Old Testament Scripture Reading: Isaiah 49:1 – 6 (KJV)
Isa 49:1 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.
Isa 49:2 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;
Isa 49:3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
Isa 49:4 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.
Isa 49:5 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.
Isa 49:6 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.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5 – 11 (KJV)
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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Transforming Power Statements:
1) From eternity God knew how He would supply redemption to mankind after the fall caused by the sin of Adam, and the Bible tells the story of this redemption and explains how God would “flesh out” the promises that He had made, so that those who believe in His Word can have full assurance of His love and provision through faith in His Son, Christ Jesus.
2) Isaiah gives us many graphic details about the Messiah as no other writer of Scripture, even detailing not only Messiah’s birth, but also His human turmoil that He suffered as He was of His own freewill allowing Himself to dwell as a human being and receiving both unwarranted human suffering as well as required divine rejection and punishment, which provides satisfaction to God the Father to absorb entirely His wrath and judgment against everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
3) Paul tells us how to apply the mind of Jesus Christ to ourselves so that we too can become partakers of the divine nature as we apply this way of thinking to our lives progressively from day to day; looking forward to the completion of the fulfillment of God’s promises made available through Jesus Christ.
(2Peter 1:3 – 4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.