Someone I can trust - Isaiah 9:7

Someone I can Trust!

December 18, 2011 - Advent 4

Isaiah 9:7

Introduction

• When I was still little, my dad had a workbench
• In my mind’s eye it was very high up, of course it was only at dad’s waist level
• Later on, at that workbench, I would learn to use a coping saw, and learn some elementary woodwork
• But when I was still little, dad lifted me up and set me on the workbench. It seemed so high up
• Then dad stood in front of me and told me to jump.
• I was scared stiff
• But I jumped, and dad caught me
• I trusted that my dad would not let me fall
• How often in life are we faced with situations and we have to trust someone?
• As I grew up, though, I learned not to trust
• I went through experiences where I learned to expect the worst
• There were benefits to expecting the worst, it enabled me to put up a defense and make preparation, so I could limit the damage
• This was useful in later life when I worked as the personal assistant to an international publishing director
• We would enter into multi-million dollar agreements with major printers
• One of my assignments was to read the fine print in the contracts, looking for the loopholes, anything that could damage us.
• So my defensive stance was a benefit in that area.
• But so often it was not a benefit but a handicap
• It meant that to trust someone was a major issue
• I was a very defensive person.
• Thankfully, Jesus set me free from this attribute, and today I generally believe the best of people
• Though occasionally I still find myself expecting the worst to happen, and later find out this had no substance to it at all, it was that old mistrust coming up again.
• Today is the fourth week of advent. In previous weeks we have examined Jesus as Healer, as Savior, as Baptizer with the Holy Spirit.
• Today we will look at Jesus as our King

Jesus born to be King

• Isaiah 9:6-7
• Jesus was born to be King
• As we go through the Old Testament, we see the record of many kings of Israel and Judah
• Usually, their son would be born to be king
• But that was not enough to determine what kind of king he would be
• A good king was often followed by a bad king
• Occasionally a bad king was followed by a good king
• Jesus was born to be King
• But this prophecy tells us he is going to be a good king
• He will reign with justice and righteousness
• This means that he will be a king you can depend upon
• So often in election campaigns you wonder, which of the names you can trust to follow through on their promises.
• Trust is an issue in politics
• But Jesus is going to be the leader we can trust
• Isaiah 11:1-5
• Jesus will deal with people according to their personal choices
• Those who live God’s way will be blessed
• And those who refuse to allow Jesus to be king will be taught the error of their ways
• Trust is a major issue
• At one level, people will learn by experience that God’s way is best
• As they see the good results of submitting to Jesus’ rule, they will flock to Israel to learn from Jesus
• Isaiah 2:2-5
• All this is yet future

Jesus as our personal King

• But how about today?
• Jesus was born to be King in our life today!
• He is trustworthy
• Isaiah 42:1-7 – a bruised reed He shall not break
• This passage was used by Jesus to characterize his ministry
• Matt 12:20
• Jesus came to give help to those who are weary and downtrodden
• We may feel like we cannot trust people any more
• But Jesus came to give us hope, and when we trust him in our lives, we experience freedom in our lives
• He does not tie heavy loads on our shoulders, but he carries our burdens
• Matt 11:28
• His relationship with us today, and with the whole world when he returns to reign over this earth, is based on love
• Jesus love is sacrifial love – he died to give us freedom
• Rom 5:8
• But it takes personal surrender to Him
• Romans 10:9-10 Confess Jesus is Lord
• We are told faith without works is dead
• We can believe Jesus is alive, but that is not enough
• We have to step out in trust, in surrendering ourselves to Him
• Surrender is a hard word to pronounce if we have been betrayed
• But Jesus is different
• All human beings have feet of clay
• But Jesus is faithful and he will guide and help us achieve the finish line
• Philippians 1:6

Conclusion

• Human beings let us down
• They damage the trust that we were born with as babies
• But Jesus has shown himself faithful and trustworthy
• He showed this by dying for us 2000 years ago
• He showed it by opening our hearts to the gospel
• He shows it each day as He answers our prayers and as He helps us along this journey called life
• And He will show his faithfulness that day when we stand before Him and He tells us “Well done good and faithfull servant, enter into the joy of your Lord
• So let go of your inhibi6tions and choose to surrender to your king
• Jesus is the King who was born to reign in our lives, and who is promised to one day reign as King over the whole earth