Isaiah 9:2
Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, and He is the one who can guide us in all aspects of life and bring us peace.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the significance of Jesus as the 'Wonderful Counselor,' highlighting the contrast between worldly counsel and divine wisdom. He reflects on Jesus' pre-existence, His current role as intercessor, and His future reign, underscoring that true counsel comes from Him alone. Smith warns against the misleading advice of the ungodly and encourages believers to seek God's guidance in their lives. He concludes by affirming Jesus' identity as the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, urging listeners to recognize the fullness of His name and what it means for their lives.
Text
"WONDERFUL COUNSELOR"
Intro: Man's history very dark and bleak. One point is like a shaft of sunlight on
a dark day. From the human side a child is born, from the divine side a
Son is given.
I. "HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL."
A. His past pre-existent life with the Father.
1. "In the beginning was the Word."
2. And God said, "let us make man in our own image and after our likeness."
3. "Father, glorify Me with the glory that I had with Thee before the
foundation of the world."
B. His present ministry of intercession.
1. 'Wherefore He is able to save to the..."
2. "Who is He that condemneth?"
C. His future reign is Wonderful.
1. "And He shall reign forever and ever King of Kings."
2. "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end."
II. "HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNCILOR."
A. The worlds woes were created by a counselor.
1. Satan counseled Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.
B. There is a lot of counsel today that is damning the world.
1. "Blessed is the man who walketh not. "
2. The ungodly will counsel you to forsake God.
a. His ways, His truth, His life.
b. Advise is plentiful, Wonderful counsel is scarce.
C. When you are faced with a vexing problem, how would you like to receive
some Wonderful counsel?
1. Counsel that was totally right.
a. Some people don't want that kind.
b. They go to a counselor only to reinforce their own ideas.
c. They become angry and forsake the counselor if He speaks
the truth.
2. To Laodician church He said "I counsel thee."
a. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.
D. What has He counseled you to do?
1. "Come unto me."
2. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God."
III. HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED , "THE MIGHTY GOD."
A. That child born in the rude stable was none other than the Mighty God, creator.
1. He who sustained all things was for a time sustained upon
Mary's breasts.
B. Beware of any system of teaching that would seek to diminish or take away
from what Jesus is.
1. For it pleased the Father, that in Him should all fullness dwell,
God, Deity of Christ, work of Holy Spirit.
IV. HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED THE EVERLASTING FATHER.
A. Two Hebrew words translated "everlasting."
1. First one means "vanishing point."
2. This one used in text "beyond vanishing point."
B. Here we enter into that glorious triunity of God.
1. Jesus said, "He that hath seen Me hath seen..."
2. And, "I and the Father are one."
V. HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
A. Jesus said, "think not that I am come to send peace on the earth, I came not
to send peace but a sword."
1. Some imagine a contradiction here not so.
a. James 3:17, "The wisdom that is from above is first pure
then peaceable."
b. The sword is the instrument by which peace is brought.
B. In the individual life.
1. Christ first cuts away that which is keeping us from peace.
2. As long as we seek to hold on to some impure thing we can never
have peace.
a. Purity first then peace results.
3. These going around advocating peace in world today also advocate the
things that make peace impossible.
IS JESUS ALL THAT HIS NAME IMPLIES TO YOU?
Sermon Outline
- I. 'HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL'
- A. His past pre-existent life with the Father
- B. His present ministry of intercession
- C. His future reign is Wonderful
- II. 'HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR'
- A. The world's woes were created by a counselor
- B. There is a lot of counsel today that is damning the world
- C. When you are faced with a vexing problem, how would you like to receive some Wonderful counsel?
- III. HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED, 'THE MIGHTY GOD'
- A. That child born in the rude stable was none other than the Mighty God, creator
- B. Beware of any system of teaching that would seek to diminish or take away from what Jesus is
- IV. HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED THE EVERLASTING FATHER
- A. Two Hebrew words translated 'everlasting'
- B. Here we enter into that glorious triunity of God
- V. HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED THE PRINCE OF PEACE
- A. Jesus said, 'think not that I am come to send peace on the earth, I came not to send peace but a sword'
- B. In the individual life
Key Quotes
“''In the beginning was the Word.''” — Chuck Smith
“''Wherefore He is able to save to the...''” — Chuck Smith
“''I and the Father are one.''” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We should seek Wonderful Counselor in all aspects of life, and trust in His perfect guidance.
- We should beware of any system of teaching that would seek to diminish or take away from what Jesus is.
- We should seek to have a pure heart and a clean conscience, so that we can experience the peace that Jesus brings.