A portrait of Christ and a pattern for His followers

Isaiah 42: 1-9

The ‘Servant Songs’ in Isaiah(42:1-9, 49:1-6, 50:4-9, 52:13-53:12)

sometimes refers to an individual (Isaiah)Sometimes refers to a group (Israel)sometimes refers to an unnamed individual (the Messiah)

Behold……To see, to notice, to observe, to give your full attention to.To study, to appreciate, to meditate upon.To gaze with loving attentiveness, to worship, to adore.

His self-recognition Witnessed by Matthew Demonstrated by His

actions Verified by the early church Confirmed by the apostle

Paul Spoken of prophetically

Mark 10:45 Matthew 12:15-21 John 13:2-5 Acts 3:13 & 26, 4:27 & 30 Philippians 2:6-7 Hebrews 10:7

His whole life and ministry was influenced by this understanding

His servanthood is a pattern for our own

Here is my servant …Whom I uphold …My chosen oneIn whom I delight …. I will put my Spirit on him

His Baptism Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22 His Transfiguration Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35

Jesus lived his life within the sure knowledge that he was the Beloved – John 15:9 & 17:24, Matthew 12:18 and Ephesians 1:6

Jesus has given us an example – John 13:5, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 John 2:6

Servanthood is the mark of a genuine conversion- 1 Thess 1:9-10

Towards God Philippians 1:1Towards each other Galatians 5:13Towards the world 1 Corinthians 3:5

Doulos – a bondservant (Master)Diakonos – a household servant

“If doulos primarily identifies the relation of the servant to his master, diakonos emphasises the relation to his people: doulos is vertical, diakonos is horizontal.” John Finney

We serve to glorify God, not to please people

We serve, not to gain love, but because we are loved – Zephaniah 3:14-17

We have been chosen by God - John 15:16

We are loved by God - 1John 3:1, Jeremiah 31:3, Zephaniah 3:17, John 15:9, Romans 5:5 & 8, 1John 4:10, Jude v1, Revelation 1:5

We will also be upheld by God

“Learn to define yourself radically as one loved by God. This is your true identity. All other identity is an illusion”

Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child

Identity is based on who I am, not what I do

Identity determines behaviour

Identity is the basis of personal security

Identity is the foundation for all true ministry

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.”

Romans 12:11

A portrait of Christ and a pattern for His followers

Isaiah 42:1-9

Jesus lived his life on earth in dependency upon the Spirit:

The spirit came upon him at his baptism (Luke 3: 21-22)

He was led by the Spirit (Luke 4:1)

He lived in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14)

His ministry was carried out under the anointing of the Spirit (Luke 4:18, Isaiah 61:1, Acts 10:37-38)

Ministry is Trinitarian – Father, Son and Holy Spirit in perfect harmony

If Jesus needed the power of the Spirit, how much more do we?

Not by might, nor by power …. Zechariah 4:6

The teaching of Jesus in the Upper Room John 14-16

The command to wait and to be clothed Luke 24:49

Pentecost and the gift of the Spirit Acts 1:8

Living daily in the Spirit’s fullness Ephesians 5:18

The Spirit was given to him for a purpose - to bring justice to the nations.

Justice, with reference to the law of God (salvation) – the suffering servant

Justice, with reference to the needs of the world (kingdom) – the compassionate servant

He came to solve the dilemma of God’s justice and love – can God be just, and yet justify people like us?

Romans 3:21-26

He would be the ‘suffering’ Servant of Isaiah 53

The cross was the demonstration of God’s justice - we need no longer fear the Law. Romans 8:1

We share in his ministry by proclaiming the message of the cross and declaring the way by which we can be made right with God.

God is concerned for the plight of the poor and needy, the marginalised and victimised, the abused and exploited, the deprived and the neglected…. He hears their cry! Isaiah 1:16-17, 58:6-7, Amos 5:24, Micah 6:8

The two come together in the Kingdom of God, whereby the rule of God is established in the hearts of individuals, and societies are changed and transformed.

The ministry of Jesus and the kingdom manifesto - Luke 4:16-21 (Isaiah 61:1-2)

‘We work among the poor, we work among orphans and widows. We bring orphans into the spirit of adoption so that they know they are adopted and loved. We’re very simple. We’re a holistic ministry. We look at what love looks like for the people that we’re working with. For the people of Mozambique, if they walk 20 hours for water, love looks like a well; if they’re hungry, love looks like rice and beans; if they have no school, love looks like us building them a school and providing them with a teacher.’

Heidi Baker

‘We work among the poor, we work among orphans and widows. We bring orphans into the spirit of adoption so that they know they are adopted and loved. We’re very simple. We’re a holistic ministry. We look at what love looks like for the people that we’re working with. For the people of Mozambique, if they walk 20 hours for water, love looks like a well; if they’re hungry, love looks like rice and beans; if they have no school, love looks like us building them a school and providing them with a teacher.’

Heidi Baker

Proclamation and demonstration

‘‘If we truly love our neighbour we shall If we truly love our neighbour we shall without tell him the Good news of Jesus. But without tell him the Good news of Jesus. But equally, if we truly love our neighbour we equally, if we truly love our neighbour we won’t stop there … Love … expresses itself in won’t stop there … Love … expresses itself in service wherever it sees need.’ service wherever it sees need.’

John StottJohn Stott

Is there need for a fresh touch?

The compassion of Jesus - splanknon (Greek) - to be moved from deep within into appropriate response Mark 1:41, 9:22, Matthew 14:14, 15:32, Luke 7:13

Only the Holy Spirit can give us a burden for the lost and love for the needy.

A portrait of Christ and a pattern for His followers

Isaiah 42: 1-9

The Father delights as much in who the servant is (character) as in what he does (calling).

Character is as important as gifting in Christian ministry - God is as concerned about who we are becoming as in what we are doing.

The servant is also a leader, and those who lead in God’s way lead with humility and a desire to serve others.

‘It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is a leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions. For such it will be a later choice to serve – after leadership is established. The leader-first and servant-first are two extreme types.’

Robert Greenleaf

‘It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is a leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions. For such it will be a later choice to serve – after leadership is established. The leader-first and servant-first are two extreme types.’

Robert Greenleaf

Mark 10 42-45, Luke 22:24-30, Matthew 10:35-45

Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

He presented his followers with a different style of leadership:

not like the Pharisees (for show, position, status)

not like the Romans or Gentile rulers (for power, authority)

but like their foot-washing Teacher and Lord

‘I am among you as one who serves’ Luke 22:27

Where is the leadership in servant leadership?

A cover-up for cowardly behaviour or invitation to be trampled on?

Fine words but not actually practised?

‘The servant leader is powerful and unselfish. The servant leader uses power and service for the sake of the team or the organization. This contradicts two common notions about leadership in our culture: (a)that a person who serves others is not powerful; and (b)that the person who uses power is self-serving.’

Duane Elmer

‘The servant leader is powerful and unselfish. The servant leader uses power and service for the sake of the team or the organization. This contradicts two common notions about leadership in our culture: (a)that a person who serves others is not powerful; and (b)that the person who uses power is self-serving.’

Duane Elmer

Humility is an essential characteristic of a servant. Jesus was meek and lowly in heart

Matt 11:29, Phil 2:8

Pride is at the hearts of Satan’s kingdom and is never far away from the human heart. It is expressed in arrogance, boasting, independence, selfish ambition ….

Exalting oneself - ‘he won’t call attention to what he does with loud speeches and gaudy parades’

(The Message)

Self-assertion, defensive anger, quarrelling - 2Timothy 2:24

Self-determination, railing against God and his will

‘At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the great enemy and humility our greatest friend.’ Stott

‘At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the great enemy and humility our greatest friend.’ Stott

The way we treat people – especially the weak and vulnerable – reveals the nature of our leadership. There is a balance between power and compassion; between the task and the needs of people.

‘He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant.’ (MSG)

Bruised reed = broken hurt and wounded

Smouldering wick = exhausted, weary, worn-out

Jesus as our merciful and faithful High Priest is always ready to minister to us.

Some leaders drive their people too hard and are harsh and demanding.

‘Sadly, time and again power has been misused and people have been abused in Christian churches and institutions. The travesty is that power has been exercised as if it were for God’s sake... Many have been deeply wounded. The wounds have been so deep and the pain so intense that large numbers have left the church altogether... This experience of the abuse of power has been so devastating that many have given up on God altogether.’

Paul Beasley-Murray

‘Sadly, time and again power has been misused and people have been abused in Christian churches and institutions. The travesty is that power has been exercised as if it were for God’s sake... Many have been deeply wounded. The wounds have been so deep and the pain so intense that large numbers have left the church altogether... This experience of the abuse of power has been so devastating that many have given up on God altogether.’

Paul Beasley-Murray

Jesus kept on despite opposition, misunderstanding, betrayal; he was willing to pay the price of finishing his task.

‘… he’ll steadily and firmly set things right. He won’t tire and quit. He won’t be stopped until he’s finished his work…’ (MSG) Hebrews 3:1-6, 12:2-3

Because he persevered, we can as well.

Faithfulness more important than success.

When you feel homesick or isolatedWhen you have been let down (again) and

disappointed (again)When you feel betrayed, taken advantage of,

unappreciatedWhen your work seems unfruitful and your

prayers unansweredWhen you think you will never understand the

culture or grasp the language

‘Jesus is not only a spiritual model, but his leadership style is regarded as one of the most influential and effective the world has ever known… and central to Jesus’ philosophy was servant-leadership. I believe Jesus exemplified the fully committed and effective servant-leader.’

Ken Blanchard

‘Jesus is not only a spiritual model, but his leadership style is regarded as one of the most influential and effective the world has ever known… and central to Jesus’ philosophy was servant-leadership. I believe Jesus exemplified the fully committed and effective servant-leader.’

Ken Blanchard

A portrait of Christ and a pattern for His followers

Isaiah 42: 1-9

The movement from description to dialogue.

The servant’s task is not an easy one and requires divine assistance.

God has promised to uphold the servant (v1):

In his love

By his Spirit

Through his word

Confidence is essential for success in any walk of life

These are the words of the Father to the Son. We can imagine how special they were to Jesus, and how often he meditated upon them when he need to be strengthened.

The voice of authority and power – ‘God said…. and there was….’ Genesis 1

Created the heavens (look upwards)

Spread out the earth (look outwards)

Gives breath to its people (look inwards)

He is the Life-giver, and his word has creative and sustaining power. 2Corinthians 4:6, Daniel 10:19, Ezekiel 2:1-2

The servant is not a volunteer, but a chosen instrument - John 15:16, Acts 9:15

God has called the servant, and has done so in the righteousness (integrity) of his own character. Therefore:

this is God’s work

he will make sure that we have everything we need

he wants us to succeed, not fail

‘The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it’ 1Thessalonians 6:24

God’s presence with us in our loneliness, isolation, fear, anxiety ….

The significance of holding someone’s hand - reassurance, friendship, intimacy

David’s experience (Psalm 63:6-8)

and Paul’s (2Timothy 4:16-17)

We should not be afraid of acknowledging our need for reassurance.

God has many ways to take hold of our hand, but often through human friendship.

A reminder that we are involved in a battle and that Satan’s strategy is always to attack the leader (Matthew 26:31, 1Peter 5:8), but God has promised to guard us (Jude v24):

in temptation : money (greed), sex (lust) and power (pride) 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, Titus 2:11-12

through trials : practical, emotional, spiritual, mental James 1:2-4, 1Peter 1:6-7

If Satan was going to take you out of ministry, how would he do it?

The call of God brings us into the purpose of God and the grace of God makes us adequate for the task.

Jesus and his disciples - ‘I will make you fishers of men’ Mark 1:17

The process of spiritual formation, ‘the growth of a soul’, one degree of glory to another 2Corinthians 3:18

Character (Galatians 4:19)

Competency (2Corinthians 3:4-6)

Part of the unique work of Jesus was to be the mediator of a New Covenant - Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:6, 9:15, 10:15-18

Bringing light instead of darkness - the knowledge of God

Bringing liberty instead of bondage – freedom from sin and its power or any other controlling power

Bringing hope instead of despair - the possibility of a new beginning

Servant ministry in all its forms is based upon the effectiveness of the New Covenant.

A portrait of Christ and a pattern for His followers

Isaiah 42: 1-9

Central to the life of a servant is the ability and willingness to listen for any indication of the Master’s will (Psalm 123:2, Isaiah 30:21, 50:4-5) and then respond in obedience

This was how Jesus lived - John 4:34, 6:38, 8:29, 10:18, Heb 10:7, Matt 26:39 

This is how we too are called to live - Isaiah 30: 30:21 and 50:4-5, Ephesians 5:15-17

It requires that we learn to take time to be still and listen for his voice.

God has many ways by which he can speak to us:

- primarily through his Son, Jesus - through Scripture - by the witness of the Spirit - in creation - through prayer and reflection - in conversation with trusted friends - by the gift of prophecy

‘Each of us is called to a life patterned by Christ. A life not shaped by inner compulsions, or captive to outer expectations, but drawn by the inner voice of love. To listen to this voice, we need to pay careful attention to where our inner and outer selves disconnect and where they need to come together in a beautiful pattern that reflects Jesus, whose inner life with his Father and outer life of ministering to others was very much one.’

Leighton Ford

‘Attentiveness means respecting, attending to, waiting on, looking at and listening to the other ….

We are called to pay attention to the Other – our Creator God – to know and worship him. Paradoxically, attentiveness may be just the opposite of “fixing our attention.” Instead it involves a letting go of our usual need to control, an opening of ourselves to what we are being told or shown.’

Leighton Ford

‘I am the Lord; that is my name’ (v8)

Only when we recognise God’s authority in our lives can be truly be said to be his servants. Philippians 2:9-11, 1Peter 3:15, John 13:13,20:28, Romans 10:9, 1Corinthians 6:19-20, 2Corinthians 4:5

We are to live to bring glory to God - 1Corinthians 10:31

Anything that takes his rightful place in our lives can be said to be an ‘idol’.

‘It’s not about you. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose... It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny.’

Rick Warren

‘It’s not about you. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose... It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny.’

Rick Warren

Former things have come to pass…

We each have our own ‘salvation history’, and so does our church or organisation

We can take confidence from the way God has guided us previously

‘New things I declare...’

He is a God who speaks - Isaiah 45:21, 43:18-19, 46:9-11, 48:3,5,6, Rev 21:5

His word comes to pass in his own time, it springs forth

He is able to make clear what he wants us to do - 1Timothy 1:8, Acts 21:10-11, 16:6-10, 15:28

Like Samuel we must offer ourselves to God, and then relax (1Sam 3:1-10). Then when he does speak we can respond with faith and obedience.

to continue as you are, but with a fresh sense of calling?

to have faith to step out into something new?

to be patient and wait for his will to be revealed?