WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:10.620 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:12.220 --> 00:00:19.199 Amen. I love that song. I love the fact that it talks about that old, old story, right? 00:00:19.420 --> 00:00:24.219 It's the one we told to the kids sitting around on the stairs. It's the same one we're going to keep talking about. 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:27.740 We tend to talk about it every time we're together. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:33.379 The power of death undone by an infant born of glory. 00:00:33.619 --> 00:00:35.140 Son of God, Son of Man. 00:00:35.339 --> 00:00:42.519 That's the glory, the beauty of Christmas, of the story that surrounds what God has done. 00:00:43.179 --> 00:00:48.859 And it's the beauty of that. It talks about the identity of that baby who came at Christmas, right? 00:00:49.539 --> 00:00:55.039 We call Him Jesus. We've been saying, who was Jesus? Who is Jesus? 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:57.920 What child is this? 00:00:58.740 --> 00:01:02.379 What's the identity of the baby that we celebrate at Christmas? 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:08.260 We're using these four titles that Jesus was given in Isaiah chapter 9. 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:10.959 We've seen Him as wonderful counselor. 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:15.500 The one who unfolds God's wise plans for His people. 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:21.140 Who is the light shining on the path there to take to the Father. 00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:26.299 Who actually is Himself that light, that way to the Father. 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:29.599 Last week we saw Jesus as mighty God. 00:01:30.340 --> 00:01:31.519 Fully God. 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:32.519 God Himself. 00:01:33.379 --> 00:01:34.960 For whom nothing is too hard. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:38.500 And this morning we'll focus on the third title. 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:39.699 Everlasting Father. 00:01:39.819 --> 00:01:42.219 So we get to save Prince of Peace for Christmas Eve. 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:44.179 I'm really excited about that. 00:01:44.979 --> 00:01:50.959 But let's turn to Isaiah chapter 9 and read the context of these remarkable titles given to this promised child. 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:52.579 Isaiah 9 at verse 1. 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:54.479 Hear the word of the Lord. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:02:24.460 Verse 1. 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:25.739 As with joy at the harvest. 00:02:25.899 --> 00:02:27.939 As they are glad when they divide the spoil. 00:02:29.299 --> 00:02:31.879 For the yoke of His burden and the staff for His shoulder. 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:35.959 The rod of His oppressor you have broken as on the day of Midian. 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:39.419 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult. 00:02:39.519 --> 00:02:43.299 And every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 00:02:43.839 --> 00:02:45.659 For to us a child is born. 00:02:45.939 --> 00:02:47.339 To us a son is given. 00:02:48.019 --> 00:02:50.379 And the government will be upon His shoulder. 00:02:50.859 --> 00:02:54.379 And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor. 00:02:54.959 --> 00:02:55.780 Mighty God. 00:02:56.139 --> 00:02:57.340 Everlasting Father. 00:02:57.539 --> 00:02:59.060 Prince of Peace. 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:02.879 Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.519 On the throne of David and over His kingdom. 00:03:05.519 --> 00:03:09.319 To establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness. 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:11.479 From this time forth and forevermore. 00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:15.659 The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:16.879 Will you pray with me? 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:28.699 Father, we have opened Your Word this morning because we believe it is there that we find what we need. 00:03:28.799 --> 00:03:30.199 Where we find truth. 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:36.019 Where we find something that we can completely depend on. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:40.379 Where we find direction that will never mislead us. 00:03:40.379 --> 00:03:45.419 And so we ask that by Your Spirit You would speak to us. 00:03:46.079 --> 00:03:49.740 We know that men can deceive us and mislead us. 00:03:50.079 --> 00:03:54.719 We know that we can be confused and our hearts can be led astray. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:57.900 Today we ask that You would speak to us clearly. 00:03:57.900 --> 00:03:59.479 That we would hear from You. 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.360 That we would know what You would have us know. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:08.259 That we would know Jesus in a new and deeper way this morning. 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:11.240 That we would see Him for who He truly is. 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:14.860 Father, would You do that work by Your Spirit. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:17.180 For we ask in Jesus' name. 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:18.300 Amen. 00:04:20.300 --> 00:04:26.519 There are all sorts of crazy videos out there on YouTube these days if you've never noticed that. 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:35.560 I'm going to show you one that unfortunately has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus or with Christmas. 00:04:35.780 --> 00:04:38.379 Which is a great risk on a day like today. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:45.420 This is a compilation video of a few clips called Greatest Dad Wins Ever. 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:49.400 Moments where Dad saves the day. 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:50.480 Check these out. 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:51.480 Take care. 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:51.980 Bye-bye. 00:04:51.980 --> 00:04:52.500 We'll be back next time. 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:53.840 Italians know what happened, but remember how Shane Leeiewski is. 00:04:53.840 --> 00:04:56.259 Our wife has absolutely strike me very soon. 00:04:56.280 --> 00:04:57.720 Let him know what happened. 00:04:57.780 --> 00:04:58.860 This is a little bit if we were to convey properly, it's a guy with this guy in the Ciao. 00:04:58.939 --> 00:05:02.020 He's struggling if they can do any Twrestrial and whoever cannot claim the Orchestras here. 00:05:03.020 --> 00:05:04.120 Don't call me. 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:05.620 Come on is a beautiful thing. 00:05:07.020 --> 00:05:08.000 And we've got plenty of people on vacation. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:09.379 We'll keep this discussion together for me and have a couple more days of time given by the restoration level that needs. 00:05:09.379 --> 00:05:11.280 Tell me something that we would have to come up in the future. 00:05:11.280 --> 00:05:12.259 That you'd definitely want that. 00:05:12.500 --> 00:05:13.980 Not a lie and I'll just reallyamat存father. 00:05:14.020 --> 00:05:14.879 You might want that season intoWins ever. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.700 A Mor остр Wind Dallas mont体 Kung 00:05:16.699 --> 00:05:29.959 He caught them. They're all dad wins. Nobody gets hurt. Catches them every time. There are many, 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:37.980 many more like that, with children hurtling toward danger and pain of various kinds, 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:43.560 until dad swoops in to save them, to protect them at the last minute, right? 00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:49.379 To be honest, though, I thought about as I watched that, do we really have any evidence that any of 00:05:49.379 --> 00:05:54.379 these men are actually the fathers of the children that they save? Do you know that, 00:05:54.740 --> 00:06:01.060 having watched the video? You don't. Not really. You don't know that that's a dad save. You just 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:08.220 know that there was someone there who protected the child. The point is, the reason we can label 00:06:08.220 --> 00:06:13.160 a video like that is not because we've established the paternity of every child in the video. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:22.240 But because the men saving them are acting as a father should, right? They're protecting children, 00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:27.439 right? As they're about to smash their heads on concrete or run into a burning grill, 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:35.180 all of a sudden they swoop in and protect them. That's really the point here when Jesus is called 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:42.920 everlasting father. It's not a statement about his role in the Trinity, his position in a family, 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:49.120 in this Old Testament context. To be a father speaks to being a kind protector, 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:57.000 one who has people entrusted to his care. Job describes it this way in his book, chapter 29. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:04.560 Job says, I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:12.780 Job's not saying, I was biologically the father of all of these people, is he? No, when he says, 00:07:12.939 --> 00:07:21.040 I was a father to the needy, what I did was, I went and took care of them. I looked after their needs. 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:27.980 I came to the defense of someone who was in need. That's what a father is, right? That's what a father 00:07:27.980 --> 00:07:36.580 is supposed to do. And not everyone has had that experience. But that's actually why those of us 00:07:36.580 --> 00:07:44.439 who have fathers who harm us or neglect us are so deeply hurt by that. Because they were supposed 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:53.460 to protect us, and instead they did the opposite. In fact, in the context of this passage, a father will 00:07:53.459 --> 00:08:01.039 protect his children, not just from harm, but will actually conquer his enemies, will defend him 00:08:01.039 --> 00:08:07.819 from those who are attacking them. He will fight for them against oppression and injustice. Look at 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:16.439 verse 4. The yoke of his burden, the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor you have broken 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:22.679 as on the day of Midian. Do you hear what's happening? The Israelites in captivity, right? 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:28.139 That's where they're headed. And the one oppressing them and mistreating them with the yoke on his 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:35.680 back, the rod of the oppressor beating them is going to be broken. You feel like you're stuck in 00:08:35.680 --> 00:08:42.200 captivity forever. God says to his people, you may begin to feel like it's hopeless, like there's a dead 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:49.019 end here, but it won't last forever. You have a mighty God who will fight for you as your father. 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:56.659 The rod of the oppressor will be broken. The one who's taken you captive, who is overpowering and 00:08:56.659 --> 00:09:04.819 mistreating you will face justice from your father. He won't leave you alone. I won't show another video 00:09:04.819 --> 00:09:12.159 this morning, but this aspect of being a father reminds me of a silly movie that many of us watch 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:20.159 this time of year. It's a movie called Elf. Yeah, some of you have seen Elf. In Elf, there's a young 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:27.600 boy, Michael, and Michael is being mistreated by the bigger kids. He's being bullied to the point that 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:34.579 he's getting to be fearful. He wants to run away when he sees them. And one time, these bullies are 00:09:34.579 --> 00:09:40.399 waiting and hiding, and they ambush him as he's walking along with a bunch of snowballs. And they begin to 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:47.240 hit Michael with snowballs, but this time Michael happens to be walking with his friend, Buddy the 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:56.199 elf, played by Will Ferrell, who's bigger and stronger and who has some incredible snowball skills 00:09:56.199 --> 00:10:02.199 from the North Pole. He's just come from there. And Buddy, in no time flat, whips up about 50 snowballs. 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:08.780 And then he starts to fire them. And they go really, really fast, and they are very, very accurate. 00:10:09.420 --> 00:10:16.020 And so Buddy sends the bullies running. He all of a sudden sees them running away. And even when 00:10:16.020 --> 00:10:22.740 they're running, he hits them again, and they get knocked down. He comes to Michael's aid. He stands up 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:31.080 for him. He defeated his enemies and offered him protection. That's what it means to say that Jesus is 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:37.980 to be a father. That he will protect us, come to our defense, conquer our enemies. 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:46.540 Then, of course, we must also notice that he's called everlasting father. He will continue to be 00:10:46.540 --> 00:10:52.580 our protector through all ages. He will never stop protecting us. Notice verse 7. 00:10:53.420 --> 00:10:59.820 Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be what? No end. On the throne of David and 00:10:59.820 --> 00:11:05.040 over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time 00:11:05.040 --> 00:11:15.080 forth and forevermore. This one who's coming is going to have a righteous rule, a just defense, 00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:22.720 particularly of those who've been oppressed and unjustly treated, taken advantage of. And that rule 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:31.379 will never end. It will be forevermore. Jeremiah tells us that God loves his people with an everlasting 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:42.840 love. He has called us with unfailing kindness. Will never let us down. A love that won't fail. A father 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:50.360 who will never stop caring for us. Who will always be there for us. Isn't that what we all long for? 00:11:50.360 --> 00:12:00.980 So again, we see here the uniqueness of Jesus. Much more than a mortal, right? No mere human father or 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:07.180 ruler can be there in every case at all times as much as we would even like to be. And he's our 00:12:07.180 --> 00:12:14.159 everlasting father. If you've listened to any presidential candidate recently, you've heard 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:20.340 them talk about being tough. They talk about it a lot. Being tough on terror. One thing they all seem 00:12:20.340 --> 00:12:25.580 to agree on is that the president of the United States should have as a top priority protecting 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:32.180 Americans. They're talking about it quite a bit. And they're saying, if I'm the president, I will 00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:39.060 protect you. All these things you're afraid of, if I'm president, they won't happen. You'll be safe and 00:12:39.060 --> 00:12:45.259 secure. You may wonder, as I do sometimes, I don't know, but can they really guarantee that? 00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:53.200 Like, even if they want that to happen, let's just say they could. What if he really is, he does have the 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:58.960 answers. What if during his presidency he has a perfect track record and makes all the right decisions and 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:07.480 the things we're afraid of don't happen and we're completely safe and secure. Even if a president was 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:14.840 perfect, he would offer that for four years, maybe eight years. Kind of like Israel's kings. 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:23.039 A few good years, leading the people in peace and then they get defeated. Strong enough to defeat 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:30.759 one enemy but overtaken then by the next. Never able to offer God's people long-term security. 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:37.419 And Jesus is to be quite different. He's the everlasting father. 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:45.039 How is Jesus like a father in his life on earth? When he comes and walks among us, 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:51.080 where is it that he shows himself to be a father? Where does he protect and defend his people? 00:13:51.819 --> 00:13:57.439 I thought about the story in Mark chapter 4 where Jesus and his disciples get in a boat 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:02.480 and they're going to go across the Sea of Galilee to the other side and Jesus gets in the boat and 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:10.360 does what? He goes to sleep. And so this fierce storm comes up and the disciples get very fearful 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:16.540 and what do they do? They go and they, Jesus, Jesus, don't you even care? Wake up. 00:14:18.060 --> 00:14:21.220 Look what Jesus does. Mark 4 verse 39. 00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:25.540 Jesus awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:30.720 Peace, be still. And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:36.279 He said to them, Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? 00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:39.860 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:45.600 Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him? 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:52.480 Jesus wakes up and just says, Peace, be still. And the storm stops. 00:14:53.920 --> 00:14:58.560 He displays great power, certainly. He intervenes powerfully in the world. 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:06.759 He is indeed the mighty God who created it all, who rules over all, for whom nothing is too hard, right? 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:13.420 He shows himself as that. But the disciples understand that the bigger issue is not just, 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:19.500 can he do some neat things. Was this a nice event that happened in our lives? 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:23.219 But they understand, as Jesus helps them too with his questions, 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:27.019 that the real issue is, Who then is this? 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:31.099 This won't be the last time the disciples are in a boat, will it? 00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:33.779 These men spend a lot of time in boats. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:36.719 This won't be the last storm they face. 00:15:36.959 --> 00:15:40.459 Probably won't be the last time they feel like they've got no way out. 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:45.259 They need to know, Who is this? 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:48.780 Not just someone who happened to be able to help this once, 00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:54.700 but someone who can protect them all the time, in every situation. 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:59.759 So there are occasions like this story where Jesus reveals his power 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:02.360 and his desire to protect his people from danger. 00:16:02.900 --> 00:16:05.800 Of course he loves them and loves to do that. 00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:08.900 It's like Jesus catching them right before they hit the cement. 00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:12.740 I love that one of the kid who is going down, face planting, 00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:17.559 and right at the last second, the dad catches him, protects him from being hurt. 00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:19.519 Jesus does that here. 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:24.720 But mostly, he's got other things in mind. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:29.019 He tells the Jewish people living under Roman oppression, 00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:31.620 anxious to get out from under that rule, 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:34.379 My kingdom is not of this world. 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:35.860 John 18. 00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:39.860 Even after Jesus dies and rises from the dead, 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:45.279 his followers come around him and they're anxious for him to restore the kingdom to Israel, right? 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.519 Acts 1. 00:16:47.800 --> 00:16:48.539 They're saying, 00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:50.159 Conquer our enemies. 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.960 Be our father. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:55.320 That's what they're saying when they ask him that. 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:58.519 But Jesus seems to have bigger plans in mind, doesn't he? 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.100 Do you remember what Jesus says? 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:00.620 They say, 00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:02.799 Are you about to restore the kingdom to Israel? 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.840 And Jesus says, 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:06.259 Let me expand your horizons a little bit. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:09.940 It's not for you to know the times when I'm going to do things. 00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:14.960 But my spirit will come and you'll be my witnesses to the end of the earth. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.259 A huge vision. 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:20.380 Not perhaps exactly what they thought they were asking. 00:17:21.099 --> 00:17:21.779 But Jesus says, 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.039 Here's what I'm going to do. 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:26.559 Something much bigger than you ever had in mind. 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:35.419 You see, the story of Christmas is not merely that Jesus came to protect us from bonking our heads on the cement a few times. 00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:39.419 Or to protect us from bullies with snowballs. 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:41.859 It's much more than that. 00:17:42.179 --> 00:17:50.299 It's that he came to die in our place and to rise again victorious over all his and our enemies. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:52.579 Over our greatest enemies. 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:58.139 And so it's in his resurrection that we see Jesus as the everlasting father, right? 00:17:58.659 --> 00:18:00.240 In his ascension to heaven. 00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:04.379 His active reign at the right hand of God Almighty. 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:10.220 Jesus is there actively today ruling and interceding for us. 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:15.319 He conquers sin and death and the grave. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.559 He defeats Satan himself. 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:20.960 And so he reigns triumphant for us. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:27.539 The baby comes at Christmas not merely to rescue us from one storm on the sea. 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:32.019 Not merely to protect us from one serious injury. 00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:34.880 No, much, much more. 00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:42.980 Ultimately to provide for us unfailing love and eternal protection from our greatest enemies forever. 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:43.779 Right? 00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:45.500 That's what it's about. 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:50.100 He's come to crush the head of the serpent once and for all. 00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:54.099 To wage war in that cosmic battle that he's a part of. 00:18:54.359 --> 00:19:04.079 To bring the kingdom of God with a rule of justice and peace and hope that will never end. 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:07.139 That will be everlasting just like its king. 00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:09.599 That's what he's come to do. 00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:12.139 Think of it like this. 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:19.620 Imagine a child made a list of what it meant for his father to be a good father. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:22.000 Can you imagine one of your children doing that? 00:19:22.060 --> 00:19:24.460 Here's what I want you to do, dad, to be a good father. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.420 I'm going to tell you what I need. 00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:28.440 Always do these things. 00:19:28.580 --> 00:19:32.140 I need these things every day and at every meal. 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:42.680 And never make me do these things or eat these things or go to these places or endure these meetings or whatever it would happen to be. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:45.720 Spare me from those hard things. 00:19:46.080 --> 00:19:48.860 Do all of that and you'll be a good father. 00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:53.639 Imagine the father being wiser. 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:55.740 Imagine. 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:58.919 Imagine the father knowing better. 00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:04.799 Imagine the father knowing what his child most needs. 00:20:05.959 --> 00:20:11.979 We chuckle because we've lived it or we are living it and we think, yeah, he does. 00:20:12.219 --> 00:20:13.779 He does know better. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:19.160 Is it just possible that Jesus knows better than we do? 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:31.539 That we bring all of the things we think are so important and that we're convinced if he would just do this and keep us away from that, that would be what it means to be a good father. 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:35.920 Is it possible he sees deeper needs? 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:38.579 That he sees greater hopes? 00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:43.839 That he sees bigger enemies than we realize for ourselves? 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:49.639 Jesus is a father who looks out for our needs and comes to our defense. 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:51.079 He certainly is that. 00:20:51.379 --> 00:20:57.119 But he's a father who knows our deepest and truest needs even better than we do. 00:20:57.819 --> 00:21:02.779 Who's committed to being an everlasting father who never stops loving us. 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:07.000 Never stops protecting us from what truly ails us. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:18.559 I hope as we talk about this that you're beginning to feel, to taste as it were, what it would mean for Jesus to be your everlasting father. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.680 That's what I want us to think about now as we have each week. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:29.819 Not can you merely identify Jesus as an eternally loving protector and say, that sounds nice. 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:36.279 But are you personally experiencing him as your everlasting father? 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:40.679 You may not have had any bullies throw snowballs at you lately. 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.240 I haven't. 00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:44.759 So let me help a little bit. 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:51.399 When is it that we particularly need to experience Jesus as our everlasting father? 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:57.780 Isaiah prophesied to God's people here in this passage that they're going to be oppressed. 00:21:58.560 --> 00:22:00.540 They're going to be vulnerable and weak. 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.360 They're going to be attacked. 00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.680 They're going to become fearful. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:09.320 And we know that in the midst of those situations, under the authority of an unjust king, 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:15.660 under the influence of a godless society, that God's people often felt hopeless. 00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:19.380 That they were tempted to despair altogether. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:22.320 Say that there's nothing good ever going to happen. 00:22:24.580 --> 00:22:28.640 Sometimes situations in our lives are not merely difficult. 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:31.500 Not merely unjust. 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:36.160 But sometimes they seem to be dead ends completely, don't they? 00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:38.840 There seems to be no light. 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:41.380 No hope at all. 00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:45.220 Sometimes we run into those situations. 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:54.060 Perhaps it's when your child grows up and he wanders astray in all the ways you've warned him against. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:58.520 And it feels like your heart is just being ripped out of you watching it happen. 00:23:00.300 --> 00:23:08.700 Perhaps it's when you lose a spouse or a parent or a loved one all too soon. 00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:13.140 And the sadness begins to creep in and seems overwhelming. 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:16.539 And you feel like you will never lift your head again. 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.779 You'll never sing again. 00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:19.920 There will never be joy again. 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:29.660 Perhaps it's when the spouse who was supposed to love you, cherish you, and protect you, 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:32.160 breaks your trust. 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:37.180 And wounds you really deeply. 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:42.000 And you begin to wonder, am I ever going to love or trust again? 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.000 Next time I'm making up ones that are not real. 00:23:49.800 --> 00:23:51.440 But you're dealing with these things. 00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:52.680 You're facing these. 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:59.519 What about maybe when people are beginning to attack you about your faith? 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:04.779 And in the midst of it, you get so discouraged that you begin to doubt too. 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:08.480 Your friends are saying, there's no reason to trust God. 00:24:08.560 --> 00:24:09.480 Look at your life. 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:11.279 Look around you. 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:15.279 And you begin to say, man, I look and they're right. 00:24:16.340 --> 00:24:17.360 He's not good. 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.580 I can't trust him. 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:23.779 Maybe it's when you get the terminal diagnosis. 00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:28.240 And death in that moment seems to have the upper hand. 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:32.220 When have you been so discouraged? 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.699 So unjustly treated? 00:24:34.919 --> 00:24:37.639 So fearful that there seemed to be no way out? 00:24:37.899 --> 00:24:43.480 You may not be there this morning, but we all go through those situations in our lives 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:45.779 and we don't see any hope. 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:52.480 Listen, if Jesus is your everlasting father, you can cry out to him. 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:54.079 You can pray to him. 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:56.440 You can plead for his help. 00:24:56.899 --> 00:25:01.480 He is the mighty God who still intervenes powerfully today. 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:05.240 He supernaturally works in your life today. 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:06.359 He still does that. 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:12.200 He's your loving father who delights to give good gifts to his children, 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:16.480 who has compassion on you as a father has compassion on his child. 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:18.620 Do you cry out to him? 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:25.240 Do you plead before him in those dead-end moments when you can't even get any words out? 00:25:25.840 --> 00:25:28.259 Is he the one you look to for protection? 00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:36.880 Have you tasted what it's like to run or to fall into his strong and gentle arms? 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:38.140 Do you know that? 00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:42.960 Have you been there and have you run to him and collapsed into him? 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.620 He's a good father. 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:50.160 He loves and protects and defends. 00:25:53.100 --> 00:25:55.080 But can we be honest this morning? 00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.960 Sometimes it doesn't feel like that. 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:08.299 Sometimes you cry out on your way down to the cement and you fall flat on your face and it hurts. 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:15.460 You're expecting him to swoop in and protect you and bam! 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:18.559 Life hurts. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:23.279 So even more deeply and even more importantly, 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:26.039 if Jesus is your everlasting father, 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:30.099 you can have hope despite the hopelessness of life. 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:33.339 That's actually the message of Christmas, isn't it? 00:26:33.659 --> 00:26:36.440 That no matter what hopeless mess we're in, 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:38.480 Jesus doesn't leave us alone in it. 00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:40.039 He enters in, doesn't he? 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:43.500 To protect us, to defend us, 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:45.319 to rescue us ultimately, 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.279 if not immediately. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:50.980 Because that mess may hang around. 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:55.720 That temporary oppression may well persist. 00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:58.240 Think even of death. 00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:04.000 Perhaps our greatest enemy that we celebrate that Jesus has conquered for us. 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:07.639 Do we avoid experiencing it altogether? 00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:15.500 Brother, almost all of God's children have not escaped by avoiding death entirely, 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:18.640 but by being protected in the midst of it, right? 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:25.860 They found Jesus to be even there and to be protecting them even there. 00:27:25.860 --> 00:27:28.660 That's what it means to have an everlasting father. 00:27:29.020 --> 00:27:31.960 Hope even in the face of death and hell 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:35.280 because Jesus has entered in with us to those places 00:27:35.280 --> 00:27:37.880 and he's conquered for us there. 00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:45.780 The serpent whose head Jesus came to crush bruises heels, doesn't he? 00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:49.940 He's been bruising heels since the fall of mankind. 00:27:51.040 --> 00:27:55.940 And while Jesus sometimes protects us by guarding us from the pain and distress of that bruise, 00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:59.820 while he sometimes scoops us up before our face hits the cement, 00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:06.619 often he protects us in the midst of the pain and distress. 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:12.000 Temporary justice is unpredictable and unreliable. 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:14.700 Eternal justice is certain. 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:18.839 The judge of all the earth will do right. 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:20.919 He will right every wrong. 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:25.299 There is hope in the midst of your unjust treatment. 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:29.279 Temporary protection is not guaranteed either. 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:36.059 Eternal protection is promised by your everlasting father, 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:39.200 the one who will never stop caring for you. 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:43.220 We will suffer as our Lord and King did. 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:47.879 But we will find healing and safety in him forever. 00:28:48.379 --> 00:28:53.599 That's the kind of eternal perspective that Christmas offers us in our lives right now. 00:28:54.419 --> 00:28:57.139 It's hope in the midst of hopelessness. 00:28:57.140 --> 00:29:01.480 God rest ye merry gentlemen. 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:03.100 Let nothing you dismay. 00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:05.640 Don't despair. 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:08.820 There's reason for joy, right? 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:09.680 Why? 00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:14.800 Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day 00:29:14.800 --> 00:29:18.380 to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray. 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:22.280 Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. 00:29:24.340 --> 00:29:29.620 Tidings of comfort and joy because of what the child has come to do. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:32.940 Fear not then, said the angel. 00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:34.620 Let nothing you affright. 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:36.040 Why? 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.159 Why? 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.279 Why? 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:40.599 Everything when I look around me tells me I should be afraid. 00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:43.839 I don't see him caring for me. 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:47.319 Why should I not be afraid in the midst of this? 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:51.659 This day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright 00:29:51.659 --> 00:29:56.200 to free all those who trust in him from Satan's power and might. 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:59.700 Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:05.640 The comfort and joy coming maybe in a place you didn't expect it. 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:08.420 Tidings of comfort and joy. 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:12.019 What feels like a death blow to you in your life 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:14.299 is a bruise of the heel. 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:20.220 There's one who's come to save us from Satan's power and might. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:24.779 Therein is comfort and joy and hope. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:28.519 Comfort and joy and hope that doesn't disappear when things go bad. 00:30:29.159 --> 00:30:31.680 Comfort and joy and hope that is actually there 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:36.099 when the walls have closed in and there's no hope and no light in life. 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:41.879 Comfort and joy and hope 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:45.860 because we have a risen and exalted Savior 00:30:45.860 --> 00:30:49.620 who's alive, who's at work, who lives forever 00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:53.720 and who loves forever as our everlasting Father. 00:30:55.060 --> 00:30:58.320 Where do you look for hope when life is a dead end? 00:31:00.320 --> 00:31:04.000 Do you believe in eternal life but keep it on the shelf 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:06.120 for after this life ends? 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.240 It'll matter then. 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:11.079 Does having an everlasting Father 00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:12.640 never impact your pain? 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:16.819 What do you do when the walls of life are closing in? 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:20.480 I say to you this morning, cry out. 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:23.859 Pray that the mighty God would intervene. 00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:26.539 Plead the desires of your heart before Him. 00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:28.099 Your Father loves to hear it. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:29.819 He loves to help. 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:31.740 But find your hope. 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:36.359 Not in the immediate removal of pain, distress, 00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:39.460 but in the everlasting Father 00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:43.039 whose commitment is always unchanging, 00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:46.539 whose protection is absolutely unfailing, 00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:51.160 and whose love is amazingly unending. 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:53.220 Let's pray to Him. 00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:58.620 Father, we don't know love like that. 00:31:58.619 --> 00:32:02.679 It's hard for us to imagine someone 00:32:02.679 --> 00:32:04.519 who would never let us down. 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:10.459 In our pride, it's hard for us to imagine someone 00:32:10.459 --> 00:32:12.819 who would allow us to hurt 00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:15.739 and actually know what's best for us. 00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:18.459 Who would let us down, but in that moment 00:32:18.459 --> 00:32:20.699 actually know what's best for us 00:32:20.699 --> 00:32:22.239 and be caring for us. 00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:25.339 Father, would you humble our hearts? 00:32:25.459 --> 00:32:27.599 Might we trust you, Jesus, 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:31.919 to be a Father who cares for us, 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:35.179 not just in the big moments, 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:39.319 in every moment of life and forever, 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:42.839 who will never, ever stop loving us. 00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:44.919 Give us great joy and comfort 00:32:44.919 --> 00:32:46.899 because of that this Christmas. 00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:48.439 We ask in Jesus' name. 00:32:48.919 --> 00:32:49.159 Amen. 00:32:49.159 --> 00:32:49.299 Amen. 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:54.159 For more information, 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:56.759 visit us online at southwood.org. 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.599 Program. 00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.559 Thank you. 00:33:15.939 --> 00:33:16.559 Thanksgiving.