Bible In One Year-Day 299 (Saturday, October 26, 2013) GOD’S SERVANT

Commentary: Isaiah41-44. The calling of the Lord is in His righteousness and not in our righteousness. It is as He delights and not as the weight of our zeal. His assignment is according to His will and not of our will. The execution is by His Spirit and not in our ability. He makes us fit for the job He has for any of us. Whatever is of the Lord must be done by His Spirit; anything else will amount to nothing. No man on earth can do His work pleasingly and rightly without the help and the strength from His Spirit. If God calls you for an assignment, He rests the Spirit of that assignment on you.

Isaiah 42:1 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold (strengthened); mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”

We can only know God’s servant by the fruit of His Spirit. The working of the Holy Spirit through us is what pleases God and not the work of righteousness of our flesh. To do good or to do evil, if it is of the flesh, it is not pleasing to God. However, to receive the Spirit of God to do ‘good’ but refusing to do it will be counted as sin before the Lord; this is rebellion. A servant of God will allow the Spirit of God to work through Him or Her; otherwise such will be called a rebellious servant. The term ‘servant’ could be used as a general term. But the presence of the spirit in that servant suggests whose servant he or she is. That spirit is expected to carry the likeness of the owner of that assignment to fulfill the assignment. That is, the spirit knows what the goal is and is prompting the recipient towards accomplishing the goal.

In the scripture above, the choosing of a person for a work in God’s vineyard is as a result of God’s delight; this is favor. When God fills such with His Spirit, this is grace. And by this grace such a person’s work is no more ordinary but divine and whoever fights against Him is fighting God. This was the message of Gamaliel in the book of Acts.

Acts 5:38-39 “And now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

Many works look like that of God, but they aren’t but men’s’ wisdom; they don’t last even though they pull the crowd. The preaching could be full of wisdom, the teaching could be loaded with knowledge, but once it is not genuinely of the Spirit of God, it will not give life and will not last the test of time. Dr. Gamaliel in the Book of Acts (chapter5) made us to understand that there were many works that look godly and pulled the crowd, but never lasted.

Acts 5:36-37 “For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.”

If the work is of God, people may succeed in killing the man, but cannot succeed in killing the project or assignment; as a matter of fact, it will ignite the fire (Spirit) of continuity in people just as Jesus said.

John 12:24 “Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

The gospel grew after the death of Jesus. It further exploded as the Apostles were being killed one after the other; none of them died well, but their works lived after them. These are genuine servants of God.

What spirit are you using to work? If deception is found in your work, definitely, God is not in it but the father of liars, Satan.

John 8:34 “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say to you, Whoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”

The Servant referred to in Isa42:1 received the Spirit to carry out justice on the gentiles. By what follows in that passage, he could not be discouraged but persistently press forward until the assignment is accomplished. Servants with the Spirit of God don’t please the world because they don’t have that spirit. It is not for Him to announce Himself in public or advertise His work; rather, His work cannot keep silent but will announce Him. As much as the rulers tried to kill the work of Jesus, it grew prevailingly, even in the hands of the Apostles.

Acts 19:20 “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

Perhaps you have been known for notoriety or for other bad things, all you need is God’s delight and your story shall change. Perhaps you have been known for somebody to avoid and nobody wants to identify with you because of your past, all you need is the unforgettable ‘journey to Damascus’ (Acts9). Saul of Tarsus engaged on that journey and His life never remained the same. At the border of Damascus, Jesus was waiting for him with a life changing package. The light that broke the back bone of darkness in his life ushered him into the city of Damascus. He had no sight but was full of light (a life different from what he used to have had entered into him). Hitherto, the zeal in him was without light and life and that was why he was killing innocent people about. But after this glorious encounter, his zeal received light and life and he began to minister life to the dying soul. By this, he was able to fulfill Isa42:1. This is the light you need and darkness will never have a place to stay in your life anymore. Paul was able to fulfill it because he followed Jesus. If you follow Jesus genuinely with your heart, you will fulfill all that Jesus fulfilled.

John 8:12 “Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Without the Spirit of God, a person gets tired, frustrated and disappointed. One cannot be contented in doing the work of God without His Spirit. Such gets easily offended while doing God’s work. He seeks for the praise and approval of men. It is not difficult for such to quit the race.

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is Isaiah45-48. Keep the fire of burning and alive.

Supo Abayode

+1-302-230-6792

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Delaware, USA