This is the second in our Advent Series: Jesus: More than a Name (A series through the Isaiah Prophecies). Included is the outline and important points of the sermon from November 28th 2010. Those notes marked with * are interesting facts that due to time and leading of the Spirit were omitted from the sermon but may bless you. May God bless the hearer and reader of His Word.
More than a Man
Isaiah 9:2-7
Jesus was way more than just an average Joe. As a matter of fact even Isaiah prophesied that he would be more than a man.
IN approximately 725 B.C. The northern kingdom of Israel faced an ominous and perilous situation from the north an evil and aggressive Assyrian empire was growing and expanding. Israel would be sacked, overrun, and crushed in humiliating defeat.
Loved ones would be brutally killed.
Families would be broken up and destroyed.
The land would be devastated/economic havoc would be rampant!
The once proud nation would be brought to its knees in shame, humiliation and judgment. And YET! In the midst of their despair and hopelessness they receive a word from God, a word from heaven.
The Gloom of v.1 would turn to the Rejoicing of v. 3.
The Distress of v.1 would turn to the Joy of v. 3.
The Oppression of v. 1 would turn to a Broken Yoke in v. 3.
The Darkness of v. 2 would turn to the Light of v. 2.
The Shadow of Death of v. 2 would be Overcome in v. 6. How? God reveals through Isaiah that a future King that will set things in order. A king as we see in ver. 5-7 a Man who will fully establish the Davidic Covenant a King that would establish the throne forever, that the government would be placed in his care, and that peace and prosperity would arrive. Who is this King? We know it's why we are here. It's why there is Christmas. Jesus was who Isaiah prophesied about. Jesus is more than a man, he is a Majestic King! He rules and waits from heaven and one day he will return and set up an earthly kingdom in which those in Christ will help him reign and rule. But even as God prophesied through Isaiah he could use just one word to describe this King. It was a fourfold description of what this great King would be like. This passage ought to also point you to why Christ should be King of your life. He was not just a man he is not just a King but he is the perfect most wonderful king that will ever reign and rule. Therefore we must entrust our lives to him and obey him because of the great description of who he was and how he held himself. Our text points out 4 wonderful characteristics of King Jesus.
*With more than 250 names and titles of our Lord scattered from Genesis to Revelation, Isaiah brings together 4 in a tight, concise package that appear nowhere else in the Bible. More names of Messiah are crowded together here than any where else in Holy Scripture. Taken together they encapsulate the totality of the person and work of Jesus, who He is and what He does.
- Wonderful emphasizes His deity Counselor emphasizes his humanity
- Mighty emphasizes His humanity God emphasizes His deity
- Everlasting emphasizes His deity Father emphasizes His humanity
- Prince emphasizes His humanity Peace emphasizes His deity
Coupled with the child born and the Son given, the result is nothing less than the God- man, Immanuel, God with us. (from Danny Akin "The King with Four Names Isaiah 9:6-7")
A King who guides with unfailing Wisdom
The text literally in the original language : A Wonder of a Counselor. He is a Wonderful Counselor He is one who gives wondrous counsel and unfailing wisdom. The word "wonderful" is never used in Scripture of what man is or has done, but only of who God is and what He does.
1 Corinthians 1:24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God's power and God's wisdom,
So you need to go to this King who guides with wisdom. This King has the knowledge to defeat the enemy, he knows the financial answers for the kingdom, and He even knows how to relate to family and friends. This King is wise. So do you go to him in prayer often? Do you go to him before the fact and not after the fact? This mighty King guides you if you will be obedient to him.
A King who defends like a great Warrior
Mighty God (El gibbor), "hero-God," "warrior-God." When the laws of natural science are reversed or set aside in the Old Testament we find that this MIGHTY GOD is at the center of the action. When seas rolled back, the sun stood still, the lion's jaws were stayed, three men walked in a fiery furnace and an ax head floated, this MIGHTY GOD was there. Mighty God conjures up warfare and battleground imagery. The King is a warrior God, a hero God who would fight a battle greater than Waterloo or Valley Forge, more decisive than Gettysburg or D-Day. No, the Warrior God, the Captain of our Salvation (Heb 2:10) would take the field at Calvary, engage the titan forces of sin and Satan; death, hell and the grave, and when the dust of the battle had settled, an empty tomb stands as an eternal monument to the victory of El gibbor, the Mighty God. Do you need defending right now? Don't turn to vengeance or anger. Turn to Jesus who is a mighty God who will turn all of heaven to fight for you.
A King who loves like a compassionate Father
The King is fatherly in his love and care, fatherly in His goodness and compassion. This is His character. This is what He is to His people. He acts toward us as a father, a good father, a perfect father.
2 Corinthians 6:18 I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.
He is always there, never too busy, never preoccupied or disinterested in the affairs of His child. He is provider and protector, and forever. The Great King will never ignore you but always has time for you. He loves you. Do you know him? Do you have him as your father?
A King who comforts with a perfect Peace
In Luke 2:14 the angels sang to the shepherds of one who would bring peace on earth. Here in Isaiah we are told this one is the supreme giver of peace for He is the "Prince of Peace." Times of darkness, despair and death will come to an end. The boots and blood of battle will cease to be, never to appear again.
What kind of peace does He give?
1. Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.(HCSB)
He gives peace to those who are at war with God by reconciling us to God. Through faith and faith alone in Christ we earn peace with God. Peace and rest are synonymous in scripture for being in right standing and in right relationship with God. You will be most at rest when you are in heaven with God. So bring peace to your life through the Prince of Peace Jesus Christ.
2. Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (HCSB)
When you follow King Jesus. When you are obedient to him there will be peace in your life. Not that Satan will not try to distract you because he will even more if you are following Jesus, not that people will not disappoint you because if you are following Jesus people will disappoint. Peace meaning there is no wage of conflict in your heart. You know there is good and you're at peace most when you are doing good and in God's will. The Same Jesus who calmed the seas for the disciples will calm the choppy waters of your heart. Give you clarity for decisions and behaviors for today.
Does your life look like it? Do you claim Jesus as Lord but treat him as advisor? Do you claim his citizenship but act like an ambassador of the enemy? Where is your allegiance? This Christmas, today you must admit he is more than a man he is a great King. It Demands you all your life and you pride.
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