Sermon Tone Analysis

Advent #2 2010

The Government Will Be On His Shoulders

Isaiah 9:6b

As Christmas is a season of giving I want to help us focus on what we can give Christ this season and for our whole life.

Last week we looked at the phrase, "unto us a child is born" … "unto us a son is given" - in response to that, what can or should I give to Christ.

Well the simplest and most important thing we can give Christ is to give him our lives.

If you've never given your heart and life to Christ then you must do that.

But that is not the ultimate thing, that is just the beginning of a life lived toward Christ.

Our Text today says /"To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Of the Increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and holding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."/ *Isaiah 9:6,7*

Today I want us to focus on this phrase …

"And the government will be on his shoulders"

--<POWERPOINT – NATIVITY SCENE >--

Nativity scene … without Jesus …

* put all the "pieces" in place … this is perfect … now we just need to get a few costumes and we are ready to go …

what's missing?

<Jesus is missing from set>

--<POWERPOINT COVER BABY >--

Oh that's ok right?

We've got everything else.

We can dress them up and make them look good and no one will even notice that the baby is missing …

"It's alright as long as we have everything else, right?"

"Besides why does the baby always have to be the center of everything?"

* Ok … thank you guys for your help …

I've got to stop right here because I'm right on the edge of blasphemy and it makes ME uncomfortable.

Obviously we can't do a Christmas scene without Jesus …

This idea came to me Friday evening as Lisa and I were in an antique store and we saw these old hand carved wooden nativity pieces … cattle, sheep, wise men, shepherds, Mary and Joseph, … NO JESUS … you are kidding … NO JESUS in a MANGER SCENE?

But sometimes we think we can run our lives, even as Christians without Christ!

Could we do the Nativity scene but put Jesus over in the corner?

NO --<POWERPOINT REMOVE COVER of BABY>--

He's got to be at the center, right?

Well … do we sometimes try to live our Christian lives that way?

Can we truly live the life of Christ as committed fully developed, fully devoted followers of Christ without the Lordship and center place of Christ in our lives?

Our text today says … the GOVERNMENT …

!

*1.

The Government - RULE *

What is GOVERNMENT -

Some of you think government is a synonym for ineptitude or ignorant

Some of you think government is a synonym for invasion of my rights, privacy or just a necessary evil

Well

Alright a little Language lesson … might help us understand this word

The Hebrew word translated here is the word /misrah (mis-raw) - /means - /Rule, government, dominion (supreme authority)/

Government is the way it is translated into English here

Suffix - "-ment" - /concrete result, object, or agent of a specified action/ (i.e. an entanglement is the result of something being entangled).

It also means - /concrete Instrument of a specified action/ (i.e.

entertainment is the means by which I am entertained)

"Govern" - /means to exercise continuous sovereign authority over; especially: to control and direct the making and administration of policy /

What does Sovereign mean?

(One who has sovereignty), and what is Sovereignty?

Well that word is used much today especially in some theological discussions … but let me take a side dash for a minute …

I am reminded of my favorite quote in the movie "The Princess Bride" … /"I don't think means what you think it means" – /

Many would say that Sovereignty means that God directly controls EVERY thing, every decision, every outcome …

Well … Webster's defines the word this way - /Supreme power, especially over a body politic - freedom from external control, one that is autonomous – /

So … Sovereignty is /One who is completely, in control, doesn't need anyone else in order to be in control, and is the highest power.

/

It doesn't mean that a Sovereign cannot give certain decisions or control over to another … and not remain Sovereign.

Anyway having defined govern and "ment" as a suffix, we can see a full definition of "government" pertaining to God as:

/the concrete result of the continuous supreme power, authority, direction, and control of the administration and decision making in your LIFE/

Did you get that … let me say that again …

Government of God pertaining to me and my life is:

/the concrete result of the continuous supreme power, authority, direction, and control of the administration and decision making in your LIFE/

So … unto us a child is born, a son is given … and the Government … WILL BE …

!

*2.

Will Be *-

/A Word of Prophesy/

THE NASB says the government will /"rest" /

THE YLT says /“the princely power is on his shoulders/

/Hayah - haw-yah/ - - it means -/ to become, to be, to exist, to come about/

The Government will be, exist, come about, on his Shoulders …

You see I have read somewhere or heard somewhere that /"every Knee WILL bend to confess that Jesus Christ is LORD".

/

The question is a question of WHEN …

If you have NEVER bent your knee in submission to Christ and you wait till then … it will be too late.

BUT Christian, we are going to spend eternity in submission to Christ … and Heaven is going to be a WONDERFUL place.

Why?

Because we are going to submit to God's will, ways, and purposes.

So, you want the closest thing to Heaven on earth?

If so, then, surrender to the Government of Christ in your life TODAY

What was the closest this planet has ever had to Heaven?

It was the Garden of Eden.

Why, because God ruled and reigned.

We say that New Life Baptist Church is to be a Church Like Heaven?

That means that New Life Baptist Church should be a place where the Government rests NOT on the majority vote of the church, not on the leadership of Deacons, not on the direction of a Pastor, but the Government, the rulership, the direction will rest on Jesus Christ.

Writer Dallas Willard, in his book "The Divine Conspiracy" says

/"The only place in all of God's creation where his effective will is allowed to be absent is in the heart of man" /

Notice I said “ALLOWED” because God is STILL sovereign, still in charge, even when he ALLOWS us to make choices contrary to HIS will

Folks, the Government WILL BE … his … SO … let's just start Eternity practice NOW … Let the Government REST on him

The Government … Will Be / Will Rest … on his Shoulders

!

*3.

On His Shoulders - Bearing the Weight*

Government … Sovereignty … is a TERRIBLE BURDEN

IT is a HEAVY Weight

Have you ever noticed how Presidents AGE while they are in office.

The Presidency is like Dog years.

It is amazing how most presidents look older exponentially when they finish service and within a few years, they look younger.

Some of you are old enough to remember Jimmy Carter's Presidency … he only served One Term, and he was a relatively young man in his 50's when he took office.

Yet after the Hostage Crisis in Iran that extended for a year, he looked 20 years older it seemed when he left office.

To me he looks better today, 30 years later than he did in 1980.

The weight of Government, Sovereignty, is Heavy

You and I were NEVER meant to bear the burden of Sovereignty

Stop shouldering the RULE of your life … give it to Christ

God has given you a Mind, Will, and Emotions, but you CAN CHOOSE, to give back to him the Lordship that he deserves and that he enjoys in every other part of the universe!

The Sun submits to him

The Moon submits to him