More
Than a Baby!
Pondering the Son of God
Isaiah 7,8,9
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More
Than a Baby!
Pondering the Son of God
Isaiah 7,8,9 |
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Dec 10, 2017 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction (Isaiah 9:2)
A.
I would like to brag on a baby this morning!
B.
I have bragged on MY children’s births before – 5 children is no mean
feat
1.
Sharon was our first baby – 31 years ago this coming January
2.
Joel – well, I broke the law for an hour and a half to get to the
hospital just in time to see Joel born! I wanted to sing Isaiah 9:6
right then and there!
3.
Ruth! Baby Ruth! I gave everyone where I worked a chocolate bar called
Baby Ruth bars. No one seemed to get the inference!!!
4.
Joshua! Racing to the hospital again, at 1 in the morning!
5.
Sarah! Born in the old Victoria Hospital here in Cork!
6.
I was there for all of them! So grateful for the gifts my children are!
C.
But I want to talk about the birth of another baby – of the Son of God –
what a thought!
1.
In almost all religions, men seek to become as gods
2.
Many religions have gods becoming men
3.
But in Christianity, GOD became a baby – which was amazing in itself!
4.
And then God let His creation murder His Son – who then got up out of
the grave three days later, forgiving and saving any and all who would
just believe on Him, and follow Him!
5.
Truly, Jesus was MORE than just a Baby!
D.
And I want us to just sit and ponder Him, and His marvellous birth!
II.
Background - Turn to Isaiah 7
A.
Isaiah is The Christmas Book
of the Old Testament
B.
It has at least 30 clearly impossible descriptions of a coming Messiah
that only an eternal GOD could have laid out ahead of time!
1.
Isaiah 7:14
A virgin will get pregnant & give birth to a Son, who would be
GOD with us
2.
Isaiah 11:1,2,10
3.
Isaiah 11:4
4.
Isaiah 35:3-6
5.
Isaiah 40:3-5
6.
Isaiah 53
7.
And so on!
C.
They each are fulfilled in the singular life of just ONE Person – Jesus
of Nazareth
D.
But notice three important things in Isaiah 8 and 9
1.
God Focuses on Galilee and not Jerusalem (9:1)
a.
The northernmost area of ancient Israel
b.
The land of the tribes of Zabulon and Naphtali
c.
The area that became known as Galilee
d.
Right in the midst of all the nations – out there in the open
e.
Beside the very sea of Galilee
f.
So chastened and judged by God in the past (2Kings 15:29)
g.
The laughingstock of Jerusalem
h.
Yet, it was to those back-of-beyond people, that the Messiah would come
and make His home and ministry for 30 years!
2.
God Provides a Light in the midst of such Darkness (8:22; 9:2-5)
a.
People live in constant Trouble and Darkness
b.
Having to WALK in that darkness
1)
They live that way and get used to it and think it is normal!
2)
They tell of towns and cities in Siberia where there is no sunlight for
6 weeks out of the year – constant darkness – super high suicide rates!
3)
It would be like a blind man, not knowing that there is LIGHT and
colours and beauty that they have never seen and could never imagine!
4)
Next time you see someone all tattooed up, and pierced, and drunk, and
wallowing in addiction and depression – realise that they probably have
gotten used to living that way!
c.
In the constant shadow of death – death stalking them
d.
Economic successes, without satisfaction – no real joy – only passing
moments of joy
e.
Brief Freedoms in the midst of constant wars
f.
Wars without end
g.
Things haven’t changed one bit in 6,000 years of history!
h.
Yet in the midst of all that, Someone was coming!
i.
A little CHILD!
3.
God Promises that a Child is Coming (9:6,1,2)
a.
How could THAT be an answer?
b.
Israel believed that they needed and ARMY of soldiers
c.
They needed government programs
d.
They needed a huge infusion of money and economic investments
e.
And yet, all God offered to save them, was a frail little baby?
f.
Because HE is light, hope (Matt 4:12-16)
g.
It is not that He offers it – but that this little baby IS Light itself,
wrapped in human flesh!
E.
THAT little child is worth an hour of our time pondering!
III.
Message
A.
He is a Real Baby – flesh and bones (9:6a)
1.
Not a make believe story, or a Disney movie, or a fable like Santa is!
2.
But a living, breathing, tiny, little frail baby
3.
Think of Jesus that first Christmas night — He couldn’t see farther than
a few feet, He didn’t know that He controlled his own hands, He couldn’t
hold His head up, He couldn’t feed Himself. Wow! THAT is the humility of
God becoming a Man!
B.
He is a Prophesied Baby (9:6)
1.
Not like a pregnancy test
2.
But described 1,500 years ahead of time by Moses, 750 years ahead of
time by Isaiah, 400 years ahead of time by Micah…
3.
There are more than 300+ prophesies of a coming Jewish Messiah – over
half of which were fulfilled at His first coming as a baby!
4.
Here in Isaiah alone are a dozen prophesies clearly saying:
a.
That a baby Jewish boy was coming – a Son
b.
Born to a VIRGIN (Isaiah 7:14) – which is physically impossible!
c.
Would grow up in GALILEE – not in Jerusalem
d.
Would gather DISCIPLES around Him and teach them the law (Isa 8:16-18)
and how to seek God
e.
Would do constant signs, wonders and miracles to prove just WHO He is
(8:18)
f.
If you kept reading to chapter 53, you would find that same CHILD
growing up… Isa 53:2
For he shall grow up before him
as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form
nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we
should desire him.
1)
Not handsome enough
2)
To nice and meek and lowly – not aggressive enough!
3)
Just not what people want in a leader
g.
You will find that same Child being despised by everyone and rejected…
Isa 53:3 “He
is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we
esteemed him not.”
h.
And in the end, you will find that grown up Child carrying our griefs
and sorrows to a place where He would be smitten of God and afflicted
for all our sins! (Isa 53:4-6)
5.
NO ONE would prophesy such defeat – and yet, there it is 750 years
before it could have ever happened!
6.
Jesus is ONE prophesied Baby!
C.
Jesus is a Miraculous Baby
(7:14; Matthew 1:21-23)
1.
All babies are miracles – the very fact that LIFE occurs at all in this
universe of ours is a miracle!
2.
But the Baby described here is much, much more!
3.
Virgin born
4.
God in the flesh - Emmanuel
5.
Specially timed and specially purposed (Gal 4:4, 5)
6.
Jesus is ONE Special, Miraculous Baby!
D.
Jesus is a Born World Leader (9:6,7)
1.
Probably the most missed part of Christmas!
2.
Everyone wants Jesus and the Bible to have no part in government – that
is a mistake
a.
No great nation was ever great without following the teachings of Jesus!
b.
People may mock the life and teachings of this lowly Jesus of Galilee,
but His WORDS are the wisest, smartest, and most balanced words,
expressing the most perfect and just laws ever spoken!
3.
The Government shall be upon His shoulders
a.
Have you ever heard someone say,
1)
“He has the weight of the world on his shoulders…”?
2)
That person is a born leader?
b.
Well, this little Baby was born to govern!
1)
To rule this world (Mic 5:2)
2)
To carry all the problems of the world, and to make them turn out for
good!
c.
That baby was King at His birth – think about it (Matt 2:2)
d.
Not just King, but King of kings, Lord of lords (Rev 19:15,16)
e.
He was born to RULE nations, and to GOVERN governors, and to LEAD
leaders, and to JUDGE judges
4.
Jesus is a Born World Leader
a.
Let Him lead your life
b.
One day, He is coming and will rule this world!
5.
Jesus has no Limitations
a.
There will never be an end to the increase of His kingdom!
b.
Normal leaders wear out, make mistakes, get exposed as frauds, and get
replaced
c.
Nations rise and nations fall
d.
But Jesus’ governing power will expand forever – what a statement!
1)
He already holds together the entire universe that he created (Col
2:16,17)
2)
He handled your problems even before you knew Him
3)
No matter how complicated and messy our lives get down here, He can
handle anything you are going through right now
e.
In other words, Jesus can take anybody, and make them new! Turn their
whole life around! Mould their minds and hearts and lives to be more
like His
f.
If you will just let Him govern YOUR life!
E.
All We Need is Found In Him (9:6) – these are worth PONDERING!
1.
Five mind-boggling, fuse blowing, unbelievable facts about that
Christmas Baby! Facts that challenge us to believe that He is all we
will ever need – forever!
a.
Aren’t just words on a page – they are provable realities to anyone who
would trust Him
b.
I’m talking about the fact that…
2.
Jesus is Wonderful
a.
It means,
1)
He is perfect – ideal – not a flaw or mistake in Him
2)
He is Awesome – causes awe! The more you know Him, the more awe you will
experience of Him
3)
He NEVER ceases to be Amazing – breathtaking (John 7:44-46)
4)
He brings joy just by His very presence!
b.
If the very thought of Jesus does not bring joy into your life… if
knowing Him, is not the most important thing to you… I believe it is
because a demon is in charge of your heart – full stop! Where do you get
YOUR joy from? I am afraid to ask!
c.
Are you bored? Depressed? Lacking any joy at all?
d.
I have found Jesus to be WONDERFUL! Thrilling, fulfilling! Just knowing
Him!
3.
He is Counsellor (Isaiah 11:1,2)
a.
Schools have counsellors, Hospitals offer counsellors, courtrooms offer
counsellors – so many people are seeking counsellors for the problems
and stresses they are facing – not all are wrong
b.
But if you are born again, JESUS’ counsel should be sought! His wisdom
(James 1:5 “If any of you lack
wisdom…”)
c.
A counsellor is not just someone you talk to about problems – like a
good Friend
d.
But it means, He is someone who knows exactly what to do, and can guide
you and encourage you! An advisor, a defense lawyer!
e.
As Counsellor, Jesus is all wise (see Him at 12 years old blowing the
lawyers of his day away with His knowledge of right and wrong and the
law!)
f.
As a matter of fact, that little baby, lying in a manger IS wisdom
Himself
1)
He is the Word of the living God, living in flesh
2)
He is the WISDOM of God, living, breathing, and later teaching such
wisdom!
g.
Listen to Him – as you read each page, listen, hear – don’t just rush
through and definitely don’t neglect this Book! “My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John
10:27)
h.
Oh ladies and gentlemen, Let Jesus be your Advisor, your Counsellor,
your Friend – ask Jesus for every bit of direction and advice you ever
need FIRST!
4.
He is The mighty God
a.
We are talking about a BABY remember?
b.
Yet he was a baby who is THE MIGHTY GOD!
c.
I told you that Jesus is worth pondering – getting your head around!!!
d.
Jesus is NOT god, but GOD!
e.
I worship Jesus as God – even at Christmas!
1)
I don’t worship a tree, or the time of year
2)
But I DO worship that BABY in the manger, just as those wise men did!
f.
And, I constantly seek the help of Jesus, I pray TO Jesus…
g.
You should seek the help of Jesus too!
h.
Why? Because He is the mighty God!
5.
He is The Everlasting Father
a.
Wow! What a statement!
b.
Here is a baby, who is the Father as well!
c.
ONLY GOD could be both!
d.
A baby has a beginning, but here we are reminded that He is everlasting
– eternal!
e.
As Father, He personally moulds the life of His children like a potter
does clay (Isa 64:8)
f.
I have often found the pressures HE puts on me to be heavy and hard to
bear sometimes, but I have never been let down, and have only been made
a better man through it all!
6.
And best of all, He is The Prince of Peace
a.
That means, He is the giver of all peace – He can put your heart at rest
b.
How does He do that?
c.
By interceding for us
d.
He is our PEACE (Eph 2:13,14)
e.
He is PEACE
1)
Know Jesus – Know Peace
2)
No Jesus – No Peace
3)
The Peace of God is awesome
4)
But being at peace WITH God is best!
f.
Without that Baby in a manger, there would never be any peace possible,
longer than a few short months or years
g.
But because of that Baby, any sinner, any lost man, woman or child, can
experience restful, contented, blessed peace
1)
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on
thee: because he trusteth in thee.
2)
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded
for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are
healed.
3)
John 16:33 These things I
have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
IV.
Conclusion
We have just barely scratched the surface of all that can be pondered
about that little child this morning!
A.
He is a Real Baby – flesh and bones
B.
He is a Prophesied Baby
C.
Jesus is a Miraculous Baby
D.
Jesus is a Born World Leader
V.
Invitation - All We Need is Found In Him
A.
Have any of you found Jesus to be Wonderful?
B.
Do you lean on Him as Counsellor and Friend?
C.
Do you lean upon Him as the mighty God that He is?
D.
Does Jesus, The everlasting Father have the authority to mould
and make your life take the shape as HE sees fit? Like a Potter?
E.
Jesus is THE Prince of Peace. Is he YOUR source of peace?
1.
The Peace of God is awesome
2.
But being at peace WITH God is best!
3.
It only happens with personal conversion – being born again!
a.
No organised religious act can make peace with God!
b.
No grand effort on your or my part
c.
No great oratorical prayer
d.
No ceremony like baptism can make you a child of God
4.
Only a child-like faith and trust in that Baby Jesus, who grew to be the
Man Christ Jesus, who suffered, and died on a cross in all our place,
and three days later rose again |