Isaiah 9:6-7

CHRISTMAS GIFTS THAT HAVE YET TO BE DELIVERED

Intro: Ill. Some years ago, as gifts were being exchanged, a certain family member told Jesse that his gift, a bag of gourmet jelly beans had been ordered but had not arrived. As soon as it got here, it would be given to him. That bag of jelly beans has never appeared, and I don’t think it ever will.

 

Last year the Canadian government instituted a new system of postal delivery. It was supposed to be more streamlined, efficient and quicker. Yet, when Christmas came and went last year, the Canadian post offices were filled with Christmas packages that had yet to be delivered. Hopefully, they eventually found their way to their intended destination.

 

Now, we all know that Christmas is far more than giving and receiving. Even though we allow ourselves to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, we all understand something of the true meaning of Christmas.

•  We know that Jesus was God in human flesh.

•  We know that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God stepped out of eternity and entered time.

•  We know that Jesus was a great teacher, healer, and miracle worker.

•  We know that Jesus came to the earth to die for our sins on the cross.

•  We know that He rose again from the dead and ascended back to heaven to make intercession for His people, and to prepare a place for us there.

•  We know that all of this, and more, is the true meaning of Christmas.

•  We know that the real gift of Christmas is Christ Himself, John 3:16.

 

What we may not always think about at Christmas time is the fact that some of the greatest gifts of Christmas have yet to be delivered. That is what I want to talk about today. I want to show you some of the gifts of Christmas that have yet to be delivered.

 

These gifts will not be delivered by the Postal Service, UPS or FedEx. They will be delivered by the power and authority of sovereign God. They have been promised and they will arrive. They are not like that mythical bag of jelly beans we laugh about every Christmas. These gifts will come in His perfect time. We may wonder when, but they will come!

 

I want to look into these verses and preach about Christmas Gifts That Have Yet To Be Delivered. Let’s notice these gifts and why they are worth waiting for.

 

  I.  V. 6  THE GIFT OF HIS ARRIVAL

These verses make some great claims concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. A few were fulfilled when He came the first time.

 

Isaiah says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” That little couplet tells us a lot about Who Jesus Christ was and is.

•  The phrase “a child is born,” identifies Him as a man. The baby Mary brought into the world 2,000 years ago was fully human. He knew pain, sorrow, loss, grief, hunger, thirst, weariness, and suffering. I would just remind you that through the virgin birth incarnation, God Almighty became human, John 1:1, 14; Phil. 2:5-8.

•  The phrase “a son is given,” identifies Him as God. God did not come to this world a fully grown man; He came as a helpless infant. But, that baby was God! He was given so that we might be redeemed from our sins and born again into the family of God.

 

We know these truths. We believe these truths. We celebrate these truths. The Bible is clear that God in human flesh is an absolutely indispensable foundational truth of our faith. Without God being a man, the death and resurrection of the Christ means nothing. With it, His sacrifice means everything. It means the innocent died for the guilty, and that sinners can be saved, if they will come to Jesus Christ by faith.

 

Yet, the truths that Isaiah mentions after these first two phrases are gifts that have yet to be delivered. They were not fulfilled during His first coming, but they will be fulfilled when He comes again! And, He is coming again!

 

That is His promise! Listen to what He has promised in His Word.

•  “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3.

•  “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory,” Matt. 25:31.

•  “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen,” Rev. 1:7.

•  “But that which ye have already hold fast till I come,” Rev. 2:25.

•  “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown,” Rev. 3:11.

•  “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame,” Rev. 16:15.

•  “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book,” Rev. 22:7.

•  “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be,” Rev. 22:12.

•  “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” Rev. 22:20.

•  “¹¹ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ¹² His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ¹³ And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” Rev. 19:11-16.

 

So, it is pretty clear from the Word of God that He is coming! When He does, the rest of the gifts of Christmas will be delivered then. This is probably the greatest gift of those which remain, because when He comes, all the remaining gifts will flow out of this one.

 

  I.  The Gift Of His Arrival

 

 II.  V. 6  THE GIFT OF HIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Isaiah tells us that when Christ comes, He will be given many titles.

•  He Is Wonderful – This word means, “Supernatural, Secret and Extraordinary,” Ill. Judges 13:18. This name points out the truth that there is nothing common about Jesus, He is the Miracle man! He is so far beyond our level of comprehension that we can never figure Him out, yet He can be known by a little child! He is Wonderful in His Words, His Works and His Ways.

•  He Is Counselor – This word means, “to advise, counsel, purpose, devise and plan.” It refers to His role as the leader and guiding force of our lives, Ill. Psa. 37:23; Rom. 8:28.

•  He Is Mighty God – This word means, “Hero!”  It refers to one Who is “strong, mighty and invincible.”  He alone is worthy to be our Hero for He has defeated all our enemies.

•  Death - 1 Cor. 15:55

•  Sin - Rom. 6:14

•  Satan - Gen. 3:15

•  The Grave - Matt. 28:1-6; 1 Cor. 15:20

•  Eternity (Hell) - John 10:28.

•  He Is Everlasting Father – He is “everlasting!” He is the great “I AM!” He is our “Father.” This word means “Producer or generator.” He is our “source!” He brought us into being and He sustains our lives by His power.

         As our Father He:

•  Loves us - Jer. 31:3; Rom. 8:38-39

•  Supports us - Psalm 18:35; Deut 33:27

•  Sustains - 2 Tim. 1:12

•  Comforts us - John 14:16-18

•  Provides for us - Luke 12:32; Matt. 6:25-33; Phil. 4:19

•  He Is Prince of Peace – He will rule His kingdom in peace. Ill. “government” and verse 7. How can He do this? He is the creator and provider of peace. And, those who know Him know all about peace, John 14:27; John 16:33a; Phil. 4:7.

 

Right now the world pays Him mere lip service. They invoke His name as a curse word. They mention His name at Christmas time. They see Him as some sort of a cosmic good luck charm. Many simply see Him as a terrible lie that must be eradicated. But, when He comes, He will give the world the gift of His sovereign rule. When He comes , the world will acknowledged Him to be all that He is. When he comes, the world will bow at His feet and acknowledge Him to be the Lord of all.

 

“⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” Phil. 2:9-11.

 

When He comes, the world will acknowledge Him to be God, Lord and King. That is a gift the world needs today; it is one the world will enjoy when He comes.

 

  I.  The Gift Of His Arrival

 II.  The Gift Of His Acknowledgment

 

III.  V. 6-7  THE GIFT OF HIS ADVANCEMENT

Isaiah tells us that when the Lord comes, one of the gifts He will give the world will be His perfect reign as King of Kings. He says, “and the government shall be upon His shoulder…Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it…”

 

When Jesus comes back, He will come as a King to rule. This is the clear teaching of the Scriptures.

•  “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne,” Rev. 12:5.

•  “¹⁵ And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” Rev. 19:15-16.

•  The disciples were taught to pray for His kingdom. “9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,” Matt. 6:9-10.

 

He is coming, and when He does, He will establish an eternal kingdom.

•  “¹⁰ All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. ¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; ¹² To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. ¹³ Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations,” Psa. 145:10-13.

•  “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS,” Jer. 23:5, 6.

•  “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end,” Luke 1:32-33.

•  “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice,” John 18:37.

 

One day, the Lord Jesus will occupy the throne of David. He will rule in righteousness, power and glory. When He does, the world will be transformed by His power. What a world that will be! We all know that He is King today. Yet, the world does not acknowledge Him as King. We who know Him, must yield to the throne of our heart Him and His sovereign rule. His rule in the world today is in the arena of redeemed hearts. Is Jesus Christ the absolute, sovereign ruler of your heart and life? He should be, and if He isn’t, you need to enthrone Him there today.

 

His reign as King will be a great gift to this world. The next section teaches us why that is true.

 

  I.  The Gift Of His Arrival

 II.  The Gift Of His Acknowledgement

III.  The Gift Of His Advancement

 

IV.  V. 7  THE GIFT OF HIS ACHIEVEMENT

Isaiah tells us that the coming King will rule with “judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.” All it takes is a simple glimpse at our world to understand that this is a Christmas gift that has yet to be delivered.

 

In Washington there is no peace. Our leaders can’t even get along long enough to transact the business that is in the best interests of the people of this nation. There is no peace in the world. There is war, racial tension, crime, and turmoil on every hand.

 

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the angels rejoiced that the Christ child would bring peace to the world. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” Luke 2:14.

 

We all know that justice, peace and perfect judgment have not been delivered to the earth, but those things, and more, are coming! When Jesus comes to rule as King on earth, the world will be dominated by His peace, His justice and His perfect judgment.

 

•  Imagine a world where there is no war, no poverty, no injustice, no religious or racial differences.

•  Imagine a world in which every citizen worships God Almighty and bows to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

•  Imagine a world in which every ruling handed down from the throne is perfect and in the best interests of both God and men.

•  Imagine a world that is marked by perfection, peace and the very presence of God.

•  Imagine a world in which there is no poverty, no inequity, no mistreatment of the poor and the weak.

•  Imagine a world in which there is no sickness, no dwarfed bodies or minds, and where death is rare.

•  Imagine a world where righteous, holiness and peace are the ordinary course of life for all.

 

That is the world Christ will create when He returns. When He comes, the curse of sin will be removed from the world. When He comes the world be restored to the beauty and glory of the original creation. When He comes, Jesus will give the world everything it would have had if sin had not entered in and destroyed everything!

 

That is the world I am looking for, and that is the Christmas gift that will be given to all men when He comes.

 

Conc: Not all the gifts of Christmas have been delivered, but they will be! When the Lord Jesus comes back to this world in power and glory, He will give the world everything we have been waiting for! When He comes, Christmas will be complete!

 

How will all this happen? Isaiah says, “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” The word “zeal” refers to “an enthusiastic diligence.” It means that the Lord will not quit until He has accomplished all these things. He will not rest until every promised gift of christmas has been delivered!