Mighty God- The Power Of Christ To Transform Your Life Series

Could things be different at Christmas this year?

Could this be the year that we overcome our anger?

Could this be the year that we learn to submit to the Lord?

Could this be the year that we forgive?

Could this be the year that we find our satisfaction in God, and not our possessions?

We have been studying the Names of Jesus from Isaiah 9 in our series “A.K.A. Jesus.” Today we come to the second of four compound names, the title MIGHTY GOD. These names draw our attention to four aspects of the coming Messiah:

Wonderful Counselor - the PERSON of Christ

Mighty God - the POWER of Christ

Everlasting Father - the PROMISES of Christ

Prince of Peace - the PEACE of Christ

Let’s begin our study by looking at the words for Mighty God. This is a compound of two Hebrew names. The name “El” which stands for God. It is the name of God that is most often used and appears in the form Elohim, normally translated God in our English texts.

The second part of the name is the Hebrew word “Gibbor. Taken together, these form the name “El Gibbor.” It is a title that presents to us the power of the one who would come as our Messiah.

The word for power, “gibbor,” is used of MEN. It is used of Nimrod. Genesis 10:9 "He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Gibbor is also used of David’s mighty men (1 Chron 11:15-19). It can mean “one who magnifies himself, behaves proudly, a tyrant, who is bold, audacious” (Brown, Drivers, Briggs).

This name is also used of GOD. Three occurrences are found in Psalm 145, where the Lord is portrayed as a mighty warrior who rescues his people. Psalm 145:4 "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your MIGHTY acts." Psalm 145:11 "They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your POWER.” Psalm 145:12 "to make known to the children of man your MIGHTY DEEDS, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom."

Men can be powerful, but God holds all power to deliver his people.

When the word Gibbor and the name for God are combined, it provides a compound word for God demonstrating His POWER and WISDOM.

In Isaiah 9:6 the Messiah is given the name EL GIBBOR as a powerful demonstration of the DEITY of the MESSIAH. Because the Messiah is given the description El Gibbor, it means that the Messiah is equal with God, because only GOD is the ALMIGHTY.

Deuteronomy 10:17 "For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe."

Psalm 24:8 "Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!"

Another way in which this phrase demonstrates Christ’s deity is that the only other use of compound name “El Gibbor” is found in Isaiah 10:21 "A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God." This verse refers to the FATHER, making the coming Christ equal with the Father.

The promise to Judah in Isaiah 9:6 was that God would demonstrate his POWER and deliver his people through the Messiah. This same message is important for us as we trust Jesus to accomplish impossible things in our lives.

How is JESUS the MIGHTY GOD?

We need to look to the New Testament to discover the ways in which the power of Jesus is described. There are six ways in which Christ’s power is described in the New Testament. These descriptions teach us that Christ wants to give us power for living, and the power to inherit the promises he has in store for us.

First, we see Christ’s Creative Power

1 Corinthians 8:6 "yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."

Colossians 1:16 "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him."

Hebrews 1:2 "but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe."

The second concept of Christ’s power is his Resurrection Power

Romans 1:4 "and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,"

Philippians 3:10 "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,"