Being Ministers of God Reflections on the ‘Servant’ concept in Isaiah

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Being Ministers of GodReflections on the
Servant concept in Isaiah

• The minister and the ministers(915am Saturday)
• The suffering and joy of the minister (11am
  Saturday)
• The wisdom of the minister(11am Sunday)

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The Minister andthe Ministers

• Isaiah 421-9
• 2 Corinthians 4

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Who is the Minister?
For I tell you that Christ became a servant to
the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in
order to confirm the promises given to the
patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might
glorify God for his mercy. Romans 158-9
25 And he said to them, The kings of the
Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those
in authority over them are called benefactors. 26
But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest
among you become as the youngest, and the leader
as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one
who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it
not the one who reclines at table? But I am among
you as the one who serves Luke 2225-27
Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a
faithful minister of Christ on your
behalf. Colossians 17

• Israel (Isa 41-42)
• The disgraced minister (Isa 4219)
• The minister for Israel (Isa 493-5)
• The ministers in Israel (Isa 61-66)
• Jesus, minister for Israel
• Redeemed Israel ministers for the nations
• Us?

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Minister terminology

• db,, (MT)
• paij (LXX and NT quotes of LXX)
• diakonoj (NT)

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Ministers of Christ

• Colossians 17Epaphras is a faithful minister
  of Christ on your behalf
• 2 Corinthians 45For what we proclaim is not
  ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with
  ourselves as your servants douloi for Jesus'
  sake.

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Being Ministers of GodReflections on the
Servant concept in Isaiah

• The minister and the ministers(915am Saturday)
• The suffering and joy of the minister (11am
  Saturday)
• The wisdom of the minister(11am Sunday)

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The Suffering and Joy ofthe Minister

• Isaiah 491-13
• 2 Corinthians 61-10

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The Minister

• The suffering minister(Isa 497, 533-9)
• The minister of joy(Isa 5310-12, 611-3)
• The ministers of joy(Isa 566-7, 614-7 10,
  6513, 6614)
• Paul, the minister who rejoices in sufferings(2
  Corinthians 61-10)

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Colossians 124-25

• Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and
  in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in
  Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body,
  that is, the church, of which I became a minister
  according to the stewardship from God that was
  given to me for you, to make the word of God
  fully known

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Philippians 117-18

• The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not
  sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my
  imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way,
  whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is
  proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I
  will rejoice

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2 Corinthians 139

• For we are glad when we are weak and you are
  strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

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Philippians 217

• Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering
  upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am
  glad and rejoice with you all.

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Colossians 111

• May you be strengthened with all power, according
  to his glorious might, for all endurance and
  patience with joy,

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Romans 53

• Through him we have also obtained access by faith
  into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice
  in hope of the glory of God.
• More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings,
  knowing that suffering produces endurance,

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1 Peter 412-14

• Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial
  when it comes upon you to test you, as though
  something strange were happening to you. But
  rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings,
  that you may also rejoice and be glad when his
  glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the
  name of Christ, you are blessed, because the
  Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

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Anxiety for the churches

• 2 Corinthians 1128-29And, apart from other
  things, there is the daily pressure on me of my
  anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I
  am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not
  indignant?
• Galatians 419my little children, for whom I am
  again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ
  is formed in you!

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xkcd.com
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The Wisdom of the Minister

• Isaiah 5213-5312
• 1 Corinthians 21-10

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Isaiahs world
Assyria
Egypt
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The wisdom of the world

• The wisdom of the kings(Isa 1012-14)
• The wisdom of their advisers(Isa 1911-12)
• The wisdom of the Israels advisers(Isa 2911-14)

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The wisdom of God

• Independent of human wisdom(Isa 4013-14)
• Wisdom, the minister and the kings(Isa 497,
  5213-15, 5311)

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Wisdom in Corinth
Im for Apollos!
Im for Cephas!
Im for Christ!
Im for Paul!
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Wisdom, the Minister Kings

• Isaiah 496-7he says "It is too light a thing
  that you should be my servant to raise up the
  tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved
  of Israel I will make you as a light for the
  nations, that my salvation may reach to the end
  of the earth." 7 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer
  of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply
  despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of
  rulers "Kings shall see and arise princes, and
  they shall prostrate themselves because of the
  LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel,
  who has chosen you."
• Acts 915-16But the Lord said to him, "Go, for
  he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my
  name before the Gentiles and kings and the
  children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how
  much he must suffer for the sake of my name."

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Jesus Paul
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Jesus Paul
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Jesus Paul
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Jesus Paul
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Christians and Politics

• Acts 2424-25After some days Felix came with his
  wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for
  Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ
  Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and
  self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was
  alarmed and said, Go away for the present. When
  I get an opportunity I will summon you.