His Name Shall Be Called

Introduction: Read the Story of Jesus in the temple at 12 years of age. (Luke 2:41-52) It is amazing that a child was answering the temple teachers. Usually, in the first century children were not invited into situations like this except to be quiet and listen. But here is Jesus as a child, instructing the instructors. This account of Jesus as a child is further evidence to the reality that He was the fulfillment of the promises of God to send a child to save His people from their sin. For example.. the prophet Isaiah recorded hundreds of years before that... (Is. 7:14)

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

During this Christmas season we are going to be focusing on Isaiah 9:6 which begins by saying “for us a child is born, to us a son is given”. This is another prophecy highlighting that the messiah would be born, would be a son.

For us, Christmas is the annual season that we remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus. The gift from Heaven, who was the Messiah boy, who would rescue His people. The verse goes on to reveal 4 particular names that the Messiah would be called. So, throughout the month of December we are going to be focusing on each of these names. Today, we will think about Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor.

Transition: Let’s begin by reading the first 7 verses of Isaiah 9. ( Page __in blue Bible)

The book of Isaiah is full of themes like Theology and Salvation, of judgment and deliverance, rebuke and restoration, Warning and hope. Isaiah 9:1-7 is revealing that the way that God rescues His people is through a Messiah. One of the names that the Messiah would be called, is Wonderful Counselor.

Question

How is Jesus revealed as the wonderful counselor?

First of all we need to understand the meaning of the name.

Wonderful: Extraordinary, marvelous,something miraculous or unusual. Is. 25:1 uses the word this way… This is a word to describe a key characteristic of God. he is wonderful.

Isaiah 25:1 ESV

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

Counselor: Someone who gives advice about problems.

Point: The New Testament writers are repetitively clear in connecting these prophesies from the Old Testament to being fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Even as we have recently finished working through the gospel of John we discovered time and again that Jesus is both extraordinarily wonderful, and that He has absolutely given advice about our problems. We should have no doubt that Jesus is truly the Wonderful Counselor. However, we do need to continue to ask, what is His counsel? What problems does Jesus counsel? This morning only focusing on one key issue.

Idolatry

Obviously we could add many more but I've offered this one because it was prevalent among those to whom Isaiah was preaching, and it continues to be at the heart of many of our problems today.

The nation of Israel were being severely influenced by the idolatry of their surrounding culture. They were guilty of rejecting God, and rejecting His covenant which resulted in adopting the idolatrous practices of the surrounding cultures. We too have been guilty of adopting the thinking, believing, and worshiping just like our surrounding culture. (2:6-8) This is the sin of idolatry. Worshiping the created rather than the creator. Many of us are guilty of man centered worship. The idolatry of being in awe of ourselves rather than the majestic splendor of God. (2:22)

Examples of this could be desiring contentment and satisfaction in anything other than God. This could be career, money, material things, sports, education, reputation.

How does Jesus counsel idolatry? Going to read Three key passages… Matthew 4:1-11, Matt 6:19-24, Matt 15:1-9 then offer an explanation)

Explanation:

Jesus’ counsel is to fight against the temptation of idolatry by adhering to the truth that only the Lord God deserves our worship and service.

Jesus’ counsel against the idol of money applies to all potential idols. It is to see that the root of the problem is in the heart. And the solution to the problem to to lay up treasure in heaven by love and devotion to God alone.

Again, the passage in Matthew 15 records Jesus counseling rebuke of the Pharisees who were guilty of giving external honor to God, while their hearts remained in unbelief. The result, Jesus says, is that their external worship was in vain.

Whats the point? Idolatry is a heart problem. The solution to the problem originates in having a heart transplant. Jesus makes our heart of stone into a heart of flesh. He changes our heart of darkness to hearts of light. He removes our unbelief and rejection and replaces it with the gift of faith and devotion. Then, we are able by His Spirit to fight against the temptation of idolatry and continue in faithful obedience to the one true God.

Illustration: Once upon a time, (Give story of a guy (maybe myself?) having a heart change and turning to Christ from idols.) This was the same testimony that Paul recognized concerning the church at Thessalonica. See Thessalonians 1:8-9) This is the same testimony of many of us here today. When we were living life according to our own agenda, focusing on our own glory, worshiping many various idols of our hearts… and then Jesus recused us from our in. To the praise of His glory and grace.

Closing: We know idolatry will continue to be a temptation that comes against Jesus’ church. However, we must ask, is this a particular sin that I need to repent of today? Is idolatry a root problem in your life today? Many of the so called problems we think we have are merely symptoms of idolatry. Fear, worry, anxiety, anger, addiction, confusion, lust, laziness, and the list goes on… Often, these are only signals of a heart that is seeking to be satisfied without God.

Jesus is our wonderful counselor. His counsel enables us to be discerning. To be wise about what we hold as valuable. To be filtering the cultural information that is constantly influencing our minds. To be satisfied in God alone. To worship Him and no other. To be stewards of the various activities and artifacts of our lives as a means of bringing Him glory, but never to take His place as Master and King. (Pray)

Extra:

a. Concerning fear. (7:4, 8:11-13,

- Jesus’ counsel? Matt. 10:26-33

b. Concerning pride. The (2:11;17, 5:21,

- Jesus’ counsel? Matt. 11:25-30

c. Concerning salvation. (9:1-7, 11:1-5 read) also, chapter 12, 52:13-53.

- Jesus’ counsel? Matthew 12:15-21 , Matthew 4:13-20