What a Name: Wonderful Counselor

Isa 9:6-7

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. 

7 Of the increase of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this. 

NIV

Introduction:  Have you ever considered gift-giving at Christmas time.  

Some people are great gift-givers…I am not!  You better tell me what you want or need because that is what I’m going to get…

• I think there are many reasons for this, but I don’t have time to go into all of that today…

Jonna is a master at gift-giving…she loves giving a lot of gifts…she enjoys giving gifts that people ask for…but then she loves giving that gift you didn’t ask for, but when you receive it…It’s like “How did I not know I needed this…”  

She is so good at this…she does it to me every year…I’ll get a gift I didn’t ask for…sure didn’t think I wanted it… and then boom…I love it, it is usually my favorite gift of the season.  

Transition:  Over this Christmas season…we have been in a series entitled:  What A Name

• Quinton spoke Sunday on the Name “Prince of Peace…”  So Good…

Tonight I want to share with you for a moment about the Name “Wonderful Counselor…”

Now some translations share this name as two words…others share it as one name…honestly I believe it is two

• Wonderful &
• Counselor

But there is a phrase that has caught my attention in Isaiah’s writings that I honestly have never noticed before or at least I haven’t given it the attention it deserves….

1. Unto Us
   1. Unto us, a Child is born and unto us, a Son is given…
   2. Now that is a powerful phrase…
   3. But the Phrase that really catches my attention is:  Unto Us
      1. Unto Us…it is and was never about Him…
      2. Everything God has done; his motives have been toward us…
      3. God didn’t need to come to the earth…
      4. He didn’t need to become the Messiah…
      5. He didn’t need to become our Peace…
      6. It was all Unto Us…
         1. God is not this Narcissistic Benevolent Being…that simply Needs…
         2. We are the Ones who Need…
         3. We needed the gift…we didn’t know we needed….
   4. Spider-Man
      1. Not sure if you have seen the new Spider-Man movie…and I won’t spoil it for you if you haven’t…
      2. But the overriding theme of Spider-Man is Motive…
         1. Why is spider man doing what He is doing…
         2. Why does he ask for what He asks for…
         3. Is it to serve all of Mankind or is His motives self-serving…but appears to be for the greater good….

Transition:  When we read Isa 9:6-7

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. 

All of this…all these names are UNTO US…they are for us…none of this is For God…

1. Wonderful 
   1. Wonderful means:  A miracle, marvelous, something of Beauty that is to be beheld and appreciated…the extraordinary
   2. When I think of Wonder…I think of WOW!!!
      1. I think of things I can’t figure out…but I sure appreciate them…
   3. I think we often miss the Beauty of Jesus, the Beauty of Christmas…the Wonder of it all…
   4. In 2007 a social experiment was conducted in Washington D.C.  The famous violinist, Joshua Bell, had played a concert In Boston where he earned $1,000 per minute…after the concert, he was approached and asked…” would you participate in an experiment…”  Will you play in the Metro Station Subway in Washington D.C. at 7:15 in the morning…to see how many people stop and notice the wonder of the music and the person playing the music.  Joshua Bell agreed….matter of fact, he was so excited about the opportunity that he used not just any violin to play the event…he used a Stradivarius…worth $3.5 million dollars…wore jeans, tee shirt, and put a ball cap on…

He played for 43 minutes…as 1097 people passed by in a hurry on their way to work…he played for 12 minutes before the first person looked his was…he played another 10 minutes before someone put some money in his violin case…he played for almost 40 minutes before someone stopped and just listened and enjoyed the Wonder of the Master Violinist…After 45 minutes Joshua Bell, the Master Violinist began to put away his gear…the one gentlemen who has stopped and listened walked up and spoke to him…His words…”I saw you last night in Boston…” but this was your finest performance…

Joshua Bell made for his efforts $37 and some change…

1. 1. For me this is the Wonder of Jesus…but we miss him…even on the day we set aside to celebrate His Birthday…we miss His Mastery, His Beauty, His Marvelousness…”well because we are trying to get somewhere….But His Wonderfulness is Unto Us….
2. Counselor
   1. Now this is an interesting word…because when we think Counselor, we think Therapist
      1. A therapist will not tell you what to do…Therapists are for Self-Processing and Self-Discovery
   2. Jesus is a Counselor
      1. Meaning He shares His wisdom, His knowledge, his experiences and tells us what we should do…
   3. Coaching and Mentoring
      1. There are significant differences between Coaches and Mentors…both have value in my world…I have been both to people…but never to the Level of Jesus
      2. A mentor gives the best of himself to you…
      3. A coach pulls the best out of you
      4. See I Need Both
   4. Jesus is such a great Coach
      1. He’ll bring the best out of you…
      2. Pulls greatness out of us…so we can live our best life and ultimately introduce us to our best self
   5. Jesus however is also a Mentor
      1. He gives us the best of himself, and He gives it for free
      2. The problem is I think we want the Coach Jesus, who pulls the Best out of me but doesn’t tell me what I am doing wrong, where my life needs to change, to rid myself of destructive behaviors, or even adjust my attitude.  
   6. So, when we Don’t receive him as Fully Counselor…
      1. Jesus becomes an irritant to us….
      2. We want our best life, our best self…but I don’t want to listen to your Wisdom and Experience…to deal with my stuff….
      3. The problem is we disagree with the Wisdom of God….
      4. So, in those moments we have to determine who’s wisdom am I going to listen to…This Wonderful Counselor or my own wisdom?  
3. Conclusion
   1. See some of the Gifts that are Unto Us…that we have been given
      1. Forgiveness…I know I need that one!
      2. Peace…Wow, I really know I need that Gift
      3. Wonderful Counselor…His Wisdom…I didn’t know I needed that…Until I received it…
   2. Back to Joshua Bell
      1. 7 years later Joshua Bell went back to that same Subway Station…this time He advertised that He was coming…Oh yea and this time he didn’t come alone…He brought other members of the Orchestra with him….and thousands showed up and stayed to hear the Master Violinist and His Orchestra Play….
   3. Often times we at Christmas time talk about Christmas Doesn’t matter if there wasn’t Easter…but can I tell you this tonight…This Wonderful Counselor…this Master…who came in a Subway like Manger…when people simply passing by…will come again…and the next time he isn’t coming Alone…
   4. He’s coming for those who have responded to His Advertisement…