MLK Day Sermon

Isaiah 49:1–6 NKJV

“Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name. And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me.” “And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.’ Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, And my work with my God.’ ” “And now the Lord says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, And My God shall be My strength), Indeed He says, ‘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; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Genesis 37:17–20 NKJV

And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan. Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

Genesis 37:17-20

One the eve of the Holiday that we have distinguished for Dr. King, we cannot help but see the parallels with him being a dreamer along with Joseph.

Therefore looking at Joseph’s life is that we see he attained Gods favor; he also had the favor of his father. Joseph took all that Joseph said to heart and realized that God had plan for his son. At times we may only know in part but we realize that there is a purpose. You may only know part of the dream now, but in your spirit you know God has a purpose. Jacob Joseph’ father was so enamored by his next to youngest son that in verse 37-3-4 that he created a coat of many colors. This coat of many colors was significant and his brothers knew it. The coat of many colors distinguished Joseph as his father’s heir, even though he was not the eldest son; God’s favor had put the heir ship upon him.

The first question that I will ask is what is more significant the dream or the dreamer? My reply is both are significant and dependent upon one another.

The dreamer is important because the dream is inspired through him. And if it is a dream of purpose he will impart the significance of the dream to the people. -18 lets us know that if there is no vision the people will soon perish. The dreams of Joseph and Dr. King both were dreams with purpose and deliverance for their people.

Joseph’s dream was a dream of deliverance and pointed us to Gods redemptive power. Dr. King’s dream was one of love and equality and acceptance for all, along with deliverance for an oppressed people. All dreams of deliverance originate with God, meaning they are God inspired.

When a dream is God inspired the dream will on without the dreamer. When we look at Joseph, we see that God chose him from among his many brethren to be the dreamer. One could get the impression that Joseph’s dream had made him somewhat prideful if one reads - 5-7. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers: And they hated him yet more.

Dr. King was pasturing a small church in Alabama when the civil rights cause fell into his lap. He never chased the limelight, but rather his dream and destiny put the limelight upon him. Dr. King’s call could be compared to Gods call on Moses life on Sinai. Moses and Dr. King were given the tremendous task of telling Pharaoh let my people go. Moses told Pharaoh, Dr. Ling told Jim Crow. Both groups had made racial superiority a false God within their minds.

Joseph was hated by his brethren for no other reason than having divine favor on his life.

Therefore looking at Joseph’s life is that we see he attained Gods favor; he also had the favor of his father. Jacob took all that Joseph said to heart and realized that God had plan for his son. At times we may only know in part but we realize that there is a purpose.

You may only know part of the dream now, but in your spirit you know God has a purpose. Jacob Joseph’ father was so enamored by his next to youngest son that in verse 37-3-4 that he created a coat of many colors. This coat of many colors was significant and his brothers knew it. The coat of many colors distinguished Joseph as his father’s heir, even though he was not the eldest son; God’s favor had put the heir ship upon him.

-11 God states through Jeremiah that I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord.

Thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you and expected end. While we move toward our dream we have to know that our being where we are at is by no accident. That God has purposed a plan for our lives before the worlds were formed. reminds us this. It reads that before we were created in our mother’s womb, God had a plan for us. Joseph and Dr. King lived up to the plans that God had established for their lives.

The Question is, are you living up to the plans that God has determined for your life? Have you tapped into the dream that God has for you? Have you given the thought to what the lord wants from you? Have you realized that even though you may not have a coat of many colors, that you have a covering called the anointing?

It has been said that , “James Earl Ray bullet took the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” but NOT HIS WORK.

The Father and His Son Christ (49:1–13; 50:4–9)

Mission of Christ: the Savior was given a very special, ninefold mission when He came into the world. Note that the Savior Himself is speaking, inviting all the people from the islands and distant nations to give close attention. What He has to say is of utmost importance. He has a very special message, good tidings of great joy for the world.[1]

The words of God to Christ (49:3, 5–13)

“I will display my glory through you” (49:3) .

“You will redeem and restore Israel” (49:5) : God commissions the Son to bring Israel back to him.

“You will be a light to the Gentiles” (49:6) : The Son will bring salvation to the ends of the earth.

“After suffering rejection, you will be honored by all nations” (49:7) : Kings will stand at attention, and princes will bow low when the Lord walks by.

“You will usher in the Millennium” (49:8–13): Everything will be made perfect for Israel.

The words of Christ to God (49:4) : “My labor seems in vain, but I’ll leave everything in your hands!”

The words of Christ to himself (49:1–2; 50:4–9)

1. “He commissioned me before my physical birth” (49:1) .

2. “I am a mighty weapon in his hands” (49:2) : His words of judgment are as sharp as a sword. Likewise, I contend this morning that there are hands that are even more protective and stable than All-State. And they are the hands of God. For God calls, protects and hides us in the shadow of His hand.

In fact, the Bible (and life in general) is filled with wonderful events and chronicles of God showing His hand of protection and righteousness in the life of believers.

Yet, have you ever wonder why terrible things happened to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others that God called and promised to protect?

Why is it that some of the most trusting and dedicated believers …

Sometimes experience the most devastating circumstances that life (on this side of heaven) has to offer?

Seriously, have you ever wondered why God allowed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his family to go through what they went through (in the midst of non-violently fighting for the Civil Rights and Equal Rights for All Ethnic Groups) ?

And why did God allow the Prophet Daniel in the Old Testament (who prayed three times a day) to be thrown into the vicious lion dens (in )?

Or perhaps, you can explain to me why God allow three teens (who may have been fatherless) from the ghetto of Jerusalem – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - to get thrown into the fiery furnace?

Is it fair for terrible things to happen to some believers and not to all believers?

Yet, the scriptures tells us that God isn’t bias, because God has no respect of persons – For there is no respect of persons with God.

I don’t claim to have all of the answers to life’s most perplexing questions, but what I do know is that like Dr. King in years past, and many Christians today, all of the before mentioned believers demonstrated an unusual faith and trust in the Hands of God.

Therefore, I submit to you this morning that just as God allowed you and me to go through various levels of trials and tribulations in 2017 - in order for others to be encouraged in their faith…

He also allowed the patriarchs of old (and Dr. King) to experience terrible things in order for the believers in 2018 to be inspired NOT TO GIVE-UP… but to Hang In There and remain in God’s Hands because “We Shall Overcome”.

3. “He gives me perfect wisdom, that I might comfort those in need” (50:4) .

4. “I obediently follow him, even when I suffer for it” (50:5–7): He does not rebel or turn away from his Father’s plan.

5. “He totally vindicates me” (50:8–9): All his enemies are destroyed.[2]

[1] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2005). Isaiah: Chapters 36–66 (Vol. II, p. 166). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

[2] Willmington, H. L. (1999). The Outline Bible (). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.