Wonderful Counselor

Series Introduction:

Last Year : Advent series… We preached this passage and we left so much meat on the bone, and I told myself then we have to come back to this next Christmas.

Behold Him? (Get our eyes on the person of Jesus)

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting father, Prince of Peace

allow it to Lead us into next year as we will be jumping into the Gospel of Mark

(LOTR, Harry Potter ends, Wicked) but isnt it beautiful to watch it unfold.

This passage in many ways in the prequel. The Backdrop to the Messiah who is to come.

The People of God are waiting for a rescuer , and in this promise they find their hope. and they expectantly wait. Let us celebrate this Christmas season on this side of the Cross…

Transition: Lets Behold Jesus.

Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV)

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.

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.

Big Idea: Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor

For to us (Our):

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

Luke 2 “This is a Sign for you”

For = Purpose

The restoration is necessary

The Temple, The Priestly Order, The kings, all are not enough.

This is necessary.

Open Christmas gifts out of order.

to = Presence

Sent

Given

Directed

The Object of Gods Love

Picture showing up with a gift and walking towards someone with it.

Us = People

The receiver

The People of God

Isaiah only knows in part

The People of God (Israel)

God has plans to offer this gift to the entire world.

Plan = A child is born, A Son is given

A Baby is born

A Son (Son of God)

God is sending in part himself

God is giving up of himself. (we know the magnitude of this.

Luke 2:11–14 ESV

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Transition: In this promise… purpose, presence, people, and the plan are established we could sit here and revel in this all day (maybe this is next years series haha) but this is only the set up for where we are going this morning

His name shall be called

rephrase = One will call his name

This is his character

This what he will be like

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING to sit for each week of this series. How does Jesus fulfull these titles? let us behold him. Today we are sitting on the title “Wonderful Counselor”

Wonderful Counselor:

It is no secret we are in desperate need for counsel.

People going to counseling is on the rise.

In 2024, 43% of US adults reported feeling more anxious than the previous year.

In 2024 59 million USA Adults went to counseling… Precovid this number was 40.

Why do people go to counseling:

Overwhelmed

Need direction

need help

Please do not feel guilty for seeking help. This is not the point of me sharing these statistics but rather just to remind us of how powerful a title for Jesus as wonderful counselor can be in our age.

We should all be seeking Counsel:

Proverbs 12:15 ESV

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 11:14 ESV

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 15:22 ESV

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Please seek counsel.

1. Be careful where you are getting it from,

2. While you are seeking counsel and guidance from men… Do not forget Jesus role in your life as the Wonderful Counselor.

I think if we are honest there are some of us that have to much pride to seek counsel when we need it, and there are some who are going to counselors looking for something that only Jesus can provide.

Jesus is always better:

He knows all

He doesn't close shop

he is not overwhelmed

He will not wrong you

Transition: That sounds great and all. but prove it. that is what I am going to do my best to accomplish the rest of this sermon.

1) The Wonderful Counselor guides us.

Jesus guides his followers on earth:

Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) – A Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council, Nicodemus came to Jesus seeking spiritual understanding. Jesus counseled him on the necessity of being “born again” to enter the Kingdom of God.

The Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4:1-42) – Jesus met a Samaritan woman and counseled her on true worship and her need for “living water.” He addressed her past and offered her hope and transformation.

The Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-22) – A wealthy young man asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus counseled him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him, challenging the man’s attachment to wealth.

Peter (Matthew 16:13-20; John 21:15-19) – Jesus gave Peter individual counsel on many occasions. In Matthew 16, He reveals Peter’s future role as a foundational leader. Later, after Peter’s denial, Jesus lovingly restores and commissions him to “feed My sheep.”

Martha (Luke 10:38-42) – When Martha was frustrated with her sister Mary’s choice to sit at Jesus’ feet, He gently counseled her to focus on what was most important: spending time in His presence.

Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18) – After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and offered her comfort and counsel, instructing her to go and tell the disciples that He had risen.

A Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11) – When religious leaders brought an adulterous woman before Jesus, He counseled her to “go and sin no more,” offering forgiveness and a path to a new life.

The Crowds (e.g., Matthew 5-7, Luke 12:13-21) – Jesus often counseled large groups of people, addressing their spiritual hunger and practical needs. In His parables and sermons (sermon on the mount), He offered wisdom on topics such as worry, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God.

Follow Jesus.

Spent time with him and in his word and I promise you will find counsel for you there.

2) The Wonderful Counselor gives us the Holy Spirit

John 16:7–8 ESV

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

The Helper = Counsels

Convict or lead us into righteousness.

John 16:13–14 ESV

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

He will guide you

‌He will take what is of Christ… …and declare it to us.

Seek Jesus, he gives you the spirit, the spirit then points to Jesus and when we walk this out we also can glorify God with our lives.

There is a tension here though… We have access to this but we do not always walk in it.

Galatians 5:16 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Leaning into what is spiritul over what is fleshly.

We need God daily

We are constantly being pulled away from God

As I prepped early this week. So many distractions (laziness, hunger, fear of man) (Is there really enough content here for a whole series)

Stop and pray about it. get out of your head, get out of your weakness and lean into Jesus.

3) We have access to the wonderful counselor through prayer

I am not going to say much on this but rather give us space to pray.

If you are new with us and you want to know how Jesus serves as our wonderful counselor through prayer (this is where we have spent most of our year. You can head to ur website and watch our Lord’s prayer Series, or the praying with Paul series we just finished last week)

Transition to prayer time:

1) Shorten the distance between our head to our heart

2) actively apply the preaching of the Word right now before we ever leave this place

Prayer Prompt:

1) Jesus you are the wonderful counselor.

2) Past: Thank you for your counsel in?

3: Present: Declare Jesus as Counselor over

4) Future: Declare Jesus as counselor for whats coming.