Stop, rest, remember!
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV
For many many generations, God’s chosen people had been put in bondage. Lead into captivity. They had been under the rule of many different nations.
There were famines and hard times.
So the promise of a Savior to them meant everything.
It meant freedom from all of those that suppressed them. It meant God’s chosen King would rule them and bring them peace and prosperity!
It meant that through this King all of the Nations would finally bow down to them!
And they would once again prosper.
And when the Father was ready to send His Son to be the Savior of the World, it wasn’t what they were expecting.
For unto us a Child is born!
Jesus was born in poverty.
in the Town of Bethlehem during a time of Roman occupation.
This is a small, insignificant town, meaning House of Bread!
God gave this tiny insignificant town the privilege to be the Town where He sent His Son to be born into the world in order to provide redemption for all mankind.
Bethlehem was the Great and Mighty city of King David. He was the second King of Israel ,but the first One chosen by God! And He was on the Throne for 40 years leading God’s people into victories over their enemies, governing and ruling them by the Word and Wisdom of their God.
The coming Messiah, the Anointed One was promised through David!
We are in the Christmas Season.
Advent.
Advent means the arrival of a notable person. We celebrate the First coming of our Lord and Savior and we still wait for His Second coming so we are always in the season of Advent.
This was the Father’s plan from the beginning of the World. It took 42 Generations for God’s ultimate plan of Salvation to unfold and take place.
In all those generations that passed there is one thing we know for sure is that we needed a Savior!
And we wait for the Hope to Rejoice!
Through all of the Old Testament, God had keep giving His people The Promise of the Coming Messiah. The Anointed One. The One that would right all the wrongs.
This is the time of year to really open your heart to the miracle of the Promise!
There are many fears and doubts this very day.
We have family matters, money troubles.
Matters of the heart and mind.
We have concerns about leadership in our country.
Then there is just the day to day struggle just to get by.
It seems like there is no way to hope.
Hope is having Faith for the future!
It is for tomorrow, then the day after, then the day after that. It is everyday until we are called HOME!
How can we have Hope if we have nothing to look forward to!
With nothing to look forward to it can harden even the softest most attentive of hearts.
It can ruin generations.
Israel had waited a long time for their Messiah. They lost Hope.
When they lost Hope many couldn’t believe because hearts give up with no hope.
But finally the Messiah comes forth!
A child is born and a Son given!
This is why we celebrate.
And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Every part of our fears, doubts and worries gets crushed and pushed away once we realize that Jesus is in control of all things!
He was born as a child, lived with no sin but suffered the death of a sinner. Buried, Raised and then Resurrected!
He sits at the Right Hand of the Father!
Jesus is preparing.
And all of it will sit on His shoulders!
He is wonderful because of Who He is, The Savior, The Messiah. The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!
He is the Great and Mighty Counselor to the brokenhearted. He comforts the hurt and lonely. He is the Confidant to the most inner secrets of our hearts!
He guides us with His Hand!
HOPE is here and HOPE is alive!
Why?
Because He, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, is our Mighty God!
Remind yourself of this Hope!
He is the Everlasting Father!
He had no beginning and He has NO end!
Love, Grace and Mercy are perpetual for all those that repent, believe and follow!
It doesn’t end, ever!
Where is your Hope today?
Your Hope is not something you wait for. Your Hope is not found in the things of this world.
Your Hope is alive and waiting for you!
He is waiting to be fully trusted. He is waiting for you to humble your life to Him.
Your Hope is waiting to make you complete and whole!
We have to come to the realization that Jesus is our only Hope in times of trouble. He is the only One that never leaves us or forsakes.
There is healing in His Hands.
There is compassion in His Heart.
There is love, mercy and HOPE in His eyes!
That’s why He is the Prince of Peace.
Just as Israel was looking to be freed from bondage, we too search the same.
They went through hard and difficult times.
Because of those difficulties the Promise of a Savior meant even more.
What’s the difference?
Our Promise has already been fulfilled!
Think about this today.
During this time we are to celebrate.
We are to take a step back and remember that our Salvation is near!
Know that one day the whole government will have to bow down and obey.
All the wrongs will be made right!
There is your Hope!
Don’t lose your Hope!
Hold on to Him, Grasp Him and don’t let go!
Accept His Peace and allow Him to be your Mighty God!
Remember that Hope is faith for tomorrow!
Today may be difficult. There may be hardships, hurts and pains.
Stop, rest, remember!
Let Jesus be your Prince of Peace!
Pastor Ed