A Picture Perfect Jesus

Isaiah 42:1-4

Introduction: We live in an age most often referred to as the “church age” or the “age of grace.” Meaning we recognize that God’s messiah has already came in the person of Jesus Christ and through His life, ministry, death, burial and bodily resurrection all mankind has access to forgiveness of sin and eternal life. However in the Old Testament the Messiah was a prophecy and as such God gave many pictures of what Jesus would be like when He came. The Bible passage we just read is one of those pictures a wonderful account of who Jesus is and what He would bring to mankind. There are five passages in the book of Isaiah that are affectionately called the “Servant Songs.” We are going to look at one of those passages today. Isaiah is a very interesting book it contains both prose and poetry...history and prophesy...it speaks to the people of Isaiah’s day...
and it continues to speak to us today. The book of Isaiah mirrors the Bible...
Isaiah has 66 chapters...The Bible has 66 books...Isaiah has 39 chapters dealing primarily with the history of the Israel...The Bible has 39 Old Testament books dealing primarily with the history of Israel...Isaiah has 27 chapters dealing with dealing with the future of the Israelite people...including some beautiful prophesy about Christ, the coming Messiah...The New Testament has 27 books dealing with the story of Christ. Isaiah has been called "The Gospel of the Old Testament"...because of its profuse treatment of Christ.

This morning look with me as I preach for a little while on “A picture perfect Jesus.” Notice with me first…

I. The servant

God says “Behold my Servant.” He tells us this through the prophet Isaiah not in reference to the person Isaiah. You see God was telling us what to expect when we met His son Jesus. When we consider the servant we are going to see two attributes of Christ in this passage. First we see Christ’s…

A. Recognition

1. Election (elect)

2. Acceptance (delighteth)

B. Righteousness

1. Gods Breath (spirit)

2. Gods Justice (judgment)

II. The service

The prophet Isaiah tells us “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench” don’t read over these words lightly. They speak to each one of us today, however you and I may better identify with them if we consider first…

A. Acceptance (bruised reed)

Have you ever met someone who just refuses to acknowledge a change in your life? No matter what you do or say they just will not accept that the old man is dead and a new man now lives in his place.

1. Comes only through the blood of Christ

2. Comes by grace through mercy

3. Comes from God not man

B. Repentance (smoking flax)

The world and the devil have a way of dragging us down. Is your fire for God dying are you struggling with a dead spirit?

1. Is available to a smoldering faith

2. Is available to a smoldering service

3. Is available to smoldering servant

III. The sovereignty

We see within this passage the sovereignty of Jesus Christ, from this we can be assured of a few things today. First we see…

A. Steadfastness (He shall not fail…)

1. Is assured through the promise of God

2. is assured through the encouragement of God

B. Sincerity (till He have…)

1. Established justice (judgment)

2. Established instruction (law/will)

Conclusion: Maybe you are here this morning....and you are a bruised reed...
you are bruised by the cares of life....you feel broken down and you’re hurting...
Jesus does not intend to knock you down further. He wants to mend your wounds....to bind you and heal you. Maybe you are here this morning....and at one time, you were on fire for the Lord...but now your relationship is waning...and growing dim...it is on the verge of going out....Jesus is here...and He just wants to fan your flame...He wants to bring back the light....He wants to revive your spirit!
And He will do it today...if you will let Him. Close as the Lord leads…