Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: And His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful - Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah 9:6-7 reads, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, 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 justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Now, the fullness of this promise and prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. The Lord Jesus Christ has not yet come in the fullness of His glory as King of kings and Lord of lords to rule and reign over the whole world from the throne of David in Jerusalem. Yet the fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has indeed begun to be fulfilled. Unto us that Child has been born. Unto us that Son has been given. The zeal of the Lord is already at work. God the Father has already sent God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be born into this world as God in human flesh. The fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has already begun in Christ’s first coming, and most certainly the fulfillment will be completed in Christ’s second coming. Amen, and amen. “Even so come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)
However, the focus of this message is not upon the coming of our Lord, but upon the character of our Lord. In the closing portion of verse 6 five titles are given to reveal the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son who was given to be born in human flesh – “And his name [His title] shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” In this message let us consider four truths concerning the second of these titles – “And his name shall be called . . . Counsellor.”
Now, the word “consellor” refers to someone who possesses such wisdom that he behaves wisely in his own conduct and is able to deliver wise counsels and correctives unto others. So then, in what ways is our Lord Jesus Christ to be called Counsellor?
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: And His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful - Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah 9:6-7 reads, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, 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 justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
Now, the fullness of this promise and prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. The Lord Jesus Christ has not yet come in the fullness of His glory as King of kings and Lord of lords to rule and reign over the whole world from the throne of David in Jerusalem. Yet the fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has indeed begun to be fulfilled. Unto us that Child has been born. Unto us that Son has been given. The zeal of the Lord is already at work. God the Father has already sent God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be born into this world as God in human flesh. The fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has already begun in Christ’s first coming, and most certainly the fulfillment will be completed in Christ’s second coming. Amen, and amen. “Even so come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)
However, the focus of this message is not upon the coming of our Lord, but upon the character of our Lord. In the closing portion of verse 6 five titles are given to reveal the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son who was given to be born in human flesh – “And his name [His title] shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” In this message let us consider four truths concerning the second of these titles – “And his name shall be called . . . Counsellor.”
Now, the word “consellor” refers to someone who possesses such wisdom that he behaves wisely in his own conduct and is able to deliver wise counsels and correctives unto others. So then, in what ways is our Lord Jesus Christ to be called Counsellor?
He possesses in Himself “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, Colossians 2:3 declares this very truth, saying, “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” He is God the Son, the second Person of the triune (three-in-one) Godhead; and as such, He is all-knowing and all-wise in all things. As the eternal God, “His understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5) As the Creator God, He founded the earth by perfect wisdom and established the heavens by perfect understanding. (Proverbs 3:19) In His earthly ministry as God in the flesh, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon Him, “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:2) In His ascension to the right hand of God the Father as King of kings and Lord of lords, “His eyes [are] as a flame of fire,” searching and trying the hearts of mankind. (Revelation 1:14; 2:23) As God our Savior, He is “the power of God, and the wisdom of God” for every believer. (1 Corinthians 1:24) And as God our Lord, His Word and counsel is absolutely true, altogether righteous, and always faithful. “And his name shall be called . . . Counsellor.”
He proclaims true wisdom and counsel unto those who will hear.
During His earthly ministry as God in the flesh, the people bare witness and marveled at His gracious words and wise teaching. (Luke 4:22; Matthew 13:54) To the lost world He proclaims His glorious gospel of eternal salvation through repentance of our sinfulness before God and through faith in His sacrifice on the cross. During His earthly ministry, He preached, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) And since His ascension into heaven, He has sent forth His Holy Spirit to reprove the lost world “of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:7-8) Concerning eternal salvation from sin, He is “the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by [Him].” (John 14:6)
As God the Son in human flesh, He revealed and declared God the Father unto His own. Even so, John 1:18 states, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” Thus when Philip requested that He might show them the Father, He responded in John 14:9-11, saying, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” And concerning all who become the children of God through faith in Christ, 1 John 5:20 declares, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
As our eternal Savior and Lord, He teaches us and leads us in the way of righteousness. He teaches us to “put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” and to “be renewed in the spirit of [our] mind;” and to “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:21-24) Concerning our daily walk, He counsels us in Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” To those believers who have gone away backward into sinfulness and worldliness, He counsels in Revelation 3:18-19, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” And for all who will follow and obey His Word of counsel, the promise is given in Luke 6:47-49, “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”
As our great High Priest, He grants comfort unto our troubled and wearied souls. To those believers who are suffering under the trials of temptation, toil, or tribulation, He counsels them with the comforts and promises of His Word, that they might find peace and rest unto their souls, and might not be wearied and faint in their minds. In Hebrews 2:18 the truth is revealed, “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” And in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 the prayer islifted up, “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” “And his name shall be called . . . Counsellor.”
He provides us with His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.
First, this provides us with guidance in our daily walk. In John 14:16-17 our Lord Jesus Christ declared, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Again in John 14:26 our Lord declared, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Yet again in John 16:13-14 our Lord declared, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” And yet again in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 God’s Word declares, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Finally, in 1 John 2:27 God’s Word declares, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”
Second, this provides us with guidance in our gospel witness. In Acts 1:8 our Lord Jesus Christ declared, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Again in Matthew 10:16-20 our Lord declared, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” Yet again in Luke 21:12-15 our Lord declared, “But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” “And his name shall be called . . . Counsellor.”
He shall perfectly rule His kingdom in righteousness and wisdom.
In Isaiah 9:7 God’s Word declares, “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 for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Again Jeremiah 23:5 God’s Word declares, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” Yet again in Isaiah 11:1-9 God’s Word declares, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” And yet again in Revelation 19:11-13 God’s Word declares, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Finally, in Isaiah 2:2-4 God’s Word declares, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” “And his name shall be called . . . Counsellor.”
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Isaiah, God the Son Jesus Christ, Salvation & Eternal Life, Spiritual Guidance, The Holy Spirit, Second Coming of Christ
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