Sermon Tone Analysis

Series Intro

We began our Advent series last week by looking at the topic of “Christmas fatigue.”

For those of you who could not be with us last week, let me get you up to speed.

Christmas Fatigue is a phrase that, though it can’t be found in the dictionary, the phrase has been expressed countless times on the internet and has been defined by working use.

It is the exhaustion that can be found by some in the Christmas season, due to the celebration’s time span.

With this fatigue often comes feelings of exhaustion, disappointment and discouragement as those yearly expectations are not met or once met, are so fleeting.

On account of this fatigue, each Sunday in December taking a deeper look at the Christ-child, upon which the season is centered.

Specifically, we are looking at how each role prophesied of Jesus by Isaiah, roles that Jesus fulfills even now, and we are going to see how each are gifts to us from God. Roles of Jesus that, if focused upon, show us that we are already so blessed by the Father through Jesus the Son and whatever we receive/experience this holiday season only adds to the blessings that can be found in Jesus.

It’s for this reason and more, the phrase “Christmas fatigue” has been created.

though it can’t be found in the dictionary, the phrase has been expressed countless times on the internet and has been defined by working use.

Christmas fatigue is the exhaustion found by some in the winter holiday season, due to the celebration’s time span.

And as this fatigue seems to be growing each year, with it grow the feelings of exhaustion, disappointment and discouragement as those yearly expectations are not met or once met, are so fleeting.

Pray

and how a Christ-centered focus on Christmas is the solution

Intro

Parents/grandparents, friends, counselors, mentors, pastors, these are all people who, at one time or another, you have sought advice from.

Whether it was in regards to a dating relationship, a school choice or what goes best with the jeans your wearing, we have seek advice form others.

We do so because we know we don’t have all the answers, we know that an outside perspective or opinion if often helpful in making a decision.

We do this because we know how important life’s decisions are, often too important to make on my own.

Robert Frost writes his famous poem Two Roads and talks about how that decision makes all the difference in our lives.

We know the consequences of the decisions we make, just how important they are.That means from whom we seek counsel is of upmost importance.

Following wrong advice from the wrong person can be horrible.

we see a problem ahead of us and don’t know where to turn.

Robert Frost writes his famous poem Two Roads and talks about how that decision makes all the difference in our lives.

We know the consequences of the decisions we make, just how important they are.

That means from whom we seek counsel is of upmost importance.

Following wrong advice from the wrong person can be horrible.

We seek advice from others because we know we don’t have all the answers, we see a problem ahead of us and don’t know where to turn, which road to take — Two Roads by Robert Frost, that has made all the difference.

We seek advice from others because we know we don’t have all the answers, we see a problem ahead of us and don’t know where to turn, which road to take — Two Roads by Robert Frost

It begs the questions...

[Slide - 2]

Question: Where do you go for advice?

Transition: The Bible speaks a lot about the topic of advice or counsel, especially when God’s people find themselves in search of answers (find themselves in the dark).

You see, the Bible never disguises how dark things are, even when God is left out!

He describes it very clearly.

However, when this gloom happens, again and again, God provides an answer.

“He is the God of grace who comes into the darkness and emptiness of the experience of men and women to bring his life and his joy and his peace.”

[Slide - 3] Because...

The Bible never disguises how dark things are, even when God is left out!

He describes it very clearly.

However, when this gloom happens, again and again, God provides an answer.

“He is the God of grace who comes into the darkness and emptiness of the experience of men and women to bring his life and his joy and his peace.”

God always...

I. God Always Knows The Way

Isaiah found himself serving God in a time of great spiritual darkness and in the midst of a people needing counsel

Isaiah

“Darkness” occurs 15x’s in this book

The Bible never disguises how dark things are when God is left out!

As we say last week, in the midst of this darkness...

He describes it very clearly.

However, when this gloom happens, again and again, God provides an answer.

“He is the God of grace who comes into the darkness and emptiness of the experience of men and women to bring his life and his joy and his peace.”

[Slide - 4] God’s Promise to send Jesus

Wonderful Counselor

Words

“Wonderful” - Today we use the word ‘wonderful’ to mean ‘pleasant, good, remarkable’

Literally means ‘incomprehensible’

Today we use the word ‘wonderful’ to mean ‘pleasant, good, remarkable’

Hebrew word indicates ‘a phenomenon lying outside the realm of human explanation’

Literally means ‘incomprehensible’ [Slide - 5-6]

‘Wonderful’ describes something miraculous

As a child we often used to believe in miracles (Mention Teens - I envy their faith)

We often have a low view of the miraculous, and there-fore a limited sense of wonder.

Does your sense of wonder go beyond all human explanation?

Or have the successes of science and technology robbed you of your ability to worship a God of miracles?

Do you honestly believe that the greatest “miracles” are not come-from-behind victories by our favorite sports team, or the latest in technological wizardry, or the wonder drug that calmed our hay fever?

All of those can be explained, but a real wonder is something beyond human explanation.

We would rather believe in coincidence, chance or luck then a miracle b/c a miracle puts God into the equation.

Transition: The prophet Isaiah declared that the coming Christ would be a wonder.

This not only describes what He does, it describes who He is.

He, Himself, is the wonder!

“Counselor”

Today, a counselor is someone who often gives help (counsel) on how to guide one through a complex or unfamiliar situation

Desired outcome - a framework or process for understanding and navigating the situation

In ancient Israel, a counselor was portrayed as a wise king, such as Solomon, who gave guidance to His people

[Slide - 7] Prophet Micah declared the dilemma of the Jewish captives in Babylon this way,

“Now, why do you cry aloud?

Is there no king in your midst?

Has your counselor perished?”

Jesus describes as “Christ, the King” () our counselor

Our Wisdom

This counselor would come to direct the steps of His children as they walk in His light, to heal their wounds, etc.

Desired outcome - a framework or process for understanding and navigating the situation

Transition: Long before the Child was born and the Son was given, Isaiah fore-told that God was planning to send a Counselor to a brokenhearted.

To a people who have arrogantly turned away from following their God, who wanted to rule their own lives without him.

And, as we say last week that God sent Jesus, for just as God Knows The Way [Slide - 8]...

We have knowledge, personal experience,

Bible teaches there is:

Wisdom from

II.

Jesus Is The Way

What is the evidence that Jesus is this Light, this Wonderful Counselor?

Jesus demonstrated His Wonderfulness on earth by:

Jesus demonstrated His Wonderfulness (how we was incomprehensible in His ways) on earth by

Wonderful In His Incredible Life

Virgin Birth

Virgin Birth

Lowly maiden, not a king

Matthew 1:20-

Small town, not capital city