A CHILD IS BORN
Wonderful Counsellor – He Can Heal…
Isaiah 9:6
Introduction:
Can you relate to that video? It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year and yet it’s a time of tremendous stress.
Shopping
Family
Activities
Year-end at work , etc.
It’s easy to get to the point where you feel like your going to snap. I don’t know about you but sometimes I feel like I’m ready to be locked in a padded room. I need some counsel. With all that’s been going on of late – at church, at home, in relationships – I sat down to prepare this message and said, “Lord, I need you to counsel me.” He did! He is the wonderful counselor.
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
This prophecy of Christ given thousands of years before his birth tells us that this child that was to be born would have some very amazing names.
Waiter – Righteous
Wonderful Counsellor
The mighty God
The everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace
Those are some pretty weighty names to live up to and yet he is up to the challenge. We will look at one of these for the next four weeks as we move toward Christmas. Today we will look at Christ as our Wonderful Counselor – He can heal…
Counseling is at an all time high in our society. There’s certainly nothing wrong with seeking counseling when you have a particular need in your life.
Proverbs 11:14 “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
However, we must not lose sight of the fact that we, as believers, have access to most wonderful counselor imaginable – Jesus Christ.
What makes Him so Wonderful?
I could list characteristics all morning but let me give you three…
1. He Understands
Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
He gets it. He understands you. Sometimes when we are going through a difficult situation and someone says, “I understand what you are going through…” it seems empty because how can they possibly understand. Jesus does understand. When you come to him in need of counsel he can be assured he has experience with your situation.
Betrayal
Wrongful accusation
Slander
Physical suffering
Physical need
Loneliness
Loss
Despair
Fear
He understands
2. He Cares
Not only does He understand, but he cares about your situation.
I Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Some counselors only care as long as you (or your insurance) can pay the bill. Not Jesus, He’s with you until the end. He cares so much that he will allow you to cast your problems upon him and he will bear them with you. He cared enough to die for us; he’s not going to leave us to fend for ourselves.
3. He’s Faithful
When I say that I mean that He always knows the solution to our situation.
Isaiah 25:1 “O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”
Even the world’s best counselors some times get it wrong because they have a limited vantage point.
Jesus is never wrong. His counsel is faithful and true. Sometimes it doesn’t seem right. It’s as though he has misdiagnosed our situation. However, in the long run we find him to be faithful and true.
He is the Wonderful Counselor!
This past week I had to get an eye appointment from Drew. When I called my eye doctor, who’s very good, it was a two week wait to get in. I couldn’t wait that long. The best doctors are always booked. They’re difficult to see. You may be saying, “O.K. you’ve convinced me that He is in fact a wonderful counselor – how do I make an appointment?” “What are Jesus’ office hours?” It’s got to be tough to get in to see him. You don’t need an appointment. His office is always open and he can always squeeze you in. Jesus isn’t physically here right now, so…
How Does He Counsel Today?
Through The Bible
Psalm 119:24 “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.”
When Jesus walked the earth he was called the living word. In his bodily absence he as replaced himself with his written word. The Bible is the instruction manual for life.
Illustration: Following Assembly instructions for Christmas gifts – “I can do it. I don’t need no stinkin’ instructions.” Kerrie’s microwave cart!
Living life without the instruction of God’s word doesn’t work. His word provides counsel for how to fix that which is broken.
How can something so old apply to my present day problem? Don’t mistake advancements in technology for advancements in human nature. The struggles of mankind are the same today as they’ve always been.
Isaiah 25:1 “… thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”
Don’t I need a seminary degree to understand it? Scriptural understanding is more about the attitude than about the aptitude. If I come to God’s word with the proper heart – I will find counsel.
God counsels us through His Bible God also counsels us…
Though the Holy Spirit
Jesus not only replaced himself with his written word, but also left us with his Holy Spirit.
That spirit of God dwells within all who have put their trust in Christ. He serves many purposes, but one of his primary purposes is to counsel and comfort.
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”
The word that’s translated “comforter” carries with it the meaning of counselor. The Holy Spirit of God lives within you to counsel. As we walk in the Spirit we are receiving counsel from God through his Holy Spirit. Through His Bible, through His Holy Spirit, and …
Though the Church
The church is the world’s largest support group. Every single person in this room this morning, or listening to this tape has problems. Turn to the person on your left and say, “You’ve got problems!”. Turn to the person on your right and say, “I’ve got problems!” We are all just fellow struggles trying to make it through and give God glory in the process. I’ve thought about buying a sign to hang over the front entrance that says, “No perfect people allowed”. The church is to be a community where people can be open and honest about their struggles. Where we can work together to overcome our problems.
I Corinthians 12:26 “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
We are in this together. We need God’s counsel and he provides it through His word, His Spirit and His church. I’m continually amazed by people who make huge life decisions without God’s counsel, not reading the Bible, and feel far from God. The Bible tells us that it is foolishness for us to make huge decisions without counsel.
Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”
Our personal capacity and perspective is limited. Seek counsel from the Wonderful Counselor
He can heal
Challenge:
Make an appointment this week with the Wonderful Counselor. As you sit down for your meeting I want you to pour out your heart and let Him know what’s going on. Also, I want you to read Psalm 16 each day this week.
Key verse – Psalm 16:7 “I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.”
