Article by Dr. Les Hollon, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church

 

Christmas is God’s love story.  God wraps Christmas with a feeling for new beginnings.  Christmas is God’s provided hope for a new way of living.

 

So centuries before Christ was born, God envisioned the future through Isaiah’s prophecy.  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders.  He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

 

Through the full scope of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry, God provided a portal through which people could more easily understand the future. 

 

Prophecy Reveals God’s Hope … Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth to declare the start of His Messiah ministry (Luke 4).  The day was a Sabbath and Jesus was asked to preach in the synagogue of His childhood.  He quoted from Isaiah’s writings, and then declared to seemingly everyone’s amazement … Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your presence.

 

Prophecy unveils the will of God for our lives. Yet for it to take effect, we must be willing to receive the message and apply it. 

 

Prophecy reveals the love language of God’s hope that the future can better than the past … if we are willing to live by His promises.  Consequently, Christmas is God’s message that our life worries have a resting place.

 

Emmanuel - God is with us now and forever.

 

So may we lean into God’s hope for this Christmas season by applying the prophecies from Isaiah that Christ fulfilled.  These messianic prophecies are:

 

Prophecy - Old Testament – Christ’s Fulfillment found in the New Testament

Born of a virgin - Isaiah 7:14 - Matthew 1:22, 23            

Light out of darkness - Isaiah 9:1, 2 - Matthew 4:14-16; Luke 2:32 

God with us - Isaiah 9:6, 7 - Matthew 1:21, 23; Luke 1:32, 33; John 8:58; John 10:30; John

14:19; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:9 

Full of Wisdom & Power - Isaiah 11:1-10 - Matthew 3:16; John 3:34; Romans 15:12;

Hebrews 1:9 

Reigning in Mercy - Isaiah 16:4-5 - Luke 1:31-33 

The deaf hear, the blind see - Isaiah 29:18, 19 - Matthew 5:3; Matthew 11:5; John 9:39 

King of Kings, Lord of Lords - Isaiah 32:1-4 - Revelation 19:1-6; Revelation 20:6 

Son of the Highest - Luke 1:32 - 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:15 

Healing of the Needy - Isaiah 35:4-10 - Matthew 9:30, 11:5, 12:22, 20:34, 5:9, 7:30; 21:14    

Make ready the way of the Lord - Isaiah 50:3-5 - Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4,5; John 1:23 

A Light to the Gentiles - Isaiah 49:6-12 - Acts 13:47; 2 Corinthians 6:2 

Nations Walk in the Light - Isaiah 60:1-3 - Matthew 28: 16-20 

Anointed to Preach Liberty - Isaiah 61:1-3 - Luke 4:17-19; Acts 10:38 

Called by a New Name - Isaiah 62:1-2 - Luke 2:32; Revelation 3:12 

The King Cometh - Isaiah 62:11 - Matthew 21:4-5 

Afflicted with the Afflicted - Isaiah 63:8-9 - Matthew 25:34-40 

New Heaven and a New Earth - Isaiah 65:17-25 - 1 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1 

 

Do you know that your love story begins and ends with God’s love for you?

 

Pastor Les Hollon

 

To Us a Child Is Born

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-

 

The people walking in darkness
       have seen a great light;
       on those living in the land of the shadow of death [a]
       a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation
       and increased their joy;
       they rejoice before you
       as people rejoice at the harvest,
       as men rejoice
       when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
       you have shattered
       the yoke that burdens them,
       the bar across their shoulders,
       the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior’s boot used in battle
       and every garment rolled in blood
       will be destined for burning,
       will be fuel for the fire.

For 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 upholding it
       with justice and righteousness
       from that time on and forever.
       The zeal of the LORD Almighty
       will accomplish this.

-Isaiah 9:1-7 (NIV)

 

This article was written by Les Hollon, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church.  For more information about God and your place in His world, contact Dr. Hollon; click over to Trinity Baptist Church.

 

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