Isaiah 9:1-7 - Wonderful Counselor

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Amen.

Thank you guys so much.

I love Christmas a lot.

Some of the gifts that God has given to this church are people like this who serve us.

Yeah, you can thank them.

There's others who do things like this with flowers and Christmas trees that I don't do.

And they use their gifts on Saturday so you don't actually see them and get to thank them for that.

But it's not just to have fun and just to make something look nice or sound good.

But because we're celebrating something we believe to be worthy of this kind of joy and excitement, right?

It's not just the spirit of a season but the reality of God becoming man that deserves for us to have that kind of joy.

And it's just a gift to see all of you use your gifts in that way, especially to serve this body.

So thank you for the many ways that you do that.

As we enter this Christmas season, we're starting a new sermon series as well and looking at who Jesus is.

Back about 15 years ago as we approached the turn of the millennium in late 1999,

Time magazine ran a cover story that was written by novelist Reynolds Price.

He wrote this,

It would require much exotic calculation to deny that the single most powerful figure,

not merely in these two millenniums but in all human history, has been Jesus of Nazareth.

Not only is the prevalent system of denoting the years based on an erroneous 6th century calculation of the date of his birth,

but a serious argument can be made that no one else's life has proved remotely as powerful and enduring as that of Jesus.

It's an astonishing conclusion in light of the fact that Jesus was a man who lived a short life

in a rural backwater of the Roman Empire,

who died in agony as a convicted criminal,

and who may never have intended so much as a small portion of the effects worked in his name.

Who was Jesus then?

That's the question, isn't it?

Who was Jesus then?

What child is this?

Who was Jesus?

Price gives some of his answer in the rest of that article that he wrote,

but for hundreds of years,

individuals and world religions have been giving answers to that question, haven't they?

A variety of different answers,

and it's a question that's well worth our time to consider.

Jesus is near the top of every reputable, most influential people of all time list.

He's changed the world in many ways.

His birth is going to be celebrated in a variety of ways the world over later this month, right?

By people who believe a wide range of different things about who he is,

who have broadly different answers to that question,

who is Jesus?

Almost everyone these days agrees that there was indeed a baby

who grew up and was a man who lived in the Middle East,

and was called Jesus.

Very few people dispute that anymore.

But they don't agree on who Jesus really was.

And the different answers that they give about his identity

lead to radically different life paths, don't they?

C.S. Lewis has famously said that Jesus was either a liar,

or a lunatic,

or the Lord of all.

That was his famous trilemma.

Who is Jesus?

Either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord of all.

Now, that may seem like three simple choices,

but those are very different options, aren't they?

Very different answers to the question of who Jesus is.

So it's a very important issue for all of us.

We want to look this Christmas season at the identity of Jesus.

See what the Bible declares about this unique child.

We're going to do that by looking at four titles

that he was given even before his birth,

and ask what they tell us about the child born that first Christmas,

how we see those titles expressed in Jesus' life as he grows up.

So what child is this is the question.

Let's read the context of these titles in Isaiah 9.

We're going to start reading at verse 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.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shined.

You've 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.

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.

For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

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.

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.

Thus far God's holy,

inerrant, infallible word.

Will you pray with me?

Father, these are words we've heard before

in different contexts.

But they're not our words.

They're not words we say or words we sing.

They are indeed your words.

And so we ask that you would teach us.

That you, Holy Spirit,

would be the one who shows us

not just what they mean,

but what they mean for our hearts

and in our lives.

Would you take hearts that are easily distracted,

hearts that are easily self-reliant,

and would you make them

desirous of hearing from you?

That you might teach us

and that you might change us

and that we might know Jesus more

as a result of looking at your word together.

We ask it in his name.

Amen.

Amen.

I remember holding each of my girls

in the hospital room

on the day that they were born

and, you know,

looking at them.

They're so small.

And as a dad,

you start to wonder, don't you?

You know,

what's she going to be like?

What kind of things is she going to love?

What will she do?

What will she be like?

Who will she look like?

What will she love?

Will she love me?

That was one of those questions

that was on my mind.

Lots of hopes and dreams

for what this child will be.

As we approach Christmas this year

and we see the baby in the manger,

we have the privilege of knowing

about this baby

because we're looking back, aren't we?

Who was and is Jesus?

What child is this

that we look on in the manger?

God had more than just hopes and dreams

for that child, right?

We find out here in Isaiah

that even as God looks ahead

to the life of His Son

in this prophecy,

He says here's what He's going to be like.

The Son He was giving to His people,

the child to be born,

the Son to be given,

was to be the long-awaited

deliverer and King.

The Messiah that God had promised to send

who would reign on David's throne forever, right?

Look at verse 7.

This is who He's going to be.

On the throne of David

over His kingdom,

He's going to establish it

and uphold it with justice.

He's going to be the one

who rules justly.

The one who's righteous,

who does things right.

And not just for a little while,

but from this time forth

and forevermore.

That's who He's going to be.

Isaiah had prophesied

hard days ahead, hadn't he?

You know the book of Isaiah.

There's a lot of difficult things

He says are coming

for God's people.

But He also holds out hope.

The hope promised

when Adam and Eve

were sent out of the garden

but told that God

would send rescue for them.

The hope promised to Abraham

that His people

would be a great nation

and that all nations

would be blessed through them.

The hope promised to David

that an heir would rule

forever even as the Gentiles

would stream into His kingdom.

And now God is saying what?

He's saying He's coming.

This is the one.

This is that one.

The one I've been telling you about.

The one I've been saying is coming.

That's this one.

What will He be like?

Verse 6 gives us

those four titles

that are hard to hear

without Handel's Messiah

ringing in your head.

Right?

You know,

Wonderful Counselor,

the Mighty God.

I'm going to stop singing

but you've got the general drift.

That was from Handel,

the Messiah.

It's really famous.

It just doesn't sound like that.

And so we hear those notes

in our head

when we hear these

but stop and just look at them again.

We're going to look at them in turn

but Wonderful Counselor,

the Mighty God,

the Everlasting Father,

the Prince of Peace.

Those are not mere wishes

for what His Son might become one day.

What He would be like.

Those are promises

from God the Father

of who this child will be.

We're going to take just the first one

this morning.

Wonderful Counselor.

Look at that for just a minute.

Wonderful Counselor.

Literally,

the words mean

wonder of a counselor.

That word counselor

in Isaiah's context

refers to someone

who makes wise plans,

who gives helpful guidance.

This child is going to be a ruler,

a king,

who leads his people

in the proper direction,

on the right path.

In fact,

for a people described

in this chapter here

as walking in darkness

and dwelling in a land

of deep darkness,

He will be a light,

shining the way forward,

directing them in the proper paths

for their protection

and for their flourishing.

But this is going to be more

than a politician

with a few good ideas, right?

I mean,

Judah and Israel

have known some pretty decent kings,

haven't they?

Judah especially.

They've had some guys

with some good ideas,

some good plans.

And what happens

as you read back

through the history

of God's people

to even the best kings

they have

with the really good ideas

and plans

for God's people?

What's the pattern?

Over and over again,

even the best ones,

and they're not all good

at all,

fail.

They lead the people

well momentarily,

but then they mislead

the people

into idolatry,

into conflict,

even into exile

away from God's promised land.

And God says,

this baby in the manger

is more than just

an above average counselor.

Like somebody who usually

has some nice thoughts

that are helpful

with something.

He is a wonderful counselor.

He will give,

that word actually means

supernatural direction.

He will have wisdom

that is beyond

human comprehension.

It won't just be

the wisest of your friends.

He will make

divine plans unfold.

In fact,

as we keep reading

in Isaiah,

we find these same terms

for wonderful counselor

used for God Himself.

The Lord of hosts,

God Almighty,

described how

in Isaiah 28,

the Lord of hosts

is wonderful in counsel

and excellent in wisdom.

Wonderful in counsel.

God Himself,

it's the way God's described

in His counsel,

in His plans

that stand firm

and are always accomplished,

in His wisdom

that surpasses

all other wisdom.

This child will be divine.

He will be the wonderful counselor

who surpasses

all others.

Where do we see

that reality

in the life of Jesus

as this baby

in the manger

grows into a man?

Where do we see it

as we look at the Gospels?

I think one of the primary

places we see it

is in the teaching

of Jesus

as He explains

the plans of God,

the design for our lives,

the direction He gives

as to where life

is to be found.

God,

perhaps especially

we see it

in a place

like the Sermon on the Mount

which may be

Jesus' most famous

extended teaching lesson

on life, right?

Jesus delivering

in that sermon

remarkable wisdom,

sayings,

and moral teachings

that Christians

and non-Christians

alike

to this day

declare as wise,

think are helpful.

Things like

the Golden Rule,

the Beatitudes,

many others.

But I want to notice

something particular

about this sermon.

In the Old Testament,

God's prophet Moses

is leading His people,

right?

And God wants

to give His law,

His plan for His people

to Moses

and what happens?

Where does Moses go?

Moses goes up

on Mount Sinai, right?

Moses meets with God

there on Mount Sinai

and God sends him

back down

and what's Moses carrying

when he comes down

the mountain?

Two tablets

with some laws

written on them.

God's laws.

We often refer to them

as the Ten Commandments.

Moses comes back

down the mountain

and says,

this is God's wise plan

for our lives.

And now in the

Sermon on the Mount,

what does Jesus do?

Jesus goes up

on a mountain,

but Jesus sits

and stays,

doesn't He?

Jesus stays up

on the mountain

and He doesn't bring

down tablets of stone.

He speaks

God's law,

doesn't He?

He actually

Himself

pronounces

God's wise plans.

The prophet

who Hebrews tells us

is greater

than Moses,

He Himself

delivers

the counsel.

He goes back

to commandments

like,

don't murder,

don't commit adultery.

Others

from the Ten Commandments

and says,

you've heard

one thing about this,

but I tell you

the truth.

This is what God means.

This is God's heart

when He gives you

His law.

This is where life

is truly found.

He Himself

provides

the counsel,

the authoritative,

divine,

wise plan.

And the crowds

notice.

They hear Him teach

in the Sermon on the Mount.

Do you remember

how they respond

at the end of that?

Matthew records it

this way

in His Gospel.

When Jesus finished

these sayings,

the Sermon on the Mount,

the crowds were

astonished

at His teaching.

For He was teaching them

as one who had authority

and not as their scribes.

They marveled.

They were astonished.

They stood open-mouthed,

not just at the wisdom

of what He said,

not just at the sayings,

not just that

that was cute

or that was creative

where that might be helpful.

But this guy has authority

that I've never heard

from the best human teachers.

From those who've given me

the best direction,

there's something different.

Jesus' teaching

has remained

highly regarded

for centuries

since it was

first recorded.

He communicates

everything we need

to know for life.

He talks about

what our priorities

are to be,

whom we can trust,

how we're to deal

with difficulty

and conflict

and suffering

and much,

much more.

And that's what it means

among other things

to say that Jesus

is a wonderful counselor.

He unfolds God's wise plans

for His people.

He gives people direction

to where life is found,

where true flourishing is.

He offers unparalleled leadership

in the right paths.

That's a pretty big statement

to make of a baby

in a manger,

of a child in this case

yet to be born.

It's a big deal

to be able to identify

Jesus in that way.

But I want us to consider

another question this morning.

Not just who is Jesus?

What child is this?

Not just that question,

but who is Jesus to me?

If there's any other question

that would be more important

than who is Jesus,

it may be the question,

who is Jesus to me?

And I don't mean by that

that each of us gets

to identify Jesus

any way we please.

That we can make Him out

to be whoever we'd like Him to be.

That would be as ridiculous

as walking around

the newborn wing

of a hospital

and naming babies

however you wanted them

to be named.

You know, you walk into a room

and the parents say,

this is Jimmy

and you say,

no, you know what?

I'm going to go with Mike.

You don't get that privilege.

We don't get to unilaterally

decide His identity

and make Him

whatever we want Him to be.

We do, however,

have to decide

how we personally respond

to who Jesus is.

That's what I mean

by the question,

who is Jesus to me?

Let me see if I can explain

the vital difference

between those two things

this way.

It's the difference

between knowing the identity

of a great chef

and actually tasting

some of His food.

It's the difference

between walking down

the streets of New Orleans

and seeing Emeril Lagasse

walking down the other side

and saying,

oh, I know that guy.

I recognize him

from the Food Network.

He's a great chef.

He's that guy

that goes bam, bam, bam

all the time.

I know him.

Great chef.

It's the difference

between that

and actually sitting down

and savoring

Emeril's chicken gumbo

one bite at a time

and personally feeling

bam, bam, bam.

wow, I'm actually tasting

that this guy

is a great chef.

It's kind of like

the difference

in some ways

in hearing about

this wonderful place

called Disney World

and looking at all

of the happy people

in their Facebook pictures

as they've gone there

and talk about

how great it is

and then actually going

and seeing the magical looks

on your daughter's faces

as they dance

with princesses

and ride rides

and that sort of thing.

It's a very different experience

to be there

rather than just

hear about it

or know some facts

about it, isn't it?

That's actually

what we all need.

It's what God wants

for us

with his son

not merely

to know a set of facts

but actually

to experience

Jesus.

Jesus.

Many of us

I know a lot of you

have known for years

things about the identity

of Jesus

but have we personally

experienced them?

Are we personally

experiencing him

as for example

our wonderful counselor?

Not just a wonderful counselor

but my wonderful counselor.

It's not much good

to know someone

is a wonderful counselor

if you never find yourself

under his counsel.

What would that look like

in your life

for Jesus

to be your

wonderful counselor?

How would you explain that

to someone

who didn't understand

that Jesus

is actively

your wonderful counselor?

Think about that.

How would you?

How is Jesus

your wonderful counselor?

Let me suggest

two areas

this morning

where we could consider

that reality

in our own lives.

The first is Jesus

as light

in our darkness.

I don't know

if you've ever

been in a cave

where you can get

utter darkness

where you turn off

all the lights

and it's completely dark.

Not too long ago

my family and I

went to

cathedral caverns.

It's not far away

if you haven't been there

you can go actually

do this yourself.

It's a great place.

And at the end

of your journey

into the caverns

you stop

and you turn out

all the lights

and there's this

moment where you can't

see your hand

in front of your face.

You don't even

know that it's there.

If you turn around

even once

it's difficult

to reorient yourself.

Which direction

am I facing?

Which wall

is on which

side of me?

It's very

confusing

in many ways.

Within a few seconds

you have no idea

if the people

next to you

are the same people

and who's where.

Have you ever felt

disoriented like that

spiritually

or in your life?

Without any direction

at all?

Just confused?

Feeling in the dark?

Not knowing

where life was

or which way to head?

Maybe you feel

that way today.

Maybe someone

you know

feels that way.

In the midst

of that kind

of darkness

in that cave

our guide

brought this

really powerful

LED light.

Right?

And you turn off

all the lights

and then he cuts

that powerful light on

and that one clear light

all of a sudden

makes the path

forward clear.

You could just

follow that

one light

all the way back.

It shines

so brightly

gives very clear

direction

and that's the experience

God describes

for his people

in Isaiah 9

isn't it?

People walking

in darkness

seeing a great

light.

Those who are

confused

without a plan

uncertain how

to move forward

perhaps at times

fretting

was there any

hope of moving

forward?

They receive wisdom

divine direction

a clear

and hopeful

way forward.

If you're

disoriented

or confused

in the dark

this morning

might you consider

experiencing

Jesus

as your

wonderful

counselor?

Laying hold

of him

yet again

in a way

you haven't

for a long

time

or maybe

for the first

time

open his word

and ask him

to guide you

talk to someone

you know

who is following

him and ask

them to help

you get

reoriented

pray that God

would give you

light in the

midst of your

darkness

Christian

could you

honestly say

to a friend

that Jesus

is that light

in your moments

of darkness?

Could you cite

some specific

real life

examples where

he has been

and is that

for you

or is Jesus

just theoretical

in your life?

Think of things

in the past

think of

things in the

present

how is Jesus

that for you

now?

Because many of us

have had that

experience

of finding

light and life

in Jesus

when we didn't

know where to

look

when we were

at our wits end

when we'd come

to the end

of ourselves

and found

light and life

in him

but maybe

for many of us

it's been a while

since we found

ourselves actually

in that position

of being confused

and completely

without a plan

has it been a while

for you since you

felt that way?

When we were there

in that cave

in Cathedral Caverns

we were on a tour

with a group

made up of

many young people

and so there was

a large group

that had gathered

around and the

guide said

alright turn all

the lights off

and every young

person in the group

did what?

Yeah turn the

cell phone on

Oh yeah I'm gonna

be the one

with the light

and so everyone

and they one at a

time and he'd tell

them to turn it

off and somebody

else would turn

one on

little faint

screens of light

that showed up

little soft lights

that distracted

from the experience

of total darkness

and one really

bright light

maybe you acknowledge

that you need

some direction

in life

but you know

where to find it

you've got a phone

how am I gonna

navigate this next

season of life?

How will I deal

with the evils

in the world

around me?

How will I reach

a decision

in this crucial

area of life?

You know what

I got this

I got a phone

I've got my

go-to people

there's a really

wise politician

that I'm hoping

will bail us

out

maybe he's got

great ideas

like King Ahaz

in Isaiah's day

some really good

plans

and you think

this is where

Israel can stake

all their hopes

this is where

God's people

are finally gonna

find rescue

but while he seems

to have some wisdom

he's not like

the divine

wonderful

counselor

maybe for you

it's a great

religious teacher

or leader

you say

I always read

what he or she

has to say

I trust whatever

he said

maybe it's a blog

or a pop celebrity

that you say

I always follow

and after I read

her I just

feel good

about the direction

of my life again

it just kind of

re-centers me

listen

we do this

if I haven't

hit on the way

you do it

we do this

just a few years ago

Americans spent

in one year

eleven billion dollars

on the self-help

industry

self-improvement

books

CDs

seminars

coaching

stress management

programs

eleven billion dollars

and estimates

are that that's

increasing

every year

we want a plan

don't we

a wise direction

a solution

to me

to my life

hope for moving

forward

and we say

things like

I'm praying

about it

I'm just trying

to take some time

and pray about it

but in actuality

often we're planning

strategizing

and worrying

about it

in actuality

we're pulling

our phones out

not praying

we're saying

I'll figure out

I'll find a light

here

there's a way

forward

I know there's

something

I've got this

looking for

wisdom

in the world

when God says

he will make

foolish

the wisdom

of the world

because

Jesus himself

becomes our wisdom

1st Corinthians

chapter 1

do you know

Jesus

and the wisdom

he gives

through his

word and spirit

but you found

yourself saying

things like

I'll follow

Jesus

I will

that's important

after my plans

are achieved

after my college

years are fully

enjoyed

or after my

career is settled

or after we

get through this

stage of life

with the kids

Jesus is coming

I've got plans

for now

and I've got to

get through them

and I'll follow

Jesus when I get

through

I'll find his

plans later

maybe you've said

things like

you know

my situation

is just unique

Jesus in his

word don't say

anything to

this decision

I'm unique

I just have to

do what's best

for me

he'd never

understand my

situation

maybe you've

said you know

Jesus and his

priorities just

don't apply in

this area of my

life

they only have to

do with church

stuff and it's

it's really nice

to hear about and

talk about then

but not with the

rest of my life

Jesus says

seek first

his kingdom

and his

righteousness

and all these

other things

will be added

to you as well

sermon on the

mount

you want wise

counsel

he says

God's kingdom

first

he says

your priorities

are out of

whack

you're looking

for direction

in the wrong

places

and for Jesus

to be your

wonderful counselor

means coming to

Jesus first

means submitting

your plans

to his word

means laying

down what

you desire

in order to be

passionate about

what he desires

for your zeal

to match

his zeal

for his

kingdom

he's calling

you to experience

him as the

wonderful counselor

for you

as the one

who guides you

perfectly

who directs

your paths

straight

who always

leads you

to fullness

of life

even when it

doesn't feel

like it

because your

priorities have

changed

you trust

him

that's what

it means

to experience

to taste

him

as it were

as your

wonderful

counselor

and listen

last thing

this is the

glory of the

gospel

the beauty

of Jesus

as wonderful

counselor

is this

when he

gives you

the wise

plan for

your life

he doesn't

ask you

to go

anywhere

he hasn't

already

gone

does he

but we

think

oh no

all the

self-denial

involved

in that

all the

sacrifice

that's going

to demand

of me

when Jesus

asks you

to lay

down your

way

or your

very life

it's because

he's already

laid his

down for

you

he says

over and

over in

the gospels

I've come

to do the

will of

my father

not my

will

but his

will

be done

I choose

to lay

down my

life

for the

sheep

because he

does that

Jesus doesn't

merely show

the way

to abundant

life

he actually

is the

way

the way

the truth

the life

Jesus doesn't

merely point

to the door

to the father

and say

over there

get to him

through that

he is the

door

to the father

Jesus doesn't

merely shine

light into

the darkness

like a guide

with a

flashlight

he is

the light

the light

of the

world

who gives

life to

every man

whoever

follows him

will not

walk in

darkness

but have

the light

of life

the wonderful

counsel you get

from Jesus

is not merely

all the right

things to do

in order to

get back

on the right

path

but he says

follow me

believe in

me

find your

life in

me

I am

the

wonderful

counselor

is he

your

wonderful

counselor

today

let's pray

father I

confess that

I would

rather feel

wise myself

than

trust your

wisdom

I would

rather figure

out where

life is

found than

be told

I would

rather be the

one with the

solution than

the one with

the questions

thank you

that you

come

and offer

yourself

as our

solution

thank you

that we

don't actually

find life

in ourselves

thank you

for the

those moments

where we've

found a

dead end

and an

emptiness

trying to

do things

our own

way

thank you

for showing

us

Jesus

as

not just

one who

gives

light

but one

who is

light

that we

don't have

to try

to figure

things out

we can

just throw

ourselves

on him

would you

give us

the humility

the desperation

the sense

of our own

need enough

that we

would trust

him and

that we'd

find great

joy in

following him

our wonderful

counselor

it's in his

name we pray

amen

for more

information

visit us

online at

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you