Temple Baptist Church - 12-10-2023
Isaiah 9:1-7
Introduction:
A. Some 740 years before the birth of Christ, God allowed the prophet Isaiah to look down through the portals of time and bring a message of hope to oppressed Israel and Judah.
1. The coming of Israel’s Messiah, the Saviour of the World!
2. The Virgin Birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
3. Though I do not agree with everything that Christmas stands for, I do thank God that He so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son to die for our sins.
4. That makes Christmas special to us who believe on Him for salvation.
B. Isaiah gives the prophetic hope of the birth of a Child and the giving of a Son. The long awaited “seed of the woman,” Israel’s Messiah: The Anointed One, the King of Israel, the Deliverer.
C. The conditions were ripe, the stage was set, the Promise to be fulfilled.
D. Thanksgiving sets the tone of the Christmas Season: thankfulness to God for His many blessings.
E. Christmas is a time of contemplation concerning the birth of God’s Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
F. The times in which the Messiah was born were dark times spiritually.
1. The people, speaking of Israel, “walked in darkness.” Thus, it is with the world today, in light of the Second Coming of Christ.
2. The Light of God is being slowly turned off, the wicked riot in the daytime now, the “god” of evolution is worshipped, morality is denigrated, and the Anointed One is coming.
G. Verse 4: The Nation of Israel, God’s Elect:
1. They Carried the Burden of the Yoke of Sin. Yoke of His burden…A yoke was a tool that harnessed two animals together to pull a load. A description of the nation away from God. They were yoked to a burden they could not manage.
2. They Bowed under the Tyranny of the Staff of the Flesh. Staff of His Shoulder…The staff was used by shepherds to keep the sheep in line. The reference here is to wrong leadership that had taken their freedom and liberty away.
3. They Suffered under the Oppressive Rod of Satan. Rod of His oppressor…This instrument was used to beat animals and people that were out of line. Israel and Judah would suffer at the hands of their enemies. Thus it is today as Israel must continually fight for the right to exist and the world turns against them and back Hamas.
H. In verses 6-7, we see:
1. We see the Cradle – “For unto us a Child is born.”
2. We see The Cross – “A Son is given.”
3. We see the Crown – “And the government shall be upon His shoulders.”
J. Only Jesus can break the yoke, tyranny, and oppression of Satan.
j. I want to look at that description of Christ in verse 6 for a few minutes.
1. WONDERFUL – He is WONDERFUL - He is our DELIGHT - Marvelous or extraordinary – Exciting, surprising, astonishing, miraculous, powerful, incredible, exceeding, supernatural, admirable. That is our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ! Do you know Him?
His name is Wonderful, His name is Wonderful,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord;
He is the mighty King, master of everything,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.
He's the great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages,
Almighty God is He;
Bow down before Him, love and adore Him,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.
a. He wonderfully saves the believer’s soul.
b. He wonderfully forgives the believer’s sins Past, present, and future. Both saved and secured through the Light of the World.
c. He wonderfully changed the believer’s direction and desires of life!
d. His name is Wonderful! He is the sole reason for the believer’s praise!
2. COUNSELOR – He is THE COUNSELLOR - He is our DIRECTION. To give advice, to purpose, to devise or plan, to conspire, to manage causes in court.
a. He counsels when hearts are troubled.
b. He counsels when faith is tried.
c. He counsels when integrity is tempted.
d. He has the remedy for all our problems! He knows all because He is the COUNSELOR! His advice is always good, His counsel is always right, and His path is always safe. He makes no mistake, nor does He turn from His divine purpose. Ask and ye shall receive! Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not!
e. Do you know the Counselor?
3. THE MIGHTY GOD – He is THE MIGHTY GOD - He is the only DEITY. Strong, valiant, excelling, powerful, great, prevailing, authoritative, accomplished, extraordinary degree or quality in respect to size, character, importance, and consequences! That’s our God! That’s our Lord!
a. He is mighty when we are weak.
b. He is mighty when our enemy is strong!
c. He is mighty when the winds and waves roll over our souls!
d. He is mighty who makes the impossible becomes the probable.
e. He is the Resource of our power!
f. He can do anything at anytime, anywhere! When we have to “withstand in the evil day,” He stands with us. When we have done all and must continue to stand, He stands with and for us. That’s our MIGHTY GOD! With Him, we fear no evil. With Him, we can face tomorrow.
g. Do you know the Mighty God?
4. THE EVERLASTING FATHER – He is THE EVERLASTING FATHER - He is our DEFENDER. Eternal in duration, never coming to an end, a begetter, a parent, the founder of a family, the head of the home, important, distinguished!
a. As a Father, He loves us.
b. As a Father, He has pity upon us.
c. As a Father, He directs us.
d. As a Father, He corrects us.
e. As a Father, He protects us.
f. As a Father, He provides for us.
g. As a Father, He will never leave nor forsake us!
h. Do you know the Father?
5. THE PRINCE OF PEACE – He is THE PRINCE OF PEACE - He is our DIFFERENCE. Of the highest rank, in the highest place, of the highest authority, He is the Sovereign, He is the Monarch, He is the Authority, He is the Son of a King, He is of royal blood, He is of great ancestry, there is no one like Him, He is of highest rank, He is the Head of the Church, He is preeminent, He is predominant.
a. He brings stillness to my troubled soul.
b. He brings rest in restlessness.
c. He brings hope in hopelessness.
d. He brings victory out of defeat.
e. He is the Fairest of Ten Thousand to my soul!
f. There was none before Him.
g. There will be none after Him.
h. He is the Manifestation of Peace.
i. He is the Minister of Peace.
j. He is the Master of Peace.
k. Do you know the Prince of Peace?
Conclusion: As Dr. S. M. Lockridge once said, He truly is indescribable! He is the “I AM THAT I AM!”
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