Isaiah 9:1-7 (ESV)
December 11, 2022
preached by Pastor Doug Cooper
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Time of Reflection Quotations

“The central miracle asserted by Christians is the incarnation. They say that God became man.”

“My idea of God is not a divine idea. It has to be shattered time after time… The Incarnation is the supreme example; it leaves all previous ideas of the Messiah in ruins.”

~ C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British writer and Christian apologist

“…it is a mighty marvel that he who was an infant should at the same time be infinite… Glorious mysteries are hidden in his person. He speaks to us in plainest language, and he manifests himself openly in our midst, but yet in his person itself there is a height and depth which human intellect fails to measure…”

~ Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892), British author and minister

“The more we run our hearts under the waterfall of the heart-thrilling truth of adoption, the more we will overflow in humble confidence, not fear or arrogance. We will be less concerned about right answers and more concerned about Christ. Jesus is the better, more merciful Master and the gospel, the infinitely better idea. Jesus provides an impenetrable security and the gospel, an unwavering confidence.”

~ Jonathan Dodson, contemporary pastor and author

“For those who feel their lives are a grave disappointment to God, it requires enormous trust and reckless, raging confidence to accept that the love of Jesus Christ knows no shadow of alteration or change.”

~ Brennan Manning (1934-2013), American author and former priest,

“Grace remits sin, and peace quiets the conscience. Sin and conscience torment us, but Christ has overcome these fiends now and forever. … These two terms, grace and peace, constitute Christianity. Grace involves the remission of sins, peace, and a happy
conscience.”

~ Martin Luther (1483-1546), Seminal figure of the protestant reformation

Sermon Passage

Isaiah 9:1-7 (ESV)

Isaiah 9

¹ But there will be no gloom for her who was 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.

² 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.
³ 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.
⁴ 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.
⁵ For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
⁶ 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.
⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
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.