Advent 2021

Peace

Isaiah 9:1-7

For to Us a Child Is Born

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3  You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4  For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5  For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6  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. 7  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.

-This is no evidence that Isaiah saw the birth of Christ as we understand that term, but what he did see was that the only deliverer who could accomplish the necessary work must fill out the whole measure of these terms; if Jesus failed to fill out that outline, he was not the predicted Messiah.

-Let us focus on the name of Jesus today and find the peace that goes beyond the season.

1. Wonderful Counselor

-Where do we find the word “Wonderful” in the Scriptures? Judg. 13:18: The angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, “Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret(Wonderful)?”—the same Hebrew word that is rendered in the text “Wonderful”; so we might read, “The angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is Wonderful?” Wonderful, yes, but at what?

-His name is not only Wonderful, but “Counselor,” the fountain of wisdom and understanding, the mind that rules over all things with perfectness of mastery, that attests everything by the eternal meridian, and that looks for righteousness.

2. Mighty God

-He must also satisfy the religious instinct, so He is called “The Mighty God.” It is not enough to describe God without epithetic terms. Sometimes we say, Why utter such words as infinite, eternal, ever-blessed God? Our minds need a ladder of adjectives to get up to our little conception of that which is inconceivable.

3. Everlasting Father

-He is to be “The Everlasting Father,” or The Father of Eternity; otherwise, and better translated, The Father of the age to come. We spend too much time looking backwards while missing the fact that God is the father of the age to come. We have misinterpreted Christianity. We have been too anxious to understand the past while missing the work of redemption.

4. Prince of Peace

-Prince of peace shows the intimacy of his role. He will be our prince and peace is his work. Christianity is peace. The story of Christmas is truly peace to the world. Peace from the sin that ravages mankind and destroys the good creation of God He alone can fix the mess we have made.

Psalm 119:105  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106  I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. 107  I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word! 108  Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your rules. 109  I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. 110  The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. 111  Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112  I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

The issue with the world is a lack of prioritizing the word of God.

We do not have a music, media, social network problem. We have a sin problem.

People thrive in the will of God and wither in sin. Peace is found in the name above all names. Jesus.