Title: The Prince of Peace Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7
Type: Christmas Where: GNBC 11-28-21
Intro: During WWI, the Prince of Wales was invited to visit a military hospital in which there were 36 injured soldiers. He willingly accepted. In the first ward he visited, he went from bed to bed thanking each soldier for his sacrifices for the Empire. As he left the ward he said to the official in charge, "You told me that there were 36 soldiers here, but I counted only 29. Where are the other 7?" The official replied that the others were in very bad condition, and they would never be able to leave the hospital due to their terrible wounds. "It would be better to leave them alone." Undaunted, the Prince found the door and entered the ward and proceeded to do as he had previously done. As he left the ward, he counted the number of soldiers; there were 6. The Prince questioned the official again. "Where is the missing soldier?" "Ah, Your Majesty, that soldier is in a little dark room by himself. He is blind, dumb, deaf, and completely paralyzed by the injuries he suffered. He awaits release by death." The Prince of Wales quietly opened the door and entered the darkened room. He gazed with full heart upon the poor creature lying helpless upon his bed. It was impossible to tell him of his sympathy, of his gratitude, for he was deaf. He was unable to shake his hand... the man was paralyzed! He was unable to show him how he felt for the man was blind. In seeking some way to express himself, the Prince went over slowly to the bed, stooped over the wounded soldier, and kissed him on the forehead. My friends, that’s what our Lord did. He came seeking to save those who have been wounded by the sin of the world. He seeks those who are lost and He settles His divine affection upon them. Those men had seen the horror of war. Were abandoned. And as He did in IS. 9, He still delivers those who are fearful and afraid, because He is the Prince of Peace. (Credit: Bobby Scobey, Sermon Central).
Prop: Reading Is. 9:6-7 we’ll see how Christ delivers those who are abandoned and neglected.
BG: 1. Isaiah generally regarded as the greatest prophetic book of the OT. Prophesied during th reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah. Tumultuous time!
2. Isaiah speaking both to a need of the time – Judah’s great need with enemies on border.
3. Yet, also, is a prophecy of hope coming in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Alluded to in Lk. 1:32-33 as Gabriel speaks to Mary, who herself, certainly wondered whether Joseph would abandon her.
Prop: Is. 9:6-7 we’ll see God’s plan to deliver all those abandoned and neglected.
1st Jesus Christ, Our WC and Eternal Father, Removes Feelings of Loneliness and Abandonment.
A. During the life and ministry of Isaiah, Judah felt abandoned by God.
1. Is. 9 – Judah condition is deplorable. She is alone and apparently abandoned in the face of the encroaching and encircling enemy.
a. Ahaz’s condition – It is lonely being the leader when things not going well in the country. In Is. 3:8-9 (READ) we see the downtrodden condition of the nation. Notice that phrase: “Woe unto them. They have brought disaster upon themselves.”
b. Illust: Much of the trouble we experience in life are troubles we have brought upon ourselves. There are three sources of “troubles” in our lives: 1.Troubles make for ourselves. 2. Troubles by the enemy. 3. Troubles sent by God. The frist we see in our attitudes, actions, words, habits, passions, appetites. The second the enemy sends our way in an attempt to get us to take our focus off of God and His plan for our lives. The third type is sent by God to purify us, to remove traits, characteristics, habits, so that we come into greater conformity with Christ. Don’t run from, but rather embrace these troubles. Ahaz and Judah were facing troubles and needed to see God in them.
2. At Christmastime many individuals feel the pain of loneliness and abandonment.
a. Illust – Gardner p. 107 – When we feel alone or abandoned , there are always root beliefs or lies that make us feel that way. “I’m all alone”, No one understands me, No one cares, I’ve been abandoned, God has forsaken me, There is no one to protect me, I will always be alone, I don’t belong, No one believes me, I don’t matter, No one cares for me.” Those lies become connected to our feelings. Need to identify those as lies and ask the Lord to bring the truth we need to free us from those negative thoughts. The Advent of Jesus Christ declares all of those statements to be: LIES!
B. Let me ask you, are you particularly susceptible to the devil’s lies at this special time of the year? I think that the reason in part so many people feel so lonely and abandoned at Christmas is dependent upon our spiritual orientation. It is the enemy throwing his best lies at us in the face of all the evidence! What is Christmas if it is not: “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Jn. 3:16Jesus, as our Eternal Father, is able to Remove Feelings of Loneliness and Abandonment.
1. Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, understands what it’s like to be utterly and completely alone.
a. Illust – It’s my experience that the best counselors are those who have been through the same experience that is my present struggle. Think back to Mt. 26:39 – Our blessed Savior was in the Garden, Alone. Sure, His disciples were a few yards away in body, but they couldn’t comprehend what was His struggle. So intense was His struggle that He “sweat drops as blood”. But a few hours later He would face the ultimate rejection, the fissure in the fellowship of the Trinity when He would cry out: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46)
b. Friend, from what did Jesus die? Pierced hands and feet? No. Suffocation? No. The severity of the beating by the guards? No. I believe that certainly all of those contributed to our Savior’s demise. However, I think primarily He died of extreme loneliness and sadness.
2. Christmas Instills Hope that God has Come so We Need not feel lost or abandoned.
a. Illust – I remember reading an article in Parade magazine several years ago about the famous actor Gene Hackmann. In the article Hackmann stated how when he was a young child, 5 or 6 yrs. of age, his father drove off to work one day. Waved goodbye, and never came home again. Abandoned family. Always felt alone and struggled with trusting others as a result.
b. Friends, Jesus told His disciples in Jn. 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Christ stands in the relation of a Father to his people, and they are his children, his spiritual seed and offspring; and so the disciples might fear, that as Christ was going from them, they should be left as children without a father, in a very desolate and comfortless, condition: to support them against these fears, Christ promises that he would not leave them thus. He tells you and me the same today.
c. C. Applic: . The message of Christmas is “You are not alone!” “People are losing the power to enjoy Christmas through identifying it with enjoyment (commercialism),” Chesterton writes. “When once they lose sight of the old suggestion that it is all about something, they naturally fall into blank pauses of wondering what it is all about.” In other words, Christmas isn’t frivolous enjoyment for its own sake. It’s the celebration of a real person and event, and it has wide-ranging implication for our lives. Christ came as our WC and eternal Father, so that we may never have to feel alone or abandoned.
2nd Jesus Christ, as WC and Prince of Peace, Remove Feelings of Hopelessness.
A. During the Ministry of Isaiah, Judah felt Completely Hopeless.
1. Is. 9:1 – “There will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish in earlier times.”
a. Gloom, hopelessness, and distress encircled the nation of Judah. Armed and powerful enemies stood on her borders, destruction loomed on the horizon. Illust: Although this was a microcosm by comparison to what Judah faced, the afternoon before the flood waters spilled over in the floods of ‘08, Katherine and I were in Aldi, getting last minute groceries. 4:45 pm, the store manager got everyone’s attention and said: “We have just been told everyone must be out of the store in the next 15 minutes. River is going to come out of banks.” You could have cut the fear and discouragement with a knife. People didn’t panic, but you could see the fear in people’s eyes.
b. In Isaiah, we realize the nation’s leader wasn’t setting the best example. In hopelessness, the king, Ahaz, had turned to the Assyrians for help rather than the Lord. This would have dire consequences as we are told in II Chron. 28 – Result was the people were unrestrained and then, the Assyrian who had hoped would help and tried to buy off, and even emulate with bringing his pagan religion into the nation, turned on him and instead of strengthening, afflicted him (v.20) - Beware of who are your true friends and where to find help in time of need. Not the world. Christ is always there. He is always faithful!
2. Often, especially at this time of year, people struggle with the gloom of hopelessness.
a. Is. 9:2 –READ – Gloom is often related to darkness, isn’t it? This is the time of year many feel depressed. (SAD, holidays, etc.) And yet, the Lord offers hope, not only to Judah but to each one of us. “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.” Let me remind you that even the most super-spiritual among us can suffer from depression. In I Ki. 19 – Elijah is on the run from Jezebel. In v.4 He is so depressed asks the Lord to let him die. Totally exhausted. Elijah rises up and flees to a cave in Horeb and while there the Lord speaks to his dejected prophet. Not through the wind, not through the earthquake, not through the fire, but rather through the gentle, blowing, wind. God knows what we need, when we need it.
b. Illust – Research tells us that upwards of 75% of all clinical psychiatric hospitalizations is due in one form or another to depression. It is estimated that 15% of the adult American pop. Just heard this week that 1 in 5 American women, 16 yrs. of age and older are on anti-depressants. Many others exp. Significant symptoms of depression every year! Darkness and gloom while living in the land the rest of the world believes is flowing with milk and honey! Illust: Couple of years ago, listening to Moody Radio. Spoke about what was coming to Barrow, AK. Barrow is the northernmost town in Alaska. Entering a period where wouldn’t see the sun for 67 days straight! Awful winter! Depressing winter! However, they enjoy the midnight sun all summer - over 80 days of uninterrupted daylight come summertime. You may be discouraged and depressed right now. Psalm 30:5 “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning!” PTL!
B. Jesus, as our Prince of Peace, Can Remove Our Feelings of Hopelessness.
1. Jesus, as our Wonderful Counselor Brings Hope to Hopeless lives.
a. Jesus’ miraculous life brought hope to a lost and dying world. Is. 9 passage, the word translated “virgin” simply means young woman. However, in Mt. 1:23, the Greek word, parthenos is used. This word can only mean “virgin” in the sense in which we understand it today.
b. Why do pagans always want to attack the “Virgin Birth of Christ”? Because they hate the miraculous! Because it is the miraculous entrance of God into this fallen world that ultimately brings you and me hope! “...The Virgin birth denotes particularly the mystery of revelation. It denotes the fact that God stands at the start where real revelation takes place – God and not the arbitrary cleverness, capability or piety of man. In Jesus Christ God comes forth out of the profound hiddenness of his divinity in order to act as God among us and upon us. That is revealed and made visible to us in the sign of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, but it is grounded upon the fact signified by the Virgin birth, that here in this Jesus God himself has really come down and concealed himself in humanity. It was because he was veiled here that he could and had to unveil himself as he did at Easter...” SOURCE: Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics, I.2 pp. 182-183.
2. Gloom, Hopelessness, and Distress, were a few of the reasons Jesus Came in the Flesh
a. Illust: Wonderful scene in “The Last Battle” – Gandalf and Pippin are bracing selves for what may very well be last stand against Armies of Sauron. Pippin says: “I didn’t think it would end this way.” Gandalf’s reply: “End, who said this was the end? Death is another path we must all take… Then you see it, white shores and a far green country with a fast sunrise.” “Well, that isn’t so bad then.” Rom. 15:13 – “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. “ Christianity is a religion of hope! It is a faith of hope.
b. We should seize every opportunity to give encouragement. Encouragement is oxygen to the soul. The days are always dark enough. There is no need for us to emphasize the fact by spreading further gloom. Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated, “The Christian life is not one of gloom, but of ever increasing joy in the Lord.”
C. Applic: If at this Christmas you are discouraged and depressed, struggling with hopelessness, the Prince of Peace, our Wonderful Counselor, brings you hope.
3rd Jesus Christ our Mighty God, Gives Victory over Feelings of Helplessness.
A. During the Ministry of Isaiah, the nation of Judah certainly felt helpless.
1. The nation was weak and surrounded by strong and threatening countries.
a. Like Belgium during the 1st and 2nd WW, the nation was surrounded by menacing countries. How would this hope be accomplished? What were the nation’s resources?
b. The nation had precious little to do with it. God had everything- ‘the zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” That is the key phrase now, isn’t it? God was, is, and will continue to be sovereign over His creation for all time. God promised David an everlasting kingdom and in v.7 it is stated that His throne, like that of David’s, would be on earth. This kingdom will be distinguished as one of justice and righteousness (11:3-5), and would be realized by the power of God.
2. The strongest among us can periodically feel weak and helpless.
a. Illust – Oftentimes the beliefs we hold and the things we say cause us to feel helpless. Dr. Jim Gardner has said that when people say things like: “I am weak.” I am overwhelmed. I’m helpless against him. I cannot do anything about it. I’m going to die, I’m too small to do anything about it. Everything is out of control…” (p. 123) The we begin to adopt that mentality rather than the promises of God.
b. Even in the Bible we read examples of godly people who in moments of time felt very helpless. II Chron. 20:12 ff (read) Good king Jehoshaphat is terrorized at the prospect of the invading Arameans, admits own inability – “we are powerless”. That’s a terrible position for a king to be in…or is it? Has all the nation assemble and stand before the Lord to ask Him what should do. What is God’s answer? :”You need not fight this battle…” (v.17) stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.” There is an important lesson in the directive given to Jehoshaphat – when you are helpless and afraid, trust the Lord to fight your battles for you!
B. Jesus, Who is Our Mighty God Removes that Helplessness By Empowering Us with Salv., Hope, and Purpose.
1. Be encouraged friend, Jesus, Who is our Wonderful Counselor, brings help to our Helpless lives.
a. Illust - Terry Waite and Anglican special envoy to the Middle East, was a hostage in Lebanon for five long years. Waite tells in his autobiography, how for month after month he was kept chained hand and foot. Most of his clothes were taken from him, his shoes and even his watch. For hours at a time he could only curl up as a baby and he says he felt just as helpless. As Christmas time came round he thought, "Well, that’s how Jesus must have been - utterly vulnerable and dependent on others. He had left the presence of his Father, left the glories of heaven to take on human form, as a helpless baby."
b. Scripture: What does the Bible tell us? Mk. 10:27 “All things are possible with God.” , II Cor. 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Phil. 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” (Truth)
2. The Purpose of this Passage was to Show both a Present and Future hope to God’s distraught people.
a. The people Isaiah addressed were distraught! No hope! No help! But Isaiah encouraged them. The people distraught at the time of Joseph and Mary and the incarnation of Christ. The people who today are still groping, lost, and scared, living in darkness.
b. Illust - There is a moving scene in the movie Dr. Zhivago where the Comrade General is talking with Tanya about a traumatic experience in her childhood. He asks her, “How did you come to be lost?” She replies, “Well, I was just lost.” But he persists, “No, how did you come to be lost?” Tanya doesn’t want to say, but finally gives another cursory explanation: “I was just lost. My father and I were running through the city and it was on fire. The revolution had come and we were trying to escape and I was lost.” The Comrade General kept pressing: “How did you come to be lost?” She still didn’t want to say, but blurts out: “We were running through the city and my father let go of my hand and I was lost.” Then she added plaintively, “He let go.” This is what she didn’t want to say. The Comrade General said, “This is what I’ve been trying to tell you, Tanya. Komarov was not your real father. Zhivago is your real father and I can promise you, Tanya, that if this man had been there, your real father, he would never have let go of your hand.” Christmas is the time of the year we can remind people that in Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father reached out His hand of love to an alienated, lost, hopeless and helpless humanity!
