCLUSION

1. Our Christmas series will focus on the Lord’s example as a Servant of God

a) We do not need to fail as ancient Israel did

b) We can learn how to be a better servant of the Lord

2. Our challenge

a) To be inspired by the example of the Lord Jesus

b) To consider how we can serve the Lord better