He Shall Be Called Everlasting Father

 “He Will Be Called… Everlasting Father”

 Message @ Jericho Ridge Community Church – Sunday, Dec 18, 2016

Text: Isaiah 9:6 // Series: He Will Be Called…

In the Old Testament book of Isaiah, we encounter 5 aspects of God’s character as revealed to us in Jesus.  The prophet spreaks forth a verse that gets a lot of traction on cards & in Handel’s Messiah this time of year

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

We’ve been looking at one of these fascinating descriptors each weekend here at Jericho Ridge this Advent season.  We will culminate on Saturday night – Christmas Eve where we look at Jesus being the prince of Peace.  And we’ll ask how in the midst of the pain in our world, the needs Darryl and Jodi and others are meeting in Mexico, the apartment fire at Paddington Station last week, the fighting in Aleppo, Syria the areas of challenge in our own lives, how the world can we experience PEACE?   

But today, this morning, we’ll ask the question “what does it mean that God is described as an Everlasting Father?” 

A few years ago, there was a show on TV with Canadian born Art Linkletter called “Kids Say the Darndest Things”.  And it was cute and funny and all that.  But I’ve been thinking this month about who says that craziest things in our house and you know who it is?  Yeah, it’s me.  I think Linkletter may have had a more interesting show if he taped dads saying stuff.  Some of it may not have been fit for broadcast on CBS but hey. 

Dad’s say some crazy things, don’t they?  There’s a word for this: They are called “Dadisms”. When you repeat them out loud to yourself when you are not in the moment, some of them don’t make a lot of sense!  So I was trying to think this week of things that I remember my dad said growing up.  And you know what I realized?  Yup… I say some of these same crazy things to my kids now!  You probably have you own list but here’s my list of “Dadisms” that I remember my father saying to me growing up…

• “When I was your age…” This was usually paired with musings about how easy kids have it today and how hard it was in the good old days (walking uphill to school both ways in the snow: blah blah).   
• “Because I said so” This didn’t realty explain much but it remains popular. Incidentally, my wife tells me I’ve swung the other way and I over-explain things to my kids which drives them crazy some days!
• “Go ask your mother” This one usually happened when you catch dad in some deeply flawed logic. Outsmarted him or flustered him so he needed a deflection technique: appealing to a higher power!
• #4 “This is going to hurt me more than it’ll hurt you” This was usually related to discipline when I did something wrong.  I never understood how it could be possible for this to be true.  How in the world if I was getting punished was it hurting him?? Crazy dadism!    
• #5 “Money doesn’t grow on trees” This was really popular around Christmas or other money-stress times of year like family holidays.
• #6 “Don’t make me turn this car around!” Usually coupled with a glare in the rear view mirror and some half-hearted arm swinging into the back seat. Also very popular for dads is the stand at the top of the basement steps and shout “don’t make me come down there”
• #7 “We’re not lost, we’re taking the scenic route” What I realize now is that Google maps has saved my marriage!  We don’t fight about how to get somehow we just trust Siri or our the GPS.
• Last dadism… “It’s more blessed to give than to receive”

That last one really puzzled me… Dad would usually say this around Christmas time.  Which as a kid didn’t make ANY sense to me.  How in the world could it be better to be on the end where you are spending time or hard earned money or effort than it would be to be on the end where you are the beneficiary of said time or money or gift?  As a kid, you are wired to think about life from the point of view of a receiver.  But as I moved into adulthood I think I am getting an idea of what my dad may have been getting at.  He was trying to help us understand that a heart that is growing in generosity really is a blessing both to the receiver AND to the giver.

Christmas is a time we are reminded a lot about generosity and generous living…  The JRFM Basics for Babies event happening right here in the facility today is a great example of this.  Generosity is also one of our core values here at Jericho.  You see it being lived out in the lives of our team going to Guatemala to distribute wheelchairs, building homes.  You see it in people who have sponsored and continue to assist new Canadians from Syria.   There is a joy that comes from giving that is real and deep & holy. 

When we think about the Christmas story, we almost always focus on the recipients: how did the shepherds, for example, experience that first Christmas?  Then we jump immediately to us: What about us as the recipients of God the Father’s amazing gift of His son Jesus. 

But it can be helpful to pause and ask “What does it say about the character of God that He would give His only son for us?

What was God the Father experiencing in this act of radical generosity – giving His only son?  As a father, I get small tastes of the joy of giving.  I feel it and I see it when my kids eyes light up as they receive a gift I or others gave them.  Maybe you feel that too as a grandparent or an auntie or uncle.  Or you feel it when you give to the Food Bank or to a neighbor in need – there is a blessing that comes in giving.  And so I don’t imagine for a single moment that God the Father was up in heaven spouting off dadism and thinking: “Don’t make me come down there!”  

At Christmas, we see a unique side of God’s heart as a Father. 

So often, we spend Christmas focused on what it is like to receive this gift, but what if we shift our perspective to instead imagine what it was like for God to give us the gift of Jesus?

In the play, the shepherds say “It’s hard to believe anyone cares about us and wants to save us”.  In sending Jesus, God wasn’t just saying it, He was putting it into action. 

Jesus told a story about gift giving in Matthew 7 which gives us a window into God’s character and His heart as a Giver: Matthew 7:11 says

“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.”

What does it say about the character of God that He would give His only Son to us & for us?

1. He is a good Heavenly Father

Some people have a mental picture of God as filled with vengeance.  That He is an old, fuddy-duddy, miserly being uninterested or removed from what is going on in the world.  And yet the picture that we get in the Sctipure is not that at all.  It’ a picture of a loving, gracious and kind father.  

2. Good Fathers give good gifts

If we know how to give good gifts, then how much more will the ultimate giver know how and what we need. 

I love how this is expressed in James 1:17-18…

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” James 1:17-18

Everything that we have we have that is good and lovely and wonderful we have because God is a good giver of good gifts.  And so as we move into a time of worship in song, we shift our perspective for just a moment and ask, if that is what we see looking through the eyes of God as Giver, what does Christmas [look like] Through the Eyes of the Receiver

What does this revelation of God as a Loving Father invite us to consider as our response?

1. He has invited us to embrace life

Just like any good father, God wants what is best for His children.  There’s a joy and a delight that He desires for us to share in as His children.  God wants you as a part of His family!  So then…how do you become a child of God? 

2. We do this by choosing to undergo the process of adoption into His eternal family

God as the Eternal and loving and Good Heavenly father sent Jesus, the Word of Truth, to invite us into His eternal family. 

• “God chose to give us new birth through the Word of Truth.” (James 1:18, NIV)

Jesus, that baby born in the manger IS the way, the truth and the Life.  And He invites you and I and everyone to become part of His family.  Friend, if you’ve never made that choice here today, today is your adoption day.  Today is the day where you say yes to the love and grace and healing and forgiveness that God desires to pour into your life if you choose to embrace Him.  He wants to be your father… the only question is do you want to be part of His family?  You do that by faith.  A simple but profound prayer expressing your belief and desire to receive the gift.    

Let’s pray together, then we will watch a short video and Chris and the team will lead us in songs of worship.  As they do that, Meg and myself and Sylvia Nickel and Anne-Marie will all be available at the sides and back for you to come and pray with. Let me pray for and with you… 

“Jesus, I believe in you.  I believe that you came to us in the fragile promise of a baby who emerges as the herald of hope.  I believe that by your life and death and resurrection you set fee the captives and are brining justice and peace to all people, including me.  I choose to receive you by faith today.  I thank you for the sure and certain promise of adoption into your family. Thank You, for your love and grace and mercy that forgives my sins.  I receive this gift of salvation and life from you today.

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