Mighty God Series

Mighty God

Isaiah 9:1-6

December 10, 2023

If you were to choose your most favorite name or expression for God, what would it be? For example, you may think of God as a God of - - - -

peace counselor healer comforter

Rock physician shepherd creator

Eternal Merciful Grace Father

And if we were to be really honest, there’s been times when many of us have wondered where God is in the midst of our pain. Maybe we’ve called God - - - -

absent angry unapproachable

weak uncaring distant

Many of us have been there and wondered about God’s presence. I really want to encourage you with today’s name from Isaiah 9. It’s actually my favorite name and way to describe God.

For this Advent series, we’re taking a look at one of the classic prophetic passages of the Old Testament about Jesus. It’s from Isaiah 9. It’s prophetic because it points the people of Israel, who as Isaiah tells us in 8:22, the people were in great "distress and darkness," to an amazingly bright and glorious future.

God was going to do some amazing things to redeem Israel and set the world right. And what’s at the heart of this hoped-for future? The advent, the coming, the arrival of a baby.

Isaiah declared in verse 2 - - - -

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shone.

As I said last week, it’s so awesome the way it’s written. It’s written in the past tense. It’s this promise from God that their condition is going to change. It’s going to get better.

And think about the hope we have when we’re in a dark place — — and we see a light. We gain a sense of hope! And of course, the great light is the One who is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD - - - - JESUS!

There are times when we’re living in distress and despair and it’s difficult to see better days ahead, yet the promise from God is that better days are coming.

How the days come is totally mind blowing. Isaiah declares - -

6 For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given - Isaiah 9:6a

It’s bold! It’s an audacious claim, isn't it!? Pastor Ray Ortlund wrote - - - - "God's answer to everything that has ever terrorized us . . . . is a child."

But what's so special about this child? Who will this child be? What will this child do? Isaiah's prophecy gives us only a few names. But these names tell us a lot about this child.

6 and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6b

Last week, we looked at the first of these names, "Wonderful Counselor." God will be our great strategist.

This week, we'll reflect on the fact that this child to be born, whom Christians confess to be Jesus, shall be called "Mighty God."

So, what does that mean to call Jesus, Mighty God?!

Names in the Old Testament were often meant to be descriptive of a person’s identity or character.

The name says something about what God will do or who God is. We can say the name Mighty God is kind of a job description. This child will reveal the mighty God to Israel and us, in a unique way.

Jesus is the One who reveals the mighty God of the Bible. In John 14:9, Jesus said to Philip --- “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

Jesus reveals the Father because the Father is at work in Jesus in a unique way. Yet God wants to tell us something more. As we see the mighty power of God at work in Jesus, we realize Jesus is the mighty God — come in the flesh, even as a baby.

One of the greatest ways I love to describe God comes in a militaristic sense. Jesus being called Mighty God signifies His strength and power. We can show strength and power in our humility, as well.

But in this instance, it’s more than that. It’s also about who He is, not just that He can defeat the enemy, Jesus is - - - -

powerful enough to bring peace,

powerful enough to forgive us of our sinfulness,

powerful enough to endure the cross,

powerful enough to love despite being forsaken

powerful enough to defeat death.

My favorite name for God is first found in 1 Samuel 1:3, when we read - - - -

3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD OF HOSTS at Shiloh ... - 1 Samuel 1:3