Have you ever been in a situation where you expected something to happen, and you ended up experiencing something entirely different?
Have you ever found yourself disappointed with God’s timing, response (or apparent lack thereof) to your prayers?
In today’s message at Trinity Baptist Church, Pastor Andy Coats continued our study of Isaiah 9:6 in his series, “Hope Has a Name”. Today’s name was “Mighty God”.
In the book of Isaiah, the people of Judah had been living in the promised land but experiencing war.
****Isaiah 8:22****
And they shall look unto earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven into darkness.
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That is surely not what the people of Judah expected living in the promised land would be like.
But Isaiah brought them a promise of hope. A promise that would take 700 years to fulfill. A promise of hope that would be passed down from generation to generation until it was fulfilled.
****Isaiah 9:2, 6****
(2) The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (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, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
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When Jesus finally arrived, the world who had been waiting for generations didn’t know Him or receive Him. In many ways, they must have been disappointed to learn the one who was sent to save them was a baby who would take many more years to be able to lead them. They rejected him because their expectations didn’t meet their experience.
****John 1:9-11****
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
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The people of Judah may have expected a King who would solve all of their worldly problems would be brought to them. Instead, they received Jesus, who came to conquer sin, Hell, and death and to satisfy the wrath of God.
They rejected Jesus because they expected something different, but what they received was exactly what they needed.
How often do we reject God or reject going back to church because we expected our faith in Him to bring us health, wealth, happiness, and perfection? Our expectations do not meet our experiences because we did not understand who God is and what our walk with Him truly means.
Jesus is “Mighty God” with a “Mighty Plan”, “Mighty Power”, and a “Mighty Promise”.
1. His Mighty Plan
God’s plan doesn’t always match what we want. Sometimes we think that means God is forsaking us, especially when we see it appears He isn’t intervening. The reality is, He has a mighty plan. His plan is bigger than the problems we have in the moment. Sometimes the problems are designed to grow us into the person we need to become to live the bigger plan.
****John 3:36****
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
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God didn’t send the people of Judah someone to solve their problems of the moment. He sent them Jesus to fight the fight for them, to serve as the bridge between sinners and Heaven, and to provide eternal life.
2. His Mighty Power
As part of God’s plan, Jesus brought an unmatchable power, the power of eternal salvation through the gospel.
****Romans 5:9****
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
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**** 1 Corinthians 1:18****
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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The gospel truly has the power to transform and change lives, but only when we are in it, when we believe in it, and when we live it.
3. His Mighty Promise
In Isaiah, the people of Judah believed through the promise of Jesus, all their problems would go away.
****Matthew 28:20****
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
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Instead, Jesus brought a promise to always be there amidst the struggles. He promised to help carry the weight and the load of our burdens when we hand them to Him. He is a promise of peace and hope, and without him, those two things do not exist.
We have a choice to make daily. We can turn our life to Jesus and trust in Him. Whether we are in the peaks of life or the valleys of despair, we can trust in His timing and His plan. We can cast our anxieties, fear, and worries aside and know God keeps his promises so long as we are patient and trust the bigger plan.
Or we can choose to trust our own plan and be disappointed when our expectations don’t line up with our experiences.
It’s our choice. But doing life without trusting in Jesus and turning to Him leaves you without the presences of the one person God sent to earth to change everything!