Child of the KingSample

Mighty God

Three Systems That Can’t Stop Jesus:

1) Government

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder…” (Isaiah 9:6a ESV). When Isaiah wrote these words, Israel was governed by Ahaz, a wicked king. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea was ruled by Herod, another wicked king. Despite these broken leaders, Jesus established a new Kingdom for all who place their faith in Him. Today, no matter how dysfunctional the leaders in our lives may be, God’s sovereign plans will always prevail.

2) Culture

“…over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness…” (Isaiah 9:6b ESV). Looking closely at the cultural background of Isaiah and Jesus, it’s amazing to think their message was able to gain any ground. Generally, people were disinterested in God, but this didn’t stop Isaiah from writing boldly and Jesus from living faithfully. Even as our culture grows darker, we can faithfully share the Gospel, the only true message of hope!

3) Time

“…from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6c ESV). Time was created by God, and He exists outside of it. The birth of our Savior was foretold seven centuries before it happened, and words in the Bible written thousands of years ago are still relevant to us today. Understanding this allows us to have deeper patience, recognizing that God is at work, even when it feels like He’s running late.

Let’s Think About This:

Question #1: What is one thing that stood out to you while reading God’s Word?

Question #2: Which of the three systems (government, culture, and time) stood out the most to you? How does it give you hope that these systems can’t hinder God’s plans?

Question #3: What are some creative ways you can share the Gospel in your cultural context?