Christmas Gifts Still To Come
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Intro; While we were in Louisiana at Thanksgiving, I got a text from UPS that there was a package that was put on hold because it could not be delivered unless we were at the church. It asked me to go online and reschedule a new delivery date. I called Jeff at UPS and he said it was a scam. If it had been real from UPS, more than likely it will arrive on that newly scheduled date.
But there have been times that we’ve ordered things and they didn’t arrive when they say they would, or there have been times they never come [Like our Toberlone chocolate from Norway, because Svein wrote “fragile chocolate” on the package].
Christmas season is here and people are ordering gifts for one another with the hopes that they will arrive on time. But there are some Christmas gifts that God has ordained in eternity past but they are still yet to be delivered. Tonight I want to look at some of those gifts.
Text; Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
1. Gifts Already Given; 6a
1. Gifts Already Given; 6a
“For unto us” - this means that God’s gifts are given for our benefit!
The phrase “a child is born,” identifies Jesus as a man. The baby Mary brought into the world 2,000 years ago was fully human.
The phrase “a son is given,” identifies Him as God. God did not come to this world a fully grown man; He came as a helpless infant. But, that baby was God! He was given so that we might be redeemed from our sins and born again into the family of God. Jesus is God’s gift to mankind.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Now if that is all that God gives us, that would be more than enough, Amen!
2. Gifts Still to Come; 6b-7b
2. Gifts Still to Come; 6b-7b
“The Government will be on His shoulders”
This is a reference to His Millennial Reign. It will be a time that the government of the world will be for the people instead of against them.
Throughout the history of the world, men have proven to be incompetent in governing the people, but Jesus will govern properly because He will govern from the standard of righteousness.
27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;
2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”
“His name will be called/hallowed”
Today the name of Jesus is not honored among men, it is cursed and many people try to erase His name from society altogether. But when He returns and rules in righteousness, people will hallow His name as it should be.
Wonderful- supernatural, exceptional, beyond common [words, works, ways]
4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
Counselor- advice, guidance, purpose
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
Mighty God- [El Gibbor/Hebrew] Strong Hero or Invincible King. Jesus has defeated all our enemies [death, sin, satan, the grave and hell]
55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
Everlasting Father- His fatherly care of His people and tenderness towards them are everlasting/never ending.
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Prince of Peace- A ruler who governs His people with peace and in peace. This is the very thing that kings, presidents or dictators have never been able bring about.
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
“Increase of His government and peace will never end”
When Christ rules in His government there will be continual growth of abundance and prosperity throughout society. How can this happen?
Get rid of Washington DC. and all the politicians in government. Imagine a world in which there is no lawlessness or violence, no prejudice or intolerance, no injustice or unrighteousness, no wars, famines, poverty or pestilences. A world that does not recognize republican or democrat, black or white, rich or poor. Our leaders can’t even get along long enough to transact the business that is in the best interests of the people of this nation. But when Christ rules, everything will change!
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.
24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
When Jesus comes, the curse of sin will be removed from the world. When Jesus comes the world be restored to the beauty and glory of the original creation. When Jesus comes, He will give the world everything it would have had if sin had not entered in and destroyed everything.
3. Guaranteed Delivery; 7c
3. Guaranteed Delivery; 7c
“Zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this”
Unlike man who cannot guarantee delivery of gifts on time because of various reasons, God has guaranteed the delivery of His Christmas gifts.
Zeal- enthusiastic diligence in pursuit of a cause or objective
It means that the Lord will not quit until He has accomplished all these things. He will not rest until every promised gift of Christmas has been delivered!
13 The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.
17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
Close;
Unlike the modern package carriers of our day who do a pretty good job of delivery, but are not 100% guaranteed, Jesus has a perfect record of delivering what He promises on time.
So this christmas when all your gifts are open, and whether you get all that you wanted or not, remember that God has delivered the greatest gift of all in giving His Son Jesus Christ, and the best christmas gifts are yet to come in Christ when He rules in righteousness because He is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!