Mighty God

- with you agree with me this am – that at least some men do not seem to do as well when they’re sick…as, anyone else on the planet?...

- I’m trying to choose my words carefully here…especially this close to Christmas, I don’t want to get any major issues started…but is that generally true?...

- I know it is for me…and part of the issue is – I rarely get sick…but when I do, I probably make more of an issue of it than I should…

- for example, when my kids were growing up – we had a saying around our house…call Hippensteels…the funeral home right down the road here…because dad is sick and he’s probably going home to meet the Lord…

- now maybe I only had a cold or the flu…but I would tell my family to call Hippensteels…

- someone at our church heard about that and they knew someone who worked at Hippensteels…so I was at home sick and the phone rings…and it’s an employee at Hippensteels who says – “Hello PV, this is so and so from Hippensteels Funeral Home, I’ve been notified that you may needing our services”…everyone in my life is a comedian…

- anyway, I had an event this year that proved that principle in my life beyond a shadow of a doubt…

- it was on the Monday night of our Biblical Counseling Training conference…

- that event starts Sunday evening, so I spoke that night…

- then I had several sessions on Monday…so I finally got home and I park my Jeep out in our detached garage…

- and when I stepped out of the Jeep I had unusually strong pain in my back…and I first thought – wow, I must have pulled something…

- but then I took a few steps toward the house and it was getting worse and worse…and I’m trying to figure out what is going on…it’s dark out…and I’m not sure what’s happening…

- to complicate things, Kris and Bear weren’t home…which meant I no one to complain to…

- part of the problem was – I couldn’t find any position that wasn’t painful…

- so I drug myself back to the bedroom and tried to lay on the bed but even that didn’t bring any relief…

- so I just felt powerless…I didn’t know what to do…

- pretty soon I heard voices…because Kris had come home…and at that same time Barry Redding was bringing Bear home after their Bible study time they do on Monday nights…

- so I tried to get up and Barry could tell something was wrong right away…

- I think he may have mentioned at that point – you may be having a kidney stone attack…

- well, regardless, that’s what it turned out to be…

- and what I remember about those next few moments are…

- the ride of Kris taking me to the IU Hospital…which is 2 miles from our house…felt like it took forever…

- I also know every bump in that road…

- then there was the moment that the nurses and doctors had done some preliminary work and the nurse said…we’re going to give you some IV pain meds now…

- I rarely take medication…but at that moment, I would have done practically anything to get that IV…bark like a dog, empty my bank account…you name it…I was powerless…

- well, that’s a pretty pitiful sight…I’m glad doctors and nurses aren’t allowed to make videos of moments like that because I surely wouldn’t want to see it…

- but there’s something far worse than that…it’s feeling powerless spiritually…

- maybe it’s a far worse medical diagnosis than what I just described…I know a number of people at this campus have faced that kind of trial for yourself or your loved one this year…

- or a job loss…or a painful family situation…

- but you feel powerless…

- well, this morning we have some good news…the God of Heaven and earth has a Christmas present for you…it’s His Son the Lord Jesus Christ…who has many names and attributes…but one of them is…He’s The Mighty God…

- with that in mind, let me invite you to open your Bible to Isaiah chapter 9...page 492 in the front section of the Bible under the chair in front of you...

- you know, Christmas is delightful for a hundred different reasons...but one that doesn’t always come to the forefront of the average person’s mind is that many of the details surrounding the birth of Christ were prophesied in exact detail hundreds of years before they occurred...

- and many of them, when they were given, seemed practically impossible...

- the readers were left scratching their heads....how could that happen?...how could God bring that about?....

- and the challenge for God’s people throughout history has always been to respond to God’s Word with faith...believing what He has said in His Word even when it’s hard to do so...

- but the benefit that people like you and me have is...because we live further down the trail of biblical history...

- we not only have prophecies given...we have prophecies fulfilled...

- and that totally changes [at least it should] the way we look at truths in God’s Word about today that are hard to believe, and hard to follow...

- and truths about tomorrow...prophecies yet to be fulfilled...that are hard to believe and trust...

- the more you study God’s Word...the more it takes your breath away...there really is an adventure of watching God’s promises being fulfilled...

- let’s go back and begin reading at Isaiah 9:1...

- read Isaiah 9:1-7

- last week Pastor Hutton led a study about how Jesus was and is the Wonderful Counselor...the Savior whose words are often unexpected, and extraordinary, and unusual...

- many times His perspective on life is totally different than what we would have thought...

- His Word is anything but predictable, or bland, or boring...

- you don’t read the Bible and say...that’s what I would have thought...

- no, He’s the Wonderful Counselor---and His truth causes us to be surprised, and enthralled, and captivated...filled with...wonder...

- praise God for a gift like this...

- and by the way, I hope there were times this week where you faced a fork in the road [Develop – my way, or God’s way /// what makes sense to me in my human reasoning...]

- this morning, we want to focus on the second name...where we learn about The Gift that is Mighty...

- in our time this morning, I’d like us to concentrate on Four principles necessary to understand and benefit from God’s power.

I. God Predicted that the Messiah Would be the Mighty God.

- I think it is important for us to keep in mind that the Lord could had an infinite number of concepts that He could have communicated to His people about the coming Gift of His Son...

- but in this verse, He chooses 4 that especially stand out...and one of them is His Son’s power...

- now, please think with me for a moment about how this word is used in other places in the Bible....

A. Other uses of “mighty”.

1. Outstanding bravery.

1 Samuel 17:51 - ...And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

- the word mighty is translated as champion in this verse...someone of outstanding bravery...

- [of course, in this case....the champion was...Goliath...who was having a really bad day...if you decide to look up the rest of this verse you might want to wait until after lunch...]

2. Uncommon faithfulness.

- 1 Chronicles 29:24 - All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, submitted themselves to King Solomon.

- if you’ve studied the Bible, you know that King David had a small group of men who were especially loyal, and especially skilled and powerful...they were the ones he would rely on when everything was on the line...

- and this group is known in Scripture as David’s...mighty men of valor...

3. Heroic power.

- a very unusual verse is... Psalm 103:20 - Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

- there’s so much about the work of angels, this side of heaven, that we just don’t know about...but one article I was reading about the word mighty referenced this verse and described angels as “powerful heroes...”

- that’s probably much truer than we know...”mighty ones who do His bidding...”

- of course there are many places in Scripture where God is described in this way...

- Psalm 89:8 - O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

4. Vast justice.

- Psalm 89:13-14 - Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.

- New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology – God’s power is inextricably linked to righteousness, goodness, justice, steadfast love, and faithfulness. The divine power and righteousness are as vast as the immeasurable distance separating earth from the high heavens [Psa. 71:18-19).

- might say---but could a person have power without justice?...yes, but that would be scandalous in God’s eyes...

- Jeremiah 23:10 - The land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land lies parched and the pastures in the desert are withered. The prophets follow an evil course and use their power unjustly.

- so this word “mighty” is a very significant one in Scripture...now one other very important point...

5. Wise understanding.

- power and wisdom are often connected in Scripture...

- Job 12:13 - To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.

B. Significance.

- so in the Bible, mighty isn’t simply used to speak about raw power...

- it is power that is used well, and therefore is uncommon and extraordinary...

- this word is reserved for the champion, for the hero, for the mighty men of valor...but also when it is used positively...of the person who exercises power in a way that is just, compassionate, and wise.

- God wanted His people to know that the day was coming when a child would be born, when a Son would be given, and the government would rest on His shoulders...

- and this Messiah...would be mighty...the Mighty God...

- now, before we try to apply this to us [though surely we need to do that before we’re finished this morning...please think about this....

II. The People of Isaiah’s Day Needed this Message.

- these prophecies always were given in a historical context...and had a purpose even for the people of that day...

- the background of Isaiah 9 is a rather complicated story....but here’s the short version...

- Isaiah ministered during the reigns of 4 different kings...

- Isaiah chapters 7-9 were written during the rule of King Ahaz around 735 BC...

- now, this will only take a minute...but there is an important point here...

- by this time in history...the nation of Israel was divided...the northern and southern kingdoms...Israel in the north and Judah in the south...

- the northern kingdoms were a bit further along in their unrighteousness...

- and Isaiah was ministering to the southern kingdom...to this King Ahaz...

- here was the problem...the leader of the northern kingdom made an alliance with two of the pagan nations...and even started to mix pagan worship with the worship of God...

- then they tried to pressure Ahaz, and the southern kingdom...to join their alliance...

- the good news is...Ahaz didn’t....and part of Isaiah’s ministry was to explain to Ahaz that this other alliance was not going to prosper...they were trusting in their own might and power...and it would fail...

- Ahaz needed to hear that...because he was afraid of them...

- but here’s the amazing thing...Ahaz turned around and made his own alliance with an even worse nation...the nation of Assyria...

- a clear example of lack of trust, and wrongful compromise, and disobedience...

A. The king’s choice.

- what the king did reminds you of verses like... Jeremiah 9:23-24 - This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

- see, Ahaz chose to trust his own wisdom, and his own ability to get out of a jam, even if he had to compromise everything he said he believed by making an alliance with the Assyrians...see, am I going to trust in the power of God even though I might not be able to see how it is all going to work out...or am I going to ignore God’s Word and His will and figure this out myself?....

- Psalm 147:10-11 - His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

- it is in that setting that God directs His prophet Isaiah to tell of a coming day...when there will be a perfect King...who won’t cave in...who won’t take short cuts...who won’t compromise the will/ways of God...

- because this king will be....the Mighty God...

- while the people of Isaiah’s day needed these words so they could make up their minds about who they would trust and follow...do you somebody else who needed this?...

B. Isaiah himself.

- if you’ve studied this book at all, you know about Isaiah chapter 6 [please turn over there for a moment]...which is the great vision of God...where we get a glimpse of His holiness and majesty [where the angels are surrounding His throne saying, holy, holy...]

- then there’s Isaiah’s response...[vs. 5ff – woe is me, I am a man of unclean lips...]

- then there’s his forgiveness and cleansing – [cf. v. 6-7]

- followed by his call [cf. v. 8]

- but here’s the amazing thing---if you survey the verses after his call...God is very clear with Isaiah...your ministry is going to bear very little fruit in your lifetime...

- though this is one of the most treasured books in the OT...though this book is quoted directly in the NT more than any other book...in his lifetime, his ministry was extremely difficult...

- guess what decision he had to make [just like King Ahaz]...

- would he trust in his own power...would he cave in...would he compromise...would he take the easy way out...

- the answer is absolutely not...why?...

- in part, because he believed what God said....that some day there would be a marvelous gift...

- and in a much more profound way....the people who walk in darkness will see a great light...and for those who live in a dark land, a light will shine on them...

- and what will this gift be like?...He’ll be the wonderful counselor, and the Mighty God...

- well, where does that take us?....does Jesus Christ measure up....these words were written in 700 BC...is there anybody in history that fits this description? [could go back to Peter’s great statement...we did not follow cleverly devised fables...]

III. Jesus Christ is the Marvelous Fulfillment of this Prophecy.

- how did Christ demonstrate his mighty power?

A. The power to withstand temptation.

- you remember, Satan’s offer to Jesus was...

- Luke 4:5-6 - The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

- and of course the Mighty God refused that offer, and it is interesting to note that...

- Luke 4:14 - Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

B. The power to heal.

Matthew 9:7-8 - And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

C. The power to do good.

Acts 10:38 - how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

D. The power to teach with authority.

Luke 4:32 - They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.

E. The power to forgive.

Mark 2:10-11 - But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

F. The power to voluntarily die for our sins.

- John 10:18 - No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.

G. The power to rise from the dead.

- Luke 22:69 - But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.

H. The power to build His church.

- Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

- would it be fair to say that the testimony of the Scriptures is that Jesus Christ demonstrated Himself to be the Mighty God?

- now, what does that mean to people like you and me?

IV. Today’s Question – How Mighty is Your God?

A. Do you have a powerful Savior?

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 - but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

B. Do you have a powerful hope?

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

C. Do you have a powerful witness?

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 4:33 - With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

D. Do you have powerful confidence?

Ephesians 1:17-18 - I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

2 Timothy 1:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

E. Do you have powerful wisdom?

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 - When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

2 Peter 1:3 - His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.