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Oct 13, 2019

Lay Your Torches Down

Lay Your Torches Down

Passage: Isaiah 50:4-11

Speaker: Ben Seneker

Series: Isaiah: The Story Beneath the Story

Jesus, the Suffering Servant, perfectly accepts our disgrace on the cross, and coming out of the grave vindicated by the Father, he stands on our behalf, able to hear our cries for help and, by his words, sustain us in our weariness.

Order of Worship

Pre-Service Text: Isaiah 49:2
Call To Worship: Psalm 56:3-4
New Testament Reading: Romans 8:32-34
Sermon Title: Lay Your Torches Down
Central Text: Isaiah 50:4-11
Benediction: Hebrews 12:1-2
Post-Service Text: John 14:12-14

Readings & Scripture

Pre-Service Text: Isaiah 49:2
He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow;
in his quiver he hid me away.

Call To Worship: Psalm 56:3-4
LEADER: When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
PEOPLE In God, whose word I praise,
LEADER: in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
ALL: What can flesh do to me?

New Testament Reading: Romans 8:32-34
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Central Text: Isaiah 50:4-11

4 The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
6 I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.

Is. 50:7 But the Lord GOD helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord GOD helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.

Is. 50:10 Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the LORD
and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who equip yourselves with burning torches!
Walk by the light of your fire,
and by the torches that you have kindled!
This you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.

Benediction: Hebrews 12:1-2
LEADER: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
ALL: looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.


Post-Service Text: John 14:12-14
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Related Scriptures:

  • Genesis 3:10
  • John 14:12-14
  • John 8:28-29
  • John 5:19
  • Hebrews 12:2
  • Revelation 3:18

Discussion Questions & Applications:

1. Guilt is based on what you’ve done (“I did something bad”) while Shame is based on who you think you are (“I AM something bad”). How do we easily get these two mixed up?

2. Down deep shame and disgrace comes from believing a lie about yourself...what is that lie? Where does it come from? How do you deal with shame? Where does shame take you?

3. How does the passage (see v. 6) show the disgrace Jesus took for us? Think about that for a second...how in the world can God himself submit himself to shame and disgrace? Why would he do that? How does having a God who voluntarily accepted disgrace help us when we feel shame and disgrace?

4. Shame comes from believing a lie about your core character, but Jesus has been given the perfect words (and Word, see v. 4) to counteract the lie...what is that word (are those words)?

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