Christmas 2022 - Sermon #4

The Perfect Gift You Need

Text: Isaiah 9:1-6

Introduction

Matthew 1:23 “23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Colossians 1:19 “19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;”

This story should never lose it’s wonder to the believing heart! The eternal Christ wrapped in flesh to save the souls of man who are flesh. For Christ to save man, He must first come and be one (of course without sin).

You have to appreciate Isaiah’s prophecy with those of his equals. They had no idea how this was going to be fulfilled. It wasn’t until Isaiah’s request for clarity did God spell it out in a four-fold way.

Isaiah 9:2-6 “2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: They joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, And as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, And garments rolled in blood; But this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 7:17–10:34 (WEOOT): From 7:17 on, Isaiah is talking to apostate Israel and Pekah, her king. He warns the Northern Kingdom that Assyria will come upon them and completely ruin them, leaving the land in poverty and ruin instead of fullness of blessing.

There is without doubt that JESUS was the light who penetrated the darkness of the world. It is JESUS who provides for every soul the four-fold need: the ministry of Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Dear friend, Jesus Christ was these, is these, and will continue to be these things to the souls of humanity.

Let’s take a few moments and unpack the mysterious miracle of all of these blessings coming down and placed into flesh......

1) Wonderful Counsellor

Unfortunately, this term Counsellor has grown into a definition today which speaks more of a salaried profession than a loving service from a friend.

Seeking counsel is wise and needed, yet most of the counsel people seek today lacks an OBJECTIVE moral compass.

The MAKER’S instructions are not good enough any longer.

Listen, your problem is MANIFOLD!

The effects from the fall of man into sin are HOLISTIC.

It has touched spirit, soul, and body.

Your problem is DEEP SPIRITUAL DARKNESS.

If your problem is spiritual darkness, then your antidote must be spiritual light.

The counsellor you need is someone who will shine light on the ultimate cause of your condition and direct you to the remedy.

The truth this light reveals is not in efforts to extend THIS LIFE, but to ready you for the life to come.

THIS LIFE WILL END!!!

In the New Testament, we read where Jesus promises this counsel even after he ascends; HOLY SPIRIT.

We have been given God’s revelation! Notice what it provides us with:

TEACHING — instructs our minds to help us think clearly on how to see things from God’s perspective.

REPROOF — Leading you to an awareness of how bad things really are; we have fallen short of God’s glory.

CORRECTION — Hope is ushered in! This correction is something that mends us, heals us, and transforms us. From a medical term meaning to reset a bone or correct a deformity.

TRAINING — Righteousness is in view here. Speaking about child-training in the family — learning what it means to be a child of God, live like one, and the Father’s adopting us.

2) Mighty God

Immanuel has all the power I need to give me life and set me free! HE IS THE ALMIGHTY ONE!!!

Take a deeper look into the name “might”:

It carries with it the undertone of the heroic.

Immanuel does things in an heroic fashioned.

Isaiah definitely illustrates for us the heroics of Immanuel:

Isaiah 9:4 “4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.”

“the day of Midian” speaks to the days described in the Book of Judges when Israel’s persistent sin led to their defeat and oppression by pagan nations.

Judges 6:6 “6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.”

This speaks to the heroics of God to win the battle between Gideon and his army of 300 and the Midianite army of thousands.

Gideon started with 32,000 and God whittled them down to 300.

300 trumpets, 300 clay jars, and 300 torches, 300 men crying out “a sword for the Lord and for Gideon.”

Jesus as our divine hero comes empty handed, in the frailty of the incarnation, and dies in the weakness/apparent folly of crucifixion.

Jesus’ life, death and resurrection proves that God’s folly is wiser than man’s wisdom and God’s weakness is stronger than man’s strength.

Quote: “The oppression of sin and guilt, Satan, and death are all dealt with through the cross of Christ in which he overcame the dominion of sin, bore its guilt, died our death, and in his resurrection power conquered our enemy. Folly overcame wisdom; weakness conquered strength.” — Sinclair Ferguson

“the government shall be upon his shoulder”

Jesus entered His government by crucifixion and resurrection.

Early church fathers had said, “the disobedience that took place at a tree found it antidote in the obedience that took place at another tree.”

All enemies of His government were defeated at Calvary!

Think of this significance:

No matter what regime believers may be under, they are able to live the Christian life; they are free in Jesus’ government.

They may even have to live in tiny cells, but they would live there as free men and women in Christ.

3)Everlasting Father

When you thought that was all you needed, think again. YOU NEED MORE.

Jesus said, “If you have seen me you have seen the Father.”

Not only are you in darkness and bondage, you are also homeless; spiritual orphans.

Your spiritual homesickness has become a burden you have tried to throw off, but have failed to do so.

You need a father by which you will know that you are loved.

Immanuel is an EVERLASTING FATHER!

You were originally created to belong to God’s family, and to enjoy His love and care.

Your first parents messed that up!

SIN rendered you FATHERLESS!

None of us by nature are children of God

John 1:12 “12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

Ephesians 2:1-3 “1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

Let’s think back to the Prodigal’s Father:

First, the culture would have prepared a ceremony for the prodigal’s return, but it would have been a shunning ceremony; the son would be publicly shamed.

A righteous father would not welcome him back without retaliations.

What did the father (aka Jesus) in the parable do?

The father RUNS to welcome the wayward son home (dignified Jewish father never ran).

The father embraces and kisses his son (typically would be disowned).

The father has the best robe for his son; probably his own. Ring on his finger and shoes to wear in the home.

The father throws a party providing food singing and dancing

Christians did not create God as a father-figure, God the Father created us as son-figures because He desires us!

Quote: “You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” — Augustine

4) Prince of Peace

Here is the beauty of the first advent of Jesus (aka, the foundation of the gospel), a gospel is provided that offers us peace in Christ; YOUR sin punishment has been dealt with IN HIM!

Isaiah is a by-stander observing what the Servant of the lord does.

Isaiah 50:6 “6 I gave my back to the smiters, And my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.”

Isaiah had to think, “Surely this isn’t the one called Immanuel, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace?”

He hears noice, scourging, anger, and sees this servant led like a sheep to the slaughter. Treated guilty while clearly innocent.

Isaiah 53:4-6 “4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Who this suffering servant was became more clear.

To promise the believer the “shadow of death,” Jesus had to go to a realm where Psalm 23 seemed to no longer function.

The Prince of Peace was chastised in order to bring you peace.

Jesus’ first advent was yet to unfold, yet Isaiah knew it would involve the birth of Immanuel.

Conclusion

There is no doubt Jesus is the rescuer of your soul, but He is more than that.....He is a COMPLETE SAVIOR!!!

Take notice to what Isaiah wrote, “To US a child is born, to US a son is given.” The shepherds were given this same good news announcement.

Substitute the words ‘to us’ with the words ‘to me.”

Isaiah 9:6 “6 For unto us (TO ME) a child is born, unto us (TO ME) a son is given: And the government (OF MY LIFE) shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called (MY) Wonderful, Counseller, The (MY) mighty God, The (MY) everlasting Father, The (MY) Prince of Peace.”

Here is my closing question for you: IS HE YOURS?