You Shall Be Named the Priests of the Lord (Isaiah 61:4-7)
Rev. Myung-Sin Choi
“4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. 5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. 6 And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. 7 Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”
Introduction
I read a news article and I read about five ways to be successful. The first step was not to indwell on failures. Secondly, don’t belittle yourself. Third, business is a game that enjoys crises. Fourth, if failure seems inevitable, quit quickly. Lastly, failure is not the end but a new beginning. When I read this news article, I read that these were all correct but it also deceives many people. The reason is that it is missing Christ. First, it tells us not to indwell in failures; it dismisses God’s plan. It tells us not to belittle yourself but we need to enjoy our blessings as children of God first. It also speaks about how business is a game that we need to enjoy but what we need to enjoy is Immanuel within our journeys. It also speaks about if failure comes upon us, to quit it quickly but we need to always be guided by God. Lastly, it says that failures are not ends but beginnings. What is the correct beginning? The correct beginning is when we start with God’s word. We must discover that within everything, there is God’s plan and we must hold onto God’s word. Today’s sermon is very important. Last week we spoke about those who are enslaved and poor, they received great blessings when they sought after the Messiah.
1. The Content of Christ's Ministry
1) Incidents that will be fulfilled in the near future
Verse 4 - Beyond solving personal problems, the Israelites must restore the land of Israel. Through the Israelites and the land of Israel, God showed His plan. His plan was accurate. His plan of salvation was perfect.
Jeremiah 25:11 “This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” - It was already prophesied that Israel will be enslaved and will live as slaves for 70 years under Babylon. It was accurately written that they will be enslaved for 70 years under Babylon. But what was astounding was that if you look in the history articles, it was exactly 70 years that they were enslaved. When you look in history, they were enslaved under Babylon and then the Israelites were able to return back to Israel under Cyrus in 536 BC. Exactly 70 years later, they were able to return back to Israel and gain freedom. Not only that but when they were enslaved under Babylon, the temple of God was destroyed and they were under attack. But the temple of God was restored in 516 BC. Which means that the temple of God was restored in 70 years. This shows how accurate God’s word is. The year of Jubilee, the 50th year, that year is the year where everything is forgiven. They were freed in the year of Jubilee. This was not a mere coincidence. This shows that God only speaks His accurate plan and His word will absolutely be fulfilled. This shows how important and valuable God’s word is. For Jesus, He also emphasized the importance of God’s word.
Matthew 26:54 “How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” - This was what Jesus told Peter. This was when the Roman soldiers tried to capture Jesus and Peter cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. Then, Jesus responded that He didn’t stand still when these soldiers came for Him because He was powerless. He was fully capable of stopping and killing all of these Romans soldiers but Jesus had to be captured so that He could fulfill God’s word on the cross. What is the point of this? What was the reasoning for Jesus’ life? The standard for Jesus’ life was the word of God. That is why we must hold onto God’s word as your standard and if we do this, then God’s word will be fulfilled in your life.
2) Incidents that will be fulfilled in the far future
Verse 5 - If you look in history, you don’t see any strangers coming into Israel and taking over their fields and vineyards. What does this mean? We must take this spiritually. John Calvin was speaking about what will happen to the future of churches. If this is so, then what does verse 4 mean? When Jesus comes, He will review the spiritual state of Israel. Christ will renew their spiritual state but with what method? He did through the restoration and construction of the church. When Jesus raised up the church, He raised it up by using the Gentiles.
Isaiah 53:1 “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” - This was speaking about the absolute corrupted state of the Israelites. God will start the work of salvation through the Gentiles and the church.
Ephesians 2:14 “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” - This was the prophecy spoken through Apostle Paul. Paul was speaking about what Jesus will do through the cross. Paul said that Jesus will rip the division that is between the Jews and Gentiles. This actually happened, when Jesus died on the cross, the huge veil that separated the sanctuary and the most holy place. This means that the age of the temple is over. During that time, only the high priests could enter the most holy place. The common believers and children only could pray and worship outside of that area. But when that huge veil ripped and came down, all of the doors to come before God was opened to all people. This showed the pathway for the Gentiles. Anyone, whether a Jew or a Gentile could enter the most holy place now.
Hebrews 10:20 “By a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.” - They couldn’t enter because of the curtain that was separating them but that curtain represented Jesus. Jesus died on the cross so that we could come before God once again. The blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross, it allowed the curtain to come down. The only way to meet God was through Jesus Christ. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we are able to be with God once again. When we go before God, we can enjoy the blessings of the heavenly throne now. Anyone who goes before the cross of Christ can live. We can meet God once again through Jesus Christ.
2. The Content of a Christian's Ministry
1) The mission of a priest
Verse 6 - The important part here is that we can be called priests of the Lord. Some theologians interpret this as the remaining disciples of Jesus are called priests of the Lord. The remaining disciples mean Peter, Matthew, Simon, and etc. But after this passage, it says that we will be named ministers of the Lord. But John Calvin interprets this as people who believe in God.
Isaiah 66:21 “ ‘And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,’ says the Lord.” - Only Levites could become priests in the Old Testament. But God said that He will choose someone else who can become a priest. God said that He will choose the Gentiles to become His priests.
Romans 15:16 “To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” - This is speaking about the role of a priest. What is the role of a priest? It is to save the sinners and to save them from their sin. Who does this work? It was people like the Apostle Paul. This means that the priest is an evangelist. What does a disciple should be doing? A disciple does the work of, “…The priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” This is the mission that God has given to us. The work that we must do as evangelists is to sanctify others in the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t end with evangelism but we must become an offering acceptable to God. What is an offering acceptable to God? That is the walk of life of Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” - We are also dying on the cross with Jesus. This is the offering that is acceptable to God. Receive this blessing.
2) The reward for priests
Verse 7 - God didn’t end with the priests in the Old Testaments but God is continuing His ministry through us as priests. We have received the blessing of the role of a priest and the blessings that follow are tremendous. We saw the RUTC news together today. Are you not touched after watching it? Doesn’t passion and thanksgiving run through your body? These are the blessings that have been given to us as evangelists and priests. There are so many obstacles and people who try to block you when you try to evangelize. There will be so many who try to criticize you when you try to evangelize but during that time, God said that He will double His portion on you. I am sure you are aware of the many incidents that took place this year but through all incidents, we can see the great fruit of God. There will be a double portion in our land and the everlasting joy will be upon us. We must make and receive the eternal masterpiece. These are the amazing blessings that we will receive.
Daniel 12:3 “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” - On this earth, there are great moments of joy but when we go to heaven, we will shine brightly. When I read this, I realized that there are stars in heaven. There are stars in heaven. We see stars on earth but there are real stars in heaven. Receive this blessing. Enjoy all of this.
3. Resolutions to Make
1) Do not lose hold of the pulpit message on Sunday.
John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” - Through the pulpit message, God will continue to guide and teach us through the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:5 “Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” - Through the Holy Spirit, God has given us something important. We must hold onto God’s covenant and be victorious. The word of God will absolutely be fulfilled. The word of God will be fulfilled perfectly.
2) Do not lose hold of the blessings of the field
Acts 16:14 “One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” - Paul was just sharing the gospel but he met Lydia. God opened Lydia’s heart. If Paul didn’t share the gospel to Lydia then the church of Philippi might have never opened and started. That is why we must see all meetings as important and there are important doors for the gospel movement.
What must we proclaim? It is Acts 17:3 “Explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. 'This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,' he said.” - What we must proclaim is that Jesus is the Christ.
3) Do not lose hold of the age of the three-day weekend and the next generation.
Acts 19:8, 11 “And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.” - When we meet remnants, we must proclaim about the kingdom of God accurately. We must teach our remnants accurately about the kingdom of God. We must help our remnants come to the conclusion of Galatians 2:20.
Acts 19:11 - God gives great miracles and evidence to His evangelists.
Conclusion
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” - Peter gave us extra assurance through this. We are God’s royal priesthood. The reason is because we must proclaim Jesus Christ. We must become people who can proclaim and testify that Jesus is the Christ through all of our meetings. If we are able to fulfill our role as priest, then God will give us great rewards and open all doors for us. Receive this blessing in the name of Jesus Christ.
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