December 20, 2023 -- Isaiah 9:6-7 -- Uhm hm. Now that's how you say it.

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV

Yesterday I was listening to a podcast sermon given by Alistair Begg. I had to smile thinking of something Christian author and speaker C. J. Mahaney once said. Mahaney noted that after completing his Sunday sermon, the Saturday night before preaching it, he’d read C.H. Spurgeon’s printed sermon on the exact text. There’d be times he’d say to himself, yup, I missed that. Uhm hm, now that is the way to say it.

Mahaney’s experience with Spurgeon is mine with Begg! Yesterday, after hearing Begg’s sermon on Isaiah 9, I wanted to summarize. It was so good, I was saying to myself, “Uhm hm, now that is the way to say it.

Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. Wonderful is an overused, tired expression in our language. But look at the Bible, Jesus’ words amazed people (Mark 1:29; 2:12 to cite just two places where this is said of Him). It is as if our language fails. People were gobsmacked.. They'd never heard preaching like that. He is the sole counselor our lives ever need. In Him is Truth. Go to Him in prayer. Ask His help. 

Mighty God. Look at the miracles of Jesus. Healed the lepers. Calmed the raging storm and seas with a word. Raised the dead. Our picture of Jesus often is too comfortable, too small. He is Mighty God. And He is tender.

Everlasting Father. Begg notes this expression throws many people off. As if this confuses the Persons of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is not confusing the members of the Trinity, it is defining the role of Jesus, our spiritual head—Head of the Church. He is our Gentle leader Who with a word could destroy us, but with tenderness, and strength, came as the once-for-all sacrifice for our sins. So that in Him we are reconciled to God, rescued from the tyranny of the devil, and given the one, only, worthy Leader to follow. In a world of vain fandom and heroes who crash and burn, Jesus is the One, True, worthy example, our true father-figure in faith.

Prince of Peace. Our old nature and patterns rage and rebel against the Spirit of Jesus. This same Spirit Who has been given to believers. When Jesus rose from the dead, on that first Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared before His terrified disciple and said, “Peace”. All their sins (and the Bible showed the disciples to be prideful, misunderstanding of Who He Is, betrayers, and those who abandoned Him in His hour of need…to name just a few of their sins) were atoned for by His once for all sacrifice. He is our peace. As much as He calmed raging storms and raised the dead, He has the power to bring peace to our troubled minds and spirit so that we can follow Him in security, in peace.

O LORD, the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice, give thy blessing on all states and conditions of thy Holy Church. To them that teach grant the gifts of knowledge, discernment, and love, to them that minister in holy things to be humble, tender and pure; to all pastors of thy flock to be zealous, vigilant, and unworldly, having their hearts set upon invisible things. Grant to our heads of families to be wise and gentle, to our young people to be prudent and chaste, to our old people to be cheerful and fervent, to all who are engaged in business to be honest and unselfish. Build us up in faith, hope, charity, and all virtues; through Jesus Christ our Lord—Amen.

“For the Church” Divine Service Book for the Armed Forces: A Treasury of Devotion, 1950. page 23

One comment on the song selection for today. So often it seems effortless, the music that flows from musicians and singers and percussionists. It is effort. It is training. It is work. As is our Christian faith. Effort. Training. Work. And joy in Jesus! Today’s song selection shows some of the work of a young singer.

https://youtu.be/A1ybgnJh1yE?si=Hv6ixbZ12RU03tvm

O Holy Night

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