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Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Some 700 years before Messiah came Israel was in a terrible place. God’s people that He loved, and had saved with a mighty hand, had forgotten their God. God told His people when He saved them from Egypt and led them into Canaan:

Exodus 34:11-14 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: 13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

God loves His people. He loved His Israel. He warned His people, His Church, not to turn away and follow other gods. But Israel did not listen. This is why, 700 years before Messiah came, that Israel found herself as a nation torn in two. Israel was no longer a free nation, but her temple was destroyed. Jerusalem laid in ruins. The glory of God seemed to have departed from the land.

But God reached out still. He would not leave His people hopeless.

The prophecy that we read this morning, I have read it many times, but read it one more time the other day. I had never noticed this word. The word “is”. Do you see the word “is”? Read it again:

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child IS born, unto us a son IS given:

Why is this “IS” so significant? As I have already said, this prophecy was given 700 years before the birth of Christ in the Manger. 700 years! Now I’m no scholar or whiz kid, but the proper grammar for what we are reading today should have been “shall be” or “will be”. The verb should have been future tense. But the verb is present tense. Why is this? Because our God is the Great I AM. Time means nothing to God. He sees and …

declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure … (Isaiah 46:10)

Though Christ had not yet been born, God spoke as if it was occurring at this time. He wanted His people to have hope in the midst of their darkness. God had not abandoned them. Everything that had happened, as horrible as it seemed, was still under God’s control. God still loved His people.

God was going to become Man! He would write Himself into our story. He would lower Himself to become one of us so that He could give Himself to us. Though I enjoy the Grace of God, I do not understand the Grace of God. It is beyond my grasp – and it’s beyond your grasp as well. In this modern world (which is as fallen as the ancient world was) we fall into love and out of love. Love is like fluff to us. But to God, love is a much sturdier proposition. God would become incarnate, taking on Himself humanity, entering time from eternity in an unprecedented act of love. Why would He do this?

By Grace we have been saved.
Grace sent God to be born of a virgin in a manger.
Grace sent God to grow up in Nazareth.
Grace sent God to minister to the sick and sinful.
Grace sent God to a Hill called Calvary, bearing our sins.
Grace sent God to die in the midst of mocking and jeers.

Oh how our God loves us! Oh, how He loves us!

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (15) And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Here is the take away from the text this day. Please, please grasp this. No matter how dark your day may be. No matter how far you may have strayed from God. No matter how cold and aloof your love may be. God loves you still. And God reaches out to you even in the midst of your present darkness. If you will receive Him, He will change your life forever!

The Child Is BORN But The Son Is GIVEN

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

On that blessed day so long ago when Jesus was born in a manger His birth was unlike any birth that has ever been. Oh, I am sure that Mary suffered birth pains, just as every woman in history has had apart from medication. The pain of birth is part of the curse that sin brought to women. On the day that Eve fell into sin God told her:

Genesis 3:16 … I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

I believe that Mary brought forth the Christ in as much pain as all women have borne when delivering their children. I believe that when Jesus came into the world, Joseph cleaned Him up, and lovingly measured his little hands and feet, looking into His eyes. Jesus came into the world. A child is born. But Jesus is not just a Child. He is the Son of God. The Son of God has always existed with God. The Son of God is forever with Father and Spirit. The Apostle clarified this when He said:

John 1:1-3, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. God spoke all things into being with the Word. Jesus Christ is that Word. All things were made by HIM, and without Him was not anything made that was made. Jesus Christ – that Baby in the Manger – is the same God Who is:

Colossians 1:15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

It is of Jesus that God the Father speaks to us:

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Of this Jesus, God said:

Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.

That Child born in the manger on Christmas morn was human as we are – and yet without sin. That baby was weak as we are. God came among us clothed as we are. He was …

Hebrews 4:15 … in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

That Baby was without sin so that He could bear our sins.

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Dr. Henry Morris said¹: To die for our sins, He must Himself be free from any sin of His own. To be sinless in practice, He must first be sinless in nature. He could not have inherited a human nature, bound under the curse and the bondage of sin as it must have been, as do all the sons of men. His birth, therefore, must have been a miraculous birth. The seed of the woman was implanted in the virgin’s womb …”

Jesus Christ was born as all children are born, yet His conception was quite different from all other conceptions. When the Angel Gabriel told Mary about the impending conception he told her:

Luke 1:35 … The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The humanity of Christ was born when God overshadowed Mary, miraculously causing her to be with Child. This Child would have no earthly Father – His Father is and will always be God. Jesus Christ did not come into existence when the Holy Ghost came on Mary – His humanity came into existence. His Being was and will always be Mighty God. One of the names that Jesus has is …

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

As God He was never born, but as Perfect Man He was born of the virgin. His birth of the virgin is one of the prophecies that prove that Jesus is the One and Only Christ:

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The Baby Jesus Born Is Lord! Jesus is Lord!

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

Jesus Christ was born in the Manger, God become man – but He did not come just as Savior, but as Savior and Lord. Too many preach a half Jesus to the masses. Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins, but the government shall be upon His shoulder. He is Lord of His people. This is stated in His birth announcement. The Angel of God told Joseph:

Matthew 1:21 … And {Mary} shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins.

“He shall save HIS PEOPLE from their sins”. The Child born was Infinite God given, the Son of God, eternal and unchanging. He is Lord! One hundred and fifteen times (115) in Scripture Jesus is called “Lord Jesus”. When the Apostle Paul preached, (Acts 9:29) “he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus”. The result of preaching in the Name of Jesus?

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

To speak in the “Name of the Lord Jesus” is to bring rest to the Church and disturbance to the darkness. The Church is edified or built up when Christ is Lord. Christians walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit when Christ as Lord is magnified. Churches GROW. Why are Churches not growing now? Because, dear friends, to many Jesus is NOT Lord. He is seen as Savior but not Lord. But Beloved, unless you surrender to Him as Lord you shall not enjoy Him as Savior. What brings salvation?

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

He is Lord!

Romans 5:1 … being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

He is Lord!

Romans 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

He is Lord! The Magi who came to visit the Baby Jesus “came to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2). You do not “worship” people, but God is to be worshiped. When they found the Bay Jesus the wise men “worshiped Him” (Matthew 2:11). When you are saved by faith in Him what occurs?

Colossians 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

We who are redeemed by His Blood are “bought with a price”, an incomparable price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). We belong to Jesus, and acknowledge Him as Lord.

Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He is no mere Rabbi, no mere great Teacher. Jesus Christ is Lord of those He has saved. He is Lord!

The Christian Is Called To Follow Christ

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The King James text is a text I love, but it is not without it’s flaws. In this case the Scripture puts a comma where no comma is warranted. It does not terribly destroy the text, for our Savior is Wonderful. But what the Spirit intends us to understand is that Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. Why is He given this title? Because Jesus knows what you are going through. He took upon Himself humanity so that He could suffer as we suffer.

Jesus suffered as we suffer.
Jesus hungered as we hunger.
Jesus was betrayed as we are betrayed.

When Jesus comes to you as Counselor and guides you, He has walked in your shoes. Listen Beloved, you have a great Friend in Jesus. He knows your heart, knows your desires, knows your aches and sufferings, your despondency, your all. I have talked to pastors and preachers, and have found them to be the worst listeners I have ever met. When my heart bursts to share a pain or a joy with many they will not hear, for they are so focused on their own lives they have no time for mine. Yet Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor – He always takes time to listen to me … and He will listen to you, too, if you call upon Him.

If we would listen to our Wonderful Counselor and do as He says, our lives would be blessed.

So many hear the words of Christ then, hearing, walk away to never DO. One day at the end of a message Jesus gave this happened:

Luke 11:27-28 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Our Jesus – our Lord – is a Wonderful Counselor – but you will only see the glorious beauty of life in Him if you BOTH HEAR AND DO AS HE SAYS. So many want to argue with Jesus. So many want to critique Jesus. Yet to all Jesus says:

Luke 6:47-48 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

When you hear His Word and DO as He says you will find that, unlike the various Counselors and Psychiatrists and sooth sayers of the world …. What Jesus says to do will always bless you.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

I touched on this earlier so I will not spend long here. But I do want to say this:

To have a Wonderful Counselor is great, but what can listening do for me if the Counselor is without power.

Not so the Lord Jesus! He is not only Wonderful Counselor, but also Mighty² God. He hears me, hears our cries, gives us wonderful advice – but is also able to change our estate. The words Mighty God are very intense, very powerful. He is not just God – though this title in itself implies limitless ability. But He is Mighty God, Giant God, all Overwhelming God. There is nothing that our Jesus cannot do. Though He came to us through a virgin, born as a Baby in a manger, looks are deceiving! This Child born and this Son given is Very God of Very God.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Yet we are not through with this text, for Jesus is The Everlasting Father. The Oneness Pentecostals confuse God the Son with God the Father, saying that Jesus is all in the same. But this is not what the Scripture means. When Jesus came, He came to do His Father’s business:

Luke 2:49 {Jesus} said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

Jesus came to earth and was born of a virgin because the Father sent Him to do so. Jesus so perfectly did as the Father commanded that He told His disciples:

John 14:9-11 … he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? (10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Jesus is the manifest Member of the Godhead. He did as the Father commanded. If you belong to God by faith in Christ then your life should reflect this. You should be imitators of God:

Ephesians 5:1-2 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.

The Son of God followed God. If you are sons of God by faith in Him, then you, too, should – no – MUST follow God.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Finally, if Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, then He is to you The Prince of Peace. Os Hillman said³:

“Many of God’s greatest servants experienced deep disappointment in their journeys of faithfulness to God. Joseph, after spending years as a slave and in jail for crimes that he did not commit, revealed deep disappointment when he was forgotten another two years in prison. John the Baptist, when awaiting execution, doubted whether Jesus was, in fact, the Christ because he was sitting there awaiting his death. Elijah, losing all hope and despondent to the point of death, asked God to take his life in the desert; and Peter, who left his fishing business and invested three years of his life only to watch his Savior crucified, wondered whether the purpose of those three years could be justified. When life doesn’t add up, it leaves the heart sick. When we have done all we know to do and the formula has not worked, it leaves us questioning. These are times that try the very souls of men. There is no human sense to be made of it. We are left with a choice: to cling or not to cling. There are times when holding on to our Master’s robe is all that we can do. It is all that He wants us to do.”

Let Jesus have all that you are. Kneel to Him as the Magi did. Wonder at Him as the Shepherds did. Surrender your lives to Him – for only in Jesus Christ is there peace.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.