Sermon Series: God’s Promises to YOU at Christmas
Today’s Message: God’s Promise of Counsel
Text: Isaiah 9:6; John 14:15-18; Luke 1:31-38 (NIV)
Pastor Ken December 3, 2006
Edited by Dale Weaver
(6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called,
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace (Is. 9-NIV)
(15) If you love me, you will obey what I commanded. (16)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- (17) the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (18) I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14-NIV)
(31) You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. (32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, (33) and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his Kingdom will never end. (34) “How will this be”, Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (35) The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:31-35-NIV)
Sermons are like people: each unique with an altogether different personality. Isaiah understood this truth. He offered a wonderful and forward-looking “glimpse” of what the babe of Bethlehem would look like. Not a glimpse like we usually think of that word -- focused on physical features -- but rather one categorized within spiritual frameworks: Wonderful Counselor; Mighty God; Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace.
Each message in this series will offer you a glimpse of what Isaiah had in mind that day when he foretold the coming of the Child of Bethlehem, our Sin-Bearer and King. Jesus was the anticipated “Wonderful Counselor” for certain, but He also paved the way for “Another Helper.” Jesus opened the way for a helper to be sent to us, to live within us, to work his will through us, to manifest his glory through us and to reveal his truth to us.
God’s Solution-God’s Comfort
(1) STUDY the Spirit -- Yes!
EXPERIENCE the Spirit -- By all Means!
(6b) And He will be called, Wonderful Counselor…
This Christmas I want to go beyond just trying to get through or doing my best. I want to experience Jesus Christ in all the fullness of depth, passion and peace for this season. Yet, all too often -- and I am sure that I am not the only one who feels this way -- the season of joy is anything but joyful! Do you know that there is more to the Christian life than church meetings, periodic ministry activities and a part-time devotion to God?
Are you trying to live the Christian life based on discipline and determination? If so, that’s a guaranteed failure! Besides, who wants to attempt to “white-knuckle” their way thru their Christian life? Or maybe your motto is, “Well, no one is perfect and besides… God will understand! Wow -- what a winner of a testimony that is! Does an outsider looking at your life see a marked difference in your ethics, relationships, health, kids, and overall satisfaction with life?
As Christians, God offers us a life that is relevant and attractive exactly because it offers hope. We don’t have to buy into the status quo! I wonder if one of the reasons that more people don’t want anything to do with Jesus Christ or His church is because they… maybe know too many Christians? Ouch!
If the Christian life is simply about doing our best, to the best of our abilities, then why would God ever want to send another Helper? Are you trying to live the Christian life on your own steam? Keeping up the image of a Christian life can be an all-encompassing effort and exhausting to say the least. Are you presenting the world a seemingly polished Christian on the outside, while you are actually an empty and insecure slave on the inside?
If the above sounds familiar, perhaps it is because you are, at least functionally, serving a 2/3 God! That’s right – maybe you have acknowledged the Godhead of God the Father, and even experienced salvation through Jesus Christ his son but have not yet fully experienced the other 1/3 of this awesome God!
I am convinced that this awesome God – who Jesus called the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-18 -- desires to do so much more with us than that which is presently going on in our lives!
…as a comforter, He wants to calm the fears and heal the scars of us “orphans.”
…as the spirit of truth, He wants to reveal insights about our Heavenly Father,
…as our Counselor, He wants to open profound dimensions of life that we have thus far resisted.
The same Holy Spirit who attended the first nativity also wants to attend your nativity this season.
Feel forced to go places you don’t want? The same Holy Spirit who strengthened and directed Mary & Joseph can give you strength for your Mall shopping and party hopping and endurance to deal with the occasional unwelcome guest.
Is the world hostile to God’s workings in your life? Absolutely! The Herods of this world are still putting fear in homes and threatening our children’s lives but the Holy Spirit is present to announce, “Fear not!” -- his favorite words of comfort!
Let me repeat that: The Holy Spirit’s favorite affirmation is “fear not!” Maybe you thought “positive affirmations” were one of those “touchy-feely” 90’s things – not at all! Our God is in the business of positive affirmations!
The Holy Spirit dwells within the believer’s life. He is sent by the Father to assist you in all experiences of Christmas and daily Christian living. He is your number ONE Helper.
(2) You need not be alone; you have an inward HELPER.
(15) If you love me, you will obey what I commanded. (16)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- (17) the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (18) I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14-NIV)
What a Difference The Holy Spirit Makes
The Holy Spirit is your greatest Counselor, Friend, Helper and Advocate in the world. John writes of this when he says, “that we have an advocate with the Father” (1 John 2:1-2). This word “advocate” is literally bursting with meaning:
…one who is a counsel for the defense,
…someone who pleads on behalf of another,
…a trusted friend who stands at one’s side,
…one who is ready to aid a soldier in battle.
Do you have anyone in your life that is able to do all? No parent, employer, trusted friend or therapist can do all that. But the Holy Spirit can! He can help us with our problems, relationships and decisions because He knows everything. He is always working on the Father’s behalf. He never sleeps. He has unlimited power to give us strength and courage for the journey. He is the Holy Spirit and He wants to live within us.
The Holy Spirit helps us see life from God’s perspective
The Holy Spirit helps us see life from God’s perspective. But what exactly is “perspective?” A couple of definitions are:
1. the state of one’s ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship; and
2. the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship. (2)
It is helpful to think of “perspective” as our scope of vision and our ability to see as influenced by our experiences and training. A doctor looks down the throat of a sick child and sees inflammation. An artist tours an art gallery and appreciates painting styles and method. A tailor has an eye for fine clothes; a hairstylist notices cowlicks while a firefighter is more likely to smell smoke. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual eyes trained to see God’s hand in life. This happens because He shares God’s perspective and He is also our friend, advocate and counsel.
He Is Not Just Passing Through
The Holy Spirit is not some family guest coming through while on vacation. He is not one of your kid’s overnight friends there for a sleep-over. The Holy Spirit takes us residency in the life of Christians-indefinitely. No more temporary companionship like in the Old Testament. And unlike Jesus, who had only been with them, He (the Holy Spirit) would be in them. He is here to stay. Throw away the vacancy sign. No vacancy here-no room at this Inn. The maximum occupancy is one, and the Holy Spirit has come to stay.
The Holy Spirit takes up residency-forever
And what is He doing? As the Counselor He is doing what the word suggests: rescuing someone in need of help. Jesus’ favorite words for the Holy Spirit are “Counselor” or “Helper.” He is ready to do for you, what you are unable to do for yourself. What happens to you, Dear One, means everything to Him. Why? He is with you always and fully invested in you! Like a doctor concerned about his patient, a coach sacrificing for his players, a teacher tutoring his students or a mother consoling her crying child. The Holy Spirit is all that and so much more. He is your Helper/Counselor ready to assist. Sooner or later all of us will need His aid. The Holy Spirit knows that if He doesn’t intervene, none of us would make it.
(3) God (Holy Spirit) is seeking willing servants who will TRUST His purposes.
(31) You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. (32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, (33) and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his Kingdom will never end.
(34) “How will this be”, Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (35) The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:31-35-NIV)
(38) I am the Lord’s servant, “Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said?” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38)
Join me in one of the most tender and personal scenes in all of God’s word. The dragon of control is slain every time by the sword of “trust.” It glistens as it cuts through the flesh of control and affirms:
…”even though I don’t have the tiniest shred of evidence, I believe! What am I believing? The promises of God. Before the hour was up, Gabriel’s visitation and announcement of a miraculous birth, Mary was declaring her trust would be unshaken.”
Never forget the Angel came not only to fulfill prophecy and tell Mary of a miraculous birth and how it would happen, Gabriel came for CONSENT.
(38) I am the Lord’s servant, “Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38)
Whenever God comes to visit us, it always comes with a price. You can never be indifferent with The Almighty’s requests upon your life. God’s presence always makes us nervous. Why? He wants something from us! God never comes to us without asking a favor. That’s right: God comes and says, “Hey, can I ask you a favor?” Wow!
…Mary you are highly favored…(vs. 28)
By the way, even though you are blessed and favored, it is ok, to ask, “how can this be!” Mary asked.
…(34) “How will this be?”, Mary asked, “since I am a virgin.”
One of the keys to accepting God’s control is to recognize that God is ok with your questions of uncertainty. Scripture is filled with those who were sure that God was making a mistake.
…When God came to Moses, Moses suggested Aaron a better choice,
…When the plan of God shifts to Gideon, He was sure that a fleece would help him decide,
…When God asks us for something, who has not thought or said, “Hey God, even though this is a great honor, could you like… honor someone else?”
As Mary stepped through the wardrobe closet that was a Heavenly pregnancy, she had no idea that the theological Narnia she was in was tied to the purpose and meaning of her pregnancy.
Chuck Swindoll has observed that “Jesus’ birth is tied to every other aspect of His life. He had to be born of a virgin. It is the virgin birth that is the gate that guarded His sinlessness.” (2) The virgin birth is the door through which God stepped out of eternity and into humanity. Without the virgin birth we have no Savior. No Heaven. We have no forgiveness of sins. We have no hope.
The virgin birth is the door through
which God stepped out of eternity and into humanity
No moment in eternity, next to the cross is more important. All that Mary could comprehend was that God wanted to rent her a room. Don’t mystify or muddy the experience, He was about to do the impossible with her body. Mary will bear the Savior that has been spoken of for generations. No privilege was greater, yet, it would come with a price: accusations, indecency, pointed fingers, cloaked whispers. Would Mary offer her life to God on the alter of His will. Into the garden of Gethsemane Mary goes. While there she says,
(38) I am the Lord’s servant, “Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38)
In a few moments the experience is over. Mary sits in stunned silence. The sword of surrender has pierced her heart; Mary has accepted that she is chosen. You are chosen. This is all! Discussion over!
Why should we open ourselves to our own personal encounters with the Spirit’s promptings to bring about God’s great works in our lives? A brief word study of two phrases from verse 35 will offer you the comfort to forge ahead:
…(35) The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
With a little cleaning off the dirt of the English words: “come upon you” and “overshadow you” you find some rich Greek meanings that will close the deal. In The Christmas Miracle, Jack Hayford points out that “It was God the Creator-Father who created and God the Holy Spirit who tenderly administered the mightiness of this most significant of all eternal events.” (3)
Will you let God’s Holy Will work His holy purposes, thus begetting a supernatural miracle in your life? Mary was not forced to accept this mission. Neither are you! At the heart of breaking control in your life, is the willing surrender to God’s Will -- He will not coerce or force you -- it can only happen in loving trust and resting faith. In the end you are truly the one in CONTROL. It is a control that God is waiting to unleash for His plan, not for your selfish ambitions.
Summary Statements
1. And unlike Jesus, who had only been with them, He (the Holy Spirit) would be in them. He is here to stay. Throw away the vacancy sign. No vacancy here -- no room at this Inn. The maximum occupancy is One, and the Holy Spirit has come to stay.
2. Whenever God comes to visit us, it always comes with a price. You can never be indifferent with the Almighty’s requests upon your life
Surprising Statements
1. I wonder if one of the reasons that more people don’t want anything to do with Jesus Christ or His church is because they… maybe know too many Christians? Ouch!
2. Jesus’ favorite words for the Holy Spirit are “Counselor” or “Helper.” He (the Holy Spirit) is ready to do for you that which you are unable to do for yourself.
End Notes
(1) www.dictionary.reference.com
(2) Chuck Swindoll. Study Guide: Luke, Insights for Living; P.O Box 69,000, Anaheim, Ca. 1994, pg. 30.
(4) Jack Hayford. The Christmas Miracle. Regal Books, Ventura California, 1999, pg. 126.
