Another Christmas Cookie

Isaiah 9:1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

9:6 For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
 7 His government and its peace
will never end.
 He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!

Jesus called things that were not as though they were. He created out of what He saw in the spirit. I want to talk to you about naming your baby. One of the most important things you do for your child is name them. Some folks name their first child after their father, or a grandfather and some folks it would seem do not put a lot of thought into the name. I mean that they choose a name but do not consider what that means to their child.Thirteen years ago today, I welcomed my only girl into this world. I called her Jordan which means "to flow". And going with the flow if one of her specialties! You see every name has a meaning. Do you know what yours means? http://www.zelo.com/firstnames/find.asp

The text above tells us that darkness does not last forever. Bad things happen to good people but the darkness is going to leave and the light is coming! (read vs 2-4 again) God was orchestrating a way to redeem His creation and to make certain that mankind had every chance for success. So this prophecy foretold of a baby…a Son is given, God’s only Son. And the government would be upon His shoulders. Shall rest upon Him. Order, authority, power, protection, preservation…it all is found in Him. How do we know? Because this baby was named…named by God. Let’s look at what He was called.

Wonderful Counselor
There is no better place to take our trouble than to a person who gives great counsel. The first name given to Christ reveals his innate ability to talk us through difficulty…to calm us down…to redirect us if necessary. He is a wonderful counselor. “Call upon me and I will answer. Seek me and YOU WILL find me. Come to me all you who are weary and loaded down with troubles and I will give you a lighter load.”

Mighty God
This name speaks of His power…power to change lives…power to charge lives. When we are weak, He is strong. Our weapons are not man-made, they are mighty through God. It’s divine power that we have IN HIS NAME. He is almighty. More powerful than any adversity, than any force.

Everlasting Father
A father figure is somewhat self-explanatory. The father always cares for the needs of their child. Whatever the child asks for the father does his best to help secure. Unfortunately in our culture, many people grow up without a fathers influence. That is why this baby was born and given the name of everlasting father. He will always be there when others are not. He is a father that lasts forever.

Prince of Peace
Peace is something special today. There is much chaos and much confusion in this world. The world talks about peace but it is not the same peace that comes in this name. His name means peace, His name brings peace. How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news. Announcing peace and proclaiming news of happiness.

His wisdom, power, authority and peace will never end. That is how God named the baby. Now let me go back to that verse we referred to at the beginning…Jesus calling things that were not yet as though they already were. You and I are carrying a baby…purpose, dreams, goals, aspirations. God placed them in you just as certainly as He placed Jesus on this earth and walked Him towards Calvary. You are pregnant with purpose. Sometime very soon this baby is coming forth. It’s time for you to name it. What will you call your baby?