Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 9:6   December 11, 2011   Introduction   Isaiah lived in difficult times. The signs of the times were grim. The sins of God's people were obvious. Within a generation, the nation would be overrun and the Promised Land would become a waste land. Israel is arrogant and unrepentant. The sins of the nation are primarily the sins of a lifeless religion.   1.  God's discipline hasn't changed them. 2.  God's prophets haven't been heeded. 3.  The only thing left is judgment.   In spite of this, Isaiah encourages his readers (Israel and us) with four words in Isa 8:10,  "God is with us."   A.  In Our Spiritual Darkness, the Lord Has Given Us Light    (Isa 9:2 NIV)  The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.   B.  The Light the Lord Has Given Us Is Himself –An Eternal Light   (Isa 9:6 NIV)  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 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.   C.  Those Who Come to the Light Find Eternal Life   (John 1:4-5 NIV)  In him was life, and that life was the light of men. {5} The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.   I. His Name Is Wonderful Counselor   All of us have names we were given at birth. My name, "Samuel" means "asked of God" or "God's gift." Jacob means "laughter" and he was so-named because Sarah was told by God that she would have a child in her old age.  One Person has certainly lived up to their Name  Jesus is called wonderful because He is WONDERFUL! Words like "awesome," great," "incredible,", and "wonderful", fall off the tongue too easily. The Hebrew word comes from the root word for miracle. It is often used of God's acts of judgment and redemption. As a verb, it expresses the idea of doing or making a wondrous thing.   A. " Wonderful" Expresses the Idea that No Work is too Hard for the Lord.   (Gen 18:14 NIV)  Is anything too hard [wonderful] for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."   B.  "Wonderful" Expresses the Idea of the Superlative Nature and Works of  God.   (Exo 15:11 NIV)  "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?   C.  "Wonderful" Expresses the Inability to Express in Words the Significance of the Christ Child.   This is how the Greek word "ethaumasan" is used in Luke's gospel to describe the coming Messiah.   (Luke 2:17-18 NIV)  When the [shepherds] had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, {18} and all who heard it were amazed [wondered] at what the shepherds said to them.   D.  "Wonder" Expresses the Reaction of People Who Witnessed the Miracles of Christ.   ·         Wonder was the first emotion expressed by the Shepherds. ·         Wonder was the reaction of Joseph and Mary at the things said about Jesus. ·         His preexistence is wonderful. ·         His incarnation is wonderful. ·         His miracles/parables were wonderful. ·         His patience with the disciples and silence before Pilate is wonderful. ·         His sinless life is wonderful. ·         His death and resurrection is wonderful.   Today we still "wonder" and are amazed about Jesus.  The more you walk with Him the more amazed you become as He ministers to you in your life.   Also, . . .   II.  He's a Wonderful Counselor   Counseling is one the growth industries of the late 20th century. Counseling, support groups, self-help books can be found in both the secular and sacred realm. Research reveals that the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the time more people suffer depression than any time of the year. Studies also show that more people commit or consider suicide on Sunday nights than any other time of week. Why? When we think of Christmas we think of family. Norman Rockwell scene comes to mind. But for many, Christmas is the loneliest time of the year. The first Christmas after the death of a loved one; the first Christmas after a painful divorce with joint custody. The circle is broken and so is your heart. In times like this we probably don't need a counseling session, but it would help if we had someone who could identify with our hurts, fears and pain. We have, He's a "Wonderful Counselor." Anyone who can create the world, cm counsel me in my little world. The Hebrew word translated "Counselor" means "to advise; to deliberate or resolve." It can also mean to give counsel or guide." Consider these valuable insights concerning God's counsel.   A.   God Offers His Counsel to Us.   (Psa 32:8 NIV)  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.   B.  People Suffer for Rejecting God's Counsel.   (Psa 107:10-11 NIV)  Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, {11} for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.   C.  Jesus Is the Fulfillment of God's Promise of Counsel.   (Isa 11:2 NIV)  The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--   D.  God's Counsel is Promised to All Who Earnestly Seek It.   (James 1:5-6 NIV)  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. {6} But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.   We need His counsel, because we don't know it all...can't figure it all out. He doesn't give pat answers. God is not interested in giving you a thirty minute answer to a thirty year problem.   (Jer 29:11-13 NIV)  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. {12} Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. {13} You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.   Note that God wants us to submit to His plans.  Often we are asking Him to "rubber-stamp" ours and become disappointed when He sets us on His better path.