New Life Giving Works of God

Isaiah 43:10-21

10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
11 I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.
12 I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.
13 Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

14 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I send to Babylon and bring them all down as fugitives,
even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”

16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,
17 who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
20 The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,
21the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

 

The Advent Candle: I am the Light of the World. You are the Light of the World!

 

  1. We are Servants of God

        There is history in this term: It is used of the Saints of old: Abraham, Gen 26:24

Moses, Num 12:7, 8; Joshua 1:2, 7; 22:2 II Kings 21:8, Malachi 4:4

Caleb, Num 14:24

David, II Sam 3:18; 7:5,8; I Kings 11:13, 32, 34, 36, 38, ; I Kings 14:8, I Chron 17:4, 7, Psalms 89:3, Isaiah 37:35, Jer 33:21, 22, 26, Ezek 34:23, 24; 37:24,

Job, Job 1:8, 2:3, 42:7, 8 (three times) (Pray and make sacrifices for others)

Isaiah, Isaiah 20:3

Eliakim, Isaiah 22:20

Israel, Isaiah 41:8, 9; 42:19; 43:10; 44:1, 2, 21; 45:4; 49:3; 65:8, 13, 14, 15, Jer 30:10; 46:27, 28, Ezek 28:25; 37:25

The Prophets Jer 7:25; 26:5; 35:15, 44:4, Ezek 38:17, Zechariah 1:6,

Nebuchadnezzar Jer 25:9; 27:6; 43:10

Zerubbabel Haggai 2:23

It is used of Jesus: Isaiah 42:1; 52:13; 53:11, Zechariah 3:8, Matt 12:18

Jesus uses it of: Followers of Jesus John 12:26, John 15:15, John 18:36

 

Servant= Greatness Mark 9:33-37

 

  1. He has decided to partner with us v.10

A servant is a ministry partner! That’s what they do. The most common “servants” from the OT were Moses and David. Then Israel. Each of these are very important for covenants. God made a covenant with Moses and a Covenant with David. They were His servants. But the covenant was FOR Israel! And Israel was His servant!

Jesus is the great Servant of Isaiah 42. Read 42:

42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,
7     to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Jesus is HIS SERVANT. Jesus establishes a covenant, with all the earth.

In His wisdom He has decided to make us an integral part of His working in the lives of others. We are called His servants. We are called His witnesses. We are interpreters of what He is like to others.

 

  1. He has shown us Himself v.10, 15
  2. He is my Holy One: He is unique in His foundations in my life.

We know, believe and understand that God is the only God. That God is the only Savior (giver of life), that He is the provider and protector and only source of blessing.

  1. He is my Creator: He has a purpose for me. I can be pleasing to Him or displeasing.

We know believe and understand that we are to be thankful to God for His good gifts.

  1. He is my king:

We know, believe and understand that we are to submit to His direction for our lives. He is my authority to obey!

 

  1. We know that God has spoken to people v.12

        12 I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.

God gives life through His Word to people!

The whole point of God speaking to people:

is that we might know Him

We might obey Him

We might experience His blessing.

 

  1. Because God Speaks We Speak Also

 

  1. There is only one God and Savior v.11

        11 I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.
“I, I am the I am!”

God desires to save. You must agree in order to know His salvation life.

 

  1. God gives blessing and takes it away v.13

13 Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from    my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

There is a direct correlation here between our obedience and the blessing of God.

We are not earning His blessing, God delights to bless and we    are living in it. We forfeit His blessing when we do not live     according to His Word.

Provision, protection and people (identity and purpose)

NT: Fruit of the spirit, ministry of Jesus, servants and givers,       lovers of God and people.

  1. We must follow His Word

        Not our hearts: They are not trustworthy!

Not our dreams: They are not good enough. (Read Ecclesiastes) Not our ideas: We aren’t smart enough.

Those things can all be used by God, but we are following God’s revelation about Himself.

 

III. God’s Works are Ongoing

        He has acted in the past in salvation history and then He acted again. He has acted in the past in my life and He acted again. What is your current testimony of what God is doing in your life?

16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,
17 who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

  1. This is true in your life v. 16-19

        God has saved you, God is saving you. You should be able to express how this is true today.

 

  1. Our blessings extend to others v.20

            19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
20 The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,
21the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

 

  1. God calls on all to follow Jesus

        Jesus is the savior. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is the source of the blessed life. Jesus gives the Spirit. Jesus directs our life. Jesus makes us witnesses.

John 8:12 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Matt 5:14-16  14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

From the mouth of Peter:

Acts 10: 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”