NO ORDINARY CHILD

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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.

Isaiah 9:6

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Merry Christmas everyone, a day of exceeding joy and hope as we once again celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we examine the scripture from the prophet Isaiah, we find a fitting announcement crafted for Jesus’ coming some 700 years before His birth. Look again at these words from the prophet:

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.

Indeed, unto us a child is born but rest assured, this was no ordinary child. For this child was God with us, Emmanuel, in the flesh, fully God but yet fully human. And just as God reigned over His creation while in the heavens, He ruled all the same when He walked the earth in the way of Jesus as truly the government was on His shoulders. After all, He WAS the King of kings and Lord of lords. No one had, and still today no one has, the power and authority that Christ had innately when born.

So this extraordinary child born unto us in Bethlehem’s manger was born with all authority to rule over heaven and earth but He was so much more than that. There were four other key qualities that set Him apart then and still set Him apart today. They are as follows:

1. Wonderful Counselor.

I love that I can always turn to Jesus when it comes to dealing with life’s circumstances, knowing that I will always receive perfect guidance as I study His life in the gospels and then receive instruction by way of the Holy Spirit, the Counselor (also called Advocate) Jesus promised to send us (John 14:26). Without the guidance of Christ, I would be lost left to my own devices.

2. Mighty God.

We serve a God who can do all things. Nothing is beyond the work of His almighty hands. All of creation’s power and more are harnessed in the Lord and this power is ever available within Him to work in our lives in accordance with His plan. Is anything impossible with God? The answer is no and there’s a great sense of hope I know I gain from this. God is in control friends and He is mighty enough to help us when we’re in need. That’s good news!

3. Everlasting Father.

There is no expiration date on the love and help we receive from the Father. He has reigned since the dawn of creation and He will still reign when this world comes to an end and a new Jerusalem is formed. He is the everlasting Father and will always be with us, through thick and thin, in good times and in bad. No one else is with us and for us like the everlasting Father.

4. Prince of peace.

We surely need Christ Jesus in this way more than any other today. With all the wars and threats of wars, it’s enough to unsettle anyone but we need to remember the prior three points here. We serve and are loved by a mighty God who is everlastingly with us as our Father and wonderful Counselor. With this, why would we ever fear anything in life?

This is the very core of what Paul wrote in Philippians, Chapter 4:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

When we place our full faith and trust in our mighty God to handle anything we go through, then we find the burdens lifted off of our shoulders as the Lord now bears them for us, and we experience a peace from God that transcends all understanding. No one but the Prince of peace can give this to you.

Friends, on the Christmas Day, we pay honor to the child born unto us, a child like no other who came to counsel, protect, father, and bring us peace when we seek Him – and He will do so forever.

Let us raise our voices singing the joyous strains of the following words from “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” and extend our fullest honor, glory, and praise unto Jesus, the child born to save us all:

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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