Every Christmas Could Be The One Christmas That You Remember Forever. One Touch, or One Moment With Him, Or One Gift From Him All You Need To Change Literally Everything.
Isaiah 7, Isaiah 9, and Isaiah 11 represent 3 passages that changed everything…
1) Isaiah 7:14:
“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.”
3 Reminders At Christmas:
1. The Reminder Of A Virgin Conception > Intimacy Produces
2. The Reminder Of A Precious Birth > Pain Precedes The
3. The Reminder Of An Ever-Present God > His Presence Never
2) Isaiah 9:1-7:
“1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
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. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
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…”
In this passage on the promise of the Messiah, why did God focus on MIDIAN?
The “day of Midian” in v.4 is a direct reference to Judges 6 & 7. As Gideon with just a handful of men
conquered the hosts of Midian, so the “Child” of Isaiah 9:6 would be like the 300 men of Gideon who broke the power of Midian and would birth a church that would change the world.
But there is more:
• Midian Means Strife, Contentious, Disputes, Brawling, and Judgment
• Joseph Was Sold To The Midianites – Genesis 37:28,36
• Midian Was Where Moses Fled In Fear From Egypt – Exodus 2:15-21
• Midian Led Israel Into Sexual Sin In Order To Weaken Them Before God – Numbers 22-25
• Midian Oppressed and Slaved Israel In The Time Of Judges – Judges 6-7
What does Midian really represent? Midian only came into existence because Abraham tried to create something to protect himself outside of God’s plan and promise.
See, if this represents the results of Abraham’s attempts to create something “on the side” in order to meet his needs or secure his legacy or hedge his bets, then it also shows us that what we create outside of God and His plan will always bring strife, conflict and hardship to us, along with judgment.
But Isaiah 9 Was A Message Of HOPE That Your God Is GREATER Than Your PAST!
3 (More) Reminders At Christmas:
1. Your Past Can Haunt Your Present and Harass Your
2. But In Him, Your Past Does NOT Have To Determine Your Present Or
3. In Him, Everything You Have Gone THROUGH Is Preparing You For Where You Are Going TO!
3) Isaiah 11:1-6:
“1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”
Christmas Is Not About A TREE. Christmas Is About A STUMP:
• A Stump Represents Something That Was Alive That Was Cut Down.
• A Stump Can Represent Something That Was Done,
• A Stump Can Represent Something That Was Done To You,
• A Stump Can Represent Something You Did.
3 (More) Reminders At Christmas:
1. A Shoot From A Stump Can Change
2. A Stump Represents Opportunity. God Only Needs A
3. The Stump Sees Beyond The Surface. God Truly Sees, Hears, and
Our God Does Not Judge Based On The Surface, But He Judges The “Needy” With Righteousness. “Needy” refers to HUMILITY. We see more about this in Isaiah 66:1-2:
“1 Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
Do You Have This Humility This Christmas?