Worshiping the Christ of Christmas

Worshiping the Christ of Christmas

Subject - Lifting Up Jesus!

by Rick Welborne

Isaiah 9:6‑7 (NKJV) 

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name 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, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

–As we draw close to the time we celebrate the birth of Christ I want to make sure that we are worshiping Him.

–It is so easy in a materialistic society to concentrate on the gifts we get or give and to focus on who we will see or will not see.

–Don’t misunderstand me...I think giving is the heart of God and I also think getting together can be a wonderful thing if we do not forget the Christ of Christmas.

–There was a time in my life that Christmas was so dreaded for me...I was lost without hope, bound by all kinds of addictions, in conflict with family...I was so messed up!

–Something happened and I had an encounter with Jesus Christ and I found out His name is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

–As I attempt to magnify Christ today I want to take these words from Isaiah and share what an incredibly awesome God we serve.  Please celebrate and worship with me.

1. Jesus is to be called Wonderful!

–How many of you with a shout will say that you believe Jesus is wonderful? The main reason I believe that Jesus is wonderful is this:

Psalm 40:1‑5 (NKJV) 

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. 

2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. 

3 He has put a new song in my mouth‑‑ Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. 

4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 

5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. 

–He is wonderful because He listened to my cry. He is wonderful because He brought me out of a horrible pit...shout to Him! But, Pastor Rick, I am in a horrible place. Cry out to Him and let Him bring you out!

–He is wonderful because He set me upon a rock...His Name is Jesus!  David cries:

2 Samuel 22:47 (NKJV) 

47 "The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation! 

–He is wonderful because He has established my steps! He is wonderful because He has put a new song in my mouth...a song of praise to our God. Many will see it and accept Christ also!

–He is wonderful because He has done wonderful works for us! Count them, Life Church. He is wonderful because of His thoughts (plans) toward or for us! Shout He is Wonderful...He is Wonderful!

2. Jesus is to be called Counselor!

Isaiah 41:27‑28 (NKJV) 

27 The first time I said to Zion, 'Look, there they are!' And I will give to Jerusalem one who brings good tidings. 

28 For I looked, and there was no man; I looked among them, but there was no counselor, Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word. 

Isaiah 41:27 (NLT) 

27 I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look! Help is on the way!’ I will send Jerusalem a messenger with good news. 

–Listen, Life Church, help is on the way. Unto us a Child is born...Immanuel...God with us! The Counselor is here! How do we get counsel from this Counselor...From His Word and from talking to Him.

John 1:1‑4 (NKJV) 

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

2 He was in the beginning with God. 

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

–Jesus is our Counselor because he is the living Word of God. He made it all and in Him is life...why do we run to other sources...He is our source. Listen to the Counselor through His Word!

Psalm 119:97-107 (NLT2)
⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.
⁹⁸  Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.
⁹⁹  Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws.
¹⁰⁰  I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.
¹⁰¹  I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word.
¹⁰²  I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well.
¹⁰³  How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.
¹⁰⁴  Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.
¹⁰⁵  Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
¹⁰⁶  I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.
¹⁰⁷  I have suffered much, O LORD; restore my life again as you promised. 

–The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Jesus Christ and He is our Counselor.

John 15:26 (NIV) 

26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 

–When you have problems...before you run to everyone else...run to Jesus...run to Holy Spirit...Run to the Word…Run to your divine Counselor...He is the Spirit of Truth!

3. Jesus is to be called Mighty God!

–Unto us a child is born...unto us a Son is born...and the government shall be upon His shoulder. Who else can handle the govt. being on His shoulder other than the mighty God...Jesus Christ!

Jeremiah 32:17‑20 (NKJV) 

17 'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. 

18 You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them‑‑the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts. 

19 You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. 

20 You have set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, to this day, and in Israel and among other men; and You have made Yourself a name, as it is this day. 

–I am telling you that this Christ child has become our Mighty God! Talking about Joseph:

Deuteronomy 10:17-21 (NKJV)
¹⁷  For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
¹⁸  He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.
¹⁹  Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
²⁰  You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.
²¹  He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.

–He is our Mighty God...shout and give Him praise!

4. Jesus is to be called Eternal Father!

–Maybe some of you did not have a good example of a father or maybe you did not have a father at all. This God child has been born so that gap in your life can be filled.

–My father was abusive and hateful and my image of a father was not good! This Eternal Father is the great gap filler...He can pick up where man failed.

Psalm 68:3‑6 (NIV) 

3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. 

4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds‑‑ his name is the LORD‑‑ and rejoice before him. 

5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. 

6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun‑scorched land. 

–Maybe before Jesus you did not have a good example but now that you have found the Eternal God he can love you and show you how to love.

–When we had Jeremy I struggled so much against the spirit of my father but one night I fell on my knees before my Eternal Father and cried out to Him and He set me free.

–God used me to lead my father to Christ. Now that is transformation! The curse was broken:

Galatians 3:13‑14 (NKJV) 

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), 

14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

What is the blessing of Abraham for us?

Genesis 22:15‑18 (NKJV) 

15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 

16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son‑‑ 

17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 

18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." 

–I will bless you...I will multiply you...Our kids will possess the gate of their enemies...Nations will be blessed!

He is our Eternal Father...shout to Him!

5. Jesus is to be called Prince of Peace!

–Pastor Rick, I have anything but peace today. I tell you run to the Prince of Peace!

Psalm 29:10‑11 (NKJV) 

10 The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, And the LORD sits as King forever. 

11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace. 

–The Lord will bless His people with peace!

Psalm 119:165 (NKJV) 

165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. 

–Your peace has been made available at a great price...This God child came to give Himself for us so we can have peace.

Isaiah 53:1‑6 (NKJV) 

1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 

2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 

3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 

4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.