“For Unto Us a Child is Born” December 23, 2012
Is. 9.6
Introduction:
A http://www.sermonspice.com/product/27984/thats-my-king-remix
1 1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles . Isaiah 9:1 (NASB)
6 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 (NASB)
a Israel had been decimated, dismantled, defeated by Assyrians.
aa Citizenship divided, government had failed.
bb God will many times bring a nation, person, church low so He can lift them up again.
b 700 years before Christ was born, the prophet Isaiah foretold about one who would come and the nation/government would rest upon His shoulders.
aa Not sending an army, legion . . . one person . . . child!
bb For unto us a child is born (Not for angels, but for humanity a human child was born)
cc a Son is given (deity/sent as a gift; John 3.16, by The Father Himself)
c This one who comes would be fully human & fully divine.
aa Daniel Webster asked, “Can you understand God? No, if we could we wouldn’t have a need for faith.”
bb I don’t have to understand the whole story; just believe and kneel down before the wonder of the ages.
2 God had promised David (2 Sam. 7.16) that his throne/dynasty would be established forever.
16 "Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever."" 2 Sam 7:16 (NASB)
a That promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Luke 1.32-33; Zech. 9.9)
32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Luke 1:32-33 (NASB)
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zech 9:9 (NASB)
b There is a kingdom coming when Messiah will regeign in righteousness & justice from David’s throne.
c The government will be on His shoulders (His authority, mighty hand/outstretched arm) & He’ll be calling the shots.
B There are 5 names that tells us who Christ is and what He means to our world.
I Wonderful (Wonderful describes something/someone that is separated from the ordinary.)
1 Wonderful does not describe the ordinary, boring, ho-hum, or the average.
a It is reserved to describe something great, often in Scripture it is used to describe miracles/miraculous.
b Jesus is wonderful in all things because Jesus does all things well.
aa The manner of His birth was WONDERFUL;
bb His humanity, self-denial, mighty works were WONDERFUL;
cc Dying agonies, resurrection, ascension all excite admiration & wonder.
2 Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward; They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. Psalms 40:5 (ASV)
a It is wonderful that God sent Jesus to US!
b Kelsee, I want this illustration to be represented well with images, map, number, etc.
IL. The Old Testament contains over 300 references to the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus. What chance did Jesus or any other man have of fulfilling these prophecies? The mathematical laws of probability can give us a clue.
aa In his book Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Josh McDowell mentions
the work of the mathematician, Peter Stoner, on just eight of the 300
prophecies: "We find that the chance that any man might have lived down
to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is one in ten (to the
seventeenth power). That would be one in 100,000,000, 000,000,000.
bb In order to help us comprehend this staggering probability, Stoner
illustrates it by supposing that we take ten (seventeenth power) silver
dollars and lay them on the face of Texas.
cc They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that This is the right one.
dd What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man.
SOURCE: Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Josh McDowell
II Counselor (Of honorable rank, cabinet member, advisor, wisdom, expertise)
1 Jesus is able to guide/direct human race.
a LXX: “The angel of the mighty counsel” Vulgate: “The God of Wonderful Counsel.”
aa 7 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. Psalms 16:7 (NASB)
18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Rev 3:18 (NASB)
bb He is the wisdom of the Father, we never teach Jesus anything He doesn’t already know!
b The best counsel, advice, guidance means zero if not received.
2 We have relied upon money power, brain power, social power, military power and have seen nothing but our world collapse like a house of cards.
a The world is looking for someone/something to pull us out of the labyrinth of helplessness & hopelessness we are in.
aa The one they looking for will not be elected, nominated, vetted, appointed by a House Subcommittee . . . HE’S ALREADY BEEN GIVEN & the Counselor is IN!
bb There is no sorrow too deep to be healed by the balm of His consoling love.
b His first concern is not unemployment, education, whether we go over the fiscal cliff. . . rather, have you been to the hill called Calvary?
c He’s not concerned about our kingdom but that “seek ye first the kingdom of God!” because that is the Kingdom He is advancing/advising.
III Mighty God (Syriac text: “The mighty God of the ages”; He’s not only smart, He’s strong too! He’s as strong as He is smart!)
1 Some theologians see a glimpse/hint of a hero who posses the strength of God.
a Some have drawn the unlikely comparrison of a superhero and the Mighty God described in Is. 9.
aa Run clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0B1ufyXOds
bb Superman (Jor-El) was sent from the heavens by his father (Kay-El) to save humanity; The Father of the heaven sent His Son to save humanity.
cc Jor-El displayed tremendous strength,
b Scripture tells us multiple times that Jesus is God
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (NASB)
20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20 (NASB)
28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" John 20:28 (NASB)
16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.1 Tim 3:16 (NASB)
8 But of the Son He says,"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. Heb 1:8 (NASB)
2 Our Father has sent us the most expensive Christmas gift ever given!
a IL. Neiman Marcus 2012 luxury gifts items. (http://www.luxurylaunches.com/other_stuff/most_expensive_gifts_from_neiman_marcus_2012_holiday_catalog.php)
aa Two watches for $1,090,000, comes with two tickets to Italy & Geniva
bb 2013 Neiman Marcus Edition McLaren 12C Spider drives in as the 2nd most expensive gifting option on this years 2012 holiday catalog. Tagged at $354,000, the Neiman Marcus Edition 2013 McLaren 12C Spider is one of just 12 made.
cc And here is something for your hen or hen lovers to be precise.The $100,000 Heritage Hen Mini Farm is inspired by Versailles and is custom-made multilevel dwelling that features a nesting area, a living room for nighttime roosting, a broody room, a library filled with chicken and gardening books for visitors of the human kind, and, of course, an elegant chandelier. The environment suits them well as you notice the fresh eggs awaiting morning collection.
b Our Heavely Father sent us one was/is strong/mighty enough to us a greater hope than human power, mortal truth, philosophy of men could offer.
c He sent us Immanuel (God With Us), the most expensive gift ever given to mankind was priceless!
aa He is God with us in our homes, church, job, surgery, dark, sorrow.
bb He’s smart, strong, He’s the original Superman!
IV The Everlasting Father (This doesn’t mean that the Son is the Father.)
1 In the Jewish mind set, “Father” is often the originator or source. (IL. Steve Jobs: Father of iPod, Henry Ford: Father of factory assembly line, George Washingon: Father of the U.S.)
a The better translation LXX is He is the “Father of eternity.”
aa The Vulgate: “The father of the future age.”
bb Not describing the Father, but Jesus Christ the Son.
58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."John 8:58 (NASB)
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Col 1:17 (NASB)
14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Rev 1:14, 17-18 (NASB)
10 And,"You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands;11 They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment, Heb 1:10-11 (NASB)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2 (NASB)
b The Father was expressed/exposed through Jesus.
aa 8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? John 14:8-9 (NASB)
bb He doesn’t change . . . ever! (Culture may develope different tastes, shifts in social norms, Tap Water/Bottled Water, Analog/digital . . . Christ is still the Rock of Ages.)
2 When Jesus created the world in the beginning He made it knowing . . .
a it would need to be redeemed & that He was the redeemer.
b His heart was upon it and it was a product of His wisdom.
c If you think you have seen/can see God in any other way w/o accepting Christ...You are lost!
aa “I believe in a supreme being”, “The Father of All,” “The great creator” & exclude Christ you don’t know the meaning of Christmas . . . you don’t get God.
IV The Prince of Peace (Heb. Peaceful Prince)
1 The Jews were expecting a warrior King to come and restore their nation, dispel the enemy, vanquish their oppressors.
a Someone to establish the nation to its former political, militarily, and financial strength. (King David!)
b He will end war, restore harmony, and order the nations when He comes.
c Jesus doesn’t keep the peace . . . He creates/produces it.
2 Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish theologian, told a story about a certain kingdom wherein there was a handsome prince, searching for a woman worthy enough to be his wife and become queen of the land. One day while running an errand for his father he passed through a poor village. As he glanced out the window of his carriage, his eyes fell on a beautiful peasant maiden. During ensuing days, he often passed by the young lady and soon fell in love with her by sight. But he had a problem. How could he seek her hand?
a He could command her to marry him, but the prince wanted someone who would
marry him out of love, not coercion. He could show up at her door in his splendid uniform in a gold carriage drawn by six horses, attendants in tow, and bearing a chest of jewels and gold coins. But then how would he know if she really love him or if she was just overawed and overwhelmed with his splendor? Finally he came up with another solution.
b He stripped off his royal robes, put on common dress, moved into the village, and got to know her without revealing his identity. As he lived among the people, the prince and the maiden became friends, shared each other’s interests, and talked about their concerns. By and by the young lady grew to love him for who he was and because he first loved her.
c That’s the Gospel. The Prince of Peace Himself, Jesus Christ, laid aside the robes of his glory, garbed himself as a peasant, became a human being, and moved into our village, onto our planet, to woo us to himself. Both the one who makes us holy and those who are being made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers.
Conclusion:
1 “Unto us a child is born, a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NASB)
a Have you allowed the child-King to take over the government of your life?
b Only when we do will we know light, honor, joy, peace He has to offer.
2 Christmas reminds us annually of how God intersected humanity by coming to us, dwelling among us.
a He came one time about 2,000 years ago ...He’s coming again!
b I believe that’s why the enemy hates Christmas so much . . .
aa Christmas reminds him of what happened in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. (Christ-conscious Christmas)
bb He’s coming back, not as a child in a manger but the roaring lion of the tribe of Judah!
c So-called intelligent men of our day are writing God’s obituary & of the death of Biblical truth . . . but the babe in the manger reminds us . . . ah, ah, ah....not so fast!
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