Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God | Clayton Hentzel

A Crossing family. I missed you.

I love you. This church loves you.

God loves you. I'm so glad you're here.

I don't know what kind of weak you have, but you couldn't have

picked a better place to spend a little bit of time this weekend.

I want to welcome those of you joining from all across this

region at our different campuses.

Those of you watching online and inside, before I jump into the

sermon, I want to be able to share a special moment with you

guys. I'm going to go ahead and have

Craig. And Christy Phillips, come up on

stage. If you'd give them a big round

of applause, I would greatly appreciate it.

There they are. Yeah, they're coming together.

Coming up here. They've been serving.

All right, come on in here. This is Craig.

And Christy Phillips. And they have two kids, Kai and

Alex. And in our world today there are

over 7,000 languages but only about 10% of those languages

have a complete Bible so that thing that you have that,

sometimes you don't read as often as you should.

There is an awful lot of people who don't even have the ability

to ignore because they don't have one.

There are over 2,000 languages that presently don't have a

single verse of scripture and the burden on the Philips heart.

For the last 20 years, is to do something about it.

This has led them to do some incredible work in Crimea.

Ukraine, it is led to them devoting themselves to extensive

educational Pursuits. For Christy, it was Applied

Linguistics and biblical exegesis to prepare for a career

and a job. And a calling with Pioneer,

Bible translators and then becoming an administrator for

adult education. Action and literacy programs.

For Craig gets been focusing on perfecting a teaching English

recently they believed or believe that God is calling them

to pursue on the mission field. A deeper level the translation

of the Bible into different languages and specifically they

feel called to the Caucasus region of Eurasia.

There are 21 languages in this mountain region with no access

to Scripture. And they hope that by August of

next year to be firmly planted as an entire family overseas,

which is incredible. During their time here at the

Crossing they have been deeply involved in Ministry.

For those of you here at 48th Street, Craig is regularly on

stage helping with the leading of worship.

Christie has done an awful lot for those of you watching online

behind the scenes with online and then I don't even want to

know how many thousands of cups of coffee.

She has served through one Mission Cafe, you probably know

this, but if you don't, let me just remind you at all of our

locations that one miss Ian Cafe that dollar you put in for, you

know, a cheapo coffee or whatever you pay for your super

cool, special, whatever it is, all that money goes to actually

support. In addition to our missionaries,

what we get put in our budget. It's a way for to just for us to

keep an extra blessing on all of our missionaries and she has

been serving those cups of coffee so that way we could

bless our other missionaries. But now it is our opportunity

and privilege as a church to serve you guys and to bless you

this. Our elders, along with our

mission board, made a commitment that when people from inside of

our ranks decide to pursue the call of God overseas.

And they meet our qualifications that we want to be the very

first people in their corner and that we want to make a

commitment to them for up to five years right out of the gate

and there's lots of ways you can measure a church, you can

measure it by its attendance by its baptisms, by the number of

people serving number of people in life groups.

The number of people giving there's All kinds of ways, but

one of the most special ways is to measure.

You can measure churches by the people.

It's raises up and sends out to advance the kingdom of God.

And so Phillips family, I need you to know this.

This church loves you. We are incredibly thankful for

you and we are proud of you, and we are going to be rooting for

you as you get ready to start this journey.

I know I got in this pocket. Make sure I don't mess this up.

In addition to what we've already given you this year, in

addition to the five years of support.

We wanted to give you this check, which we've given you a

check every service your yes, good to be a missionary this

weekend. Yes.

So yeah, you guys. That's awesome.

We're this brings our total commitment to you guys to forty

two thousand five hundred dollars.

We could not be more excited for you.

What you guys pray for them. Yeah, awesome.

You guys are clapping scrape. Look at that.

Standing ovation. Why do you have to preach now?

Yeah we just in his single worship song to go home.

I would you extend your hands towards them.

Heavenly father, thank you so much for the Phillips.

Thank you so much for the burden that you've placed on their

heart and their willingness to respond to it.

God, I want to pray specifically for them as they get ready to go

overseas. I pray that the adjustment for

their kids will be smooth. I know the stress of kids

changing schools, just here in the states.

I know the Sir parents can feel when they're just moving from

one town to another God, I can't imagine moving from one country

to another, and I just pray that you would just make the entire

process smooth for their kids. I pray for Greg and Kristy that

they would have deep and meaningful relationships.

That will be formed quick. When they move over that, they

have great life-giving Community.

Gotta pray that they would have eyes to see ears to hear and a

brain to process all of the ministry opportunities and is

They get to be a part of some of the language projects.

I pray that you bring Clarity to the message and God that they

would be able to see how their work is making a difference.

We love you so much God in your name.

I pray. Amen.

Love you guys were rooting for you.

Well, this week, we're starting a brand new sermon series called

the gift I need. And we set up some question it

questions among you and you answer them.

And I got to be honest with you, while I said, I love you.

I'm not proud of you. I'm a little worried to be

honest, as you'll see because there are some Savages in our

midst. One of the questions we asked is

Christmas tree up before or after Thanksgiving.

Yeah, you think that but I'm ashamed to say that. 39 percent

of you put the tree up before you've tasted the turkey.

And that is wrong. That is wrong.

One holiday at a time. Sheesh second one gets worse.

How many of you have re-gifted a present?

Seventy-seven percent of you said, yes, your Killers.

I'm not buying you anything. Good grief.

At least just take the gift. You don't like and then donate

it to the thrift store. But I mean don't take a gift.

You don't like him but yeah, I didn't want it.

You can have it too. That ain't, if you are.

All right, here's another one. When I Here's one of the

questions be honest. Is it really the thought that

counts? Twenty percent of you said no.

Like, I don't know if it ain't good.

It ain't right. Okay.

You just like I don't care how much time you put into this and

I don't care. The thought your gift stinks.

I've got so much more, but I can only deal with so much sin in

one sermon. Here's a real question right

now. If you came with a spouse or a

boyfriend or whatever, you, whatever you brought with you,

Look at them. Pick who's the best Gift Giver

in your house and let the best Gift Giver.

Raise their hand. Okay.

That's fine. There's nothing wrong.

God, put you together that way for a reason.

I'm a lot. Like my dad.

I don't know what 75% of the gifts are going to be right.

Like I'm as excited as they are. My goodness.

We got you that too. That's awesome bud.

But I do know which gift they're going to remember.

Because that'll be the gift that I picked out, right?

How many of you your budget people?

You've got a budget for Christmas.

We better stick to it. Okay.

So I actually think the problem with America's nobody knows how

to budget because for three services have been like, you

know, 10 people like yeah, we gotta pay tens the rest of your

like let's just see what happens.

Let's just see if smoke comes off this credit card or not.

Anyhow, I'm a pretty strict budget guy for Christmas until I

catch a vision for something spectacular.

And then I'm like, all right, we'll figure it out.

We just got to make this thing happen.

You guys have been there too. Did you know that?

Good Gift Giver now, I can like a theoretical sense but the

Bible goes out of its way to talk about his ability to give a

good gift. Matthew 7:11.

Matthew 7:11

It starts out rough. If you then though, you are

evil. He's talking about.

You guys remember Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving

re-gifting evil people know how to give good gifts to your

children. So even though we're jacked up,

people we still know how to put together a good gift.

How much more will your father in heaven?

Give good gifts to those who ask him and one of the signs of a

good Gift Giver is their ability to give you what you really need

more than their ability to give you what you want.

One time, my dad gave me a gift for Christmas.

He got me an Iowa, Hawkeye sweatshirt and a pair of work

gloves. He's a pretty good gift giver

and turns out that was exactly the gift I needed.

Because as soon as the wrapping paper was all put away, we went

outside to work outside and I was super thankful for these

gloves that I didn't like it at first because when the wind kept

blowing and the snow kept falling that gift, that my dad

had given me in my past. Became incredibly valuable in my

present. Well, the prophet Isaiah 800

years before the Christmas narrative.

Takes pen to parchment and he begins to write about this gift

that God is giving you to the world.

Just like parents as they browse through pages on Amazon or

walking through the aisles at a store examining each present.

Carefully examining the potential gifts picturing the

Elation and Joy on their child's faces.

They peel back the wrapping paper and take in the present as

it's finally revealed he is writing to us going, check this

out. And see as we're reading through

it, if you can see the joy and the Elation that he in the

anticipation, Isaiah chapter 9. Nevertheless, there will be no

Isaiah 9 · chapter mention

more Gloom for those who are in distress in the past, he humbled

the land of zebulun and the land of naphtali lime.

But in the future, he will honor Galilee of the nation's by way

of the sea beyond the Jordan. The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light on those living.

In the land of deep Darkness, a light has dawned you have

enlarged, the nation and increase their Boy, they

rejoiced before you as people Rejoice at the Harvest as

Warriors rejoice, when dividing the plunder for as, in the Day

of midians Defeat, you have shattered the Yoke that burdens

them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their

oppressor every Warriors boot used in battle and every garment

rolled in blood will be destined for burning will be fuel for the

fire for to us. A child, is born to us.

A son is given and the government will be on his

shoulders and he will be called And wonderful counselor, Mighty

God. Everlasting father Prince of

Peace of the greatness of his government and peace.

There will be no end. He will reign on David's throne

and over his kingdom establishing and upholding it

with Justice and righteousness from that time on and forever

judging by the lack of Standing, Ovation and Applause and shouts

of Joy. Perhaps something has been lost

in the 2800 years since this was written.

So, Can I do something instead of like preaching this thing

hard for the next 20 minutes? Would you just allow me to walk

you through the text a little bit, teach you a little bit and

see if something doesn't change in your heart, just a little bit

because I think there's an awful lot.

We're missing when we read it. Let's examine these qualities.

About this gift, a little bit more carefully.

Isaiah chapter 9, verse 1. Nevertheless, there will be no

Isaiah 9:1

more Gloom for those who are in distress.

Us and the past, he humbled the land of zebulun and the land of

naphtali. But in the future, he will honor

Galilee of the nation's, by the way, of the sea beyond the

Jordan, you know, how it is in some of our surrounding towns.

Small ones as you're pulling in, will be a green sign that says,

home of For those of us living in Illinois, where the Land of

Lincoln? Yeah, this jacked up, plot of

land, gets a little bit of favor because, you know, Lincoln's

from here. This is what he's saying is

going to happen for the area of Galilee that someone of such

prominence is going to come out of their midst.

That nobody will, nobody will ever be able to mention this

chunk of land without thinking about this gift.

Keep going in the text, the people walking in darkness have

seen a great light on those living.

In the land of deep Darkness, a light has dawned you have

enlarged, the nation and increase their Joy.

They Rejoice before you as people Rejoice at the Harvest as

Warriors rejoice, when the dividing the plunder.

Here's what he's saying, imagine a life plagued by stumbling and

suffering in darkness. Think about all the things we

take for granted because of our ability to see he's saying think

about all the Doom and Gloom and despair but when this gift shows

up Despair and Gloom will be removed, Darkness will cease

because those living in darkness have seen a great light.

A light has dawned in it traverses its way and all of a

sudden, the light and the warmth, envelop, you and think

about all the things that would change.

And then he goes, pay attention to the joy of people at Harvest.

Now, this gets a little lost on us because we're not as agrarian

as his audience, but imagine being an entire Community,

completely dependent on the farmers.

And you. go out and you sow your seed and you till up the soil

and you weed it and then you pray for rain and you pray for a

harvest and all the while you're waiting for the Harvest, you

have what was left over from last year's Harvest.

And it's dwindling. It's getting smaller and smaller

as everybody eats and you're starting to wonder.

Will the new Harvest come before the old Harvest Runs Out?

Will the new Harvest? Give me everything I need to

take care of my friends and my family and have enough set aside

to so for the next Harvest. Will there be enough there?

That we don't go hungry between when the following Harvest will

arrive. And every day, it doesn't rain.

And every day, it's not as sunny as you would like.

And you see what you've stored up?

Shrinking wondering if what is to come will be enough.

Imagine the joy of when you go outside and the Harvest is

finally ready, then they start to bring in the sheaves and it's

more than enough. It's more than enough for your

family and your loved ones and your friends.

And it's more than enough to set aside to.

So for next year's crop and it's more than enough for you to put

aside to make sure that everybody is well fed, your

family will be okay, / vision is here, Isaiah is saying this gift

that's coming is going to give you that kind of Joy.

The joy of Provision. And then he says of the joy of

Warriors rejoicing over the plunder to understand this one.

You have to kind of go back in time.

Let's go back a couple months. When a man looks at his wife and

he kisses her goodbye and he grabs his daughter, his face in

his hands and he says, I want you to know how you're beautiful

and I love you, listen to your mother.

And then he goes to his son and says, while I'm gone, you're the

man of the house, you keep them safe.

You treat your mother, and you treat your sister with respect.

And then you join your other neighbors as you head off to

March to the battlefield. Neighbors, who used to just

spend time laughing or now becoming a Band of Brothers in

battle? As you're walking one day, you

start to see the smoke from the enemy's Camp fires rising to the

sky. It feels like it is blocking the

Sun and so you find yourself Marching In the Shadows.

You finally get close enough to the enemy that, you know, that

this is your last night before the battle.

You're looking across it. Your fellow comrades wondering,

who will survive? You're wondering, will you see

your wife again? Will you see your son?

Again, will you be able to walk your daughter down the aisle?

You're you're sitting there knowing that you need to go to

sleep so that way you're rested for the battle but you can't

keep ask. You can't keep wondering you

can't your mind keeps asking question after question.

All you want to go to sleep. So you're rested.

But you can't fall asleep because you're scared.

The sun rises and you go and stand next to your fellow

comrades. And you know that in the next

couple of hours, all of those questions will be answered.

Will you live or will you die? Will you win or will you lose?

Will you be injured? Will you be taking captive?

And Isaiah says, like Warriors rejoicing over the plunder.

Now, you find yourself on the other side of the battle?

Not only are you alive, but you won and not only, did you win?

You're not going home empty-handed.

You're going back to your wife, back to your daughter, back to

your son and you're not going back empty-handed.

You have gone from the precipice of death to Victorious and

blessed Isaiah saying, when this gift shows up, that's how how

it'll be not only will you be provided for but you will be

Victorious and blessed. This is what Isaiah is trying to

get across Verses 4 through 54. As in the day of minions defeat

you have shattered, the Yoke that burdens them, the bar

across the shoulders, the rod of their oppressor every Warriors

boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be

destined for burning will be fuel for the fire.

I'm gonna hit verse 5 next week, but let's go back to verse 4.

You've heard me say this before, when you read the Old Testament,

you are reading world history through Israelite eyes.

It is similar to you and I reading stories about the

battles that have been fought here and for America their fight

against the, many nights would be similar to our Revolutionary

War and the Bible goes out of its way to set up an interesting

contrast with the story of the midianites.

You see, it's these many nights Through the Bible says our their

army is too numerous to count. I'm not a math person but that's

a lot and God goes to Gideon. Hey, I want you to lead an Army

against these this Army. That's too many to count.

And so they send out a call and 32,000 men show up to fight an

army. That is again, too.

Numerous to count. And then God looks at getting

ghost. There's too many guys and

getting goes. Say what?

I don't know if you do math but there's only 32 thousand of us

in your word, says, your words not mine.

The Army were facing, it's too numerous to countin guys.

Like, listen man, send all the Cubs fans home.

That's actually sorry, that's not what it says.

It just says, it says, send all of those who are afraid home.

They just happen to be Cubs fans.

And listen 22,000 people dudes were like, yeah, I'm actually,

we're going to be honest, this is a time of sharing.

I am afraid and so you have 10,000 people versus an army

that is too numerous to count. And then God goes, guys, this is

way too many people and getting it's like really okay.

And God says, take them down to the water.

And for the guys, that just reach down and grab some with

their hand and pull it up to their mouth and laugh, like a

dog. Those are the separate.

Those guys, from the guys who get down on all fours.

And so, they get over there and 300 dudes, reach down with their

hand and pull it up to their mouth and 9700 of them get down

on all fours and gettings, like, alright, this is going to be

okay, I'm only losing 300. It'll be 9700 against an army,

too. Numerous to count.

And guy goes actually, I've been thinking it through and I think

we're going to go with the 300 and getting those, you're okay.

All right, so it's 300 vs. Too numerous to count.

He's like, yeah, that'll be great.

And then, so getting in now. His army of 300.

And then God's. Like, all right, now, here's

what you're going to need for the battle.

Now, tell me if this makes sense to you, he goes you're going to

want some trumpets. Some pottery.

I'm going to let some of you guys have torches.

Now, if you were there you're one of the 300 like guys time to

get your weapons standing in line you and Frank and Todd just

you get up, excuse me, I got a, I got a pot. if I feel like I'm

in the wrong Line, This is the cafeteria Oh no, you do and a

trumpet. I don't play the trumpet and How

hard do you hit someone with the trumpet?

Hey, do we have any swords? Excuse me.

Jesus, can I have a shield? God.

I don't know if you know about this, but they've made Spears.

They're awesome. And God goes none of them know.

I wanted to look like you guys beat up a marching band and then

showed up for battle. Because I'll tell you what a

group of people that beat up a marching band.

People are afraid of them, right.

So here you are getting ready for battle.

You got your picture? Your trumpet and your

flashlight, right, let's go give these guys what they got coming.

We'll look and check this out with a 300 people.

Armed with lanterns and trumpets and pottery, defeat an army that

is too numerous to count. What Isaiah is saying, is the

oppression that you have been feeling will be broken in an

unexplainable and majestical way.

Well, who can do something like that?

Who can make that kind of stuff happen.

Well, it keeps going for 69. For unto us.

A child is born to us. A son is given and the

government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called, wonderful, counselor, Mighty

God. Everlasting father, Prince of

Peace of the greatness of his government and peace.

There will be no end. He will reign on David's throne

and over his kingdom establishing and upholding it

with Justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

How is this possible? How will there be so much light?

So, It's victory so much freedom.

Well, to us a child is born. To us a son is given, what kind

of baby is this? What's the kind of baby?

That has a government on his shoulders?

Hold on a second here. Let that sink in.

The entire government is going to rest on.

His shoulders. Now the American government is

broken into three branches but it's just mostly broken, right?

You have the three branches? For those of you who slept

through, whatever class taught you that I don't want you to

think I'm smart. I just Googled it.

We have the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the

judicial branch. Yeah, I could have done that

part from memory, the legislative branch, they make

the laws, Okay, this is where you have the upper and lower

house, you have the House of Representatives and you have the

Senate. The problem is for some of us

I'm not saying me or you but for some people the problem with the

House of Representatives is that they're only an office for two

years, so they never stop running and they never really

get around to governing. And potentially some of you may

be frustrated with the Senate because you have the exact

opposite problem when you feel like you can't ever get those

guys out of the office. And then you have the

legislative branch where you have the legislative branch and

then you have the executive branch there in charge of

executing the laws. Making sure that it happens.

It is here that the Office of the President resides and

depending on where you are on the political Spectrum, some

presidents for years is way too long.

And for others. Eight years is not enough,

right? Depending on where you are.

And then then, Give the judicial branch.

This is where the laws are evaluated and at the Pinnacle of

this group, you have the Supreme Court, Justices and based on how

we interpret the words, good behavior, they basically get

lifetime appointments. Which means if you get a bad

one. The good news is you have them

for life. And as they get older and their

mental abilities fade, they still get to weigh in.

Now, I think this is one of the best systems on planet Earth,

but it's a little broken. And think about what happens

every two to four years. The Uproar, the Panic, the fear,

the frustration families, divided, friendships lost,

ideologies. Mocked Common Sense.

Reduced hurtful rhetoric spewed. But this boy is the government.

It is here. Where it rests on his shoulders?

No election, no end to his Reign.

No skeletons in his closet. No reduction in his power or

abilities. The full weight of the

government will be majestically and purely carried out.

Well what kind of ruler will this baby be?

Well this is where we get to my sermon.

There's a bunch of qualities. They use, I'm only going to

mention two of them. The first one is that he will be

a wonderful counselor. The second one is he will be a

mighty God. Now something interesting here.

For those of you are big in the English language.

The word wonderful here is not an adjective, it's not an

adverb. It is this abstract explanation.

He's what Isaiah is trying to say is this is too magnificent

for you and I to understand we'd have a better chance.

A chance of taking a communion cup and filling the entire

draining the entire Mississippi into it.

He's trying to get you to go. The only possible explanation is

that God was in it. Here's what I mean by wonderful,

when God pulled water out of a rock.

And it took care and quench The Thirst of all the Israelites and

all of their animals. How do you describe that?

Oh, that's a Wonder. And the only way that makes

sense is if God's in it. How do you make sense of a small

boy going up against a giant with only five, smooth stones,

and a sling, and bringing a giant to his knees.

Well, that's a Wonder of it. The only way that that makes

sense is God. See when we read, wonderful, you

think Thanksgiving? Oh, Becky came by, and we just

had a wonderful conversation. This is the exact opposite.

This is something just took place, that's unexplainable.

The only way you could even begin to make sense of what you

saw is that God made it make sense to Israelites.

Walking through the Red Sea with a wall of water, on the right

and a wall of water on your left.

How do you explain that all? That is a Wonder.

That only makes sense. If God's in the picture, he's

going to be that. And a counselor.

Let me know what counselors do. They deal with us.

They diagnose us, they deliver us.

Some of you, you've been through the pain of going to multiple

counselors because the counselor you got wasn't good, some of you

had to deal with different medications because the

prescription you got was bad. But when you show up to this

God, with whatever problem you face, whatever challenge you're

in whatever Darkness you're navigating.

When you show up to this counselor, you get three

guarantees this how Alistair beg says, it one, he will deal with

you personally. This gift.

This child, this son. This Wonder counselor is going

to deal with you. Personally, he knows you better

than anybody knows you. Even you, he will deal with you

personally, you're not just he's just going to keep running

through the people. He's got a 9:00 and 9:30 and

10:00. And he's only got 25 minutes to

figure it out and he's gonna run the some same play on you that

he's ran on five other people. No, he's going to deal with you

personally. He's going to diagnose you

properly because he has access to Infinite Wisdom in since he

knows you better than anybody else does, he can diagnose you

properly which means he can deliver you powerfully.

But he's not just a wonderful counselor.

He's a mighty God. What this Baby's God.

Yeah, look at how John describes him in the beginning was the

word and the Word was with God. And the Word was God, he was

with God in the beginning through him.

All things were made without him.

Nothing was made that has been made in him was life and that

life was the light of all mankind.

So if you as you're studying, having a hard time, reading your

Bible from time to time, when you get into a text like this,

just start asking, Asking a bunch of question.

Who's the word? Well, if you keep reading, we

know that the word is a dude. It's a guy.

Well who's a pretty famous guy in the Bible?

Who all things were made through him.

Look at your neighbor regardless of how ugly they are.

Guess who made them. God didn't.

But so did this baby? Jesus was apart of your

creation. He was a part of bringing you

into existence when you and I look at people we are looking at

somebody. Who's got the thumbprint Of a

master Potter. That's who this baby is.

He is mighty God. If he can make everything that

you, and I have ever seen, how much Mike does he have?

How Mighty is this baby? Well, he's Mighty enough, that

he delivered the Israelites out of the hand of the Egyptians.

That's how Mighty he is. He's Mighty enough that when he

hits a rock, water comes out and feeds them in all our, it takes

care of gives quenches The Thirst of them and all their

animals Mighty enough that when they're walking through the The

Red Sea and there's a wall of water on the right and a wall of

water on the left. And the only way you could

describe it as God, did that? That's how Mighty he is.

He's the kind of Mighty God that gives them a pillar of Fire by

day and a pillar of our, a pillar of Fire by night in a

pillar of cloud by day. That's how Mighty he is, how

Mighty you asked? Marty enough that he let them

bring down Jericho with just a shout Mighty enough that when he

touched the leper they were immediately healed.

Grab the hand of a crippled person in their hand was made

right spoke and the lame could walk how Mighty you, ask my teen

up that. He just so happened to mention

the name Lazarus and Lazarus came back from the dead.

How Mighty you ask Mighty enough that when he spoke to Demons

people were delivered how Mighty you asked he was in.

He was laying down asleep in a boat with his head on a pillow

and a storm came up and all of his disciples were terrified and

they went to Jesus and they said, Jesus, wake up, don't you

care if we all drown? And Jesus woke up like this live

off his beard. Peace.

Be still and the waves stopped waving and the wind stopped

blowing. You can go home and check this

out, Mark chapter 4, see if I'm lying.

Mark 4 · chapter mention

Look what happens after that. The disciples say who is this?

That's Wonder. What just happened?

Only makes sense if God's in the picture. even the wind and waves

obey him, that's might Who is this?

That even the wind and the waves obey him inside of here?

You see Wonder And you see my night, he is a wonderful

counselor because he devised a plan to make you and I not just

right with God. But right with one another and

right with ourselves, and he is mighty enough to carry it out.

In fact, he is mighty enough to save all who will place their

trust in him. This is what Isaiah was trying

to put into your heart and in my heart, when he wrote it.

So, can I read it to you one more time now that you know

what? He's trying to say,

Nevertheless, there will be no more Gloom for those who are in

distress. In the past, he humbled the land

of zebulun and the land of naphtali.

But in the future, he will honor Galilee of the nation's by way

of the sea beyond the Jordan. The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light on those living.

In the land of deep Darkness, a light has dawned.

You have enlarged, the nation and increased their Joy.

They Rejoice before you as people Rejoice at the Harvest as

Warriors rejoice, when dividing the plunder for as in the day of

millions defeat, you have shattered, the Yoke that burdens

them, the bar across the shoulders, the rod of their

oppressor. Every Warriors boot used in

battle and every garment rolled and blood will be destined for

burning will be fuel for the fire for to us.

A child, is born to us. A son is given and the

government will be on his shoulders.

Shoulders. And he will be called,

wonderful, counselor, Mighty God.

Everlasting father, Prince of Peace of the greatness of his

government and peace. There will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom

establishing and upholding it with Justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever. And I think you will discover

that this is the gift. We desperately need And I'm

willing to wager that deep down inside.

It's the gift. Your soul has always wanted on

to us. A child is born to us.

A son is given and he will be wonderful, counselor, Mighty God

removed the time of decision. The incredible news is that this

gift is for everyone. No matter who you are, no matter

what you've done, no matter what you're in the middle of right

now. This gift is available to you.

But I got to be honest with you. This life with Jesus isn't easy.

Oh, it's good. It's better.

But I don't know, I mean, I know there's a lot of stuff on Tick,

Tock, and Instagram, and YouTube.

That's telling you that, like, you know, life with Jesus is

just up and to the right all the time, I just need you to hear

from me not true. Life with Jesus is hard.

Loving your neighbors. That's hard.

Not being greedy, that's hard, not being selfish.

That's hard, not being a gossip that's hard, not being lustful.

That's hard. Jesus calls you to incredibly

hard things. Now, I'll tell you, it's the

best life, it's a good life, but it's a hard one.

Jesus says, when he's describing the Christian Life, he says,

pick up your cross and follow me that I don't know where you're

from, but that doesn't sound See, that sounds hard.

In fact the Christian life is so hard that you have to have the

power of the holy spirit inside of you to actually live it out.

The good news, is he gives that to you.

He gives you the gift and he gives you the power to live it

out. Now listen things that are good

and are hard aren't new to you. How many of you are?

Just? Just look at me.

Don't raise your hand. I want you to get in trouble.

I'll just get in trouble for all of us.

You're married. Is it ever hard just blink if

it's hard? Okay.

Yeah, this is some of you. You've been there.

Is it good? Yeah.

Is a heart. Yeah, it's yeah.

It's really stinking hard. Jesus.

Okay, she's so perfect. And I'm so flawed.

So she tells me right? It is it is it is it good?

Yeah. Is it hard?

Yeah. Parents raising a kid is a good

having kids all. Oh yeah.

Is it hard? Some of you suckers you're in

here with your first kid, you still got it in the cute little

basket and every time someone asks you like, how are you

doing? I'm just so tired.

It's just a big adjustment, it's a lot, it's a lot Clayton, just

having this precious life and all the things that come with

it. I just needed you to hear it

here first. What you're experiencing right

now is as good as it gets, okay? You will beg to be tired the

okay because right now you're just physically tired.

But those of us who've been parents for a while, we're

emotionally tired. We're spiritually tired for

fragile. Someone It died today.

Okay, you're rude because right now you know what that kid does

it sleeps all the stinking time it wakes up and cries for a

little bit, you eat it. You burp, it, you change it and

you put it back to bed. That's it.

It doesn't go anywhere. You don't want it to go.

It doesn't have any friends that you don't want it to have.

It has no crushes. It has no attitude and never

dirties. It's room.

It doesn't try on five outfits and leave them on the floor.

It just burps and pees and poops.

And those of us who've had teenagers are going Take that

all day every day. That's why your parents like

your grandbabies. So when you come up to us like

yeah, it's just been tough. We're like yeah.

Just you wait. Okay.

Parents parents, come here, parents, come here, I'm your

pastor, it's parenting good, is it hard?

I'm just telling you some of the very best things in my life.

Are both good and hard. And what I'm telling you is

following Jesus is good, it's good, but it's hard.

But you will not regret it. And if you've never started an

intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Don't put

that off. Just a few moments as me

somebody over by the bastard who love an opportunity to talk with

you and pray with, you about it to the rest of you in the room.

My fear is that, if you've been a Christian, a long time,

sometimes sometimes and maybe it's not you, but our eyes can

get some scales on in our hearts can become hardened.

And we are no longer rejoicing over what we have in him.

And I pray that just one part of this sermon, was able to stir

your affections for Jesus, so that we would live for him and

be a light for him. To a lost and dying world.

And if maybe you're in a spot where you just need to kind of

repent of where you've been or try and get some things right,

and maybe beg God to start a new fire in your heart.

The steps are going to be open for you to do that.

Would you stand with me? God, do a mighty work, a work.

That only you can do, you know exactly what every person in

this room and every person online needs. and so God, I'm

asking for you to show up and deliver that Dual work that only

you can do. God, bring a unique gift to

every person. And your name.

I pray. Amen.

And your name. I pray.

Amen.