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The Peace of a Child
The Peace of a Child
It’s week two of the Advent Season! and One of the Ways that we as a church are able to pool together with other churches across the world is through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering! This Offering goes toward mobilizing missionaries, just like the one that you just saw, in order to share the gospel to the NATIONS! We are Blessed to be a part of a group like the Southern Baptist Convention. A group that places it’s priority in joining together and pooling our resources so that the Gospel will be heard all over the world! So we encourage you to give toward our $6000 goal for the year! Each tree represents $1200 toward our Goal, so you will be able to see our progress!
Last week we began the Advent season by looking at the Hope of the coming Christ in the Book of Micah. We defined Hope as “When we believe that because of What the Lord has done in the past, and because we have made a commitment to follow Him in the present, then we know that our future is taken care of.” and we asked ourselves if we have been placing our Hope in a Broken world, or in the Risen Savior Jesus?!
As the (Family Name) read just a moment ago, this week’s theme is peace. Most of us have some understanding of what peace is, but maybe you’ve never experienced it, or maybe you’ve never even really seen it.
Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.
The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.
As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.
A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?
A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.
Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King, pp. 45-46.
We find ourselves in Isaiah Chapter 9 this morning. A very familiar passage, especially during the Christmas season.
The Book of Isaiah is one of the most popular Old Testament books in the Bible, and for good reason! The Book of Isaiah is quoted at least 62 times in the New testament! That should catch our attention, and prepare us for what the Lord can teach us in this Awesome book!
But before we look into chapter 9, let’s see if we can get some context from chapter 8.
Isaiah Chapter 8
5 The Lord spoke to me again:
6 Because these people rejected the slowly flowing water of Shiloah and rejoiced with Rezin and the son of Remaliah,
7 the Lord will certainly bring against them the mighty rushing water of the Euphrates River— the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will overflow its channels and spill over all its banks.
8 It will pour into Judah, flood over it, and sweep through, reaching up to the neck; and its flooded banks will fill your entire land, Immanuel!
Doesn’t this sound like the landscape described in the last painting that the Visionary uncovered? Verse 7 depicts the Assyrian army as a “mighty rushing water” that will overcome the Israelites. And from what we know from our study of scripture and of human history, we see exactly that. In 701 B.C., Assyria invaded Judah.
But don’t let the seemingly overwhelming circumstances presented in chapter 8 and in the painting force you to forget the most important part, that Little Bird.
“Jesus will give us peace, not always by removing the storm, but more often by covering us during the storm.”
“Jesus will give us peace, not always by removing the storm, but more often by covering us during the storm.”
Let’s look at Chapter 9 together:
1 Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.
4 For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as you did on the day of Midian.
5 For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.
Pray
This morning, our focal text is Verse 6. In order to understand anything else about this passage, we have to understand this verse!
Obviously we’re dealing with Jesus. We’re in the south, and most of us know that the Christmas Season revolves around His birth. But how does this prophecy from 700 years before Jesus’ birth, describe Him?
6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah describes this “Child’s” leadership in 4 distinct ways. Each one representing different traits.
At this point, it’s important for us to look at the word “government”. We need to understand that the scripture IS NOT saying that Jesus was meant to come in and take over any pre existing government, though He could if He chose, the scripture is talking not about a Political structure or affiliation, but is pointing out that it is the Messiah’s Divine responsibility to Lead!
And so then it describes the way in which He will lead!
He will be:
Wise
Wise
Vs. 6 refers to the coming Christ as the “Wonderful Counselor”
29 This also comes from the Lord of Armies. He gives wondrous advice; he gives great wisdom.
I believe that most of us would agree that “Adulting” is hard. I would go as far as to say that navigating this entire life that we have on this earth is hard. You’ve heard people say things like, “There’s no manual for this.” and while i understand and have even said this very phrase myself, i am constantly reminded that I have access to an infinitely wise and all knowing God who wants to help!
8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me up in glory.
Doesn’t that sound like someone who wants to help?!
and don’t forget we’re only on the first one!
The prophecy also says that He will be:
Strong
Strong
“Mighty God”
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John tells us about this “Word” and that it is God and has existed from the beginning. But Who is this “Word”?
14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
so we see that THE WORD IS THE SON!! The Child that Isaiah is talking about, and the one that we call JESUS!
That means that Jesus isn’t just some child who was born 2000 years ago, but that He is stronger than the thing that most people fear the most, TIME ITSELF.
His strength is on display again in Hebrews 1
2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Caring
Caring
“Eternal Father”
This one is kinda strange. We know that Jesus is the Son of God, so it’s hard for us to see Him as a father. However Jesus did show us that He considers himself like a father to us!!
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too.
20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.
I don’t know what kind of father figure that y’all had growing up. And i know that different people have different experiences or emotions come to mind when they think of the word Father.
The point here is to show that Jesus is to His people, what a Father is SUPPOSED to be to their children. He Loves them, He cares for them, He PROTECTS them, He covers them!
and Finally, we see the Child being the embodiment of:
Peace
Peace
“Prince of Peace”
Let’s see what Isaiah said about the time of peace that this Child would bring:
6 The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf will be together, and a child will lead them.
7 The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle.
8 An infant will play beside the cobra’s pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake’s den.
9 They will not harm or destroy each other on my entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea is filled with water.
Isn’t this beautiful! The idea that one day the blood seeking, predatorial nature of the world will be no more! That we have this to look forward to if We put our hope and trust in Jesus, the child that Isaiah is talking about!
We are given so much PEACE just by understanding the 4 names given to Jesus!
The Scriptures give us so much HOPE AND PEACE about the future, but what about the now?!
What about Now?!
What about Now?!
What about the Financial strains that i’m going through? What about the brokenness in my marriage? What about my wayward child? What about my poor Health situation? What about the Now?!
Knowing and understanding How Jesus will lead, can give us peace about these things!
We know because of Who Jesus is, that He will:
Redeem the Fallen
Redeem the Fallen
Frees the “Stuck”
Let’s look back to Vs. 1
1 Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.
Isaiah says that because of Jesus:
Gloom and darkness will not hold us as slaves, like Assyria did the nation of Israel in 2 kings 15
29 In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee—all the land of Naphtali—and deported the people to Assyria.
But that we will be Redeemed!!
Vs. 1 talks about how the gloom will not be like when they were taken captive, but that Jesus will bring Honor on this land in the future! So 700ish years go by, and we see this in Matthew 4:
12 When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.
13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
16 The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Many doubt the old testament prophecies, and wonder if they have any value anymore.
but It’s when we see the old testament prophecies fulfilled in the new testament that we see that If that can happen, then there is no way that He can’t be trusted with my struggles. That He can’t be trusted with my pain.
Finally, We see in vs. 4 that He will:
Breaks the Chains
Breaks the Chains
4 For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as you did on the day of Midian.
Jesus came so that we would not be bound to the enemy by a yoke of Sin, So He “Shattered” that chain! I love that the CSB says “Shattered” here, because I can’t see any way that breaking away from the bondage, and the deception, and the doubt that Satan puts in our lives could be characterized as anything less than being “Shattered!” IT’S A BIG DEAL!
Jesus, This Child, is a lot like the Bird we looked at earlier. He doesn’t wait for the storm to pass, He doesn’t wait for us to get our lives together.
He meets us right where we are.
He walks beside us through the struggles.
He counsels us when we doubt.
He teaches us.
Like the Bird covers her Eggs. He covers us during the storm.
He brings our souls Peace.
How Can You Experience this Peace?
How Can You Experience this Peace?
9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”
Church Membership/Salvation Talk
Church Membership/Salvation Talk
