God’s gift of Christmas is the gift of His Son (Isaiah 9:6-7)This Child was born for us. This Son was given to us.
The good we need is the good that is given to us through the person of Jesus Christ.
God’s will is that every lasting good and every satisfying blessing be experienced only because of Jesus.
Do you see this in the text? Verse one tells us there is no gloom, verse two tells us there is great light for those in darkness, verse three tells us there is great joy and gladness.
We are intended to ask why? Where does this come from? Why the change?
Verse 4 begins the answer. Notice the word ‘for’ it means because. You have those blessings because God is the restorer of those who are oppressed.
Then we ask how does God restore? Verse 5 begins the answer. Notice the repeated ‘for’ in that verse.
There is joy because there is restoration because God fights for us; burn your army boots and battle garments.
But how will God fight for us? How will we be restored? How will our joy overflow like it does in times of harvest?
Verse 6, because to us a child is born, to us a son is given. That little baby boy in the manger is our joy.
Do you see that the security of all these blessings does not come because of what this son will do? The security is ours simply because of his birth.
God’s purposes cannot be stopped. Jesus has come for us. This son is given to us. What we need for today and all of eternity is secured for us and given to us in Jesus Christ.
He is called Wonderful Counselor
Now these names, these things we call Jesus, are not meant to be simple markers or identifiers.
These are his names because these are what the presence of Jesus brings to our lives.
To the teaching and to the testimony is the call of Isaiah 8 verse 20. Go to true knowledge. Abandon lies. Do away with what is insufficient.
The wonderful counselor is here; listen to him. Jesus said in John 15:7, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
His counsel, his wisdom, is supernatural. What we have recorded in Scripture is not the common-sense wisdom of the day.
This is not the home-spun advice of generations gone by. Listen to the Christ. He was given to you. He came for you. Scripture is meant for our good.
We must be a listening people. We must be a bible-reading people. We must be a people who listen and then rest in his strength and rejoice in his promise.
And God intends for us to be this no matter what our circumstances are.
Call him Wonderful Counselor by listening to him and resting in his plans and in his power.
He is called Mighty God
He is the strong God. He alone has the power that is necessary to complete his will and counsel.
Do we sleep at night knowing that he will supply the power to accomplish the plans he has called us to?
There is no biological family that can give this strength. There is no job that can supply this security. There is no investment or amount of money that can make these promises.
Only Jesus is Mighty God. Only he can surely deliver what he promises no matter our circumstances.
It pleases God to show him self strong on our behalf. We see his strength when we are weak.
The Apostle Paul’s struggle over his own weakness is recorded for our benefit. The promise of Christ to him is the promise of Christ to us.
Hear Jesus, the Mighty God, speak to you out of his wonderful counsel, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
He is called Everlasting Father
With Jesus there is wonderful counsel that is good for all of eternity. With Jesus is power that is good for all time. He is the Everlasting Father.
It is foolishness to think that this child that is born, this son that is given, is anyone less than God.
No one human king, no prophet’s son, can bear up under these names. This baby is a human and this baby is God.
He is father; He is creator. He is our eternal Sustainer.
Come to him today. Take the gift given to you and find was is everlasting. Find counsel, find might, find your Father who is full of love and peace.
Find the One called Prince of Peace
Through this name for Jesus we are meant to understand that we can find everlasting powerful peace in no one else but Jesus; with him is princely peace. And we are meant to understand that this Everlasting Father intends to give peace to his people.
Because of his strong shoulders there will be no end to his government; he cannot be overthrown our ousted.
Because of his strong shoulders there will be no end to the peace that he gives to his people.
Jesus sits on the throne of David in order to establish and uphold his kingdom.
Christmas is about a child being born so that we can receive him and all his blessings.
With him is justice and righteousness from right now unto forever.
BUT GOD’S PEOPLE ARE BEING CAPTURED!
Zebulun and Naphtali are brought into contempt. The rest of Israel and Judah are soon to follow.
You know this feeling: my life is falling apart. This is not what I bargained for. I cannot handle this. I am frustrated. I hate this.
The advice of others has made things worse - Jesus is called Wonderful Counselor.
I cannot go on I give up - Jesus is called Mighty God.
I am alone and abandoned - Jesus is called Everlasting Father.
I am empty and cannot find rest - Jesus is Prince of Peace.
What will do this for the people of Israel? What will do this for you this morning? Look at the end of verse 7.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
God’s passion for his own glory, his own Son, and his own people will accomplish all of this.
Today, like every day, like every Christmas, God is calling us to trust him no matter the circumstances.
For us a child is born. For us a son is given.
Right now, through Isaiah chapter 9, God is calling on us to trust him. Trust him in spite of circumstances and sin and darkness and shame.
Trust him because the reality of Christ and the wisdom of Christ and the power of Christ is far greater.
Receive the gift of Christmas. Repent, believe, and be saved.
(Countdown to Christmas, Merry Christmas)
-Author Unknown-
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