Isaiah 9:6-7 - FBCTS - 12/4/22

Introduction: Christmas time can be a hard time

Christmas time can be hard and discouraging for those who have lost people in their lives

“Seasonal depression” or “Holiday blues” caused by:

loss of a loved one

failed marriage

unemployment

financial struggles for buying gifts

Child that won’t come home

Remembering better times that used to be

Gifts from God (Isaiah 9:6)

God has a gift for you, this gift is not wrapped and under your tree, but rather it is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah tells of this gift:

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

“For to us a child is born; to us a son is given”

“For to us a child is born”; “a son”

This highlights that Jesus was and is a human being - Truly God and Truly Man

He born as a child just like you and I (with the exception of being born or a virgin conceived by the Holy Spirit).

Because Christ is truly human, he can sympathise with our pain and hard experiences in life.

Hebrews 2:17–18 ESV

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:15–16 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

There is no temptation or trial that he cannot understand. There is no struggle or sadness with which he cannot sympathize. There is no hardship or difficulty for which he cannot provide strength to endure. - Sam Storms

“to us”; “given”

Christ is a gift to us! - The rest of the New Testament affirms this:

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXXVI Immanuel—The Light of Life (Nos. 2,163–4)

Why has he come down to us but that we may come up to him? Why has he taken our nature in its sorrow, but that we may be made partakers of the divine nature in righteousness and holiness? He comes down, not to thrust us lower, but to lift us to heights of perfectness and glory. That Jesus is man and yet God, is full of hope and joy for us who believe in him. I do not feel as if I wanted to enlarge upon this glorious truth with words alone

Christ is the ultimate gift! He is the best gift anyone could ever ask for!

“the government shall be upon his shoulder”

If Jesus can shoulder the weight of the world then surely he can carry your burdens

Jesus is Supreme

Our Government rules with multiple branches-the president, senators, representatives, and judges all carry the weight of “ruling” in our nation. Jesus carries the weight of the entire universe! He holds the universe in his hands then surely he reigns supreme over your situation.

The Four Titles

These titles are compound names because single names could not capture the magnificence of the deliverer.

“Wonderful Counsellor”

Can you think of a time where Jesus gave someone bad advice? Has he ever said anything that is incorrect?

Then He can speak to your situation

We can come to him in prayer or in the Word to be comforted by Him.

Because he is a “wonderful counsellor” we know that he is someone who gives wise counsel - in other words he has a perfect plan for all things. His wisdom is beyond our capabilities.

Isaiah 28:29 ESV

29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.

We should take comfort in this because that means whatever situation we find ourselves in, the wonderful counselor has a plan for us and has promised that all things that happen to us mold us to be more like him.

“Mighty God”

Jesus is Truly God!

Imagine someone who has an awesome plan! For example, someone has plan of how they are going to get to Mars. They sit down they draw up schematics and blue prints. They chart the course and figure out how much food they are going to need on the journey there. Even to the point of how much oxygen they will need to have on board and how they are going to survive once they get there.

This plan is perfect to the smallest detail, however, if no one comes along and funds the project and provides the supplies its never going to be executed.

A great plan is nothing but a great plan unless one has the power or ability to execute the plan!

Often we look at God and believe that he has wonderful plans but feel that he can’t make them come to pass. We have to remember that he is GOD. Omnipotent and all-powerful! Nothing can stop him!

How good would his plan be if he could not bring it to pass?

Sometimes we think about and talk about God as if He is not in control. We give ourselves to much credit for what we think we can control.

Psalm 113:4–6 ESV

4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! 5 Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, 6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

Psalm 89:8–9 ESV

8 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? 9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.

“Everlasting Father”

“Everlasting” refers to the eternality of Jesus

“Father” - This is not speaking about him in a trinitarian sense, this is not saying that he is the “Father” but rather it is giving him the loving title of Father

A benevolent protector

Jesus is fatherly and father-like in his treatment of us.

Just as a loving father watches over and protects his children, Christ watches over us.

I grew up with a wonderful father who was always patient with me when it came to almost anything. As I grew up I was dislexic and struggled to read. My dad took the time to learn how to help me and then poured many hours into teaching me how to read, so that I could have a successful future.

One of Christ’s wonderful fatherly attributes is that he is a father who shows grace.

Just as he is “Mighty God” who has the power to punish us at the moment we sin, rather he shows grace.

He gave himself for our sins and suffered for us

Even when we are saved he shows us mercy when we stumble by showing fatherly discipline to us.

Just as a father disciplines his child, Christ disciplines us. When we stray he guides us back.

He does this through other christians in our lives and through the local church that we have enjoined ourselves to.

Our Pastors, other members, and mentors hold us accountable to the commitments we have mad to Christ. When stray they are Christ’s loving instruments of discipline that he uses to bring us back to himself.

Bad Earthly Father?

Perhaps your earthly father was not a good man. And me even speaking of fathers brings you pain.

Let you down

Abused you

Does not live up to your expectations

Christ is your everlasting father.

“Prince of Peace”

Christ has allowed us to have peace with God!

Romans 5:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

He is able to do something that no other leader could ever do: bring peace.

Christ brings us peace in our troubling circumstances

Philippians 4:4–7 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The prince of peace allows us to have peace with others.

Exalted: Isaiah 9:7

Isaiah 9:7 ESV

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Around Christmas we look at these passages when thinking about the first coming or “advent” but these passages we commonly use also refer to the second coming which is called the “parousia”

“The increase of his government and of peace there will be no end”

“The kingdom of God is at hand”

When Christ ascended he sat at the right hand of the Father, where his kingdom or government (the church) continues to grow.

Though the church may go through intense persecution at times Christ will never let it die!

Matthew 16:18 ESV

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Right now we receive spiritual peace through salvation but one day when Christ returns he will bring peace in the sense that sin and death will be no more.

“on the throne of David and over his kingdom”

Why are we talking about David? - this fulfills a promise that God made to David (or covenant; this is often called the Davidic covenant) that somebody would always rule on his throne.

The messiah will come through the line of David

2 Samuel 7:16 ESV

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”

“to establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore”

This kingdom will go on forevermore -

We find encouragement in this knowing that those whom we loved who have died in Christ go on to live with Christ in his presence and we will be one day reunited with them.

“The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this”

Nothing is going to stop this plan

Nothing can stop God - therefore nothing is going to stop his purposes and plans.

He has “zeal” or “deep care” for these plans

He is passionate about his own glory and honor!

Conclusion

Christ is truly God and truly man and everything rests upon his shoulders

He is a wonderful counselor with perfect plans and is the one who can bring us the ultimate comfort

He is Mighty God who is sovereign over all things; he is in control

He is the Everlasting Father; Fatherly figure who has great love for his children

He is the prince of peace who has made peace between us and God; who can also bring us peace that surpasses all understanding.

Finally, let us remember that nothing can stop him because he has zeal for his own glory!