In Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah meticulously gives us the precise titles of the Coming Messiah. This great anticipation of the Light and Glory of God coming in the Flesh to dwell among men and bring salvation and hope to humanity are seen in the coming Messiah who will be: Immanuel, “God with us;” the Child born of a virgin will be of the lineage of King David to Messiah. Davidic Lineage from Abraham through Joseph to Jesus (Matt. 1:1 -16) READ & Interpret Davidic Lineage from Adam through Mary to Jesus (Luke 3:23-38) Read & Interpret Government of the world will rest on His shoulders – He will Be the King of Kings – READ and Interpret - Dan. 2:44; Matt. 28:18; Rev. 5:12-14; 19:16 What’s the significance of these names? Wonderful Counselor Mighty God Eternal Father Prince of Peace
The Baby Changes Everything The Light of Salvation & Hope is Coming Isaiah 7:14 & Isaiah 9:1-6
Pastor Paul Bond Bethel Church November 29, 2015
The Light of Salvation & Hope is Coming Notes:
Taking it Home
READ and Interpret Matthew 5:14-16; 1 John 1:7. If a person has personally trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, the Scripture says that the believer has the light of Christ living in him/her. Would the people who know you best say that they see the light of Christ shining through you? If not, what must you do to “Be the Light of Christ” in your sphere of influence? i.e., at your home, workplace, neighborhood, community, school, etc.
What is the greatest hope that you have in the dark times in which we are living in this world today? How can you share the “Light” of Christ, truth and eternal hope into the hearts and lives of those in your sphere of influence who do NOT know Jesus Christ as Savior? Cf. Gal. 5:21-22; Ephesians 4:32; 5:1-2; 5:15-20; Col. 3:1-2; 17; 23-24.
This week, during this first week of Advent, purposely pray for opportunities to share with people in your sphere of influence why you have the eternal love of God, peace, joy, salvation and hope through Jesus Christ even during the scary, dark times we face in this world. If possible share your “God-Story;” tell people why God is reliable, can be trusted and what He said in His Scriptures has come true!
Reading Suggestion Dr. John MacArthur, “God With Us,” Zondervan, 1989
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At Home Study Guide For the week of November 29, 2015 Isaiah 7:14 & Isaiah 9:1-6
Growing Deeper
In the contextual, historical study of Isaiah 7 and 9, why do you believe King Ahaz rejected God and became such an evil king even though Ahaz’s father, King Jotham, and his grandfather, King Uzziah were both godly kings of Judah? What do you think happened to Ahaz that caused him to turn away from God to do absolute evil things like sacrificing his children to the pagan god Molech? Read and Interpret: 2 Kings 16:2-4; 2 Chron. 28:1-4.
In Isaiah 7 and 2 Chron. 28:5-8, we learn the grievous situation Judah was in; they’ve just been defeated by the Northern Kingdom of Israel and kingdoms of Aram and Edom. In Isaiah 7:3-9 and in 2 Chron. 28:16-19, King Ahaz, facing a terrible military situation, is given the option to trust God, Who told Ahaz He would defeat the nations invading Judah, or he could make a military agreement with the most evil enemy nation of Judah’s-- Assyria, and trust Assyria to help Judah. Why would king Ahaz chose to trust an evil, enemy nation, Assyria, and NOT trust the LORD God who promised Judah He would protect them? READ & interpret 2 Cor. 3:14; 4:4; James 4:4.
God uses the great Prophet Isaiah, (Prophet: Hebrew: Nabi, “Mouthpiece of God”) to give King Ahaz a profound prophecy about the coming Messiah who would be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14). Is the Virgin Birth, the “Immaculate Conception” of the Messiah, which was prophesied by Isaiah, crucial and essential for believers to believe and trust today? Why? Why not? READ & Interpret & Discuss – Matt. 4:1-10; 27:4; John 1:1-4; 14; 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 7:26; 1 Pet. 1:19; 2:22.
Quick Review The time is 735 B.C., the place Judah, the situation is the Southern Kingdom of Judah is in the midst of warfare, intrigue, fear, perverted sinfulness and failed leadership. The King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah is evil King Ahaz. Ahaz has a dilemma, he must chose to trust God to help Judah against 2 kingdoms attempting to conquer Judah, or He can chose to ignore God and trust an evil, foreign enemy of Judah’s, Assyria, to help his nation against 2 foreign enemies that are planning on attacking Judah, Israel and the kingdom of Aram. Unfortunately, evil King Ahaz of Judah defies the Sovereign LORD and he decides NOT to trust God’s prophet Isaiah or the sign God promised He’d give to King Ahaz. God decides to give King Ahaz a sign to His prophet, Isaiah to give to Ahaz anyway. Perhaps the greatest prophecy ever written in God’s Holy Word is Isaiah 7:14 & Isaiah 9:6; it is the prophecy by God, through the Prophet Isaiah, that a prophesied virgin would give birth to the Messiah, Immanuel, “God with us,” (Cf. Matt. 1:21-23; “Yeshua; Savior”). The prophecy declares that the Light of God, the Hope of all the nations is coming; and He will radically change the world!
My Story
Today in America, November/December, 2015, what do you think most American’s think is America’s greatest hope for the future? i.e., government, military, economics, religion, etc? Why? Discuss.
What are your greatest personal concerns troubling you and your family in late 2015 and 2016? What are you personally doing to rectify your concerns? Discuss.
In a time of growing darkness in our world, what can the average person do to bring the light of hope to humanity?
WORD STUDY – Immanuel, “God with Us” (Isa. 7:14); Jesus - Yeshua, “Savior” (Matt. 1:21). READ & Interpret Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21-23.
WORD STUDY - Isa. 7:14 - Virgin: Hebrew; Almah – Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:27; 34 - Virgin: Greek; parthenos, “Virgin; young woman who has not had sexual relations with a man.” (The word Almah, appears only 9 times in the Old Testament, and 8 of the 9 times the word means “virgin.”)
In Isaiah 9:2-3, the Prophet Isaiah prophesied that the coming Messiah would be a “great light” in the dark world, and that “great light” would be the light of God. What did Isaiah mean when he prophesied the Messiah would be a “great light?” What did Pastor Paul say the definition of Light is in the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament? Why did Jesus say about Himself “I AM the Light of the world?” READ, Interpret and Discuss: John 1:45; 9; 1:14; 8:12; 9:5; 1 John 1:5.