Every believer should be excited about the advent season that we are celebrating, and the celebration of Jesus’ birth.  A birth prophesied by Isaiah some 1,500 years before it happened and Jesus birth that occurred almost 2,000 years ago.

Every believer that accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior should look forward to this season, not just to share gifts with love ones, but that the birth of Christ is the realization that our sins would are forgiven (past, present, and future) and the burden to atone for those sins were erased when Jesus went to the cross.

It was declared while we were still yet sinners, before we accepted Jesus Christ, before we were born.  It was declared over each and every one’s life that is here today that we are chosen for such a time as this.  God declared in Romans 5:8.

God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  What is says is that God loves us so much that he is willing to change the order of our life by allowing us to have a new birth, a new mind-set, a new set of beliefs, new friends, new habits, and a new way of life.

A new birth indicates a clean slate:  old things are passed away and all things have become new.  A new birth says that my wrongs are righted, and my mistakes are now stepping stones. A new birth suggests that a new beginning, a new way, a new purpose, a new thought life, a new outlook, a new life.  A new birth says more blessings, more favor, more access to the Father.

This new birth prophesied for every believer was not concocted by God, but in His infinite wisdom He looked down through the generations, down through the centuries, decades, years, months and days to reach you with a prophesy saying you will be great, you will be honored, you will be successful, you will be accepted, you will make it, you will not be deterred, and you will loved. You will rise beyond what thought or asked for.

This was made possible by Jesus Christ when his birth was prophesied in our text and fulfilled in Matthew 2.  The expectation that is realized when accepting Jesus as Lord is presented in today text. I want present who this is that has come, what are his characteristics, and what we can expect.

Point 1 – Emmanuel Has Come! – Isaiah 9:6a – For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.

Jesus no ordinary man but a man that was fully flesh and fully divine all at the same time.  His presence on earth marked by time, his presence in heaven marked by eternity, and his power given to him by the Father.

We are the same!  Our time on earth is marked, our time in heaven is eternal, and God the Holy spirit who resides in us is empowering us to overcome the enemy and wisdom to overcome his tactics of distracting the believer.  In our new birth we are human and progressively more divine.

• He was prophesied that he was coming to do a great work. A work that only the Son of God could do.  He that became man so we now have access to the Father through his blood.

⁷ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. ⁸ Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; ⁹ Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. ¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 

In 1 Peter 2:4-5 New International Version (NIV)

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house^[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

• Jesus came to take the penalty of our sins for us, so we won’t have too. Our minds need to be refreshed daily to recognize that God is in control, God loves us, and only we can put ourselves in danger.  For example, when we go our own pathway, we are saying, I want disaster.
• Talks about him when the government will be upon his shoulder.

1. Luke 9:44 The Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
2. Luke 9:22 – The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

 

Point 2 – The Righteous Attributes of Emmanuel – Isaiah 9:6b – And His name will be called Wonderful, counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

 

He is Wonderful, and there are several other names that I call him that similar to Wonderful, Awesome, Incredible, Remarkable, Stupendous, Outstanding, Righteous, Excellent, Fantastic, Great, Majestic

In the midst of the storm he can calm the winds;

In the midst of the forest he can create a pathway home;

In the middle of the desert he can cause the waters of life to spring;

In the midst of strongholds, he can break the shackles;

While bearing burdens he can lift you

Counselor – Guides you with his counsel

Wisdom to meet challenges

Immutable counsel – unchanging

Mighty God – There is no other

Everlasting Father – Beginning and the end,

Prince of Peace –

 

Point 3 – Emmanuel Rules an Everlasting Righteous Kingdom – Isaiah – 9:7 – 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.

In our new birth we become a part of an everlasting kingdom.  A kingdom built for us. He shall reign in Peace, his power and authority reigning from everlasting to everlasting.  Jesus will meet and defeat every foe.