Focal Read Together 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.
On July 20, 1969 the Apollo 11 crew landed on the moon. President Richard Nixon telephoned the Apollo crew from the Oval Office and spoke to the crew. He said:
"... Because of what you have done, the heavens have become a part of man's world. {We are inspired} to redouble our efforts to bring peace and tranquility to earth. For one priceless moment, in the whole history of man, all the people on this earth are truly one."
What those brave men did was both historic and praiseworthy. But the act of walking on the moon did not unify the world. President Nixon said "because of what you have done, the heavens have become a part of man's world". Following this historic event President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in a conspiracy we still haven't unraveled. President Richard Nixon resigned the White House in shame. War has escalated. Abortion - the murder of unborn babies - is prolific. People are killing one another on the highways because of road rage.
If history has proven anything to us, mortal man cannot bring Utopia and peace on the earth. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26)
God would bring Heaven to earth in the most unique way possible. Rather than send an angel, or raise up a person, He Himself would come and walk among us. Six hundred years before that wonderful event we call "The Incarnation" the Prophet wrote:
Focal 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.
Let's unpack this beautiful prophecy and see how it relates to us today.
1. Unto US A Child Is Born. Unto US. Why US? The Bible tells us that:
Romans 3:23 (HCSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
"All have sinned and fall short". Every mortal man, woman, and child who has ever lived has been plagued with sin. Sin touches everyone, drawing us ever downward toward the grave.
a. Sin touches every RACE of people. It doesn't matter if you are Jew or Gentile, everyone is a sinner. Now it's possible to confuse ourselves, but that's what the Bible says.
Illustrate Several years ago I watched a funny movie in which the main character was - now pay attention - the adopted white son of African American sharecroppers. The man grows up white but because of where he grows up he believes he is black. He keeps on believing that he's a black man until one day his mother sits him down and explains he's really not black - he's white!
You might think that's an impossibility, that no one could be that foolish, but do you know there are many people who feel they are all right with God because of their race. The Jewish Pharisees claimed "We have one Father - God!" (John 8:41). You see, they felt that they were right with God because they were descendents of Abraham. But our Lord Jesus said:
John 8:42 (HCSB) ... If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn't come on My own, but He sent Me.
"Unto US a Child is born". Jesus Christ - Eternal God the Son - came from Heaven to earth for us. And all who believe on Him are of but One Family called "US". The Apostle said:
Colossians 3:11 (HCSB) In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
Jesus Christ came to this earth for all of mankind,for "whosoever will". The Bible says ..
John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God loved the world. Not just the white man, nor just a certain color of man, but He loved everyone - and unto US the Child was born.
b. Sin touches every gender of people. God does not discriminate, but says that Christ is for every one. Some believe that they will not go to hell because they are popular in school, that they are Beverly Hills 90210. It doesn't matter whether you are a beautiful woman or a handsome man. Sin touches all. Pastor A.C. Dixon said:
"The Incarnation through the death of Christ makes it possible for God to be "just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." If God should be merciful without the satisfaction of justice, He would cease to be a God of justice and would thus forfeit His throne of righteousness. In a word, He would cease to be God."
God cannot change His nature. He is holy, and we are sinners. How then can a sinner get into God's Heaven? The Bible says "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given". Jesus Christ came to this earth and took on humanity through the miracle of the virgin birth. The Scripture says ...
Galatians 1:4 {Jesus} gave Himself for OUR SINS, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father ...
Oh, we don't like the idea that we are sinners and that we must have a Savior! Most people are born with the idea that "I'm OK, you're OK". Yet the Bible says that "if one died for all, then were all dead: And [that] {Jesus} died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (KJV)) Jesus Christ died for all because all are sinners! Is this offensive? Absolutely! We like to think that we are fine, that we are good, that we have done no BIG sins. Then along comes the Lord Jesus Christ.
Illustrate Have you ever picked up a stone in your shoe? My wife and I love to hike through God's nature periodically, and I've gotten a stone in my shoe. What do you do when you're walking and a stone gets in your shoe? You sit down, take off the shoe, and take care of the stone. You pay attention to it. You don't keep walking, but you take the time to address the stone. The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ is "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" (Romans 9:33). We're walking through this life happy with who we are when we realize "unto US a Child was born, unto US a Son was given". He is the stone in our shoe. We need to sit down and either pull off our shoe and toss Him away, or else receive Him to ourselves for our benefit.
Jesus Christ is the only solution for sin, the only Savior of the world. There is but one Child born in a manger, one Child born to be the "lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), only "one High Priest that has passed into the Heavens" Who entered into the presence of God with His own Blood making payment for our sins (see Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 9:7).
2. Unto US a Son is given. The Angel of the Lord announced that the name of the Messiah - that Holy Baby in the Manger - would be
Matthew 1:21 ... JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Illustrate "Jesus". There is no sweeter name I can imagine. When a married couple discover they are going to have their first baby they sit for hours thinking about the child's name. "Shall we name him after a favorite aunt or uncle? Shall we call him "Junior" after his dad?" Some people don't think it through when they name their children. The now deceased Rock Star Frank Zappa named his children Diva, Moon Unit, Ahmet, and Dweezil". Can you imagine growing up and going through school named "Dweezil Zappa". Man, you'd better be able to fight! I thought I had it bad with the last name "Buffaloe". I actually new a young black girl who's mother named her Female' (Pronounced FEE MALL EEE), which is spelled just like "Female" but with an accent. Don't you know the child was tortured by cruel classmates? Names mean something. If you were eating something at a Baptist eatin meetin and asked, "What is it?" and someone replied "Rat Stew", most of you would stop eating it. Names mean something. The name "Jesus" means "Jehovah IS Salvation". What a fitting name for our Lord and Savior. "Jehovah IS Salvation".
a. The Son is given. "Jehovah IS salvation". Salvation is given in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot earn our salvation. We cannot deserve it. The Lord Jesus Christ had to come, and had to die bleeding on that Cross for salvation to occur.
Illustrate The Old Testament tells us the story of Joseph, a man who was cast down into a pit and sold into slavery. Rather than despair Joseph called out to God and God gloriously raised him from the pit, from slavery, and set him as the most powerful man in all of Egypt, second only to the King. The Bible tells us in Genesis 41:42 that when Joseph was raised up the Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. From that day forth if Joseph wanted anything all he had to do was show that ring. That ring was proof that Joseph was of the household of Pharaoh, that he had the backing of the King of Egypt. The ring protected Joseph. In like manner we who are Christians have called on the Lord Jesus Christ, believing that "Jehovah IS Salvation". Believing on the Lord Jesus, believing that His precious Blood was shed on Calvary for our sins, we are raised from the pit of slavery and brought to the throne of God as adopted sons (Ephesians 1:5), and not just this but as sons we are kings and priests before God (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). No more are we the slaves of Egypt, but we have overcome because Christ has given us the ruby Ring of His atonement. When Satan points to my weaknesses I do not defend myself, but point to the ring. "Am I a sinner, old devil? Yes, and many times so! Am I like Joseph a man that once stank of the pit? Yes, you old reprobate, I am. But Jesus Christ has said "Unto us a Son is given". It is a free gift. I am not saved by my hand, but by His."
Titus 3:4-7 (HCSB) .... the goodness of God and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us -- not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Unto US the Son is given. He is a wonderful gift. His salvation opened the doors of the Heavenly Palace to all who believe in Him. "He that believeth on Him is not condemned" (John 3:16-18), and cannot be, else God is a liar and Christ but a figment of the imagination.
God gave His Son so that we could become sons. This has been called "The Great Exchange". When we by faith give ourselves to Jesus, then He takes our sin - and we take His salvation. Salvation is a trading of places. God trades with me - and I surely get the best part of that deal!
Before I gave myself to Christ I was a son of Adam
Having given myself to Christ I am a son of God
Before I gave myself to Christ death was my ending
Having given myself to Christ death is my beginning
Before I gave myself to Christ this earth was my home
Having given myself to Christ that Heaven is my home
Before I gave myself to Christ I served Satan
Having given myself to Christ I serve God
Before I gave myself to Christ at my best I was limited
Having given myself to Christ I have no limits
b. Unto US the Son IS given. This is a wonderful Present Tense. He IS given, not HAS BEEN GIVEN but IS given.
Every Christian is a work in progress, a tree that God is tending, a piece of clay that God is molding into a masterpiece.
The Prophet said in another place:
Isaiah 64:8 (HCSB) ... LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands.
God works in the lives of those who are His. Jesus Christ is our Governor. Isaiah said ...
Focal Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder:
Illustrate God governs His people. He shapes the Christian. He works - continually works - in our lives. The Great I AM is continually at work in me, and in all who are His. He is our "Heavenly Father" and the Head of His Church. A good parent does not give their child everything they want. A good parent disciplines their children when they are disobedient to the rules of the house. A good parent trains their children, forcing them to do what they do not want to do. A good parent forces their children to go to school. The parent who says "I love my child" but who never disciplines them doesn't love the child, nor is that even a parent. A parent is not supposed to be a "good buddy" to the child, a friend, but is supposed to be a parent. A parent works to raise their child to become a good citizen in the land where they will live. I am convinced that America is in such a bad state because there have been so many bad parents. The great preacher C.H. Spurgeon wrote about one of the places he pastored, and one of the men in it:
"{This man} had many children, and they grew up to be wicked men and women, and the reason was that the father .... never tried to bring his own boys and girls to the Savior. He said to me one day, "I never laid a hand upon my children". So I answered, "Then I think it very likely that God will lay His hand upon you." "Oh!" he said. "I have not even spoken sharply to them". "Then", I replied, "it is highly probable that God will speak very sharply to you, for it is not His will that parents should leave their children unrestrained in their sin".
The purpose of parenting is to raise children up to be good citizens in the land in which they will live. God is working in His children to raise us up to be good citizens of Heaven.
Every trial that comes my way comes not as a punishment, but as a thing that will mold me into the image of a son of God. The Bible says that God has predestined every Christian ...
Romans 8:29 (HCSB) ... to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
"Unto US a Son IS given". God shapes and molds every Christian saved by Grace. I cannot tell who is saved, but I can tell by their fruit if they are saved or not. Jesus said "you will know the tree by the fruit it bears. A corrupt tree brings forth corrupt fruit. A good tree brings forth good fruit." (Matthew 7:17) God takes His children and changes them - through trials, tribulations, and the intake of His Holy Word - to be like the Lord Jesus. We are His brothers so that Jesus is the firstborn among many brothers. God shapes us to be like Jesus. He is making us loving like Jesus.
1 John 4:20-21 (HCSB) If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. 21 And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother.
God is making us forgiving like Jesus. As He hung on that Cross being mocked Jesus cried out, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). He forgave under the most terrible of circumstances. Jesus warned us "You will not be forgiven your trespasses against God if you do not forgive others their trespasses against you" (Matthew 6:14-15).
As the Scripture says, "Unto US the Son IS given". Jesus Christ comes and makes His home in the hearts of His true people. As He is, so we are becoming. Through us the Lord loves, gives, and forgives.
Luke 6:35 (HCSB) But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.
It is not the membership roll of the Church that makes you a son of God, but it is that the Son of God lives in you and through you. The government is upon His shoulders. He works in the lives of His people to make us sons of glory, sons of Heaven, sons of that Heavenly city, sons of eternity!
3. My view of Jesus changed the day that I was born into His Kingdom. To the world Jesus Christ is but a great Teacher, the Founder of Christianity. To the worldly Jesus Christ is a curse invoked, either playfully or out of anger, a simple expression as to how they feel. To the lost Jesus Christ is but one way unto God among many different ways, no different from Buddha or Krishna or Confusions or Gandhi or Joseph Smith or Moon. To the confused Jesus Christ is a quick fix, like a parachute cord, used only in an emergency. But to us who believe our eyes have been opened, and we see Jesus Christ as He is.
Jesus Christ is WONDERFUL. The Prophet said:
Focal Isaiah 9:6 .... his name shall be called Wonderful ...
Illustrate I have heard so many religious types start arguments in Church over the type of music being presented in a service. How foolish are these "doubtful disputations" (Romans 14:1) where we judge one another over the gray areas. "Who are you to criticize another's household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand. For the Lord is able to make him stand (Romans 14:4). Every Christian belongs to Jesus, and He works in them.
Rather than argue over types of music why don't we instead turn our attention to types of hearts? Do you sing the hymns from your traditional hymnbook to a Wonderful Jesus? Do you listen to the sermons knowing that a Wonderful Lord has give these words of life to you?
When I was a young boy in Church I sang songs mechanically, living words from dead lips. But once I was saved like King David I was able to say ...
Psalms 40:2-5 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
What a Wonderful Redeemer we have! Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. God has redeemed those who have called upon the Name of Jesus Christ, and has taken the plain life and filled it with the wonder of His presence. Oh, I have little time left, but do you know Jesus Christ as the Scripture says? Is He to you:
Focal Isaiah 9:6 ... Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
As Jesus asked Peter one day, "What do you think of Christ?" Who is He to you? Only God's Holy Spirit can bring you to a saving knowledge of Him.
May God speak to your hearts through His Word!
