Dakota Community Church
December 14, 2008 (pm)
And His Name Shall be Called -
Wonderful Counselor
We are taking a break from our Foundational Truth series for the month of December to celebrate the incarnation.
Last week I mentioned that as we walk with God the Holy Spirit within us begins to produce fruit that results in good works that come from faith and are thus acceptable to God. Good works never precede faith because anything not from faith is sin, this is what differentiates between Christian good deeds and the good deeds of unbelievers which God says are like “filthy rags”. Without faith in Jesus there is no earning of God’s favor.
In my talk I mentioned various ways this fruit of the Spirit may manifest itself, feeding the hungry, serving in the Sunday School, visiting the prisoners in Remand, or the sick in the hospital and speaking off the cuff I mentioned perhaps putting a tract in a neighbors mailbox, which is not something I would generally recommend but it just came out.
One youngster in the congregation turned to his mom and said, “That’s a good idea mom, can we put a Trap in our neighbors mail box?”
That may be more insightful than we would like to admit and although it may be a lot of fun it definitely is not the Christmas message we are hoping to promote.
Isaiah 9:6-7
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.
For a lot of people names don’t hold as much meaning as they once did. We name our children now so we can distinguish them from one another when we are yelling at a group. Kathy and I gave our boys Bible names and it seems to us that they have been shaped by them just knowing who they were named after.
In times past people were named based on actual qualities they possessed or were to possess sometimes prophetically from the Lord and sometimes based on the circumstances surrounding their birth. Over the next few services I want to look at the names prophetically ascribed to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6-7.
Last Sunday we looked at some of the “wonderful” qualities of Christ, He is a supernatural son, a sinless man, a suffering servant, and an all-sufficient savior; tonight we are going to look at Jesus our “wonderful counselor”.
We live in a world that constantly seeks sound counsel from qualified advisors.
Internationally the finest human minds are brought togeather to try to bring resolution through wise counsel.
Nationally the PMO is staffed by all sorts of counselors offering economic, social, political, and ideological advice.
Individuals seek out financial advice, marriage counselors, spiritual and health advisors, we look for legal advice and educational guidance counsel.
We all have times when we are in need of the counsel of a trusted friend with a listening ear and some solid experience.
That kind of advisor is not always readily available.
Many of us know what it is to suffer alone in our pain and isolation.
God saw this human need and addressed it in Jesus.
It is a great thing that God went to the trouble of speaking to Isaiah 700 years before the birth of Christ to proclaim that one of the names that would be ascribed to Christ is “wonderful counselor”.
The good news is that to those of us who will come to Him, Jesus stands prepared to be our trusted “wonderful counselor”.
Jesus is our “wonderful counselor” because He is:
1. Entirely capable
Have you ever taken the advice of an incompetent or unqualified counselor? Few things are more irritating than childless people who wax eloquent on parenting, single folks who know all about making a marriage work, or broke financial gurus.
The other day I saw a sign in the rear window of a rusted out 1996 Ford Taurus station wagon that read: “Earn a six figure income from home – Ask Me How”. My guess is the phone isn’t ringing off the hook!
We have probably all been victimized by a self-serving counselor at one time or another but this is not a worry when it comes to Jesus. We do not need to fear a private agenda on His part.
Luke 22:20
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
We are safe taking the counsel of one who allowed Himself to be poured out for us.
How about confidentiality?
You pour out your heart while seeking counsel only to discover that your hidden heart has become common gossip. Over the years as a pastor I have kept secrets that would literally blow your mind. On a couple of occasions however, I have been guilty of sharing something that seemed insignificant to me; but was a major secret to someone who had trusted me, the hurt I caused by my betrayal of confidence was not an easy thing for those people to forgive.
These kinds of failures never present themselves when Jesus is our counselor.
Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
What about knowledge?
A good counselor must possess answers.
Colossians 2:2-3
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Finally what about consistency?
There is nothing worse than those shifting sand type advisors. “Thus sayeth the Lord I have made a mistake?” I don’t think so.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
I think it is safe to say there is no more consistent, on more knowledgeable, no more capable, no better confidence keeping counselor available anywhere or at any time than Jesus.
He is entirely capable.
Jesus is our “wonderful counselor” because He is:
2. Ever present
When we deal with human counselors there are always times when they, no matter how dedicated they may be, will be unavailable.
Counselors need sleep, they need private time, they have families to attend to, and at times they may even be occupied with other people they also counsel.
This is not a problem with Jesus.
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Most of have probably felt at times that the Lord is distant, somehow far away in our time of need. We pray but seem to get no answer and our minds begin to doubt His presence. It is at times like these that we need to remind ourselves of ALL the ways God speaks to us and is present to us.
He is with us in and counseling us through His Word
He counsels us through His body the Church
He speaks to us through teachings and sermons
He councils us through the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, which we sing and which He brings to mind in times of need.
He does speak to us through His indwelling Spirit in the prayer closet if we will but listen.
Jesus is entirely capable of counseling us, He is ever present to counsel us, and:
Jesus is our “wonderful counselor” because He is:
3. Endlessly compassionate
Have you ever suffered the sting of counsel without compassion?
How could you be such a fool? You just need to have more faith. This is your own fault, you should have known better.
Not a pleasant experience, spiritual abuse can be a crippling force that can take years to recover from. No matter how well meaning the abuser you cannot stay in a position of being beaten with the truth.
Romans 8:33-39
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 11:27-30
"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Our wonderful counselor is capable, He is never AWOL, and He is mercifully patient and compassionate.
Conclusion
God foresaw our need of wise counsel and sent His Son to meet this and every other need we have.
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
