Sermon #32                                                            Series:  Isaiah

 

          Title:       His Name Is Counselor

          Text:       Isaiah 9:6

          Subject:  Christ Our Counselor

          Date:      Sunday Evening - January 14, 1989

          Tape #

 

          Introduction:

 

          I do not need to show you again that our text is a prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ, describing his glorious Person and saving work as God’s Messiah, our Redeemer and King.  These names, “Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace,” are titles which belong to Christ alone.  And he wears them well. 

 

          My subject tonight is Christ Our Counselor.  “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor.”

 

Proposition:  Christ is the Counselor of His people.

 

          A counselor is a legal representative, an attorney at law, an advocate, one who gives counsel and direction.  Without introduction let me show you how that Christ is our Counselor.

 

I.      Christ Was Our Counselor In the Council of Peace Before the World Began.

 

          Throughout the scriptures we read of a council held before the world began.  I readily confess that I do not understand all that I know about that council.  But that the council was held we cannot deny.

 

·        God declares “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isa. 46:10).

·        Christ was delivered up to die as our Substitute by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23).

·        And the writer of Hebrews bases the assurance and security of our salvation upon “the immutability of his counsel” (Heb. 6:17).

 

I don’t know about you, but that arouses my interest.  I want to know about this counsel - (Read Zech. 6:12-13).

 

          This much I know - There was a great eternal, wonderful council held between the Three Persons of the Trinity, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, before the world began.  Now let me try to answer some questions that must naturally arise in your mind, as they do in my own.

 

A.  Why did God hold a council?

 

·        It was not that he might gather information.  God knows all things.

·        It was not that he might increase his pleasure and satisfaction.  God has no deficiencies.

·        It was certainly not that he might make deliberations.  God does not need to weigh, think, consider, and plot.

 

          This eternal council of peace held between the Persons of the eternal Godhead was held for our benefit.  It was held by God and has been revealed to us that we might …

 

1. See something of God’s infinite wisdom.

2.   Understand the unity of the Divine Persons in all things. 

            

     God the Father does nothing alone.  God the Son does nothing alone.  And God the Spirit does nothing alone - (Read Eph. 1:3-14).  Our salvation was…

·        Planned by the Father.

·        Purchased by the Son.

·        Procured by the Spirit.

B. What was resolved upon and determined in the everlasting council?

 

          When God says, “My counsel shall stand,” what does he mean?  What shall stand?  What has he determined in the holy council?

 

1.   Everything regarding God’s creation was settled in the   everlasting council (Pro. 8:12, 14-16, 22-31).

 

          Not only did God in holy, wise counsel determine to make man in his image and after his likeness, he also sovereignly determined all things regarding his creation.

 

·        He weighed the mountains and measured the hills.

·        He set the boundary of the seas and the course of the rivers.

·        He counted the sand and named the stars.

·        He set the course of the sun and determined the days of time.

·        He numbered the angels and ordained their form.

·        He ordained every creatures form, and size, and place.

·        He set the place of every eagle’s nest and ordained the worm’s burrowing path in the earth.

 

                             Keep silence all created things

                             And wait your Maker’s nod;

                             My soul stands trembling while she sings

                             The honors of her God.

 

                             Life, death, and hell, and worlds unknown

                             Hang on His firm decree;

                             He sits on no precarious throne,

                             Nor borrows leave to be.

         

                             Chained to His throne a volume lies,

                             With all the fates of men,

                             With every angel’s form and size

                             Drawn by the eternal pen.

 

          Christ was our Counselor with God when he determined all things regarding the creation of the world.  But there is more -

 

2.   Everything that should ever come to pass in providence was ordained and fixed by God’s immutable purpose in the everlasting counsel.

 

          Scientists, philosophers, and infidels speak of the laws of nature.  But what they call the laws of nature are the orders of God.  And they are carried out precisely by the hand of him who hath his way in the whirlwind.

 

          God did not just wind this thing up and let it go.  God Almighty holds the reins of the universe.  And everything he does now, has done, or shall do, is according to his wise and merciful purpose of grace (Rom. 8:28).

 

                   Illustration:  Joseph and Israel.

 

          Spirit of God give me grace that I may learn to trust Christ my counselor - He is too wise to err, too good to do wrong, and too strong to fail.  He has ordained …

 

·        The weight of my trials.

·        The number of my mercies.

·        The place and condition of my usefulness.

·        The days of my pilgrimage.

·        The means and the moment of my departure.

 

3.   And all matters of grace were settled and fixed from eternity in this blessed counsel of peace - (Eph. 1:3-14).

 

 

 

1.   God determined to save a people for the glory of his name.

2.   God found a way in which he could be both just and the justifier of all who believe - Substitution!

3.   God determined who he would save - (Rom. 9:11-13; Eph. 1:4-6, 11; II Thess. 2:13).

4.   And God predestined everything necessary to bring his elect to life and faith in Christ at the appointed time of love, and to heaven at last at the time he has set.

 

II.   Christ Is Also Our Counselor From God.

 

          He is called “The angel of the covenant.”  He is God’s Messenger to us by whom and in whom his covenant is revealed.  He is “The Lord of hosts, which  is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.” - (Isa. 28:29).

 

          We read and understand God’s council only through Christ our Counselor.  Look to Christ and you will understand all that God has done, all that God is doing, and all that God shall do.  History is His - Story!

 

·        God has put this world into the hands of Christ for the salvation of his people.

·        God is calling out a people for his namesake.

·        God will put all things under the rule of his Son.

 

          But I want to show you what kind of counselor Christ is to us now.  He gives us counsel by his Spirit through the ministry of his word.

 

·        He reveals Himself.

·        He orders our steps.

·        He rules our lives.

·        He instructs our minds.

·        He comforts our hearts.

 

A.  Christ is a needed counselor.

 

          We are ignorant.  He is wisdom.

 

B. Christ is a faithful counselor.

C. Christ is a sympathizing counselor.

D. Christ is a qualified counselor.

 

III. CHRIST IS OUR COUNSELOR WITH GOD IN HEAVEN NOW (I John 2:1-2).

 

Application:

 

          Here is Christ’s counsel for you -

 

1.   Tried believer - “Cast your care upon the Lord.”

2.   Young man - “Seekest thou great things for thyself - seek them not.”

3.   Languishing believer - “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed.”

4.   Weary sinner - “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

5.   Every saint - “This do in remembrance of me.”