Baby Announcement

Background

If we have not had the pleasure of meeting my name is John Colunga and I have the privilige of serving as lead pastor here at New Day Pasadena

I also have the privilige of bringing this weeks sermon

So if you have your Bibles, please turn to Isaiah 9:1-7

If you forgot your Bible please use the one in front of you and if you dont have a Bible at all, please take home the one in front of you as a free gift to you

New Series

It’s All About Jesus

We know that in the Christmas season it is generally a joyful time

There are some who have lost someone and this Christmas will be the first Christmas without that loved one and so we do recognize that there can be a level of sadness with this season

But generally speaking, as the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”

And for the Christian faith, it is a joyful cheerful time as we remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus

And what we are encouraging everyone accross all three of our churches

Is that even though the gift giving is fun, the christmas parties are fun, the season is fun,

For us, we want to remember that this time should be centered around and is all about Jesus

We dont want anything to detract from the true meaning of Christmas

And as we go to God’s word - we want to remember that God’s word is all about Jesus

We can have a tendency to make it about us

But really, it is about Jesus doing what Adam could not do

It’s about Jesus doing what Israel could not do

And it’s about Jesus doing what we can not do

The Bible is about Jesus rescuing his people

Old Testament: anticipation

Gospels: manifestation

Acts: proclamation

Epistles: explanation

Revelation: consummation

And today - we will be in the Old Testament where there is an anticipation for Jesus

Where we find the announcement of Baby Jesus

Baby announcements are another joyful time and Marianne and I have been able to experience this first time as we anticipate the arrival of our son

And as we anticipate the arrival of our son - there is a level of anxiousness and fear I have about becomming a dad

However, my fear and confusion is nothing compared to the fear and confusion that surrounded Israel and the tribe of Judah when the announcement of Jesus happened

In chapter 6, Uziah the King has died

Uziah the King Golden Age of Israel

Uziah spiritually, economically, spiritually, ushered in peace and success

Jotham takes the throne - he has success

Jotham reigns for 16 years

Jothams son Ahaz comes to the throne - And he does not follow in the footsteps of Uziah or Jotham

2 Chronicles 28:1–4 “Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done, but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.”

King Ahaz in the line of Kings of Judah is not following in the ways of King David and the kings before him and so he is certainly not following God

And because Ahaz was trusting in his own might to keep peace and to keep his kingdom intact - he made many decisions that backfired on him

And under the threat of attack

In Isaiah 7, God sends Isaiah to Ahaz and he tells Ahaz to just ask for a sign

Ask for a sign that God is with you and he will give you a sign

Ahaz, in his arrogance, rejects the sign

But God gives a sign anyway - Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Ahaz gives no attention to this sign, and he tries to get into an alliance with the Assyrians (Powerful Superpower)

And instead of going to God for wisdom and protection, in chapter 8

We find he and his people start to conjur up plans and conspiracy theories

They were seeking answers from witchcraft type beings

And the only thing this planning, conspiring, and seeking of answers brings - is added darkness, confusion, fear, and anxiousness

And in the midst of this confusion, fear, and anxiousness - God gives the announcement of a baby

A baby that will be born 700 years later

A baby whose names and accomplishments is already being proclaimed

A baby who is a son and will sit on the throne of David

This Baby, is Jesus

Here, in the old testament, in the midst of darkness, confusion, fear, and anxiety

Is the announcement of hope, true joy, and everlasting peace!

Isaiah 9:1-7,

And so, as we look at this announcement of a baby, the announcement of Jesus,

We are going to break up Isaiah 9:1-7 into two parts and today we will focus on verses 1-3

The first three verses that are given as a result of the baby announcement

Verses 4-7 are the foundation for the announcement

Im going to use an analogy - If we were building a house - today, we are looking at the completed beauty of the house

Next week we will look at the foundation, brick, and finishing touches that were used to create it

If you are able to stand, I ask that you please do so for the reading of God’s word. I’ll read it as you follow along,

Isaiah 9:1–7 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 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. 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.

This is the Word of the Lord - You may now be seated

Result of Jesus

Conquered Lands

The northen tribal areas of Zebulun and Naphtali would be conquered

These lands being conquered would be a great blow and bring much suffering and deprivation

But because of the invation, it would also bring spiritual famine

The Assyrians would bring in their gods, they would bring their traditions, and sacrifices

And so for a period of time, the prophecy of judgement found in chapters 7&8 are realized through the conquering and fall of these tribal areas

In the land there is anguish

However, even through the anguish there is no gloom

There is no gloom because it will not always be this way

The result of the birth of Jesus is that Jesus full of glory will walk on the land of these tribes amongst the people

Matthew 4:12-17 12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

God’ has already promised a Messiah to his people and now he is promising that that Messiah will walk where these tribes are enduring anguish

The Light

Next we see verse 2 where the result of the birth of Jesus is the result of life

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Jesus the Messiah is announced by God as the light

There will be a light to the people who were in spiritual darkness

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

And then Jesus is born - fully God and fully man

Jesus grows in wisdom and stature and when he is in his ministry Jesus doesnt just walk the land but he announces I am the light.

Jesus announces I am the light God promised

I am the light walking on the land

John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

John 12:44-46 44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

The result of the birth of Jesus is that people will be restored and witness the hope and light of man

Multiplied

Now verse three has several interpretations due it being obscurea

What I will lay before you are the three leading ones and the one that I personally give preference too

And this really depends on how a person would interpret the word “nation”

Being consistent with the prophecy of the restoration of the land, of the restoration of the people of Israel,

The first is that in the context of the passage, writing to these Israelites who are suffering, there will be a remnant of them living and when Jesus comes, they will be multiplied once again

The Second plausible interpretation, is that the birth of Jesus would be the greatest gift, the gretest blessing, the greatest joy, that God could give to the people of Israel

Jesus as the blessing for God’s people is not just for the current generation of Israel but for every Israelite who had faith in the coming Messiah, those who believed in Jesus as he taught, and thse who had faith in Jesus after the resurrection

And so the blessing is not for just one generation, but is multiplied to all generations of Israel - past, present, and future

The third plausible view and the one that I personally hold to is that the nation of Israel, the nation of God’s people is multiplied by Jesus bringing in the gentiles

At the time this passage was given, Jesus had not come, but the language and wording is as if Jesus had already been born

3 You have multiplied the nation;

And what we know is that Jesus didnt come just for the Jews,

Both the Jew and the gentile can be saved and therefore the nation or church of God is multiplied.

in verse two there is mention of the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

Galilee was adjoining to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and on one side it was bounded by the course of the Jordan.

This section is called Galilee of the Gentiles, because it contained a great multitude of Gentiles, who were mingled with the Jews;

And so the joy of Christ, the joy of his harvest, the joy of his blessings are shared amongst the multitudes that are part of his church

And I believe this is further strengthened by verses 4-7 because Jesus’ work, his names, and his everlasting kingdom is for all of his people

Jesus isn’t Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

And heres the thing, We could go back and forth all day long and we would still miss the point

Because regardless of which view or mixture of the views you hold to,

The result of the birth of Jesus is the multiplication of God’s people and the shared joy and joy his everlasting blessings

Application

Modern Day

There is still darkness in our world today

There are many who are in gloom

Political gloom, economic gloom, workplace gloom, academic gloom, relational gloom

People are in darkness - consumed with trying to do everything on their own, fighting anxiety, living confused, and searching for answers in places other than God

People live in sorrow because their hope is in themself

People live in sorrow because they are enslaved to sin

And so the hope given to Israel is the same hope for us today

That is Jesus

Matthew 1:20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Jesus came with a purpose - to be the glory in the doom, to be the light in the darkness, and be the joy in the sorrow

He walked this earth to live a perfect life, he died and arose on the third day to conquer sin and death

That because of Him, we can live in glory, we can be in the light, and we can have everlasting joy

In Genesis, Jesus was promised, in Isaiah Jesus is announced, and in the gospels we see God incarnate - Jesus being born as a baby

The Bible, God’s plan, this life that we live, needs to be all about Jesus

GIVING

We want to be all about Jesus even in our giving

Weeks ago I mentioned our giving campaign and that campaign starts today

Maybe you missed that meeting but I was encouraging us to start preparing our hearts

And to start asking God what he would lead you to give

And so as we start this, thats the posture we want to have, Lord, what would you have me to do? What would you have me to give?

We want to meet our 20K giving need but we also want to go beyond that 15K. So our December goal is 35K as a campus

In my nerdy mind I’ve already done the math if you divide

The crazy and good thing is, God doesn’t operate on John math

Faith, Trust, Seek, him

We want to Kingdom minded in our giving and know that our giving here isnt just having a physical impact, but a spiritual one as well

Lets pray