HIS NAME COUNSELOR (Isa 9:6; 40:13-14) A. Names are important; they often reveal something about a person s nature & character. 1. This is absolutely true of the names given to Jesus by the prophet Isaiah. 2. Nearly eight hundred years before Jesus was born, Isaiah called him Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. [These names for our Lord are worthy of our respectful study & careful consideration. In this lesson we ll consider Jesus as Counselor.] 1. Jesus is, of course, a Wonderful Counselor. 2. The Hebrew word for counselor means to give counsel, to advise, to direct, or to guide. B. If you ll remember, it was by a counselor that our world fell into sin (Gen 3:1, 4-5). 1. Satan was an evil counselor; he used deceit & lies when he gave advice to Eve. 2. Masked in the form of a serpent, Satan advised our first mother to sin by disobeying the command of God. C. Is it not fitting, then, that a Wonderful & Righteous Counselor would restore us back to God? I. THE MEANING OF HIS NAME: COUNSELOR 1. But that kind of restoration takes more than just offering good advice. A. Some scholars link the first two names together, His name will be called Wonderful Counselor. 2. It took a Wonderful & DIVINE Counselor to sweep away the evil advice that had been given to man, to forgive sin & to restore his orderly obedience back to God. 1
II. JESUS WAS A WONDERFUL COUNSELOR IN HEAVENLY REALM Why, then, was this counsel in Heaven held? A. Jesus was the Wonderful Counselor before creation, counseling with the Father & the Holy Spirit. The evidence for this Heavenly council is seen in Genesis one. 10 times God said & then He did. 1. To show the UNITY of the Godhead. a. God said, then God did. The Godhead: Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Elohim) were in perfect agreement. 2. To show God s UNITY in creating man. So before the beginning of time we could say that a council was held in the chambers of Heaven. But for what purpose? a. God did not say, I will make man in My image. He said, Let Us make man in Our image (1:26). Was it because God was uninformed? NO! God is omniscient; He already possesses all wisdom & knowledge (Isa 40:13-14). Did God need to make up His mind? NO! You & I may take weeks or even months to decide on a proper course of action, but with God that s not necessary. Did God have to find out if the Godhead was in agreement? NO! You & I seek the counsel & advice of others when we need to make an important decision, but God doesn t need confirmation for His plans. 3. To show God s UNITY with the Agent of creation. John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God [Gen 1:1; the Word was with the Father & the Holy Spirit], & the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him [the Word], & without Him nothing was made that was made. Col 1:15-19 He [the Son God loves] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven & that are on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him & for Him. 17 And He is before all things, & in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father [at the counsel in Heaven] that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 2
Heb 1:10-12 And: You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, & the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; & they will all grow old like a garment; 12 like a cloak You will fold them up, & they will be changed. But You are the same, & Your years will not fail. [We have made these points to show that God s will was determined in Heavenly counsel, & Jesus our Wonderful Counselor was present.] - Jesus was that Wonderful Counselor, with the Father & the Holy Spirit, when His creative force went to work. III. JESUS IS A WONDERFUL COUNSELOR IN THE EARTHLY REALM Lastly, this council in heaven was held All Biblical references to the counsel of God apply = to Jesus (Zech 6:12-13; Isa 40:13-14; Rom 11:33-36). 3 4. To show Gods UNITY in His scheme of human redemption; His plan for man s salvation from sin. Eph 1:3-4 Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy & without blame before Him in love, 1 Pet 1:20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. Eph 3:10-11 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities & powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 16:13; 1 Cor 2:6-12; Eph 6:17 tell of the Holy Spirit s role in our salvation from sin. A. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor in the earthly realm; in matters that we call providence. 1. God counseled Jacob (Gen 28:10-22)! a. But the course of his life didn t play out as smoothly as he hoped it would (explain). b. It was so bad at one point that Jacob cried, All these things are against me (Gen 42:36), but we know that all things were working together for his good (Rom 8:28).
2. Jesus counseled His disciples. a. The Lord s counsel was instructive & authoritative; He provided information to prevent problems, questions & doubts in the minds of His disciples. - The Lord s counsel was penetrating; it got down to the heart of an issue (Matt 8:19-22; 15:10-20). - The Lord s counsel was preemptive; it prevented problems & cured doubts (Luke 22:24-27; John 13:31 14:27). - The Lord s counsel was disciplinary; man often assumes an arrogant self-righteous posture with God; that s when Jesus counsels His disciples with the tone of authority (Rev 3:17-18). Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (To go to a person, for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication - Thayer's) 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (One who pleads another's case with one. A helper, aider, assistant (John 14:16, 26 - Thayer's) a. These passages speak of our Counselor advising, directing & guiding us in conjunction with our prayers to the Father. b. Jesus is our Moses who will safely guide us safely through the wilderness of sin - in this world - to the sinless Promised Land - of His world. c. As a counselor Moses was accessible & so is Jesus our Counselor (Heb 4:14-16). - Jesus counsels us today in these same ways, but through His word in the New Testament. 3. Jesus counsels us for us & with us when we pray. 4
CLOSING A. Is Jesus your Counselor? 1. No one ever sought His advice in vain. Gospel Plan of Salvation Hear the gospel Romans10:17 Believe the gospel John 20:30-31; Acts 8:37 Repent (change of heart) 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 2:38 Confess faith in Jesus Christ Romans 10:9-10 Baptism into Christ Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:20-21 Obey Christ Hebrews 5:8-9; 2 John 9 2. No one ever repented of following His counsel. 3. In the homes where His counsel is followed are the happiest families. 4. Whatever Jesus was like during His time on earth, He is just like that this very day. a. Was He a Teacher? b. Was He kind & compassionate? c. Would He rebuke a sinner, & be his friend? d. Was He forgiving? e. Did he love children? B. Who among us is in need of a Counselor? 1. Who hungers for an advisor, director & guide Who is always right? 2. Who thirsts for the living water of a Righteous & Holy Counselor? 5 3. Come, then, to Him of whom the prophet said, His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor.