Wonderful Counselor

Introduction:

· Advent: not extended Christmas but a season of waiting

AND NOT JUST “WAITING” BUT REALLY, “LONGING.”

I) God Brings Us From Darkness to Light (vv. 1-3)

A. We Wait because our world languishes in darkness

i. Our present situation is darkness because redemption is not yet fully ours

1. We absorb the burdens of a broken world à weariness, fear, etc.

2. EXAMPLES: Economic issues; Global warming; polarization; poverty;

ii. Advent takes us to the prophets because their experience was so similar

1. Isaiah describes the world as Darkness, gloom, sadness (vv. 1 & 2)

2. Z & N: = Israel’s military troubles; (also economic, political) (vs. 1b)

B. Yet God Brings His People Into The Light (vs 2)

i. Our “darkness” is all caused by separation from the light of God’s face

1. Sin as darkness because our root problem = life apart from God’s face

2. EXAMPLE: Poverty: laziness? Structures? No; separation from God

ii. As With Israel, so With Us: God has and will bring us into the light (vv. 2, 3)

1. Yet even Z&N would be transformed into symbols of light & hope!

2. God would do something to bring supreme joy

THE Q UESTION IS, HOW WILL GOD DO THIS? NOTICE THE STRUCTURE OF OUR TEXT

II) God Establishes a New Kingdom For His people (vv. 4-7)

A. The Two “For’s” That God Will Bring About (vv. 4-5, 7)

i. For God will establish a new governance over his people: (vv. 4, 7)

1. God would lead a new “exodus” freeing his people from the power of sin

2. God is promising to establish his authority as rightful King

3. QUOTE: The Kingdom is the renewal of the whole world through the entrance of supernatural forces. As things are brought back under Christ's rule and authority, they are restored to health, beauty, and freedom."

ii. For God would scrub the world of all the remnantsof sin (vs. 5)

1. Instruments of war will be eradicated àthe world is a perfected place

2. EXAMPLE: Assault rifles, tanks, but also chemo drugs, funeral homes…

B. The one “For” that will Make it all Happen (vs. 6)

i. The relief for our world will come with the birth of a child

1. The very arrival of a child signals God’s redemptiveplan is underway!

2. Jesus IS the light who goes to the root reconciling a fallen world to God

ii. Advent and the birth of the child

1. Advent: the world is in far worse shape…but greater hope has come!

2. Advent draws a paraellel: Just as Israel hoped, we HOPE!

NOW YOU GET A SECOND ‘MINI-SERMON’; NOTICE WHAT ISAIAH SAYS IN VS. 6

III) God Sends a Counselor as the One to Rule His People

A. Jesus is a Counselor (vs. 6)

i. What does it mean that Jesus is a “wonderful Counselor”

1. The 4 names of the child define how he will govern His people

2. EXAMPLE: if you’ve been to a counselor –

a. You may try to fool them – blame the other person, deny the problem, get them to take sides…

b. Good counselors know & care enough to pursue the truth

c. They ask hard questions; they challenge; they listen;

ii. Jesus our prefect counselor who knows us, loves us, desires to lead us to growth

1. Jesus loves you enough to know you deeply, to guide you into truth

2. EXAMPLE: Insecurity à never say no; clingy… the power of gospel!

B. Jesus Leaves us with A Counselor

i. Jesus promised to leave us with “the counselor” (John 14:15-21)

1. As Jesus prepared to leave his disciples, he promised “the Counselor”

2. What ‘s this mean? The HS is the presence of Jesus who dwells within

ii. Therefore, we may seek the infinitely precious gift of Jesus our true counselor

1. The infinite wealth of Jesus the counselor is yours!

2. Do you seek, and trust the work of the HS in your life?

Transition:

Conclusion

· The past…and future tense meant Israel lived in hope not by what they saw.

· Do welive by whawt we see—and put our trust in human solutiosn or do we trust what God has done and promises to bring to completion?