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.
My Brother and Sisters, can I tell you that Christmas has never been about the gifts under the tree; but rather it has always been about the gift that died on the tree!
And I believe that Isaiah saw the gift that God is giving us, and now he is giving us an highlighted verion of this account here for us, for our human history. He is sharing the good news that God is giving us a gift.
And my mother has always said, that “If somebody was kind enough to give you a gift – the very least you can do is say “THANK YOU!”
Let me give you some historical information about the text. We see that Isaiah is speaking to people living in three time periods: before the Babylonian exile, during the Babylonian exile, and after the Babylonian exile.
In chapter 9, Isaiah is speaking to the southern kingdom of Israel (Judah) before the Babylonian exile. Israel and Syria are pressuring Judah to form a coalition against Assyria. Ahaz, the king of Judah, is afraid to go against Assyria, so he sends a king's ransom to Assyria asking for their help.
Isaiah spoke into a situation where Judah felt powerless, and they were afraid of the rulers to their north. As their enemies only seemed to grow in strength and tighten their grasp, they didn’t know if God was for them or against them or if he had just simply abandoned them.
And among Isaiah’s prophecies about their future defeat, exile, and return, he included two prophetic visions of a child who would represent God’s presence, embody his characteristics, and bear the responsibility of governing his people. In this passage Isaiah saw something. And I want to see what Isaiah saw. Isaiah tell us what you see, What did Isaiah see? I believe that as I try to translate what he saw, it would be something like this:
First of all I believe
(He saw the major movements of the Master’s ministry)
He saw a crib, because he said "unto us a child is born."
He saw a cross, because he said "unto us a Son is given."
He saw a crown, because he said "and the government shall be upon his shoulders." Isaiah saw something here. I mean there is something here in this book of Isaiah chapter 9. And when we look at this chapter, we see that there is literally a letter within this chapter.
HE SAYS TO US a son is born.
This letter within this chapter is textually tailored TO US.
Because look at what it said, TO US a Son is given –
What are you saying Pastor?
I’m saying that the only way that the Holy Spirit can be In Us, and God can be With US, and His blessings be experienced all around us – Is that Jesus had to come down TO US.
Because if Jesus did not come TO US, then that which is AROUND US would OVERTAKE US and it would easily DESTROY US.
Some may be sitting on the live as if you don’t know what the Lord gave TO US –
But some of us can testify, that when we were down to our last dime and He steps in on time.
Some of us can testify, that we were troubled but not distressed.
Some of us can testify, that we were perplexed but not in despair, when life knocked us down we were not
destroyed. And that’s when we know that “Heaven has sent us a special gift”--When you have made it through highs and lows, victories and valleys – and since we know that we didn’t make it on our own --that’s when we all of us can say with a resounding voice just like Isaiah – I AM SO GLAD GOD SENT JESUS -- TO US
TO US a son is born.
TO US a son is given.
He says to us in this six verse “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: And the government shall be upon his shoulder - The sense of this passage is, that he shall rule, or that the government shall be vested in him. Various interpretations have, however, been given of the phrase ‹upon his shoulder.‘ Some have supposed, that it means simply he shall sustain the government, as the shoulder is that by which we uphold any thing. Others, say that it means, that he should wear the royal purple from a child. Lowth supposes that it refers to the ensign of government - the scepter, the sword, the keys, or the like, that were borne upon the shoulder, or suspended from it. It is evident, from this latter place, that some ensign of office was usually borne upon the shoulder. The sense is, that he should be a king, and under this character the Messiah is predicted.
You all let me walk with this for a few seconds. He says in chapter 9 and verse 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. And his name shall be called: Watch this, it does not say his “names” shall be called, but it says his “name” shall be called – Which means that God is all of this in verse 6 at the same time.
If you look at verse 6
Jesus is ALL THAT.
HIS PERSONALITY - "Wonderful"
HIS PROFESSION-"Counselor"
HIS POWER - "Mighty God"
HIS POSITION - "Everlasting Father"
HIS PURPOSE - "Prince of peace"
JESUS IS ALL THAT!!
His name is Wonderful: this takes care of the DULLNESS of life.
His name is Counselor: this takes care of the DECISIONS of life.
His name is Mighty God: this takes care of the DEMANDS in my life.
His name is Everlasting Father: this takes care of the DIMENSIONS of life.
His name is Prince of Peace: this takes care of the DISTURBANCES of life.
So, if His name is: Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace, and He is all of that at the same time, that means that he can take care of my dullness, decisions, demands, dimensions, and disturbances all at the same time.
JESUS IS ALL THAT!!
What are you saying Pastor? All I am trying to tell everybody is that Jesus is everything for everybody, everywhere, every time, and in every way.
I’m telling you that Isaiah saw something, what did he see Spies?
Isaiah, the prophet looked down the telescope of time, through the periscope of prophecy and saw 700 years into the future.
That is Jesus’ PERSONALITY IS "Wonderful"
Who could be more wonderful than the one who saves you from your sins?
Who could be more wonderful that One who woke you up this morning?
Who could be more wonderful than one who clothe you not only with clothing, but clothed you in your right mind!
CAN YOU CALL HIS NAME – WONDERFUL! Because
When I fall, He lifts me.
When I fail, He forgives me.
When I stumble, He steadies me.
When I am hurt, He heals me.
When I am broken, He mends me.
When I am blind, He leads me.
When I am hungry, He feeds me.
When I face trials, He is with me.
When I face problems, He comforts me.
When I face loss, He provides for me.
He saw his personalitity that he was wonderful, but he also saw Jesus’ PROFESSION - "Counselor"
Because he knew that life will sometimes place you at the crossroads.
And when we come to the "crossroads" it is easy to get crossed up!
And that it’s easy to go Left than Right.
It’s easy to Leave than Stay.
It’s easy to do That than This.
He is a counselor. Yes he is. I said Yes He is.
What does Counselor mean? It means that Jesus is there to help me with the decisions in my life.
POEM: What kind of advice does Jesus give:
he says Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your Gains instead of your losses.
Count your Joys instead of your woes;
Count your Friends instead of your foes.
Count your Smiles instead of your tears;
Count your Courage instead of your fears.
Count your Health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.
And can I tell somebody that Jesus is available when we need him. But not only is Jesus be available at all times to be a good counselor but he must also be available on all terms because everyone is not available.
HE IS AVAILABLE!
John Mark was quitter.
Jacob was a liar.
Miriam was a gossiper.
HE IS AVAILABLE!
Thomas was a doubter.
Paul was a murderer.
Solomon was too rich.
HE IS AVAILABLE!
Abraham was too old.
David was too young.
Bartimaeus was too poor.
HE IS AVAILABLE!
Naomi was a widow.
Gomer was a prostitute.
Jeremiah was depressed.
HE IS AVAILABLE!
Amos was oppressed.
Elijah was burned out.
John the Baptist was a loudmouth. He is available to be our counselor.
He said that his name is "The Mighty God" That is the power of Jesus.
Many times a name given to an individual can be a one-word summary of what that person has done.
The impact of Alexander in conquering the kingdoms gave him the title “The Great”.
The heroism of William to England earned him the name “The Conqueror”.
Ivan because of his invasion within Russia – he goes down in history as “The Terrible”.
Lady Godiva – because of her conviction to lower taxes became known as “The Freedom Rider”.
The voice crying in the wilderness John; his immensity with immersion earned him the name “The Baptist”.
But what do you call someone who gives you…
An acceptance that can never be questioned.
(Eph. 1:6).
An inheritance that can never be lost
(I Peter 1:3-5).
A deliverance that can never be cancelled (2 Cor. l:10).
A grace that can never be limited (2 Cor. 12:9).
A hope that can never be disappointed.
(Heb. 6:18, 19).
A joy that need never be diminished (John 15:11).
A nearness that can never be separated (Romans 8:35-38).
A peace that can never be disturbed (John 14:27).
A righteousness that can never be tarnished (2 Cor. 5:21).
A salvation that can never be taken away (Heb. 5:9).
THE MIGHTY GOD.
That is Jesus’ POSITION - "The Everlasting Father"
And I am happy to announce that his position has not changed!
I believe what makes God so effective is that he doesn’t have to consider public opinion, God doesn’t have to listen to critics – God doesn’t have to run for re-election. And His term never ends. I can sum this up real quick: He’s a good Daddy!
Because through him there is:
Salvation–because he says, Come unto me (Matthew 11:28)
Discipleship– because he says, Learn of me (Matthew 11:27)
Fruitfulness–because he says, Abide in me (John 15:4)
Fellowship–because he says, Come with me (Song of Solomon 4:8)
Testimony–because he says, Witnesses unto me (Acts 1:8)
Communion–because he says, Remember me (First Corinthians 11:24)
Glory–because he says, you can be with me (Luke 23:43)
Then it says that he is "The Prince of Peace" That is Jesus’ PURPOSE -
Jesus is “the Prince of Peace” because He stepped in to our situation!And someone may be wondering how can I receive this peace?
Well, I’m reminded of a story about two men that were seeking peace in their life, and they wrote the wises man that they knew.
The wise man wrote back to them saying "The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you’ve started.
So, the first man looked around the house to see all of the things that he had started and hadn’t finished, and before leaving the house the next morning the finished off a bottle of red wine, a bottle of white wine, some Prozac, some Valium, some cheesecake and a box of chocolates. Then he said man you have no idea how good I feel!
Well that’s one road to peace, but the problem was the next morning when he woke up all of those problems that he had was right back when the alcohol and the drugs had worn off. But the other man that was seeking peace, remember that he said that one day he was going to clean out his closet and make it a prayer room. He said I remember that started to give my life to Christ, but today I’m going to do it. He remembered that he had started reading the bible, so then he ran upstair and dust the bible off and he gave is life to Christ. He fell asleep and when he woke up, he noticed that the bills where still on the table, when he woke up he noticed that people were still talking about him, but I heard him say that the Lord is my peace, and since he is the Prince of Peace then I’m going to leave it in the hands of the Lord.
Somebody Ought to shout with me this morning: that although you might have some Trial and Trouble, Stress and Struggle but please leave it in the hands of the Lord- Aren’t you glad Jesus stepped in?
Some may Feel Defeated and Demented, Crippled and Confused but please leave it in the hands of the Lord- Aren’t you glad Jesus stepped in?
Someone else might Wounded and Weakened, Hemmed in a hopeless situation but please leave it in the hands of the Lord- Aren’t you glad Jesus stepped in?
He is the Prince of Peace.
