Sermon Tone Analysis

Advent 2010 #3

He Will Be Called …

Isaiah 9:6c

<openning jokes>

Christmas is the Most wonderful time of the year … so the song says … but not always.

If we were to take a poll today, I would guess many of you would say that Christmas isn't always your favorite time.

As a matter of fact many polls say that Christmas is one of the most depressed times of the year for many.

It is a time of depression because of a multitude of reasons.

Isolation is often given as a reason for people feeling depressed at Christmas

Another reason is the pressure to keep up or buy / give / have the latest stuff and not having the means

Guilt is a reason for depression at this time

But perhaps the biggest reason is LOSS … loss of a loved one, loss of a relationship

We come to church and pretend that everything is fine, but I know that is just not true here today.

Many of us today are struggling with difficult times, difficult decisions, difficult circumstances and you might be wondering where to turn …

Well … in tough times heroes are born.

It was no accident that all of our comic book Super Heroes were created during times of distress and war in our country.

Because people were looking for an escape and hoping that a hero would materialize.

I love Superman and Batman.

**> POWERPOINT – Superman and Batman <

One was a man from another world with Superhuman, Supernatural ability.

The other was a man just like you and me but with a deep drive within, training, gadgets, etc to make him able to do amazing things.

When Superman came along there were plenty of imposters, copycats, ever heard of WonderMan or MasterMan?

Well … that's because there is only one Superman!

We need a Hero … Well I've got news for you … We have one

** >POWERPOINT – Jesus on White Horse<

Unto us a child is born … that is One who is like us … familiar with our circumstances and limitations yet able to rise above it … unto us a Son is given, that is one who is from another plane of existence, one with supernatural, otherworldly ability … the Rulership is on his shoulders

Remember our Verses

*READ 9:6,7*

Let me ask you an interesting question …

… how well do you know God?

Who is he to you?

How well do you know Jesus?

Who is he to you?

Is he only The Father, The Son, Savior, is he ONLY God?

Now do you follow me?

What does that mean?

He is GOD?

Is that it?

If that's all you've got you are missing out on who God is and what he has for you.

If Jesus is ONLY your Savior, you are missing so much

God told Isaiah, about Jesus and his name will be called …

… or And he will be called

He will be called … or his name will be called …

The New Living Translation says "These will be his royal titles …"

I really like that wording … his "royal titles"

Because we are NOT talking about his "name" here like the name "Jesus"

/<< name = shem (shame) >>/

/<< called = qara (kaw-raw) >>/

The words translated "be called" or "name will be called" are two Hebrew words meaning /"the reputation that will be called out, recited, proclaimed"/

How do you get a reputation?

By Experience

It also means to /"endow with a monument"/

In other words, this child born, son given, will be remembered from experience with a reputation that is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Well … let me break down these words for a minute and make some observations and then see how we might be able to leave here today with a desire to know God in a more deep and personal way.

The Good News today is that Jesus Christ has what you are looking for and more than that he wants to knock the walls out of your box where you have placed him

He wants to enlarge his reputation with you if you will allow him, if you will take the risk of knowing God more personally

Will you take the risk?

So what is his reputation by which he will be called recited, proclaimed?

!

*1.

Wonderful Counselor*

!! A. Wonderful

/Pele - /peh-leh /= wonder, marvel, (extraordinary, hard to understand) marvelous /

It is amazing to me the places that we go for instruction and advice

I'm not wanting to pile on … but folks, if you are bored or looking for entertainment … I guess Dr. Phil; or Oprah, etc. are ok but FOLKS … THEY will even tell you that their shows are NOT meant to change your life they are meant for entertainment.

Dr. Phil cannot change a person's life in 45 minutes

Folks there is NOTHING that they are telling you that is MARVELOUS or WONDERFUL it is ALL very very ordinary.

I wish I could have a show like that, what an easy way to make money.

I can sit on a show, do a little pre-show research, listen to you for 10 minutes and give you some folksy advise and pick up my check

But we also turn to friends that are going through the same stuff we are for their less than Wonderful advise

Jesus Christ is WONDERFUL … Marvelous, he is extraordinary …

Forsake the Ordinary and come to Christ as your Counselor, your Advisor, your Representative

!! B. Counselor

/ Ya'ats - /yaw-ats/ = to advise, consult, to counsel, to deliberate/

Another way to word this is that he is a /"Wonder of a Counselor"/ the wonder is that he is GOD and he is MAN … who else are you going to go to for advice that is that?

You can come to me and I can take it before the Lord and do the best I can, but I'm going to point you to Jesus because he is a WONDER … he has been where you are … But more than that he CAME from Eternity, he returned to Eternity, he Created All, he has been where you will never be or understand and he IS where you want to be … he is a WONDER of a Counselor

Turn to him and say … “Lord, teach me, instruct me, direct me, I trust you and will follow your direction”

John 1:4 …/ in him is life and that life is the light of men/

Sing them over again to me … Wonderful Words of Life

John 6:63 - /we believe you have the words of life/

1 Tim 2:5 - /One Mediator/

Our Hero, Jesus Christ is our Advocate, our Intercessor

And He is …

!

*2.

Mighty God*

!! A. Mighty

/Gibbor - /ghib-bore/ = strong, mighty, strong man, brave man .. champion /

!! B. God

/El /ale/ = mighty one, mighty men of rank, heroes, God, false god, Jehovah/

You see there are many things that want to be GOD in your life … but how strong are they?

How mighty are they

This phrase means that Jesus Christ is THE mighty God, the mighty one … there is NONE like Him

Deut 4:39 – /acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

There is no other/

Isa 44:8 – /do not tremble, do not be afraid.

Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?

You are my witnesses.

Is there any God besides me?

No, there is no other Rock; I know not one/

Isa 45:5-6 /I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.

I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other/

Acts 4:12 /Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved/