The Mystery of the Suffering Servant
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1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, Nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed shall he not break, And the smoking flax shall he not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, Till he have set judgment in the earth: And the isles shall wait for his law.
Introduction
Introduction
Welcome Cheryl Davis (Stephanie’s Mom)
Bruce and sister
Youth tonight
There are four passages in the Book of Isaiah that speak of Messiah as God’s Suffering Servant. They are collectively known as the “Songs of the Suffering Servant”.
The first one we read in Isaiah 42:1-4, it reveals Christ as the Servant who does not engage in self-promotion.
The first one we read in Isaiah 42:1-4, it reveals Christ as the Servant who does not engage in self-promotion.
It was fulfilled in Christ in Matthew 12 after Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath day.
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
16 And charged them that they should not make him known:
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
Now, we’ll notice Him. What made Him different? As a Speaker I guess He wasn’t so forceful and get out in the street and like we do, and scream, because the Bible said, “His voice was not heard in the street. And a bruised reed and a smoking flax,” and so forth as the prophet said He would be.
So He was just something about His talk that caught the heart of people, though. He didn’t have to be so forceful about it in an outward demonstration, but there was something down in His talk that fascinated the hearts of people. 55-0123E - "Earnestly Contend For The Faith"
This is a servant who will not seek promotion by destroying others, but by lifting them up.
If there be any that’s falling by the wayside, strengthen that one, that feeble knee. “A bruised reed, He will not break, or a smoking flax will He not quench.” And we know that He would never turn away a bruised reed; He would mend it. 62-0121E - "The Marriage Of The Lamb"
He will not be a Lord over God’s heritage, but his goal will be to love God and love people.
Just recently it was asked of me by some very precious brethren, that said, “Now that we have come into the Way, Brother Branham, now that we have found the Lord and received the Holy Ghost, shall we seek gifts for our ministry that we should do.”
I said, “Don’t never do it.” See? Don’t never advise people to do something like that, ’cause usually a guy that wants to do it is a guy that can’t do it.
It’s the guy that’s trying to run from it is the one that God uses. See? If he’s trying to get away from it, “Oh, brother, I tell you, I…the calling’s in me but I…Whew! Man, I’d hate to try that.” Well, there you are, you see. That’s trying to run.
If he wants to do it so bad, the first thing you know he finds himself a “stuffed shirt.” Like you say, “God, you give me power to move mountains, I tell You, I’ll do something for You if You let me move mountains.”
No, he wouldn’t, he can’t even move hisself to the right attitude, see, so he would never move mountains for God.
(Example: Paul)
So if God is calling you, brother, and it keeps digging at your heart, then I’d say “Lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset you.” You see? But if it’s not digging at you, and then I wouldn’t think too much about it then. Just let it come to its place. 61-0112 - "Questions And Answers"
6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, Nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another.
“It is men who wait to be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we may always expect the most efficient service.” U.S. Grant
The Second one we read in Isaiah 49:1-6. It depicts a Servant who will persevere in his ministry, even though the results aren’t there.
The Second one we read in Isaiah 49:1-6. It depicts a Servant who will persevere in his ministry, even though the results aren’t there.
1 Listen, O isles, unto me; And hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; From the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, And made me a polished shaft; In his quiver hath he hid me;
3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: Yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, And my work with my God.
5 And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, To bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, Yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, And my God shall be my strength.
6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, That thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
This is quoted by Simeon:
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart In peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
He could see the potential of what this baby would be, even though no one else recognized it.
(David’s men)
He’s looking for a servant who will recognize that we are not rewarded for our successes, only our faithfulness.
Eleazar was Abraham’s faithful servant.
We say, “Big numbers.” God don’t notice big numbers. God looks for character.
I said Eliezer sweated it out till he found character in Rebekah. Then he had to get her dressed up, ready, let her stand still and listen at his Message.
The trouble of it is, today, when you find character, it’s hard to make them stand still long enough to put on clothes and get dressed up. 63-0120E - "Just One More Time, Lord"
We are only responsible to scatter the light.
The third one is found in Isaiah 50:4-9. It speaks of a Servant who speaks a Word in Season to the Weary.
The third one is found in Isaiah 50:4-9. It speaks of a Servant who speaks a Word in Season to the Weary.
4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
5 The Lord God hath opened mine ear, And I was not rebellious, Neither turned away back.
6 I gave my back to the smiters, And my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7 For the Lord God will help me; Therefore shall I not be confounded: Therefore have I set my face like a flint, And I know that I shall not be ashamed.
8 He is near that justifieth me; Who will contend with me? let us stand together: Who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord God will help me; Who is he that shall condemn me? Lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
He is looking for a servant to speak a Word in season to the weary, someone who will take the Word seriously, even though it results in persecution.
“I set my face like a flint” is alluded to in Luke:
51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
He was willing to do what His Father asked.
After coming out of meetings like this, I get so tired I can’t sleep. And so, I was telling Billy, coming over…He said, “Daddy, you look so tired.” I said, “But Billy, I must put every effort.”
He said, “Why don’t you go over there and just don’t speak to the people. And just say, ‘I will pray for the sick,’ and run the prayer line as you promised them and don’t speak.”
I said, “Billy…” He said, “There’s not many people there, daddy, a little bitty meeting.” I said, “I would put the same effort there if there is a hundred thousand.” See? I said, “Because that I’m duty bound by the love of God that constrains me to His Church.” You see?
And I have often thought what I would do with two drops of the literal Blood of Jesus Christ, in a glass. What…How I would hold it! I certainly won’t…wouldn’t want to spill it. I would hold it to my chest, and up to my heart, and say, “Lord God, how I appreciate this Blood!”
But, in His sight, I have a greater this afternoon: I have got the purchase of His Blood before me. He loved you better than He loved His own life.
Then how should I treat you? Honest, sincerely. And sin I must call out, no matter how bad it hurts you or I. I must do everything that I can to be honest and upright, and a servant to Christ. 62-0729 - "Perseverant"
The Fourth song is found in Isaiah 52 and 53, beginning with verse 13. It speaks of a servant who is exalted through suffering.
The Fourth song is found in Isaiah 52 and 53, beginning with verse 13. It speaks of a servant who is exalted through suffering.
13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
14 As many were astonied at thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, And his form more than the sons of men:
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; The kings shall shut their mouths at him: For that which had not been told them shall they see; And that which they had not heard shall they consider.
1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; 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 hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
He was Jehovah’s trusted servant, His steward, like Eleazar was for Abraham, in type.
A steward was a servant who had charge of his master’s business, it was his responsibility to rightly divide the master’s wealth to each member of the household.
Jesus became the Servant of God, to dispense healing and salvation to us. He was the Servant-Son.
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
We are called to be Stewards of God’s house.
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
This is not just preachers.
We all have the gift of grace.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Are we suffering servants? Are we faithful stewards?
We have something precious, it’s eternal life.
This Message is Christ, and He is life.
He was just one Man, the perfect Man. He gave His life, and He made an example for you. Now what must we do?
Now, the first thing I want to say, is, Jesus never lived for Himself. His life was spent for others. That’s, perfectly, Eternal Life. When you say you go to church, and you do good things, that’s fine. But when you live your life to yourself, you haven’t Eternal Life.
Eternal Life, is living for others. It proved it when It come in the Lamb of God. He lived, and had Eternal Life, because He did not live for Himself. He lived for others. And you receive Eternal Life, by receiving that day, and you don’t live for yourself no more. You live for others. 60-0925 - "That Day On Calvary"
Jesus did not do these things because He had to, He did them because that is who He was.
Forgive me, my Pentecostal friend. I am pentecostal. But my Pentecostal friends has got to a spot, to where it has to be a lot of fast music, beating of some bands, or clapping hands, or tambourines, to bring up a shout. That’s only emotion.
They play in the bands before they go to battle. They get people in the emotion of battle. I believe in music. I believe in clapping hands. But I believe in these things. That’s exactly true. We ought to have that.
But you have left the great things undone, is that self-sacrificed life that God lives in you, automatically doing that which is right because it’s right. Just going on, don’t even think nothing about it. Just living it. 60-0925 - "That Day On Calvary"
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Now notice. The “greater” works, was to have the Power in the Church, not only to heal the sick by prayer, cast out devils by prayer, but to impart Eternal Life to believers. The Holy Ghost was coming, and given into the hands of the Church, to impart Life.
Oh! That’s what Calvary meant. It took stooped, degraded men and women, and lifted them into a place, to be sons and daughters of God, to heal the sick and to impart Eternal Life; by giving the Holy Ghost to obedient believers, men who were once unbelievers, be made believers, and impart spiritual, Eternal Life. 60-0925 - "That Day On Calvary"
Poor, blind, wretched people, how do you miss that? Don’t you see what the “greater” thing is? That’s the greatest thing could ever happen, was to impart Eternal Life to people. What is Eternal Life?
The Life that He lived, the Life that was in Him, impart That to others. Can a man do that? A son of God can. 60-0925 - "That Day On Calvary"
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
How is this done? By preaching the Gospel, and by living it.
This is why we must be willing to suffer, we are God’s servants, who faithfully dispense salvation, by our actions and attitudes towards others.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Wounded Dove