The message was brought by Brother Stuart Orr.
We just came out of the season celebrating the birth of Jesus. Some ask how we know he was born then. It may not have been December 25 but the fact remains. He was born of a virgin. He also died but not just that; it’s about how he died.
Isaiah 53: Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Who is going to believe the report? Who will follow and accept the truth? Part of believing is accepting the truth. Many sinners will tell you they believe in God. The Bible tells us the demons believe and tremble. People say they believe but nothing in their life brings adoration to the Lord. Look back at the Old Testament. If anyone visited someone of high esteem they took a gift. We are all equal in the sight of God. All people go to heaven the same way; they go to hell the same way. Christ died for all and all receive same treatment.
Verse 2 has always stirred my heart. King Saul was tall and handsome. He was somebody to look at. Jesus was common and ordinary, no better looking than someone else. He was just a poor carpenter’s son from Nazareth. He had no prestige and had nothing to bring to the table. He was a common, ordinary person…or so they thought. To a lot of people there is nothing to draw them to Jesus. Years ago there didn’t seem anything to it for me and now I preach the Word of God. What brought about a change? The Word of God. If I talk about church, that’s good, but talk to people about Jesus Christ and his glorious name. Is Jesus in the place you gather? It doesn’t matter how well adorned the building is if Jesus isn’t there. The Living Word through the Holy Spirit of God spoke to me. I was drawn and accepted the invitation of God. It’s still a learning process. I could never do enough for God. Romans 12:1 tells us to present our bodies a living sacrifice. When we do that we don’t have anything to brag about. That is our reasonable service.
I’m sure some here have suffered loss. Peace and strength to go on are found in Christ. He was wounded for us. He was beaten for us. He suffered sorrow so we could have peace. God is still a miracle working God. It’s not our job to declare who gets healed and who doesn’t. God can do it if he desires and wills it. In unknown circumstances I know God has the best intentions for us. Look at Romans 8:28. We must want the will of God. If we feel that what God has allowed isn’t fair, remember that he suffered for sins that were not his. That’s not fair.
Put your mind back before the birth of Christ. He was with the Father in a glorious state. He chose to come and live among us, to feel the pain and hurt we feel. He came to die so we could have life. He put off his glory to become like us. I don’t know how that happened. I remember seeing how small my daughter was early on in the pregnancy. God, by the Holy Spirit, was transported to the womb of a virgin. That’s a miracle in itself. He became something that can’t be seen with the human eye. The one who had a hand in all creation had to learn how to walk. He was fed and burped. He was cleaned and changed. He knows it all. He went through puberty and all that came with it. The Bible says he felt everything we do. He knows all the human emotions. His heart was broken when Lazarus died. Somewhere along the way Joseph died so Jesus knew the death of a parent. He became our high priest and knows what we go through and is able to help us.
The ultimate price for sin was paid. Death and sin no longer held the power. This pleased the Father. We raise our kids knowing they have a free will to choose what they want. It pleases us to see them choose the right thing. Look at the temptation of Christ. Satan took him to a high mountain and offered him the kingdoms of this world. I’m sure he told him he didn’t have to suffer and die to get all this; if he’d bow down and worship him Satan would give it all to him then. Jesus always chose the right path; that pleased the Father. There is no one who deserves praise but Jesus. We should always be in a state of praise.
Look now at Isaiah 9:6-7.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Jesus earned these names. We’re still waiting for the government, for his kingdom to be established.
Now look at Revelation 4:8-11.
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
There will be a day the lion will lay down with the lamb. There will be a time when there is nothing to be afraid of. Praise will be continual.
Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
He has prevailed. There is a book in heaven that will be opened. Satan deceived 1/3 of the angels. I have no idea how many that is. Satan travels through the universe creating havoc wherever he goes. What would have happened if Jesus had taken the easy way out? No one could have opened the seal of the book. In the old days kings sent notices out and sealed them meaning that only the intended person could open it. In heaven, no one had the right to open the seven seals, but because Jesus prevailed he could do it. He overcame. He was handed the book. The government is still to come. We can’t emphasize enough his obedience and sacrifice enough. It was great.
Revelation 5: 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Every creature. I repeat it: every creature praised God. We should praise God and give him the adoration he deserves.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 