1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,160 And we're gonna hop into our time in the Word this morning. 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,320 This morning we're launching into a new series 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:07,440 called The Name. 4 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:10,480 We're gonna be camping out in Isaiah chapter nine, 5 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,400 beginning in verse one through six, 6 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,280 and particularly looking at verse six 7 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,400 where we have four titles of the Messiah King 8 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:23,400 who is to come, wonderful counselor, almighty God, 9 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:28,680 eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 10 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,600 Father, thank you so much that we can gather today, 11 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:36,160 that we could receive your comforts, 12 00:00:36,160 --> 00:00:38,260 draw near by your Spirit, 13 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,420 and Lord, that you would speak to us today. 14 00:00:42,380 --> 00:00:46,800 What an honor and a privilege it is to be here, 15 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,240 to be before you, our God. 16 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,520 May you instruct our minds and our hearts 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,440 and teach us in the way that we should go, 18 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,340 and we might glory and wonder 19 00:00:55,340 --> 00:00:58,360 at your amazing gift in Christ. 20 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,480 I ask this in Jesus' name, amen, amen. 21 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:03,460 Right, if you have your Bibles, 22 00:01:03,460 --> 00:01:06,920 go ahead and turn now to Isaiah chapter nine. 23 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:08,280 You can read along in your Bibles 24 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,280 as well as it will be up here on the screen. 25 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,560 We're gonna begin in verse one of chapter nine. 26 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,960 Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land 27 00:01:18,960 --> 00:01:22,120 will not be like that of the former times 28 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,640 when he humbled the land of Zebulun 29 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,240 and the land of Naphtali. 30 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,320 But in the future, he will bring honor to the way of the sea, 31 00:01:29,320 --> 00:01:30,960 to the land east of the Jordan, 32 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:34,040 and to Galilee of the nations. 33 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,160 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. 34 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,600 A light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. 35 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:45,600 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. 36 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:47,240 The people have rejoiced before you 37 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,320 as they rejoice at harvest time 38 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,240 and as they rejoice when dividing spoils. 39 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,000 For you have shattered their oppressive yoke 40 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,200 and the rod on their shoulders, 41 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,040 the staff of their oppressor, 42 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,120 just as you did on the day of Midian. 43 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,240 For every trampling boot of battle 44 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,200 and the bloodied garments of war 45 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,240 will be burned as fuel for the fire, 46 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,520 for a child will be born for us, 47 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,040 a son will be given to us, 48 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,600 and the government will be on his shoulders. 49 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,720 He will be named wonderful counselor, 50 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:24,720 mighty God, eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. 51 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:27,560 This is God's word. 52 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:33,240 So when a child is born to the British royal family, 53 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,640 there are certain rituals that usually accompany 54 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:38,040 the announcement of the child. 55 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,400 So the public is excited, leaning in. 56 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,520 I mean, this is a big deal over in Britain, 57 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,880 not so much here, right? 58 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:47,480 But over there, it's a huge deal, 59 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,880 and they lean in and tabloids write about it, 60 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,320 and the newscasters talk about it, 61 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,160 that a child is going to be born, 62 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,640 a royal child will be arriving, 63 00:02:57,640 --> 00:03:00,160 and they wait for word from the royal family, 64 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,840 and they watch to see will mom kind of disappear 65 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:05,560 from the public eye for a little while, 66 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,000 and it's been about nine months 67 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:08,560 since they announced the pregnancy, 68 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:13,000 and so it's gotta be almost time for the child to arrive. 69 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,920 And the first thing that announces the arrival 70 00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:19,560 of the child, the royal child, 71 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,360 is there's a billboard out front of Buckingham Palace, 72 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,080 and a declaration of the birth is nailed up 73 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,960 to this billboard right outside the palace, 74 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,360 announcing the birth, the royal birth, 75 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,200 signed by the medical doctors, the attending medical doctors, 76 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,320 and then at the same time throughout England, 77 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:44,600 there are multiple gun salutes marking the day, 78 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,440 be it at the palace or in Hyde Park 79 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:52,440 or in the artillery, a 62 gun salute, 80 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,880 the artillery near the Tower of London, 81 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,440 all kinds of circumstances, everyone will know, 82 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:02,640 everyone will hear that the royal baby has been born, 83 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:05,720 and in their customs and rituals, 84 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,400 they don't tell you the name, it's not announced right away, 85 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,560 they wait a few days before you find out 86 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,600 the name of the child, and when you finally do, 87 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:15,520 you see the child for the first time, 88 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,600 they wrap it in a particular blanket 89 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,320 from the Nottingham-based knitwear company, 90 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,600 G.H. Hurt and Sons. 91 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,760 So the same blanket is wrapping these kids up, 92 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,360 it's like, oh, there's the royal child. 93 00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:31,200 Another thing that the child, 94 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,080 another particular element of their ritual 95 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:35,360 is that the child won't receive 96 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,640 any of his royal titles right away. 97 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,040 That's something that the sitting king or queen 98 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:45,040 can only bestow on them later on and at their will and desire. 99 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,600 A royal birth, though, it's not something 100 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,480 that we're really familiar with, 101 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,680 I think we can understand it, and we've seen it depicted 102 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:54,400 in movies and in stories, 103 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,480 it's something that gets folks excited, 104 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:59,640 it's something that people anticipate 105 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,640 and are filled with wonder over the announcement 106 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,920 of the royal birth, and what you have in Isaiah chapter nine 107 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:08,800 is a royal birth announcement, 108 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:10,720 that's what this chapter is. 109 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:12,680 It's a royal birth announcement, 110 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:16,600 but one of the crazy things about this particular announcement 111 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:21,600 is it's 800 years before the child is born. 112 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,280 800 years before the child that is talked about 113 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:28,400 in Isaiah chapter nine is born, the announcement is given. 114 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:31,760 The announcement is proclaimed, 115 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,160 and another thing that's extraordinary is in verse six, 116 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:38,920 it says about this child, this royal birth, 117 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,840 that a child will be born for us, 118 00:05:42,840 --> 00:05:45,680 that a son will be given to us. 119 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,000 It's sure Mary and Joseph will be their parents, 120 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:54,560 his parents and his guardians, but he is born for us, 121 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:58,320 and he is given to us, God's people. 122 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:04,120 But what kind of king will this child be? 123 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:08,280 Well, what accompanied this child in chapter nine of Isaiah 124 00:06:08,280 --> 00:06:13,280 was also four titles that he was given, 125 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,960 wonderful counselor, mighty God, 126 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,440 eternal father, prince of peace. 127 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,720 And so our journey this Advent season will be for us 128 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:26,880 to meditate on the meaning and fulfillment 129 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,720 of each of these titles as they anticipate 130 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,760 the kind of king the Messiah will be, 131 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:37,040 the kind of king that Jesus is. 132 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:38,640 So if you're a note taker, go ahead and write down 133 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,240 the first point, I'll have you write down 134 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:45,240 the wonder of his wisdom, the wonder of his wisdom. 135 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,320 First, the Bible tells us that this king 136 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:54,320 will be wonderful counselor, wonderful counselor. 137 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:59,200 A counselor is someone with wisdom, a sage, an advisor, 138 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,480 someone that we go to when we've reached the end 139 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,720 of ourselves and we need some input, 140 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,440 we need insight into what we can't know 141 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:10,120 because we haven't experienced it or we didn't learn it. 142 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,600 And so a counselor can give us advice 143 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,800 or a sage wisdom to know what to do. 144 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:21,080 Counseling is kind of a big thing in the last 50 145 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,080 to 100 years here in the US. 146 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,840 We seek out counseling for all kinds of things, 147 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,920 personal counseling, marriage counseling, 148 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,440 counseling for our kids, advisors to help us 149 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:35,000 when we reach the end of our ability to know what to do. 150 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,480 We need help and we reach out for a counselor. 151 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,160 But why do we as a people, why does this king 152 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:44,960 that's announced his royal birth, 153 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,920 why do we need him to be wonderful counselor? 154 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:51,520 We need him to be wonderful counselor 155 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,600 because our wisdom has failed us. 156 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,680 Our wisdom has fallen short. 157 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,920 Isaiah chapter nine begins with darkness and gloom, 158 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:05,360 a land filled with darkness. 159 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,920 And in fact, if you go just one page before that 160 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,640 in chapter eight, the end part of it, 161 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,440 it's actually worse than it even looks in chapter nine. 162 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,280 Chapter eight, verse 21 says, 163 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,480 they will wander through the land, 164 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,640 dejected and hungry. 165 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,080 When they are famished, they will become enraged 166 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:25,360 and look upward and will curse their king and their God. 167 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:29,480 They will look toward the earth and see only distress, 168 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,240 darkness and the gloom of affliction. 169 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:36,920 And they will be driven into thick darkness. 170 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:42,680 How many look out into our world and you see affliction, 171 00:08:42,680 --> 00:08:45,360 you see darkness, you see gloom 172 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,760 and you see distress everywhere. 173 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,280 Our wisdom has failed us. 174 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,840 Basically, those in the scripture in chapter eight, 175 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,960 they tried to live their lives according to their own wisdom. 176 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:01,280 They rejected God's wisdom. 177 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,680 See, God had sent prophets to his people 178 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:06,920 to speak the word of God to them. 179 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,400 He had sent prophets to warn them and draw them back 180 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,440 to what he had originally sent them with Moses, 181 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,720 which was his law, his writings, his word, his wisdom. 182 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,480 And the prophets were calling them back constantly, 183 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:22,440 repent and turn back to God, repent and turn back to God. 184 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,800 And yet over and over again, God's people rejected God 185 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:30,440 and instead leaned into and relied on their own wisdom. 186 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:35,440 And time and time again, their wisdom failed them. 187 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,320 God had tried to communicate with them. 188 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:40,960 God had tried to impress upon them his word 189 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:42,640 through the prophets and through the writings. 190 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:43,720 They rejected it. 191 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:49,680 Pastor Tim Keller uses the illustration of him as a father 192 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:52,440 in the other room as he's at home with his kids. 193 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:54,760 How many of you guys have kids or had kids, 194 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,280 you know, who are younger and now they've grown up? 195 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,400 Anyone have kids, parents here? 196 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,840 Yeah, you've had kids and maybe you experienced 197 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,880 something like this where you've been in one room 198 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,840 and in the other room, your kids are over there. 199 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,880 I've got three boys, so three boys, 200 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:14,400 three hard-headed, independents, want their own way boys 201 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:15,240 in the other room. 202 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,160 And maybe it's the remote control for the TV 203 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,000 or the remote control for the game system 204 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:24,200 or whatever it is, but whatever it is, 205 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:29,040 they can't seem to navigate this simple human interaction 206 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,080 and instead, a whole war has broke out in the living room, 207 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,960 right, and there's yelling and you can hear things 208 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,800 being thrown or hits, right, and I'm in the other room, 209 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:44,480 right, and so I send forth my word, you know, 210 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:49,480 in a nice, steady, well-restrained manner, right? 211 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,920 What are you doing over there? 212 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:57,080 Just let him have it, it's his turn, come on. 213 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:59,920 And my word goes down through the halls 214 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:04,920 and like with all kids, they hear it and they obey, 215 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,440 perfectly every time, right? 216 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:15,440 No, right, and so my word maybe becomes a little more severe 217 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,440 with a little bit more oomph behind it. 218 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:21,240 Where is this heading to? 219 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,360 Where is this heading to? 220 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,280 Well, this is all heading to eventually, 221 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:30,280 Dad rises from his seat and he has to come into the room 222 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,680 and with all of his wisdom loaded up, 223 00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:36,440 he comes in to rectify the situation, 224 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,640 to dole out the punishment and judgment, 225 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,120 to find out who's innocent and who's guilty, 226 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:43,640 and then there's peace again in the house. 227 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,240 And so we have here in Isaiah nine, 228 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,880 not simply some cute little baby in a manger, 229 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:55,000 but we have a world filled with darkness and distress, 230 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,560 human on human crimes against one another, 231 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:02,360 murder and strife and anger and war and distress. 232 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,920 You have this going on and you have God saying, 233 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,440 I sent my word for it, you disobeyed it, 234 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,800 so you will walk around in darkness, 235 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,160 but that's not gonna be the end of the story. 236 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:16,320 I'm going to step down from heaven and come to you. 237 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,560 My wisdom through the prophets was good, 238 00:12:18,560 --> 00:12:19,840 but you disobeyed it. 239 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,360 The wisdom in the word written in the Torah 240 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,000 was there laid out for you and if you just walk in it, 241 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,240 it would be like honey to your lips. 242 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,160 How can a young man keep his way pure 243 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:31,680 by living according to your word? 244 00:12:31,680 --> 00:12:33,000 It would be like a lamp to your feet 245 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,560 and a light to your path, but you rejected it. 246 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:41,560 And so I come with the wisdom of divine heaven, 247 00:12:41,560 --> 00:12:46,560 step down from heaven, God, in the flesh to make things right. 248 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:51,840 And to some, this is glorious news. 249 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:56,840 And to others, this is news of impending judgment 250 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:58,760 unless they turn. 251 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,520 And so you have this situation, this circumstance 252 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,600 where the world's wisdom has failed. 253 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:08,920 And one of the, like we as a society, we love Christmas, 254 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,920 right, we all come alive for it. 255 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:16,040 We went out to Auburn yesterday, I guess it was Black Friday. 256 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:17,560 I don't do any shopping on Black Friday, 257 00:13:17,560 --> 00:13:19,840 but I went out to Auburn and you see people 258 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:21,800 frolicking around with their baskets full 259 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:23,080 and everyone's excited. 260 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:24,680 And it's always around Christmas time 261 00:13:24,680 --> 00:13:28,080 that you hear themes like peace and love and joy, 262 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:29,640 even in the world, non-believers, 263 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:31,880 people who don't believe in God. 264 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:33,600 We want to see world peace. 265 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,280 We want to see universal love between humanity. 266 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:40,920 We want to experience the joy of the holidays. 267 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,200 And these are themes that we want and we grasp for. 268 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,040 But the world has utterly failed 269 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,840 to secure those things for itself. 270 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:52,000 It has tried time and time again. 271 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,880 It still thinks that if it just works harder, 272 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,360 if it gets the right person in, the right office 273 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,880 at the right time and the right laws and whatever passed, 274 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:01,880 then we'll have peace on earth 275 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:03,880 and love in the hearts of man. 276 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,920 And it has failed utterly time and time again, 277 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,160 living according to its own wisdom, amen? 278 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:10,000 Amen. 279 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,920 We see a world filled with hatred and despair, 280 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,840 suffering and rage and indifference. 281 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:23,840 And so God sent ahead his wisdom via prophet and word. 282 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,000 But what we needed and what we ended up getting 283 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,520 was perfect wisdom embodied in the Messiah, King Jesus. 284 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:34,680 Disney, other movie storytellers, 285 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,040 they have a knack for communicating all kinds of things, 286 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,080 wonder and enchantment to us. 287 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,640 And one of the things that has always struck me 288 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:48,320 is how they'll use a dark palette, like a black screen. 289 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,480 And into that black screen, they'll introduce a light, right? 290 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:52,320 Ding. 291 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,280 And maybe it's got a little sparkle on it. 292 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:56,600 And that light slowly moves about the scene 293 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,440 and begins to grow and grow and grow and grow. 294 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,840 And you start to see more and more of the scene 295 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,120 in the houses or the streets that it's moving through. 296 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,600 And that light is kind of indicative of enlightenment 297 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:12,600 or our eyes being open to reality that's beyond the darkness. 298 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,120 And this is what wisdom is. 299 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,560 Wisdom is light for the whole person 300 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:19,600 who has been walking in darkness, 301 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:23,160 especially the wisdom that the wonderful counselor brings. 302 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:28,160 For the wonderful counselor understands all things. 303 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,880 The wonderful counselor understands all things 304 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,360 because the wonderful counselor was there from the beginning. 305 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:37,880 The Bible tells us that it was by the word 306 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:39,920 that all things were created and made, 307 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:44,920 that the son sustains all things by the power of his word, 308 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,320 that Jesus is the light of the world, 309 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,760 that he is like that lamp to our feet and light to our path, 310 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,560 that we were a people in need of light 311 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:55,960 and to us a child was born. 312 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,720 To us a child was born. 313 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:01,200 We were a people in need of wisdom 314 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:02,960 for our wisdom had failed us. 315 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,520 To us a son is given. 316 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,640 The preacher Charles Spurgeon says, 317 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,960 Christ is the infinite wisdom of God, 318 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,520 wrapped in human flesh. 319 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:20,840 In him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found. 320 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,440 Who better to guide us than the one who knows 321 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,440 all things from beginning to end? 322 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:34,120 And so how do we see this promise 800 years before Christ 323 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,960 of the wonderful counselor, the child who will be born? 324 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,080 How do we see this fulfilled in Christ? 325 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,080 Well, the first way we see it fulfilled 326 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:44,400 is in Christ's wisdom and authority in his teaching. 327 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:47,280 Multiple times in the gospels, 328 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,040 be it Matthew or John or Luke, 329 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:54,240 the disciples or the crowds are stunned by what he brings, 330 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,160 stunned by what he says, 331 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,120 that Jesus teaches with such authority 332 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,520 that they are astonished by his teaching. 333 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,760 In John 7 46, one of the crowd members who is there says, 334 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,200 no one has ever spoke like this. 335 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:09,280 No one has ever said the things that he has said. 336 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:13,280 No one has access to the database of knowledge that he has. 337 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:17,080 We were having that debate actually, 338 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:18,960 me and my kids the other day. 339 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:20,560 Is it data or data? 340 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:24,200 And we looked it up and it said data. 341 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:25,520 And I said, no. 342 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:29,320 It is data. 343 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:31,320 In this house it is data. 344 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,520 But I think it's data, in case you were wondering. 345 00:17:37,120 --> 00:17:40,840 We see the wonderful counselor fulfilled 346 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:42,520 in Christ's teaching and his authority. 347 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:47,520 We also see it in Christ as the embodiment of divine wisdom. 348 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,760 Colossians chapter two, three says that in him are hidden 349 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:53,120 all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 350 00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:55,760 And first Corinthians says that through Jesus Christ 351 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:58,560 has become the wisdom of God to us 352 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:02,560 for our salvation and for sanctification and redemption. 353 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,560 And the final way that we see it fulfilled 354 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:08,680 is that Christ is the word of God. 355 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:11,920 John one, one through five says, 356 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,520 in the beginning was the word and the word was with God 357 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:17,640 and the word was God. 358 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:19,800 He was with God in the beginning. 359 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,720 All things were created through him and apart from him 360 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:27,000 not one thing was created that has been created. 361 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:31,760 In him was life and that life was the light of man. 362 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:33,920 That light shines in the darkness 363 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,840 and yet the darkness did not overcome it. 364 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,560 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by prophets 365 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:44,240 at different times and in different ways 366 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:47,760 but in these last days he's spoken to us by his son. 367 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:50,160 God has appointed him heir of all things 368 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,000 and made the universe through him. 369 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:54,760 This is the wisdom of God. 370 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:58,040 The wonder of wisdom is in Christ Jesus. 371 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:00,760 The second thing I'll have you write down 372 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:04,400 if you're taking notes is the comfort of his counsel. 373 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:08,600 The wonder of his wisdom and the comfort of his counsel. 374 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:14,040 Not only does this king know and understand all things 375 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:17,120 but he also understands us. 376 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaking of Christ, the writer of Hebrews chapter four, 377 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:28,160 verse 15 and 16 said, for we do not have a high priest 378 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,840 who is unable to sympathize with us in our weakness 379 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:34,400 but one who has been tempted in every way 380 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,840 as we are yet without sin. 381 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:39,040 And therefore let us approach the throne of grace 382 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,360 with boldness so that we may receive mercy 383 00:19:41,360 --> 00:19:45,680 and find grace to help us in time of need. 384 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,880 It might be wonder-filled and awe-inspiring 385 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,760 to know that Jesus knows all the things in the universe, 386 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:57,280 that he could articulate every particle and its purpose. 387 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,920 It might be high and lofty to know all the facts 388 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:02,280 and the schematics of how things were made 389 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:07,280 and in what order but it would be of little comfort to us. 390 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:09,400 It would be of little comfort to us. 391 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,600 The questions that all preoccupy our heart and mind 392 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,440 is does he understand what I'm going through? 393 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:19,680 Does he know how I feel? 394 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:23,360 Does he get me? 395 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,200 And I don't know about you, 396 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,680 you guys are probably way smarter than I am. 397 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:33,880 You probably caught on way earlier than I did 398 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:35,800 but it's taken me a lifetime to figure out 399 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:39,520 that there are different kinds of conversations people have, 400 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:41,960 different types of conversations. 401 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,760 And here's the catch, if you get it wrong, 402 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:47,680 if one person in a conversation 403 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:49,760 thinks they're having one kind of conversation 404 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:51,200 and you think you're having a different kind 405 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,800 of conversation, things are gonna go off the rails 406 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:55,960 and it'll be all kinds of chaos. 407 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:59,920 And this is never more present than in your marriage, right? 408 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:02,800 I'll give an example. 409 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,480 Say my wife comes to me 410 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,520 and she wants to tell me how she feels. 411 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,080 And when she tells me how she feels, 412 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:16,520 I want to tell her how to fix how she feels. 413 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,800 See, she's having an emotional conversation with me 414 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,960 and I'm having a practical factual conversation. 415 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:24,320 Well, great, I'm glad you feel that way. 416 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,040 Let's go ahead and work this plan 417 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:28,640 to get you not feeling that way anymore. 418 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,200 And oftentimes that just falls apart. 419 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,400 Any of you guys ever had one of those conversations 420 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:35,680 where one person comes and was emotional? 421 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,200 I want to share with you and the other person 422 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,480 is there to fix the problem or to argue the problem 423 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:43,000 or whatever it is, right? 424 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:45,040 No one? 425 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:45,880 Okay. 426 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:55,200 Well, we have had many of those situations 427 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:59,320 where I have tried to fix it or vice versa. 428 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:01,720 Actually, my wife is the fixer in our relationship, 429 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,080 so I'm probably the more sensitive emotional one. 430 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:07,920 And for her, it's frustrating 431 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:09,600 because she doesn't understand why aren't we trying 432 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:10,600 to fix it? 433 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,520 All this wasted time talking about how we feel, 434 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:14,880 why aren't we fixing it? 435 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,440 But you know, we're complex creatures. 436 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:24,120 We're made unique. 437 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:27,720 We are integrated body, mind, soul, 438 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:31,240 physical, our bodies have an effect on how we think 439 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:35,160 and feel, our minds have an effect on how we feel, 440 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,000 and even our bodies. 441 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,120 All of it is interconnected and you can't easily 442 00:22:40,120 --> 00:22:40,960 sort it out. 443 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:47,040 And so we may know all the facts of the universe, 444 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:51,200 Jesus may have the wisdom, but if he doesn't know me, 445 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,200 he doesn't know what I've experienced, 446 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:55,720 then it's of little comfort to me. 447 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,640 And what we find in scripture and what Hebrews tells us 448 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:02,160 is that he does know because he did wrap himself 449 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,360 in that flesh and he did come down here 450 00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:07,880 and he did experience the same kind of things 451 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:09,000 that I've experienced. 452 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,560 He felt the same emotions that I've felt. 453 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:14,160 He experienced the same kind of pain and suffering 454 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,560 that I've experienced to greater degrees 455 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,400 than I've ever experienced. 456 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:21,880 He was tempted like I'm tempted, 457 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,320 and yet he didn't give into that temptation 458 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,400 and walk in his own wisdom, but he walked in the wisdom 459 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,240 of the divine of God, and so he can actually 460 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:34,240 better represent me before God because he understands me, 461 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,560 he gets me, and also he can be the example that I follow 462 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:40,680 because he doesn't fall to the temptation that I fall to. 463 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:43,240 He is the wonderful counselor. 464 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:47,680 He brings light to my path as I follow him 465 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:50,360 and as I walk in his wisdom. 466 00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:55,360 His wisdom and counsel is not disconnected from my reality. 467 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:58,600 He's perfectly suited to comfort me. 468 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:04,400 Pastor Tim Keller says, 469 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:06,360 Jesus is the wonderful counselor 470 00:24:06,360 --> 00:24:09,840 because he brings clarity in confusion, 471 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:14,840 light in darkness, and direction in the chaos of our lives. 472 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:19,840 So how do we see the comfort of his counsel 473 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:22,240 fulfilled in Christ? 474 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:24,800 Well, we see it in Christ's invitation 475 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,080 to the weary and the burden. 476 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:30,760 Matthew 11 was quoted in our introduction video there, 477 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:33,680 but come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 478 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,000 and I will give you rest. 479 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,280 Take my yoke upon you and learn to be a good man. 480 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:41,000 I will give you rest. 481 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:42,400 I will give you rest. 482 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:44,880 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me 483 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,040 because I am lowly and humble in heart, 484 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,520 and you will find rest for your souls, 485 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:53,240 for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 486 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:56,280 Christ's invitation to those of us 487 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:58,720 who are hurting right now is to come to him 488 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,800 and find rest in the one who understands us. 489 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:08,600 Also, second, Christ's role as a shepherd and guide 490 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:13,600 is a fulfillment of our comfort in his counsel, 491 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,840 that he is the good shepherd who knows his own 492 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:18,440 and his own know him. 493 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:22,320 We had the perfect shepherd model laid out in Psalm 23, 494 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:26,160 which Christ fulfills, that he is our shepherd 495 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:29,160 and we lack nothing. 496 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,320 He makes us lie down in green pastures. 497 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:34,240 He restores our soul. 498 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:37,080 He is the good shepherd, and as a shepherd and guide, 499 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:40,240 he can lead us to the places we need to go 500 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,600 to find the peace and the comfort and the joy 501 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:44,360 and the hope that we need to find. 502 00:25:44,360 --> 00:25:45,960 It's not found in the world. 503 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,200 If you've gone out looking, you've tried the world's wisdom, 504 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:50,360 it's not there. 505 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:53,360 I love this about the holiday season we're in, 506 00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:57,440 and maybe this will encourage you or challenge you. 507 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:01,040 A friend of mine, he's a counselor down, 508 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:03,560 a biblical counselor down in Lodi. 509 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:08,560 He posted a quote or a statement on Facebook 510 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:12,920 that said, if you're not content today, 511 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,960 then nothing you buy today will change that. 512 00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:21,160 And this was on Good Friday, yeah, Black Friday. 513 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:24,080 If you're not on Good Friday, Black Friday, yeah. 514 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:25,920 If you're not content already, 515 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,240 nothing you buy today will change that. 516 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:30,600 And yet the world would have you believe, 517 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:33,400 if you read all the marketing and watch all those programs, 518 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:35,920 that these are the things you need 519 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:37,400 to feel better about your life, 520 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:39,480 to have peace and comfort and joy, 521 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:41,880 that joy is found in the purchases that we make 522 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:43,440 or the things that we accumulate. 523 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:47,240 That is the wisdom of the world, not the wisdom of heaven. 524 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:50,280 Joy is found following the shepherd 525 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:52,560 wherever he will take me. 526 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:56,800 Joy is found in the green pastures that he leads me to, 527 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,200 not the ones that I see and I wanna lay down in. 528 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:03,000 Joy is found, peace is found, hope is found, 529 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,360 by the creek side that he leads me to drink, 530 00:27:06,360 --> 00:27:09,440 not all of the things that I think make a good life. 531 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:14,680 He is the wonderful counselor 532 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,560 because he is shepherd and guide. 533 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,400 And then finally, he is the wonderful counselor 534 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:22,800 and there's comfort in his counsel 535 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:26,920 because Christ's counsel comes through the Holy Spirit. 536 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:32,280 Yes, Christ came in flesh and dwelt among us, 537 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:33,960 but then he ascended on high. 538 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:35,000 He's not here anymore. 539 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,800 You can't go out those doors and find him. 540 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:39,840 But you know what he promised? 541 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,120 He promised that if I go, I will ask the Father 542 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:47,640 and he will send the counselor, the comforter, 543 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,840 to come and will dwell, take up residence in us, 544 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:52,880 believers, dwell within us, 545 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,880 so that his wonderful counsel is ever present, 546 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:58,240 always with us wherever we go. 547 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:00,480 So he is the wonderful counselor 548 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:03,960 who has asked the Father to send the counselor, 549 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:07,960 the Holy Spirit, to remind us, to glorify Jesus, 550 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:09,760 to teach us of all things and remind us 551 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:11,360 of everything that he's told us 552 00:28:11,360 --> 00:28:13,320 so that we might walk in his way 553 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:18,280 and an invitation for us to walk in his wisdom. 554 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:21,960 I'm gonna invite the worship team to come on up 555 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:23,000 as we close out. 556 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:26,800 As we have finished our worship, 557 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:29,040 we're gonna take a moment to reflect 558 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:32,520 on the wonderful counselor that we have today. 559 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:37,520 As we reflect today on Jesus, our wonderful counselor, 560 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:42,040 and we kind of began our Advent season of celebration, 561 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:46,320 we want to look at the wonder of his wisdom 562 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:48,080 and the comfort of his counsel. 563 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:49,680 We want to experience that today, 564 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:52,640 that he is the light that shines in our darkness, 565 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:56,320 that he is the wisdom that dispels all of our confusion 566 00:28:56,320 --> 00:29:00,280 and our distance, but he intimately knows our struggles 567 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,800 and meets us in our present brokenness. 568 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:08,840 In Christ, we find the infinite wisdom of God 569 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:12,080 wrapped up in human flesh and through his word and spirit, 570 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,200 we're invited to walk in light and in truth. 571 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:19,040 And this Advent, I'd like to invite us 572 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,600 to trust in him fully. 573 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:25,120 I would like to invite us to rest in him fully 574 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:27,280 in his perfect wisdom and grace 575 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:29,560 as the guiding shepherd of our life. 576 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:36,840 Let his counsel lead you to deeper peace and joy in him. 577 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:42,040 Let us rejoice for unto us a child is born, 578 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:44,400 to us a son is given, 579 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,760 and he is a wonderful counselor, a king like no other. 580 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:50,760 If I was to give three responses today, 581 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:57,200 which I am, so if I was, I would, and now I'm going to. 582 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:02,600 I would say this. 583 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:06,720 Number one, saturate your heart and your mind 584 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:09,440 in the wisdom and counsel of God 585 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:11,240 that he has given us in his word. 586 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,320 I don't think we sit and think, 587 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:20,320 I don't think we sit in awe and wonder and joy 588 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:23,520 over the reality that right here, 589 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:28,400 right here is the wisdom of God. 590 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:32,880 Right here is the peace of God, the hope of God, 591 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:36,560 the love of God in his wisdom and in his word to us. 592 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,400 Imagine if December, if Advent season, 593 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:44,280 you saturated your heart and minds in the word of God. 594 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,400 Maybe this hasn't been your habit. 595 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:48,280 It's not for condemnation sake. 596 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:51,240 Again, it's not, I'm not trying to lay on another duty 597 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:53,040 for you during a busy season. 598 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:56,400 I'm trying to say the world, the way the world didn't work. 599 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,120 It left you broken, it left you starving and hungry 600 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:00,760 and desperate in despair. 601 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:02,120 It didn't work. 602 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:04,880 There's another way. 603 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:09,520 There's another kind of wisdom and it works. 604 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:12,320 Time and time again, I've seen those 605 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:14,440 who are in sorrow and suffering, 606 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:16,880 comforted by the words of Christ. 607 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:18,760 I've seen those whose bodies are broken 608 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:22,320 and falling to pieces, lifting their eyes up to the heavens 609 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:24,280 and proclaiming Christ as Lord 610 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:26,320 and the joy of Christ is in their heart, 611 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:28,080 even as their body wastes away. 612 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:32,120 I've seen those who have faithfully held onto the word 613 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:34,440 and have not let go, 614 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:38,080 faithfully year after year through many dangers, 615 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:39,800 toils and snares. 616 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:44,800 Our dear sister Christa is 95 years today, 617 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:47,120 95 years. 618 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:47,960 95 years. 619 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:54,960 Many dangers, many toils, many snares, 620 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:58,960 and yet has held to the very words of God. 621 00:31:59,960 --> 00:32:02,880 And that wisdom has carried her 622 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:05,160 through ups and downs and all arounds. 623 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:09,600 And that wisdom will carry her through the years. 624 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:10,440 Carry her home. 625 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:13,920 Carry her home into the arms of her Father. 626 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:16,840 Saturate your heart and mind in this word. 627 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:19,760 Don't let this just pick up dust on the shelf. 628 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:22,480 Let this in. 629 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:23,560 It's right here. 630 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:26,360 Read the word, soak in it, talk about it with your friends. 631 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:27,360 If you're a husband and wife 632 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,760 and you've never talked about the word of God before, 633 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:31,840 today's the day, just do it. 634 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:33,560 Get through all the awkwardness and weirdness 635 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:34,920 and just start talking about it. 636 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:37,840 Hey, I read this thing and I don't know what it means. 637 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:41,200 Whatever it is, just start talking about it. 638 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,680 Let it go into your heart and your mind 639 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:44,520 and come out of your mouth 640 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:46,520 and back into your ears over and over again. 641 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:47,800 This season. 642 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:52,000 And see if you don't find the greatest joy and hope 643 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,040 that you've ever found in Advent season 644 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:59,000 as you dive in and let the word wash over you. 645 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:03,520 The second thing I would say is pray 646 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:06,800 that the Holy Spirit will glorify Christ in and through you. 647 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:09,840 This is amazing that the Holy Spirit, God with us, 648 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:13,800 is in us and he provides us wisdom and guidance 649 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:16,400 and then we act out of that wisdom and guidance. 650 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:18,360 So not only do we get the wisdom within us 651 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:21,200 to speak his word and remind us of all those true things, 652 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:22,720 he then gives us things to do. 653 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:24,600 So we do them and we get to see, 654 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:26,920 we become a living example of the wisdom of God 655 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:28,480 at work in this world. 656 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:30,000 And we get to see that over and over again 657 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,560 as Christ is glorified, God is glorified 658 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:35,440 and then we see it at work in us. 659 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:36,560 What a glorious thing. 660 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:38,080 What a wondrous thing. 661 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,560 What a wonderful counselor he is 662 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:44,240 that he would not only come to counsel us inside, 663 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:46,440 but then he would use us and work through us 664 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:50,400 to reach this world, to love and ultimately 665 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:52,520 to glorify Christ in this time. 666 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:54,960 And the final thing I would say to you as a response 667 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:59,960 is trust, trust this wonderful counselor absolutely. 668 00:33:59,960 --> 00:34:04,960 If you have trusted him 99.8%, 669 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:08,760 it's time to go all the way. 670 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:11,600 Trust him absolutely. 671 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:14,040 He is that good. 672 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:19,960 One of the things about his wisdom 673 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:22,760 that is just astounding is before you and I 674 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:27,320 were ever created, before mankind even sinned, 675 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:32,320 God in his infinite wisdom, God in his triune nature, 676 00:34:32,680 --> 00:34:35,520 Father, Son and Holy Spirit determined 677 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:37,880 before the creation of the world 678 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:39,840 that he was going to save us. 679 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:42,480 We hadn't even yet sinned. 680 00:34:42,480 --> 00:34:44,280 We hadn't even yet fallen and he said, 681 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:45,840 I will make a way. 682 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:48,800 I love the way one pastor said it. 683 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:52,920 He said, the Father, the Father saying, 684 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:57,920 I will redeem my creation and the Son saying, 685 00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:03,320 here am I Lord, send me and the Spirit empowering, 686 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:06,440 he came to reach you and I. 687 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:09,960 And he did that through the means of Christ 688 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:13,040 in his life and his death and his resurrection 689 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,600 so that you and I might be reconciled back to God. 690 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:18,760 We might, he might meet the deepest need 691 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:21,360 that any of us have, any of us have, 692 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:25,680 which is to be one, to reconnected with our God and creator.