A Child Is Born – Isaiah 9:6a

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;”

In December, the time when many in the world chose to celebrate the birth of Christ, this verse is seen in cards and on banners.  It receives sufficient publicity that it is sometimes known by those who rarely attend church, or do not read a Bible at all.  But to know the words without knowing the author is to miss out on so much.  The phrases above are just the beginning of that great verse in Isaiah that tells us of the coming Messiah.  The entire verse reviews the first coming of Christ for the salvation of sinners, and encompasses the second coming of Christ to establish the Kingdom His Father has given Him. 

Let us delve deeper into these two short opening phrases to see what treasure awaits in God’s Word.  While the two phrases emphasize the same wonderful gift to the world, there is an important distinction between them. 

First, “a Child is born.”  Yes, we of faith know that Jesus Christ was born into this world.  Even outside our faith, it is an undisputed historical fact that Jesus lived and walked the earth.  He was a child, and grew to be a man before His life was given for us.  This speaks of the humanity of Jesus Christ, something we can mostly comprehend.  “What amazing mystery! There is nothing more weak, more helpless, more dependent than a child. Theoretically, the Messiah could have come as a fully grown man, created as an adult even as Adam was created. But for Jesus to fully identify with humanity, and to display in His life the servant nature that is in God,” “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:7)” (David Guzik)

Secondly, “a Son is given.”  This speaks of the divine nature of Jesus Christ.  He was not created but was begotten of God the Father as a gift to this world.  This divinity of Jesus Christ is not as readily understood.  “As Jesus Christ is God's Son, he is not born; but given, begotten of his Father from before all worlds, begotten—not made, being of the same substance with the Father. The doctrine of the eternal affiliation of Christ is to be received as an undoubted truth of our holy religion. But as to any explanation of it, no man should venture thereon, for it remaineth among the deep things of God—one of those solemn mysteries indeed, into which the angels dare not look, nor do they desire to pry into it—a mystery which we must not attempt to fathom, for it is utterly beyond the grasp of any finite being. As well might a gnat seek to drink in the ocean, as a finite creature to comprehend the Eternal God. A God whom we could understand would be no God. If we could grasp him he could not be infinite: if we could understand him, then were he not divine. Jesus Christ then, I say, as a Son, is not born to us, but given. He was not born in this world as God's Son, but he was sent, or was given, so that you clearly perceive that the distinction is a suggestive one, and conveys much good truth to us.”  (Charles Spurgeon)  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Lastly, “unto us.”  In the Child born and the Son given, the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ is revealed.  Now we consider who is encompassed in that little word “us.”  We know from John 3:16 that God gave His Son because he so deeply loves the entire world.  But we also know from that same John 3:16 that there is a subset of the world that will believe in the Son.  There is a subset of the world that will have everlasting life.  That subset is “us.”

This Christmas, or whenever you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, consider and confirm whether you are included in the “us.”  Was the Child born unto you?  Was the Son given to you?  “If this child who now lies before the eyes of your faith, wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem's manger, is born to you, my hearer, then you are born again! For this child is not born to you unless you are born to this child.”  (Charles Spurgeon)

Whether you are born again is something you must make certain.  “If any man tells me that Christ is his Redeemer, although he has never experienced regeneration, that man utters what he does not know; his religion is vain, and his hope is a delusion. Only men who are born again can claim the babe in Bethlehem as being theirs. "But" saith one, "how am I to know whether I am born again or not?"” (Charles Spurgeon)

While such a confirmation is most personal and should bear much prayer and study, here are a few telling points to consider. 

A change within – “Has there been a change effected by divine grace within you? Are your loves the very opposite of what they were? Do you now hate the vain things you once admired, and do you seek after that precious pearl which you at one time despised?” (Charles Spurgeon)

A change without – “Has there been a change in you in the exterior? Do you think that others who look at you would be compelled to say, this man is not what he used to be? Do not your companions observe a change? Have they not laughed at you for what they think to be your hypocrisy, your puritanism, your sternness? Do you think now that if an angel should follow you into your secret life, should track you to your closet and see you on your knees, that he would detect something in you which he could never have seen before? For, mark, my dear hearer, there must be a change in the outward life, or else there is no change within. In vain you bring me to the tree, and say that the tree's nature is changed. If I still see it bringing forth wild grapes, it is a wild vine still.” (Charles Spurgeon)

For whom do you live? – “The very root and principle of thy life must become totally new. When we are in sin we live to self, but when we are renewed we live to God. While we are unregenerate, our principle is to seek our own pleasure, our own advancement; but that man is not truly born again who does not live with a far different aim from this. Change a man's principles, and you change his feelings, you change his actions. Now, grace changes the principles of man. It lays the axe at the root of the tree. It does not saw away at some big limb it does not try to alter the sap; but it gives a new root.” (Charles Spurgeon)

My dear friend, in this season of what many in the world flippantly call Christmas, make sure you can celebrate as a member of the family of God.  End any doubt now and surrender to the Son who was given.  Receive the adoption into the family of Christ and the privilege to call God Almighty ‘Abba Father.’  It is when that Child is born unto you and you unto Him that the celebration of Christmas brings unspeakable joy.  It is when the Son is given unto you and you accept that gift that you can have peace in a personal relationship with God Almighty.  It is then that the above scripture takes on a deeper meaning and the words of the angel to the shepherds also speak to you individually. “Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.””  (Luke 2:10-11)

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”  (Luke 2:14)  And may you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The King Is Coming – Zechariah 9:9-10

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.  I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off.  He shall speak to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.’”

When we read the above passage in scripture, it could be confusing as to the coming Messiah, the Annointed One.  Parts of it point to the first coming of Jesus and His entrance into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey.  But what about the parts that refer to His justice, His speaking to the nations and cutting off the battle bow?  Clearly that part of the prophecy has yet to be seen.

One of the most helpful things I have been taught by good pastors that love the truth of God is that scripture is the best explanation for scripture.  Use the whole Bible to understand the Bible.  In the Gospel of Matthew, the Holy Spirit segregates for us the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding the first coming of our Lord.  “All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” (Matthew 21:4-5)  It is important to note what has been left out.  These are the things that will occur at His second coming.

“When Jesus comes again, He is coming, first of all, in righteousness to judge the earth.  "He is just." The coming to judge is yet future. So that is why it is not quoted by Matthew in the first coming of Jesus? That awaits the second coming when Jesus establishes His throne and gathers together the nations of the earth for judgment. It is then when the promise of salvation will be to the Jews and to the world. So, "He is just and having salvation," that day is not yet come. Matthew significantly does not quote that part of this prophecy. But Jesus did come even as Zechariah described, riding upon the colt.  There are many promises in the Old Testament concerning the reign, the coming reign of Jesus Christ. "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. 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 to establish with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."  (Isaiah 9:6-7)  This is that time when the Rock not cut with hands smites the great image of man's government and brings an end to man's futile efforts to govern man. And the Rock grows into a mountain that covers the earth, the glorious coming kingdom of Jesus Christ that will cover the earth. And then shall be fulfilled Psalm 2:7-8, "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.  Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession." His kingdom shall be from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the world. "Oh, I can hardly wait as I look at the poor governments of the world today struggling. Getting more expensive all the time, and failing to bring real peace, real justice, real hope for man. Oh, Jesus, come quickly. Establish Your righteous kingdom.”  (Chuck Smith)

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey, the custom for a Jewish king arriving in peace.  God told the Jewish people not to multiple horses.  Jesus’ actions were contrary to the methods of conquerors like Alexander the Great or the Roman rulers and generals, but His actions were perfectly aligned with God’s Word.  God’s ways are not our ways, and certainly not the ways of the world.  His first coming was to fulfill the law and satisfy the only way for peace between us and a Holy God.  “You will remember that our Lord rode into Jerusalem as a King, but he was also brought there as the Lamb of God's passover, whose blood must save the people. It was not meet that the Lamb of God should go to the altar without observation; it was not fit that he who taketh away the sin of the world should be led to the temple unobserved. The day was near when he was to be offered up, and all eyes were called to look on him and know who and what he was. Therefore he permitted this great gathering and this honorable attention to himself, that he might say to Israel, by deeds as well as by words, "I am he that should come. I am he who of old had said, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God." Thus he beyond all question manifested himself to the people. When they crucified him the rulers knew what he professed to be. Albeit many of them were in ignorance as to the truthfulness of his claims, yet they knew right well that they were crucifying one who professed to be the Lord of glory, one who was acknowledged to be the Son of David, one who had in public avowed himself to be King in Zion. I think this was one reason for the joyous entry into the city of God.”  (Charles Spurgeon)

“Our Lord was ever careful and earnest to fulfill each prophecy of Holy Scripture. He held the inspired Word in high esteem, and was careful of each letter of it. You never hear a word from him derogatory of the inspiration, authority, accuracy, or infallibility of the law and the prophets. He fulfils the Word of the Lord even to its jots and tittles. He directed his life by that old chart, in which the way of the Messiah was laid down long before he came to earth. Oh, for the same reverence of Scripture among preachers nowadays! God forbid that we should be lowering men's ideas of inspiration, as some are fond of doing. May we value every word which came from the Lord in old time! May we willingly change the course of our thought and teaching rather than neglect a single word of inspiration! When we see what the will of the Lord is, let us follow it implicitly. Obedience to the rule of Scripture was the way of the Head; it should also be the way of the members. If the King himself is careful in his walk towards the Word, surely we ought to be.”  (Charles Spurgeon)

Do you believe, truly believe, that when Jesus comes the second time He will be no less accurate to Holy Scripture?  Will He not fulfill it down to the last ‘jot and tittle’?  God is so faithful and His Word is so true that there should be no doubt in our minds!  When Jesus returns, the entire earth will be under His authority and His reign will be universal.  And He will rule without the need for military action but through His Word alone.  When Jesus comes to reign, it will not be temporary as our governments are today.  His reign will be everlasting.  In today’s world of continuous wars, persecutions, hatred, lies and blasphemy, it can be hard to fathom such a world of peace, a world without trouble.  Indeed for many of us, times seem desperate.  There is no justice and certainly no righteousness in our governments.  Do not despair.  Jesus said what would come about and He told us that His Word will never fail “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”  (Mark 13:31).  These words were spoken by Jesus after he had described the great tribulation and told the people that “they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26).  These same words were given to us by the prophet Daniel in the description of the last kingdom, the everlasting kingdom “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven!  He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.  Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.”  (Daniel 7:13-14)

Precious saints, Jesus is coming again.  He will be sure that all prophecies of His second coming are fulfilled.  To those of us who love Him, it is a glorious hope.  Finally – a Righteous Ruler!  To those who have not surrendered to His divine authority, the second coming of Christ is a terrifying thought.  Even when Jesus came as the Lamb, He showed Himself as the King.  Just in case we missed that, on the cross where Jesus hung it was written in three languages “King of the Jews.”  What a different and glorious time when Jesus comes again as a King.  I pray you are on the side that earnestly awaits the return of the eternal King.  If you are unsure, now is the perfect time to get that settled.  Drop us a note if you have any doubts.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A Lying Spirit – 1 Kings 22:19-22

“Then Micaiah said, ‘Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right and on His left.  And the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.  Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ The LORD said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’  And the LORD said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’”

We know this lying spirit is Satan based upon what Jesus told us “When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”  (John 8:44b)  “Something that we don't often consider is that in a sense, Satan is a servant of God. He is serving God's purposes. That is why God has allowed him to exist. That's why God has allowed him freedom. He is acting in the sphere of his own free will, but yet the controls are ultimately held by God. We have made a tragic mistake in our thinking processes as we think of Satan as an opposite of God. Satan is not an opposite of God.  God is an eternal, omnipotent, self-existent being, whereas Satan is a created being and is in the rank of angels. So if you're looking for an opposite of Satan, you'd have to look at maybe Michael, one of the archangels. There you would have opposites. But in no way is he an opposite of God. No way does he rank even near God. He is existing under the total sphere of God, and though he is opposed to God, he is not an opposite of God in any sense of being an opposite to God Who is God, the eternal, omnipotent God.  Satan is definitely limited in his understanding, in his abilities, in his powers. They are limited by God. God says you can go so far, no further. Satan complained to God the fact of his limitations in the case of Job. "You put a hedge around that guy. I can't get to him." And he was complaining that God had put limitations on what he could do. So Satan is only allowed liberty within a limited spoke. God puts the limitations on him, but he does serve purposes of God. Thus, God can use and often does use Satan or his emissaries to fulfill God's purposes. Here is the case where God uses a lying spirit to fulfill His purpose.”  (Chuck Smith)

It is hard to call Satan a ‘servant of God’ – because that should be our title.  If Satan keeps that title, it should be preceded with words like rebellious, prideful, murderous, hateful, and deceptive.  Maybe the more appropriate way to look at it is that Satan must submit to God, and the things he does, God can use toward good.   Satan is limited, and he hates it.  He hates you.  He is most clever to deceive you.  Do not for an instant think you are more clever.  Oh, but God is gracious.  He will bring you the truth and you must decide.  How many times did God send a prophet to Ahab to give him the truth in these critical decisions?  Up to now, and even now, each time. 

Do you ever notice how some people will say they are seeking God’s counsel, and when you share with them what God’s Word says on the matter, they disregard it, or get mad and argue about it?  That is the thing about deception that makes it much easier for the deceiver.  The person that falls for the deception is already bent toward hearing the lie.  When a person already wants something, it is fairly easy to deceive them.  Ahab believes and wants to proceed with the war, so he is easily convinced of his future victory by the 400 prophets that all counsel him in unison.  “Unity is not always the mark of a true church or a true ministry.” (Matthew Henry) 

Jesus warned us not to be deceived at the signs of the end of the age “And He said: ‘Take heed that you not be deceived.  For many will come in My name, saying ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.’”  (Luke 21:8)  Paul warns us that times will become more perilous, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13). 

In this story, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah who loved God and His prophets, was unimpressed by the lie of the 400 prophets.  Jehoshaphat spoke up after Ahab’s prophets made their pitch, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of Him?” (1 Kings 22:7)  God does not want His people to be deceived.  Scripture shows us how to discern.  As Paul told Timothy, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17) 

The passage about Micaiah’s vision should give you pause.  Remember the spiritual warfare around us and about us.  Study God’s Word daily, not for justification of your actions, but to correct your actions.  Pray to seek God’s will, not your own.  Ask God for discernment and wisdom, He will give it to you.  It is the blindness and hardness of the heart that makes us subject to deception.  Through the Holy Scriptures and with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, our hearts will melt and we will discern the truth. 

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.