SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 15, January 17, 2010

Who do you say that I am?
Wonderful Counselor
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Isaiah 9:6, John 14:16, Romans 8:9, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 7:25, 1Timothy 2:1-4, Acts 16:6-9
Optional: Isaiah 53:12, Acts 9:10-19, Ezekiel 22:30
Memory Verse: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on you own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
      "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 points ahead to the One who would be God's promised and anointed Messiah. Each word in this verse has so much packed into it. The first phrase, wonderful counselor or just the word "counselor" can refer to one who intercedes for us, counsels and guides us, comforts us, comes along-side us. In the New Testament, "Counselor" also refers to the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16)
The Spirit of God is also the Spirit of Christ
      Remember that God is ONE, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When Paul talks in Romans 8 about living according to what the Holy Spirit desires, he says, "You are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." (vs.9) Again in Philippians Paul talks about the help that came to him through the people's prayers and "help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ." (1:19) Jesus himself refers to the Holy Spirit as "another counselor" (or comforter) (John 14:16) (The Greek word is "Paraclete") This is a role that Jesus has fulfilled for his disciples and will continue to do through his Spirit. (see vs.18 ) Literally it says "another paraclete" which means to comfort, exhort advocate for, intercessor, consoler, counselor & guide, one called near, along side. Jesus and the Holy Spirit do all these things.
Jesus is our advocate and mediator.
      (The French word for lawyer is "avocate".) Jesus, by being the Lamb of God and giving his life to reconcile us to God the Father becomes an advocate for us. "If any one sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous" (1 John 2:1). 1 Timothy 2:5 says it a different way, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all men." (Hebrews 9:24 says "he appears in the presence of God on our behalf") Isaiah 53:12 foretells this "for he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors." This was something God was doing, "God was IN Christ, reconciling the world to himself" doing this to deal with our sins and offer us a new life. (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Jesus intercedes for us.
      Not only does Jesus act as our advocate but he constantly prays for us, intercedes for us as our King, Savior and High Priest who sits on the right hand of the throne of God in Heaven (the place of honor.) "Therefore he (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25) This is also what the Holy Spirit does because he is also the Spirit of Christ. "We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us." (Romans 8:26-27, 34) Some other references to Jesus interceding: Isaiah 53:12 -for sinners, Luke 22:32 -for weak believers(Peter), John 17:9 -for the church.
      Intercession is something we can do for each other, following the example of Jesus who prayed for his disciples and for those who would believe through them in John 17 and as he prayed for Peter before Peter denied him. Paul urges us to be intercessors, to pray for others. "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved..." (1 Timothy 2:1-4) In Ezekiel in the Old Testament God grieves that his people have become so disobedient and doing much evil and there was NO ONE to intercede! "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none"!!! (Ezekiel 22:30) As we join Jesus in interceding for people and nations (!) we get caught up in the larger purposes of God. Are you willing to be used by God in this way?
What does it mean to receive counsel from Jesus?
      A trusted counselor is one who knows what he is talking about. Jesus knows every sorrow that we can know. He can be trusted to give us straight counsel. He has been through it all. (See the whole of Isaiah 53.)
      "Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:12) A word received: I was despised and rejected and I know what it means when that happens to you. Do not be afraid; look to me and I will see you through. (See also Hebrews 2:17-18 )
      "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) A word received: Let me be your guide; I AM able.
Examples
      (1) He also cares personally about a wretched murderer like Saul of Tarsus who was killing God's people. God knew the light of Christ could penetrate his heart and God had a plan for him. God's plan involved Ananias being willing to go lay hands on Saul (Paul) to receive his sight. Ananias argued that Saul had killed many Christians and had come to Damascus to take more prisoners. God said Saul had seen Jesus and heard him. It was a scary assignment but Ananias obeyed and Paul became a great missionary. (Acts 9)
      (2) Paul, Timothy and Silas were walking across Turkey on a missionary journey through Phrygia and Galatia "having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia" (Acts 16:6). The purpose of this journey was to bring people to Christ and to strengthen the churches. As they were obedient in preaching, they were also obedient in listening to the Holy Spirit. When they came to the border, they "tried to enter Bithynia but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to." (vs.7) They didn't understand it but they were obedient and went on to Troas. There Paul had a vision about a man asking them to "come over to Macedonia and help us." (vs.9) They decided that was God's guidance. When they got to Philippi in Macedonia they started a church but got badly beaten for setting a slave girl free of a fortune-telling evil spirit and thrown in jail. As they praised God in their jail, in pain and in stocks, God sent an earthquake, set them free, brought the jailor to them when they stopped his suicide and the jailor was converted and his whole family baptized. Then they got out of jail and left town. They could have thought they had missed their guidance when they landed in jail. In following God's guidance we do not necessarily know why God is doing what he is doing and it is not always easy--but lives were saved and a very strong church established. Afterwards they understood.
      (3) Another example is in the Old Testament from 2 Chronicles 20. Some Moabites and Ammonites came to make war on King Jehoshaphat, King of Judah (the Southern Kingdom). The people were very upset and afraid and the king called the people to fast and pray and cry out to God to save them. The King prayed, "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." (vs.12) A prophet of God stood up and said "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God's." (vs. 15) The people worshipped and praised God and in the morning the King appointed a men's choir to sing to the Lord and praise him--and go out ahead of the army. (vs.21). As they began to sing and praise God, the Lord set ambushes against the enemy and they were defeated. As the people and king turned to God for guidance, the Lord showed them what to do---something that made no human sense--and God gave them victory.
      We are God's servants and are to be about his business. It is his battle. The more our lives are about his business, the more his guidance comes through.
      (4) Another example would be the Israelites marching around Jericho for 6 days at God's command and on the 7th day going around 7 times and blowing their trumpets--and the walls fell down.
      (5) Lastly, look at what God did for a very reluctant Moses and what he wants for do for us.
      "Then Moses said to the Lord, 'O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.'" (Exodus 4:10) A word received: My words do not have power because of your ability to speak; they have power because I write them on hearers' hearts.
      "So the Lord said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?'" (Exodus 4:11) A word received: I AM the one who gives the word and I AM the one who gives a heart to hear my word.
      "'Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.'" (Exodus 4:12) A word received: Let me instruct you -- ask me for my Holy Spirit to guide you. I will show you how to go if you will listen to me.
      "But he said, 'O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.'" (Exodus 4:13) A word received: Look to me and my strength. My strength is made perfect in weakness.
      What experiences have you had of Jesus giving you counsel? What happened when you obeyed? You never need to be alone. He has promised to be with us when we turn to him. He "comes along side" of us to guide and strengthen us. God cares personally about his people and wants to guide and direct them.
      "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus," (1 Timothy 2:5) A word received: Look to me for guidance; look to me for direction in the storm; look to me to set you on the right path.