Isaiah 9 6 7 ESV 1 6 For

Isaiah 9: 6 -7 (ESV) 1

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 2

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, 3

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. 4

Worship Chair : “May the Lord bless the reading of His Word, and to His name be glory and praise. ” Congregational Response : “Praise be to God!”

A Just Government is Here Repent and believe in the Gospel

● What do you hope from the US government? ● When the civil war started in Syria, thousands of Syrians were displaced. ● Good news, Germany welcomes Syrian refugees and many tried to get there on rubber boats. ● Jesus said, “good news, a new and better government/country is here on earth. ” ● Today, you will learn about your new roles in the government of God.

Mk 1: 14, Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. ” ● The new government of God is here. ● The church has this information for years but somehow this good news has gotten distorted in transmission.

Isa 9: 2, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. ● The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (Jn 1: 5).

9: 6, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, ● This child has come to establish a new and better government

V 6 b, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ● He is the Prince of Peace because through him peace and reconciliation with God and with one another is finally possible ● Anyone who serves him has a new role, peacemaker

V 7, Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. ● The government of Jesus is just and righteous. ● The government that he has established is radical and revolutionary.

Eph 2: 14, for he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility … that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

● ● In His country, there is neither black nor white; neither Jews nor Palestinians; neither Hutus nor Tutsis, everyone lives in peace as one new man under one King. The good news about His immigration policy is no exclusion, everyone is welcome into his country here and now through his name.

Mt 26: 51, And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

● ● ● Peter wanted to start a revolution with swords. But Jesus said his government would not be established with violent means. Jesus’ parables on the kingdom clearly stated that his government would grow quietly like mustard seed and expand quietly like leaven throughout the world without swords or violence.

Acts 1: 3, 6, Jesus presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Acts 28: 31, Paul lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

● When Philip went to Samaria, he preached the kingdom of God (Acts 8: 12), and the Holy Spirit came upon the Samaritans and the kingdom of God was established in Samaria. ● When Paul went to Ephesus he proclaimed the kingdom of God (Acts 19: 8) for 2 years and the Holy Spirit came upon the Ephesians and the government of God was established in Ephesus.

● When Paul was under house arrest in Rome he proclaimed the kingdom of God (Acts 28: 31) as an ambassador of God for 2 years, and the embassy of God was established in Rome.

● The gospel of the kingdom of God is simply this, the government of God; the government in heaven that is up there, has come down and it is here now. ● Wherever Paul goes, there is the kingdom of God; in the same way, wherever you go, as ambassadors of Christ, there the embassy of Christ is planted and the government of God is established.

● The gospel is this; anyone can become a citizen in the country of God right here, right now, if they believe that they are more loved and accepted by God than they dare to hope; and admit that they are more sinful than they dare to believe, and submit to the Lordship of Christ, and agree to serve as ambassadors for Christ.

● You are commissioned by Christ and empowered by the Spirit as ambassadors to plant embassies of Christ in all the dark places on earth to welcome and serve fugitives and refugees.

2 Cor 10: 4 -6, For the weapons of our warfare not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

● We pray against hate and divisive groups (Eph 6); ● We become peacemaker (salt of the earth) whenever we see hatred and conflict and we try to intervene and reconcile enemies into one new man (Eph 2); ● We act compassionately towards refugees;

● We speak hope to the despairs and bring joy and love to the sad & depressed. ● We speak truth (light of the world) to set the minds free from slavery; to set the materialistic and greedy free from their desire for more; only the desire for God can satisfy our deepest desires in our hearts.