For Unto Us a Child is Born

“For Unto Us a Child is Born”
Isaiah 9:6

Introduction

  • Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)…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.
  • I want us to note this morning how alive the word of God is and how it is never out of date. Look at the first few words… “For unto us.” Who is “us?”
  • Of Isaiah’s time “us” meant the Jews who awaited His birth. This verse is the prophecy of Isaiah concerning Jesus (the Messiah).
  • I believe that God wants “us” to know the “names” given to His Son that is “born unto us” giving us hope and grace especially at this time of year.

I. The Name “Immanuel”

  A) It’s meaning

  • “a son is given” refers to the child born of a virgin. It also refers to the name given in Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  
  • The word Immanuel means… God with who? “Us.”
  • Here is the word “us” This time it gives hope to the Jews and Gentiles.
  • When we as Gentiles (or Jews) accept Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord of our life, He is “God with us.” Where we go, He goes.
  • When we make Jesus Lord of our life it is God with us all the time. This should make you more aware of the things you do, the places you go, and the things you see, and the way you think. WHY? Ask yourself… “Would God do this?” “Would God go here?” “Would God look at this?” “Would God like what I am thinking about?”

II. The Name “Wonderful”  

  A) It’s meaning

  • It means… a miracle, marvelous thing.
  • Jesus had a miracle birth, with Him being born of a virgin and fathered by God and seed given of the Holy Spirit.
  • He also performed many miracles during His Ministry and after His death.
  • He is still performing miracles in our lives today.
  • We too can be miracles with our second birth (Salvation), Fathered by God (through adoption), and the Holy Spirit giving seed to our thoughts, convictions, teachings, and guidance.

III.   The Name “Counsellor”

  A) An advisor

  • When you look up the word “counsel” (what a counselor does) in the dictionary, it will tell you that it means 1. A mutual change of ideas, opinions, a discussion or deliberation 2. A lawyer giving advice about legal matters to be presented in court. 3. To urge the acceptance of an action or plan.
  • Using these meanings, we can look at Christ in this manner and more.
  • When we use Christ as a “counselor” in our life, then we take his ideas, opinions and advice to apply it to our life and its situations, troubles, necessities and etc.
  • Do you realize how many times that we do not ask for His advice?
  • This is a pride problem when you believe yourself to be smarter than God. Do you remember that it is the very same thing that got Satan kicked out of heaven?
  • The important thing to remember about the word “counselor” is this… a counselor offers and gives advice. He (or she) does not force action to be taken nor does a counselor demand that his advice be taken.
  • With a counselor, advice is given, not forced.

IV.  The Name “The Mighty God”

  A) God of gods

  • 97 times the word mighty is attributed to God describing His power.
  • God tells Israel here how they should relate to the inhabitants of the land for which God will give to them in Deuteronomy 7:21…Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible. It was time for God’s judgment upon the land.
  • We should also remember that God does this for all His children when they depend on His counsel, His strength, and His wisdom. Don’t be frightened by what others may say or do to you. You are God’s children, vengeance is His.
  • I can’t believe how people can be so ignorant to the facts of our God when they admit and recognize His power but yet they hang on to their weak gods as they did in Deuteronomy 10:17…For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
  • I am a carpenter/builder by trade and I see the similarities here when a person buys cheap faucets or toilets or whatever and can’t understand why they continue to think “cheap is better.” When you recognize the fact that something is better, why continue to put a band-aid on a major laceration?
  • I believe it is also amazing to recognize “His hand” is mighty. Many times you will see the mention of His “mighty hand” throughout the word of God… 7:19; 9:26, and in Joshua 4:24…That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.
  • Jesus rebuked an evil spirit that had overtaken a young boy and the crowd recognized the power of God through His Son in Luke 9:43…And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.

V.   The Name “The Everlasting Father”

  A) Giving us hope and grace

  • The word “everlasting” is a word that is really not a word we understand on earth. The reason I say that is because you hear or read everyone say “My car will last me forever” or “I am going to live in my house forever” or “These parts I recently bought have a lifetime warranty.”
  • All the above is not true, but they tell you that to get you to buy what they are selling. Nothing on this earth will last forever.
  • Your earthy father is not everlasting, but your heavenly Father (God) is everlasting.
  • Look at what Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Thessalonica in…
    II Thessalonians 2:16…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, 17) Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
  • Because of God’s love for us, He has given us EVERLASTING…
  1. “consolation” – meaning everlasting comfort, in making us feel less sad or disappointed.
  2. “good hope” – Our everlasting hope of a bodily resurrection from the grave and a change for our corruptible bodies to become incorruptible, eternal security, a home in heaven, a life of eternal bliss based on what God has told in His word. God doesn’t lie and cannot tolerate liars.
  3. “grace” – His everlasting grace given to us who is undeserving of His love and forgiveness for the sins we have committed and will commit.
  • Knowing these three things that are “everlasting” should what (?) “…Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”
  • No Christian should be sad. No Christian should be hanging their head in depression or crying about their future when God has “stablished (made firm, or permanent)” every good work or things said.

VI. The Name “The Prince of Peace”

  A) Peace from what?

  • The last name given to the Messiah from Isaiah’s prophecy is found in our text verse 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.
  • People that are in a lost condition, who have not made Jesus Lord of their life do not understand the meaning of the “peace” that Jesus brings in His name.
  • You and I know because we have studied this…
  • Matthew 10:34…Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Christ is not coming to bring peace in the world from its wars, peace in families that fight about everything including their place of worship and what they believe to be right. But rather bring peace in the hearts of those that accept Him as Lord and Saviour.
  • 35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. God wants to see families come together in “unity” but knowing that everyone is selfish and desires only what they feel is important it causes wars within the household.
  • Christ knew that people who believe in Him would be few because of the way it was when He walked the face of this earth over 2019 years ago.
  • Have you ever wondered why Jesus was given the name “Prince of peace?” Why not call Him “King of peace?” Well, what is a prince? A prince is a male monarch or ruler whose rank is below the king.
  • Christ Jesus is below God which makes Him a prince. A prince also acts as a king but knows that the King is the final authority. Jesus knows that God is the final authority.
  • All of these names given to the promised Messiah of the Jews gives us today a promise of His character and actions as we struggle daily to live for Him in this demonic world while waiting for our new home in heaven.
  • For unto us a child is born that gives to us His personal presence (God with us), His miracles (Wonderful), His counseling (Counselor), His strength and power (The mighty God), His continual giving (Everlasting Father), and peace that comforts us (Prince of Peace).
  • This is what should make your Christmas a joy to celebrate. It’s not about the tree, the light displays, the 12 days of Christmas, or Santa Clause.
  • It is about “…a child that was born unto us.”