Hope in a Child

Introduction:

Good morning, I hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving with your family and friends. Katherine and I are excited to finally be here with you all. Since coming in view of a call, it has felt like time has inched along. Yet, here we are finally together this morning. Thank you for being here to worship the Lord together.

If you have your Bibles, and I hope that you do, please turn to Isaiah 9. Here in a few moments we will look at the first seven verses together.

Since I was little, this time of year has been a time full of emotions. As a child, I can remember the eager expectations of getting the gifts I had hoped and wished for on Christmas morning, the excitement keeping we awake at night, only to have joy come over me with the gifts I opened. Yet, even greater than the gifts was the love we shared as a family.

During the housing market crash in the early 2000s, my family went through great uncertainty. My brothers and I were still young and didn’t grasp the true significance of turmoil my family faced. My dad, had his check printing business fade and construction clean up business was fall off with few new houses going up. As a result, our family began to lose income and it would not be long before we lost our home and would have a family of six in a old Samurai Suzuki. Just imagine four people seating on a bench in the back of a jeep wrangler and two upfront. I can remember the cold air that would pass through the thin canvas that made the cover. It was loud. But, it got us around. My mother, she had been a stay at home mom and was homeschooling us boys, got a job working as a bank teller, my dad, found a job working in the back at Walmart. We found a smaller house to rent. Our lives were turned upside down. I can remember my parents telling us boys that Christmas was going to be different this year because money was tight. Yet, I honestly don’t remember any of us complaining. What I remember was the love that bonded us together and the hope my dad kept preaching to us that Jesus has us and he is why we can truly hold on to hope.

Over the next four weeks, I want to share with you the reasons for the season. It is far to easy in this consumer driven world to become fixated on the things this world has to offer. We allow our gifting ability or gifts we receive to rule our hearts.

There are times where hope, excitement, joy, peace, and love are present and we thrive. Yet, at other times, our hope turns to doubt, excitement and joy turn to depression, peace shifts to discord, and love transforms to bitterness. Our emotions can rule over our lives.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are arguably the most often seasons where our emotions run rampant when we allow the true reason for Christmas to fade into the background.

This morning I would like to talk to you about the “the hope we have in Jesus.”

If you have found your place in Isaiah 9, would you say word? Let’s stand as we read the word together.

Isaiah 9:1–7 ESV

1 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.

Pray

You may be seated.

1. The Promise of Light

Isaiah 9:1–2 ESV

1 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.

Note on Isaiah’s use of darkness and light language:

Isaiah—God Saves Sinners Triumph

Isaiah uses the metaphors of darkness and light for oppression and liberation.

Exposition

Historically, the people in Galilee had known what war, slavery, and true despair was because they were located in the north where many of Israel’s enemies would begin their oppressive missions in their lands.

They not only knew gloom, it was a way of life. They were in an atmosphere of great depression and melancholy. Hope for them was a futile dream that had faded into oblivion.

Yet, Isaiah has been given a prophecy from God that Isaiah 9:2,

Isaiah 9:2 ESV

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.

God in his overwhelming grace chose to come to them. To radiate his grace and power through Jesus in an oppressed and hopeless land that was ravaged because of their rejection of their God.

God, in his power and authority, was not satisfied with their state of darkness so he intervened, bringing hope to the world by bringing his Son into the world, to them!

Isaiah tells them that even though they walked in darkness, they have seen a great light!

Yet, it was not only that they walked in darkness, their land was in deep darkness. Yet, with Jesus this new light was bright!

Bridge to Today

We are born into a world of darkness. We are children of darkness apart from Christ. Paul tells us this in Ephesians 5:8

Ephesians 5:8 ESV

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Because of Jesus, we go from a people who are full of depression, gloom, and darkness to a people who are full of God’s hope filling light!

Paul adds in verse 14, Ephesians 5:14

Ephesians 5:14 ESV

14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

We are made new creations in Christ, because He is the great light to a world of darkness! When we respond to the gospel, Christ shines on our life and we are filled with the hope that is in his great light!

Application:

Have you placed your faith in the great light that is Jesus Christ? Or are you continuing to fumble through this darkness filled life apart from his hope?

Yet not only do we see the promise of light, second, we see the

2. The Proclamation of Joy

Isaiah 9:3–5 ESV

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.

Exposition:

As a result of Jesus coming into the world, the text tells us that there is overwhelming joy that comes.

It says that [Jesus] has “increased its joy, they rejoice before” him.

The two illustrations used reflect two realities that they would be very familiar with, the first is like the celebration after a great harvest.

The second, he refers to the excitement that comes from the spoils of war as they are being divided. In both cases, the joy that the people experience comes from Jesus’ work in the world. Jesus has provided a benefit to those who have given their lives to Jesus.

Another interesting aspect of Isaiah’s proclamation is that Jesus has broken the yoke of burden and oppression which Isaiah then uses God’s great victory in Judges 6-7 as a reference. The Midianites were oppressors of Israel but God gave Israel victory over their oppressors.

Jesus came into the world as a great light to defeat the yoke of sin, death, and satan. He came to wage war on the the evil darkness of the world. We see this imagery further expanded in verse 5, Isaiah 9:5

Isaiah 9:5 ESV

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.

this language signifies that there is victory in this holy war where the spoils were dedicated to God and the equipment of war was set a blaze.

Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins. Thus, Jesus defeated sin and death. Satan’s top tools are sin and death. In the garden, with the first man and woman, Satan used sin to cause the ultimate harm to God’s uniquely created beings. Then on that ordained day, Satan used his greatest tools sin and death to have Jesus crucified on a cross, where God in the flesh, perished, was buried, yet, three days later he rose from the grave, destroying Satan’s greatest tools, the very tools he used to kill Jesus. In that moment with the great light of hope Jesus walked out of the tomb victorious, the war was won, Satan was defeated. The ultimate hope of the world was given through the miraculous work of Jesus! Satan’s power was diminished, salvation was provided to us through saving faith in the great HOPE, Jesus.

We are the great spoils of war! When we place a our saving faith in Jesus we are Jesus’. Our spoil is Jesus! What abundance of wealth has been given to us because of Jesus!

We Christians are full of joy because we have experienced the victorious power of Jesus in our lives. We do not have to be fearful. We do not have to live in despair because we have the hope in the joy of the work of Jesus!

Not only do we see 1. the promise of light and the proclamation of joy, lastly we see,

3. The Presence of the Savior

Isaiah 9:6–7 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. 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.

Exposition

Isaiah explains that this victorious light bringing will be born as a child and this child is a gift to the people.

Luke uses similar language when quoting the angels, in Luke 2:11

Luke 2:11 ESV

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

this language helps us see that Jesus is this promised child who is coming to give victory to world over sin and death.

Also, Isaiah tells us that this child will have the government on his shoulder’s. Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:18 that,

Matthew 28:18 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

He is the ultimate authority in the world. God the Father has given him sovereign reign over the world.

Isaiah then gives this child four names.

The first is wonderful Counselor.

This name shows us that Jesus is not only extraordinary but he is the wisest counsel we can seek. He is God in the flesh and reveals God’s miraculous power and his infinite wisdom. He is worthy of our total devotion.

2. The second is Mighty God.

This name is not by mistake. It is important for us to understand that it is not abnormal for names in the old testament to have God in their name. For example, Ezekiel means “God will be my strength.” However, Isaiah uses the same name in Isaiah 10:21 to refer to God when he states, Isaiah 10:21

Isaiah 10:21 ESV

21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

It is because of this connection that the promised child has a unique and powerful connection to God the Father. His name not only declares that God is mighty, it connects Him to God.

3. The third name is Everlasting Father.

This is a powerful reminder that the coming child and his kingdom is eternal. It is not limited in scope or season, it is one that will remain forever.

4. The final name is Prince of Peace.

Jesus is the ultimate prince of peace. No human king, government, or leader will ever be able to achieve total peace. Only Jesus, will provide an eternal kingdom of peace. We already have peace with God, but one day we will get to experience the eternal kingdom of God that will be the new heavens and new earth with perfect harmony as God designed us. What a glorious day that will be!

What will that eternal kingdom look like? We see that Jesus’ kingdom is an eternal kingdom. It will not end and no one will ever be able to undo it! Also, we see that the it will be a kingdom that is just and righteous. As we all know, there is no righteous government or one perfectly just. Sin prevents us from being able to have a perfect government, it is why we must pray for them daily, however, there is a day coming when Jesus will establish a perfect government through his justice and righteous that will be forever established.

The last thing we see and most importantly is that all of this will be a result of the zeal of the Lord and that He will do this himself.

God in his love and passion to save us promised the people of Israel that he would not forsake them that Jesus was coming to bring hope to a land full of darkness and gloom. That God would bring his saving light. That Jesus’ presence was assured. A savior to right the wrong and vanquish the enemy!

Illustration:

During World War II, soldiers would often write letters home to their loved ones. One soldier admitted that just seeing his wife’s handwriting brought him comfort during the harshest nights. It points to how the simple presence of someone we love can instill hope. Just as that soldier found solace in written words, we too can create a presence of hope for others in their struggles.

Just like a soldier finds encouragement in a letter from his wife, we receive hope and encouragement from our savior through his presence in our lives. We experiences this hope when we draw together in worship, we read his love letter to us (the Bible), and we sing his praises. Jesus’ victory is our ultimate great hope! His return and eternal kingdom is cause for hope! No matter what darkness this world throws at us no matter the path of discouragement that Satan attempts to undermine us with, Jesus is greater because he came, lived, died, and rose from the grave as the victor for the souls of his beloved creation.

Conclusion

Every Head bowed and Eye closed

This morning, you might have walked in with a smile on your face but deep down inside your shredded up because at thanksgiving dinner you had a child tell you that they have left the faith. You have spent hours praying asking God where did it go wrong? How did we end up here? Will you trust in the hope of Jesus and give that child to him through your prayers this morning?

Maybe you find yourself lost in the gloom of uncertainty with your financial future. You find yourself tossing and turning wondering what the future holds as the career you knew is fading away. Will you lay that burden at the feet of Jesus and ask him to guide your way, and give you hope today?

Maybe you have never experienced Jesus’ miraculous work in your life. You have been searching for any reason to live. You have reached the end of your rope and hope is but a faint fairy tale. Yet, this morning, hearing about the Hope of the world Jesus this morning has tugged on your soul and you feel the call to come and lay your life in his hands.

No matter where you find yourself this morning, will you place your faith in Jesus this morning?

No matter where you are in life in this very moment, will your embrace the hope that is in Jesus?

Will you run to him? Run to his warm hope-filled embrace!

Amen Lord may you be honored and glorified. May this message be one that moves the soul and moves the people to love you deeper and may they be filled with hope that only you can provide. Move the mountains, break the chains, and set your people free to place their hope and dreams in you and may we be a people who change the world for your glorious praise forever!