Stones Hill Community Church
The message of Christmas is the world can be a dark place, and the more you look for the solutions, the darker it can get. But whenever God wants to give hope in the darkness, He likes to talk about a baby – and does so all through the Old Testament but especially the OT book of Isaiah. If you think about it, babies give joy no matter how dark it is.
There’s a phrase from “O Holy Night” that says “the weary world rejoices.” What about the phrase that comes before? "A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices….” When God wants to thrill with hope, He always talks about one baby in particular. Ray Ortlund says, “God’s answer to everything that has ever terrorized us is a child.” The Infinite infant who brings a message of unparalleled hope.
Welcome to Stone's Hill and the Christmas season!
We welcome you to Stone's Hill today!
A typical Stone's Hill service has:
* music (so feel free to sing out);
* some announcements (things that are upcoming that you can be a part of);
* a message out of the Bible (God speaks to us through his Word);
* and an opportunity for you to respond to the message (either immediately in the case of a decision that needs to be made OR in the future as you live out the message in your daily life.)
So relax and enjoy your morning! We're so glad you are here!
Isaiah 9:1-7 NIV
Hope in the Dark
Note duet titles that express what this Son will do and how He will govern - in Isaiah 9:6.
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
These titles are too lofty for a mere human ruler. This child would be more than just an ordinary human, right? Who could possibly live up to this description? Only one person.
"And the government will be on His shoulders..."
How then will He govern?
Wonderful Counselor: Jesus governs with wisdom. We aren’t his counselor; he is ours. He’s present in the decisions of life.
Mighty God: Jesus governs with strength. He’s not just any child; he’s also Almighty God. That takes care of the demands of life.
Everlasting Father: Jesus governs as a father. He cares for us with the affection of a tender father. That takes care of the future of life.
Prince of Peace: Jesus governs in peace. Peace at every level—vertically with God, horizontally with others. That takes care of the disturbances of life.
Invitation
What Jesus is offering every person, here this morning, is to carry the government of your life, on His shoulders? This great prophecy which will be worldwide one day, is available to you, today. If Jesus can handle the world, He can sure handle you. If He’s going to manage every municipality, every city, state, county, and country, and continent one day, when He is physically on earth, what makes you think, that all the stuff you got going on in the government of your life is too complex, for this King to handle. This great prophecy, that’s worldwide tomorrow, is good for you today. What Jesus Christ is offering you and me, is to bear all the red tape of your life on His shoulders. We have tried to manage our own lives, to manage our own homes, to manage our own affairs, but it says, with the coming of this Baby He will bear you on His shoulders. Why, because if He can bear the whole world politically, He can sure enough, bear you personally.