Sermon Tone Analysis

1.

The Bible is God’s perfect and inerrant Word ….. and it is the only book in the world and starts earlier than any other history book; and goes later than any other history book.

-The Bible is the only book in the world that tells us about the future, before it happens.

- The Bible contains Prophecy and Prophecy is history, it is written by God before it happens.

àbecause of that, its worth reading/listening to.

Do you remember these questions:

àHow many predictions are in the bible = 735 (25% of the bible – huge)

àHow many have already happened?

= 596 (81%)

-In the OT are over 300 prophecies about Jesus.

-they tell us about the Messiah

-the prophets also prophecy about a future age of perfection, characterized by universal peace and recognition of God https://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/the-jewish-concept-of-messiah-and-the-jewish-response-to-christian-claims/

2. In this series “Immanuel: God is with Us!”

à we’ve looked at four prophecies from the prophet, Isaiah.

Week 1

- We learned that even when his back was against the wall, Judah’s King Ahaz did not trust God and believe in His promises

- King Ahaz came across as righteous and holy King, but instead was an evil king ….. he trusted in himself.

- God tried telling the king that He was with him ….. but the king did not believe

- So – God said through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 7 verse 14:

- Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

- Immanuel means “God is with us”

- So who are you going to trust….

yourself, someone else, are you gonna trust the evil one – or – are you going to trust God?

Remember: God is with you

Week 2

– we learned from Isaiah chapter 9 and looked at who Immanuel is

– which is plainly seen if verses 6 and 7

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

- we learned the child to be born – baby Jesus – will be and is the Wonderful Counselor – He is the embodiment of wisdom – He knows the right thing to do without fail every single time; He knows what is best for you and we should listen to His perfect counsel.

- we learned the helpless little baby born in the manger is Mighty God; He is all powerful – nothing is beyond Him

- we learned the baby born of the virgin is Everlasting Father – He is our Father that reigns forever; He is our Father if you are His child and He loves you

- we learned the humble baby is the Prince of Peace; He is the one that brings perfect and complete justice and righteousness to the world.

This child, this son will be a one-world ruler who will bring peace.

- we learned that one day there will be a new eternal world government with Jesus as king in a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem

Last week we looked at another prophecy in the book of Isaiah from chapter 11.

-a prophecy, about a one-world government - a New World Order - a glimpse into the plan God has for this world.

- a prophecy that talks about Immanuel’s character, His governance, and His kingdom.

o God’s kingdom has begun, in all who live under the Lordship of Christ.

o One day, God’s kingdom will come in all its fullness – a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem

o The Messiah will come as a conquering king, to establish His World Order.

4. But before Jesus comes as a conquering King, He must first come as a suffering servant ….. and that’s what we’ll look at today….. We’ll do so from Isaiah chapter 52 starting in verse 13 and all of chapter 53.

- Many theologians describe Isaiah chapter 53 as the crown jewel of Isaiah’s theology – some have described it as the Mount Everest of messianic prophecy….. the pinnacle message of the Bible ….. the apex message to the world….

- Spurgeon described it as the Bible in miniature and the Gospel in essence

- What we’ll read today is a gruesome, and at the same time lovely and glorious prophecy that was written 700 years before anyone had ever thought of crucifixion on a cross…..

- keeping in mind this glorious yet gruesome reality was ordained by God before the creation of world…it was His plan

- We’ll read verses today that vividly describe the brutal wrath of God; God’s perfect justice for sin …. and we’ll also see the overwhelming beauty of the love of God and displays of His great and perfect mercy

- There are times when you are left speechless by His wrath and other times when you’ll be softened by His love …. and left wondering which is it ….. is it wrath or is it love

o how can God appear to be so vengeful about administering justice on the sinner and punishing sin …. about things we downplay and think “awe, its ok …. what will it hurt if I indulge in this a little … no one will be hurt by it” …about things that we dismiss or try little to rid from our lives that God hates and wants to destroy

o while at the same time how can a perfect and Holy God love me so much that He came here as a humble babe, and eventually took my place for the punishment I deserve as a suffering servant…..

o how can God be so wrathful and be so loving at the same time

o how can God be with me and for me when I do things that are against Him

- All of this comes to a head in our Isaiah passages today

- Let’s open our Bibles to Isaiah chapter 52 starting in verse 12 and we’ll read through all of chapter 53.

13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely;

he shall be high and lifted up,

and shall be exalted.

14 As many were astonished at you—

his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,

and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—

15 so shall he sprinkle many nations.

Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,

for that which has not been told them they see,

and that which they have not heard they understand.

53 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 pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds 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;