Welcome Home everyone Merry Christmas!
Today I want to talk to about a special Christmas gift. Arguably the greatest gift ever given or received. Before this gift arrived, it was promised. This is where we find our text today, in the promise.
Reading in Isaiah, our prophet is speaking out of 2 areas that was common in most prophetic writings. Judgment and redemption. Isaiah was warning the Northern Kingdom of Israel of their impending doom. However, in our passage he is speaking specifically about a gift that will bring redemption to Israel and the world. This gift is our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ
My big Idea this Christmas morning is that a gift has been promised and delivered to us, not just like to the world on a larger scale, but to each of us personally. My prayer for us today is that by hearing this message, together (you and me) we might receive this great gift and be filled with hope!
If you have your Bibles today you can join me in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6.
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.
Isaiah 9:6
In order to help me share with you today, I have separated my thoughts into 2 sections or points that stood out to me.
Jesus Is The Gift of Hope Promised For All Mankind
The promise of a savior was first given way back in the garden (Genesis 3). Remember this was God’s response to the disobedience of Adam & Eve. As a result of their rebellion God enacted His divine plan to save all of Humanity.
So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
Genesis 3:14-15
“Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
From this moment it was clear that the sin nature would be passed to all humanity who would come after and through the seed of Adam. There was a dark cloud of sin and despair that was now to hang over all mankind. Adam would pass to his offspring all the sin and malice that hell could muster. But the seed of the woman by way of the Holy Spirit would redeem the entire world. This great hope of a savior is promised through the prophets. Isaiah Gives us a beautiful image of this glorious redeemer. He says there is a Son who is coming. He will be given for the world. And in His divine nature he will be mighty and in control of every aspect of the human condition. He will take control of the world governments. He will provide emotional care and wisdom (Wonderful Counselor). He will be the eternal Father to every broken and fatherless child/person (everlasting Father). He will sooth every anxiety and silence every form of strife (Prince of Peace). He will prove Himself very God of Very God. He is the king of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. He is our mighty God.
What our problem is today is that we don’t see ourselves as doomed. We think we are basically good. God in all of His infinite wisdom and holiness told us that we had a problem. And Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ is such a big deal because for almost six thousand years humanity has understood that there was a problem. God relationship with Israel was not just to show the world that He was there, but to reveal His promised deliverer His very own self in Christ Jesus! That the world would know that hope was on the way. And his name is Jesus.
I find this so incredibly important for us today because we know that for centuries God has given little Easter eggs of information to the world through his prophets that would offer hope to Israel and the world. In Isaiah’s case, it was nearly 700 years before Christ and for the 440 or so years after Malachi there was no word forthcoming from God. Radio Silence from God. The Jews who lived throughout the land were living in a spiritually dry time and once again they have found themselves occupied by a foreign power. The people were desperate for a fresh touch of God. God promised a savior. He promised hope. Jesus came to deliver that redemption to the world.
I’ll move on to my next point.
POINT #2: Jesus Is The Gift of Hope Delivered To You & Me
As a result of the fall of mankind we needed a savior. I talked about what this means to the world, but what can all of this mean to you and me, today? I want each of you to think about what Jesus means to each of us in our own redemption story. I often think of my own testimony in this light.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5
We celebrate the blessing of Christmas, and all that God has done for us through His divine son Jesus Christ, I want you to consider the moment that the light of Jesus flooded into your world. For those who might be watching now I hope you will be encouraged by a little of my testimony.
It is easy for us to see God work in the lives of others, but too often we struggle with receiving God’s mercy and grace for ourselves.
During this season from now on, my hope is that you will see Christmas as a deeply personal time to reflect how Jesus has impacted your world with His divine light. I also want you to remember that the truth of Jesus Christ is not something that is left in the past but there is still hope for the future. We must always be looking to the future because Jesus is coming soon. The fulfillment of Jesus Christ in Isaiah comes both in the Past and in the future.
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.
Isaiah 9:6
We encounter all that Jesus has to offer through relationship with Him. And so, through this relationship with Jesus we are reconciled to God our Everlasting Father. I want you and I to remember that Jesus is the most precious Christmas gift that you or I will ever receive.
Will you join me as we seek an authentic relationship united in Christ and each other? Rejecting division, embracing God’s reality in Jesus, and encouraging one another. It’s just between you and God. Here’s the thing, if we love God and abide in Christ we will find ourselves more and more loving each other. You will we more and you will love better. We will experience God in spirit and in truth and we will share that amongst each other. Share all the ways God has shown you mercy and grace. Will you allow the Holy Spirit to stir faith in someone through your testimony? Would you join me as the Holy Spirit moves on us to be unified in the spirit of Christ? These are the kingdom values. This is truly the work of God. The intentional actions of the body of Christ. Remember the devil seeks only to kill steal and destroy. Steal your freedom, kill your joy, and destroy your destiny for hope and love. But God has a plan! He’s stealing from your neighbor, your family, and your loved ones today.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus, He’s the Son of the living God, and we can receive from Him today His Righteousness, His purpose and His calling. Will you call on him today? Your salvation/forgiveness is just one prayer away. Will you trust in his ability to do what He said He would do? Will you believe today? Many of you need a fresh touch from God today. Is there some form of unbelief or a fracture of trust as it relates to God in your life today? God wants to redeem and restore those areas of your life? He wants to restore Joy and hope for you today.
You’re hearing this now and the Holy Spirit has brought someone or something to mind. He wants to speak life into this today. He wants to bring healing in this area today. There are areas of deep regret when it comes to your relationship with God and you have rejected Christ as your savior …It’s not too late
It’s not too late to humble yourself before him today, hold out your arms and open your hands to receive from him today. Will you say yes to Jesus, today? Will you bow your heads with me? Some of you already know the Lord, but maybe he’s put something on your heart that you need to deal with, you need to ask his forgiveness today. If that’s you will you just acknowledge that to him today. This is just you and God here.
Now someone here may not have that relationship with Jesus and today you’ve felt him tugging at your heart, you’ve been hurt, and you’re guarded, I know. Jesus is here and wants set things right in your life. If you’ll say Pastor, I want Jesus to be my Lord and savior. Remember, it’s just you and God here. Will you pray with me today, We’ll pray here as a family and you can repeat after me?
Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I ask you today for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and on that 3rd day, you rose from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart today. I trust and follow you as my Lord and savior. Guide me and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name Amen.
“‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
Numbers 6:24-26