Our Mighty God
Have you ever found yourself at the mercy of someone else? Has your car ever broken down while you are quite a distance from home? Have you ever had a flat tire and gone to get the spare only to find that the spare was flat too or you don’t have one? Have you ever been traveling and loose your way? You get turned around and lost - you had to stop and ask for directions? It’s not a fun feeling, is it?
One year ago, James Kim, his wife Kati, and their two young daughters left San Francisco on Nov. 18 for a combined vacation and work trip. They spent Thanksgiving in Seattle with family and then went to Portland, Oregon to visit with a friend. After the visit in Portland, the family intended to take state Highway 42 over to the coast but missed the turnoff. So they decided to drive the 55 miles down Interstate 5 to Grants Pass. There they turned onto Bear Camp Road, which is lightly traveled even in the summer and often is closed in the winter.
It was stormy and James mistakenly turned off onto a logging road later that evening. They were soon winding up into the mountains and when they reached higher elevations it began to snow. The family became hopelessly lost and finally became stranded in snow. The Kim family ran the engine of their station wagon to power its heater until the gas was gone. They ate what little food they had, and Kati Kim breast-fed her two daughters. After a week of being stranded James decided to venture out on foot to seek help.
James Kim put himself through a desperate ordeal, climbing down a ravine over boulders and logs, though nearly impenetrable brush and in and out of an icy creek, in what one rescue leader called a "superhuman" effort to save his family.
Kati and the girls were spotted two days after James had left to look for help. James’ body was found two days after his family had been rescued.
(This article appeared on page A-1 of the San Francisco Chronicle December 7, 2006)
The Kim family had become lost. They had become absolutely dependent on others for their rescue. Over one hundred rescue works had searched for them. Even a satellite had been turned to the area in hopes of finding James.
We need to remember that it is still easy to get stranded or lost. Not just physically but also spiritually as well. We need someone who can rescue us. We need someone to save us. Last week, we discovered that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor. Today, we’re going to discover that He is our Mighty God. Let us read from our text this morning:
"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 (NASV)
The prophecy of the coming Christ was given hundreds of years before his birth. This prophecy of this child’s birth tells us that this child would not be ordinary, but extraordinary. Of course the One that Isaiah is speaking of is Jesus. According to Isaiah He would be called:
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace
Today we will look at Christ as our Mighty God. He is a Mighty God who is able to rescue you. He is a Mighty God who is able to save you. Look at what it says in Luke chapter nineteen:
“The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10 (NKJV)
Jesus is our Mighty God because:
1. He Knows Where You ARE.
He knows what roads you have traveled. He knows what turns you have made. He knows what dead end streets you have been down.
Jesus knows you better than you know yourself.
Do you remember the story of the women at the well? Do you remember how the conversation went? Jesus comes to the well and finds a Samaritan woman there. He speaks to her and asks her for a drink of water. She is taken aback because it was not proper for a Samaritan and a Jew to hold a conversation. But the conversation keeps going and they continue to talk about water. Jesus tells her that He can give her living water – and that she will never thirst again. She becomes interested and says, “Give me some.” Do you remember what happens next? Jesus tells her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman is put on the spot. Her life style is exposed. She says, "I have no husband." Jesus doesn’t leave it at that but He even exposes her life style even more – for he says to her, "You have well said, ’I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly." John 4:17-19 (NKJV)
Jesus knows her life. Jesus knows her heart. Her lifestyle is completely exposed to Him. He knows what she has done and with whom. Folks here is the scary part – He knows the same things about you and me.
He knows what roads you have traveled. He knows what turns you have made. He knows what dead end streets you have been down and He still loves you.
Jesus knows right where we are. He doesn’t need a search party. He doesn’t need a satellite. He knows the spiritual shape you are in – because He is a Mighty God.
Let me ask you a question – do you know where you are?
Do you remember the story of Adam and Eve? Do you remember what happened after they ate the forbidden fruit? God comes to the garden and calls out – “Adam, where are you?” Do you think that God did not know the answer to that question? Of course He did! God knew right were Adam was. But part of reaching safety is knowing right where you are. Part of reaching safety is knowing that you are lost - that you have made some bad decisions.
When the rescuers found the body of James Kim they back tracked his trail. Do you know what they found? James had come within less than a mile of a lodge that had been closed for the winter. Inside there would have been safety. Inside there would have been food and warmth. James had made a decision to turn off the road and travel across country to seek safety. If he had continued down the road he would have reached the lodge but he made a decision to leave the road. That decision cost him his life.
Where are you?
Jesus is our Mighty God because:
2. He Knows What SHAPE You Are In.
Do you remember the story of the prodigal son? The son goes off and takes his inheritance and spends it all. He ends up broke, dirty and down. He ends up out in the pig pen feeding the swine. He becomes so hungry that even the pig food starts looking good – but then he starts thinking – “if I return to my father maybe he will give me a job as a servant. I know that my father’s servants are doing better than I am here.” So he gets up and heads for home.
The Bible tells us that while the son was a “long way off” the father saw him coming. He ran out to greet him. He grabbed him – hugged him – welcomed him back home. The son tried to apologize – but the father shouted out, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:22-24 (NKJV)
Have you ever thought about the shape that the prodigal son was in when he returned home? I’m sure he was thinner. I sure he was dirtier. I’m sure he had a smell about him – yet the Father loved him just the same.
What shape are you in? God knows. He not only knows where we have been but He knows what shape we are in. He knows that we are thinner, He knows that we are dirty and the smell of sin is still on us – for the Bible says,
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
Each and every one of us is in bad shape. Jesus knows that – and He loves us just the same.
Someone has said, “God loves us just as we are – but He loves us to much to leave us that way.” God knows what shape we are in – and He is willing to bring us in and build us up. What a Mighty God we have!
Jesus is our Mighty God because:
3. He Knows How Much TIME You Have Left.
Folks here is a simple fact – I don’t know how much time you have left on this earth only God knows. I don’t know how much time I have left to live – only God knows. I do know that the average white male in America right now lives to 78 years old. If I live to the average age that means I only have about 24 years left. But I may not live that long - or I could live longer.
Within the past year, two chaplain friends of mine that I know from the Army have died. Both of them were younger than I am. I know that in my ministry career I have conducted over 200 funerals – some of them were quit young - not even teenagers - some of them were near 100 years old. All of this is to say – I don’t know how much time any of us have on earth. But I do know:
“It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)
This verse from Hebrews does not talk about the number of days a person will live – but it does talk about what happens after we die - judgment. It seems to me that we should be more concerned about the judgment than we are about how long we live. God knows how long we will walk this earth – our concern needs to be about how well we will do on the final exam. That day will determine whether we will walk the streets of gold - that day will determine whether we will live forever. Our Mighty God knows how much time we have left - let us make the best use of it.
Jesus is our Mighty God because:
4. He Knows The EFFORTS You Have Made To Save Yourself.
Let me ask you, how many of you have tried to be good? How many of you have tried to do the right thing? Yea, me too. But you know what happens – sometimes I fall flat on my face.
James Kim tried to do the right thing. He not only wanted to save himself – but he also wanted to save his wife and two little girls. But his efforts failed. His wife and daughters were saved not by his efforts but by the efforts of the rescuers. His efforts fell short even though he gave it his all. One rescue leaders called his efforts "superhuman" – but it still did not save his family. When it comes to being “saved” we are at the mercy of someone else. Look at what the Message Bible says about the idea that we can save ourselves:
“Saving is all His (God’s) idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing!” Ephesians 2:8-9 (MSG)
Folks God knows our efforts – He knows how hard we have tried. But only He can save. Only He can rescue us - it doesn’t matter how good you have been - you still need a Savior. He is our Mighty God who can save and:
5. He Knows That You NEED Him.
The Bible says:
“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (HCSB)
But folks here is the important part. Your rescuer will not come unless you call on Him. Look at what it says in Romans chapter ten:
“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13 (NKJV)
I like the way the Message Bible says it:
"Everyone who calls, ’Help, God!’ gets help." Romans 10:13 (MSG)
Folks here is the sad fact – not everyone who gets lost – gets found. James Kim died. He made a valiant effort to save his family and himself. He is to be commended for that. He gave it his best shot – He gave it his best effort and he died in the process. Physically his life ended. That is a sad fact and it can not be changed.
But here is the good part - I also know that if James called on the name of Jesus – he was saved spiritually. For, "Everyone who calls, ’Help, God!’ gets help."
How about you? Have you ever called out - “Help God!”?
You see Jesus is our Mighty God – He has the power to seek and to save those who are lost. Where are you? Are you lost? Have you take a wrong turn? Call to Him and He WILL come and find you.
