Set Like Flint

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Isaiah 50:7 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.

Flint - abounds in all the plains and valleys of the wilderness of the forty years' wanderings. In Isa. 50:7 and Ezek. 3:9 the expressions, where the word is used, means that the "Messiah would be firm and resolute amidst all contempt and scorn which he would meet;  He had made up his mind to endure it, and would not shrink from the suffering which would be necessary to accomplish the great work in which he was engaged."

Read Isaiah 50:4-8 (context of verse)

"It would be impossible for any sinful human being, no matter how fine a person he was, to undergo the sufferings described without a spirit of rebellion welling up within him. And if a spirit of revenge took hold of him, we might well understand. Even Jeremiah complained at the way he was being used  Jer. 20:9,  Job 3.

Only one who was entirely without sin could undergo such suffering without a rebellious spirit  1 Pet. 2:22-23  The Servant (Christ) counted on the help of Almighty God and so refused to feel disgraced; He knew that God would vindicate Him for being faithful to His calling. He had not suffered because He was guilty, as submitting to public humiliation meekly might suggest to observers, but in spite of His innocence. Earlier in this book Isaiah called the Israelites to trust God rather than the nations when faced with attack by a hostile enemy (chs.7—39). The Servant modeled that trust for God's servant Israel and for all God's servants. The belief that God would not allow Him to be disgraced

in the end emboldened the Servant to remain committed to fulfilling the

Lord's will  Luke 9:51 God would eventually show that the Servant

had not taken a foolish course of action.

1. Isaiah was seeing the Messiah and His crucifixion.

1. He knew His purpose
2. He chose to complete His mission
3. He was confidant in Heaven’s Glory
4. He knew The Father would vindicate Him.

2. He was immovable in His conviction, nothing could stop him from doing the will of His Father. 

1. Sacrificed Himself to redeem humanity back to God
2. was God on earth, not a martyr, but a living sacrifice.  (sin offering)
3. the things He endured are beyond our comprehension

3. Martyrs are mere humans who suffered and died for the cause of Christ – furthering The Gospel. Carrying out The Great Commission. (Mark 16:15)

1. Abraham, Moses, Paul, all Jesus’ disciples – many others became martyrs
2. They had seen Glory Of God and knew beyond any doubt that anything they endured here on earth did not compare to the reward that awaited them.

·         We are not all called to be martyrs, that is, die for Christ. But we all are called to be witnesses in one way or another. (by example)  

 Eph4:11    And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

·         Witnesses and martyrs can have many things in common:           

·         We are all called to do something specific, but we are all supposed to be ready    ”in season and out of season” to witness to people.

                       

4. Even though we are to share the Gospel at all times, sometimes we miss it (the opportunity), for whatever reason.

1. When we do, we can do one of two things:

a)     Quit – Satan wins, that’s what he wants, therefore you influence no one for Christ.

b)     Get back on your horse, influence people for the Gospel of Christ. Don’t run from God – run to Him.

c)     Remember He’s big on forgiveness: 

Rom 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

SET YOUR FACE LIKE FLINT AND BE AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS!