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Bible Study SERIES>
4-PRAYER: WONDERFUL COUNSELOR! EVERLASTING FATH
July 31, 2011
4-PRAYER: WONDERFUL COUNSELOR! EVERLASTING FATHER!
PRINCE of PEACE! The ONE and ONLY MIGHTY GOD!
By: Rev. Abraham Bascon, Senior Pastor
The Word of God Church, Brockton, MA. 02302
If it wasn’t for God’s Grace, where would we be? Where would we be? Answer: I know where I would be, I would be dead, absolutely! All you need to do is to turn on your T.V., and read your newspapers, and you can see that the world is in turmoil. You can see the bloodshed every day in the Middle East. Innocent lives being taken. Folks dying and families being devastated and blown apart. Then, you read about or see the news where a mother is charged with the murder of her little child. And, you see things like this; and, it is becoming so common place that when these things do take place in our neighborhood, we are not shocked over these things; because we have already been brainwashed to believe that know that the negative often rules over the positive. And, that’s what the News reporters and the News Media seem to glorify; the things of the negative rather than the things of the positive. But, we in our own lives, I’m sure every one of us have experienced times of negativity when things are not going our way; or, the way that we would want it to be. There may even be folks here today, that that feelings of hopelessness and despair. When darkness and trouble surrounds you; and, hopelessness and despair seem to be your constant companion…the word is: “DON’T GIVE UP!! DON’T GIVE UP!!” Say it with me: “DON’T GIVE UP!” Now, say with me: “I WON’T GIVE UP!!” You know in the days of the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah, and when the people of God had rebelled against him and chased after false gods…God would in His tender mercy extend His hand and asks His people to repent and come back! And yet, many did not respond to God’s invitation of His love. They instead, got caught-up in their own pridefulness and self-righeousness and they continued to rebel against God; and, sought out other gods. So, God spoke to the Prophet Isaiah and gave a word of hope to those people who were in the minority; and, who really cherished and loved the Lord.
So much so, that they would die for His name. In ISAIAH 9: We’ll see the word of hope, the word of faith, the word of prosperity and the word of peace. The word that is needed in time of our thirst for Godliness and holiness. Our thirst for God. ISAIAH 9 beginning with verse 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.” In times past, we have sung the song called; “The Name of Jesus.” Just the mention of His name brings Peace, Safety and Comfort. The names that are spoken here by the Prophet Isaiah are names that describe The Promised Messiah. And, often times, when the Israelites found themselves in a very desperate place, they would often times remind each other about the Promised Messiah. That, when the Messiah comes, they will find deliverance, they will experience salvation; and, they will certainly have prosperity. So, God inspired the Prophet Isaiah to console His people. To console and comfort those who sought God and His holiness. To tell them that a time would come when they will be delivered and that they will experience the salvation of the Lord. For, His name is Wonderful! There is no greater name than the Lord God Jehovah! Holy and Most Holy is His name!! He is the Great Counselor! He will not misguide us. He will not misuse us. He will not mislead us. But, He will guide our feet with the wisdom that comes from the Throne of Grace. His Counsel is what we need. His Counsel is what we seek. He does NOT give the counsel of man. He does NOT tinkle anyone’s ears; but, He speaks the Truth! And, this Truth, if you receive it, shall truly set you free! He is the Everlasting Father. And, you know…when you think back at how God’s people were ravished by His enemies; and, families were destroyed. Children had to grow up without a father. You know how devastating that can be. I personally grew up from about the age of three years old, without a father. And, do you know what? For a long time, that really bothered me so much! I was born in the Philippines. My Mom was born in Hawaii. My Dad was a professional boxer. And, my Mom and Dad met in Hawaii. And, because of my Dad’s profession, he did a lot of traveling. He had boxing tournaments here on the mainland, in California. He traveled in the Pacific, and then, when he met my Mom in Hawaii, they decided to go to the Philippines where my Dad had a boxing bout. And, war broke out and we were like stuck there. I was born in 1943, so you can see that that was the time of war with Japan, and they invaded the Philippines. We managed to survive. Food was very scarce. My older sister, Barbara, who must have been about ten years old back then, would help out with gathering food for the family. And, she would go with the villagers up into the mountain to see if they could find any type of fruit or vegetables that could be consumed. Times really got difficult, according to my Mom’s testimony; and, there were times that we ended up eating hay. You know what hay is right? Hay, like what horses eat and other animals. Well, we found ourselves eating hay. Anything that could be cooked and consumed. But, as it turned out, my Dad was involved with the political party that was unpopular. And, as a result of that, he became a prisoner of war. So, in 1948, when I was five years old, my Grandparents managed to save up enough money to have us return to Hawaii. At this time, I had my older brother, my younger sister and my older sister (there was also another younger sister; but, she had died just shortly after her birth.) And so, there were four of us and my Mom that returned to Hawaii and started to make a new life for ourselves. Now, I read to you in the scriptures about the virtuous woman. And, I referred to my wife, Sister Marcia, as that virtuous woman. But, my Mom, she was virtuous! Raising up four kids all by herself. We ended up beginning a new life in the beautiful Island of Oahu, Hawaii. You know where the sky is blue and the water is crystal clear! And, the average temperature all year round is about 74 degrees and the trade winds blowing on a hot 78 degree day. We started our new life in the ghetto! That’s what my Mom could afford…a place in the ghetto. I and my siblings, were considered like immigrants; although, we were citizens because of my Mom’s citizenship. But, the only language that we could speak was the Philippine language. And, so because of that, we were teased and harassed by the neighborhood kids. Just mind you, that we were teased as immigrants; but, I really don’t think that I would blame the kids; because, just coming from the Philippines just after the war, we did look like immigrants. But, what I noticed was this: That among my neighborhood childhood friends…you know how kids are when they argue with each other and come to disagreements. And, then they would threaten or even beat up the smaller kids. And, the kids would retaliate by threatening the bigger kids with:
“If you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to go home and get my Father; and, he’ll do a number on you!” And, the bigger kid would say: “Oh yea, if you do that, I’m going to go home and get my Father and he will do a number on you and your father!” So, there was like some “bragging’” rights there! But, when I was picked on, it was like I couldn’t threaten the kids with: “Hey, if you lay a hand on me, I’m going to go home and get my Dad!” Well, I couldn’t do that because I didn’t have a father! There were many instances where I missed having a Dad. How many of you grew up without having a father? Answer: Well, praise God. I know that you would be able to relate to what I am sharing. I was so jealous of the other kids who had a father. And, it seemed as if this void ness that was in my heart; and, I tried to fill it with surfing, swimming, hiking the great mountains of Hawaii. I tried to fill it with playing sports and athletic events. And, I even tried to fill it with love. To love someone romantically. At seven years old, I fell in love with my second grade teacher! (Laughter) Oh, she was the most beautiful person in the whole wide world, she really cared for me! You know, I tried to fill this void of “dissatisfaction” of not having a father. How important that was to me! There were events that I participated in, that I would love to have had my Dad there. But, he wasn’t. To make a long story short, when I moved here to Brockton, MA., and shortly there after, I met the Lord. After I experienced the Father’s love, He filled the void! He filled the void!! Immediately He showed me; and, by the Spirit, He took me back and He said: “When those kids threw you off the wharf, and you thought you were going to drown….I WAS THERE! I SAVED YOU! You know when you were a naughty teenager …. Remember the night that you stole your Mom’s car? And, packed it with the neighborhood kids? And, called yourselves the Midnight Riders? (Laughter) Remember that night when it was raining and you kids went to the drive-in (which was very popular back then to check out the scene there; and, if you had any money, you would go and by a hamburger and a coke). Remember that night when your friends said to follow that car that was filled with some screaming girls! And, you said: “Okay! Let’s go!” My Mom’s car had power steering. And, back then, power steering was like brand new; and, you had to be very careful when you were driving this power-steering. Well, we attempted to follow the girls’ car and we ended up on the Lunalilo freeway. And, the girls up ahead of us made the bend on the highway. And, my friends were telling me to: “Drive faster! Drive faster!” When I came to the bend, by foot was still on the gas pedal. Now, how many of you know that when you make a bend, your foot should come off the gas pedal? Well…all of a sudden the car went “this way and that way; and, that way and this way!” And, “that” way, was the side of the mountain; and,” this” way was the media strip! And I ended up totally damaging my Mom’s car! Now, years later, as the Lord spoke to my spirit, He said: “I WAS THERE!” I don’t know how we survived that night; but, we did! And, God said: “I WAS THERE!” And, the Lord showed me many other incidents that I would have needed and wanted my father to have been there. And, God said: “I WAS THERE! I WAS THERE!” And, GOD filled that void!! And, HE is the Everlasting Father!! Do you know what that means? Answer: Folks can have earthly fathers; but, they are not going to last forever on this earth. Soon or whenever, they are going to make their departure. It could be by way of divorce; or, it could be by way of death. Sooner or later there will be a departure. And, there will be great sorrow and great sadness in your heart. But, the Promised Messiah is the Everlasting Father! He will NOT depart from you! There will be no displeasure! There will be no disappointments! Only great joy! There will be UNCONDTIONAL LOVE FOR YOU!! UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR YOU!! EVERLASTING FATHER!!! (Applause). Amen!! Yes, give Him an applause!! And, as much as we treasure our earthly father, our Heavenly Father is Everlasting!! And, that will MORE than make up for the years that you grew up without an earthly father! MORE than make up!! He’s the Everlasting Father! Not only the Everlasting Father; but, He is the Mighty God!! The Promised Messiah is the Mighty God!! The One who gives you great and might counsel!! The One who is called Wonderful!! The One who is called the Prince of Peace and the Everlasting Father!! He is the Mighty God!! And, HE is YOUR EVERLASTING FATHER! The MIGHTY GOD!! Who does this description fit? “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. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever…” And, guess what? Answer: In as much as it might seem impossible that there would be one that is called: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…that it would seem as if it is impossible to be rescued and to be saved by such a person; but, here is the Word of God….it says: v.7- “For the zeal of the Lord of hosts WILL perform this.” NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!! NOTHING!! So, if you are experiencing despair and darkness, troubles, tribulations Isaiah prophesied that there would be a time that the Promised Messiah would make His entrance into this world. Well, folks….that prophecy was fulfilled 2,000 years ago in the Lord Jesus Christ!! It means that you NOW have that One who is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace!! HE IS OUR HOPE!! Yes, even His name, JESUS gives a description of His job performance: HE IS GOD come to SAVE!! GOD, OUR SAVIOR…JESUS! JESUS IS THE ANSWER!! He says that you will have troubles in this world; but, be of good cheer…why? Answer: Because HE says: “I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD!” (JOHN 16:33) I’ve removed the sting, the power to trample upon you! The power to destroy you! In ME YOU SHALL HAVE PEACE! So, if YOU are one of those right now, who are in a desperate way. And, you seem to think that things are so hopeless, DON’T allow those financial problems to take you down!! Do you know that right now, the majority of the people in the world are faced with “big-time” financial problems! So…you are NOT alone! You are NOT alone! But, with the Lord Jesus Christ, our Wonderful
Counselor on our side; you may go through difficult periods of time; but, you at the same time will be able to experience the spiritual peace that passes all human understanding! You will experience the very presence of God within you! And, that He will personally comfort you and guide you. And, He will lead you into His Word so that you may find not only comfort; but, the solution to what ever problems that you are facing! The answers will come directly from God’s Word! For His Word says: “….that His Word is a discerner of thoughts…” So, He discerns our thoughts! So, when you read His Word, He knows what you are thinking about!! He knows what you are troubled with!! And so, He will lead you and give you the answer to whatever problems that you are faced with!! (Applause) Praise God!!
And, He IS the MIGHTY GOD, My EVERLASTING FATHER! Please stand and confess this Truth with me….
“Oh Lord, My God, I receive YOU as WONDERFUL COUNSELOR! As MY EVERLASTING FATHER! As the PRINCE of PEACE! As the ONE and ONLY MIGHTY GOD!! AMEN!! AMEN!!”
Trust in Him! Confide in Him! Yes…His name is Wonderful!! JESUS MY LORD!!
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