Turn with me in God's Word to Isaiah chapter 9. Find this on page 680 in your pew Bible. 680 is Isaiah chapter 9. So for the next four Lord's Days and Christmas Day we'll study this Advent series which is entitled Carols for the King. If you have a favorite Christmas carol that's found in the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, you can ask me and I will try to include it in a service. Even you kids, if you have a favorite Christmas song in the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, I will try to fit that into a service. We're gonna begin reading at verse one, read through verse seven. Our text will be verses six and seven. Isaiah 9, verse 1, this is God's Word. But there will be no gloom for her who is in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. They rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For reboot of the tramping warrior, in battle tumults, and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. Our text, 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. of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. And on the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. There ends our reading from Isaiah 9. Let's also turn now to Philippians 2 for our New Testament reading. It's found on page 1,165. 1165, in your Pew Bible, Philippians chapter 2. Many commentators believe that these verses 5 through 11 are an early Christian hymn, which here, inspired by the Holy Spirit, had been sung by the early church. You'll notice in the first verses it talks about the humiliation of Christ taking on our flesh, then the glorification of Christ. Philippians 2 verse 5, it's on page 1165. Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. their ends are reading from God's Holy Word. So again, our text this morning is Isaiah 9, verses 6 and 7. Beloved congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ, as parents await the arrival of a new child into the home, certainly one discussion they will have to have is what to name the baby. And oftentimes, parents have to come up with a boy name and a girl name, probably a middle name. Oftentimes, they have to determine whether this is going to be a popular name, whether they're going to name this child after somebody in their family line, a family name, classical name, a biblical name, or an altogether unique name. Our names identify us. Our names identify us, but they usually do not tell us much about who we are. Unless, from our perspective, a name is distinctively ethnic. Vladimir, Jose, probably has some genealogy lineage there. But for us, it's just a name. But the name becomes identified with the person. The name grows on them. Yes, this does look like a Johnny. I can see that. That fits. But the names of God are altogether different. The names of God reveal something about God. They're revelatory. God reveals His glorious truths about Himself because of His name. So as we begin this Advent series entitled, Carols for the King, we're going to look at some well-known Christmas carols and their biblical basis. The carol this morning we just sang, number 306, it's text Isaiah 9, 6 and 7. And so today we begin in the Old Testament. The birth name of the Messiah was Jesus. It was so important that the angel told the parents, Joseph and Mary, what to name this child. He shall name him Jesus. Why? Because he will save his people from their sins. This morning we look at a few other names for the Son of God. Like Jesus' other names, these names also reveal something about his character and also about his work. Our theme this morning is the reason for the season is found in the name of the Messiah. The reason for the season is found in the name of the Messiah. First we'll see his office, second his titles, and then third his work. So first his office. The context of the prophecy we're looking at this morning from Isaiah 9 is that Pekah and Rezan, kings of Israel and Syria, have conspired against the king of Judah, who is Ahaz. But Ahaz, instead of trusting the Lord and calling upon the Lord, Ahaz decides to make an alliance with the king of Assyria. But the king of Assyria has little care for Judah. So at the end of chapter 8, the prophet calls Israel to people, to repentance. The darkness from the east, our text begins with, is referring to where the enemies are coming from. The darkness from the east will see a great light. The dawn will come upon the night. So verse two says, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness, on them has light shown. that light coming into the world. The light that they will see is the coming Messiah, the child to be born, the son that is to be given. Now our text in verse 6 says that the government will be upon his shoulders, the son to be born. Verse 7 says that he'll sit upon the throne of David and establish his kingdom forever. This is the reign of the Messiah. the one promised of old, the one prayed for through the centuries, now prophesied in the clearest form, the coming Messiah. He will have the right. He will have the authority. He will have the calling to be ruler over the nations. However, if you look back at verse three, we see the people rejoicing and celebrating like they would do at the time of harvest. You have increased his joy. They've rejoiced before he was with joy at harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. But in verse 3, they're rejoicing over the king and his kingdom. In a prophetic foretelling of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, we have a picture here of a growing, of a permeating kingdom, like a small mustard seed which grows into a great tree. So the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ will grow. Verse 3. You have multiplied the nation. So in the kingdom, the border of the kingdom of God will be expanded. When will this happen? It has, and it is. The kingdom of God covers the face of the earth. The people of God today are gathering in all the places in all the nations of the world. They're gathering to worship the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Messiah would be the God-appointed, the God-anointed king, and the weight of the kingdom would be placed squarely upon his shoulders. Who is this king? For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. The son would be the king. The son would be the light of the dawn. how bright appears the morning star, with mercy beaming from afar, the host of heaven rejoices. This child, of whom the government would be placed upon his shoulders, would not just be a judge in the land, or a president, or a prime minister, or some type of ruler. He'd be the king of kings. He'd be the king on David's throne. This king would be born in Bethlehem because Bethlehem was the city of David. This king would come from the stump of Jesse, David's father, which has seemingly been cut off. The Davidic line seemingly was worthless at that point, but it will be restored from the stump of Jesse would come. The great king would have been promised. The Gospel of Matthew explains in chapter one the genealogy of Jesus flowing through David. This Christ would fulfill the promise given to David way back in 2 Samuel 7. Your son would forever sit upon the throne. He is the king. This is his office. So what does that make you, brothers and sisters? If he's the king sitting upon the throne, who are you? You are his willing subjects. His servants, His very people of His kingdom, citizens under the reign of grace in Jesus Christ. Think of this even in terms of our identity. When we are baptized, God gives us a visible identity through the waters of baptism, but He claims this as His own. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we are baptized. We become children of the King, both us and our children. But this isn't just any king. This is the shepherd king, a loving and gracious king who promises to be with us and to care for us. One who makes a promise in the covenant and promises to remain faithful to that covenant, that special relationship he makes. The reign of this king for the church is a reign of grace. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day of grace. There is yet time. There is yet hope. The gospel goes forth to the nations. His kingdom cannot fail. Remember that in 2024, when we see the rising and falling of kingdoms. His kingdom cannot fail. We sing in number 281. His kingdom cannot fail. He rules over earth and heaven. The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given. God will place the government upon his shoulder and he will sit upon the throne of David forever." That is his office. He's the king. Second, we see his titles. For the Messiah in our text, his titles are his names. There are four names here in our text which describe his character and the one that describes his work. These terms are ascribed to Christ publicly before men. He is these things. This is the very nature of this king. Verse six says, his name shall be called Wonderful. Now in our translation it has wonderful counselor, it looks like one phrase. I think you could probably put a comma after the word wonderful there. I think they're two different things. He'll be called wonderful. He'll be called wonderful. Not only because what he does is wonderful, but because of who he is. He is wonderful. He's the son of God, of royal lineage. His ancestry in Matthew chapter one is traced all the way back to Abraham. This is important. But it can't be really called the wonderful as if it would fill us with wonder. Rather, God becoming flesh, the incarnation, is the reason he will be called wonderful. That's the wonder of wonders. Can you explain how the infinite becomes finite? How the eternal is born as a babe in Bethlehem? The overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. We're used to these phrases, but all of them are wonderful. How is Mary with child as a virgin, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit? That's what we read from this hymn found in Philippians chapter two. They point to the wonderment of the birth of the Son given to us. And that this glorious son who would be born, this glorious son would be called wonderful, would be born for a purpose. And his purpose is what, boys and girls? Why did Jesus come? What does Jesus do? He does many things, but summarize it. He was born to die. He was born to die for your sins and for my sins. He was born to die, though he had done nothing wrong. He was not deserving of the wrath of God. He is born to die for those who have done everything wrong. This is wonderful. This is wonderful. This is the good news of salvation. Colossians 2 verse 3 says, And listen to once again what we read from Philippians chapter 2, here in verse 7. Emptied himself. taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even the death of the cross." Therefore, there's the transition. Because he did that, because he humbled himself to death, to the death of the cross, therefore God has highly exalted him. Easter Sunday follows Good Friday. and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The wonder-working God has sent Jesus, who's called Wonderful. Second, he's called Counselor. Counselor here means teacher, for Jesus is endowed with absolute wisdom. This wisdom flows from Christ as the great teacher of his people. Brothers and sisters, where should we go to find wisdom but at the feet of Jesus? Who is wisdom personified? John Calvin says wisdom is to be found in the gospel. He says, quote, all that is necessary for salvation is opened up by Christ in such a manner and explained with such familiarity that he addresses the disciples no longer as servants but as friends. He's a great teacher. Maybe you've had that, probably not in high school, but maybe if you've gone on to university, maybe you've connected with a teacher, who becomes something of a mentor to you in life. You respect them. And then as you grow older, you don't view them simply as your teacher, but even they might become your friend. That's the relationship of the Lord Jesus Christ to the disciples that we see. He calls them friends. You know who else he calls friends? Us. What a friend we have in Jesus. Every believer can testify to Jesus counseling their hearts. In the midst of great difficulty and burden, what do we pray? Jesus, counsel us. Be to us our true counselor. Look to him. He will be called counselor. Third, he is called mighty God. And here the word for God, it's kind of a generic word for God. This is not Yahweh, it's not the name that refers to God in particular. So as to not attribute this prophecy to some false deity or idol, Jesus is called the mighty God, the strong one, the powerful one. He is the true one. He is the realization of calling him wonderful because he is God. And this should not surprise the reader. If you have your Bibles open and look back at chapter 7, there already was a miracle in the making foretold. Look at verse 14 of chapter 7. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel. God with us. For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and he shall be called mighty God. The reason why, congregation, this is important and necessary is because our battle is against a strong enemy, the strongest of enemies. Our battle is against death and sin and Satan himself, Ephesians 6. This king is not going to be like Ahaz of Judah, who could not defend himself, who would make an alliance with a God-hating ruler of Assyria. Rather, this king would be the king of the kings of the earth. He'd be the lord of the lords of the earth. Every knee would be subject to him. Every knee would bow. He's the mighty God, the powerful God, the righteous God. And fourth, he's called Everlasting Father. This is possibly the most confusing of the names given to the Messiah here, Everlasting Father. Certainly Jesus is one with the Father, but they are to be distinguished, correct? He's called the Everlasting Father because though he is the Son, he has a fatherly care for his people. He's the father of redemption from eternity. Matthew Henry says, quote, his fatherly care of his people and tenderness toward them are everlasting. He is the author of everlasting life and happiness to them, and so is the father of a blessed eternity to them. He's the everlasting father. He's the father of salvation. He cares as a father has pity for his children, Psalm 103, so the Lord has pity for us. And then his final name is actually a description of his work in our third point. The last name given to Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Peace to the Jewish mind involves rest and joy. It's the most desirable of qualities. Jesus will be the shalom of God. He will not simply bring peace, give peace. He himself is peace, the shalom of God. And this idea often carries with it the idea of prosperity. This is true here, but not in the way the world would define prosperity. Not in the way of accumulation of things or wealth. But something like Psalm 128 prosperity. By your toil you shall be prospered, and be happy all your days. You shall see God's kingdom prosper, all thy days till life shall cease. Thou shalt see your children's children on thy people, Lord be peace. That is the prosperity of the Prince of Peace. It's that type of prospering God's word has in mind. Jesus will be the Prince of Peace. But think a bit deeper about what this means as Christ as the Prince of Peace. It's not a world peace. It's not a world peace. It's a peace that abides first and foremost in our consciences. How does the peace of God show itself? Not peace in the world. But as Romans 5 verse 1 says that since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God. When this peace with God or this peace of God dwells in us richly, we are then and only then enabled by God's grace to weather the storms of this life, to patiently endure every kind of adversity. That's the nature of this peace. Jesus gives to us this peace because he himself is the Prince of Peace. And so what is the length or duration? It'll be an eternal peace. for he's an eternal king with eternal kingdom. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, verse seven says. The angel said to Mary and Luke one, of his kingdom there shall be no end. He will be the eternal king. This is what he will be called, prince of peace. And so now, brothers and sisters, let us see how this applies to our hearts and lives as we think about these names. The Blessed Redeemer, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. When we find ourselves in a situation where things look dark or difficult, deep gloom is on the horizon, maybe something seems to not be going right. And it's a struggle of faith. And our faith is weakened. Remember then that Christ is called wonderful. For he knows the way to help his people. And his power and his greatness are beyond what we can conceive. He's wonderful. When we need counsel, remember that he is the counselor. when we need strength and might in our calling, remember that he is called mighty God. And let us also remember that when we get caught up in the day, when we get bothered by the worries of a fickle world around us, that he has eternity in his hands. He's called the everlasting father, a father who eternally loves and a father who will eternally care for his people. And when the evil one seeks to confuse our conscience, and tempt our hearts, and lead us astray. When the night of doubt, when the struggle with sin is the strongest, and we feel the weakest, and the battle is fierce, remember that He is the Prince, the Ruler of peace, that He is in control. With these names of the Messiah, of the Redeemer of Jesus Christ, Please strengthen in your faith in Jesus Christ. Parents, explain to your children through their whole lives what it means that Jesus is wonderful. Teach them in ways they can understand. Teach them also about sin and temptation, repentance, and above all what follows, the peace of God. Satan does not need to be scary. or even to be overly feared, for Jesus Christ is the victor already. We can sing carols for the king. We can fill our holiday season with Christmas carols, because Jesus already, not simply prophesied to be, not in the future will defeat, but already has the victory. He lives, and because he lives, we also, in him, united to him by grace and through faith, we have that victory. Let that warm your hearts on that night of doubt. Our victory is in Jesus Christ. For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given. He is the sun rising in the east, of which the church awaits. He did so in the Old Testament, and he does so in a new way in the New Testament. And even now, Jesus is coming, not to be born again as a babe in Bethlehem, but to make his spiritual kingdom a living and physical reality. Amen. Let us pray together. We give you, almighty God, our praise and honor and glory. We thank you for these beautiful names of our Lord Jesus Christ. These wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We know that in each of those names, we find encapsulated our entire salvation. We thank you for revealing this to us clearly in your word. Fill our hearts, not only this Christmas season, but every day. in a true assurance that we have the peace of God, that we've been reconciled and our sins have been forgiven, and we stand forever before you as willing servants in your kingdom. Lord, use us for your glory. Shape and mold us according to your purposes, and now apply your heart, your word to our hearts, that we might live in all gratitude and thanksgiving to you. We pray, Lord, also for your blessing upon our offering this morning for Crown Point Christian School. We thank you for our partnership with this school and a blessing that we might mutually be for each other. We pray for the teachers and staff and especially for each of the students who attend there. Minister to their hearts. Give to us now generous hearts unto that end for your glory. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.