Wonderful Counselor

Rev. George R. Dillahunty
North Carolina Conference Evangelist
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
341 Lovick Lee Road
Oriental, North Carolina 28571-9407

December 08, 2006

Text: Isaiah 9:6-7 (King James Version)

"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, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (v. 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."

Topic: Wonderful Counselor

Counseling, of all types, is "big business" in today’s modern-day global society. Life is filled with many challenges and difficult decisions; and, most of us have not been prepared to deal with them! Many of us find ourselves the victim of divorce, we find ourselves immersed in financial calamities, we find ourselves troubled with vocational nightmares, with failed relationships, and a host of other trials and tribulations! Why? Because this generation has not been taught, as our ancestors were, how to cope with life’s difficulties.

Hence, we pay "big money" to psychiatrists. psychologists, counselors and advisors of every description, to show us what to do in a given situtation, in order to be successful in life! There is a great demand for the guidance that these individuals can provide!

Yet, even with all of their expertise, most professional counselors only specialize in one area of human need. Some are trained to deal with anger issues (anger management) - some are trained to deal with relationships - some are trained to deal with juveniles or children’s issues - some are trained to deal with all kinds of addictions - however, I am here to tell you today, that Almighty God "specializes" in every area of human need - that He is qualified to counsel and/or guide us in every area of life - why? Because he created us and there is no one who better knows how to help us function correctly in an unfunctional world!

Almighty God is Omnipotent ("All Powerful"), Omniscient ("All Knowing"); and, Omnipresent ("Everywhere At Once"). There is not a single human being - alive today - who is not in need of some counsel and guidance at some time in his or her life!

The wisest man ever to live on Planet Earth, with the exception of Jesus, the Christ, King Solomon, tells us, in Proverbs 19:20 (NLT): "Get all the advice and instruction you can, and be wise the rest of your life." That statement is true for each and every one of us - it is the foolish person who refuses to get direction and guidance from others when making important decisions or when finding oneself overwhelmed with some type of problem!

Jesus, the Christ, however, this baby that the Prophet Isaiah prophesied about, the One whom we honor during this and every other Christmas season, would grow up to be the "Counselor of Counselors!" Our text, for today, calls Him the "Wonderful Counselor," however, the original Masoretic text says "Wonder Counselor." Yes, my brothers and sisters, our God is a "Wonder" - He’s a "Wonder" to our souls - and, not just a wonderful Messiah!

Jesus, the Christ, is the miracle worker who neither seeks nor needs the