Someone To Provide For Me Series

SERIES: ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS…

“SOMEONE TO PROVIDE FOR ME”

(adapted from a sermon by Dave Stone)

ISAIAH 9:6-7

OPEN

A mother and daughter are Christmas shopping in the mall when the mother finds an expensive fur coat. She tells her daughter: “This year, I think I will go ahead and buy my present instead making you and Dad shop for me.” The daughter says that she agrees.

The mom says, “I think this fur coat would be the perfect gift.” The daughter protests, “But Mom, some helpless, poor creature had to suffer so you could have this fur coat.”

The mom replies, “Don’t worry, Honey. Your father won’t get the bill for a couple of weeks.”

Over the last several weeks, we’ve been in the series, “All I Want for Christmas…” It’s based on the prophecy found in Is. 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. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” The prophet Isaiah wrote those words some seven hundred years before the shepherds found the baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

We’ve looked at Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor – someone to advise me. Last week we saw Him as the Mighty God – someone to save me. Today we want to take a closer look at Jesus as the Everlasting Father.

What a confusing title for the Son of God. It seems strange and unique that Isaiah says that this baby will grow and be called, “The Eternal Father”. Charles Spurgeon put it well when he said, “How complex is the person of our Lord Jesus Christ! Almost in the same breath the prophet calls Him a ‘Child,’ a ‘Counselor,’ a ‘Son,’ and ‘The Everlasting Father.’ This is no contradiction, and to us scarcely a paradox, but it is a mighty marvel that He who was an infant should at the same time be infinite. He who was the Man of Sorrows should

also be God over all, blessed forever. And He who is in the Divine Trinity always called the Son, should

nevertheless be correctly called ‘The Everlasting Father.’”

The term “Father” is not to be confused with God the Father necessarily, but instead refers to the enduring, compassionate, fatherly care of the Messiah to his people. A good father is a good provider.

Recently I wasn’t feeling real well and so Anna took me to the doctor. After the examination the doctor pulled Anna off to the side and whispered to her, “I don’t like the way your husband looks.”

And she said, “Neither do I but he’s always been a good provider!”

Jesus said in Mt. 7:9-11 – “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks

for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your

children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Let’s look together this morning at some important things that Jesus provides for us. My prayer is that this message will bring you closer to Christ and will give you tools to live your life for His glory.

HE PROVIDES NOURISHMENT

One of the things that bugs is trying to determine where to go eat. Do I want Mexican or Chinese? Do I want fast-food or home-style cooking? Do I want pizza or just something light? One of the things we’ll do as a family following our worship service this morning is to decide where we’re going to eat. There’s so much to from which to choose. One thing I know is that if I don’t eat, I can get sick and die. My body needs nourishment.

Another thing my body needs is hydration. I can last a lot longer without food than I can without water. Water is a necessary component for life.

The human body is ⅔ water. By the time you’re 70 years old, your body will have required the use of 1 ½ million gallons of water. If you loose 2% of your body’s water supply, your energy will decrease by 20%. A 10% decrease in water, you will be unable to walk, and a 20% decrease – you’re dead.

Food and water are vital for you to continue living. Our physical being can’t live without them. The same is true of our spiritual being. We need spiritual nourishment to continue to be spiritually alive. Jesus is our food and water for spiritual nourishment.