MOTIVATE

BROWN VIDEO OF CHILD NAME MEANINGS

EXAMINE           Isaiah 9:1-7

In 722 B.C. the northern kingdom of Israel faced an evil and aggressive Assyrian empire. They were too powerful and would defeat Israel. Land would be captured, loved ones killed and legacy shamed and humbled. YET, in the midst of despair and darkness God gave them a prophet to share hope and light – it would come from a child with four names.

In our last message we examined the first name of Wonderful Counselor. While the world and its ways seek to lead our lives, it only lures us away from God and into the consequences of sin. Only Jesus is a true counselor. Jesus is a counselor that brings hope, light, freedom and justice. We can be open and obedient to this Counselor. This next name is Mighty God.

Jesus is Mighty God

The phrase Mighty God (el gibbor) refers to a hero, champion or warrior. It implies both divinity and power. Israel understood supremacy and strength as they faced the reign of Assyria. They wanted freedom from this master and their only hope was in God to send a deliverer.

This phrase “Mighty God” is a title of God.[1]

Deuteronomy 10:17 “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.”

Nehemiah 9:32 “our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love…”

Job 36:5 “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding”

Psalm 89:8-13 “O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them… The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. The north and the south, you have created them;… You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.”

Jeremiah 32:18 “You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God., whose name is the Lord of hosts.”

Revelation 19:6 “Then [John] heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.’”

He is mighty in 3 ways:

Jesus is mighty in His birth.

Long ago God destined and prepared for a uniquely divine birth for a promised Messiah.

Genesis 3:15 “[To the serpent,] I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heal.”[2]

The prophet Isaiah would prophesy about the uniqueness of this Child’s birth.

7:14 “the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”[3]

Not to mention prophecy about the location and lineage of his birth.[4]

Micah 5:2 “But you, O Bethlehem, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

Jesus is mighty in His life.

Isaiah prophecies about the child’s role.

–          From gloom (8:21) to joy (9:4)

–          From anguish (9:1) to rejoicing (9:4)

–          From oppression (9:1) to yoke broken – freedom (9:3)

–          From darkness to light (9:2)

–          From battle (9:5) to peace (9:7)

–          “a son is given to us” (9:6) – this child would be for the benefit of all Israel.

“[Jesus] went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” Matthew 4:23-25

“[Jesus said,] For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

“I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord, and I have authority to take it up again.” John 10:17-18

Jesus’ life purpose was sacrificial. This human child was the gift wrapping over the divine Son of God, whom alone could make atonement for the sins of the world (1John 2:2).

Jesus is mighty in battle.

The name “Mighty God” conjures up military battleground imagery. The Old Testament is a continuous story of God’s people battling their enemies. Isaiah says that all the soldier’s boots and garments will be burned up and the Mighty God-child will bring peace. His peace will establish a kingdom that will be no match for any future enemy, forevermore.

–          No one votes Him in, no one can vote Him out!

–          Victory will be full and complete, never needing repeated, only remembered.

God’s people will remember that Jesus fought a battle like no other in history. It was more fierce than Valley Forge. It was greater than Gettysburg. It was more decisive than D-Day. The Mighty God captured victory at Calvary by engaging the power of sin and Satan. Death, the grace and Hell was defeated and an empty tomb is gloriously displayed as the hope of the world. The shoulders that bear the government of the world are the same one’s that bore the cross of Calvary for your sin.

APPLY/THINK

Considering this Child and even Christmas season, do you view Jesus as a meager baby or as Mighty God?

 One recent movie features a man praying to Jesus, but most specifically and insistently to “baby Jesus”. In the middle of his dinner prayer, after he has made a number of references to the baby Jesus, the character’s wife interrupts, “baby, you do know Jesus grew up? He’s not a baby anymore,” to which the character says, “Well look, I like the Christmas Jesus best…when you say grace you can say it to grown up Jesus, teenage Jesus or bearded Jesus or to whoever you want… [after some dialogue further implying Jesus can be viewed in many different forms – which are completely secular and skewed – he continues…] Dear 8lb 6oz newborn infant Jesus, don’t even know a word yet, just a little infant and so cuddly… Amen.”

Jesus is Mighty God. He is not to be mocked. He is not a mascot for us to endorse when life is good and escape when life is bad. He is the Master – Mighty God. Jesus demanded allegiance. At His birth wise men brought him gifts, shepherds fell down and worshiped. A Roman politician, Herod, viewed Him as competition and sought after his life. Yet, this child was unstoppable because of his identity and mission. He came to do battle and conquer sin. And he is a victorious warrior, King of kings and Lord of Lords.

Isaiah says in 10:20-21 “In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.”

Jesus is waiting to receive His remnant. Are you a participant of God’s kingdom by grace thru faith?