string(7) "m-66998" Burnt Hickory Baptist Church

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Dec 12, 2021

Mighty God

Mighty God

Passage: Isaiah 9:6

Speaker: Matt Petty

Series: And He Will Be Called

Category: Sunday Sermons

Keywords: new testament, old testament, who is jesus, bible study, mighty god, creator god, burnt hickory baptist church, conquer death, burnt hickory worship, bible prophecy about jesus, how to trust god, truth, church, worship, faith, christmas, jesus, sunday, god, sermon, christian, bible, gospel, believe, disciples, jesus christ, messiah, the bible, christianity, the birth of jesus, livestream

We continue our Christmas season sermon series by looking at the next name for Christ listed in Isiah 9:6 at the prophecy of His birth – Mighty God. Jesus is has fulfilled the prophecy given in the old testament and Colossians 1:17 tells us He is before all things and His power holds all things together. He is creator of all things as He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Jesus has defeated Satan and conquered death all in order to give us heavenly resurrection. And finally, He has also promised that He will return and has prepared a place for us. Scripture both Old and New Testament points to Jesus as our mighty God. We believe and we can trust Him to redeem us because of who He is. Do you trust in the mighty God for rescue and resurrection? Maybe you have more questions about who Jesus is. We’d love to answer questions and pray with you, just reach out – burnthickory.com/next

Well, good morning, church and merry Christmas to everybody. I do have to say as we begin this morning, I hate that we had to cancel last night. Really, really hate that. All of the promotion, all of planning, all of the stuff that went into Christmas under the stars would have really and truly begun to be Christmas in the mud yesterday. But we had to cancel it, and I'm not going to lie to you. I prayed for rain all day. I did. So why don't you cancel something like that? Nobody wants to be that guy when it doesn't rain just to make sure that's happening.

Well, look, I know I say that and the disappointment of that, but I do also want to say it has been incredible over these last couple of weeks just to watch the building come alive. And here's what I mean when I say that all of the decor has changed. The lobbies look different. It looks different up here and there is just a there's a festive ness. There is an incredible look to the building. But not only that, but it's been fun to watch all of the groups get together. Now, this doesn't mean a whole lot for you guys, but for those of us who practically live here, it's been incredible to watch all of the celebrations happen, whether it be sports banquets or community events, whether it be ministry parties or live group events to watch us come kind of out of where we've been over these last couple of years and just watch the celebration for the Christmas season that has happened over these last couple of weeks. It really has been incredible. It really has. Now I say that to say this. If you're not part of a LifeGroup, if Sunday is kind of like you just kind of come and worship with us. Look, we're really thankful for that. But here's what I want to say. If you're not part of a LifeGroup, you're missing it. You're missing community.

You're missing to watch God move in your family through relationships. You're missing people, being able to take care of you and know what's happening in your life. If your idea of church is just popping in to hear some great music and some adequate teaching a couple of times a month, that's not going to get there for you. I promise you, it's not. So, would you just consider over these next couple of weeks making LifeGroups part of something that you just see is part of your life? All right. I feel like I just need to say that let's jump into the message.

Last week, we launched into our Christmas series here that we've just entitled, and he shall be called. And he shall be called. And we jumped into this idea that Christmas time is an incredible time for all of us to be able to regroup a little bit to kind of reset our schedule or to relook at things, to pause and to ponder this idea or this message or the reality that Christ the Messiah, the King has come that he has come, and he has gifted us and gifted humanity and gifted the world with salvation with him being Emmanuel. And the reality is, if you look at the core of the Christmas season, you begin to see that that's why we put so much strain on gifts. It's because the ultimate gift Jesus was born for us. He was given to us.

It wasn't anything we deserved or anything we earned or anything we bought. He was given to us. That's the Christmas season. And in that what we're doing here is we are marching through a text in the Old Testament from the Book of Isaiah, from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter nine, really chapter seven through nine. And we said that every week throughout the Christmas break or throughout the Christmas holidays, we're going to take this ancient prophecy, this idea that this messiah is going to come and we're going to pull a little piece of it out every week, we're going to watch how it points to Jesus and how it points to who Jesus is and what Jesus does and how Jesus wants to step into our lives. And that's what we're going to do this morning. Now, for those of you that weren't here last week. All right. For those of you that weren't here, let me bring you up to speed as you're getting with me in Isaiah Chapter nine, Isaiah Chapter nine is given to us in the year, somewhere around 730 B.C., 730 years prior to Christ being born. Isaiah is given to us in an incredibly turmoil time. There's lots of trouble. There's lots of depression, there's lots of question. There's sickness happening. There are armies taking over other armies. There are countries that are folding. And the reality is there's a chaos level in the world in this moment, specifically in the southern kingdom that we're looking at, that is beyond a lot of what they had ever seen in their lifetime. Does that ring a bell for anybody? There is a level of ambiguity, there's a level of question. There is this idea of we don't know what's going on and why it's going on. We've got government leaders we trust, we got government leaders, we don't trust, we've got kings.

Then we've got prophecy. We've got all this going on in this moment. And this guy named Ahaz as this king. Ahaz realizes that he's in trouble and this countries in trouble. He's the king of the southern kingdom, which is Israel, which is the whole body that has already been said that is God's people. He knows that he's doomed because the Assyrians are stronger than him and they're about to take him. So, he's looking to do something. He doesn't know what to do. He's already tried everything that he knows how to try. He's already reached out. He's already tried to finagle his way through diplomacy, through buying his way out. None of that works, and he's looking for an alliance for somebody around him to protect him. And God steps into the scene through the prophet Isaiah and says, hey, listen, you don't need an alliance with another country.

Catch this. You need me, and you need my power and my might, in your life. So, Isiah gives this prophecy that a sign is going to come. Let me read it to Isaiah Chapter seven, verse 14. Here's what Isaiah says. Isaiah says. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign and the Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son. And we'll call him Emmanuel. Now, fast forward to Isaiah Chapter nine, verse six, and we'll see the second thing that Isaiah said. Isaiah says this for unto us. A child is born unto us. A son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father and Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace. Listen to this. There will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over the kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness. From that time on and forever. So, Isaiah looks into this king's life, and he says, Look, I know that you're depressed, and I know that all this stuff is going on.

I know that you're separated. I know that you're at your wit's end. But listen. A child is going to be born. A son is going to be given, and he is going to be sovereign. Are you seeing that even in that statement, we're seeing that the divinity of God and the humanness of Jesus and the sovereignty of God are all coming together around this message that we are separated from God? There's no alliance around us that can ever help us. There's no group of people that can deliver us. Isaiah looks into King Ahaz's life and says there is none of that stuff that's going to cure you. Your separation from God can only be cured from a messiah, from Jesus, the one who is going to come. And Isaiah looks into the life of Ahaz and says, I know you have turmoil. I know you've got all this going on. But if you will just trust in Jesus, the one who's going to come, he will save you. He will save you. And then Isaiah goes into these four different descriptions of who the Messiah is going to be. Last week, we looked at the first one. The wonderful counselor, right? The Pele Yoez we said out of the Hebrew. It literally means that he is beyond description, beyond anything that we can give him. We can't even describe Jesus’s' awesomeness with language because our language is fallen, and he’s, our counselor. He's the one that comes behind us when we have a need or gives direction when we don't know where to go.

We saw that last week and we saw that the wonderful counselor loves us so much where we are that he refuses to leave us where we are, and he wants to give us life. But I want you to feel this. That was just the first name. This morning, we're going to continue and we're going to look at what Isaiah says next in verse six says for unto us, a child is born, a son is given. The government will be upon his shoulders. He will be called wonderful counselor. That was last week. And now this week. Is this He is the mighty God. He's the mighty God. Now, I love this description of mighty God. And here's why. Mighty God, the might of God is the strength of God. It is the substance of God. It is the foundation of God. It is the power of God. If you look at the fact that Jesus can become all things to all people, that he has all power and can meet people exactly where they are.

It is only because he is mighty. You see, last week we looked at Jesus as the wonderful counselor, but here's the thing. Jesus can meet our needs and Jesus can walk beside us. Jesus can heal us. Why? It is only because of the mighty power that is in him. And here's how I want to describe this. It is incredible. Incredible, incredible that now in the West, right? That's us. That in Christianity that we look at Jesus as our buddy. I mean, we do. It's an incredible message to us. It's really comforting to us to see him as our comforter, to see him as our brother, to see him as the one who walks with us and laughs with us and talks with us and gives us these little nudges. But listen, church, we cannot do that at the expense of him being mighty. We cannot bring him to that level. We can't say that he is just a little bit of this and a little bit of that. No, no. When we look at Jesus, yes, he is with us. Yes, he is for us. Yes, he is a comfort to us, but we have to first understand his might. We have to first understand his largeness. So, when you lose track of his bigness, here's what you do to Jesus.

You bring him down on the level of every other prophet, every other teacher, every other religious figure that has ever walked this earth. And that can't happen. It can't happen. In fact, when we read Isaiah nine text you see in Isaiah nine, these incredibly powerful words, you see these words like light and these words like deliver our words like warrior and ruler and judge. And you see all of these words that are assigned to Jesus. In all of those words, when you see them in the Bible, all of them carry with them this connotation that Jesus is not this meek little almost person that walked on this earth. No, no, no. Jesus is the mighty God. He's all God. He is all present, and Jesus is the mightiest light, right? Any time you see light and scripture, it exposes it. Directs it, guides. Jesus is the mightiest one of those. Any time you see deliverer, it gives this idea of strength and holding Jesus is the mightiest deliverer. When you see Warrior, a ruler or judge, you can assign Jesus as just along with all of the other ones of these things, because Jesus is not just an example of those things. He is the full embodiment of those things. Jesus is mighty. Now listen to me. Don't let anyone take that from you. You see, there is a movement in America right now that will give you the fact that you love Jesus.

That will give you the fact that you worship Jesus will give you the fact that you hold Jesus up in esteem in your life. But when you begin to draw the line on the sand and say that everything falls under the name of Jesus, that's where they have a problem. That's the issue, that's where this week's mightiness upholds every other attribute of who Jesus is. After all, this is the Christmas message, is it not? The Christmas message is that the mighty God came to this Earth, and he is still mighty. Do not let the cradle take away the mightiness of God. I guess we could say, don't let it. In fact, I got to thinking about the descriptions of who Jesus is in the Christmas story this week. I want to read you a few of them because I just want to show you the mightiness of who God is and what even the Angel said about him. Do you remember when the Lord appeared to Joseph Jesus' father? Do you remember what the Angel said to him? Matthew, Chapter one, Verse 20, says this. The angel said Joseph Son of David. Do not be afraid. Take Mary home as your wife. Because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus. Now watch this Here's the mightiness because he will save his people from their sins. Do you see that? Yes, we're talking about a baby. Yes, we're talking about the incarnate Jesus, but we're talking about a person that can save. But it doesn't stop there.

Look at what happened to Mary's life when the Angel appeared to Mary in Luke Chapter one verse 28 The Angels say greetings you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you. Mary was greatly troubled in his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be for 30. But the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive, you will give birth to a son, and you were to call him Jesus. Now watch the mightiness of the language that comes next. He will be great. He will be called the son of the most high the Lord, watch this, will give him the throne of his father, David. Verse 33 and he will watch the mightiness. He will reign over Jacob's descendants forever. It goes again. Here it is. And his kingdom will never end. Are you feeling the mighty language in this?
The big language in this? This isn't let's light a candle and just be quiet about this little meek little baby here. No, this is the mighty God. It is great. He has a throne. He will reign. He's forever. He has a kingdom; the angel says to marry. Remember Zachariah in the Christmas story? Zachariah is the father of John the Baptist. He's the father of John the Baptist. And when the angel appeared to him and told him what was happening, all Zachariah had to say is this Luke 1:69 He says that the Lord has raised up the Horn of Salvation for us. Now that sounds weird to us because we aren’t farmers. Well, maybe two of you, right? I mean, we're not. We're just not right. But you know what the horn represents in an animal. It is the power of the animal. It is the it is the defeatingness of that animal. So, Zachariah looks at and says, Yeah, that's a baby. But listen. That is the horn of our salvation. That is the thing that gives us words.

That is a mighty one. Luke, 1:74 Zachariah says that he will rescue us from the hands of our enemies. That he is our Horn of Salvation. He is our rescuer, Zachariah says. I love the shepherds and the Christmas story. There’re little bathrobes, right? I love the shepherds. Luke, chapter two verse ten, says this is what the angel said to them, do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people today in the town of David, a savior. You catching the language, right? You're feeling the theme right. A savior has been born. He is the Messiah. And he is the Lord. I love Simeon. And the Christmas story he me. He doesn't get a lot of press. He's like a B-roll actor, right? We don't know a lot about Simeon. All we know about Simeon is that he was in the synagogue, and he was a faithful god. What if that was the message when you died one day? That guy doesn’t know a whole lot about him, but he was faithful. Right? That's all Simeon has. But watch what happens when Simeon experiences the mighty God. He says this, Luke. 2:29, he says, Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. Watch what Simeon says, for mine eyes have seen your salvation. Your salvation, which you have prepared for me in the sight of all nations, a light for revelation to the gentiles and to the glory of your people, Israel, Simeon says he is mighty.

He is the savior. He is the king. He is, above all, because he is the one that can save us from all support, Simeon said. That's all I need to say. God, you can kill me right now. I'm out. Love the language. My favorite has got to be the magi, right? Everybody loves the Magi. Everybody loves those guys. The Magi, when they heard about the King, listen to what happened in their lives, Matthew Chapter two. Says after Jesus was born verse one in Judea during the time of King Herod, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem and ask. Listen to what they said about the mighty. Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose, and we came to worship him fast forward down to verse ten when they saw the star watch this, they were overjoyed on coming to the house.

They saw the child, his mother and Mary, and watch what they did to the mighty. They bowed down. They worshiped him. And then if you were here last year, you caught a whole bunch of this. They opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. What gifts for the mighty gifts for the king? Gifts for the ruler. Gifts for the one who has connected God with man. What happened in the life of these mighty men to make them recognize the mightiness of God? What happened was they realized who he was, and they realized the mightiness in their life. So, catch this, believers. Yes. Christmas time is a celebration that we wrap ourselves around this little manger, right? This little baby. This thing that happened. But do not lose sight of the fact that that is not just a baby. It is the king of kings. It is the Lord of Lords. It is the mighty God. It's the mighty God. That's why we worship.

That's why we do what we do. Because he is mighty. He's mighty. Speaking of mighty, I think we need to look at this term for a minute. The term mighty in Hebrew is the two words El Gibbor El Gibbor is two words. It's a little bit of different order. As we always know this week in English, for some reason, messes up the order of everything. All right. El Gibbor is two words. The first word in the phrase mighty god is the word el. It's the proper name of God. It is the first name that was given to God in the Bible, and it is the word it is short for the name of God, meaning Elohim, Elohim or the mighty one. If you just see El in the Bible, if you just see the word God in the Bible, chances are in the Old Testament it is either El or Elohim, and it literally means that he is the mighty God. In fact, Genesis one verse one says in the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth. When you see that word, God, it is the same word that Isaiah uses here, and it is the word el.

It means that in the beginning, the mighty one God created the heavens and the Earth. Now catch what Isaiah is doing here. All right. It's going to take a little bit of thinking. Isaiah is stamping Jesus the Messiah with the proper name God. So never let anyone say Jesus was never God. Jesus never claimed to be God, never says that Jesus has God. Clearly, we are seeing from the prediction of who Jesus is, that Jesus is fully man, that Jesus is God. El always describes the mighty God, and even in some of the miracles in the New Testament, the Greek word that used for Jesus is God. The second word we see is the word gibbor. It's the word gibbor. And it literally means mighty champion or hero. Mighty champion or hero. You could say that it means if you looked at someone and said, that is the gibbor, all right, you could use that as just a warrior term. It would literally mean that he is the one that is standing in the victory when no one else is standing.

He is the one that has faced all of opposition that has come their way, and he is the one with his foot on his enemy. I love that imagery because that's the God that we serve, right? The God that we serve is the one who is left standing, the one that has been victorious, the one that is above all else and the one that no matter what comes his way, he is the gibbor. He is the one that stands when everything comes against him. He's the one that stands when no matter what we throw at him or Satan brings, his way will come out on top. Now I love this because the word gibbor only comes in a hero's life after they win victories. So, catch what Isaiah is doing here. Isaiah is saying this baby there hasn't even been born yet. The savior that's going to be given to us is going to be quite literally the El the wonderful mighty God that is a mighty warrior. So, you could almost say if you translate literally, that he is the mighty mighty God. He's the mighty, mighty God. But how many of us we've just reduced him down to an afterthought? We just reduced him down to a hobby.

We've reduced him down to something that might just fit into our schedule or just something that's out there. It's a magic genie in a bottle when we need him. We've reduced him down to something that if, if it's convenient, we jump in. If it's not, we don't jump in. No. Listen, folks, we serve the mighty God, the El Gibbor, the El Gibbor. So, here's the question, though what does that really mean? You see I think what that most of us would agree yeah, we got that. We got that. But what does it mean when we say that Jesus is the mighty God? How do we know that he's the mighty God? How do we know that he is the El Gibbor?

Well, I love it when you ask questions, I want to answer because here's what I want to do. I want to give you seven practical ways that you can be sure that Jesus is the mighty God. Number one is this he's a fulfilling prophecy. He's the fulfillment of prophecy, did you know that Jesus, before he was born, fulfilled ten prophecies that were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years old before he even came out of the womb? And when he was born, evil fulfilled two more at that very moment. You say, Matt, what does that mean? That means that when someone said this was going to be happening, it happened in Jesus' life. You say, Matt, what were the prophecies war? Glad you asked. Let me give them to you real fast. If you want these later, contact me this week, I'll send them to you. Number one, he was the offspring of a woman. He was born from a woman. Genesis 3:15. He was born from a virgin. Isaiah, 7:4. He was the son of God Psalms 2. He was a descendant from Abraham Genesis 22:18. He was in the line of Isaac Genesis 21:12. He was in the nation of Israel Numbers 24:17. He was in the tribe of Judah Genesis 49:10. He was from the family of Jessie Isaiah 11:1. He was from the house of David Jeremiah 23:5. He was born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2. He was presented with gifts, Psalms 72:10. And he children around him, babies were to be killed as he was born Jeremiah 31:15. Twelve specifics that could not have been fulfilled by anyone but God were fulfilled at the moment Jesus was born. And catch this, over 300 more throughout his life, his death and his resurrection.

Do you feel what this is saying about our mighty God? The mighty God is the only one that could have fulfilled this. You know, people say to me all the time, well Matt, it's kind of vague. Jesus could have been anywhere. No, no, no. He couldn't have. Because Jesus wasn't like meeting somebody at the Braves game that said, hey, listen, I'm a white guy with jeans on, right? Jesus said, no, no, no, no. I'm a guy that have genes on that has a Braves sweatshirt on a red Braves hat on a cup in my hand with my name on a sign standing by the Hank Aaron statue, screaming, I'm Jesus, I'm Jesus, I'm Jesus. That's what this means. It means that only he could have done this. No little god can do that. Only the mighty G God that we serve. Number one he's fulfilling prophecy.

But number two, he's the supplier of limitless power. You see, the mighty God is the supplier of Limitless. Limitless is the main word I want you to grab on to there. He's the supplier of limitless power. I was reminded of this this week. Mark Chapter five, I think it's verse 23 through 41 is a story about a guy named Jairus. Now Jairus was a synagogue leader. You can read it this week on your arm. He was a synagogue leader. His daughter got gravely sick. Didn't know what to do, so he did the only thing that was reasonable to him. He saw Jesus out to heal his daughter. The problem was by the time Jairus got to Jesus; his daughter had died. Well, the story doesn't end there, Jesus, the El Gibbor, right? Steps into the scene. He heals the daughter. He brings the daughter back from the dead. He puts breath in her lungs. He rhythm and her heart give color back to her face, puts words back into her mouth. But here's what I want you to know about that story.

When Jesus brought this young girl back to life, it did not catch this take power from Jesus. Now that's hard for us to understand why. Because when I step into someone's life, when you step into someone's life, when we meet a need, when we emotionally attach ourselves to a situation, it gasses us a little bit. It tires us out a little bit. It's kind of like a Nintendo day when Mike Tyson's punch out and you took one to the face, right? Your power went from 100%, down to 50%, right? See, Jesus is not like that. When Jesus steps into someone's life and when he heals someone's life, it does not take power away from Jesus, it joys Jesus to be able to live out exactly who the mighty God is. So, listen to me. There's going to be problems.

There's going to be situations, there's going to be roadblocks, there's going to be financial and medical and social and spiritual problems in your life. But Jesus, the mighty God has endless power to meet your needs. He has an endless supply. So don't come to him going, hey, I know you got a lot going on and I know this my tire you out a little bit. Jesus, Jesus is like, no, this is what makes my joy complete. You see, the same power that rose this girl, is the same power that's available to us. I love Isaiah 43:11, where God says, I even I am the Lord, and apart from me, there is no savior. I revealed and saved and proclaimed, I am not some foreign God among you. You are my witnesses, declares the Lord that I am God.

Yes. Watch this from the ancient days I am He, no one can deliver out of my hand when I act, no one can reverse it. Listen, there's no end to the power. There's no reversing God's power. You know, what our role is just to tap into the power, and it's to ask God for the power. So, what are we seeing? We're seeing, in fact, that God says my power through my might is available to see he's the fulfilling prophecy. He is the supply, our limitless, limitless power. Number three, the El Gibbor, is the creator of all things. He's the creator of all things, look, I get it. Oh, man, I get it. This is a really hard season, right? During Christmas to look at the baby in the manger and think that's the creator. Our minds are blown away by that. Are they not? Or is it just me or it's just me? That's great. All right. Here it is. When you see the baby in a manger, he is not just a baby. He's the mighty God. He's the mighty God.

Listen, as hard as that is for us to swallow. Think about this. How hard was it for the angels to swallow that? I mean, think about this. They have existed from beginning of days with God in heaven, and now he's got a suit of flesh on you. Don't you think they had a little bit of a I hope this works out. He's God. He's come to Earth. Make no mistake, the mighty God Jesus was born in a manger, but make no mistake, he's mighty. He's mighty, in fact. Colossians 1:15. Watch this. The Sun is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation. Listen to what it says about the El Gibbor. For in him all things were created in heaven and Earth, visible and invisible, whether in thrones or powers.

He's before all things in him. All things are held together. Do you know what this means for us? It means that the mighty God, the one that created the Earth, the heavens and the Earth, the one that sustains the Earth, the one that holds all things together. He can now speak into your life. He can now fix you. Do you realize any situation that you ever get into can be fixed by the mighty God because he created it? But he not only created the Earth, but he can also fix the Earth, he can guide us on the Earth, and get us out of the Earth. Why? because he still has a heavenly perspective as the mighty God. He's not just a man. He's God, He's God. Which leads me to number four. Not only is he the creator, but he’s also the defeater of Satan, he's the defeater of Satan. I wanted to say he was the owner of Satan, but it just didn't flow right. But he does. He owns him. In fact, we looked at this last week, Hebrews Chapter four look at verse the middle of verse 15, it says, for we do not have a high priest who's unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who's been tempted in every way, just as we are. Yet he did not sin. Do you know what that means? That means the El Gibbor defeated Satan, who lives on this earth. He defeated everything he threw at him.

And it means this we have access to the one that destroys the one who brings accusation against us. You see Satan, he threw paint at Jesus, and Jesus looked at him and said, it’s by my stripes that they're going to be healed. Satan threw temptation of Jesus and Jesus says not by my will, but by the father's will. He threw hatred at Jesus. And Jesus says, hey, I forgive them. He threw messed up religion at Jesus. And Jesus said, I will build my church. He threw political muscle at Jesus. And he said the government is on my shoulder. He threw storms at Jesus. And what did Jesus do? He's still them and healed them. He threw sickness at Jesus. He touched their eyes and made them whole. And Satan, even threw death at Jesus and he looked at him and said, I'm alive. Everything God said, I have defeated Satan. Don't live a defeated life. The El Gibbor is in your life. We serve the victor that is standing on the neck of Satan and has him in control, and he's offering himself to us.

Offering himself to us. Were sealed and secured in his power and might and victory. But it gets even better because number five, he's also the conqueror of death. The mighty God is the conqueror of death, you realize that Jesus is the only person who has ever lived that have risen themselves from the dead by their own power and never died again, never died again. He's the only God that when you visit his grave. There isn’t nobody there. He's risen, he's risen. I love what Revelation 1:17 says about this, John. John says this when I saw him as the El Gibbor, that's Jesus. I fell at his feet as though I was dead. He placed his right hand on me and said, do not be afraid. I am the first and I am the last. I, Jesus said, I am the living one. I was dead. And now, look, I am alive forever more. And watch what he says, and I hold the keys of death and hell. Three words Christ conquered Death is the most important difference between Christianity, and we have a mighty God and nobody else does.

He conquered Death Acts 2:24 says it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. John 10:17, says I lay my life down, Jesus said, only to take it up again. So, the mighty God that we serve the mighty God, that Isiah is saying in these two words, holds the keys to death, which is incredible news. Why? Because of number six, he's also the El Gibbor is the giver of our heavenly resurrection. He's the giver of that, did you know that you will receive one day a heavenly resurrection, not based on what, you know, not based on how many church times you've gone? Not based on what your parents believe. Not based on how much you give. How many Bible verses you know, or how many baptized times you have ever been through? You will be gifted eternity one day. If you know Jesus, that El Gibbor. If he's in your life, if he set you free, if he has given your life, right? John three verse 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only son. Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life. He's the giver. But it doesn't stop there. Here's the last one, the El Gibbor is also the promiser, oh man, that he will return.

He'll return. He's the promiser there that he will, you see the mighty God, the El Gibbor. Yes, he's the fulfiller of prophecy. Yes, he gives us limitless power. He created all things. He defeated Satan. He conquered death. He's the giver of heavenly resurrection. But he's not done. Listen. He's coming back, he's coming back, and this time there will be no mistake, this time there will be no ambiguity. This time he is not coming to be born in a manger. He's going to be riding in as a warrior stands above all else and all knees will bow. All tongues will confess that he is Lord, and he's mighty to save. That's the El Gibbor. I love John 14, where Jesus looks at them and says don't be troubled. Believe in God and believe in me. My father's house has many rooms. If it weren't, so I wouldn't say it. I'm going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back. I will take you with me so that you may be, catch this, where I am. Where I am. This is the mighty God. I think we've just reduced him down to a bobblehead Jesus that rides on the dash of our car. I think we've reduced him down to a shirt or a cliché©, Christian motto or a coffee cup.

He's mighty, he's above all, he's victorious. He stands above us. He's the centerpiece of creation. He stands alone in himself. He's unique and unparalleled and unprecedented. I'm talking about Jesus, the mighty God. He's the miracle, the age. He's the strength for the weak. He's the supplier of all power. He's available for the tempted. He sympathizes with us, and he saves us. The mighty God guides us. He heals the leper, gives sight to the blind. Cleanses the sick. He forgives the sinners. He delivers us. He serves the unfortunates. That's the mighty God. He is limitless. He has all power at his fingers. There's no barrier that can keep him away from us. Our mighty God is strong. He's knowledgeable. There's nothing hidden from him. There's nothing that is out of his sight. There's nothing that doesn't fall under his love. He's the hero of all heroes. He's the governor of all governments. He's the King of Kings, the Lord of Lord, the mighty God.

And he is incomprehensible. But he's ours. He's ours. And that’s the Christmas message. The Christmas message is that he's not an ethereal god floating in the sky, but he's made himself available for you and for me and for all of humanity. And it is a gift for us. Church, the mighty God. El Gibbor, born in a manger, lived in poverty, died on a cross raised to life. Can be yours, can be yours. But what does he ask of us? Two things, submit and worship. It's simple. Do you realize I have spent the last 40 minutes telling you who he is to you, but in ten seconds, I can describe all he wants from us, submit and worship? Here's the question. Why don't we? Why don't we?

I love Matthew Chapter 14, it's another homework assignment for you, you can read the miracles incredible. It's actually one of the miracles that they use the word El Gibbor but it's in the Greek. But just trust me, it's there. Jesus walks on the water by the disciples after he calms to sea and gets back into the boat, you remember in the story of Peter. Listen to what happens when he realized who he really is. Matthew, 14:33 says, when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those that were in the boat worshiped him, saying, here's our response, truly, you are the son of God. That's it. Let's not complicate this thing. Let's not put so many layers in this thing we don't know which ends up. Submit and worship. Submit and worship.

Lord Jesus, El Gibbor. You are mighty. And God, in this place today, continue to show your mightiness. Lord Jesus, I'm not sure where everybody is in this room spiritually, but what I do know is that you will meet them right where they are, if they will turn to you. He will forgive them. He will raise them, and you will set them on a path of your power and your grace. But it takes them taking that step. God, if there's people in this room that need to submit their hearts to you today for the first time or for the first time for real. And they need to surrender their hearts to you, Jesus, to come into their lives, to forgive you of their sins. God, I just pray that something in their heart today would just tell them to simply turn to you. God, maybe just maybe in this next moment they'd step out from where they are and just come and look myself or one of these other counselors in the face and just say, hey, I need Jesus. I need the wonderful mighty God. God, give them that boldness this morning, or God, give them the boldness to jump onto the app and fill out the next steps form, just for us to follow up with them. God, for a lot of us today, would you just reset our thoughts? That yes, you are a comforter, but God, you are mighty. Thank you, Jesus.

Let's stand and sing together.

Follow Along with the Message

Mighty God

December 12, 2021

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 9:2–4
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor...
Isaiah 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 greatness 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…
Matthew 1:20–21
20 …an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Luke 1:28–33
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Luke 1:69
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us.
Luke 1:74
…rescue us from the hand of our enemies…
Luke 2:10–14
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:29–32
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Matthew 2:1–2
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:10–11
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

“Mighty God” - 2 words in Hebrew

El: A for God, “The Mighty One”

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Gibbor: Mighty or hero

How is Jesus the Mighty God?

1. of prophecy

2. of limitless power

Isaiah 43:11–13
11 I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. 13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
Colossians 1:17
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

3. of all things

Colossians 1:15–20
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

4. of Satan

Hebrews 4:14–16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

5. of death

Revelation 1:17–18
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Acts 2:24
It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
John 10:17
“I lay down my life,” Jesus said, “only to take it up again.”

6. of our Heavenly resurrection

John 3:14–18
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned…

7. that He will return

John 14:1–3
1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Matthew 14:32–33
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Additional Notes

 

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