Christmas Bible Study: "The Prophecy of the Messiah" Week # 5

Prayer:

Our Father which are in Heaven, we come to You with humbler hearts in Jesus' name. We have learned about many ways that You are with us, not only during the holiday season, but through-out the year. We are so grateful for that! We give You all the glory, praises, and honor. All power be unto You in Jesus' name. When we finish this lesson help us to keep it in our hearts to live day by day.  Father God, bless every prayer warrior in this community today and forever. Meet every need according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Who dead for us. We pray that each and every Christian would vote for the man of God to be elected this year as our leader of this nation. We need a man of God in office, so that we can live a peaceful life and be free to share Your Word in this country; Please don't allow the enemy to take our freedom from us in Jesus' name. We pray for the healing power of God to rest on every member in this community. We pray this in Jesus Christ's Mighty name, who is the Almighty God, AMEN.

 God is with us:            Immanuel:      Matthew 1:23

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

 Printed Text:   (Isaiah 9:6) "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Subject:           The Mighty God:

Let's read our printed text again………
Isaiah 9:6: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God..."

The Savior who was born in a barn and laid in a feeding trough would be called Wonderful because He would demonstrate the works and mighty deeds of God. He would be Counselor because He is the wisdom of God who counsels, commands and comforts anyone who would come to Him. 

OUTLINE
I. Jesus is God.
1. Jesus was sent FROM God and IS God. 
2. We do not have to understand that JESUS IS God to believe it.
3. We believe that JESUS IS GOD because God and Jesus say so: 
and so does the EVIDENCE.
II. Jesus is Mighty.
1. Jesus is immutably strong.
2. Jesus is self-sufficiently strong.
3. Jesus "binds up" the weak to make them strong. 

Jesus is "God".
This Savior-Child, Jesus, was sent from God and is God. Haven't you struggled with that idea? The human mind struggles with understanding and accepting the fact that Jesus IS God and He was sent by God. That sounds impossible (it sounds that way to me) but the foundation of the Christian faith has always been based on the fact that Jesus is God: Jesus is "Immanuel", sent by God and God with us at the same time in the flesh. 

The word for "God" used in Isaiah 9:6 is "El". Out of the 245 times that it is used in the Old Testament, 213 times, its context causes it to be unquestionably translated as "God", reflecting the One True, Almighty, Saving, Merciful, Loving, Rock-Solid, Commandment-giving, Holy God. 

Quote . . . I read a short book recently entitled "101 Scientific Facts and Foreknowledge." It tells of 101 non-spiritual facts, disease and prevention, health tips, nature, etc., which appeared in the Bible long before science could verify them. Humankind has always experienced these things, but it took science many years to actually discover, analyze and prove these facts even though God knew beforehand.

Every day we believe in things that we don't completely understand. We don't understand everything about electricity but it doesn't stop you from "believing" in the power and principles of electricity. You don't know everything about respiration, (breathing) but you don't stop breathing! We still don't really understand gravity but we still appreciate the laws of gravity and you wouldn't jump off the Empire State Building or the Golden Gate Bridge to try and defy those principles. People do not have to totally understand something to believe it, but for most of us, we can accept the words of someone else, the writings of someone, some evidence, and then we are able to accept the principles. The same thinking can be applied to spiritual things: We do not have to understand that JESUS IS GOD in order to believe it. (Jesus said all things are possible to him who what? Believe.) We may not comprehend how Jesus could be present at Creation as the Word and then thousands of years later come to earth as the Word made flesh, but we can still accept it and believe it, and trust Him as God. 

There are hundreds of proofs and evidence that Jesus is God, but most importantly, we can believe that JESUS IS MIGHTY GOD because God and Jesus say so. God's Word says so. The EVIDENCE says so and God says so. People who do not have the wisdom and counsel of God (the Counselor r Holy Spirit of God) would more easily believe a magician than they would God because they have been deceived. If people refuse to believe that Jesus is Mighty God, they HAVE BEEN DECEIVED and they haven't been deceived by God, Jesus, or the Word, but by the devil. People throughout history have been deceived by many false prophets and their teachings, which were far less convincing and diminutive compared to the WONDERFUL, miraculous, Lord Jesus Christ. When people deny that Jesus is God, they make an attempt to destroy God, to blaspheme His Holy Name (remember that Jesus was convicted unjustly of blasphemy when He claimed to be God), and in His stead, they make a god of their own choosing.  Instead of worshiping and serving the revealed Holy Almighty God, who mightily exists in three persons yet ONE, they make an attempt to murder this God by reducing Him. They try to place Him in a box of their own understanding, and in that way, they are serving a god who ISN'T there, and they become idolaters, instead of worshiping the Great God of the Bible, revealed through the eternal presence of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To reject Christ as God is to reject God.

Philippians 2:6-7 says: "He (Jesus) existed in the form of God, and did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men." 

Jesus is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father; very God of very God, who counted it not robbery to be equal with God. Jesus does not diminish God the Father in any way. Jesus does not detract from God because He "and the Father are one." (John 10:30) "I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am! (The same name that God revealed to Moses.)" (John 8:58) "The Father is in me, and I in the Father." (John 10:38) "If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him… Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:7, 9) (Jesus mentions his relationship with His Father over 100 times in the book of John.) Jesus is God, but He is also the Mighty God.

Jesus is "Mighty".
To state that "Jesus is God" explains Jesus exalted position but "mighty" helps us to understand the character of His God-head. We don't use the word "mighty" too often, but its Biblical use would include the words "powerful" and "strong". We use the word "powerful" to include armies and aromas, speech, strength, men, motors and much more.

The word for "mighty" means "strong" or "strength", but it is the intensive form of the word so Jesus is stronger or mightier than all the rest. In the Biblical sense, Jesus is immutably strong. He is eternally strong. His strength prevails against any forces. He is like the greatest fighter who will NEVER be defeated or the most skilled hunter who NEVER comes home empty-handed.  The creation in which we live is imprinted with the word "CHANGE" . CHANGE is written all over it; initially everything was GOOD, not fit to fail and fall but rather to stay strong: Now not only do leaves fall from trees, but the trees fall. Fruit falls and rots on the ground. Animals compete for survival. The sun rises and warms the air and earth and falls at night, but clear and calm days and nights can become filled with calamity and catastrophe. Relationships fail. Health falters. People are born and people die. Things change. 

But God (two beautiful words throughout the Bible: "but God") is imprinted with the word UNCHANGEABLE and Immutable. Only God is immutable, as it says in Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." He does not grow old with age or weary in battle. He does not grow slow of mind or slow of strength. God does not look forward to retirement. He does not wonder if Social Security will still be there tomorrow or next year. 

Jesus is always and consistently powerful and strong. We do not occupy that position of strength, but He offers change for us in His birth, life, death and resurrection. He offers renewed strength and new life to us from his inexhaustible and unchangeable strength as the Mighty God.  Jesus is also self-sufficiently strong. Self-sufficient strength does not hope for enough of anything in order to satisfy itself. Jesus doesn't need outside help or resources to remain strong. He doesn't need spiritual vitamins or iron shots. Jesus had been designated and promised from all eternity, before the world began, to be the Savior and was finally He born to accomplish His saving task; but He was not born mighty. He was ALWAYS mighty, and proved in His earthly task, to be MIGHTY to save.

In His flesh, He was "found in appearance (temporarily) as a man in order to humble Himself (Being humble is not being weak, it is being entirely wise!) by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8) The Mighty God appeared "in the flesh" "as a man" in order to accomplish His role as Savior. And He was self-sufficient to accomplish that task. Humanly speaking, that may be difficult to understand, but spiritually speaking it is crystal clear because God is God, Jesus Christ is always Mighty God.

If this is so, why did Jesus pray to His Father while on earth? It was not because He was weak or insufficient. It was because He desired to always and entirely be consistent and congruent with God's Perfect Will. Jesus never wanted to act in opposition to God because it would be a betrayal to his own Self. Jesus knew that to accomplish His task on earth as Savior, He needed always to be obedient in all things.

In John 1:3 we read, "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." Everything that we can see was created by Him and depends on His self-sufficient strength. A similar claim is made in Colossians 1:16-17: "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

In the same way, Hebrews 1:2-3 says: "In these last days (since Jesus was born until He comes again,)) he (God) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."  Jesus did not sit down at the right hand of the Majesty because He earned that position; He sat down at the place he vacated IN ORDER to accomplish the task for which He came to earth as Mighty God: to provide purification for sins which He had promised since Genesis! Jesus needed no one else's strength to accomplish sin's payment for us. He is self-sufficient and mighty to save. Lastly, this word "Mighty" means "strong", "strength" or "most powerful", but its most primitive word, it means to "bind up anything that is broken". In other words, Jesus as MIGHTY God, "binds up" the weak to make them strong. In Psalm 147:3, it says that God "heals the brokenhearted (literally, those who are broken in pieces, those who are crushed and crippled, smashed to smithereens!)(and binds or bandages) up their wounds."  What things does the Mighty God have to "bind up" for you through Jesus Christ? Hurt, disappointment, feelings of failure, economic insecurity, sexual impurity, guilt from having made wrong choices, forgiveness for abandonment, forgiveness for anger, freedom from the past, fear of the future.  Jesus promises to bind up our wounds and brokenness because He is the Wonderful, the Counselor, and the Mighty God. He comes to FIX: to refresh, renew, repair and redeem anything that is broken or crushed. He guarantees to forgive, heal, to comfort and encourage, no matter what the cause or cost. He supplies and provides for ALL of our needs while He accompanies us always, protecting and defending with the inexhaustible power, but also compassion of the Mighty God. A very basic question is always asked around Christmas: Who is this Jesus who was born in Bethlehem? We know that one of His names is Mighty God! Why? Because He has been Mighty in our lives! 

Background Scripture:          Psalm 24:8     

"Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."

 Scriptures References:           John 1:3; 8:58; 10:30-38; 14:7-9, Philippians 2:6-7; 2:8, Colossians 1:16-17,  Hebrews 1:2-3, Psalm 147:3

           

Questions:       Week # 5

1).        Why was the Savior who was born and laid in a feeding trough call Wonderful?

2).        Why was the Savior who was born and laid in a feeding trough call Counselor?

3).        What do the human mind struggle with?

4).        God's name "El" is unquestionably translated as what?

5.         Jesus said all things are possible to him who what?

6).        Why do we believe that Jesus is God?

7).        Those who do not believe have been what?

8).        How do people attempt to murder God?

9).        How is Jesus' attitude describe concerning Him been equal with God?

10).      How many times did Jesus mention His relationship with His Father in John?

11).      How do Jesus exalted position helps us in understanding what?       

12).      Explain the word "Mighty" concerning strength in Jesus.

13).      What did you learn in this lesson concerning change?

14).      What do the word immutable means?          

15).      Jesus as the Mighty God offers what?

16).      Explain Jesus' task on earth as Savior.

17).      What things does the Mighty God have to "bind up" for you through Jesus Christ?

18).      What do Psalm 24:8 means to you?

 

Application Question:            Name some of God's mighty deeds in your life.

Who Prophesied This?           Week # 5        

 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." (Isaiah 6:8)

 

Please share a short Review:

Reading Assignment:             Week # 5         Isaiah 34-41    Monday through Sunday

Sharing:          Christmas Songs        Week # 5         A way in a manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay, The little lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky. And stay by my side till morning is nigh.

Sweet bells they ring, they ring out the news today, That Christ was born, was born on Christmas day, Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care And take us to Heaven to live with Thee there.

CHRISTMAS BIBLE STUDY: "The Prophecy of the Messiah" sharing Week # 4

Scriptures References:          

Matthew 5:11-12

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 20:28

". . . Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Romans 11:34

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

I Corinthians 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

I Kings 4:34

And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

Micah 4:9

Now why dost thou cry out aloud? Is there no king in thee? Is thy counsellor perished? For pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.

Isaiah 28:29

"This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working."

Hebrews 4:15-16

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Colossians 2:3

"In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

 

Questions:

1).        Describe Jesus in a wonderful way. 

Wow, this is exciting to do! Describe Jesus in a wonderful way is my pleasure. Jesus is awesome to me! Jesus was there when God created the heaven and earth, and before that. Jesus was the power that God used to create all things, the very POWER, amen. He was called wonderful because He is wonderful. Jesus came into my life and changed me from the insider out; I am not boasting, but just telling the truth about His wonderful ways; I was a mess, but did that stop Him, no it didn't! I call that wonderful!!!

2).        What did Jesus come to do on earth?

Isaiah 9:7 says, Jesus was coming to establish His Kingdom here on earth. Also Isaiah said in other verses that Jesus came to set the captive free; Jesus made that statement once He arrived and started His ministry on earth.

3).        What did the prophecy of Jesus give the people of Isaiah's time?

Isaiah's prophecy gave the people of God a hope they so desperately needed: a Child would be born to fulfill the Davidic Covenant, and He would bear the titles "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." The Child was Christ; the prophecy will reach its consummation at Christ's second coming. AMEN.

4).        What do the word wonderful means in Judges 13:18?

Beyond our understanding, way pass finding out through human knowledge. That wonderful is beyond the human mind.

5).        Name some of the ways Jesus demonstrated His wonderfulness.

(a) Conception through a virgin mother (Matthew 1:23)

(b) Wonderful healer (Matthew 4:23)

(c) His amazing teaching (Mark 1:22)

(d) His perfect life (Hebrews 4:15)

(e) His resurrection from the dead (Mark 16:6)

6).        In ancient Israel a counselor was portrayed as who?

In ancient Israel, a counselor was portrayed as a wise king, such as Solomon, giving guidance to his people (1 Kings 4:34; Micah 4:9). Isaiah uses this word again in 28:29 to describe the LORD: "This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.

7).        In Proverbs 3:6 is it referring to Jesus' counselling, explain?

Yes it does! Christ's position as our Wonderful Counselor means we can trust Him to listen to our problems and guide us in the right direction (Proverbs 3:6).

8).        In the Garden of Eden Satan act as what to Eve, and instructed her how?

In the Garden of Eden Satan acted as a Counselor and told Eve to eat what God had forbidden. This is what you would call poor counselling, because it was against God's will.

9).        Job wife and friends were good or bad counseling?

The wife of Job told him to Curse God and die! Job's friends told him to repent because he must have done something wrong if bad things were happening to him. All were foolish counselors giving bad advice.

10).      Jethro's counseling to Moses was good or bad?

This counselling was good. Jethro advised Moses to delegate authority, so others could release him from a great burden, wise counsel, amen.

11).      Explain Solomon's counseling to the two mothers claiming the same baby.

He then gave an order: Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other. The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him! But the other said, Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two! Then the king gave his ruling: Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother. This is wise counsel. Solomon read the situation correctly and found a way to bring the best resolution. AMEN.

12).      Why is Jesus' counseling is the wisest counsel?

Jesus is the wisest Counselor because His wisdom is from the throne room of Heaven. We should seek God's wisdom when we counsel at any time.

13).      Name several things our Lord does when we turn to Him for counseling.

I) He tells us the truth. He tells us what is really wrong with our lives. He points out that we are rebelling against God. We are like sheep who have gone astray.  He tells us that we need to repent of our sin. II) Jesus tells us to trust what He has done for us. In Matthew 20:28.  III) Our Counselor gives us a prescription for life that will help us continue to live a spiritually healthy life. This prescription is found in the Bible.

14).      Concerning counseling what prescription has the Lord given to us?

We are to trust Him rather than trusting ourselves. We are to love rather than take advantage of one another. We are to forgive rather than be bitter. We are to be holy rather than profane

We are to store up treasures in Heaven rather than on earth. We are to be generous rather than selfish. We are to seek to serve rather than be served

15).      Most people don't know of Jesus' counseling because of what?

Most people don't know this because they haven't given His counsel a chance. As we read the Word it counsel us to do what is right and holy before God. Jesus will counsel us through prayer too. We must pray for a hearing ear.

 

Application Question:            Give a testimony of Jesus' wonderfulness in your life.

It is always a pleasure to give my testimony of what God has done in my life. There are times when I can just sense His wonderfulness in my heart and mind. I just cry! Before my mother went to be with the Lord, I was living so far from her and God knew I needed to be home. His mercy and grace blessed my mind to accept the fact I had to leave a good job and move back home where she was; we had a few good years before she passed. God knew this! All the time Jesus was counselling my heart in this situation, but my flesh and the enemy had me thinking at time it was a mistake, but God saw me through it; His wonderfulness and counseling brought me through this with peace in my heart. I love the song "Your Grace and Mercy" It reminds me of His wonderful grace and mercy through the Holy Spirit. Let me share this song now. . .

Your grace and mercy, brought me through
I'm living this moment because of You
I want to thank You, and praise You too
Your grace and mercy, brought me through
Verse 1
Thank You, for saving a sinner like me
To tell the world salvation is free
There were times when I just didn't do right
But You watched over me
All day and night

Repeat chorus

Verse 2
Justice demanded, that I should die
But grace and mercy said oh, no, oh, no, oh no, we've already paid the price
I once was blind, but thank God I can see
It was because grace and mercy came along and rescued me

Your grace and mercy brought me through
I'm living this moment because of You
I want to thank You and praise You too
Your grace and mercy
Your grace and mercy
Your grace and mercy
Brought me through

He is wonderful counselor!!!

Who Prophesied This?           Week # 4        

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Zechariah 9:9)

 Zechariah prophesied this prophecy, and he was one of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament after they returned from captivity to rebuild the Temple.

Please share a short Review:

Jesus is Wonderful, He is a great Counselor, and to me He is a wonderful counselor. Isaiah 9:7 says, "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."  Jesus' wonderfulness is mind boggling to the human, but once you receive Him and His Holy Spirit, then you will understand and accept that wonderfulness about Him. Jesus demonstrated that wonderfulness in various ways while here on earth. The most wonderful amazing one is the virgin birth. There is a number of good counseling in the Bible, but also bad/poor counseling too. We should seek God's counseling through the Holy Spirit at all time, which is good counseling. Amen. Good counseling is to know that it takes understanding what causes the problem before you can solve the problem. Jesus' position as our wonderful counselor means we can trust Him to listen to our problems, and guide us in the right path as Proverbs 3:6 says.  God has given us a good prescription for a joyful life. Through this lesson I have learned that I must resist the morality and advice of this world, and follow God's advice, directions, and guidance, which is wonderful counseling from a Wonderful Almighty God, who is soon to come and establish His Kingdom right here on earth.

 

 

Reading Assignment:             Week # 4         Isaiah 26-33 Monday through Sunday

I will finish reading this week's reading on Sunday

Bible Study: Christmas “The Prophecy of the Messiah” Week # 4

Prayer:

Father God, we are so honored to know You as a Wonderful Counselor. You are magnificent! You are King of kings and Lord of lords. There is none like You, Lord. The praises of Your honor is forever known to Your people. We gladly give it to You. We thank You for Your wise counselling in our everyday life. Your Word counsel our hearts as we read it and study it. In this lesson teach us to receive Your wonderful counseling, so we can live a holy life unto You. Let the words of our mouth, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength, and our Redeemer. AMEN.

 

God is with us:            Immanuel:      Matthew 1:23

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

 

Printed Text:   (Isaiah 9:6) "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

 

Subject:           Wonderful and Counselor:               

 

When Isaiah wrote his prediction of the coming of the "Wonderful Counselor" (Isaiah 9:6), he was spurring Israel to remember their Messiah was indeed coming to establish His Kingdom (Isaiah 9:7). Isaiah was writing nearly 800 years before Christ. This period of history was tumultuous as the Assyrians were on the march, taking people into captivity by droves. Isaiah's prophecy gave the people of God a hope they so desperately needed: a Child would be born to fulfill the Davidic Covenant, and He would bear the titles "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." The Child was Christ; the prophecy will reach its consummation at Christ's second coming.

That Isaiah calls the Messiah the "Wonderful Counselor" indicates the kind of character this coming King has. The word wonderful in this passage literally means "incomprehensible." The Messiah will cause us to be "full of wonder." The word is much weightier than the way it's used in normal conversation today—we say things are "wonderful" if they are pleasant, lovely, or the least bit likable. Jesus is wonderful in a way that is boggling to the mind. The same word for "wonderful" is used in Judges 13:18 when Manoah, Samson's father, asked the LORD (in a theophany) what His name was. The angel of the LORD responded, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?" In other words, "Why do you ask my name, since it is beyond your understanding?"

Jesus demonstrated His wonderfulness in various ways when He was on the earth, beginning with His conception in the womb of a virgin (Matthew 1:23). He showed He is the "wonderful" One in His power to heal (Matthew 4:23), His amazing teaching (Mark 1:22), His perfect life (Hebrews 4:15), and His resurrection from the dead (Mark 16:6). Jesus taught many wonderful things that are counterintuitive to the human mind: "Blessed are those who mourn" (Matthew 5:4). "Rejoice and be glad" in persecution" (Matthew 5:11–12). "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27). Jesus' kind of wonderful is awe-inspiring and superior to any other kind, for He is perfect in every way (Matthew 5:48).

The second part of the Messiah's title is the word Counselor. In ancient Israel, a counselor was portrayed as a wise king, such as Solomon, giving guidance to his people (1 Kings 4:34; Micah 4:9). Isaiah uses this word again in 28:29 to describe the LORD: "This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom." Jesus is a wise counselor. "He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person" (John 2:25). He is able to advise His people thoroughly because He is qualified in ways no human counselor is. In Christ is "hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3), including the knowledge of all human nature (Psalm 139:1–2). Jesus always knows what we are going through, and He always knows the right course of action (Hebrews 4:15–16).

Christ's position as our Wonderful Counselor means we can trust Him to listen to our problems and guide us in the right direction (Proverbs 3:6). We can be sure He is listening because He told us to pray to Him about our worries (Philippians 4:6; James 1:5). We can be certain He has our best interests at heart because He loves us (1 John 4:19). And His love is so wide and deep (and wonderful) that we cannot fully understand it (Romans 5:8).

 

Jesus as our Counselor:

There are examples of a number of poor counselors in the Bible.  In the Garden of Eden Satan acted as a Counselor and told Eve to eat what God had forbidden. He counseled Jesus to make stones in to bread and to test God's love. The wife of Job told him to Curse God and die! Job's friends told him to repent because he must have done something wrong if bad things were happening to him. All were foolish counselors giving bad advice.

 

We also see several examples of good counsel. Jethro advised Moses to delegate authority. The prophets were constantly advising the Kings to trust God; And then there is this great story about Solomon,

 

1 Kings 3:16-27

Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.  During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne.

The other woman said, No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours. But the first one insisted, No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine. And so they argued before the king. 

The king said, This one says, My son is alive and your son is dead, while that one says, No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.  Then the king said, Bring me a sword, so they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other. The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him! But the other said, Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!

Then the king gave his ruling: Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother. This is wise counsel. Solomon read the situation correctly and found a way to bring the best resolution.

 

Jesus is the wisest Counselor because His wisdom is from the throne room of Heaven.

 

He never sought the counsel of man, and He never asked for the advice of man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his counsellor? (Romans. 11:34). God has no counsellor. The Lord Jesus Christ never called His disciples together and said, "Now, fellows, what do you think I ought to do"? You don't read anything like that in Scripture. The Lord called them together and said, This is what I am going to do, because this is My Father's will. And Christ has been made unto us wisdom (see 1 Cor. 1:30). Most of us are not very smart. We must go to Him for help.

 

Our Lord does several things when we turn to Him. First, He tells us the truth. He tells us what is really wrong with our lives. He points out that we are rebelling against God. We are like sheep who have gone astray.  He tells us that we need to repent of our sin.

 

He is like a Doctor who tells someone suffering from emphysema that they need to stop smoking cigarettes and stop hanging around with people who smoke. Understanding what is causing the problem is essential before you can solve the problem.

 

Second, Jesus tells us to trust what He has done for us. In Matthew 20:28 we read,

the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

 

Jesus understood that we could not save ourselves, something needed to be done for us. Jesus didn't just tell us that we needed help. He provided the help we need.

 

Did you see the story on television recently about the young girl who received two organ transplants at once?  She received a liver and a kidney. Her father and her Grandmother both willingly provided for this girl they loved. Without their provision, without their sacrifice, this girl was going to die. All the good intentions in the world could not change the disease that was inside of her.

 

It is somewhat like that for us. We can want to be forgiven but we can't do anything about defeating the disease of sin that stalks us and enslaves us. Jesus provided what we could not provide for ourselves. He gave His life as payment for our sin.  The prescription of our wonderful counselor is "Trust me and take what I have provided."

 

Third, our Counselor gives us a prescription for life that will help us continue to live a spiritually healthy life. This prescription is found in the Bible. In John 14:21,23-24 Jesus said,

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.. . ."If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

 

People who have had heart surgery are given a prescription.  They are told to walk regularly, to watch their diet, to take their medicine and to get their regular check-ups. If you do those things, you will get better and be able to enjoy your life. But if you ignore those prescriptions you will not regain your strength or vitality and will probably die much sooner.

 

Our Lord has given us His prescription for joyful living. He told us to resist the morality and advice of the world and to follow God's directions. Practically, that means

  We are to trust Him rather than trusting ourselves

  We are to love rather than take advantage of one another

  We are to forgive rather than be bitter

  We are to be holy rather than profane

  We are to store up treasures in Heaven rather than on earth

  We are to be generous rather than selfish

  We are to seek to serve rather than be served

 

The counsel of Jesus is superb. He understands our situation and has addressed with love and wisdom. However, most people don't know this because they haven't given His counsel a chance.

 

Background Scripture:          Isaiah 7:14     

"Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and call His Name Immanuel."

 

Scriptures References:           Matthew 5:11-12; 5:48; 20:28, Romans 11:34, I Corinthians 1:30, I Kings 4:34,  Micah4:9, Isaiah 28:29, Hebrews 4:15-16, Colossians 2:3

Questions:

1).        Describe Jesus in a wonderful way.             

2).        What did Jesus come to do on earth?

3).        What did the prophecy of Jesus give the people of Isaiah's time?

4).        What do the word wonderful means in Judges 13:18?        

5).        Name some of the ways Jesus demonstrated His wonderfulness.

6).        In ancient Israel a counselor was portrayed as who?

7).        In Proverbs 3:6 is it referring to Jesus' counselling, explain?

8).        In the Garden of Eden Satan act as what to Eve, and instructed her how?

9).        Job wife and friends were good or bad counseling?

10).      Jethro's counseling to Moses was good or bad?

11).      Explain Solomon's counseling to the two mothers claiming the same baby.

12).      Why is Jesus' counseling is the wisest counsel?

13).      Name several things our Lord does when we turn to Him for counseling.

14).      Concerning counseling what prescription has the Lord given to us?

15).      Most people don't know of Jesus' counseling because of what?

Application Question:            Give a testimony of Jesus' wonderfulness in your life.

Who Prophesied This?           Week # 4        

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Zechariah 9:9)

 

Please share a short Review:

Reading Assignment:             Week # 4         Isaiah 26-33 Monday through Sunday

Sharing:          Christmas Songs        Week # 4         Angels we have heard on high

Angels We Have Heard On High Angels we have heard on high Sweetly swinging o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains.

Chorus:
Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo

Shepherds why this jubilee Why your joyous strains prolong Say what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Chorus

Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo

Come to Bethlehem and see Him Whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Chorus

Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Gloria In Excelsis Deo

See within in a manger laid Jesus Lord of heav'n and earth Mary, Joseph lend your aid
With us sing our Savior's birth