Wonderful Counselor

He Shall Be Called

Wonderful Counselor

Crosspoint – Dave Spooner – Dec. 6th, 2020

 

Intro:

  • This morning is part two of our Christmas series, where we are focusing on the various titles and names given to Christ. Last week we considered the name “Immanuel” and what that means for us. Because God is with us, we have hope, we have companionship, and we have an example to follow.
  • This morning we are looking into the title of “Wonderful Counselor,” which is given in Isaiah 9.

Isa 9:6-7 NIV

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, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

  • Who gives a birth announcement 800 years before the child takes their first breath of air? And who, when doing so, gives a list of their titles and all the things they are going to accomplish? (ill. of Anna – valedictorian, nurse extraordinaire, faithful friend, bountiful mother). The only one who could successfully do this is God. He says:

Isa 46:9-10 ESV

for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

  • There is no one like Me; no one can do what I can do. I know everything, I know how things start, and I know how things will end. From My vantage point of understanding, My counsel shall stand . . . and I will accomplish all My purpose . . . no one or nothing will fool him or trip Him up or stop Him from accomplishing all of His purposes. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (Isa.6:7).

Jesus came as He was promised

  • Jesus came as He was promised at the exact moment of God’s delight and design. And we have His titles:
  • “Wonderful Counselor,” which indicates that Jesus will be a supernatural source of extraordinary wisdom — amazing news for those who need guidance.
  • “Mighty God,” which indicates that Jesus will be divinely strong and powerful — amazing news for those who are weak.
  • “Everlasting Father,” which indicates that Jesus will care for His people forever, as a father cares for his children — amazing news for those who are alone and unappreciated.
  • “Prince of Peace,” which indicates that Jesus will bring deep well-being and right relationships — amazing news for all of us who lack peace with each other and with God. (These 4 bullet points were retrieved from https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/to-us-a-child-is-born.)
  • He was announced to be these things; He was these things and will continue to be these things forever.
  • So, this Son who was to be given has the title of “Wonderful Counselor”, which tells us –

Jesus came for people with problems

  • This should give us hope! Is there anyone here with problems . . .? I have problems, things that are bigger than me and issues I don’t know how to handle. I have good news for you: Jesus came for you, and Jesus came for me. He did not come for people who have it all together; He came to those who are confused and burdened, and dismayed, and in need of help.
  • If you think about it, every miracle Jesus accomplished started with a problem. If you (have a problem in your body) . . . if you are oppressed and possessed by a demon or a legion of demons . . . if there is a large crowd that needs to be fed . . . if you needed to get across the huge lake and there is a strong storm . . . if you need understanding, He will give it… if you need to know the truth, He is it… if you need to know the way, follow Him and if you desire to overcome sin and death, He is the only one who can give it to you. He is the light in the darkness, He is the strength for the weak, He is the help for the troubled, He is wisdom for the confused. There is no one like Him.

Jesus came to give us counsel

  • He is the “Wonderful Counselor,” a guide whose goodness goes beyond words. He is the counselor who knows everything perfectly, from the beginning to the end. He is the counselor that gave His life for you, the one you can trust. Jesus is the authoritative guide. He is the one that can guide you through everything because He is above And He invites us to ask Him for counsel.

James 1:5 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

  • It is ours for the asking. It comes to us through prayer in faith, and it comes to us through the word as well:

Ps 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

  • This lamp will show you the next step to take and this light will show you which way to go . . . the whole counsel of God is contained within His word (Acts 20:27), and from His word comes all counsel and wisdom and in Christ all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden (Col 2:2-3).

Col 2:2b-3 ESV

which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 

Ps 32:8 ESV

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

 

  • It is there for us to access, so ask for it and access it also through His word. As we are approaching the new year, make it your goal to be in the word, and allow the word to be in you. Get a Bible reading plan . . .
  • Jesus came just as He was promised. Jesus came for people with problems, Jesus came to give us counsel, and Jesus came to make us whole.

 

Jesus came to make us well

  • Notice that I did not say, “Jesus came to make us feel better” because there is a huge difference between “feeling better” and being made well or whole.

John 5:2-6 NIV

Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie — the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.  5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

 

  • This seems like an insulting question, but the truth is that not everyone wants to get well; most people just want to feel better. He did not ask him if he wanted to be healed, he asked him if he wanted to be made whole. Why would you not want to “get well”? Because their condition is the only identity they have known. They have to leave the community, fear of the unknown; some just want things done for them, versus having to do something for themselves.
  • The difference between feeling better and being better
    • Feel better – easy, immediate, relieve pain, passive, temporary, felt need
    • Be better – harder, gradual, cause pain, active, permanent, real need
    • Illustration of a broken arm
  • Now this man said that he indeed wanted to get well and he has been trying and trying and it has not worked.

 

John 5:7 NIV

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

 

  • Then Jesus said, “Do what I tell you to do and because I am the one who is telling you. Place your faith in me by being obedient to what I have told you to do. You will be made well.”

John 5:8 NIV

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

  • Are you willing to be completely honest with him, and do you want to be healed? You must be willing first, and then you must be willing to do whatever He asks you to do! He does not just do everything for us; we have to participate in being made well. Do you trust Jesus enough to do what He asks you to do? Do you trust Him for your problems? Have you surrendered to His wisdom and His word?
  • This Wonderful Counselor’s primary focus is on your real problems, not just your felt problems. He can deal with your felt problems, but what we really need is help with our real problems, that He would give us a new heart and a renewed mind. That is our real need and His ultimate goal.

Conclusion

  • Jesus came just as He was promised to a people with problems to give counsel and make us whole. Jesus is to us the wisdom from God and not only that, in Him is

1 Cor 1:30 ESV

righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

  • In God’s wisdom, we are declared righteous in Christ. Through the Spirit, we are being sanctified, and by His blood, we will be redeemed.
  • Let us call on Him in faith, let thank Him and give Him praise for what He will do. Let us honor him by remembering what He has done, let us proclaim our faith in Him through communion.