1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,520 Hello and welcome to the Middletown Baptist Church Podcast 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,480 where we are proclaiming the truth to the world. 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,720 My name is Pastor Josh and I want to thank you for listening to 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:10,480 this podcast. 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,680 I hope that this podcast can be a blessing to you and strengthen 6 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:16,080 you in the word of God. 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,160 Now come along, let's look into the Bible and see what God has 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:21,440 for us here today. 9 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,080 All right, well, we're going to go ahead and start our Bible study 10 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:26,800 here this evening. 11 00:00:27,290 --> 00:00:31,530 We have just finished up our study in first, second and third 12 00:00:31,530 --> 00:00:31,930 John. 13 00:00:31,930 --> 00:00:35,370 And I told you last week that we're going to be starting a a new 14 00:00:35,370 --> 00:00:39,730 series in the month of December looking at the various Old 15 00:00:39,730 --> 00:00:43,290 Testament prophecies of Jesus fulfilled in the New Testament. 16 00:00:43,690 --> 00:00:47,850 And we don't have enough time in the month of December to go through 17 00:00:48,090 --> 00:00:51,850 all of the prophecies because there's so many fulfilled in Jesus 18 00:00:51,850 --> 00:00:52,130 Christ. 19 00:00:52,130 --> 00:00:54,330 Again, another confirmation of his truth. 20 00:00:55,100 --> 00:00:57,980 But I felt like it would be important to go through some of them, 21 00:00:58,460 --> 00:01:02,860 maybe some of the more well known prophecies fulfilled in Jesus 22 00:01:02,860 --> 00:01:03,140 Christ. 23 00:01:03,140 --> 00:01:07,220 And many folks call these the Messianic prophecies, prophecies 24 00:01:07,220 --> 00:01:09,980 that we see in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in Jesus. 25 00:01:10,459 --> 00:01:12,820 And we actually started the study on Sunday night. 26 00:01:12,820 --> 00:01:16,340 So if you want to kind of get the second part of all of these messages, 27 00:01:16,340 --> 00:01:18,380 you can come on Sunday night or you can watch online. 28 00:01:18,460 --> 00:01:21,130 But we're going to be doing this series on Sunday nights and 29 00:01:21,130 --> 00:01:23,650 Wednesday nights in the month of December. 30 00:01:24,130 --> 00:01:27,490 Well, the reason why we started this is because In Luke chapter 31 00:01:27,490 --> 00:01:31,290 24, if you want to turn there with me, just by way of review, In 32 00:01:31,290 --> 00:01:37,010 Luke chapter 24, we see that Jesus himself references the fact 33 00:01:37,010 --> 00:01:40,050 that he is seen throughout all of the Old Testament. 34 00:01:40,450 --> 00:01:43,290 And there's some folks that might say we don't need the Old Testament, 35 00:01:43,290 --> 00:01:45,650 or there's some folks that might say that the Old Testament 36 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:47,520 really isn't for us today. 37 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,600 And certainly there are elements of the Old Testament like 38 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:54,520 the Levitical law that we don't, as the New Testament say says 39 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,120 we don't have to follow anymore. 40 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,920 But we do know that the story of Jesus is a story from Genesis 41 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:00,680 to Revelation. 42 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,520 If we think that Jesus story is only in the New Testament or only 43 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,840 in the four Gospels, we're missing the point that from the very 44 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:10,320 beginning Jesus is mentioned. 45 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:11,880 And we talked about this on Sunday night. 46 00:02:12,510 --> 00:02:14,550 This is a reference for you to write down if you weren't here. 47 00:02:14,550 --> 00:02:18,470 But Genesis chapter 3, verse 15 speaks of something called the 48 00:02:18,470 --> 00:02:21,950 Proto Evangelium, which is the first mention of the Gospel. 49 00:02:22,030 --> 00:02:26,910 And that's the mention after the curse, after Adam and Eve, sin. 50 00:02:27,470 --> 00:02:31,030 God says that there is going to be one that comes, the seed of 51 00:02:31,030 --> 00:02:31,430 the woman. 52 00:02:31,430 --> 00:02:32,670 And we looked at Sunday night. 53 00:02:32,910 --> 00:02:34,390 Jesus is the seed of the woman. 54 00:02:34,390 --> 00:02:39,180 It says that the serpent, the evil one, will bruise the heel of 55 00:02:39,180 --> 00:02:41,780 the seed of the woman, but the seed of the woman would crush the 56 00:02:41,780 --> 00:02:45,180 head of the serpent, which speaks to Jesus's ultimate defeat 57 00:02:45,340 --> 00:02:48,820 of Satan and in his death on the cross and his conquering death 58 00:02:48,820 --> 00:02:51,340 through the resurrection and the ultimate fulfillment of that, 59 00:02:51,500 --> 00:02:53,100 as we see in the book of Revelation. 60 00:02:53,340 --> 00:02:56,980 And so last week on Sunday night, we talked about how Genesis 61 00:02:56,980 --> 00:02:58,700 to Revelation is a story of Jesus. 62 00:02:59,180 --> 00:03:03,020 But I want you to see this in Luke chapter 24, by way of review. 63 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,720 There are two individuals that are walking on the road to Emmaus, 64 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:08,840 and they come across a man. 65 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:09,840 We know it's Jesus. 66 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:11,000 They don't know it's Jesus. 67 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:12,400 And they're discouraged. 68 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:13,400 Why are they discouraged? 69 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,400 Because at this point in time, Jesus died on the cross. 70 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:17,560 It had been three days. 71 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,680 And for them, their expectations were not fulfilled. 72 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,640 They were expecting Jesus to be the type of Messiah, the anointed 73 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:27,800 one, to free them from the immediate bondage of Rome. 74 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,040 But we know that Jesus was coming to free them from more than 75 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,560 just a political victory, but he was there to free them from the 76 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,080 power of sin and death. 77 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,920 And so they're talking about all these things, and Jesus says, 78 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:39,320 well, what. 79 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:40,040 What happened? 80 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,520 And they talk about how they're hopeless now. 81 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:47,080 And it even goes further to say that in verse 21 and Luke 24, 82 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:51,440 he says, but we trusted that had been he which should have redeemed 83 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:52,000 Israel. 84 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:53,640 So what they're basically saying is this. 85 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,320 We trusted that Jesus was going to redeem us. 86 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:58,240 And in their minds, he hadn't. 87 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,560 Yet in their minds, he didn't do what he said he would do. 88 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,600 And they said, and beside all this, today is the third day since 89 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:06,520 these things were done. 90 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,040 Meaning it's been three days. 91 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:09,200 So it's pretty much over. 92 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:10,120 It's pretty much done. 93 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:10,360 Our. 94 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:11,400 Our hope is gone. 95 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,200 And Jesus essentially calls them out. 96 00:04:14,599 --> 00:04:16,280 He says in verse 25. 97 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,560 Then he said unto them, oh, fools and slow of heart to believe 98 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:23,960 all that the prophets have spoken, meaning this. 99 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:24,220 They. 100 00:04:24,290 --> 00:04:24,930 They've missed it. 101 00:04:24,930 --> 00:04:26,930 They've missed what the prophets have said. 102 00:04:27,410 --> 00:04:30,970 And so that means that we as believers today can look back to 103 00:04:30,970 --> 00:04:33,730 the prophets and see the message of Jesus right then and there. 104 00:04:34,210 --> 00:04:37,050 He says, ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to 105 00:04:37,050 --> 00:04:38,090 enter into his glory? 106 00:04:38,090 --> 00:04:40,569 Meaning this is God's plan. 107 00:04:40,569 --> 00:04:44,570 This is God's purpose that Jesus would come and that he would 108 00:04:44,570 --> 00:04:48,890 die, and so that he would be able to redeem those in their sin. 109 00:04:48,890 --> 00:04:52,990 In verse 27 it says, and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, 110 00:04:52,990 --> 00:04:56,910 he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning 111 00:04:56,910 --> 00:05:00,990 himself, meaning he went back to Genesis, he went back to Moses, 112 00:05:00,990 --> 00:05:02,230 he went back to the prophets. 113 00:05:02,230 --> 00:05:05,950 And he said, this is Jesus here, this is Jesus here, this is 114 00:05:05,950 --> 00:05:06,550 Jesus here. 115 00:05:06,550 --> 00:05:09,070 And essentially what he's saying is, is I am the. 116 00:05:09,390 --> 00:05:12,270 I am the one that is fulfilling all this prophecy. 117 00:05:12,510 --> 00:05:16,390 And we know that even in the Gospels it says Jesus came not to 118 00:05:16,390 --> 00:05:18,350 destroy the law, but but to fulfill it. 119 00:05:18,350 --> 00:05:20,470 We know that Jesus is a fulfillment of all of this. 120 00:05:21,190 --> 00:05:24,150 And so we looked at a couple of those references on Sunday night. 121 00:05:24,150 --> 00:05:25,910 And again, I encourage you to look back at that. 122 00:05:25,910 --> 00:05:26,950 Genesis 3:15. 123 00:05:27,350 --> 00:05:29,750 And then we left off in Isaiah 7:14. 124 00:05:29,750 --> 00:05:32,990 So I want you to turn to the book of Isaiah with me, and I want 125 00:05:32,990 --> 00:05:37,310 us to look at a few of these Messianic prophecies that are fulfilled 126 00:05:37,310 --> 00:05:38,470 in Jesus Christ. 127 00:05:38,470 --> 00:05:41,030 And then I want us to look at what they mean. 128 00:05:41,030 --> 00:05:43,990 What, what are the implications of these prophecies? 129 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,440 Because a prophecy is essentially this. 130 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,400 A lot of times we think of prophecy in foretelling something 131 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:51,080 of the future. 132 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,320 And certainly that's what these are in the book of Isaiah. 133 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,880 They're foretelling something to come in the future. 134 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,760 But the prophet also had a role of speaking forth the truth. 135 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,680 So there's foretelling and forth telling in prophecy. 136 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:08,800 And so in prophecy, this is what's going to happen in the future. 137 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,280 And this is why this is so important. 138 00:06:11,870 --> 00:06:15,950 And so in Isaiah, we see that there is foretelling of what Jesus 139 00:06:16,030 --> 00:06:17,710 would be and who he would be. 140 00:06:18,030 --> 00:06:22,350 But also it tells us in fourth, telling the truth of who 141 00:06:22,350 --> 00:06:23,870 Jesus was and what he would be. 142 00:06:24,030 --> 00:06:28,310 So Isaiah 7:14, some of you know this verse, and you know where 143 00:06:28,310 --> 00:06:29,150 I'm going with this. 144 00:06:29,950 --> 00:06:34,230 This is a Messianic prophecy speaking of Jesus being born of a 145 00:06:34,230 --> 00:06:34,550 virgin. 146 00:06:34,550 --> 00:06:37,470 A very important doctrine to be taught within the church. 147 00:06:38,110 --> 00:06:39,590 And it says, Isaiah 7:14. 148 00:06:39,590 --> 00:06:42,270 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. 149 00:06:42,510 --> 00:06:46,270 Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall 150 00:06:46,270 --> 00:06:47,790 call his name Emmanuel. 151 00:06:48,350 --> 00:06:52,070 And so this is obviously fulfilled in the book of Luke, Luke, 152 00:06:52,070 --> 00:06:53,470 chapter one and chapter two. 153 00:06:53,710 --> 00:06:54,750 Mary the virgin. 154 00:06:54,750 --> 00:06:56,910 She was betrothed to her husband Joseph. 155 00:06:56,910 --> 00:06:59,990 But at that time, you have to understand what marriage was. 156 00:06:59,990 --> 00:07:02,430 Marriage was different back then as it is today. 157 00:07:02,750 --> 00:07:05,310 At that time, there was something called the betrothal period. 158 00:07:06,050 --> 00:07:09,330 And betrothal is similar to today, what we would call the engagement 159 00:07:09,330 --> 00:07:09,650 process. 160 00:07:09,650 --> 00:07:12,770 And so, yes, she was espoused to Joseph. 161 00:07:12,770 --> 00:07:15,170 There was the betrothal period, but it was in the period 162 00:07:15,170 --> 00:07:18,890 of time in which she was waiting for Joseph to prepare his 163 00:07:18,890 --> 00:07:21,410 father's house for her to come in and to live there. 164 00:07:21,649 --> 00:07:23,490 And so at that time, Mary knew no man. 165 00:07:23,490 --> 00:07:26,330 Remember, she said to the angel Gabriel, how can I have a child? 166 00:07:26,330 --> 00:07:27,810 I. I have not known a man. 167 00:07:27,810 --> 00:07:31,050 And so this is certainly a reference to the virgin birth of 168 00:07:31,050 --> 00:07:31,610 Jesus Christ. 169 00:07:31,610 --> 00:07:33,570 And that's a reference back to Genesis 3:15. 170 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,840 Remember, Jesus would be the seed of the woman, and that would 171 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:38,720 make him distinct, that would make him different. 172 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,320 And, and, and we know that in John chapter one, the word became 173 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,000 flesh and dwelt among us, which we're going to talk about in 174 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:45,480 a little bit. 175 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,080 But there's significance to the fact that Jesus is the seed of 176 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:52,000 the woman because he's coming to fulfill the prophecy of the conquering 177 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:52,560 Victor. 178 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,080 And it says here that his name shall be called Emmanuel. 179 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:56,680 And so some people struggle with this. 180 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,840 They say, well, Jesus comes in the New Testament, and they don't 181 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:00,560 name him Emmanuel. 182 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:01,360 They name him Jesus. 183 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:02,310 Well, that. 184 00:08:02,310 --> 00:08:04,790 That doesn't mean anytime you see that his name is. 185 00:08:05,110 --> 00:08:08,230 It's also in the Jewish culture, a reference to his character. 186 00:08:08,710 --> 00:08:10,110 It's a description of him. 187 00:08:10,110 --> 00:08:13,430 And so Emmanuel, if you know what Emmanuel means, it's a description 188 00:08:13,430 --> 00:08:14,310 of who Jesus is. 189 00:08:14,310 --> 00:08:17,190 Emmanuel is God with us, God in the flesh. 190 00:08:17,190 --> 00:08:18,790 That's all of John chapter one. 191 00:08:18,950 --> 00:08:20,550 That's Philippians chapter two. 192 00:08:20,790 --> 00:08:24,670 It's important to note that Jesus is 100% God, which we will 193 00:08:24,670 --> 00:08:25,190 talk about. 194 00:08:25,430 --> 00:08:28,030 But the Bible also teaches that he is 100% man. 195 00:08:28,030 --> 00:08:29,670 Some people say, explain that to me. 196 00:08:30,140 --> 00:08:31,340 And I say, okay, I can't. 197 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:33,300 That's something beyond my comprehension. 198 00:08:33,300 --> 00:08:38,740 How God can be 100% man at the same time as he's 100% God. 199 00:08:38,740 --> 00:08:39,500 In Jesus Christ. 200 00:08:39,820 --> 00:08:43,620 John chapter 1, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 201 00:08:43,620 --> 00:08:44,700 and we beheld his glory. 202 00:08:44,780 --> 00:08:48,220 But it speaks of the Word was God, and the Word was with God. 203 00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:52,460 And so in this case, we see that God with us is a reference to 204 00:08:52,460 --> 00:08:53,020 Jesus. 205 00:08:53,180 --> 00:08:54,300 John 14:6. 206 00:08:54,540 --> 00:08:56,540 Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 207 00:08:56,540 --> 00:08:58,460 No man cometh unto the Father but by me. 208 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,960 Other references in the New Testament speak of Jesus equating 209 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:03,040 himself to the Father. 210 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:05,200 He's not the same as the Father in the concept. 211 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:06,560 They're different in the. 212 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:07,240 The Trinity. 213 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:08,640 There's different persons in the Trinity. 214 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,480 And I know this is going to get Kind of hairy in our minds. 215 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,280 But ultimately, what he's saying here is this, that when Jesus 216 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,880 would come, he would not be a figment of people's imagination. 217 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:19,120 He would not be a creation of God. 218 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,200 He would not be an angel on earth. 219 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,520 There's a lot of different philosophies of who Jesus was, but 220 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,760 the only philosophy that is true and biblical is that Jesus came 221 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,000 as God, but also as man. 222 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,840 God with us, God in the flesh. 223 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:36,200 He has a personal relationship with us, we have a personal relationship 224 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:36,720 with Him. 225 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,479 And that's the beauty of what we have in our faith, is that we 226 00:09:40,479 --> 00:09:41,720 have a God who cares about us. 227 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,160 We have a God who is present, we have a God who is transcendent, 228 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:46,400 meaning he's above all. 229 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:50,320 If we could equate to God and He could understand the same things 230 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,640 we understand, and we understand the same things he understands, 231 00:09:52,900 --> 00:09:55,220 that would mean that he's not God because He's not above us. 232 00:09:55,460 --> 00:09:59,060 So God is transcendent in the concept that he's not bound by space 233 00:09:59,060 --> 00:09:59,620 and time. 234 00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:02,260 He's not bound by our limited human understanding. 235 00:10:02,340 --> 00:10:04,980 But at the same time, we have a God who is imminent, which means 236 00:10:04,980 --> 00:10:05,780 God is personal. 237 00:10:06,020 --> 00:10:06,900 He's with us. 238 00:10:07,060 --> 00:10:10,100 And what an amazing truth that is, that we have a God that's way 239 00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:12,940 bigger than us, but we have a God who wants to be with us in a 240 00:10:12,940 --> 00:10:13,700 personal way. 241 00:10:13,940 --> 00:10:15,780 And that's what we see in Isaiah 7:14. 242 00:10:15,780 --> 00:10:16,260 So the. 243 00:10:16,420 --> 00:10:20,140 The Messianic fulfillment of that is Jesus coming to earth. 244 00:10:20,140 --> 00:10:23,240 And a lot of times we think about in the Christmas season, Luke 245 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,480 2, as an awesome passage to speak of Jesus's birth. 246 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:27,080 And it is. 247 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:29,680 But I would encourage you in the Christmas season to go through 248 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:33,360 John chapter one, at least the first 14 verses, because in John 249 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,840 chapter one, it speaks of not only Jesus's humanity, but also Jesus's 250 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,920 deity and the fact that he is full of grace and truth, as verse 251 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:42,600 14 says. 252 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:46,900 And the Bible really clearly lays out who Jesus is in that passage. 253 00:10:47,290 --> 00:10:50,090 So let's go to another passage, Isaiah, just maybe a couple 254 00:10:50,090 --> 00:10:51,170 pages over in your Bibles. 255 00:10:51,170 --> 00:10:55,970 Isaiah 9, 6, another popular Christmas passage. 256 00:10:55,970 --> 00:10:58,850 You might have seen this on a Christmas card or heard it quoted 257 00:10:58,850 --> 00:10:59,530 at some point. 258 00:10:59,930 --> 00:11:02,810 But again, this is another reference to the Messiah. 259 00:11:03,050 --> 00:11:03,850 The Messiah. 260 00:11:03,850 --> 00:11:07,930 That would be the wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting 261 00:11:07,930 --> 00:11:10,010 Father and the Prince of Peace. 262 00:11:10,010 --> 00:11:12,330 And we're going to break down each one of those here this evening, 263 00:11:12,810 --> 00:11:16,170 and we're going to try to cover as much as we can in this passage. 264 00:11:16,170 --> 00:11:19,850 And I hope that it's a passage of scripture that you're familiar 265 00:11:19,850 --> 00:11:20,010 with. 266 00:11:20,010 --> 00:11:23,250 But maybe you'll learn something new tonight, or maybe just 267 00:11:23,250 --> 00:11:26,370 be reminded of something that you've learned before. 268 00:11:26,370 --> 00:11:30,810 So Isaiah, chapter 9, verse 6, it says, for unto us a child is born. 269 00:11:31,770 --> 00:11:35,250 Again, another reference to the idea that Jesus was born as a 270 00:11:35,250 --> 00:11:35,530 human. 271 00:11:36,410 --> 00:11:42,280 Isaiah uses what we would call repetition or parallelism in Hebrew 272 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:42,720 literature. 273 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,440 For unto us a child is born, and unto us a son is given. 274 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:47,560 He just says it two different ways. 275 00:11:47,560 --> 00:11:50,960 But essentially in Hebrew culture, when something wanted to 276 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,400 be emphasized, when a writer was trying to emphasize something, 277 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,720 he would state the same thing, but basically two different ways. 278 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:58,120 And that's what he's saying here. 279 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:01,280 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. 280 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,530 Isaiah uses this tool of repetition to emphasize his point. 281 00:12:05,680 --> 00:12:10,200 Point that Jesus came and at the same time he was 100 God, but 282 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,040 yes, 100 man as born as a child. 283 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:17,920 And so the glorious prophecy of the Messiah reminds us that victory 284 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,480 came to the earth through Jesus Christ. 285 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:25,120 He would be a man, and he would live as a man among other believers, 286 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:27,800 among other people that struggled. 287 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,200 And the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 4 that he was in all points 288 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:32,480 tempted like we as. 289 00:12:32,560 --> 00:12:34,870 Like, like we were, yet without sin. 290 00:12:35,110 --> 00:12:38,310 And so the distinction of Jesus is not that he was different 291 00:12:38,950 --> 00:12:43,030 in just his makeup, but Jesus was completely different in the concept 292 00:12:43,030 --> 00:12:45,030 that he was tempted like we are. 293 00:12:45,350 --> 00:12:47,270 He went through the same physical struggles. 294 00:12:47,270 --> 00:12:50,390 He went through the things like hunger and thirst and betrayal, 295 00:12:50,390 --> 00:12:52,310 but at the same time, he did it without sin. 296 00:12:52,310 --> 00:12:54,310 And so that's what makes him so different. 297 00:12:54,790 --> 00:12:56,550 And so the child was born. 298 00:12:56,550 --> 00:12:57,230 And that's. 299 00:12:57,230 --> 00:12:59,070 That's an amazing thing to think about. 300 00:12:59,070 --> 00:13:03,320 And one of the passages I would have you go to in this realm, 301 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,520 in this topic, would be Philippians chapter two. 302 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,520 Philippians chapter two talks about how Jesus emptied himself and 303 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:11,040 became as a man. 304 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:12,160 He became a man. 305 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:16,040 He came to this earth, he left his heavenly abode and came to this 306 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:16,240 earth. 307 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,720 And I mentioned this on Sunday, Sunday, I believe what an 308 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,160 amazing truth it is that Jesus was born in a manger. 309 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,800 A manger is not a glorious place to be born. 310 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,200 It's actually a feeding trough. 311 00:13:28,170 --> 00:13:31,050 It's probably the most humble place to be born. 312 00:13:31,770 --> 00:13:34,850 Jesus was born probably in a cave in the. 313 00:13:34,850 --> 00:13:38,570 In the middle of the shepherding fields of Bethlehem. 314 00:13:39,050 --> 00:13:41,730 The reality is, is that Jesus could have been born anywhere as 315 00:13:41,730 --> 00:13:42,090 God. 316 00:13:42,170 --> 00:13:45,690 He left a place of perfection and came to this earth. 317 00:13:45,690 --> 00:13:46,530 Why did he do that? 318 00:13:46,530 --> 00:13:48,970 The Bible says that he did that because he loves us. 319 00:13:49,850 --> 00:13:52,690 And so Philippians chapter 2 is a awesome Passage that speaks 320 00:13:52,690 --> 00:13:56,140 of the humility of Christ, the fact that he could have come and 321 00:13:56,540 --> 00:14:00,380 had every advantage, but yet he humbled himself, he emptied himself 322 00:14:00,380 --> 00:14:04,460 and limited to some degree with his own decision what he would 323 00:14:04,460 --> 00:14:04,780 have. 324 00:14:04,860 --> 00:14:07,060 Because obviously we know that Jesus was hungry. 325 00:14:07,060 --> 00:14:08,460 He could have just filled his belly, right? 326 00:14:09,260 --> 00:14:12,500 He could have spoken into existence, but he limited himself 327 00:14:12,500 --> 00:14:15,020 to be identified with those that he is saving. 328 00:14:15,340 --> 00:14:16,780 So what an amazing truth that is. 329 00:14:16,780 --> 00:14:19,140 So that that is something that is referenced here. 330 00:14:19,140 --> 00:14:22,010 This child would be a man, but he was not just a man. 331 00:14:22,010 --> 00:14:24,850 He was also the eternal Son of God. 332 00:14:25,490 --> 00:14:26,730 And so we go further here. 333 00:14:26,730 --> 00:14:30,690 He says, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. 334 00:14:31,490 --> 00:14:32,770 What's that referencing? 335 00:14:32,930 --> 00:14:36,970 Well, ultimately we know that this is going to be fulfilled in 336 00:14:36,970 --> 00:14:40,730 the millennium and for eternity, when Jesus will rule as 337 00:14:40,730 --> 00:14:43,890 King of Kings and Lord of Lords for all eternity. 338 00:14:44,770 --> 00:14:47,610 So the ultimate fulfillment of this promise is. 339 00:14:47,610 --> 00:14:48,170 Is waiting. 340 00:14:48,170 --> 00:14:52,040 But at the same time, we can still see that he is in control. 341 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:55,400 And in many ways the government still rests upon his shoulders. 342 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:59,760 And God promises us both ultimate fulfillment of this, but 343 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,920 also at this time, right now, that Jesus is in control. 344 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,280 And so I think that this is important to think about as well, 345 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,520 because as many people think today, that, hey, you know what, 346 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:13,160 maybe evil is winning, maybe we aren't going to win. 347 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,720 Maybe God isn't in control. 348 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:18,840 But what we understand is that ultimately God is in control and 349 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,250 the victory is already won, though there are still some battles 350 00:15:22,250 --> 00:15:22,810 to fight. 351 00:15:22,970 --> 00:15:24,090 The war is over. 352 00:15:24,570 --> 00:15:26,970 And I tell people all the time, you know, I've read the end 353 00:15:26,970 --> 00:15:29,890 of the book, and if I believe what the book says, I know what happens 354 00:15:29,890 --> 00:15:30,330 at the end. 355 00:15:30,330 --> 00:15:33,170 And our God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 356 00:15:33,170 --> 00:15:33,810 He wins. 357 00:15:33,810 --> 00:15:37,050 And then by extension we win if we are part of his family. 358 00:15:37,610 --> 00:15:40,170 And so the government shall be upon his shoulder. 359 00:15:40,810 --> 00:15:43,250 And his name, Remember we talked about what his name would 360 00:15:43,250 --> 00:15:43,490 be? 361 00:15:43,490 --> 00:15:44,890 He's not literally named these things. 362 00:15:44,890 --> 00:15:49,760 But this mark's aspects of his character in his name shall be called 363 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:50,560 wonderful. 364 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:52,960 What does that word, wonderful mean? 365 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,440 Well, in this Hebrew, it's, It's. 366 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:56,240 It's glory. 367 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:57,360 It's amazement. 368 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:02,760 The glory of who he is and what he has done for us fills the 369 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:03,680 world with wonder. 370 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:07,920 And I think that's the really the only proper response to knowing 371 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,640 who God is and what he has done and his type of love for us. 372 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,170 And Jesus coming to this earth and doing what he did for us, really 373 00:16:14,170 --> 00:16:20,090 the proper response is to be filled with awe and amazement and 374 00:16:20,090 --> 00:16:21,930 wonder and thanksgiving. 375 00:16:22,490 --> 00:16:26,650 And really, ultimately we'll never be able to completely Comprehend 376 00:16:26,650 --> 00:16:29,210 on this side of heaven what Jesus Christ did for us. 377 00:16:29,930 --> 00:16:33,050 He's wonderful and he will fill our hearts and minds with awe 378 00:16:33,050 --> 00:16:34,410 and amazement. 379 00:16:34,810 --> 00:16:35,970 Think of the word awesome. 380 00:16:35,970 --> 00:16:37,450 I mean, it's a word that we use a lot today. 381 00:16:37,450 --> 00:16:40,980 And you know, we say like this game is awesome or this food is awesome, 382 00:16:40,980 --> 00:16:41,780 or whatever it is. 383 00:16:41,780 --> 00:16:44,500 But if you think about the word awesome, literally it means 384 00:16:44,500 --> 00:16:48,340 to be filled with awe, to be speechless, to be overwhelmed. 385 00:16:48,900 --> 00:16:51,980 And, and that's the result of who Jesus is. 386 00:16:51,980 --> 00:16:56,340 When we recognize him in all of his glory, when we recognize him 387 00:16:56,500 --> 00:17:00,300 for all of his power, when we recognize him for what he has done 388 00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:04,040 for us, the glory of who he is and what he has done for us should 389 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,680 fill us with this sense of wonder and amazement. 390 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:08,520 So he's characterized by wonder. 391 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,760 It's a reference to his deity, it's a reference to his power, it's 392 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:16,240 a reference to his omnipotence, it's a reference to 393 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,040 his omniscience, his all knowing nature. 394 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,800 It's a reference to how great and grand he is. 395 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:23,120 And so there's another thing here. 396 00:17:23,120 --> 00:17:25,160 It says that wonderful counselor. 397 00:17:26,360 --> 00:17:30,700 The Bible speaks of Jesus as the One to fit all of our needs into 398 00:17:31,020 --> 00:17:34,380 his heart and take that on and bear those burdens. 399 00:17:34,780 --> 00:17:37,780 And our immediate, our immediate counselor should be Christ. 400 00:17:37,780 --> 00:17:40,620 I mean, obviously there's a time and a place for counselors, 401 00:17:41,340 --> 00:17:45,220 other human counselors, but the Bible speaks of this case is 402 00:17:45,220 --> 00:17:47,420 that our greatest counselor is Jesus Christ. 403 00:17:48,300 --> 00:17:51,460 We can use his presence and his provisions and his power in our 404 00:17:51,460 --> 00:17:55,260 life for words of comfort, for words of assurance, for words of 405 00:17:55,260 --> 00:17:57,450 clarity, for words of strength. 406 00:17:58,010 --> 00:17:59,770 We go to him in time of need. 407 00:18:00,170 --> 00:18:02,050 The Bible says to, to run to Him. 408 00:18:02,050 --> 00:18:04,330 The Bible says to draw near to God. 409 00:18:04,330 --> 00:18:06,650 Draw nigh to God, James, chapter four, verse eight and he'll 410 00:18:06,650 --> 00:18:07,610 draw near to us. 411 00:18:08,090 --> 00:18:11,850 The Bible says that we can cast our care upon him because he 412 00:18:11,850 --> 00:18:12,730 cares for us. 413 00:18:13,130 --> 00:18:15,450 And there's times in our life where we carry those burdens. 414 00:18:15,450 --> 00:18:18,810 And really we might not even have a human counselor that can understand 415 00:18:19,290 --> 00:18:22,810 our biggest struggle or maybe understand what we should do next. 416 00:18:23,570 --> 00:18:25,890 But the Bible says that he is the great counselor. 417 00:18:26,450 --> 00:18:29,930 And so we really need Jesus in every way when it comes to the One 418 00:18:29,930 --> 00:18:32,690 who is teaching us, the One who is guiding us, the One who is 419 00:18:33,170 --> 00:18:36,010 confirming in our hearts the type of counsel that we all need. 420 00:18:36,010 --> 00:18:39,450 And by the way, the Holy Spirit works in our life in many 421 00:18:39,450 --> 00:18:40,010 capacities. 422 00:18:40,010 --> 00:18:42,410 But I believe one of the greatest capacities that the Holy 423 00:18:42,410 --> 00:18:45,250 Spirit works in our life is as a teacher to teach us the truth, 424 00:18:45,250 --> 00:18:48,330 to teach us the wisdom to teach us to strength, to teach us 425 00:18:48,330 --> 00:18:48,930 the comfort. 426 00:18:49,390 --> 00:18:51,390 And so Jesus is our counselor. 427 00:18:52,190 --> 00:18:55,830 And I think that it's necessary for us to go to Jesus in 428 00:18:55,830 --> 00:18:56,830 times of need. 429 00:18:57,710 --> 00:19:00,510 And I think that's one of the many reasons why God allows us to 430 00:19:00,510 --> 00:19:02,670 come to places of difficulty in our life. 431 00:19:03,230 --> 00:19:05,670 Because the temptation sometimes is to think of ourselves 432 00:19:05,670 --> 00:19:08,710 as our own counselor, that we've got it all under control, that 433 00:19:08,710 --> 00:19:11,110 we are smart enough, that we're prepared enough. 434 00:19:11,110 --> 00:19:13,830 But there are going to be times in our life, and I think all 435 00:19:13,830 --> 00:19:17,110 of us to some degree have had this experience where God is going 436 00:19:17,110 --> 00:19:20,630 to allow certain things to happen to get us to a place in our 437 00:19:20,630 --> 00:19:24,390 life where we recognize our need for his counsel, we recognize 438 00:19:24,470 --> 00:19:27,110 our need for his wisdom, for his strength. 439 00:19:27,510 --> 00:19:29,630 And there's going to be times where we don't know what to do. 440 00:19:29,630 --> 00:19:33,070 And if we had more time, I'd preach a sermon from the book of 441 00:19:33,070 --> 00:19:35,110 James called what to do when you don't know what to do. 442 00:19:35,190 --> 00:19:36,390 But essentially it's this. 443 00:19:36,470 --> 00:19:39,670 The Bible says in the book of James, chapter one, if we lack wisdom 444 00:19:39,670 --> 00:19:42,550 to ask God to give it to us, and he'll give it to us. 445 00:19:42,550 --> 00:19:45,070 And it says that he won't hold it against us, that he'll liberally 446 00:19:45,070 --> 00:19:46,150 pour it out upon us. 447 00:19:46,860 --> 00:19:49,940 And so the Bible says to ask in faith, and he will give us those 448 00:19:49,940 --> 00:19:52,980 things that we are asking for specifically in the concept of wisdom 449 00:19:52,980 --> 00:19:53,660 and teaching. 450 00:19:53,980 --> 00:19:57,180 So wonderful, counselor, the mighty God that's self explanatory, 451 00:19:57,180 --> 00:20:02,020 but it says here that he is not just a God, one of the gods, 452 00:20:02,020 --> 00:20:03,660 but that he is the mighty God. 453 00:20:03,660 --> 00:20:05,340 He is God of all creation. 454 00:20:05,580 --> 00:20:09,620 He is God of all glory, the Lord who rules and reigns, the one, 455 00:20:09,620 --> 00:20:13,260 the only one who is worthy of our worship and our praise. 456 00:20:14,810 --> 00:20:17,090 Often we don't think about the role of Jesus in creation. 457 00:20:17,090 --> 00:20:20,130 But the Bible actually says in the New Testament that Jesus spoke 458 00:20:20,130 --> 00:20:22,890 the world into existence out of nothing. 459 00:20:23,610 --> 00:20:25,130 And Jesus is the creator. 460 00:20:25,130 --> 00:20:28,290 We think about the idea of all the beautiful creations that he's 461 00:20:28,290 --> 00:20:29,610 given us in our life. 462 00:20:29,770 --> 00:20:32,410 Even we are a product of his creation. 463 00:20:32,490 --> 00:20:37,090 But then we also think about how often we turn to the creation 464 00:20:37,090 --> 00:20:38,970 instead of the Creator for worship. 465 00:20:40,020 --> 00:20:42,740 By the way, I want you to think about that word worship, because 466 00:20:42,820 --> 00:20:44,940 we use that word worship quite frequently. 467 00:20:44,940 --> 00:20:47,740 But a lot of times we don't know what we're actually saying when 468 00:20:47,740 --> 00:20:48,580 we say worship. 469 00:20:49,060 --> 00:20:52,140 We think that alone worship is just, we got to get the lights to 470 00:20:52,140 --> 00:20:55,380 the right, you know, setting. 471 00:20:55,700 --> 00:20:58,580 We got to make the right ambiance happen in the room and we 472 00:20:58,580 --> 00:21:00,180 have to sing just at the right tune. 473 00:21:00,580 --> 00:21:03,820 And certainly worship can happen in the midst of a song service. 474 00:21:03,820 --> 00:21:08,240 And there's certain capacities of, of circumstance around us that 475 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,400 can allow us to have a better, more focused worship time. 476 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:15,000 But the Bible tells us that we can worship at any place in our life. 477 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:17,160 Doesn't have to just be in a church setting. 478 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:18,440 That's corporate worship. 479 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,000 And I think the Bible does speak of the importance of corporate 480 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:21,280 worship. 481 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:24,400 But the Bible tells us to live a life of worship no matter where 482 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:24,840 we are. 483 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:28,160 The Bible says that whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it thy 484 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:28,400 might. 485 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,440 Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all 486 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:32,350 to the glory of God. 487 00:21:32,900 --> 00:21:35,260 So the Bible says that no matter what we do, it could be an 488 00:21:35,260 --> 00:21:36,980 act of worship when we give him glory. 489 00:21:36,980 --> 00:21:38,500 So what does that word worship mean? 490 00:21:39,460 --> 00:21:41,620 Well, it just basically is talking about worth. 491 00:21:42,100 --> 00:21:43,100 Worth ship. 492 00:21:43,100 --> 00:21:46,740 Meaning he is the only one worthy of everything that we give 493 00:21:46,740 --> 00:21:50,580 him in our worship, in our lives and our talents and our gifts 494 00:21:50,580 --> 00:21:51,300 and everything. 495 00:21:51,300 --> 00:21:52,740 He is worthy of everything. 496 00:21:52,740 --> 00:21:53,980 And so we are praising him. 497 00:21:53,980 --> 00:21:56,900 And often we praise with our mouths, but we don't praise with 498 00:21:56,900 --> 00:21:57,460 our hearts. 499 00:21:58,430 --> 00:21:59,670 We don't praise with our minds. 500 00:21:59,670 --> 00:22:02,190 We just praise with something out of our mouth saying, oh, I love 501 00:22:02,190 --> 00:22:02,670 you, Lord. 502 00:22:02,670 --> 00:22:06,510 But the Bible teaches us what it means to, to love God. 503 00:22:06,990 --> 00:22:07,550 If I. 504 00:22:07,550 --> 00:22:10,030 What does the Bible say we saw in first John? 505 00:22:10,110 --> 00:22:13,390 If I say I love God, but I hate my brother, I'm a liar. 506 00:22:14,190 --> 00:22:18,150 So if I say I love you, Lord, in worship, but I don't connect that 507 00:22:18,150 --> 00:22:21,990 love to the action in which the Bible says is the manifestation 508 00:22:21,990 --> 00:22:24,270 of my love, I'm not really worshiping him. 509 00:22:24,570 --> 00:22:25,770 That's called empty worship. 510 00:22:26,730 --> 00:22:31,050 That's called bringing an offering or a sacrifice to God with 511 00:22:31,050 --> 00:22:32,650 a impure heart. 512 00:22:33,690 --> 00:22:35,850 The Bible says that before we go and worship. 513 00:22:35,850 --> 00:22:37,130 This is in the book of Matthew. 514 00:22:37,290 --> 00:22:40,329 Before we go and worship, if we have something against our brother, 515 00:22:40,329 --> 00:22:43,090 if we have a sin in our life, take care of that before we offer 516 00:22:43,090 --> 00:22:44,250 any worship to the Lord. 517 00:22:45,050 --> 00:22:48,050 And so here in Isaiah, he says he is the mighty God. 518 00:22:48,050 --> 00:22:50,650 He is the only one worthy of our worship. 519 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:53,000 He's the only one worthy of our praise. 520 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:54,720 And so he is the creator. 521 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:58,600 So sometimes we fall into the trap of worshiping the creation. 522 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:03,840 We think of the gift as the ultimate blessing instead of the 523 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:04,680 gift giver. 524 00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:12,360 The question would be, is, would I still love God if everything 525 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:16,360 that I had other than my salvation was taken away? 526 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:18,480 That's a tough question. 527 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:19,760 That's a really tough question. 528 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:25,120 I mean, all of us in our, all of us, in our, in our Christian mechanics 529 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:27,760 and our Christian thinking that we've been taught to say, oh, 530 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:28,800 of course I love Him. 531 00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:32,000 But the true test is to say this. 532 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:35,600 Is God enough for me? 533 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:36,360 Is. 534 00:23:36,360 --> 00:23:37,680 Is my relationship with. 535 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:38,680 With him enough? 536 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:39,960 Is it sufficient enough? 537 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:41,520 Or do I need more? 538 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,810 Like, I have you, God, but I also have all these other things 539 00:23:44,810 --> 00:23:46,210 that make me more secure in you. 540 00:23:46,370 --> 00:23:48,610 Now, that's not how God works. 541 00:23:48,610 --> 00:23:51,090 God gives us life and life more abundantly. 542 00:23:51,490 --> 00:23:52,050 And so He. 543 00:23:52,050 --> 00:23:53,490 He showers us with blessings. 544 00:23:53,490 --> 00:23:54,130 We know that. 545 00:23:54,930 --> 00:23:59,090 But again, at the heart of it, do we demand those blessings for 546 00:23:59,090 --> 00:24:02,770 any type of worship, or do we worship him just for who he is? 547 00:24:03,330 --> 00:24:05,090 Do we worship him for our salvation? 548 00:24:06,370 --> 00:24:11,110 You know, if, if, if salvation was the only gift that he gave us, 549 00:24:11,110 --> 00:24:11,990 that would be enough. 550 00:24:12,870 --> 00:24:15,150 But again, he gives us gifts after gift. 551 00:24:15,150 --> 00:24:17,710 And then we think about it from the perspective of, wow, look 552 00:24:17,710 --> 00:24:18,470 at this gift. 553 00:24:18,630 --> 00:24:22,470 And we begin to shower that gift with our love and our attention 554 00:24:22,470 --> 00:24:26,190 and our praise instead of thanking the Lord for giving us these 555 00:24:26,190 --> 00:24:26,710 great things. 556 00:24:27,990 --> 00:24:29,990 I've used this analogy many, many times. 557 00:24:29,990 --> 00:24:32,630 But, you know, if I got my kid something for Christmas, and my kid 558 00:24:32,630 --> 00:24:36,150 looks at me, doesn't think me, but thinks the actual gift itself, 559 00:24:36,810 --> 00:24:41,890 you know, thank you, Mr. You know, basketball hoop, you're a blessing 560 00:24:41,890 --> 00:24:42,210 to me. 561 00:24:42,210 --> 00:24:44,850 And he goes out and talks to the basketball hoop, gives hugs the 562 00:24:44,850 --> 00:24:47,890 basketball hoop, and I'm going, well, hey, I'm the one that 563 00:24:47,890 --> 00:24:49,450 gave that to Him. 564 00:24:49,930 --> 00:24:51,610 Why isn't he thanking me? 565 00:24:51,930 --> 00:24:52,370 That's. 566 00:24:52,370 --> 00:24:53,690 That's absurd, right? 567 00:24:53,770 --> 00:24:55,970 But the reality is that's sometimes how we are with the Lord. 568 00:24:55,970 --> 00:24:58,970 He gives us a gift, and we go and hug that gift and spend time 569 00:24:58,970 --> 00:25:01,730 around that gift and invest in that gift and forget about the One 570 00:25:01,730 --> 00:25:02,490 who gave us that. 571 00:25:03,910 --> 00:25:06,230 And so that's something to think about as well. 572 00:25:06,790 --> 00:25:11,110 So he says, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father. 573 00:25:12,310 --> 00:25:15,990 Now, this is not saying that Jesus and the Father are the same, 574 00:25:16,550 --> 00:25:19,350 because we know that they're distinct in the Godhead. 575 00:25:19,910 --> 00:25:20,870 Why do we know that? 576 00:25:20,870 --> 00:25:25,030 Because in Jesus's baptism, God the Father speaks about Jesus. 577 00:25:26,470 --> 00:25:30,070 We know that in other places in Scripture, Jesus prays to the 578 00:25:30,070 --> 00:25:30,470 Father. 579 00:25:31,270 --> 00:25:34,990 And so again, that's one of the mysteries of our faith, is the 580 00:25:34,990 --> 00:25:38,750 Trinity and the work between the three persons of the Trinity. 581 00:25:38,750 --> 00:25:43,270 But the Messiah as the Everlasting Father is not saying 582 00:25:43,270 --> 00:25:45,510 that Jesus is the same as the Father. 583 00:25:46,150 --> 00:25:50,550 What it's referencing this is that Jesus is the source and the 584 00:25:50,550 --> 00:25:54,710 author of all eternity, all power, all salvation. 585 00:25:54,790 --> 00:25:57,110 Jesus is the author and finisher of our Faith. 586 00:25:58,140 --> 00:26:00,740 And so it does not mean that Jesus himself is the person of the 587 00:26:00,740 --> 00:26:01,580 Father of the Trinity. 588 00:26:01,580 --> 00:26:04,940 It's simply speaking of Jesus's authority over us. 589 00:26:05,580 --> 00:26:09,180 It's speaking of Jesus's sovereignty over us and his power 590 00:26:09,180 --> 00:26:09,900 as God. 591 00:26:10,620 --> 00:26:13,820 And then we see finally there the Prince of peace. 592 00:26:14,540 --> 00:26:16,900 The Messiah is the Prince of peace. 593 00:26:16,900 --> 00:26:21,180 He is the one who makes peace between God and man. 594 00:26:21,820 --> 00:26:23,140 And I want us to think about this. 595 00:26:23,140 --> 00:26:25,940 And this is something that I find very interesting. 596 00:26:25,940 --> 00:26:28,540 And it was something that the Lord revealed to me not too long 597 00:26:28,540 --> 00:26:31,660 ago, it was about a year or so ago, that to. 598 00:26:31,660 --> 00:26:35,740 To have the peace of God in our lives because we all want the 599 00:26:35,740 --> 00:26:36,420 peace of God. 600 00:26:37,220 --> 00:26:40,659 The peace of God, as Philippians chapter four says, it's 601 00:26:40,659 --> 00:26:43,220 the peace of God which passeth all understanding. 602 00:26:43,220 --> 00:26:47,500 So it's a type of peace that God gives to his children that cannot 603 00:26:47,500 --> 00:26:52,120 be experienced by the world outside of true faith and Holy Spirit 604 00:26:52,120 --> 00:26:52,760 indwelling. 605 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:56,840 And so what the Bible says is that we all want to have the peace 606 00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:00,720 of God, but to have the peace of God, we have to have the peace 607 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:01,400 with God. 608 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:03,720 How do we have peace with God? 609 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:07,040 Well, I want you to keep your finger there in Isaiah chapter 9, 610 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:11,880 but I want you to go with me to Romans chapter five, Romans chapter 611 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:12,200 five. 612 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,800 So we're going to get to Philippians chapter four, where it 613 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,360 talks about the peace of God. 614 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,880 And I think that that's something that all of us desire and 615 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,160 that all of us have promised to us if we go to the Lord in faith. 616 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:29,320 But there are people in this world that possibly might be looking 617 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:33,720 for the peace of God without finding peace with God. 618 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:35,440 And so they're. 619 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:39,480 They're like, if, let's say someone came up to me and they said, 620 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:43,320 how can you have peace in the middle of this struggle? 621 00:27:43,900 --> 00:27:47,420 And I turn to them and I say, well, my peace is found in the peace 622 00:27:47,420 --> 00:27:48,060 of God. 623 00:27:48,540 --> 00:27:50,700 And they say, well, I want to find that type of peace. 624 00:27:51,420 --> 00:27:54,020 And I tell them, well, you have that type of peace because all 625 00:27:54,020 --> 00:27:56,300 of us are children of God. 626 00:27:56,540 --> 00:27:59,860 If they are not truly a child of God, if they have not trusted 627 00:27:59,860 --> 00:28:03,380 in faith in Jesus Christ, that is a promise that I cannot give to 628 00:28:03,380 --> 00:28:05,420 someone because they do not have peace with God. 629 00:28:05,420 --> 00:28:10,420 Because the Bible says, before we come to peace with God, we are 630 00:28:10,420 --> 00:28:11,500 enemies of God. 631 00:28:12,490 --> 00:28:14,690 If you doubt that, read Ephesians chapter 2. 632 00:28:14,690 --> 00:28:18,530 The Bible says, before we came to faith in Jesus Christ, we were 633 00:28:18,530 --> 00:28:19,330 enemies of God. 634 00:28:19,330 --> 00:28:21,370 It says that we are enmity with God. 635 00:28:21,530 --> 00:28:24,290 We were not children of God, but we were children of Satan. 636 00:28:24,290 --> 00:28:25,450 We are children of the enemy. 637 00:28:26,330 --> 00:28:26,890 But so. 638 00:28:26,890 --> 00:28:31,530 So before we come to Jesus in faith, the Bible says that we are 639 00:28:31,530 --> 00:28:33,290 not at peace with God. 640 00:28:34,730 --> 00:28:39,650 We are not in his good graces, we are not in salvation. 641 00:28:40,130 --> 00:28:45,970 So Romans chapter 5 tells us verse 1, how we can find peace with 642 00:28:46,130 --> 00:28:49,170 God so that we can find the peace of God. 643 00:28:49,170 --> 00:28:52,010 And it says in verse one, therefore, being justified. 644 00:28:52,010 --> 00:28:53,490 What does that word justified mean? 645 00:28:53,650 --> 00:28:57,570 Justified means to be declared righteous, to be forgiven, to to 646 00:28:57,570 --> 00:28:59,970 not be held guilty of the sins that we have committed. 647 00:28:59,970 --> 00:29:01,850 Therefore, being justified by what? 648 00:29:01,850 --> 00:29:02,690 By faith. 649 00:29:02,930 --> 00:29:05,330 So it's the only thing that can save us, the only thing that 650 00:29:05,330 --> 00:29:08,970 can give us declared righteousness of God is our faith 651 00:29:08,970 --> 00:29:09,650 in Him. 652 00:29:10,290 --> 00:29:16,210 It says, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 653 00:29:17,090 --> 00:29:22,170 So it's faith in Jesus Christ that brings us to a place of justification. 654 00:29:22,170 --> 00:29:26,130 And that justification brings us to a place of peace with God, 655 00:29:26,450 --> 00:29:28,010 by whom also verse 2. 656 00:29:28,010 --> 00:29:32,160 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we 657 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:35,880 stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God, meaning the. 658 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:43,120 The hope, the rejoicing, the joy only comes after we find peace 659 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:44,520 with God through faith. 660 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:48,360 Then after that point, we go to Philippians chapter four. 661 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:53,280 Philippians chapter four tells us more about how we after find. 662 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:57,940 After we find peace with God, we can understand and rest in and 663 00:29:57,940 --> 00:29:59,980 live in the peace of God. 664 00:30:00,300 --> 00:30:03,580 So Philippians chapter four, verse. 665 00:30:03,980 --> 00:30:05,980 Well, verse four says, to rejoice in the Lord always. 666 00:30:06,460 --> 00:30:07,620 And again I say rejoice. 667 00:30:07,620 --> 00:30:08,940 And then jump forward to verse seven. 668 00:30:09,100 --> 00:30:11,540 Says, in the peace of God which passeth all understanding, 669 00:30:11,540 --> 00:30:14,380 shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 670 00:30:14,380 --> 00:30:15,340 We see a theme. 671 00:30:15,340 --> 00:30:20,980 So the peace with God is found through Jesus Christ, and the peace 672 00:30:20,980 --> 00:30:23,580 of God is found through walking in Jesus Christ. 673 00:30:23,580 --> 00:30:25,180 Salvation and sanctification. 674 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:27,400 Salvation is our. 675 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:28,480 Our justification. 676 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:31,640 That's what makes us righteous in the eyes of God. 677 00:30:32,440 --> 00:30:35,240 But then the process continues on in our spiritual growth. 678 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:36,520 That's called sanctification. 679 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:39,400 So, so we trust in God to save us. 680 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:40,920 We trust in God to grow us. 681 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,720 And in that spiritual growth comes what we see there in verse 682 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:44,040 seven. 683 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:47,720 The peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your 684 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:48,280 hearts. 685 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:54,970 So our emotions and our minds, our thoughts, so we can find peace 686 00:30:54,970 --> 00:30:59,570 in our emotions, we can find peace in our thoughts when we bring 687 00:30:59,570 --> 00:31:00,530 everything to the lord. 688 00:31:00,530 --> 00:31:03,570 And verse 6 tells us, Be careful or anxious for nothing, but 689 00:31:03,570 --> 00:31:06,570 in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, 690 00:31:06,570 --> 00:31:08,610 let your requests be made known unto God. 691 00:31:09,490 --> 00:31:13,330 And so that's how Jesus is, the Prince of peace. 692 00:31:13,730 --> 00:31:16,970 He comes to extend peace to this world because a lot of people 693 00:31:16,970 --> 00:31:18,530 Say, well, Jesus is the Prince of peace. 694 00:31:18,790 --> 00:31:21,030 I'm looking around the world today, and I'm not seeing a lot of 695 00:31:21,030 --> 00:31:21,350 peace. 696 00:31:22,870 --> 00:31:28,350 And, and I'm going to give you a clear explanation of that. 697 00:31:28,350 --> 00:31:31,670 I believe that in the time frame that we're in right now, there 698 00:31:31,670 --> 00:31:32,630 will not be peace. 699 00:31:32,950 --> 00:31:37,470 There will not be peace until ultimately Jesus returns and institutes 700 00:31:37,470 --> 00:31:40,230 his mighty rule and reign for forever. 701 00:31:40,710 --> 00:31:43,430 And the Bible does teach in Philippians. 702 00:31:43,510 --> 00:31:47,630 If you just go back to Philippians chapter 2, Philippians 703 00:31:47,630 --> 00:31:54,350 chapter 2, verse number 10, it says that at the name of Jesus, every 704 00:31:54,350 --> 00:31:58,950 knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things 705 00:31:58,950 --> 00:31:59,830 under the earth. 706 00:32:00,230 --> 00:32:03,550 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord 707 00:32:03,550 --> 00:32:07,910 to the glory of God the Father, meaning everybody who has 708 00:32:07,910 --> 00:32:13,590 ever, ever existed will profess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 709 00:32:13,990 --> 00:32:17,830 not necessarily in salvation, because there will be people that 710 00:32:17,830 --> 00:32:21,790 will be able to profess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but not in 711 00:32:21,790 --> 00:32:22,310 salvation. 712 00:32:22,310 --> 00:32:24,990 It'll be through judgment, because God is going to judge those 713 00:32:24,990 --> 00:32:26,470 who are in rebellion to him. 714 00:32:27,030 --> 00:32:29,750 If God did not judge those that are in rebellion to him, he 715 00:32:29,750 --> 00:32:30,950 would not be a righteous judge. 716 00:32:30,950 --> 00:32:31,670 He would not be. 717 00:32:31,670 --> 00:32:34,110 He would not be holy, right? 718 00:32:34,110 --> 00:32:38,310 If, if, if we had a human setting and someone committed this 719 00:32:38,310 --> 00:32:41,170 heinous crime and, and they stood before the judge, and the judge 720 00:32:41,170 --> 00:32:44,090 looked out at them and said, well, you know, I know you really 721 00:32:44,090 --> 00:32:45,130 didn't mean to do that. 722 00:32:45,130 --> 00:32:47,450 And you know, we're all humans, we all make mistakes. 723 00:32:47,450 --> 00:32:49,210 And so we're going to let you off the hook on this one. 724 00:32:49,610 --> 00:32:53,050 I think all of us written on our hearts, we would recognize that 725 00:32:53,050 --> 00:32:53,690 that's wrong. 726 00:32:54,090 --> 00:32:57,410 Like, that's that person should be brought to justice because 727 00:32:57,410 --> 00:33:00,330 of their evil doing that, that's good. 728 00:33:00,330 --> 00:33:03,410 God, innately, God, God naturally has placed that on our 729 00:33:03,410 --> 00:33:03,850 hearts. 730 00:33:03,850 --> 00:33:08,320 But at the same time, how then, how can God overlook and extend 731 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:12,080 peace with people who have committed crimes against him, committed 732 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:12,920 sins against him? 733 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:17,520 How could someone living a life of brokenness and living a life 734 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:20,280 of rebellion find forgiveness? 735 00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:23,200 How can God overlook those sins? 736 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:23,840 Well, I'm going to tell you. 737 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:25,560 God does not overlook sin. 738 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:29,680 And so the way that we can find peace with God is through Jesus 739 00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:29,920 Christ. 740 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:35,160 Jesus came this earth as the Prince of peace, lived that perfect 741 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:39,640 life, died on the cross for our sins, paid the price, gave the 742 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,480 payment, conquered death through the resurrection, and extends 743 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:43,680 that gift of grace to us. 744 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:47,440 So the Bible says that that's something called imputed righteousness. 745 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:53,120 Imputed righteousness is that God doesn't look at us and say, well, 746 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:55,440 now that person doesn't sin anymore. 747 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:59,130 Because all of us that have been saved for any amount of time 748 00:33:59,130 --> 00:34:00,250 realize that we're not perfect. 749 00:34:00,250 --> 00:34:01,050 We still sin. 750 00:34:01,690 --> 00:34:04,330 So how can God still look upon me and call me righteous? 751 00:34:04,650 --> 00:34:05,570 There's none righteous. 752 00:34:05,570 --> 00:34:06,250 No, not one. 753 00:34:07,450 --> 00:34:09,970 Well, he does that through imputed righteousness, which means 754 00:34:09,970 --> 00:34:12,330 it's Jesus Christ's righteousness on our account. 755 00:34:12,730 --> 00:34:15,690 It says in the Bible that our sins are blotted out. 756 00:34:16,890 --> 00:34:20,490 That doesn't mean that our sins aren't really sins. 757 00:34:20,490 --> 00:34:23,450 It just means at that point, Jesus's forgiveness wipes those away. 758 00:34:23,970 --> 00:34:26,610 So when God looks upon our account, it's not that he's looking 759 00:34:26,610 --> 00:34:28,690 upon us and saying, well, you know what? 760 00:34:29,570 --> 00:34:31,130 I'm going to overlook that person's sin. 761 00:34:31,130 --> 00:34:33,490 No, it's Jesus on, on our account. 762 00:34:33,570 --> 00:34:37,130 Now, at the same time, a lot of people use that as an excuse to 763 00:34:37,130 --> 00:34:39,090 say that I'm just going to continue on in sin. 764 00:34:40,050 --> 00:34:44,650 Well, Paul addresses that, and I believe that there are human consequences 765 00:34:44,650 --> 00:34:45,650 even for sin now. 766 00:34:45,650 --> 00:34:49,090 So, for example, if I'm a Christian and I sin, that doesn't 767 00:34:49,090 --> 00:34:51,010 mean I go without human consequences. 768 00:34:51,659 --> 00:34:53,899 You know, I can be a Christian and forgive him, but I can go around 769 00:34:53,899 --> 00:34:57,419 and doing a bunch of sinful things and I will pay the earthly 770 00:34:57,419 --> 00:34:58,619 consequences for that. 771 00:34:59,579 --> 00:35:03,019 And so that, that's, for example, a Christian who commits 772 00:35:03,019 --> 00:35:03,419 a crime. 773 00:35:03,419 --> 00:35:06,219 I believe a Christian who commits a crime should face the punishment 774 00:35:06,219 --> 00:35:10,379 that the land sets up for that if it's a crime against the law of 775 00:35:10,379 --> 00:35:11,739 the land, the law of God. 776 00:35:11,899 --> 00:35:15,859 But at the same time, there's ultimate forgiveness in a relationship 777 00:35:15,859 --> 00:35:16,459 with Jesus Christ. 778 00:35:16,459 --> 00:35:19,240 And so that's how Jesus is the Prince of peace. 779 00:35:19,240 --> 00:35:23,040 That's, that's how we can rest in that, how we can know that Jesus 780 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:23,760 Christ is Lord. 781 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:27,200 Because a lot of times people will use the fact that, well, I'm 782 00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:30,960 forgiven so I can just keep sinning, or that person's forgiven, 783 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:33,000 so we can't hold them accountable for the sins that they're 784 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:33,399 committing. 785 00:35:33,399 --> 00:35:36,960 No, obviously in the New Testament, people are held accountable 786 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:40,160 for their sins, but not in condemnation. 787 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:43,720 Romans chapter 8 tells us there's therefore now no condemnation, 788 00:35:43,720 --> 00:35:46,160 which means there's no ultimate judgment upon us. 789 00:35:46,570 --> 00:35:48,410 So that's how we can find peace with God. 790 00:35:49,370 --> 00:35:55,570 So we go back to Isaiah 9, 6, wonderful counselor, the mighty God, 791 00:35:55,570 --> 00:35:57,450 the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace. 792 00:35:57,850 --> 00:36:00,170 And then we'll look at verse number seven, and then we'll be done. 793 00:36:01,610 --> 00:36:04,530 We're talking about the glory of the Messiah's reign that is to 794 00:36:04,530 --> 00:36:07,890 come, of the increase of his government and peace. 795 00:36:07,890 --> 00:36:10,650 There shall be no end which Means this speaks of his eternal 796 00:36:10,650 --> 00:36:11,130 kingdom. 797 00:36:11,450 --> 00:36:15,170 This speaks to, to his eternal rule and reign forever and ever and 798 00:36:15,170 --> 00:36:19,740 ever upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it 799 00:36:19,740 --> 00:36:22,300 and to establish it with judgment and with justice. 800 00:36:22,460 --> 00:36:23,740 We just talked about that, right? 801 00:36:23,980 --> 00:36:29,820 Jesus is still a righteous judge with justice from henceforth, 802 00:36:29,900 --> 00:36:30,900 even forever. 803 00:36:30,900 --> 00:36:33,100 The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 804 00:36:34,300 --> 00:36:38,420 And so Jesus will rule on David's throne over his kingdom for 805 00:36:38,420 --> 00:36:39,340 all eternity. 806 00:36:39,820 --> 00:36:43,550 Now, we know that all, all of this sounds like. 807 00:36:43,550 --> 00:36:44,950 Well, this hasn't happened yet. 808 00:36:44,950 --> 00:36:45,470 Ultimately. 809 00:36:45,470 --> 00:36:46,350 Well, yes, I. 810 00:36:46,350 --> 00:36:48,750 Yes, God has made it right in salvation, but there will be one 811 00:36:48,750 --> 00:36:52,030 day when all is made right, when justice and judgment will be 812 00:36:52,030 --> 00:36:56,190 enacted upon those that are in rebellion, and grace and peace and 813 00:36:56,190 --> 00:36:59,030 forgiveness will be enacted to all those who are in faith. 814 00:36:59,830 --> 00:37:04,030 So God will accomplish His Word and God will work out his will 815 00:37:04,030 --> 00:37:07,760 and his way and his plan in this earth for. 816 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:08,720 For eternity. 817 00:37:08,800 --> 00:37:13,120 So that's Isaiah 9, verses 6 and 7. 818 00:37:13,600 --> 00:37:15,880 There's so many more prophecies that I'd like to go through 819 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:17,880 with you, and we will in the month of December. 820 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:20,280 So if you are interested in these, we're going to be doing these 821 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:21,720 on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights. 822 00:37:21,720 --> 00:37:24,760 And so if you're not able to come out on Sundays, I would encourage 823 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:28,640 you, if you'd like to, to find our YouTube page or our Facebook 824 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:32,160 and you can track all of the different things that we're doing 825 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:33,040 on, on there. 826 00:37:33,750 --> 00:37:36,790 And so this is a study that I have really enjoyed myself looking 827 00:37:36,790 --> 00:37:39,670 at all these prophecies fulfilled in Jesus. 828 00:37:39,670 --> 00:37:40,550 And there's so many. 829 00:37:40,790 --> 00:37:44,710 I mean, we're going to talk about the place where Jesus was born, 830 00:37:44,870 --> 00:37:45,910 and we're going to talk about. 831 00:37:45,910 --> 00:37:48,150 That's, that's, believe it or not, that's in the Old Testament, 832 00:37:48,950 --> 00:37:50,390 how, how it would happen. 833 00:37:50,630 --> 00:37:53,470 And, and, and the star, right? 834 00:37:53,470 --> 00:37:58,150 We know that there's a star that the wise men find him under, 835 00:37:58,310 --> 00:38:00,350 and that's mentioned in the Book of Numbers. 836 00:38:00,350 --> 00:38:04,130 And so whether we know it or not, there's so many connection pieces 837 00:38:04,130 --> 00:38:08,290 between the Old Testament and the New, and Jesus is the fulfillment 838 00:38:08,290 --> 00:38:08,570 of that. 839 00:38:08,570 --> 00:38:09,490 Now, why do we study this? 840 00:38:09,490 --> 00:38:10,450 Do we need all of this? 841 00:38:10,690 --> 00:38:15,810 Well, certainly, I think it's helpful for us to see that the word 842 00:38:15,810 --> 00:38:18,730 of God is powerful, that there are no contradictions, that everything's 843 00:38:18,730 --> 00:38:20,770 tied together, that Jesus is the centerpiece. 844 00:38:21,970 --> 00:38:23,170 So, you know, we all. 845 00:38:23,410 --> 00:38:26,930 We don't need archeological finds to prove that the Bible is 846 00:38:26,930 --> 00:38:27,250 real. 847 00:38:27,250 --> 00:38:30,810 But at the same time, no archeological find has ever contradicted 848 00:38:30,810 --> 00:38:31,570 the Bible. 849 00:38:31,890 --> 00:38:34,650 It's actually only strengthened the Bible, because of 850 00:38:34,650 --> 00:38:35,410 what they have found. 851 00:38:35,650 --> 00:38:38,330 And so these are all things that just strengthen what we already 852 00:38:38,330 --> 00:38:39,490 have in Jesus Christ. 853 00:38:39,810 --> 00:38:40,690 And that's faith. 854 00:38:40,770 --> 00:38:43,290 Because we could have all these prophecies fulfilled. 855 00:38:43,290 --> 00:38:46,530 We could see archeological evidence, we could see other people's 856 00:38:46,530 --> 00:38:47,210 lives changed. 857 00:38:47,210 --> 00:38:49,650 But if we have no faith, it will not change us. 858 00:38:50,850 --> 00:38:53,490 Faith is the core to all of this. 859 00:38:53,490 --> 00:38:55,490 To have peace with God, to understand God. 860 00:38:56,340 --> 00:38:57,700 Faith is what opens our eyes. 861 00:38:57,780 --> 00:39:01,020 And faith is only given to us by the power of God and our response 862 00:39:01,020 --> 00:39:04,500 to him in the affirmative, to believe in what he says. 863 00:39:05,060 --> 00:39:07,900 And so a lot of people will say, you know, the facts don't add 864 00:39:07,900 --> 00:39:08,100 up. 865 00:39:08,100 --> 00:39:08,780 I don't believe. 866 00:39:08,780 --> 00:39:10,260 I have to see it to believe it. 867 00:39:10,420 --> 00:39:13,300 Well, everything that we've ever needed is right here. 868 00:39:14,900 --> 00:39:16,980 Yes, God will give you extra confirmations. 869 00:39:17,060 --> 00:39:20,340 I can tell you story after story in my own life where God has 870 00:39:20,500 --> 00:39:22,740 confirmed and shown me who he is. 871 00:39:22,740 --> 00:39:24,700 But at the same time, we. 872 00:39:24,700 --> 00:39:25,900 We see it right here. 873 00:39:25,900 --> 00:39:29,100 The, the revelation, the only sign and wonder that we need is Jesus 874 00:39:29,100 --> 00:39:30,060 Christ and what he has done. 875 00:39:30,380 --> 00:39:32,860 And then from there, everything is built off of that. 876 00:39:32,860 --> 00:39:36,460 And we get to be so strengthened in our faith through 877 00:39:36,460 --> 00:39:38,700 just trusting in what his word has to say. 878 00:39:39,740 --> 00:39:43,660 And so I would encourage you to grow, if you want to grow in the 879 00:39:43,660 --> 00:39:49,420 peace of God, grow in your understanding and love for the Word 880 00:39:49,420 --> 00:39:49,900 of God. 881 00:39:50,940 --> 00:39:51,140 Right? 882 00:39:51,140 --> 00:39:54,540 So, so if I want to be confirmed in the peace of God and 883 00:39:54,540 --> 00:39:57,940 I want to be comforted by the peace of God, I'm only going to be 884 00:39:57,940 --> 00:40:00,060 able to find those truths through the Word of God. 885 00:40:00,060 --> 00:40:02,780 Because, like, if I, like, if I say to you guys, there's so many 886 00:40:02,780 --> 00:40:06,380 promises out there that God has for you as a child of God, and 887 00:40:06,380 --> 00:40:08,980 you're like, that's great, but if you don't know what the promises 888 00:40:08,980 --> 00:40:10,780 are, how can you put your faith in those? 889 00:40:11,180 --> 00:40:14,340 And so I would encourage you to look into the Word of God and 890 00:40:14,340 --> 00:40:19,350 read these for yourself to grow in an appreciation for it. 891 00:40:19,750 --> 00:40:20,950 I've said this many times. 892 00:40:21,670 --> 00:40:24,870 I could sit up here and say, let's, let's. 893 00:40:24,870 --> 00:40:26,470 Let's pretend we're in an alternate universe. 894 00:40:26,470 --> 00:40:28,790 And none of you have ever tasted chocolate before. 895 00:40:29,350 --> 00:40:29,910 Okay? 896 00:40:29,990 --> 00:40:32,710 I'm the only person that's ever had chocolate in this room. 897 00:40:32,870 --> 00:40:35,830 And I get up here and I try to explain to you what it's like. 898 00:40:36,950 --> 00:40:39,510 All of you could probably identify, well, it's sweet. 899 00:40:39,830 --> 00:40:41,430 It tastes like this, it tastes like that. 900 00:40:41,430 --> 00:40:42,550 It makes me feel this way. 901 00:40:43,610 --> 00:40:47,330 All of you could maybe in some ways get a basic understanding of 902 00:40:47,330 --> 00:40:48,250 what it could be like. 903 00:40:48,570 --> 00:40:52,930 But until you get to taste that for yourself, that's an experiential 904 00:40:52,930 --> 00:40:54,970 knowledge to know him in a personal way. 905 00:40:55,530 --> 00:40:56,770 And that's the same thing with the Lord. 906 00:40:56,770 --> 00:41:00,210 And there were periods of time in my life early on that I would 907 00:41:00,210 --> 00:41:04,010 have a pastor get up or someone get up and teach or preach, 908 00:41:04,090 --> 00:41:06,370 and they would be talking about all these great things that 909 00:41:06,370 --> 00:41:07,930 God provides and does. 910 00:41:07,930 --> 00:41:10,490 And I would sit there and go, well, I've never experienced that. 911 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:13,320 There was almost a sense of jealousy in my heart. 912 00:41:13,320 --> 00:41:15,320 Like, I want to know what that type of peace is like. 913 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:19,640 But for, for many years, for me it was, hey, I want to get that 914 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:20,360 the short way. 915 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:21,760 I want to take the shortcut. 916 00:41:21,760 --> 00:41:23,160 I want to find the easy path. 917 00:41:23,320 --> 00:41:27,079 And the reality is, is that many of these truths that we see, 918 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:30,480 that we grow in and that we understand don't come through the 919 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:31,040 easy path. 920 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:34,760 They come through trials and difficulties and testing our faith. 921 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:38,050 And so I would encourage you to think about it from that perspective 922 00:41:38,050 --> 00:41:38,490 as well. 923 00:41:39,530 --> 00:41:42,170 Thank you again for listening to the Middletown Baptist Church 924 00:41:42,170 --> 00:41:42,810 podcast. 925 00:41:42,970 --> 00:41:45,370 I hope that this sermon has been a blessing for you. 926 00:41:46,010 --> 00:41:48,290 If you would like to find out more information about our church 927 00:41:48,290 --> 00:41:51,770 or this sermon, you can find us at middletownbaptistchurch.org 928 00:41:52,090 --> 00:41:54,650 or find us on Facebook or YouTube. 929 00:41:55,370 --> 00:41:59,810 You can also email me directly at Josh Massaroiddletownbaptistchurch 930 00:41:59,810 --> 00:42:02,410 dot com if you've enjoyed this podcast. 931 00:42:02,870 --> 00:42:07,110 Please subscribe and follow along for future podcast and updates. 932 00:42:07,750 --> 00:42:08,710 Thank you so much. 933 00:42:08,950 --> 00:42:09,670 God Bless. 934 00:42:09,910 --> 00:42:11,190 Have a wonderful day.