Opening Illustration: What gets you in the Christmas spirit? What’s that moment when your like, “There you are, Christmas!” I’m sure a lot of you would say it’s when the Christmas tree goes up. For some of you, that happened months ago. Some of you would say it’s when that first Christmas song hits the radio. I’m okay with that as long as it’s not the song “Christmas Shoes”. For me, it’s when my 12-foot inflatable snowman fires up for the first time in my yard. Every year, I make sure that I have the tallest inflatable in my neighborhood. So far, no one has taken that title away from me. This week, as I was studying and preparing for this message, I read this verse: “⁵ The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.” My first thought after reading the verse was, “Well, that’s not going to get anyone excited for Christmas!” Then I thought, “There are some people that love the song “Grandma go run over by a reindeer.” So, this verse might actually get some people in the Christmas spirit. If you enjoy singing about your grandma with hoof prints on her forehead, then here is your Christmas verse! 

I’m all for the songs, the lights, the decorations, the parties, and presents. Those are good things, and we should enjoy them. But those can’t be the extent of what prepares your heart for Christmas. When we understand the fullness of what Christmas is about, it moves your heart and soul. The birth of Jesus – the incarnation of Jesus – means for us is monumental; it’s everything. The birth of Jesus wasn’t just the arrival of a king. The birth of Jesus was also the arrival of a kingdom. When we understand the big picture of Christmas and see that Jesus’ birth established an eternal kingdom for us, you can’t help but get into the Christmas spirit. We are going to be in Isaiah 9 today. As you open your Bibles, here’s what I want you to see today from God’s Word: Jesus established a kingdom of peace that will never end. 

This month, as a church family, we are looking at the Old Testament to prepare for Christmas. My hope is that you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’ first arrival so that it will produce a greater expectation of Jesus’ second arrival. Sermon Series: The Arrival. Last week, we saw the arrival of the King. Today, we are going to see the arrival of the God’s kingdom. God’s Word is alive and powerful, so let’s read it with expectancy. Read Isaiah 9:2-7. Pray. Let me give you some quick background on the book of Isaiah. The book of Isaiah is a book of prophecy – of events that were still to come. The chapters leading up to chapter 9 were about the rebellion of God’s people. As a result, an invasion was coming soon that would wipe out Israel’s hope and fortunes. But in the midst of a bleak future, there is a prophecy of hope. And that’s where we pick up in Isaiah 9. Here’s where we start: Jesus secured the victory over darkness for you.

1) Jesus secured the victory over darkness for you. (vs. 2-5) Look at verse 2: ² The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.This invasion was coming – there’s this heavy cloud over Judah. Jerusalem had a king by the name “Ahaz” – and he wasn’t a good king. There was a foreign nation, Assyria, which was rising in power. The countries in the middle east tried to form an alliance and asks Ahaz to be a part of it. Ahaz didn’t like those leaders so he doesn’t join. Well, those nations decide to invade Jerusalem in order to put a different leader in place. Ahaz starts having his freak out moment, when the Assyrian leader asks him to join his side. Well, this now puts Ahaz in complete panic mode. Instead of trusting God, Ahaz is trying to fix this on his own. God’s spokesperson, Isaiah, comes and says I will give you a sign from God. Ahaz doesn’t want that either, but Isaiah says “tough” and does it anyway. And that’s where the book of Isaiah comes into play – God tells Ahaz and Judah what is going to happen.

Think about the people hearing this – that they will have darkness come over their land, BUT they will see a great light! Light will dawn on the land of darkness! The term “land of darkness” means “death shadow.” This darkness that was coming to them was powerful. Darkness is powerful. Illustration: Do you all know what would happen if the sun disappeared? For 9 minutes, nothing (the speed of light). Almost complete darkness – some star light (no moon). The temperature would drop to zero degrees within a week. Within a year, we’d be in -100 degrees temperature. Virtually all plant life would die. In order to survive, we’d all have to find a way to produce heat and oxygen. Needless to say, life would not last long without the sun – without light. The prophecy in the first 8 chapters is that the death shadow is coming. But in chapter 9, the prophecy then says, “But light coming!”

Look at what happens in verses 3 through 5 when the light comes: ³ You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. The nations grows, there is joy, and there is prosperity. ⁴ For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. God’s people will be free. The burden will be lifted. And the prophet Isaiah references Midian. The day of Midian is a battle in Judges 6-8 where God secured a victory for His people. God reduce the army from 32,000 to 300, gave them a trumpet in one hand and a torch inside a pitcher in the other hand. God defeated the enemy with no sword. And then you have this amazing “Christmas verse!” ⁵ The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. In the Old Testament, to signify victory, the enemy’s military equipment would be set on fire. The spoils were dedicated to God. It means the enemy was utterly defeated.

What does all this have to do with Christmas and the birth of Jesus? These verses are about Jesus. This is prophecy about what Jesus’ life means for us. He’s the light. He’s the joy. He’s the burden-lifter. He’s the Victor! Jesus is the One that shatters the oppression of sin and death. Jesus’ birth brought the light the world needed. “But Jess, this world still feels very dark and oppressed. Why is that?” Illustration: Have you ever dropped a glass? It happened to me not too long ago. I sat there and cleaned it up, piece by piece. At the very end, I took my hand and wiped it across the counter. What happened? I felt this sting in my hand. The tiniest little piece of glass found its way into my finger. We look at this world, feel those little jabs – and they hurt. But what we know as Christ followers, that Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection, shattered the oppression of sin death. Anything the world throws at you is momentary. The world can jab us, but the world can’t own us. When you look at the manger scene, see the beginning of the victory that Jesus secured for us. When you see Jesus’ victory and you see Him as the Victor, here’s what begins to settle into your heart: Jesus is the perfect ruler you need. 

2) Jesus is the perfect ruler you need. (vs. 6) Look at verse 6: ⁶ For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Verse 6 starts off by saying “For a child…” Can you imagine King Ahaz when he hears this prophecy? What about the people? In verses 2 through 5, Isaiah is saying that freedom is coming. Everyone is getting excited. We have a Messiah coming! They are leaning forward. And then, Isaiah says, “For a child…” I could see Ahaz doing a double take and saying, “A child?!” King Ahaz clearly didn’t like this part of the prophecy. While the immediacy of Ahaz’s situation wouldn’t have changed, Ahaz could have started to trust God. But he didn’t. Ahaz rejected this advice from Isaiah and long story, short, the Assyrians ended up exiling the Israelites.

A child? Yes, a child. A child that “…will be born for us, a son will be given to us.” But not just any child. This child will have “the government will be on His shoulders.” This child will rule! This child will be king! And look at who this child-King is! “He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” There’s something very unique about these four names. We shouldn’t expect anything less of these names because this a King unlike any other. In fact, more names of Jesus are put together here in one spot than anywhere else in Scripture. God really wanted His people – God really wants us to know who this King is what this King does. Jesus is a King unlike any other. When Isaiah is given the prophecy of this coming King, each of these four names have a dual purpose. Each name shows both the humanity and the deity of Jesus Christ. What do I mean by that? Well, when Jesus came to earth on that first Christmas, He came as God. But at the same time, He came as man. Jesus is both fully God and fully man. And each of these 4 names show that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. Let’s take a look.

• Wonderful Counselor
  • Wonderful = Deity
  • Counselor = Humanity
  • Any person can give counsel – can give advice, but only Jesus can give the counsel that is truly wonderful and wondrous
  • Some of you need to let God begin to be your guide, your wisdom, and solve your confusion.
• Mighty God
  • Mighty = Humanity
  • God = Deity
  • Our history books are full of heroes and warriors – those who have shown great might
  • But only God can be your ultimate Victor who can fight on behalf of your soul
  • Some of you need to let God start fighting your battles for you
• Eternal Father
  • Eternal = Deity
  • Father = Humanity
  • We all know there are all types of earthly fathers: good fathers, bad fathers, absent fathers, never-enough fathers, adequate fathers, even awesome fathers.
  • But there is only one Eternal Father. The Perfect Father that will always be there for you. From now until eternity.
  • Some of you need see God as the only One that will never let you down
• Prince of Peace
  • Prince = Humanity
  • Peace = Deity
  • We have presidents, mayors, kings, queens, governors, ambassadors, congressmen, you name it.
  • But we only have one ruler, one Prince who will bring everlasting peace.
  • A peace that countless rulers have tried to obtain in their one way, but have always failed and will always fail.
  • Only through Jesus can true and lasting peace be obtained
  • Some of you need let the Holy Spirit give you a peace – an undeniable peace
    • Let God take those weights off your shoulders

Indeed, a child! A child that is King for us! A King that was given to us! A King unlike any other than conquered eternal death and darkness. The King that comes at Christmas should produce an unspeakable joy in your heart. Let the King produce joy in your heart this Christmas season. Because He’s the perfect ruler you need. Illustration: A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Charlie Brown: “I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel.

Charlie Brown: “I just don't understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.”

Linus Van Pelt: “Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy's right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest.”

How does the cartoon end? The cartoon ends with the reading of the Christmas story from Luke 2 and the signing of Hark the Herald Angels Sing. The joy of Christmas had been restored to Charlie Brown. Let the King that came for you produce joy this Christmas season. Here’s an interesting homework assignment for you from a pastor: Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas and let Charlie Brown remind you that you have a King unlike any other – and let that produce joy in your heart. Because he’s the perfect ruler you need. So, we have the victory. We have the Victor. That leaves us with only one more part: The Victor’s kingdom. Here’s what we see in our last verse: Jesus’ kingdom is where you find peace. 

3) Jesus’ kingdom is where you find peace. (vs. 7) Look at verse 7: ⁷ His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! This prophecy in Isaiah tells us a few things:

1. There is a Kingdom with a King 
2. The Kingdom is vast 
3. The Kingdom never stops prospering 

The Kingdom of God is past, present, and future. God’s kingdom began in the garden with Adam and Eve – that’s how God intended to interact with us – walking with us. But sin messed it all up. In the future, God promises that He will come back and restore humanity as it was intended from the very beginning. So often we think about us going to heaven, but if you read Revelation, you’ll see that heaven will come to earth. That’s future thinking. So what does that all have to do with us today and with Christmas? The Kingdom of God didn’t disappear after Adam and Eve. Instead the kingdom – exists in the souls of those who declare Jesus as King. God’s kingdom is not temporal; it’s eternal. That’s why Jesus came – to establish the Kingdom of God. There needed to be a way to rescue people from sin – from being on the outside of the Kingdom, looking in. That’s why Jesus came – to rescue us – to make us sons and daughters – to make us a royal nation under the banner of King Jesus. Christmas is understanding the bigger picture. Jesus entered in humanity so that we may have the opportunity to enter into His eternal kingdom. Jesus came to establish a kingdom of eternal peace. When you look at the manger scene, I want you to see this King and more importantly, I want you to ask if you are a part of this kingdom. The most important Christmas decision you can make is responding to God’s invitation to be a part of this kingdom of eternal peace.  

GOSPEL PRESENTATION 

I want to close with that last part of the verse 7. It’s easy to glance over it, but what does it say? “The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” You might be sitting in here today thinking, “This is kind of a lot.” “Before this sermon, I was really content with a baby in a manger.” “Now when I sing ‘Grandma got run over a by a reindeer,’ I’m going to think of boots being burned and enemies being destroy”. “On top of that, I am going to think about this eternal kingdom that exists in the hearts of souls and men.” And maybe you’re questioning just a little bit, “How is this all going to happen?” I think that’s a fair question. It’s the same question that Mary had when the angel told her she will conceive a son, as a virgin, that will be the Messiah of the world. “Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” (Luke 1:34)

Isaiah already answered Mary’s question and already answered your question. “The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” If God said it, God will make it happen. God, in His infinite power, will make it happen. Jesus chose to come the first time in meekness. But the next time, all of His majesty will be on display. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess He is Lord. It will happen. God guarantees it. My hope is that your response is like Mary’s response. “³⁸ Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.” And then she worshipped. May you find peace and joy this Christmas season because you see the King in that manger who brought in victory and eternal kingdom for you and me. Let’s pray.

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