The Gift of a Wonderful Counselor

 The Son was given to be a Wonderful Counselor.  We were given a Wonderful Counselor as a gift.

Isaiah 9:6

⁶    For to us a child is born,

          to us a son is given;

   and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

          and his name shall be called

     Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

        Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

We Need a Wonderful Counselor.

His Name shall be called…  not his Name is…

               “called – Hebrew – proclaimed as… “

                              By those who draw near to Jesus, he will be a wonderful counselor.

I.                  Wonderful

A.     Wonderful Definition

Wonder – actions that cause to think,

          And when you think you realize that it is beyond you, So it points to God.

B.     Wonderful Christmas

Does Christmas make you wonder?  Does this narrative still capture your imagination?

1.      The improbable pregnancy of John the Baptist,

2.      The impossible pregnancy – The Virgin Pregnancy

3.      A star appears, draws curious wise men, and moves.

4.      Angels appears to shepherds.

5.      Two elderly people, Simeon and Anna are moved to go to the temple at the same time as his parents were there and spoke about his future.

Wonder of Christmas.  Does Christmas still make you wonder? Does it still move you? 

Wonder is part of God’s plan.

Isaiah 29:13-14 (ESV)

¹³      And the Lord said:

“     Because this people draw near with their mouth

          and honor me with their lips,

          while their hearts are far from me,

     and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

¹⁴      therefore, behold, I will again

          do wonderful things with this people,

          with wonder upon wonder;

God, will do wonder upon wonder; Can you see them?

               When was the last time you experience wonder?

              

God will do wonderful things with this people.

               God will do wonderful things with people who may not experience wonder.

C.     Wonderful Wonder

How do we miss wonder?

              

1.      Wonder requires more than faith, wonder requires risk. 

·        Wonder is found in the improbable, in the impossible,

·        Wonder moves us towards that which is risky, and unpredictable.

2.      Wonder is found more in the future than the past.

We forget wonder, we are not amazed by the past.

He will be called… Wonderful  this is moved towards what is ahead for you.

v  A child is born, a son is given, so you can experience…wonder.

II.               Counselor

Counselor – side by side, in proximity.

Immanuel – God with us.

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)   Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Wonderful Sign = God with us.

The Word became flesh and  dwelt among us.

Counselor – Among us, with us.

Wonderful Counselor – Wonders by among us, wonders with us.

III.              We Wear Wonder

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

¹⁴     I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

·        We even wear his wonder.  Wonder is not that far from you… can you see it.

We need a Wonderful Counselor.

Is Jesus Willing To Heal?

That’s the real question.  We normally don’t question his ability to heal, we read the narratives of his life, and they are full with physical and spiritual healing.  No, the real question for us whether or not Jesus is willing to heal?

Thankfully, the narratives of Jesus’ life are not just bursting with accounts of his power over sickness but they also include his willingness to heal.

In Mark 1:40-42, Jesus is met with that same question.  A leper begged him that if he was willing, Jesus could heal him.  Jesus responded to him with a heart of compassion, a physical touch and affirmation of his willingness to heal.  Don’t you love those words?  I am willing.

In a different occasion, He was asked for his help by someone, not just anyone, but a man who was considered to be enemy and oppressor of his people, a Roman Centurion.  When asked for help by an enemy, Jesus’ response was “I will go and heal him.”  (Matt. 8:5-8)

These are just two examples for us.  We may be familiar with the stories of healing in the Gospels, but it is more important that we are familiar with His willingness to heal; because that is the real question we struggle with.   

Jesus is not just a Healer, He is also willing!

Life In His Name

John The Apostle  specifically states the purpose for writing his narrative of the life of Jesus; in John 20:31 he writes: “…but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”  Apparently, the “abundant life” that Jesus offers is lived in His Name.

Nowhere in the Gospels are given a description of His physical appearance, rather we are supplied with what we was like and who he was. What comes to your mind when you hear the Name of Jesus?  A mental picture of what could had looked like, or a description of His character and identity?

 We don’t know what He looked like, but we know His Name.   That is, we have his character and identity; these are the makeup of His Name.  The Name gives us his identity, in fact we are called by “His Name” (Isaiah 43:6-7).   “Life in His Name” = Abundant, Eternal Life.  This abundant life is not one of physical prosperity but rather an abundance of character that flows from the identity as His children who bear his Name.  And by His Name… we live. 

Sensitize Your Spirit and Desensitize Your Flesh.

I heard this quote at a pastor meeting last week: "When you pray in the Spirit you sensitize your spirit and desensitize your flesh." (I wish I could remember the speaker's name, oops) The quote has grabbed my attention ever since I heard it, and it has both led me and guided my prayers ever since.

According to Scripture we are expected to participate in the process of spiritual transformation- we active participants and partakers in the divine nature so that we may escape the corruption of our flesh caused by evil desires (1 Pet 1:4). I substituted the word "world" with "flesh" because I wanted to be more personal. My main problem is not with the world, it's with my flesh.

In His mercy, God has given us his Spirit to help us pray. More specifically, in Jude 20: But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. When we pray in the Spirit, we build ourselves up. We have a hand in our own edification.

Praying in the Spirit sensitizes my spirit, and desensitizes my flesh. Dear God, I need that. Thank you for your help God. I take responsibility in the role that I play in Transformation.


 

 

E42 – Psalm 51 – Confession’s Song

Aren't you glad that the Psalms gives us a song to sing when don't feel like singing? A song for when we sin- a song of confession. Confession's Song is Humanity's song, for we all have a need to sing it- and sing it often. Confession is what restores our relationship with God, and the lyrics of this song chart a course that guides us from a fall back to the heart of God.

Before the lyrics begin in verse one, the Bible gives an introduction to this song. We are told that David wrote this after he was confronted by the Nathan the prophet, for his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband to cover it up (2 Samuel 12). The narrative tells that Nathan got there around the time of the birth of the son conceived during the affair, so about nine months have gone by since the sin took place. Nine months have gone by without David confessing his sin. We may be alright living without confession, but God isn't.

The confrontation of sin and the judgment of God break up the dam of unconfessed sin. The result is a song that even though is painful to sing, it restores our relationship with God (Ps. 51.8). The song establishes a process for all of us to wash and cleanse so we can get a new heart and a renewed spirit that is aware of God's presence.

The only way to get back to God's presence is to sing the song of confession. No offerings and no sacrifices can make things right, what God desires is a "broken spirit and a contrite heart" (Ps. 51:17). The song is also a promise, that when we sing confession, God hears, God forgives and God cleanses. (1 John 1:9).

Aren't you glad that God breaks up the dam of denial? Aren't you glad that we are given a song to sing when we don't feel like singing?

E29 Judges 13-16 – Samson’s Anticlimactic Story

The account of Samson begins with such promise. The Angel of the Lord [the Lord Himself] appears to his barren parents and promises them to give them a child whom he will use to deliver Israel (Judges 13:5). A childless family who has an appearance and promise from God to have a child is usually a starting point for a story of one of the heroes of the faith- think Abraham with Isaac, Hannah with Samuel. The story of Samson began in such a way, with so much promise of greatness and destiny.

You read the story of Samson and it begins with great expectations. The Lord appears personally to his parents, accepts their sacrifice in an amazing way (Judges 13:19-20) and gives instructions on how the child is to grow up. They fittingly give their promised son a great name, Samson, which means "Sun" or "Brightness." They expected their Samson to shine like the sun, or be as bright as the sacrifice which God accepted. The Lord blessed him and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him (Judges 13:24).

The story begins with such promise, you are looking forward to a great life, but instead we read about a man who did not live up to his potential. Some narratives in the Bible are there for you and I to aspire to, some are there for us to avoid. Samson's anticlimactic story is a warning to us; don't waste your potential, don't trash your destiny, don't wreck your purpose.

Unique gifts come with specific expectations from the Lord. Samson wandered from his commitments and at the end he was not even aware that the Lord had left him (Judges 16:20). Is that one of the most tragic statements in Scripture?

E28 – Judges 6-7 – Calling Out Of Hiding

You just got to love how God calls different people. In Gideon's calling he calls him out of hiding into being a mighty warrior (Judges 6:12).

The circumstances were grim for the Israelites. They were being so oppressed by their enemies that they were living and hiding in caves (Judges 6:2). They were literally living in hiding. I hate it when I regress to the point that I am living and hiding at the same time- how about you?

I am glad that God calls us out hiding; all the way back to Adam, God has been calling those who are living in hiding (Gen. 3:8-9). At this point of his life Gideon is inside a winepress, hiding so his food is not stolen (Jud 6:11). It was in hiding that the Angel of the Lord appears to him. You got to love the greeting- "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior" (Judge 6:12). Gideon is hiding but the Lord calls out his potential.

Can you imagine the intrigue in Gideon's mind? "Mighty warrior?" "But I am living in hiding!" Yet, this is no ordinary angel talking to him. Can you imagine what the Angel of the Lord looks like? (By the way, this is a pre-incarnate Jesus) Its one thing for an ordinary person to call you mighty warrior; but, to be called mighty warrior by Warrior-God its got to transform your self-image. Jesus was calling him out of hiding and into his potential. And, you know he wants to the same for us!

Jesus doesn't stop at calling, once He calls he usually commissions! "Go in the strength you have, and save Israel out your [enemies] hand. Am I not commanding you? (Jud. 6:14)

Gideon responded to the call and he never hid again, in fact, he indeed became the mighty warrior that God called him out hiding to be.

Dear Jesus, call me out of hiding, reluctance, and hesitance. Thank you that you draw us out of our unproductiveness, meaninglessness, and unfruitfulness. Open my eyes to my potential, let me hear your transformational Voice. Like Gideon, I want to respond and be filled with the strength of your Spirit in me.

E27 – Judges 4&5 – Deborah: Coolest Woman of The Bible

(Disclaimer: Mary is the most honored woman- I don't want to mess with Jesus' mom)

I love the story of Deborah; true to her name (The Bee), she accomplishes a vast spectrum of endeavors in just two chapters of Scripture. Here are the highlights of her leadership:

1. Judge of Israel (Judges 4:4)- In this post she led the whole country of Israel.
   
2. Prophetess (Judges 4:4)- God enables her to speak for Him.
   
3. She was a military commander and strategist (Judges 4:6-7) – and by the way, when her general, Barak refuses to lead the army, she does it herself!
   
4. She was a songwriter and singer (Judges 5:1)- In her song she brings praise to God and mocks her enemies. You got to love a woman who praises God and talks smack to her enemies! (Reminds me of my wife!)
   
5. She was a mother (Judges 5:7) - When Israel was in trouble, God called a mother to arise.
   
6. Effective Leader (Judges 5:31) - The land had peace for forty years while she reigned.
   

 

As I write this, now I know why I think Deborah is so cool; I think I married one!

E26 Judges 2-3 – Living Like We Drive

Don't we are drive differently when we see a cop car? Even if we are not speeding, we still hit the brake just in case. Is this how we live our spiritual lives? What happens in our spiritual lives, when we don't see the cop car? That is what this passage of Scripture is about.

Israel's leaders who led people into the Promised Land passed away, and now their children were living differently without their leaders. As long as they had a "cop" watching they were obedient to the faith, when there was no more "cop car" they sped towards their wreck (Judges 2:7, 10-11).

This chapter is not just about historical facts, is also a morality story. We read this and ask ourselves, if this narrative describes us as well. Who are we when no one is looking is the definition of character; and also who we truly are. This is the part of us that God cares about the most.

David, discovered that God was always watching, and came to terms with this ever-watching Father. However, he does not describe a monitoring authority figure waiting to "catch us on the act," but rather a loving Father who wants to guide us by His Hand.

Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

⁸If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

⁹If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

¹⁰even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

¹¹If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,"

¹²even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

 

E25 – Joshua 5 & 6 – Before Walls Fall; We Must Fall

Before the walls of Jericho fell, Joshua fell facedown before the Lord. Before our walls (strongholds, addictions, struggles); we also must fall face down before the Lord. The true worship and reverence of God is what melts our walls down.

Before the first major battle for possession of the Promised Land was fought, Joshua had an encounter with a sword-drawn man-God (Jos 5:13). We are not specifically told that this is Jesus; however, he was both a "man" and "holy." Only one person fits that category, Jesus, the commander of the army of the Lord.

With strong parallels with Moses burning bush experience; Joshua is told to remove his sandals for he was standing in holy ground. Astutely, Joshua fell facedown as an act of reverence. Reverent worship enhances our ability to obey God; and it is from this position Joshua asks for orders from God (Jos 5:14).

This narrative is here to guide us towards our own victory over the sins and strongholds that we must conquer in order to live the life that God wants for us. But before we fight, we must fall facedown and practice reverent worship. Reverent worship enables us to walk in obedience, and give credit (glory) to God only. He invites us to fight with Him, we must arm ourselves for battle, but it is His sword that is melting walls before us.

E24 - Joshua 3, 4 - Things To Do Before Before We Recieve God's Promise

The people of Israel were about to see God do "amazing things among them." (Joshua 3:5)  But before God did anything among them, before they possessed the promises that God had for them they needed to heed 3 instructions from God.  They were to: 1. consecrate themselves, 2. move and keep up with God, and 3. Construct a way to remember what they saw.  

1. Consecrate Yourselves.  (Joshua 3:5) Consecration simply means "to set apart."  God requires us to set ourselves aside exclusively for Him.  God demands exclusivity; exclusivity is a form of worship.

2. Move With God (Joshua 3:3-6)  "When you see the ark move, move with it."  Sounds simple enough, yet God has to remind us several times in Scriputure to move and keep up with Him.  "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit!

3. Construct A Way To Remember (Joshua 4:5-7)  God command us to remember.  There is no doubt, a short-term spiritual memory will wreck your faith.  For our sake God instructs us to set reminders, build memorials, and even practice rituals to help us remember the things that He has done for us and said to us.  A good memory will both build and protect our faith.  Memory seems to be a vital spiritual life-skill.

Could these 3 expectations from God still apply to us in order for us to receive His promises.  God wants to do amazing things among us, are we prepared?

E23 Joshua 1 – The Bridge of Courage

We have all helplessly stood there; that chasm between our current reality and our God-given destiny. There is no easy way around it, in order to get to your dreams, callings, and potential we must cross this chasm. And there is but one way to get there: courage. Courage is the bridge to get to the Promised Land.

We are all familiar with the fact that God requires faith (Heb 11:6). But real faith requires courage and risk-taking. So if God requires faith, and faith requires courage: GOD REQUIRES COURAGE!

At this point of Joshua's life he has already demonstrated great acts of faith and courage, yet God still finds it necessary to personally charge and command him 3 times in this chapter to be "strong and courageous." Big promises and dreams demand great courage.

Thank God we don't have to build the bridge; we just have to cross it.

E22 Exodus 32 - The Bad Art Incident

Let's put Exodus 32 and the whole "golden calf incident" in perspective"
The Lord has just commissioned Moses up on the mountain to build Him a place so that He can dwell among His people.  That is His true desire.  To be close to His people....His own special people and treasured possession, those He loves.  And what kind of house would a Creator- The Creator- of heaven and earth and everything in it- dwell in?  Well, a very well designed place.  Divinely designed.  This place had major craftsmanship, major design sense and artistry.  It makes sense that a God who is a Creator would dwell in a creative atmosphere.  So he commissions artists on whom he is gifting with all the wisdom and revelation that they need to bring these plans on paper into a glorious reality.  This is what the Lord does in Exodus 31:
1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 "I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, 5 and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 "And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan ; and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, and the ark of testimony, and the mercy seat upon it, and all the furniture of the tent, 8 the table also and its utensils, and the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering also with all its utensils, and the laver and its stand, 10 the woven garments as well, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, with which to carry on their priesthood ; 11 the anointing oil also, and the fragrant incense for the holy place, they are to make them according to all that I have commanded you." 

There you have it.  Every piece of  furniture, every piece of thread, every utensil, oil, and metal.  They were all the product of artistry and beautiful in every way.  I would have loved to have seen that house.  
And here in Exodus 32 after calling and commissioning the people of God to create an environment of beauty and creativity for Him to dwell in, He stops to warn Moses, that these very people have defiled themselves.  
You see we think that it's all about the calf and we want to harp on about idols.  But, I think that God's disappointment and Moses anger, were very much about the use of their gift.  You see we've all been gifted by God.  Both in the natural and in the spirit with gifts of the Spirit.  But, it is completely within our own decision how we will use the gift God has anointed us for.  What will we do with the abilities that He has called and commissioned our lives with?  Will we use them for our own purposes?  for instant gratification, selfish gain?  When the wait is too long, and we don't see God's plans for our lives materializing in the way we expected or when we expected them to, do we take the thing that He has anointed us for and use it our own way?  We sound somewhat like spoiled children, like the Israelites did in this chapter of Exodus: "Thanks God for the gift of artistry, but, now your way is just taking way too long, I've got stuff to do with this talent."  Moses had been on the mountain for 40 days and nights and for all they knew he could have been dead.  But, instead of believing the voice that first called them, they returned to their own devices.  I think the real measure of a woman or a man is not what you do when God is speaking, but, what you do when He is silent.  Let us say as Moses did "we will not go from here unless You go with us."  That all of our decisions would not be made out of frustration or out of our own human logic.  Moses had given the Israelites instructions to "wait here." Maybe that is part of the lesson to learn in this chapter.  Not take what God is giving us and run.  Let our prayer be, "Lord help us to wait on You, and not turn to our own devices or our own logic, even when Your plan seems unclear.  Help us to stay committed to Your plans for our lives, knowing that everything You have gifted us with is for a purpose, Your purpose." 

E21 Exodus 19,20 – God’s Intention For The 10 Commandments

What did God want when He gave The Ten? What was His desired outcome? I guess the best question is, why did He give them out in the first place.

The good thing is that God reveals his intention for the law before he spelled it out. To God it was important for us to know why He was doing this. So before assembling the people of Israel to literally hear the Law with their own ears, God himself gives the reason for establishing the Law. God desires us to be His "treasure possession…a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Ex 19:5-6) God wants us to be his treasured possession, and for us to want him to be our treasure. Ultimately, God desires to be desired.

The Ten is how this God-desire is lived out in our lives. And in fact, with the help of the Holy Spirit this God-desire is we are becoming together (1Pet 2:5). God wants us to truly be His, not just simply try to behave like it. Doesn't the First Commandment sound like, "I desire that your desire me more than anything!"

We are told what God is looking for; us wanting to be what God is looking for, that the essence of worship! David summed it up this way: "I desire to do your will, Oh my God; your Law is within my heart" (Ps 40:8). David was bringing more than obedience, he was bringing his desire.

God desires us to desire him! Jesus, I desire you. Holy Spirit help me to desire you.

E20 Exodus 13-14 - Born Into Battle

Are we born-again into a paradise or into an epic struggle for humanity? We are told that the Israelites left the land of captivity armed for battle (Ex. 13:18b). If the pillar of cloud and fire was leading them out (Ex 13:21,22); why the need for weapons?

The exodus from Egypt parallels our own exodus and deliverance from the captivity and slavery of our sin. We can educate ourselves on own deliverance by studying their exodus. We are not born into paradise. This is not heaven; this is earth, and while we are here we have an adversary who will oppose our progress. More importantly, while we are here, God expects to fight (1 Tim. 6:12)

We are born-again into a great struggle for the souls of humanity. When we walk with God, we march with the Spirit (Gal 5:25). We are provided battle-armor and we are expected to wear it (Eph. 6:11-17). Where we live, there is no demilitarized zone.

The exodus began and ended with battle. From the deliverance from captivity to the possession of the Promised Land there was battle and struggle. Should we expect our spiritual lives to be any different?

Stay alert, fellow soldiers.

E19 Exodus 12 – The Transcendence of Remembrance

Why does God place such an emphasis on remembrance? God even establishes remembrance as a form of worship.

Before the Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt, He gave them instructions to remember. God placed a higher priority in remembering the deliverance than on the deliverance itself. He even gave more instructions and commands on the remembrance itself rather than the deliverance.

The repeated words on this passage are: commemorate, celebrate, observe.

Commemorate. To commemorate means to remember together, Passover was not for individuals it was for the community. Nothing sticks to memory banks like communal experiences. To God is important that we celebrate faith as a group than as an individual (its better for us, too!).

Celebrate. Do you find it interesting that God has to command us to celebrate? You would think that would come naturally to us. But, we have been commanded by God to: enjoy and delight ourselves in our faith. To God is important that we celebrate in the things He wants us to do. Make no mistake, Passover was a feast!

Observe. Our man-made holidays usually celebrate past events [Independence Day, Memorial Day, etc.] We don't have any holidays about the future! But you know God is doing more than pointing at the past. I love the transcendence of the Scriptures; the Israelites were not just being thought to observe the past, they were being prepared for the future! In preparing the lambs for Passover they were being prepared for the Lamb of God (John 1:29, Rev 15:3). By observing the past, we can see the future!

At Passover Jesus brought both fulfillment and promise. After during the Passover meal Jesus instituted another standing ordinance for us, the Lord's Supper. In breaking the bread, we remember and experience his broken body. In drinking the cup we celebrate the new covenant in His blood. In the whole experience we are not just observing and remembering his death, but more importantly we are proclaiming his future return!

Its important to note that once again, the command to remember the cross came before the deliverance itself. Jesus commands us all to: "Remember Me."

E18 Exodus 6-11 – Humility or Humiliation: Its Our Choice

The struggle of Moses and Pharaoh is an epic confrontation in the Bible between humility vs. arrogance. Moses was the most humble man on the face earth (Numbers 12:3). And, his nemesis Pharaoh,  was the personification of arrogance.

Ten times Moses confronted Pharaoh, ten times Pharaoh "hardened" his heart; and suffered the consequences. Eventually, The most humble man, confronted the most arrogant man with one question from God: "This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? (Ex. 10:3)

That question cuts right to us. How long will we refuse to humble ourselves? From the story we deduct that Pharaoh's biggest problem was not sin or immorality; His biggest problem was arrogance.  God can work with a sinner, He cant work with the arrogant.

What if our biggest problem is not sin? We can become so focused in managing our sin that we neglect its root cause, arrogance. Ask yourself, do you spend more time in confession (and guilt) than on intentional humility?

The story is the ten plagues is not just a story of God leading out the Israelites out of Egypt; its also a story of God reaching out to an arrogant man.  Before the plagues began God declares their purpose: that "the Egyptians will know than I am the LORD (Ex 7:5, 9:16) God was reaching out to Pharaoh.

When we refuse to humble ourselves (1Pet 5:6), we force God to humble us. When we do it it's called humility; when God has to do it its called humiliation. Its our choice!