Sermon - Advent 2 - 2019- Counselor
- As we continue to look at the names given for Christ, there is a reality that has to be
expressed.
- This is no mere man/mortal.
- This is God, with all power & authority, making His presence known, & seen by
man.
- The unimaginable is born, & living in our very presence.
- People could touch Him, speak with Him, & follow Him.
- The wonder that is God, is seen by all who would look upon Him.
- Jesus tells Phillip in John 14:9,
John 14:9
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
- From This birth we have great Hope, because this is the greatest event to have
happened amongst mankind.
- Now, we change focus from the immortal view of God, in the name Wonderful (That
means incomprehensible), to the human side of Christ.
- Let’s read it again Isaiah 9:6.
Isaiah 9:6
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.
- Jesus will be called Counsellor.
- Think of what it means to be able to talk, or have counsel, with God.
Prayer
- The second day of Advent looks at the Love that we have because of Jesus birth.
- A counselor is a person that is talked to with confidence. You know they will give
you good guidance, & that they know their field to give you the right instruction,
like a legal counsel.
- Jesus came to be the counselor to fill all those needs. More importantly, the last
one of legal counsel.
- Now, because of the Word taking flesh, the directions of our lives is more sure
now than ever before.
- Let me spark your interest with verses we know very well.
John 11:21-27
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
- The counselor came to a very grieved lady, & friend.
- She doesn’t understand why death should come, but the whole picture of death is
changed by the Words of His Counsel.
- Jesus tells her, your brother shall rise again.
- Words of comfort- You will see him again. He’s not gone forever.
- Then, Jesus takes the power of our world, & He overpowers it with His Authority.
- He says, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live
- There’s the counsel, if you trust in Me, I will take care of you.
> At The Foot Of The Cross By Marcia Krugh Leaser
Fearing the battle was over, and I’d already lost the war.
I was tired of trying and failing, I just couldn’t fight anymore.
So dragging my battle-scarred body I crawled to the foot of the cross...
and I sobbed, "Oh, please Father forgive me. But, I tried, I tried hard, and still lost."
Then the air grew silent around me I heard His voice just as clear as the dawn.
"Oh, my child, though you’re tired and weary, you can’t stop - you have to go on."
At the foot of the cross where I met Him At the foot of the cross where He died.
I felt love as I knelt in His presence... I felt hope as I looked in those eyes.
Then He gathered me lovingly to Him, as around us God’s light clearly shone.
And together we marched through my lifetime. To heal every wound I had known.
I found bits of my dreams long forgotten, and pieces of my life on the floor.
But, I watched as He tenderly blessed them. And my life was worth living once more.
I knew then why I had been losing I knew, also, why I had not grown.
At the foot of the cross came the answer. I’d been fighting the battle alone.
At the foot of the cross where I met Him, At the foot of the cross where He died.
Then I knew we could meet any challenge together... just my Lord and I
- Martha had fought the battle.
- You know in those three days her mind screamed, where are you Jesus!!!
- Then, standing before Jesus, both weary, & torn.
- She’s not just standing before the cross, she’s standing before the open tomb
that Jesus stepped out from.
- She is literally at the crossroads of, Believe all that you have known, or trust in
your counselor.
- Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
- These are words of Love.
- He says, Allow Me to bear your burden for you.
- In this moment, the picture of Lazarus arising from the tomb was the picture of Jesus
defeating death for us.
- The only way death could be defeated was someone had to bear the burden, or
weight of our penalty.
- The burden bearer stood before Martha, & His Words were, allow Me to loose
the bit from your jaw (a symbol for our enslavement to sin, & it’s penalty), &
bear this heavy burden for you.
- Now, in the last part of my sermon, I want you to place yourself with such a heavy
burden as Martha had.
- An event has happened that you are searching for the answer to, “Why did You Let
this happen Jesus?”.
Q- What does scripture say for you to do?
- Follow Martha’s example.
- Listen closely to Philippians 4:6-7.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
- Be careful for nothing.
- Immediately Martha went to Jesus.
- There’s no room for second guessing yourself, or asking, Will this trouble God.
- Immediately talk, one on one, with God.
- On The day Jesus was crucified, the veil was rent in two. So that, we could go in &
speak with Father God, By the blood of Jesus.
- The Love of God has been revealed to mankind, because He says, come & have
counsel with me.
>Praying in the Jungle www.favethoughts.blogspot.com
I want to relate an event which happened nearly 10 years ago. I was 9 at that time, still a small child back then. It happened in a village in Alibaug a place in Maharashtra in India during the summer holidays.
We (my mom and me) were at the beach for quite some time when we decided to go back. Normally, after walking for about 10 minutes, we would reach the hotel.
My mom asked her friend where our sandals were (we were still at the beach). Her friend pointed in some direction, and my mom then went there. However, soon mom realised we were lost.
We were now in a quite a big jungle. And since it was noon, the ground was quite hot and my mom had to carry me. I was scared. I didn’t understand then, our plight, mom was in a big jungle with her 9-year-old kid and completely lost.
I was scared and didn’t know what to do. So I began to pray. As a child, the only prayer I knew was “Our Father” and “God Our Protector” (Psalms 92). I don’t remember which of the two I prayed, but I do remember my mother telling me that as soon I had finished praying, a woman stood before my mother. The woman gave mom her chappal (slippers) and told my mom that she had crossed an entire village and currently was in a different village. That woman safely took us back to the hotel we were staying at.
My parents told me it was that kind woman who helped mom back then. However, I know it was Master Yahuwah (LORD) who helped us.
- So, every step we take. It doesn’t matter if it’s one that we know where we are, or
hopelessly lost.
- It doesn’t matter if it’s one we’ve stepped in dog poop, or one we’ve waded through
the calming waves along the seashore.
- Each step is taken in the Love that God has given, & revealed to us.
- That Love is never going to change.
- So now we can come & talk to our Loving Father, & I want to extend this welcome
in our invitation.
- Martha immediately went to Jesus. Don’t let anything hold you back this
morning.
