(307) 733-3706
HomeVisitAboutMinistriesEventsMessagesGive Sign in

Messages

A Light to the Gentiles

June 23, 2024 · Ray McDaniel · Isaiah Servant Songs

Scripture referenced 16 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

  • Psalm 150 mentioned as an encouraging word to lead into worship

    1 Praise Yah! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power!

    2 Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his excellent greatness!

    3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre!

    4 Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!

    5 Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals!

    6 Let everything that has breath praise Yah! Praise Yah!

    World English Bible · Read it in another translation

    Keep this verse

John 14

Jesus speaking: 'my peace I leave with you and my peace I give to you, I don't give you as the world gives, don't let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid'

1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.

3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.

4 Where I go, you know, and you know the way.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’

10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

12 Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.

13 Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.

15 If you love me, keep my commandments.

16 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,—

17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.

18 I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.

20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

21 One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.

24 He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

25 I have said these things to you, while still living with you.

26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

27 Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

28 You heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I.

29 Now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you may believe.

30 I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me.

31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Psalm 139

quoted as 'search me, oh God, know my heart, test me, know my anxious thoughts, point out anything in me that offends you, lead me along the path of everlasting life'

1 Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.

2 You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.

6 This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.

7 Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night”;

12 even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.

13 For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.

15 My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!

18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

20 For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.

21 Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.

23 Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.

24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Isaiah 42:1-10

the first servant song, introduced as the foundation before moving to the second servant song in chapter 49

1 “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights— I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.

2 He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.

3 He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice.

4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set justice in the earth, and the islands will wait for his law.”

5 Thus says God Yahweh, he who created the heavens and stretched them out, he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it.

6 “I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations;

7 to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.

8 “I am Yahweh. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to engraved images.

9 Behold, the former things have happened, and I declare new things. I tell you about them before they come up.”

10 Sing to Yahweh a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the islands and their inhabitants.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Isaiah 49:1-13

the second servant song, the main text of the sermon

1 Listen, islands, to me. Listen, you peoples, from afar: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the inside of my mother he has mentioned my name.

2 He has made my mouth like a sharp sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. He has made me a polished shaft. He has kept me close in his quiver.

3 He said to me, “You are my servant; Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

4 But I said, “I have labored in vain. I have spent my strength in vain for nothing; yet surely the justice due to me is with Yahweh, and my reward with my God.”

5 Now Yahweh says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and to gather Israel to him, for I am honorable in Yahweh’s eyes, and my God has become my strength.

6 Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel? I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”

7 Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, says to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and rise up; princes, and they shall worship; because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

8 Yahweh says, “In an acceptable time I have answered you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage,

9 saying to those who are bound, ‘Come out!’; to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves!’ “They shall feed along the paths, and their pasture shall be on all treeless heights.

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he who has mercy on them will lead them. He will guide them by springs of water.

11 I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be exalted.

12 Behold, these shall come from afar; and behold, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.”

13 Sing, heavens; and be joyful, earth; and break out into singing, mountains: for Yahweh has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Revelation

quoted: 'from his mouth comes a sharp sword so that with it he may strike down the nations, he will rule them with a rod of iron and he treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God'

Keep this verse

Matthew 26

Jesus in Gethsemane, sorrowful and deeply distressed, praying 'my father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not as I will, but as you will'

1 When Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples,

2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.

4 They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.

5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”

6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

8 But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?

9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”

10 However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me.

11 For you always have the poor with you; but you don’t always have me.

12 For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

13 Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.”

14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

15 and said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?” They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.

16 From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”

19 The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.

20 Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.

21 As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”

22 They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”

23 He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.

24 The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”

25 Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.”

26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

27 He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it,

28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.

29 But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”

33 But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”

34 Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise.

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.”

37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.

38 Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.”

39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

40 He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.”

43 He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44 He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

45 Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”

47 While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48 Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”

49 Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

51 Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.

53 Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”

55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to…

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Hebrews 5:7

quoted: 'he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission'

7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

1 Peter 2

quoted as example of following Christ's steps: 'while being reviled he did not revile in return, while suffering he uttered no threats, but kept on entrusting himself to him who judges righteously'

1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,

2 as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,

3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:

4 coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.

5 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”

7 For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,”

8 and, “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

10 who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12 having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

14 or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.

15 For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.

19 For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

20 For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,

22 who did not sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”

23 Who, when he was cursed, didn’t curse back. When he suffered, didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

25 For you were going astray like sheep; but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Psalm 67

quoted as Israel being a light to the nations: 'God be gracious to us and bless us, that your way may be known on the earth, your salvation among all the nations'

1 May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.

2 That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations,

3 let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.

4 Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah.

5 Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.

6 The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us.

7 God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Psalm 96

quoted: 'sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord all the earth, tell of his glory among the nations, for great is the Lord and greatly to be praised'

1 Sing to Yahweh a new song! Sing to Yahweh, all the earth.

2 Sing to Yahweh! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day!

3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.

4 For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.

6 Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of nations, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.

8 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts.

9 Worship Yahweh in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness!

12 Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy

13 before Yahweh; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Psalm 117

quoted: 'praise the Lord all the nations, laud him all you peoples, for his loving kindness is great towards us and the truth of the Lord is everlasting'

1 Praise Yahweh, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!

2 For his loving kindness is great toward us. Yahweh’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise Yah!

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Acts 13

Paul and Barnabas turning to the Gentiles after Jewish rejection, quoting Isaiah: 'I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the end of the earth'

1 Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”

3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

5 When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant.

6 When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus,

7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,

10 and said, “Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

11 Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.

14 But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.

15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”

16 Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.

17 The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it.

18 For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.

19 When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred fifty years.

20 After these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.

21 Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22 When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

23 From this man’s offspring, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise,

24 before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of repentance to Israel.

25 As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

26 Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.

27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

28 Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.

29 When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.

30 But God raised him from the dead,

31 and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.

32 We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,

33 that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’

34 “Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’

36 For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.

37 But he whom God raised up saw no decay.

38 Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,

39 and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40 Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:

41 ‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’”

42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.

46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost…

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

2 Corinthians 6:2

quoted as applying Isaiah 49 to anyone who follows Christ: 'at just the right time I heard you, on the day of salvation I helped you'

2 for he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

John 17

Jesus' high priestly prayer, praying for all who would believe through the disciples' word, that they may be unified

1 Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you;

2 even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

4 I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.

5 Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.

6 I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.

7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you,

8 for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.

9 I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

10 All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.

11 I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

13 But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.

14 I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.

16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.

18 As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.

19 For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

20 Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word,

21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.

22 The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one;

23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.

24 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.

25 Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.

26 I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Psalm 133:1-3

used as benediction: 'how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, life everlasting'

1 See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!

2 It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that came down on the edge of his robes;

3 like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion: for there Yahweh gives the blessing, even life forever more.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

This message came from Isaiah 49:1-13, the second of Isaiah's servant songs, read alongside the first servant song in Isaiah 42. Pastor Ray traced how these passages, written roughly seven hundred years before Christ, paint a detailed picture of Jesus as the servant of God, the one sent to be a light not just to Israel but to all nations. The sermon pressed on what it looks like to trust God when walking his path leads somewhere frightening or painful.

What was said

Pastor Ray opened by pointing to Isaiah 42 as the introduction to the servant songs, where God's servant is described as one who will not grandstand or break a bruised reed, and who is given as a covenant to the people and a light to the Gentiles. The New Testament attributes this passage directly to Jesus, and Pastor Ray noted that the image of a sharp sword coming from the servant's mouth connects to both Ephesians and Revelation. The servant who would not break a bruised reed is the same one who will one day rule with a rod of iron, a tension that only makes sense across the two comings of Christ.

Moving into Isaiah 49, he noted that the servant is called from the womb and that God forecast this Christ throughout the Old Testament, all the way back to Genesis. The word Israel in these passages can refer to blind and rebellious Israel, to believing Israel, or to the ideal Israel, which is Jesus Messiah himself. Context determines which one is in view, and in 49:3 Pastor Ray argued the reference belongs to Christ, through whom God ultimately gets glory regardless of which Israel is in view.

The servant's cry that he has labored in vain drew a direct connection to Jesus in Gethsemane, who fell face down and asked that the cup pass from him, and to the cry of dereliction on the cross at the ninth hour. Pastor Ray read from Hebrews 5 and 1 Peter 2 to show that Jesus genuinely suffered discouragement and yet kept entrusting himself to the one who judges rightly. That pattern, walking the steps God has set even when they lead somewhere painful, is held out as the example believers are called to follow.

Israel's original calling was to be a light to the nations, to live by God's law in a way that drew people toward him rather than away. Pastor Ray walked through Psalm 67, Psalm 96, and Psalm 117 to show that this outward, Gentile-facing purpose runs through the Psalms just as it does through Isaiah. The servant song in Isaiah 49 intensifies that calling by announcing that the servant himself will be God's salvation to the ends of the earth, not just a light but the thing the light points to.

Acts 13 showed the moment that announcement became a flash point. When Paul and Barnabas declared in the synagogue that they were turning to the Gentiles, fulfilling what Isaiah had written, the response was jealousy and persecution. Yet the Gentiles who heard rejoiced, believed, and the word spread. Pastor Ray held this up as the pattern, the gospel is offered, and people either receive it, reject it, or decide they want to hear more, just as happened on Mars Hill with the Stoics and Epicureans.

Pastor Ray closed with Jesus's high priestly prayer in John 17, where Jesus prays not only for the disciples present but for all who would come to believe through their word. He pointed out that if you are a Christian, Jesus prayed for you in that prayer. The unity Jesus asks for, mirroring the unity of the Father and the Son, is the means by which the world is meant to see that God sent him. Seven hundred years of prophecy, two thousand years on this side of the cross, and the call is the same: believe, and point toward Jesus.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

  1. Pastor Ray described living in Jackson as 'resort ministry,' saying we are surrounded by people who might be more open to hearing the gospel while they are away from their normal lives. What has your own experience been with that, and how does it change the way you think about your everyday interactions here?
  2. Pastor Ray walked through Isaiah 42 and 49 and pointed to three ways the word 'Israel' is used: blind and rebellious Israel, believing Israel, and the ideal Israel who is Messiah Jesus. How does understanding those distinctions change the way you read the Old Testament?

and 3 more questions in the guide

Open the study guide

Read the full transcript 6,494 words
Speaker 2Well, good morning, everybody. Hey, would you would you stand and join us in song? I've got encouraging word from Psalm one fifty to lead us into worship.
Ray McDanielAm I on now? Can you hear me now? Alright. There are a few announcements. Thank you.
Hey, look at this. We're here together. This is awesome. There is the first BBQ outside. If the slide comes up, that'll be great too, but this is part of the reason that I'm dressed like this.
No baptism today. We're shielded from the baptistry, but I did get to baptize a little girl in Mosquito Creek with her parents present on Friday and I'm still riding the cloud on that. I'm so excited for London Hitch who got baptized on Friday. But anyway, first b b q is happening in between services right out here. This is one this month.
We'll have one July 14, August 18, and September 15, weather permitting. If not, we'll do it indoors. There is a church camp out that's coming up. Church camp out's coming up. It'll be down around Palisades Lake, July nineteenth through twenty first.
In fact, there are two of these, they're coming pretty quick. July nineteenth through twenty first, August twenty third through twenty fifth. You can talk to Brian McCooey. Is he in the room? He's probably making food outside.
Or Mike Demetrius, our youth director. Both of them can answer any questions that you need answered and we'd love for you to go. That'll be fun. Sound booth volunteers. We've got Jeff in the booth training this morning, and we're glad to have him.
But if you feel like you're particularly gifted in that area and you wanna test it out and see if you really are, then let us know and we will train you on that. The vacation Bible school. This is the other reason why I'm dressed like I'm dressed this morning. Vacation Bible school starts tomorrow. It is gonna happen in the morning nine to 11:30, I believe, is the way that goes.
Is there confusion? Am I confusing you? No. It's nine to 11:30, Monday through Thursday this week, twenty fourth through the twenty seventh, hometown Nazareth where Jesus was a kid. This ought to be a lot of fun.
So volunteers are ready. The church is decorated. The kids will show up. If you have a child here in Jackson somewhere that you know and you wanna bring them, please register in the back back there, but just bring them on. We'd love to have you.
Sisters Saved by Grace, Thursdays at 6PM. This is happening this time around at Mike Yockel Park. They're studying Psalms together. So it's up Kelly until you see a green space on the left and that's Mike Yockel Park studying Psalms together. Sunday school Sunday school next week.
So let me see. We'll not meet starting July 7. Sunday school will not be. Miss Crystal will still be doing her class, first and second grade. Miss Crystal will still be doing that class, but the rest of the Sunday school will just stay up here and we will worship together and we'll examine God's word together instead of going down for children's church.
That's starting July 7, but miss Crystal is the one. Does anybody have anything else they wanna announce? Diane just came to me with most of one of the most in name things I've ever heard with someone trying to break record of as many people in the world that are dressed like butterflies singing a certain song. I don't know where it is. I don't know when it is.
Look it up on the Internet. Figure it out. It's sometime in the park. It is the most crazy thing, but we get all kinds of crazy requests. I mean, you wouldn't believe this stuff.
So talk to Diane about that one. And if you would, from the ridiculous from the ridiculous to profound, would you stand with us and may we quote the Lord's prayer together before Carl leads us in the next song. Our father Who art in hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as We pray pray but deliver us from evil.
For thine the is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Amen. Glorious day.
Speaker 3Rejected bearing our sins my redeemer
Speaker 2Lord, thank you. We have sung the gospel, but we just pause and take a moment to just let it soak in your life, your death, your resurrection, your ascension. God, your the promise of your return. God, may we just soak in that this morning. And you are a sure and and and certain hope, and we thank you.
And it's good to just be in your presence today. It's good to be together as a family of God. We're grateful. Amen. I know who needs to hear this this morning, but I want you to hear this from John 14.
This is Jesus speaking to us. He says, my peace I leave with you and my peace I give to you. I don't give you as the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. Lord, I pray that if there are any fears, Lord, that you would, calm our fears with your perfect love, God, that casts out all fear.
Would you? In Jesus' name, amen. You can have a seat here for a moment. This is the worship through giving part of the service, and love to to sing a song. We're gonna sing this.
Here's my heart. And from Psalm one thirty nine, it's search me, oh God, know my heart. We're we're saying, God, you've got you've got rain here. Test me. Know my anxious thoughts.
Would you point out anything in me that offends you, and would you lead me along the path of everlasting life? Before we sing, Ray, may
Speaker 3I ask you to pray? Sure.
Ray McDanielGod almighty. God almighty, we're thankful grateful to be here, Lord. I'm overwhelmed this morning, Lord. I'm overwhelmed with your kindness and your grace and your goodness towards us. I'm thankful for this crowd that's scattered right here at this time worshiping you together.
Lord, in spirit and in truth for for basing it on what you have said, for basing our lives on what you've said. Lord, we want to do your will. We realize that we get distracted, but God, we want to do your will. I pray that you would give us that desire in a way that would keep us from being overly distracted, that we would be drawn into your will wherever we are found. I've been thinking all week of Moses having followed your commands and still ending up at the Red Sea.
How confusing, Lord, that must have been. But you had him exactly where you wanted him to show him your goodness and your glory. You had him exactly where you wanted him to show your people your goodness and your glory. You had him exactly where you want it. Lord, some of us have our backs to difficult, scary situation right now.
As Carl mentioned earlier, there's fear. Lord, would you overcome that fear in our hearts like you've already overcome it on the cross. You've already overcome it. Lord, may we recognize that and hear the word of the Lord and be willing and empowered by your spirit to do just that. We long to do your will, Lord, in your way.
Would you show us that way and give us the power to walk in it? In Jesus name, we ask your blessing on this offering that you'd multiply it to do your kingdom's work. Amen.
Speaker 3Hears am yours I am loved I'm made pure I have life I can breathe I am free and here's my hears here's my
Speaker 2and
Ray McDanielit is time for children's church downstairs, I think. Yes, it is. Before we get started this morning, we're going into this. Isaiah 49. It's the second of the service, servant songs from Isaiah.
So, Isaiah 42 and we'll cover it in a minute. Isaiah forty two one through 10 is the first of the servants. I was maybe stretching in the chapter 43 but forty nine one through 13 is what we're going to today. But before I do that, being up here in flip flops and shorts, the the first time that I got a chance to preach at my home church, it wasn't like youth Sunday or one of those sort of things. Because you know, when the youth group, they're looking for somebody and anybody willing will get up there, you know.
And I had done that before, but in the summer of nineteen ninety one, I went on a summer mission trip. It was a summer mission for the full summer to the horrible developing place of Panama City Beach, Florida. Okay. I was there fun in the sun 1991 with There were 13 guys and 13 gals, and we went down and before too long, we had four campgrounds that we were doing ministry in the evenings. We worked a normal everyday job from eight in the morning, 08:30 in the morning until five in the afternoon.
We'd rush home and grab something to eat really quickly and then get to one of those campgrounds and we did all kinds of different kinds of ministry. And before too long, was the one that got elected to be the person, the preacher person, which was very odd to me because I was scared to death to stand up in front of people, had passed out in front of an English class from standing up on in front of people. But I did I was willing, and so I started doing it. The very first Sunday, was elected in a very Presbyterian sense to be I didn't really have a choice in the matter, pushed upon me. You are now Ray, you are the pastor of the Ocean Park RV Resort.
And so I went into the Ocean Park RV Resort, and there was a box of hymnals, I thought, oh, that's good because I can sing. I can make sure that I can sing, you know. And you know, a few people would show up each Sunday, but it was it was my job now to show this is the only by the way, this is the only pastoral experience I had when I got here. I have not been to church after church after church after church. I have only had the Ocean Park RV Resort and First b of Jackson.
And for three three and a half months, I was the pastor at this Ocean Park RV Resort. And it's a little place where you'd eat and you know, gather and they had a laundry there. And there were a few chairs and a box of hymnals, and so I got up the first Sunday. We did the song service, that was fun. And then there were a few people in the room and there was one tall man with televangelist looking haircut, and he had a big Bible under his arm, and he had on a three piece suit.
And at the end of the the little church I grew up in, you didn't ever know if you're sitting out there who the pastor was going to call on at the end of the service to do the closing prayer. But I thought, if anybody in this room can do it, that guy can do it. So I finished my sermon, if you wanna call it that, and I said, sir, would you stand us, lead us in the closing prayer? And he stood up and he said, dear Lord, thank you for sending this young man to try to preach to us. And then he gave me a King James Bible and his card, and he was an actual itinerant evangelist, and he told me to use the King James.
And then he said, here's my card. And it said, wake up, oh sleeper. And I thought, what a wonderful wonderful thing. And I love I love the experience, but I I think of that story often. I really think of it in this get up because this is how we dress the whole time.
And campground ministry, t shirts and shorts, and this week, that's going be the attire for most everybody here, t shirt and shorts and flip flops or sandals or Crocs or whatever. And it's a very relaxed thing. At the campground with people on vacation when they weren't thinking about their normal life, it actually was a pretty good time to talk to them. And guess where we live? We live in a place where people are on vacation.
They're not really thinking about their normal life. This is resort ministry for every one of us who lives here. It really is. We're surrounded by people all the time. Some of them know Jesus and some of them will be glad to hear it when that you do too.
And some of them don't. And they might listen and they might not. But every time that you present the evangel, whether it's from the Old Testament, from the New Testament, every time that you present it, people have the opportunity to either accept it or reject it or decide to hear more later. Right? When Paul on Mars Hill presents and it says, Stoics and Epicureans were present and some of them accepted what he had to say and some of them said, this man's crazy.
And then others said, I'll hear more from him on this later. So anyway, that's just a little bit to get us started. I think this is a Titus has never called it a short sermon. I have less slides today than I usually do. How about that?
Isaiah forty nine one through 13, we will see it together. 42 sets this up. It's the introduction in Isaiah of God's servant, capital s. This is the first servant song and I'll just read it quickly before we get to the second servant song. Behold my servant whom I uphold, my elect one in whom my soul delights.
I have put my spirit upon him and he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out nor raise his voice, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. He is not grandstanding. He is walking out a submitted life to the spirit of God. A bruised reed he will not break.
Do you recognize that from the New Testament, John the Baptist? That little section right in there when he's speaking of Jesus. So this has been attributed in the New Testament to Jesus. We know it's about Okay? A bruised reed, he will not break.
A smoking flax, he will not quench. He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth. And the coastlands shall wait for his law. Thus says the Lord God or thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it.
I, the Lord have called you, capital y, that's pointing to Jesus, in righteousness, the servant of God, and I will hold your hand. I will keep you and I will give you as a covenant to the people. We did communion last week, and I said that all of those guys knew what the old covenant was. All of those guys knew what the old covenant was, but when Jesus said, this is the new covenant in my blood, he's fulfilling his role as the servant of God. We'll see that further in the second servant song.
I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to all of the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, whose those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord, that is my name and my glory. I will not give to another nor my praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to past and new things I declare before they spring forth, I tell you of them. Praise the Lord.
This is seven hundred years before Christ. If you read the first one, the second one, the third one, and the fourth song altogether, it is such a clear picture of Jesus, of his life, his death, his burial, his resurrection. There's one more verse there, it's this. Sing to the Lord a new song and his praise from the ends of the earth. You who go down to the sea and all that is in it, you coastlands and you inhabitants of them.
That also reminded me of my beach ministry. My whole family is gathering this week now at the beach and it just jumped out. But the reason I put it in here, the tenth verse, you coastlands is because that ties us to this. 42 stops with you coastlands and 49, the calling and the ministry of the servant starts off like this. Listen, oh coastlands, those who are up against the sea.
Listen to me and take heed all of you peoples from afar, you coastlands, you inhabitants of them. Take heed you peoples from afar. The Lord has called me from the womb, capital m. I think that's pointing towards Jesus. Now, are other interpretations for this.
If you are of a Jewish background, you can see the people of Israel as this. And the Jew Jewish nation, the Jews still do see the servant passages pointing towards them, the nation of Israel. The Lord has called me from the womb, from the matrix of my mother. He has made mention of my name. Did God forecast Christ beforehand to the people?
He did. All the way back to Genesis, he's done it all throughout the Old Testament. He called me from the matrix, the womb of my mother. The Lord has made mention of my name. Oh, we hear this one at Christmas, we don't usually hear it in shorts and flip flops.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting father and the prince of peace. The next line is, and he has made my mouth like a sharp sword. I I think of Ephesians when I think we've got the sword of the spirit and what's coming out of Jesus's mouth, the word of God, the sword of the spirit. But also think of Revelation, for from his mouth comes a sharp sword so that with it he may strike down the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron and he treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God.
Wow. The bruised reed he won't break but he's trampling with a rod of iron. That's hard to rectify except in Christ. He has the first coming is all about. He says, I did not to come come to condemn the world, but to save it.
But he is coming back. Split range prophecy. In the shadow of his hand, he has hidden me. In the shadow of his hand, he's hidden me and he has made me a polished shaft and his quiver, he has hidden me. Messiah Jesus is the perfect weapon against evil.
It is the perfect weapon against death. When it looked like there was no hope, he was the polished shaft and hidden in the quiver. He said to me, you are my servant, oh Israel, in whom I will be glorified. I've already hinted at this, but we'll see that in the old testament and even in the new testament, when the word Israel comes up, it's referring to one of three or four things. It can be blind, deaf, rebellious, unbelieving Israel, and that comes up a lot.
Right? In the Old Testament, it comes up a lot, and it comes up a lot in the New Testament. That it's used when God is saying, you are not walking on the path. You have played the harlot. You're not doing what you should be doing.
You trust diviners and you trust in your own wisdom more than you trust in me. So it can be blind, deaf, and rebellious unbelieving Israel. It can also be believing Israel, those who put their trust in the Lord, the people of God. Not knowing the method even how he's going to do that. So there are those who put their faith in God and don't know and don't claim to know.
And then there's the ideal Israel. And that ideal Israel is Jesus Messiah or is Messiah who we believe is Jesus Messiah. Right? So that are Those are the broad definition narrowed down and it depends on context to know which one it is. And back here when it says, you are my servant, oh Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
You know what? God gets glory through unbelieving Israel because of the mistakes that they have made. He gets glory through believing Israel and he gets glory through Jesus Messiah ultimately. I think that they're right here to attribute it to Christ. Then I said, have labored in vain.
I've spent my strength for nothing and in vain. Do you all remember the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch for Max? Do you remember that story? And the Ethiopian eunuch is reading Isaiah, and he is confused by it. We've changed who is talking in this three times already.
It's the omniscient narrator, then it's Jesus, it's outside narrator. When he when Philip runs alongside his chariot and he says, what are you reading there? And the guy says, this thing is confusing me. Who is he talking about? Is it the guy who's right?
Is it Isaiah? Is he talking about himself or is he talking about somebody else? And it says, and Philip beginning from that place said, showed him the way. It was about Jesus. Now Jesus is speaking here.
Then I said, I have labored in vain, I've spent my strength for nothing and in vain. Now he walked out a life of perfect submission to God. How can it be that he feels like it would be in vain? Matthew 26 says, and he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. That sounds a lot like he felt like he was laboring in vain.
He knew what he had to do. He knew it was his Those were his steps that he had to walk through. He said to them, my soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. And going a little further, he fell face down and he prayed, my father, if it is possible, let this cup pass for me, yet not as I will, but as you will.
He's submitting himself, but it does feel like a forsaken. And if you don't think it feels forsaken on the cross at the ninth hour, and I know this is a quote from a song, and if you sing the rest of the psalm, you'll know that it ends in victory. But at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, which is translated, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? That sounds like Jesus field felt forsaken, feels forsaken at that moment. During the days of Jesus' life on earth, Hebrews five seven says, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.
And he was heard because of his reverent submission. I have labored in vain. I've spent my strength for nothing and in vain. Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord and my work with my God. I have to trust that he leads me and he places me where he wants me and in submitting to him, he his will be done.
It'll ultimately be for his glory and for my good. First Peter two, another one of my favorite passages. For y'all have been called for this very purpose since Christ also suffered for y'all, leaving y'all an example that for y'all that y'all This is the Ray McDaniel translation, I just realized. I I didn't mean to put that in there, but hey, leaving y'all an example for y'all that y'all should follow in his steps. He who committed no sin nor was any deceit found in his mouth, he was still discouraged.
He was still upset. From time to time, while people were reviling him, he committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. While being reviled, he did not revile in return. While suffering, he uttered no threats, but he kept on entrusting himself to him who judges righteously. Praise God.
May we do that, Lord. When we feel like we're walking in your steps, the ones you've established for us, when we are walking those steps, it does get discouraging from time to time. May continually be entrusting ourselves to you, the one who judges rightly. Come what may, no matter who decries. In Jesus name, amen.
Forty nine five says, and now the Lord says, who formed me from the womb to be his capital s, servant to bring Jacob back to him. So it's for the house of Jacob. It's for the line of Israel. To bring Jacob back to him so that Israel is gathered to him for I shall be glorious in the eyes of Lord and my God shall be my strength. He's looking forward to that even in the midst of the suffering of the servant.
Indeed, he says, is it too small? It is too small a thing that you should be my servant. Change of perspective again. It is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel, the preserved ones of Israel, which is this. This is believing Israel.
Those who have trusted in the Lord throughout all ages. I will also give you, in addition to all that, I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles. It's not just for those who fell into the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob down through the ages. It's not just for those. It's also I'm giving you as a light to the Gentiles.
Israel was supposed to be a light to the Gentiles. They were supposed to live by the law of God in such a way that it drew people into relationship with God, that people would want to be a part because there was light there instead of the darkness that they normally walked in. Psalm 67, one of my probably my favorite song. God be gracious to us and bless us, sounds selfish, doesn't it? Keep reading.
And cause your face to shine upon us, Selah, let it ring, that your way may be known on the earth, that your salvation may be known among all the nations. Let the peoples praise you, Lord. That's a third person command. Nations, praise the Lord. Let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy for you will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth. Selah, let it ring out. Let the peoples praise you, oh God. Let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its produce God, our God.
He blesses us and God blesses us so that all of the ends of the earth might revere him. That's good. That's the goal. Israel is a light to the nations. Oh, it's not only Psalm 67.
Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord. All the earth sing to the Lord. Bless his name. Proclaim good tidings of his salvation from day to day. Tell of his glory among all of the nations, his wonderful deed among all of the peoples.
For great is the Lord and he is greatly to be praised. He is to be feared above all small g gods, for all the small g gods of the peoples are just idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. It keeps going.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples. Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord and the glory of his name. Bring an offering. Come into his court.
Worship the Lord in holy attire. Dog gone it. I knew I should have worn the suit. Tremble before him all the earth. Say among the nations, the Lord reigns.
Indeed, the world is firmly established and it will not be moved. He will judge the people with equity. God is the righteous judge. If he is directing us to take a path that seems uncomfortable or a path of suffering, we can know that Jesus took the Via Dolorosa, the painful way. Let the heavens be glad.
Let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar and all it contains. Let the field exalt and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord for he is coming and he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples and his faithfulness.
Psalms had that split range prophecy too. Messiah would come and offer deliverance and Messiah would return and bring justice. Praise the Lord all the nations. Psalm one seventeen, laud him all you peoples for his loving kindness is great towards us and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord.
It keeps going. All of the Psalms, much of Isaiah, all of the Old Testament points toward him and I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles so that you should be. Wait a sec. You are my salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
You are going to be my salvation, Messiah to the ends of the earth. Acts 13, we're bouncing today. One of the reasons I like to do expository preaching going through books of the Bible is because I'm all over the map if I don't do that. The next Sabbath, nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. Sabbath, hearing the word of the Lord, these are the Jewish people.
But when the Jews saw the crowds, what does say? It says the whole city assembled. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things that were spoken by Paul. Didn't all of that old testament stuff we just read, didn't it say that it wasn't just for the Jews, but it was for everybody? It it did say that.
But it was upsetting. It was breaking their paradigm. They were blaspheming and Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but unbelieving is real. Since you repudiated and you judge yourselves unworthy of the eternal life offered, behold, we have to turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, I've placed you as a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the end of the earth.
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life, they believed. They had the gospel laid out before them, it clicked, they accepted it, they believed and the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout men, well, women of prominence and the leading men of the city and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district. But they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went on to Iconium and the disciples were first were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. The message is being offered and you can reject it or you can accept it.
The new covenant in Jesus blood is available. It's available. Forty nine seven, thus says the Lord, the redeemer of Israel, their holy one to him whom man despises. Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, Jesus. To him whom the nation abhors, to the servant of the rulers, kings shall see and arise.
Princes also shall worship future orientation because of the Lord who is faithful, the holy one of Israel and he has chosen you. Thus says the Lord, in an acceptable time I've heard you and in the day of salvation, I have helped you and I will preserve you and I'll give you as a covenant to the people. Covenant. Goes back to '42. And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, a covenant to the people to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages, anything that has been broken off and sequestered aside.
I'm putting into that incorruptible hope. We'll skip that. Second Corinthians six two quotes this, at just the right time I heard you, on the day of salvation, I helped you. Now in Isaiah, that's speaking to Christ. In Corinthians, it's speaking to anyone who would follow after Christ.
At just the right time, I mentioned in the prayer this morning, Moses' back being against the wall or against the Red Sea. Multiple times in the Old Testament, we see people who are put into a position of having to trust God. Can I say today that we are all in the position of having to trust God? The prayer during the offering each week is God, wanna do your will and your way. I I pray that that is is is where my heart always is, but I realize that in doing his will his way, it might take me to a place of suffering.
Jesus looked beyond it for the joy set before him and he endured. That's what I wanna do too. Sing, oh heavens, be joyful, earth, and break out in singing, oh mountains, for the Lord has comforted his people and he will have mercy on his afflicted. Amen. Three more slides.
John 17, before his high priestly prayer or in his high priestly prayer, he's speaking. He says, but now I come to you and these things I speak in the world so that they may have my joy made full in themselves. I have given them, the disciples, those following after him. I have given them your word in the world as hated them because they're not of the world even as I'm not of the world. I don't ask you to take them out of the world, father, but to keep them from the evil one.
They're not of the world even as I'm not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth. Just as you sent me into this world, I also sent them out into this world for their sakes. I sanctify myself that they themselves also may be sanctified in the truth.
I'm not asking on behalf of these people alone, those disciples that had followed him, those followers that have been around on his earthly ministry, not just these alone, but also for all of those who believe in me through their word. If you're a Christian here today, Jesus prayed for you right here. I'm not asking on behalf of just these alone, but also for all who would come to believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, unified. Even as you father and are in me and I am in you that they also may be in us unified so that they so that the world might believe that you have sent me. Amen.
Amen. Seven hundred years before Christ, Isaiah give us a clear picture of exactly how this is gonna go. That's easier to see from two thousand years on this side of the cross. There were unbelieving Israel, there was believing Israel, still is, and then there's Messiah Jesus. I pray that we would not be unbelieving.
I pray that we would be believing and that we would be pointing towards Jesus, looking back to the sacrifice that he made and recognizing that as we walk it out, we will hit uncomfortable spots we don't know how we're gonna get out of them. But trust in the Lord with all your heart. Hey, you've already won. You're a good job up there, Jeff. You got this job, buddy.
That's great. Would you all stand? We're gonna sing this song. I want you to consider that trusting in God is winning.
Speaker 3Amen. Know what you're doing. I know what you've done. I'm fighting the battle you've already won.
Ray McDanielI've got a benediction for you, but I also wanna combine it with, Lord, would you bless the time outside where we get the chance to sit with one another and dwell in unity. Table fellowship, super important in the Bible Lord. I pray that we would commune together out here sharing hearts, dreams, battles. Sharing so that we may have those needs met you in the body of Christ by you. In Jesus name, would you bless this food, fellowship, communion outside.
Amen. And Psalm one thirty three one through three says this, behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity. It's like the precious oil on the head running down upon the beard of Aaron. The oil which ran down upon the edges of his robes. It's like the dew off of Mount Hermon that comes down upon the mountains of Zion for the Lord commanded the blessing there, life everlasting.
Lord God Almighty, would you carry forward that life everlasting through the unity of the people of God. Amen.

Share this message

Every word on these came out of the message. Download one and post it anywhere.

Scripture

Written up from the message given at First B Jackson. If something here reads oddly, the recording is the record.

Come find us

90 West Kelly Ave, Jackson, WY 83001 · Sundays at 9:00 and 11:00 am

Sign in to save messages and keep notes

Written up by Recap Sunday