Jesus – The Mighty God (2)

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jeremiah 32:16-18 “16 …I prayed to the Lord, saying: 17 ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too difficult for You…—the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts.”

Introduction

1. Who are your heroes?

2. When I was a boy, my heroes were cowboy movie stars: Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, John Wayne, Hop-a-long Cassidy, and, my all-time favorite, Gabby Hayes. These men were the “good guys” –they would never ever consider doing anything wrong.

Like Superman, they represented truth, justice, and “the American way.” They used their guns, but always in self‑defense and accurately shot the gun out of the villain’s hand. They were honest, honorable, and romantic – well, possibly excluding, Gabby Hayes.

They were idealistic kinds of heroes and, perhaps, somewhat unrealistic, but they set a high standard for kids like me. They formed an image of the kind of man I wanted to become.

Every generation finds heroes to inspire them, whether it be John Wayne, the Avengers, or the Justice League. That tendency existed even in biblical days.

3. When our Pastor preached on one of his favorite scripture passages in our Wednesday sermon series, he chose Joshua 1:1-18. The focus of his sermon was upon God’s word to Joshua following the death of Moses. The old hero, Moses, was gone, and God encouraged the new hero, Joshua, to be strong and of good courage because the Lord would be with him and would never leave nor forsake him in his mission to secure the Promised Land.

In verse 14 of that scripture passage, Joshua told the warriors from those tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half tribe of Manasseh) who were given the land on the east side of the Jordan River to cross the Jordan to help the other nine and one-half tribes conquer the Promised Land. In his charge to those warriors, Joshua called them,”ה חַיִל גִּבֹּור [ghib-bore ha-khah-yil]—mighty men of valor”! In using this term to identify these warriors, Joshua was declaring the kind of heroes the Israelites should appreciate and emulate.

4. What criterion would you consider in choosing someone who is worthy enough to be your hero? Beautiful? Powerful? Brilliant? Fearless? Truthful? Moral? Wise? Faithful?

5. When Joshua called his heroes, “mighty men of valor”, he used words that were descriptive of God Himself: “He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!” (Isaiah 9:6)— “Mighty God” is the Hebrew phrase, גָּבַר אֵל [ʾEl ghib-bore].

Typically, when the Israelites identified a hero, they believed that a person was a HERO to the extent that he or she was like God. The hero status was a function of who the person was, not what the person was—God Himself was the standard! Hence, the Lord was, is, and forever will be the only worthy “Super Hero”!

5. In that regard, I what to talk about my “super-hero” – my adult role-model – גָּבַר" אֵל יְהוֹשֻׁע” [ Yeshua ʾEl gibbor]—Jesus, Mighty God! 7. The Bible is not hesitant to name some God-like heroes: Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Gideon, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, David, Solomon, the sons of Issachar (cf. 1 Chronicles 7:2), as well as some heroic women, including Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 3:11), the woman described in Proverbs 12:4 as the “crown” of her husband, and the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31:10. All these biblical characters were described as (ghib-bore ha-khah-yil), which translated means, "Mighty Warriors of Valor!"

By the way, did you notice which biblical name is missing? Samson, the strongest man in the Bible, is NOT on the list! Samson is never called a “mighty warrior of valor” because it’s NOT about physical strength – it’s about god-like character!

9. According to the prophetic declaration of Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6), the “Son” who is “given” shall be called “Mighty God! Therefore, Jesus, the “Only Begotten Son of God” is El Gibbor, the Mighty God. He is the Superhero who is always righteous, always just, always faithful, always courageous, always gracious, always victorious, and altogether worthy.

Jesus is the only “Super Hero” worthy of our worship, our love, and our service!

I. Jesus is El Gibbor, the Mighty God Who Rescues – He is Savior

Isaiah 19:20 – “When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender, and He will rescue them.”

A. God demonstrated His MIGHT during the time of the “judges” when He raised up deliverers to rescue His people.

Judges 2:10-19 describes what is called the “sin cycle” – “…another generation grew up…Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord…They forsook the Lord…They provoked the Lord to anger…the Lord handed them over…to their enemies…They were in great distress. Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them…But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers.”

1. The “sin cycle” results in slavery. Remember the “cycle:”

Sin (“did what was right in their own eyes,” Judge 17:6) –> Slavery –> Supplication –> Savior –> Security –> Sin –> (etc.)

Proverbs 14:34 – “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to people.

2. Example: God raised up Gideon (“weakest clan…least in family”) – Gideon saved Israel with 300 (Judges 6:12 – “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior’ (ghib-bore ha-khah-yil)

B. God responds to the cries of His people for deliverance: we never can go beyond the grace of God (Romans 10:13 “whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord…”). How does the Lord respond to our cry for deliverance? As our Savior:

1. He forgives. Guilt and condemnation defeat and enslave us until we experience His cleansing (1 John 1:9). When He forgives, He cleanses, He rescues, and He restores.

2. He transforms. We cannot “bootstrap” our way to godliness. We are powerless to change our attitudes and actions (moral depravity) until the Spirit of God indwells and empowers us (“… are being transformed into His glory…” 2 Corinthians 3:18).

II. Jesus is El Gibbor, the Mighty God Who Judges – He is Judge. We are ALL sinners, both in character and conduct (Romans 3:10)! We are ALL guilty before God (Romans 3:23). As a result, we ALL stand either condemned or pardoned before Holy God. There is no middle ground – either condemned or forgiven!

Why would we be condemned? Is there anyone righteous? No, there are none righteous. The righteous God does not and cannot “grade on the curve.” Listen to what the Bible says:

Deuteronomy 32:36 – The LORD will judge His people…”

John 3:18 – Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

A. We are condemned for our faithlessness. According to the Bible, failure to trust the Lord (the unforgiveable sin) results in eternal condemnation. Now is the time to prepare because the day is coming when the Lord will balance the scales of justice (John 3:18). Since we all have been faithless, what is our hope of being pardoned and forgiven? (John 3:16; Romans 10:9).

B. We are pardoned by grace through faith. According to the Bible, forgiveness is only granted by God’s grace through our faith in the Lord Jesus. He is our only hope for rescue!

Our faith in God is demonstrated by our decision to throw ourselves upon God's mercy and to trust Jesus as our only hope for forgiveness and salvation. In His awesome might, Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins and arose from the dead for our justification, for our salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-9— “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

2 Corinthians 5:21—God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

III. Jesus is El Gibbor, the Mighty God Who Reigns – He is Lord

In Psalm 24:8, the Psalmist cried out, “Who is this King of glory?” And the assembled Hebrew worshippers responded, “The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”

A. Jesus is the eternal King of kings and Lord of Lords.

Philippians 2:9-11 – “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

B. Today Jesus is the patient Lord who gives us the privilege and responsibility to either love Him and serve Him or to challenge His authority and disobey His will. We can see from God’s dealings with Israel that His purpose for the adversities of life is to test our devotion and commitment to Him. How do you respond to the Lord Jesus?

Judges 2:22 – “I will use them [the Canaanite nations left in the Promised Land] to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord.”)

C. Someday Jesus, the Mighty God, will return to establish His complete, total, uncontested, and unending reign!

Philippians 2:10‑11 – “…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...”

Matthew 7:22-23 – “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Conclusion

1. Jesus, El Gibbor, the Mighty God, our Eternal Hero – He wears the white robe!

In describing the Day of Judgment, the Prophet Daniel declared, “…the Ancient of Days took His seat; His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10A stream of fire issued and came out from before Him; a thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened (Daniel 7:9-10).

In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John echoed what Daniel had seen: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire” (Revelation 1:14).

· Jesus is the only One who is willing and able to rescue those who are captured and held in the bonds of sin.

· Jesus is the only One who can deliver us and free us from the penalty and power of sin!

· Jesus is the only One who can transform our lives, empower us to overcome sin, and can give us the strength to live abundantly.

2. Jesus, El Gibbor, the Mighty God, our Eternal Hero! He rides the "white horse!"

Revelation 19:11 – “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose Rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.”

· Jesus is the only One who has conquered sin once and for all!

· Jesus is returning to deliver us from the very presence of sin in order to establish His kingdom in justice and truth.

3. Jesus, El Gibbor, the Mighty God, our Eternal Hero! He sits on the "white throne!"

Revelation 20:11 – “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.”

Luke 22:69 “But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

· Jesus makes all things right and set all things straight.

· Jesus is the only One who can judge sin, deliver the believer, and condemn those who have not believed, according to His mercy and grace.

4. God is still in the business of enlisting and empowering faithful followers who He will serve Him as ghib-bore ha-khah-yil, Mighty Heroes of Valor!

· Submit to Jesus – El Gibbor – He will forgive you and free you from the guilt of sin.

· Submit to Jesus – El Gibbor – He will dwell in your heart and empower you to overcome the power of sin.

· Submit to Jesus – El Gibbor – He will reign in your life and give you the privilege to share His glory. He will give you eternal purpose and abundant joy.

· Submit to Jesus, – El Gibbor – He “in you”—your only "hope of glory!!" (Colossians 1:27)

5. El Gibbor – what a Super Hero He is!! And what a hero, a “ghib-bore ha-khah-yil”, you and I can become in Him!!! Let Him make that kind of difference in your life today!