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The development of the soul and spirit is essential for a full life.
The Christmas Promise Isa. 9:6-7
Charles
Wesley wrote
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a Virgin's womb;
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th' incarnate Deity.
In these verses he captured the mystery, glory and beauty of that scene in Bethlehem we sing of at Christmas season.
Isaiah
includes man y wonderful names under the one name.
3. He is the Mighty God - This
word means “Hero, one who is strong, mighty and invincible.” He alone is
worthy to be our Hero for He has defeated all our enemies.
He brings order out of chaos.
As
Mighty God there is no confusion in Him. His universe is under His control.
He keeps order in the created world. The Messiah's kingdom is free from
chaos because He is the Mighty God. He is the One who in creation brought
order out of chaos. Paul says, "God is not a God of confusion but of
peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33). Disorder cannot be attributed to Him. He
does not loose control, He does not worry about the state of the world, he
is working to His plan. He is a God of order. Christ brings order to the
troubled lives of all who surrender to Him. He enables His people to live in
His power. He has power over the sinful nature of people. Human beings are
weak and fallible, that is why they have their troubles and why the world is
in a mess. Men are limited in their power, their knowledge, their ability
but the Mighty God is unlimited. When Jesus Christ comes to rule this earth,
He'll display His divine power by bringing order to the chaos. Those who do
not submit to Him will be ruled with a rod of iron (cf. Psalm 2:9;
Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15). Those who trust Him and humble themselves
before Him as Lord and Saviour, will rule with the Mighty God. Christ is
God, and only god can forgive sin, defeat Satan, liberate people from the
power of evil, redeem them, answer their prayers, restore their broken
souls, and reign as Lord-"Mighty God" in their new life. He has
power over sin, over Satan and over death. He is Mighty God.
4.
Everlasting Father - The
Messiah is the Everlasting Father
"everlasting” means - without end, eternal. He has always
existed. He existed before time bean. There has never been a time when
He was never existed and there will never be a time when He will not be. He
is the great “I AM”! Since we hae his life in us we will live
forever. He is our “Father”. This
word means “Producer or generator.” He is our source. We exist because
He brought us into being and He sustains our lives by His power. He
Is the Father of Eternity. The
idea in these Hebrew words is that Jesus is the source or author of all
eternity, that He is the Creator Himself. It does not mean that Jesus
Himself is the Person of the Father in the Trinity.
Jesus Christ is everlasting. David sang, “Your
throne, O God, is forever and ever.” He is the same yesterday, today, and
forever!
Jesus always was. The Babe born in Bethlehem was the Word who made
all things in the beginning who became flesh. Jesus Christ revealed Himself
to John in Patmos was, “Him which is, and which was, and which is to
come.”
Christ
is Creator of heaven and earth. In Hebrews 1:10-12 God the Father says to
Christ the Son, "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the
earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish, but
You remain; and they all will become old like a garment, and like a mantle
You will roll them up; like a garment they will also be changed. But You are
the same, and Your years will not come to an end. Nothing is too complex for
the Creator and Sustainer of everything. Infinity and all its intricacies
are nothing to Him who is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the
Beginning and the end." Mankind seems to be advancing in
technology and communication. But humanity is in deep trouble because it has
rejected God. Human problems have become complex, personally,
nationally, and internationally. Economies are collapsing, cultures are
clashing, racial hatred is increasing, religion has a its systems, but we
are worse off in our modern world. More and more laws are being passed that
bring confusion instead of freedom. On an international scale governments
are complicated. Plans and schemes are being made to deal with the
complexities of life-and consequently life only to find the dream has become
a nightmare. But "Christ shall reign were er' the sun does its
sucessful journeys run." When the Messiah's government is set up on
earth it will not be complex or complicated. Even fools cannot lose their
way. He is the father of Eternity and knows the end from the beginning
because. Isaiah, prophesying about the kingdom, wrote of the highway of
holiness: "The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for
those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein" (Isaiah
35:8). He shoulders His government by Himself.
5. The Messiah is the Prince of Peace: He is the One who makes peace, especially between God and man. He will rule His kingdom in peace. He can do this because He is the Prince of Peace. He is the creator and provider of peace. And, those who know Him know all about peace, (John 14:27; John 16:33a; Phil. 4:7.) There will be no wars, no conflict in the Messiah's kingdom. He offers peace from God (Romans 1:7) to all who are the recipients of His grace. He brings peace with God (Romans 5:1) to those who surrender to Him in faith. He brings the peace of God (Philippians 4:7) to those who walk with Him. There never really has been true peace on earth. Wars and rumours of wars have scarred history even from the announcement of His birth of peace on earth (Luke 2:14). Christ's peace is available to men and women right now. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." (Lk. 2:14). When a person is saved and accepts His Lordship He is pleased. He has saved us form our sins. The angel's also sang, "peace on earth" at the arrival of the the Prince of Peace, the only One who ultimately can bring lasting peace on earth.
His
Government - The
Glory of the Messiah's Reign.
"Of
the increase of His government and peace there will be no end,
upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it
with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of
the LORD of hosts will perform this." This happens the second advent of Jesus.
"No end" means forever. He will reign forever. He will reign for all eternity. He will rule for 1000 years upon the throne of David. (2 Sam. 7.) It is a literal government on earth. The Lord Jesus Christ is going to take His seat upon the throne of David and in David's kingdom. This world governments keep failing us but when the King of kings comes He will not fail us.
"The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." God will not break His promise neither will He be defeated. The Lord Jesus Christ will come again to this earth to reign in glory. He is returning to this world, not as “the Lamb of God”, but as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah. It will be a government that will never change. There will be no rulers after Him. There is no one better we could have as a ruler.
"The
government will rest on His shoulders" affirms His lordship over all
things. There is a time in the future when Christ will reign over all men,
all countries, it will encompasses all the kingdoms and governments of the
world (Dan. 2:44; Zech. 14:9). Until that time, His kingdom is in an
invisible kingdom (cf. Luke 17:20-21). But one day become visible and
universal as His rule extends even over those who do not acknowledge His
lordship their hearts. He will be a righteious king. You will be able to
trust Him and obey Him as Lord.
Christ as
Righteous Judge
Isa.
9:7 “He will establish it with judgment and with justice from
henceforth even for ever..." His kingdom will be nothing like any
other kingdom. The world has never seen any thing like it. it cannot be
compared to any other kingdom because it has a special king. There has been
no king, no ruler like Him. History records the failures of kings and
kingdoms but a perfect ruler will rule this kingdom. He will establish that
kingdom with judgment and justice.
Accomplished
by the Power of God
The
zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” It will not be
accomplished by men or by preachers or buy the Church. It will not be
established by "Kingdom Now " preaching. It will not be
established because of men's governmental decisions. It
will be established by Jehovah. It will be brought about by His
zeal or "jealousy. "
He
is jealousy for His righteousness and for His plan and for His purpose. He
will let nothing interfere with it.
Psalm
110: 1. Tells us that the LORD (Jehovah). “said unto my Lord.
(jAdonai,) which in the New Testament refers to the Lord
Jesus Christ. So we could read it:
Ps.
110:1"God said unto his Son, Sit thou at my right hand, until I
make thine enemies thy footstool." This
the place of authority of God in Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ is
right now, and He is going to sit there until He himself decides to come
back and be the ruler of the world.
Christ to
Reign from David's Throne
Ps 110:2-6 ``The LORD Jehovah God shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion." Who is going to do it? God is going to do it. He addresses His Son, Jesus Christ, who must come back and sit on David's throne and rule the world.
Vs 4 He does this because "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head. Revelation 19 describes this event.
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Robert Hunsdale (Pastor/Founder) |
