Wonderful Counselor and the other titles were not just nice sounding words. The Jews named their children to describe what they were. Ex/ Esau, Jacob, John
Wonderful Counselor or Counselor of Wonder describes Who Jesus is and what He does. He is not just called that. That is Who He is. The word "name" means reputation or fame. It comes from the root word "to ordain".
We live in a time of great change, a time of terror, a time of great uncertainty Things that were once dependable are no longer there for us.
We are seeing such incredible changes sociologically. They are bringing stress to all age levels.
We are seeing more complication today with relationships inside of families. A holiday like Thanksgiving brings this out, augments it. Christmas even more so.
America’s notorious Thanksgiving sales descended into violence with many renaming it Whack Friday after fights broke out among bargain hunters.
Shocking scenes erupted in Louisville, Kentucky, the home of Muhammad Ali, after two men began punching each other as hundreds of shoppers looked on.
As the fight erupted, a woman was knocked to the ground as the men are seen grappling with each other in an effort to subdue one another.
Police were forced to intervene to break up the pair after the men had gone toe-to-toe with their bags lying nearby.
In the Florence Mall, in Florence, Kentucky, a huge brawl broke out off involving more than dozen youths.
Other things are happening which lets us know we are in a new reality. Law enforcers with bullet proff vesrs holding machine guns at the base of the Christmas Tree in Rockerfeller Center.
Times are a changing!
We are facing the holidays with pain this year.
We grieve the loss of our dear Roseanne this morning. Some of us have received heart breaking news this week. Other are faced with overwhelming decisions while still others see things coming ahead that will be life changing. We need Him as our Grief Counselor today. And what a Help He is!!!
Jesus! what a help in sorrow!
While the billows o'er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my comfort, helps my soul.
Jesus! what a guide and keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night o'ertakes me,
He, my pilot, hears my cry
There are times when we need expert advice on a moment's notice. There are times when emotions rise and we need wisdom, counsel. There is One Who stands with us for this today and always. in these times we have an Anchor for the Soul.
Because of these things we need The Wonderful Counselor. We need His help today. He is with us to give us
1. Jesus is the Counselor Extraordinaire
He is always available.
Ever Present
We go to a Counselor when we are troubled or have questions. Take a Counselor at law. If we having no trouble with legal issues we generally so not call a lawyer and say that everything is fine. We consult a Financial Counselor when have questions about our money, investments or taxes.
All of these require an appointment and sometimes a long wait. Jesus does not!
He can be all over the earth at the same time.
Omnipresent
He knows everything.
Omniscience
I do not think we think about this enough and thus we worry. I am a work in progress here. The LORD has been teaching me His ways on this.
Listen to this wonderful advice: Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
He is compassionate.
Come let us reason together...
He consults with us
Lets us into His confidence.
Proverbs 3:32 For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into His confidence.
His counsel makes us marvel. Just on how to treat our enemies... so freeing, so powerful, so good.
There are many things that are hard to understand in this life. The question why is often in our minds. He is such a wise Counselor, The Wonderful Counselor that He does not explain all things to us. It would be more than we can bear. He come to us in those overwhelming times and whispers things to our hearts to help us through them. He comes to us in special ways. The wisest thing you can do today is to trust Him. Commit your life fully into His Hands.
2. Jesus is the Holy Conspirator.
He is familiar with our ways.
He knows the number of our days.
Teaching us
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days,that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
He works all things together for our good.
Romans 8.28
He has ordained things for us.
Good works. Ephesians 2.8-9
good= joyful, excellent, distinguished, honorable
All our days written in His Book.
Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your bookbefore one of them came to be.
all the days ordained for me... all- right up to the end... I remember Mrs. Quinn... she prayed for me each Sunday fro her bed in her home on Union Boulevard.
I marvel at the way the LORD works all things together for our good and His glory.
Indeed He is the Master Weaver/ the Master Designer.
When we were stressing and trying to figure out the financial situation in the church the past year the LORD had the solution.
They have done what has needed to be done for a long time in the building, that is bringing it up into the 21st Century. For instance when you walk in the lobby now on the south wall is a large flat screen Samsung TV. It will be used by both churches to play things when people come in. I will be able to use it for Bible Studies like to show pictures of the recent Haiti Trip... all good. We are having an arcade sign out on the Pine Acres side that will feature upcoming events, service times for both churches. The roof (which I have been pushing to get done) will be done within a few weeks. The grounds look great (they worked on them yesterday).
My prayer is that we will take full advantage of this time and see the LORD work miracles in our church. This is our day, our time. If we miss it, it will be our doom. God help us.
May God help us in this time we have been given.
A word about the finances. While the church operating costs will be paid by the Spanish Church this is not the time for us to hold back on giving. We give primarily to honor God, to store up treasure in heaven. Continue to decide what to give in your heart. Practice tithing as the floor not the ceiling of your giving. Consider going to Haiti to help.
He is Haiti this morning. Pastor Joes Mother died suddenly on Moday of this week. He is helping them. What we have seen happen there with the building is a miracle. What we are seeing happen here is a miracle as well. God continues to work.
Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,And new things I declare;Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
3. He works out the Purpose of His Father for Us.
He makes masterpieces.
You are in the process.
He has a plan devised just for you and the people around you.
He has you here at this time in human history.
He has purposes for you in His Plan fo this time.
He is the Wonderful Counselor.
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