1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,300 Thank you for your good singing this morning. 2 00:00:05,300 --> 00:00:10,120 The lights are on on a Ford Escort license number MD 2628. 3 00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:16,680 If that's yours, you may want to take care of that. 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,280 The Bible is a book of promises. 5 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:24,580 When I was growing up, there was a chorus we used to sing that went something like this, 6 00:00:24,580 --> 00:00:31,440 Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line. 7 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:36,520 All our blessings of His love divine, every promise in the book is mine. 8 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:41,640 It's a wonderful chorus, however not true. 9 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:47,000 Because all the promises in the book are not mine or yours, thank God. 10 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,320 Some of them are promises of judgment. 11 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,620 I don't want those kinds of promises. 12 00:00:53,620 --> 00:00:59,200 But all promises are for all people in all times. 13 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:07,440 But a significant number of promises, indeed the central line of them, deals with the coming 14 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,860 of the Savior, the Redeemer. 15 00:01:10,860 --> 00:01:14,960 Those promises are ours. 16 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:19,880 The promises regarding the coming Redeemer begin in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 where 17 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,400 the seed of the woman is foretold. 18 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,700 In that verse we have what is often called the proto-evangelium, which means the first 19 00:01:28,700 --> 00:01:38,680 word of the gospel, the first indication that one would come to deliver Adam and his generation 20 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:40,960 from sin. 21 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:54,480 The line proceeds then from Adam and Eve through Seth, Noah, Shem, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 22 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:59,140 who is called Israel, the Prince of God. 23 00:01:59,140 --> 00:02:08,400 From Him would come the Messiah, the Anointed, that is the one set apart by God. 24 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:14,680 In the Old Testament there were three offices for which one might be anointed or set apart 25 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,640 in the land of Israel. 26 00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:22,280 They were the offices of prophet, priest, and king. 27 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:29,420 The Lord Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed, the Messiah in each of those three offices 28 00:02:29,420 --> 00:02:36,400 as prophet, as priest, and as king. 29 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:45,560 Many of the prophets spoke of Him, but none of them spoke more specifically than did Isaiah. 30 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:50,520 And an example of that is our text today in Isaiah 9 verses 1 through 7. 31 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:58,280 It is replete with detailed prophecies regarding the Messiah, who is called in these pages 32 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:04,000 Emmanuel, God with us. 33 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:12,640 The promises of Isaiah 9 verses 1 through 7 present an integrated picture of Messiah 34 00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:15,080 and His ministry. 35 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:19,740 That is what we want to examine this morning. 36 00:03:19,740 --> 00:03:24,880 These promises are chronologically scrambled in the passage. 37 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:31,280 Therefore we will attempt to organize them in a logical and chronological order, like 38 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,880 pieces of a puzzle lying on a table waiting to be arranged. 39 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,240 So are these prophecies. 40 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:44,640 Let us see if there is in fact a design that we perceive coming together as these pieces 41 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:49,520 are put together. 42 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:54,760 First I would have you notice verse 6 where we see the promise of His coming. 43 00:03:54,760 --> 00:04:03,360 In these words, a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us. 44 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,400 We see two things about His coming. 45 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,280 In the first place it would involve a birth. 46 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,640 A child, it says, will be born. 47 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:22,160 The Messiah would not come in some grand, magnificent display of power, but rather He 48 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:28,680 would come quietly, humbly, and simply. 49 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:36,360 Yet it would be the most amazing event up to that point in the history of the world. 50 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:43,760 A few pages earlier in Isaiah in chapter 7 verse 14 we have another specific prophecy 51 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,440 regarding His birth. 52 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:55,720 It says, Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign, Behold, the Virgin will be with 53 00:04:55,720 --> 00:05:03,120 child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. 54 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:08,720 And so the birth of a virgin baby is predicted. 55 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:14,040 Now we believe that there was a fulfillment in Isaiah's day, or the one that was meant 56 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:20,960 as a sign to Ahaz was a woman at that point still a virgin who shortly married Isaiah 57 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:28,840 and bore him a son, and that son became the sign son to Ahaz in that day. 58 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:33,360 And yet there is a greater fulfillment in this verse. 59 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:38,920 That is made clear in the New Testament when this verse is pointed to as a prophecy of 60 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,920 the virgin birth of Jesus. 61 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:50,280 Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, He would not come on a white charger to claim control of 62 00:05:50,280 --> 00:06:00,080 His world, but rather would enter into the world as a baby, be placed in a manger, and 63 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:05,860 wrapped in the swaddling clothes of poverty. 64 00:06:05,860 --> 00:06:13,760 We notice also that His coming would involve a union, the joining together of humanity 65 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:24,000 and deity, for it says a child will be born, a son will be given. 66 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:28,720 In one person two natures were united indissolubly. 67 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,120 There is no parallel that exists to it. 68 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:38,320 It is an absolutely unique event in all of history. 69 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:46,640 What is predicted here is not a theophany that is an appearance of God, nor is it the 70 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:51,640 same as the pagan legends proclaimed in that day. 71 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:59,680 For there were legends, myths among the pagan religions of a God joining Himself to a man. 72 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:03,800 We say, well, what do those legends indicate? 73 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:10,640 They are probably evidence of the longing even in a pagan heart for such an identity 74 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,540 with God. 75 00:07:13,540 --> 00:07:20,040 But this event in the coming of the Messiah is unique, for this is no myth or legend, 76 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,240 but this is history as we perceive it now. 77 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,940 To Isaiah it was a prophecy. 78 00:07:25,940 --> 00:07:34,600 It was the union of God with sinless humanity for the purpose of redemption. 79 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:40,120 So He has called the seed of the woman, He has called the son of Abraham, He has called 80 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:47,000 the son of David, He has called a man of sorrows, and He was all of those. 81 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:54,040 But as well He has named the Son of God, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and Christ 82 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:59,680 the Lord, because He is man and God in one person. 83 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:07,640 And so in the bustling, not sleepy, village of Bethlehem, just a few miles from the capital 84 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:13,440 city of Jerusalem, He came and thanked God that He did. 85 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:19,680 Now there is a second promise that we see in verse 6, and that is His character. 86 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:26,240 His name shall be called, it says, that does not mean that He will actually have that name, 87 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:32,280 but these words describe His character. 88 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,760 They reflect His nature. 89 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:44,320 His character is found in these four names, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting 90 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:49,040 Father, Prince of Peace. 91 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,040 No counselor. 92 00:08:51,040 --> 00:09:00,860 The name Wonderful, or the term Wonderful, means literally surpassing or supernatural. 93 00:09:00,860 --> 00:09:05,480 He is the supernatural counselor. 94 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:10,920 His counsel is that which alone can save from sin. 95 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,560 His person will be above the ordinary. 96 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:21,520 How He lives and what He says, says Isaiah, will excite amazement and wonder from all 97 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:26,040 of those who observe and hear Him. 98 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:33,940 And He is the mighty God, an interesting phrase which means that He is the champion in battle. 99 00:09:33,940 --> 00:09:40,600 It is a statement, a strong statement indeed, of Messiah's deity. 100 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:45,480 Or the term for God, El, is found in this name. 101 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:52,840 The same term that we find in the name El-Ohim, He is the mighty God. 102 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:58,400 This same term is used in chapter 10 verse 21 clearly of God, where it says a remnant 103 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:03,480 will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 104 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:08,740 There is no question that Jehovah is the one in view in chapter 10 verse 21, as well as 105 00:10:08,740 --> 00:10:11,360 in chapter 9 and verse 6. 106 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:19,520 He is the mighty God, and He is the everlasting Father, or literally the Father of eternity. 107 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:25,160 In other words, He, the Messiah, possesses eternity. 108 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:32,880 Eternity to you and me, because we are mortals, is, or at least can be, a frightening thought. 109 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:38,040 For eternity is timelessness, and we cannot relate to that. 110 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:44,120 It seems to reach out and swallow us up as we begin to ponder it. 111 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,840 And yet eternity is possessed by Him. 112 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,560 He is the Father of it. 113 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:54,820 And because He is the Father of eternity, He also authors it. 114 00:10:54,820 --> 00:11:00,520 He authors eternal, everlasting life to those who come to Him. 115 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:03,200 He is the Father of eternity. 116 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:08,760 And the Messiah is revealed to be the Prince of peace. 117 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:13,960 It is too bad that if you use the name Prince in our day, there is another person who comes 118 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:19,720 to mind, especially among a lot of teenagers, a revolting character who grew up in this 119 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:27,880 area, a man who is immoral and filthy to the nth degree, and a man that our governor has 120 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:34,000 named Christmas week after this year, which disgusts me no end, and about which he has 121 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:39,720 heard a lot, and I hope he will hear a lot more in terms of letters and phone calls. 122 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:46,780 This Prince that is predicted by Isaiah in chapter 9 is a pure Prince, not a Prince of 123 00:11:46,780 --> 00:11:53,280 violence and filth and immorality, but a Prince of peace. 124 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:59,320 He is the ruler who will bring peace to the world in His coming kingdom. 125 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:08,080 He will subdue every foe and banish every disturbing element in His kingdom. 126 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:16,160 And so we see that His nature is revealed as one of wisdom, omnipotence, eternity, and 127 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,520 sovereignty. 128 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,600 I was doing some reading of Colossians this week, and I want you to turn over there with 129 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:28,120 me and notice how perfectly these things are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus. 130 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:35,680 Turn Colossians chapter 2 first. 131 00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:40,260 He is the wonderful counselor, says Isaiah. 132 00:12:40,260 --> 00:12:46,560 This is the way the Apostle Paul puts it in the New Testament, in whom that is in Christ 133 00:12:46,560 --> 00:12:55,520 are hidden or stored all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 134 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:57,840 They are stored up in Jesus Christ. 135 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:04,480 The fullness of them, all of them, are found in Him who is the wonderful counselor. 136 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,320 Look back in chapter 1 verse 15. 137 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,240 Isaiah says He is the mighty God. 138 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:12,080 Paul puts it this way. 139 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:17,900 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 140 00:13:17,900 --> 00:13:21,880 That means He has preeminence above all creation. 141 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:26,800 For by Him all things were created. 142 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:32,540 Then at the end of the verse he says all things have been created by Him and for Him. 143 00:13:32,540 --> 00:13:36,640 You see He is the mighty God, the omnipotent one. 144 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,400 Isaiah says He is the everlasting Father. 145 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:46,760 Notice how Paul says in verse 17, and He is before all things. 146 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:50,280 A statement of His preexistence before creation. 147 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:54,040 He is before all things. 148 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:57,400 Isaiah says He is the Prince of peace. 149 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,400 This is how Paul puts it in verse 18. 150 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,360 He's the head of the body of the church, the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so 151 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:07,000 that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. 152 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,000 He's the Prince. 153 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:12,920 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him and through 154 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:23,040 Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 155 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:24,120 So He is the ruler. 156 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:27,960 He is the Prince who brings peace. 157 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:32,120 Jesus Christ, my friend, is all of that to you. 158 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:34,240 Do you need wisdom? 159 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:40,080 He is the wonderful counselor who can give you the counsel you need. 160 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,140 Do you need power? 161 00:14:42,140 --> 00:14:46,520 He is the omnipotent one who can fill you with the power you need. 162 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:48,620 Do you fear death? 163 00:14:48,620 --> 00:14:55,080 He is the eternal one, the Father of eternity, who can bring peace to your heart about that 164 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,120 issue. 165 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:00,560 Do you face troubling battles in your life? 166 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:05,760 And turn to Him who is the Prince of peace and who can calm that wild storm within your 167 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:07,040 heart. 168 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:14,320 Jesus Christ is all of this to you today, if you will allow Him to be. 169 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:21,680 Notice with me back in Isaiah again a third promise regarding Messiah and His ministry. 170 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:30,420 It is found in verses 1 and 2, where it speaks directly of the ministry that He had. 171 00:15:30,420 --> 00:15:36,720 The text refers to the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. 172 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:43,640 If you will get out a map which places the Old Testament tribes or families of Israel, 173 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:49,200 you will notice that that is specifically the region around the Sea of Galilee to the 174 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,400 west of it. 175 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:59,640 It was that part of the ancient land which was first plunged into gloom and darkness 176 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:06,840 by the invasion of the Assyrian ruler Tiglath-Pileser III. 177 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:16,200 He first invaded the land in 732 B.C., and thus began the end of the northern kingdom 178 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,340 of Israel. 179 00:16:18,340 --> 00:16:24,200 It was ten years later before the judgment was fully carried out in 722, when Samaria 180 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:29,040 was completely wiped off the face of the earth. 181 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,120 But it began in the region of Galilee. 182 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,240 That's where judgment began. 183 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:38,160 Now notice the marvelous prophecy of Isaiah. 184 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:47,720 He says that there, where judgment would begin, the first light of the dawn of salvation would 185 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:49,680 break. 186 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:58,760 He says the Messiah will make that place in Galilee glorious by His ministry. 187 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:03,880 Now would you again turn into the New Testament to John chapter 2 for just a moment. 188 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:10,080 We'll turn to the last verse referring to the first of Jesus' miracles, changing the 189 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:14,360 water into wine. 190 00:17:14,360 --> 00:17:17,680 John chapter 2 verse 11. 191 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:25,440 Regarding that, John has this comment, this beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of 192 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:31,280 Galilee and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. 193 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,160 Do you notice that? 194 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:41,760 The very first miracle that Jesus chose to perform was in Galilee, as had been prophesied 195 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:43,960 by Isaiah of old. 196 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:51,240 Turn back a few pages to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 4. 197 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:57,160 He refers to Isaiah's words when he says, beginning in verse 13 of the fourth chapter, 198 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:04,320 "...and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region 199 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:07,900 of Zebulun and Naphtali." 200 00:18:07,900 --> 00:18:12,240 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, and then he quotes from 201 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:17,060 Isaiah in verses 15 and 16. 202 00:18:17,060 --> 00:18:23,880 And furthermore, it was the greatest area of response for Jesus in His ministry. 203 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:29,680 And so He began His ministry there, He settled there, and that was His headquarters in His 204 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:32,520 earthly ministry for those three years. 205 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:36,960 And it was from that area that He got His greatest response in the terms of people who 206 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,160 believed on Him. 207 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:45,960 And so truly Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled in His ministry, for He made it glorious, 208 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:49,200 that place where gloom and darkness had settled. 209 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:58,120 By way of application, may I point out to you that so often it is those who have experienced 210 00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:08,920 life's greatest sorrows and its deepest gloom who most readily respond to the Lord Jesus 211 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,400 Christ. 212 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:17,640 Since that is where you are found today in your own situation, this rather dark gloomy 213 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:24,280 day that it is outside is a reflection, sadly, of your heart and your circumstances. 214 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:30,840 May I bring you this word of good news, that the light of the Messiah would shine upon 215 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:38,600 that darkness of yours, and He would lift that gloom and do a glorious work in your 216 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:44,400 life today, if only you will call upon Him. 217 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:52,600 Then in Isaiah 9 we come to a fourth promise regarding Messiah and His ministry, and we 218 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:58,400 return to verse 6 for our logical or chronological order. 219 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:07,120 Here we have the promise of His sacrifice, for it says, a son will be given to us. 220 00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:13,600 That is not an identically parallel phrase to the first one in the verse. 221 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:19,600 Another truth is hidden in these words, a truth revealed in the New Testament. 222 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:28,960 Undoubtedly John 3.16 is the ideal commentary on Isaiah 9.6, for there we learn by whom 223 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:33,040 this son was given, and for whom and why. 224 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:43,640 It says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever 225 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:51,000 believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 226 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:56,100 His sacrifice is predicted in these brief words in Isaiah 9. 227 00:20:56,100 --> 00:21:02,160 It is Isaiah himself who later comes back to this theme as led by the Holy Spirit and 228 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:07,440 writes in the 53rd chapter of this same prophecy these words, 229 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:16,240 He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 230 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:24,720 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried, yet we ourselves esteemed 231 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:29,540 Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 232 00:21:29,540 --> 00:21:34,320 But He was pierced through for our transgressions. 233 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:37,680 He was crushed for our iniquities. 234 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,980 The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him. 235 00:21:41,980 --> 00:21:44,720 By His scourging we are healed. 236 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,120 All of us like sheep have gone astray. 237 00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:54,040 Each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all 238 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:59,480 to fall on Him. 239 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:06,360 When I think of the sacrifice of God's Son, there are times when I look at my youngest 240 00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:13,880 son who is now at a very enjoyable age of two. 241 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,880 I think it's enjoyable twos or is it terrible twos. 242 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,000 I forget just how that goes. 243 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:29,060 But I look at him and his innocence which is beginning now to fade away. 244 00:22:29,060 --> 00:22:38,400 And I wonder how it could ever be that I would give my son for anyone. 245 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:47,840 I would far rather give my life for him than to give my child for anyone else. 246 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:54,600 And the affection I have for him is only a fraction of that which the Father God has 247 00:22:54,600 --> 00:23:01,120 for His Son. 248 00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:07,960 And yet Isaiah says a son will be given, not just sent into the world, but sent into the 249 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:21,760 world to die a horrible, excruciating death for the sakes of you and me. 250 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:28,080 Surely as we ponder the cradle at the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must recognize 251 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:33,400 that across it falls the shadow of a cross. 252 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,080 For that was the Father's good pleasure. 253 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:46,000 That was His eternal purpose that in sending His Son, He might give Him, give Him up for 254 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,000 you and for me. 255 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:55,720 It's a very wonderful promise and one that I hope that you have appropriated for yourself 256 00:23:55,720 --> 00:24:02,040 and that you are expressing your love for Him is also my trust. 257 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:06,000 You can look up to the Lord Jesus at this time when we remember His coming and remember 258 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:13,500 why He came and say with a heart of gratitude, thank you. 259 00:24:13,500 --> 00:24:18,840 A fifth prophecy regarding the Messiah and His ministry is found again in Isaiah 9. 260 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,000 We back up to verses 4 and 5 to catch it. 261 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,800 It is the promise of His victory. 262 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:32,120 Isaiah prophesies that the yoke of bondage upon Israel will be broken. 263 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:39,200 The staff of affliction, the rod of oppression will be removed. 264 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,760 He compares it to the victory that occurred over the Midianites, probably in the day of 265 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:54,040 Gideon, when weak Israel, helpless Israel was far outnumbered by a superior power and 266 00:24:54,040 --> 00:25:00,240 God Himself intervened on the part of His people and delivered them. 267 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:07,800 May I say by way of application, folks, that it's when you and I are weak that we are strong. 268 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:15,400 When we are weak in ourselves, it is God's strength that is brought into perfection. 269 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:19,000 Now, when is it that this yoke is to be broken? 270 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:22,040 When is it that the Messiah's victory will come? 271 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:28,520 Well, notice that there is warfare that is graphically depicted. 272 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:40,840 Jesus speaks in these verses of the boot of the warrior, the tumult of the battle, of 273 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:48,400 the cloak being rolled in blood and burning and fuel for fire. 274 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:55,480 In other words, His victory would come through a great battle, a great war. 275 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:56,680 And what is that? 276 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:03,200 Well, the answer can be nothing less than what is prophesied in Revelation chapter 19 277 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,640 more fully. 278 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:14,840 And that is the battle of Armageddon, when once again weak Israel, helpless Israel will 279 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:21,300 be far outnumbered by a superior force of Antichrist. 280 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:33,640 And in that terrible, frightening situation, the nation will turn to its Messiah and Jesus 281 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:42,440 Christ will come from heaven and will destroy the enemy of Israel and will deliver His people 282 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:45,840 as in the day of the Midianites. 283 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:54,080 Jesus Christ's worldwide victory over His enemies will be executed in a day and He will 284 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:55,080 reign. 285 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:56,080 That is His victory. 286 00:26:56,080 --> 00:27:03,680 May I say that by the grace of God, you and I who know the Lord Jesus will share in that 287 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:05,160 victory. 288 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:10,240 That is a victory for all of us that He has purchased and will execute. 289 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:14,840 That brings us to the sixth of the prophecies regarding the Messiah and His ministry. 290 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:17,240 It's found in verse 3. 291 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:21,020 It is His restoration of the nation. 292 00:27:21,020 --> 00:27:30,000 The nation of Israel will be restored to the place of blessing that it once knew. 293 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:34,880 In fact, it will become the prominent nation in all of the world. 294 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:42,560 It may be difficult to realize that today, but there will come a day when Washington, 295 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:52,320 London, Moscow, Tehran, and Peiping, if they still exist at that time, will all look toward 296 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,720 Jerusalem. 297 00:27:54,720 --> 00:28:01,000 For from Jerusalem will come the orders for the nations of the world as Jesus Christ reigns 298 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:05,680 from the restored kingdom of David. 299 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,800 We have other prophecies in Isaiah regarding this. 300 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:13,640 Let's just look at a couple of them quickly in chapter 4 verse 2, the restoration of the 301 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:14,640 land. 302 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:21,440 In that day, says Isaiah, the branch of the Lord, that's the Messiah, the branch of the 303 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:26,280 Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the 304 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:29,420 adornment of the survivors of Israel. 305 00:28:29,420 --> 00:28:34,000 And it will come about that He who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called 306 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:38,160 holy, everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem. 307 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:42,600 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed 308 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:47,680 of Jerusalem from her midst by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, then 309 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:53,680 the Lord will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud 310 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:58,840 by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night. 311 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:02,000 For over all the glory will be a canopy. 312 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:07,480 In other words, it seems that when He establishes His kingdom and the nation is restored, there 313 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:13,760 will be this cloud of fire, perhaps similar to that which was known in the wilderness 314 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:19,760 of old, which will be encamped over all of Zion in Jerusalem indicating the presence 315 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:25,040 of the Lord as He reigns gloriously and bodily from that place. 316 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:33,640 Turn over a page or two to chapter 11 of Isaiah. 317 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:40,740 He says, then, verse 11, then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover 318 00:29:40,740 --> 00:29:46,360 the second time with His hand the remnant of His people who will remain from Assyria, 319 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:51,640 Egypt, Pathras, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 320 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:56,880 And He will lift up a standard for the nations and will assemble the banished ones of Israel 321 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:01,760 and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. 322 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:04,920 You say, you mean God is literally going to do this? 323 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:09,000 Isn't this really spiritually applied to the church somehow? 324 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,860 Not by a long shot, my friend. 325 00:30:11,860 --> 00:30:18,040 This is a specific literal prophecy that will be fulfilled when God Himself will restore 326 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:23,480 and bring together the nation of Israel from all the corners of the earth and will reign 327 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:25,240 personally over it. 328 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:28,080 This is His restoration of His people. 329 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:34,760 And it is that which is mentioned in Isaiah 9 and verse 3. 330 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:42,640 And we come to the final of the prophecies regarding Messiah in verses 6 and 7 again 331 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:44,520 of Isaiah 9. 332 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:49,120 And here it is, the promise of His reign. 333 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:53,560 In verse 6 it says, and the government will rest on His shoulders. 334 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:56,400 The shoulders represent the strength of a person. 335 00:30:56,400 --> 00:31:04,040 It's there that a burden or metaphorically a responsibility is born. 336 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:09,680 And it says that on the shoulders of this child to be born, the Son who is given will 337 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:12,240 rest the government. 338 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:18,260 Verse 7, there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne 339 00:31:18,260 --> 00:31:23,000 of David and over His kingdom to establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness 340 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,360 from then on and forevermore. 341 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:30,920 I would have you notice at least six things about His reign which give us a description 342 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:31,920 of it. 343 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:34,640 In the first place, it is a prosperous reign. 344 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:37,640 It is unlimited. 345 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:41,600 Of its increase there will be no end. 346 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:44,040 Furthermore it's a peaceful reign. 347 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:46,920 There will be no more war in that day. 348 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:52,860 For then we're brought to pass the saying of Isaiah that the swords will be turned into 349 00:31:52,860 --> 00:32:00,840 plowshares, spears will be turned into pruning hooks, the instruments of war will be done 350 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:01,840 away with. 351 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:06,000 There will be no need for them in His reign, a peaceful reign. 352 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:12,800 The peace which people long for today and hope to achieve on the basis of humanity is 353 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:17,280 a peace that can never be achieved because humanity is sinful. 354 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:22,680 But on this day when the sinless Son of God reigns there will indeed be peace and enforced 355 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:23,680 peace. 356 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:26,960 And then His reign will be Davidic. 357 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:31,880 It is the throne of David that He will sit upon in fulfillment of the prophecies of 2 358 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:33,320 Samuel 7. 359 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:38,200 He will reign over the people of God, the Jews, and then over the world through them. 360 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,280 It will be a righteous reign. 361 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:45,560 It will be established with justice and righteousness. 362 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:49,960 There will be no inequities, no unfairness in that day. 363 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:56,280 But everything will be carried out to the nth degree of the law. 364 00:32:56,280 --> 00:33:00,600 It will be an eternal reign because it says that there will be no end to it. 365 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:05,440 It further says it will be from then on and forevermore. 366 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:10,360 Though it will last for a thousand years upon the earth, the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ 367 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:14,340 goes beyond that into eternity to come. 368 00:33:14,340 --> 00:33:16,920 It is an everlasting kingdom. 369 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:22,360 And finally it is a certain kingdom because it says the zeal of the Lord of hosts will 370 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:24,920 accomplish this. 371 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:30,640 Someday everyone, everyone who has ever lived will have to bow the knee and acknowledge 372 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:36,360 that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 373 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:46,140 What a joyous privilege it is now to do that when it means salvation, when it means joy 374 00:33:46,140 --> 00:33:50,440 and knowing His rule and reign in the heart. 375 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:57,040 My friend, just as God has fulfilled every detail of prophecy regarding the first advent 376 00:33:57,040 --> 00:34:04,840 of the Christ, so He will keep His promise regarding His second advent. 377 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:09,680 As surely as He came the first time, He will come again. 378 00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:14,400 You and I at this Christmas season need to be thinking not only of His first coming and 379 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:21,760 rejoicing in that, but eagerly anticipating that day when He will come again, not quietly, 380 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:33,000 submissively, humbly, but when He will come victoriously to bring to an end man's day 381 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:38,800 and to establish the day of God. 382 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:45,240 His promise is still good for those who need to trust the Lord Jesus Christ. 383 00:34:45,240 --> 00:34:51,520 For anyone who will call upon Him in faith and repentance of sin will be saved. 384 00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:56,800 As surely as God has kept every other promise, He will keep that promise for you. 385 00:34:56,800 --> 00:35:00,320 If you have never trusted Jesus Christ, will you do that today? 386 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:07,160 May I point out to those of us who have that God is in the process, is in the work, rather, 387 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:09,000 of restoration. 388 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:14,320 Ultimately, He is going to restore all things. 389 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:18,240 Even now, He can restore your life. 390 00:35:18,240 --> 00:35:26,080 He can make something beautiful out of the broken pieces that may be in your hands today. 391 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:31,160 You may feel that you have ruined your life, that it cannot be reclaimed, that whatever 392 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:38,080 promise there was is gone and is shattered, and you grieve. 393 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:43,040 May I encourage you by saying that the Messiah is the Restorer? 394 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:47,560 He is able to take those broken, shattered pieces, to put them back together again to 395 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:51,880 give your life meaning and purpose and promise. 396 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:56,960 Will you allow Him that privilege in your life? 397 00:35:56,960 --> 00:36:04,440 Jesus Christ is the King, and anyone or anything that usurps His place on the throne is an 398 00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:06,880 antichrist. 399 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:13,800 Let us be sure today there are no antichrists on the throne of our lives. 400 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:17,520 Let's pray. 401 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:34,040 Lord Jesus, we would today have you alone as King, and yet so deceitfully, so easily, 402 00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:38,560 do usurpers come to challenge your right to reign. 403 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:44,280 I pray today that you will speak to our hearts and reveal our hearts. 404 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:48,960 Let there be that in our lives which is taking your rightful place. 405 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:56,000 Give us repentant hearts that will turn from that antichrist and turn to you, the true 406 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:57,000 Christ. 407 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:04,200 Lord, there are some here today who have broken hearts, whose lives lie shattered at their 408 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:10,000 feet, who need your touch to restore. 409 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:12,520 Will you and love and grace do that? 410 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:16,880 And there may be someone here, Father, who needs to be saved. 411 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:25,280 I pray that we'll respond to you today in obedience as you sure needs to be, in Jesus' 412 00:37:25,280 --> 00:37:26,280 name. 413 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:30,280 Will you sing with me? 414 00:37:30,280 --> 00:37:51,840 Something beautiful, something good, all my confusion he understood. 415 00:37:51,840 --> 00:38:11,080 All I had to offer him was brokenness and strife, but he made something beautiful of 416 00:38:11,080 --> 00:38:14,080 my life. 417 00:38:14,080 --> 00:38:16,760 And he still can and will today. 418 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:20,560 Will you take your hymnal and turn with me to 528? 419 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:22,000 Amen.