Text: Isaiah 9:6
OPEN:
The names and titles given to God contain a revelation of his person, his character, and his purposes toward humankind. The names by which God chose to make himself known to his people are part of the self-revelation by which he led his people to get to know him.
1) The First Name of the Messiah is "Wonderful."
A Celtic proverb describes our Savior as a “Wonder of Wonders and every wonder is true.” God has done many wonderful things for us in and through Jesus Christ. We need to have our eyes opened to recognize all that God has done and proposes to do for us through our wonderful Savior.
2) The second name of the Messiah is "Counselor."
The advent of Jesus Christ means that God is concerned about and intimately involved in our lives.
3) The third name of the Messiah is "mighty God."
In Hebrew: El Gibbowr.
GOD - The Hebrew word for God is 'el. We see it as part of other words such as Beth-el ("House of God"). As a noun, 'el literally means, “strength.” To fully understand how the word fits into the context of Isaiah 9:6 it becomes necessary to trace the meaning of the word from its Hebrew root origin. The root word is 'ayil and it contains several possible definitions and applications:
1) Ram: a) Ram (as food), b) Ram (as sacrifice), c) Ram (skin dyed red, for tabernacle)
2) Pillar, doorpost
3) A strong man, a leader, a chief
4) Mighty tree
MIGHTY - The Hebrew word gibbowr for "mighty" is an adjective; Strong’s defines gibbowr as powerful, warrior; as an adjective it means strong or mighty.
So, 'el gibbowr could be rendered as strong sacrifice; this is a possibility, and if it truly is the intended meaning, perhaps it is meant to build upon the prior words for wondrous counselor by his distinguishing act of obedience to God as he became the sacrificial lamb crucified and the propitiation for their sins. I believe this is valid but unlikely, since the tenor of Isaiah 9:6 is directed more towards strong, governmental-type leadership (throne of David).
Therefore, 'el gibbowr means a strong man, a omnipotent leader, a warrior chief in Isaiah 9:6.
The Messiah is our Warrior Chief: Strong on our behalf
His might is always exercised for two reasons:
1) His own glory
2) Our good
I. GOD’S GLORY IS OUR MIGHTY GOD’S GREATEST PASSION.
1. God’s Ultimate Goal in all that he does is to Preserve and Display His Glory.
He prizes and delights in his own glory above all things. God’s passion for God is unmistakable.
J. Edwards: “The great end of God’s works, which is so variously expressed in Scripture, is indeed but one; and this one end is most properly and comprehensively called, the glory of God.”
Glory is not easy to define. The term “glory of God” in the Bible refers to the visible splendor or moral beauty of God’s manifold perfections. It is an attempt to put into words what cannot be contained in words—what God is like in his unveiled magnificence and excellence.
Another theme in Scripture that signifies much the same thing us “the name of God.” When Scripture speaks of doing something “for God’s name’s sake” it means virtually the same as doing it “for God’s glory.”
The name of God is not merely his label, but a reference to his character. The term “glory” simply makes more explicit that the character of God is indeed magnificent and excellent.
2. God would be less than God if he valued anything more than what is supremely valuable, namely, himself.
Psalm 115:3, “Our God is in the heavens, he does whatever he pleases.”
None of God’s purposes can be frustrated.
God is never deficient or needy. He is never gloomy or discouraged.
God is always full and over-flowingly energetic for the sake of his people who seek their happiness in him.
II. A PASSION FOR GOD’S GLORY IS THE ESSENCE OF ALL TRUE WORSHIP.
1. Since God’s Glory is God’s Greatest Passion, a Passion for God in Worship Precedes and Supersedes Everything Else in Our Lives and the Life of Our Church.
We are “on mission with God”, but missions is not the ultimate goal of the church, nor is evangelism, discipleship, ministry, fellowship.
J. Piper: “Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.”
If the pursuit of God’s glory is not ordered above every other pursuit, regardless of how beneficial, God will not be duly honored and man will not be well served.
“When the flame of worship burns with the heat of God’s true worth, the light of missions will shine to the darkest peoples of the earth.”—J. Piper
Churches that are not centered on the exaltation of the majesty and beauty of God will scarcely kindle a fervent desire to “declare his glory among the nations.”
I want to ask a probing question and seek an honest answer: How brightly does the flame of worship burn at Bosqueville United Methodist Church? How central is the glory of God to who we are? How is a passion for God’s glory impacting our programs/staffing/budgeting/outreach/ministry/fellowship?
III. GOD'S MIGHT IS ALWAYS WORKING FOR OUR GOOD.
God's activity on our behalf is constant, not occasional.
God cares for us, not because he is needy, but because his care for us declares his greatness/ his might.
Psalm 68:28, "Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us." (ESV)
Jeremiah 32:17, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."
Luke 1:37, "For nothing will be impossible with God" (Angel's response when the virgin Mary questioned how she could possibly bear a son when she had never been with a man)
Mark 10:27, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." (Jesus' reply to the disciples' incredulity when they responded to his statement of how difficult it would be for a rich man to enter heaven)
2 Corinthians 9:8, "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Whatever you need in order to serve God and declare his glory, he will supply in abundance.
CLOSE:
The Messiah is our Warrior Chief and his might is always exercised for two reasons:
1) His own glory, and
2) Our good.
With this vision of the Anointed One, attention is drawn away from earthly things and reverently fixed upon God and his glory. This vision of sovereign majesty is to be our delight and is to shape our entire mindset, filling our mind with thoughts of God and his glory. In this way the God of grace becomes the center of our entire life.
With this understanding of our potential in light of God's mighty power at work on our behalf, we may face any circumstance with great confidence that God will overcome. He is our Warrior Chief.
- What is your impossible situation?
- What is your greatest need?
Turn to God, surrender it to him, move forward in confidence that God is at work on your behalf.
(Dr. Dane Fowlkes)
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