This is the good news – the Suffering Servant and Saviour - Jesus Christ has defeated sin and death.
Isaiah 53:
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned---every one---to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 54: The Eternal Covenant of Peace
1 "Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labour! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the LORD.
2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.
3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.
4 "Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
6 For the LORD has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God.
7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you.
8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer.
9 "This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you.
10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
11 "O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones.
13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.
14 In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
15 If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.
16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy;
17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD."
Things to think about…
Is there any other possible explanation for who Isaiah 53 is referring to other than Jesus? Even the Jews of today are blind to the fact that the prophet who was writing 700BC was writing about the payment for sin by Jesus Christ. Note that ‘He was smitten by God”, vs 4 and afflicted and “it was the will of the Lord to crush Him”, vs 10. Why? Vs 5 has the answer “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed”. Our sin has been forgiven because of Christ’s sacrifice. We are now receivers of peace and by His stripes we are healed. We are inheritors of heaven and are now sons and daughters of the king. Hallelujah! Praise His name. This gives John 3:16 and the celebration of Christmas and Easter full meaning.
Note that even though He was given as a sacrifice to all, Isa 53:12 says He “bore the sin of many” – not all. Only those who accept Him and have their eyes opened have their sin forgiven and have Him as their intercessor. This being the case – pray for the many who will receive and be forgiven. May there be many from our community and city who are marked out to receive redeeming grace.
Sing oh barren one, Isa 54:1. Who is this referring to? Abraham’s wife Sarah – who was barren but would have Isaac, the child of promise. We know Isaac’s wife Rebecca was barren for many years but gave birth to Jacob. Jacob’s wife Rachael was also barren until she gave birth to Joseph. Likely this passage refers to Israel who has been left desolate, I.E. Mt Zion when they are captivity in Babylon. Certainly the nation of Israel seems to fit the picture, Isa 54:3-6. Through Christ all the nations shall be blessed. Through compassion He will gather His people Isa 54:7. This has both a spiritual and a prophetic tone about it. God will call all His elect both Jew and Gentile, but this passage also refers specially to the nation of Israel. As the Apostle Paul says there will be a season when ‘all Israel’ will return and they will see Christ as their true Saviour, Rom 11:26.
The Lord may have disciplined Israel when needed, Isa 54:7, but he still loves them, vs 8 and has a covenant with them, vs 10. Israel will be restored. Isa 54:9, 10 is very similar to the description given to the New Jerusalem in Rev 21:18-21. The Lord restores Jerusalem in the Millennium, but the New Jerusalem shall last for eternity in the New Heavens and New Earth.
“No weapon formed against you shall succeed”, Isa 54:17. What a promise. Justice is our heritage – vs 17. Our Lord makes things right between ourselves and the Lord and then makes things right between ourselves and the world. Peace and justice will one day reign over the earth. Pray that the gospel may continue to usher in this day.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
For Cell Groups.
Reading was from Isaiah 40 Title “There’s a comforting thought”
1. What is a period in your life where you were at the end of yourself. Jay shared what had happened with their eldest son Josh as a2 yo, but also friends that lost their 4yo to drowning. What tragedy has the Lord taken you through and given you comfort. Perhaps you are still in the midst of it and needing comfort as the trial is not over.
2. The voice of the one crying in the wilderness says that we are like grass and he prepares the way for the Lord, Isa 40:3-9. We know this was perfectly fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist. How did he prepare the way for Jesus?
3. We can take comfort that the Lord will do what he says because “the Word of God will stand forever”, Isa 40:8. Jay mentioned Emperor Diocletian and Constantine as well as Voltaire and the Geneva Bible society and how God’s Word prevailed. What is your understanding of the endurance of God’s Word? What makes you so confident?
4. Pray for each other, our church and the prayer points.
Prayer Points
1. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
2. New families as they settle into church.
4. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
5. Getting drawings into council.
6. Next Sunday’s business meeting..
7. Sunday’s message “O, what a Saviour” – Isa 53 – Jay.
Praise Points.
1. Praise the Lord for Caleb – Recharge, keep praying the Lord reveals His will.
2. Praise the Lord for the Kids@church ministry. Thankyou Maddison.
2. More new folk on Sunday – Praise God.
3. First Café roof drawings have been completed.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
Announcements
1. Members meeting Sunday 28th Feb after the morning service.
2. Recharge youth – Water works night, this Friday 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
3. Bon Fire night Friday 5th March. We will get rid of the fire pile at church.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
