Silent night, holy night, all
is calm. All is bright round yon virgin,
mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night. Shepherds quake at the sight. Glory stream from heaven afar. Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia. Christ the Savior is born. Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night, Son
of God, Love's pure light, radiant beams from thy holy face. With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord at thy birth, Jesus Lord at Thy birth. These songs people call Christmas
carols are great hymns, aren't they? They're great hymns. I wrote those songs for such
a blessing. Would you turn to Isaiah chapter
nine? I want to remind you that we will
not have services this evening and next Sunday evening, we'll
be having regular services, but we're also going to have a get
together afterwards and we'll serve the Lord's table together.
Then we'll have a meal after the services next Sunday evening.
New Year's Eve. Isaiah 9, I want to read verses
6 and 7. For unto us a child is born,
and unto us a son is given. And the government shall be upon
his shoulder, and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor,
the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government
and peace, there shall be no end. Upon the throne of David
and upon His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment
and with justice from henceforth even forever, the zeal of the
Lord of hosts will perform this." Now, this is the time, whether
one wishes it or not, that everybody in this country is compelled
to at least think of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth who is called
the Christ. Now someone may ask, do you believe
that the Lord was born on the 25th day of December? Not even
for a second. But does it matter whether he
was or whether he wasn't? Does it even make any difference
what day he was born? The fact that he was born is
enough. Here's another question. Are we commanded anywhere in
the scripture to celebrate his birth? As a day? No. No. But we certainly do celebrate
his birth, don't we? Every day. And we celebrate his
life. And we celebrate his death and
we celebrate his resurrection. We celebrate his ascension. We
celebrate his intercession. We celebrate him every day. Here's another question. Do you
believe or do you attach any spiritual significance to Christmas? Or feel like it can be used as
a means to bring people to faith in Christ? No, I do not. I do not believe that any spiritual
prophet in a day so commercialized and in many ways so pagan can
ever take place. Santa Claus is not in the Bible. However, there are some things
I love about this day. It's a day, for one thing, for
working people to get off. That's good, isn't it? It's a time for families to get
together and enjoy one another and exchange gifts. There's an
attitude of goodwill toward men that seems to prevail at this
time. And I'll tell you what, I love
these Christmas carols. I love them. Hark the herald
angels sing, glory to the newborn king, peace on earth, mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled. I love these songs. I love that
song Matt just sang. And I love to think about the
birth of the Savior. I repeat, I love to think about
the birth of the Savior and I'm happy that all over this nation
and in many parts of the world, men have to face the fact that
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Let me read a passage of scripture
from Micah, chapter 5, verse 2. The scripture makes an issue
of his birth. Micah, chapter 5, verse 2, But
thou, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though thou be little among the thousands
of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is,
to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth had been from old,
from everlasting. His birth in Bethlehem was foretold
in Old Testament scriptures. Now, that passage of scripture
I just read out of Isaiah chapter nine is one of the most awe-inspiring
passages of scripture there is. Unto us. Unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. And the government shall be upon
his shoulder. Then he gives us five names of
this one, this child who is born and this son who is given. Five
names. His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor. the mighty God, the everlasting
Father, the Prince of Peace. Unto us, a child is born. Unto us, a son is given. Indeed,
a child was born on whatever day he was born. But the son
wasn't born, was he? The son already was. The son
was given. The son was not born. The child
was born. But the Son was given. Now, there
was a day when that Child was born. He was born just like you
and I. He came out of His mother's womb.
He came with whatever happens when a kid's born. Same thing
happened to Him. He was born just like you and
I are. He is the Man, Christ Jesus. God was manifest in the
flesh. He was born on a particular day. But the Son always is. He is He who was, is, and always
will be. He is the eternal Son of God. Now, Isaiah says, unto us a child
was born. Unto us a son is given. Who's the us? Who's the us? Who is this child born for? Who
is this son given to? Well, that us is the same us
Paul talked about in Romans 8 31 when he said, if God be for us,
who can be against us? He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us All things. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It's God that justifies. Who
is He that condemns? It's Christ that died. Yea, rather
that's risen again. Who is also at the right hand
of God who also makes intercession for us? Actually, us. He's talking
about every believer. All of God's elect. Those who
believe. God's not for everybody, is He?
As a matter of fact, you take that verse of Scripture. If God
be for us, who can be against us? If He's for everybody, that
verse is meaningless, isn't it? It doesn't even mean anything.
But know the us is His people. It's those who believe. Now somebody
may be thinking, how can I tell if I'm one of the us's? Am I
somebody that He was given to? Am I an us? Well, I'll tell you
this about all us's. How can I tell if I'm an us?
You receive Him. If He was given to you, you know
what you'll do? You'll receive Him. God has never
given a gift that somebody didn't receive. If He gives, you receive. How can I tell if I'm an us?
Well, you receive Him. You believe on His name. Now, He is the eternal Son, the
uncreated Son of God, the Son that never was born because He's
always been. He's the great I am that I am. In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and
the Word was God. The same was in the beginning
with God. He didn't begin to be. He was. The same was in the beginning
with God. Now unto us a Son is born. I
mean a child is born, but unto us the Son is given. This child
was born. The Word did become flesh and
dwell among us in order To be our Savior, He had to become
flesh. We read that passage of Scripture
in Isaiah chapter 7, verse 14. Let me read it again. Therefore,
the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall
conceive and bear a son and shall call His name Immanuel. Do you really believe in a virgin
birth? Do you really believe that Christ came out of a virgin?
Do you really believe that? Yes, I do. from the very top
of my head to the sole of my feet. I know He did. And I'll
tell you what, if He didn't, He couldn't be my Savior. If He was born of a man like
you and I would be, that means He would have sinful nature.
And He couldn't save anybody. His death wouldn't do anybody
any good. Yes, absolutely, I believe in the virgin birth of the Lord
Jesus Christ. With God, nothing should be impossible. Let's read about it in Luke chapter
1. Would you turn with me there? Luke chapter 1. Let's begin reading in verse
26. And in the sixth month, the angel
Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee named Nazareth
to a virgin, espoused or engaged to a man whose name was Joseph
of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her
and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, much graced. Now remember this about Mary
before we go on reading. You know what Mary was? What was
Mary? She was a sinner, just like you
and I are. She was not holy. She was a sinner. Just like just a regular woman.
Can you imagine what that must have been for the Lord to appear?
She was a virgin and yet she conceived a child. Can you imagine
what all this? That's just amazing. I tried
to put myself in her place. Let's go on reading. He said,
you're highly favored, you're much graced. The Lord's with
thee. Blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast
in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel
said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with
God, grace with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive
in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name
Jesus. He shall be great, and shall
be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto
him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over
the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall
be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How should this be,
seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said
unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power
of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that, what
a name for our Lord, that holy thing, almost like we can't even
come up with words to describe Him, that holy thing which shall
be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, my
cousin Elizabeth, she also conceived a son in her old age, And this
is the sixth month with her who was thought barren, but with
God. Nothing. Nothing. Shall be impossible. Do you believe in the virgin
birth? Well, you believe in God? Yes, I do, and yes, I believe
in the virgin birth, just the way I believe in God. Turn over
to Luke chapter two, just across the page. This child. Is born. Let's read about his
birth, beginning in verse four. Mary carried this child in her
womb for nine months, and Joseph also went up from Galilee out
of the city of Nazareth into Judea under the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage
of David, to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great
with child. And so it was that while they
were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered,
and she brought forth her firstborn son. and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for
him in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory
of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto
you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men. Now, back to our text in Isaiah
chapter nine. Look what it said of this child
who is born and this son who is given. Verse six. For unto
us a child is born. Aren't you thankful for the birth
of the Lord Jesus Christ? Thank God for his birth. It's
wonderful. It's all inspiring. His birth,
His person, the child is born, the Son is given. You know, that's
glorious just how the Son was not born. He's the eternal Son
of God. The Son always has been. He's given. The child is born.
I love thinking about His birth. Look what it says next about
Him. It says the government shall be upon His shoulder. Now, the word government is the
word that means to have power, to prevail. What that means is
everything that happens is under His control. He is absolutely
sovereign. This is a reference to the sovereignty
of Jesus Christ. The only Jesus Christ there is
is the sovereign Christ. He is absolutely sovereign, absolutely
in control. The government's on His shoulders.
Now that babe that was born in that manger is the one who created
the universe as an act of His will. That babe who lied in that
manger, there was no room for Him in the end, born in a stable,
born amongst the smell of cows, He's God. He created the universe. He controls everything that happens
in providence, and that means everything. You know, we talk
about the permissive will of Christ and the directive will
of Christ, and I know what that stuff means, but it's all the
will of Christ. That's the bottom line. He's in control of everything. Nothing happens without Him.
He's most especially in control of salvation. What that means
is whether or not you're saved is up to Him. It's not up to
you. It really, really, it's not up to you. It's up to Him.
Your salvation is in His hands. He can save you or He can damn
you as He pleases. Whatever He does is right. The
government is on His shoulder. He's in absolute sovereign control. And then He gives five names
of our Lord, and these names are so glorious. Verse 6, For
unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. The government
shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful. Wonderful. Did you have a good
time? Oh, I had a wonderful time. That's using that term kind of
loosely, isn't it? Wonderful, full of wonder, full
of awe. Now, His name truly is wonderful. Filled with wonder, filled with
awe. His name is wonderful. Think about it. He's wonderful
in His person. This passage of scripture, all
I can do when I think of this is just bow down. In him, Colossians
2.9, in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead. All fullness
of sovereignty. All the fullness of holiness.
All the fullness of justice. All the fullness of omnipotence.
All the fullness of omnipresence, all the fullness of omniscience,
all the fullness of mercy, all the fullness of everything that
God is in Him dwells. All the fullness, all the vastness,
all the infiniteness of the Godhead in a body. Now, is that glorious
or what? That's how glorious He is. Great is the mystery of Godliness,
Paul said. God was manifest in the flesh. He is wonderful. He's wonderful
in his life. All this come together. He's
wonderful as a person. He's wonderful in his life. He never sinned. He kept God's law perfectly. He never even thought of sin.
And this is what's so amazing. Not only did he never sin, he
never became proud of not sinning. Think, if you went a whole day
without sinning, you'd be unbearable, wouldn't you? He never had a proud thought.
Meek and high and holy, yet meek and lowly. Approachable. You
can come into His presence and be accepted. If anybody else
knew what you were really like, they'd turn their nose up at
you, they wouldn't have anything to do with you. That's how hypocritical
everybody is. You know, we'll be that way toward
other people and we're always easy on ourselves. But He, the
Lord Jesus Christ, is approachable, meek, and lowly in heart. And
that life of His, that perfect life of His, is my righteousness
before God. That's why I'm going to be accepted.
We were talking in Sunday school this morning. I'm not going to
be ashamed on Judgment Day. I'm not going to have anything
to be ashamed of. I'm going to stand perfect before God because
His righteousness literally is mine. And I won't have anything
to be embarrassed about. Yes, everything about Todd's
going to be exposed. And it's all going to be good
and perfect and holy because he is my obedience before God. Oh, what a life! What a death!
He's wonderful as death. You know, if I died, There's
certainly nothing wonderful about it. It just says I'm a failure.
It says I'm a sinner. That's what my death says about
me. But his death is like no other death. I was reading this
week in Matthew chapter 17 where Moses and Elijah appeared to
the Lord and they were talking with him on the Mount of Transfiguration.
And we know what they were talking about. Luke 9 31 says they spake
of the decease which he should accomplish. What he accomplished
by his death. That's interesting enough in
itself. They sit there talking about his death. Just the fact
that he can die is amazing because of who he is. He can die? God can't die. The God-man could
though. He did. I don't understand how
all that happened, but he did. He's wonderful just the fact
that he can die. But what he accomplished by that death, he
accomplished the complete salvation of all of God's elect. He put
away the sin of everybody He died for. He accomplished their
salvation. My salvation was accomplished before I was ever born in the
person of my substitute and representative. Now, if that's not good news,
I don't know what is. It's good news to this fellow right here.
People argue over this. I rejoice in it. My complete
salvation accomplished by His death. He's wonderful in His
resurrection when He was raised from the dead. He raised Himself
from the dead. God raised him from the dead.
He was raised from the dead because of what he did. He accomplished
salvation. God accepted what he did. He
proved it by raising him from the dead. He's wonderful in his
ascension as he ascends back to the Father. He's wonderful
in his intercession as he represents his people. His name should be
called Wonderful. Isn't that a wonderful name for
our Lord? Actually, is there any other subject that is appropriate
for the use of this word Wonderful? We ought to be careful how we
use it. His name is wonderful. And look at the next name that's
given to him. His name shall be called Counselor. His name is the wonderful Counselor. The word Counselor means the
advisor. or the guide. Hear His guide. Hear His counsel. He says, I
am the way. He does not say, I'll show you
the way. He says, I'm it. He says, I am
the life. Not, I'll give you life. I am
life. He says, I am the truth, not
I'll tell you what the truth is. I am it. Now, there is infallible
counsel. He is the wonderful counselor. You know, people spend who knows
how much money. On counselors. And upon therapists. How much good that comes from
that is debatable. But here is the infallible counselor,
the wonderful counselor. His counsel is always perfect. His word is filled to the brim
with infallible counsel, perfect counseling in the scriptures
regarding everything. Remember, he wrote the Bible. He said, look to me and be ye
saved. That's good counsel, isn't it?
Take good advice. Look to me and be ye saved. All
the ends of the earth for I'm God and beside me there's none
else. Now, we want to go to counselors
and advisors to make us, we'd like to feel better. We'd like
to be happier people. We'd like to be more content
people. You know, we read in the scriptures of the joy and
the peace of believing. Now, what do you think about
that? The joy and the peace of believing. If you believe, there's
going to be joy, there's going to be peace. And if there's no
joy and there's no peace, you know what else there's none of?
There's no believing. You cannot actually trust Him
as your righteousness before God and then lose assurance.
You can't believe Him and not have assurance at the same time.
Now, when you lose your assurance is when you're not looking to
Him. You look to Him, you'll have assurance. You'll have joy.
The joy of the Lord shall be your strength. You'll have peace.
Oh, the peace of simply believing Him. You believe He's sovereign.
And you can't be resentful about what's happened, the cards you're
dealt. You're not going to be resentful
if you really believe he's sovereign. You believe whatever it is, it's
best because you believe he's sovereign. You can't be unforgiving
towards somebody if you believe you've been forgiven freely by
his grace. Can you see how he truly is the wonderful counselor? Oh, here's an example. Turn with
me to Acts chapter 20. Acts chapter 20. Now there isn't anybody in here
that does not want to be happy. Every one of us want to be happy,
don't we? I don't want to be miserable all the time. I don't
want to be depressed and dumbed down. I want to be happy. That's
what I want. I want that for myself. I want
it for you. I want to be happy. Now listen to this passage of
Scripture in Acts chapter 20, verse 24. But none of these things move
me Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might
finish my course with joy. Do you know the only way that
you'll finish your course with joy and happiness is if you don't
count your life dear to yourself? And when you count your life
dear to yourself, that's when you become miserable. That's
when you become depressed. That's when you become upset.
Everything's self-focused. But if you don't count your life
dear to yourself, you're going to have joy. You're going to
have happiness. You're going to have contentment.
You're going to have satisfaction. What about getting along with
people? We call him the wonderful counselor. What is the golden
rule? Our Lord said, do unto others as you would have them
do to you. You reckon if you practice that, you'll get along
with people? You reckon? Try it and see. Try it and see. I mean, his word, he is the infallible
counselor. And his counsel is most especially Believe me, I love when he said
that a woman believe me. Believe him. Now there is good
counsel. He's the wonderful counselor.
Now let's look at this third name he's given. His name should
be called Wonderful Counselor. Look what it says thirdly, the
mighty God. Here's my favorite, favorite,
favorite thing to say. Jesus is God. I love to say that and I believe
it. He is the mighty God. Only God is eternal. That means
He never began to be. There was never a time when He
was not and He began to be. He's eternal. He never had a
beginning. Now that blows my mind. When I try to think about
that, it hurts my head. I got to quit thinking about
it. Never had a beginning? Well, Jesus Christ never had
a beginning. In the beginning was the Word. The same was in the beginning
with God. He's always been. Only God never
changes. And this is a very comforting
thing to think about. You think about how that person
beside you, they're pretty beautiful, aren't they? They change a lot. Up one day, down the next. They're
just like you. Changing, up here, down here,
going this way, going that way. Everybody changes. God doesn't.
We read back in the study, I am the Lord, I change not. Therefore,
ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. He never changes. Same thing
is said of Jesus Christ, who is God. Jesus Christ, the same,
yesterday, today, and forever. God's omnipresent. He's everywhere
at once. You can't go somewhere where
God's not there. He's there. David said, if I
make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. He's everywhere. Jesus Christ is too. How can
that be? I don't know, but He is. He said,
where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I
am. You know, there's folks over in Russia right now gathered
together in His name. There's folks in China gathered
together in His name. There's folks in the... I don't
care where you go, He's got a people out of every kindred. tongue,
tribe, and nation. And their people gathered together
in His name, and there He is in the midst of it. How can He
be in both places at once? I don't know, but He is. He says
He's everywhere at once. His life says that He's God.
You know, His miracles certainly. His miracles say He's God. I
mean, He could bring matter into existence. He could raise the
dead. He could walk on the water. He could control the weather.
I mean, His miracles obviously say He's God. But here's the
passage of Scripture that is really glorious. It's where those
fellows bring that man on a stretcher to the Lord. He was a paralytic.
And the Lord looked at him and he said, Son, be of good cheer. Thy sins be forgiven thee. And the Pharisee says, Who is
this that speaketh blasphemy? None can forgive sins, but God
only. They didn't know how true they
were, did they? None can forgive sins, but God only. You know, the Lord read their
thoughts. He's reading your thoughts right now. He knows everything
that's going through your heart right now and your mind, mine
too. He read their thoughts. And He said, what's easier to
say? Is it easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or rise,
take up your bed, and walk. Now, it's easier to say, Thy
sins be forgiven thee. Because you can say that, and
you don't really know whether they really were. It's a lot
harder to say, Rise, take up your bed, and walk. So he said, I want you to know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. And
then he looked at that fellow that was paralyzed. He said,
rise, take up thy bed and walk. And that paralytic got up and
walked. He demonstrated his authority.
Now, if he can say, rise, take up your bed and walk, you know
what else he can say? Son, be of good cheer. Thy sins be forgiven
thee. He's wonderful. He demonstrated
he was God in his death. By what he accomplished, the
complete salvation of his people, his resurrection, he's the mighty
God. And I like this name. This is
this is so awe inspiring. His name should be called Wonderful
Counselor, the Mighty God. What? The Everlasting Father. Now, how in the world can you
explain what that means? His name shall be called the
everlasting Father. Philip said, Lord, show us the
Father and we'll be satisfied. He said, I've been so long time
with you, Philip, and yet hast thou not known me. He that hath
seen me. What's the rest of the verse?
It's just as if he saw the Father. Doesn't say that at all, does
it? He said, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. He said, I and my Father are
one. His name is the everlasting Father. Now that shows how glorious His
person is. Unto the Son, He, the Father,
saith, thy throne, O God. is forever. A scepter of righteousness
is the scepter of my kingdom. That's what God the Father says
to God the Son. His name should be called the
Everlasting Father. Now, God the Father and God the
Son and God the Holy Spirit are one God. These three are one. God the Father and God the Son
are two distinct persons in the Godhead, yet Christ Jesus is
called the Everlasting Father. That's how one they are. If the
father is the father, Christ is too. Understood? No. Believed? Absolutely. And his name should
be called, he says in our text in Isaiah 9, 6, the Prince of
Peace. The Prince of Peace. Ephesians
2.14 says, He is our peace. My peace is not in my faith. My peace is not in my understanding.
My peace is not in my knowledge. My peace is not in my anything.
He is. Let me show you how this is true.
Turn with me to Romans chapter 4. Verse 25, last verse of Romans
chapter 4. Who was delivered for our offenses. and was raised again for or because
of our justification. Therefore, being justified. Not guilty. Perfect in God's sight. No sin. That's what justification means.
No sin. I don't have anything to be condemned for. Perfect
in God's sight. Therefore, being justified by
faith, we have. Peace with God. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ, thou shalt keep him in perfect peace. Whose mind is stayed. Upon thee. Get back to our text in Isaiah
9, let's finish up with verse 7. of the increase of his government
and peace. There shall be no end, no boundary
is the word. You know, there's no boundary
to his power or his sovereignty or his kingdom. That's his government.
There's not a place where it stops. It goes forever. And there's no boundary to the
peace that the believer enjoys in simply not working but resting
in him. And the only way you're going
to have peace is if you quit working. Just let her go. And simply rest
in what he did, who he is and what he did. You'll have peace.
Oh, what peace you have. And there's no boundary to that
peace. It says upon the throne of David
and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment
and with justice from henceforth forever. Now, this this peace
we have is the peace of absolute justice. Not the peace of him
just kind of forgiving and forgiving it, but it might come back up
again. Not the peace of him forgiving and covering it in such a way
as it might come up again. But I'm talking about a peace
where my sin is gone. He's found a way to be just and
yet justify the ungodly. And that's where our peace comes
from. It's a peace based on his justice, his absolute, perfect,
holy justice and righteousness. He's found a way to be just and
yet justify me. Only God can do that. You know,
man could never come up with the gospel. Ain't no way. This
is the gospel of God. That's why we're not ashamed
of it. The zeal of the Lord of hosts
will perform this. God is zealous of his glory,
so there will be a performance of all that he said he would
do. The zeal of the Lord of hosts
shall perform this." Now, some, I guess, 2,000 years ago, the
Christ was born. Unto us, a child is born. Unto us, a son is given. And what a name! His name should
be called Wonderful Counselor. the mighty God, the everlasting
Father, the Prince of Peace. What a name! What then? Bow down and worship. Our great and glorious Heavenly
Father, We ask in Christ's blessed name
that we will be enabled by Your grace to bow down and worship. In His high and holy name we
pray, amen.