And His Name Shall Be Called — Shane Idleman

Jesus’ Birth and the Names of the Messiah

If you have your Bibles you can turn to Luke chapter 1 verse 26. Luke chapter 1 Verse 26 and the message is he shall be called. He shall be called and many of you know the famous verse from Isaiah He will be called the wonderful counselor mighty God eternal father and prince of peace.

That's why he came and that's what his names are and we're gonna look at those in the book of Luke verse chapter 1 verse 26. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the city of Galilee named Nazareth.

Meaning six month meaning that John the Baptist was born before Jesus and Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist. She was at the sixth month. That's where the story picks up and then Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and it's interesting there you're gonna see we had time we could show the lineage of Christ of Jesus came from the bloodline of David and also Through through Mary the two Gospels Luke and Matthew will show how Jesus came Through the lineage of both of those to be the Messiah and to have rightful heir not only through the bloodline But also through the name line of the tribe of Judah.

Verse 28 and having come in the angel said to her rejoice highly favored one. The Lord is with you blessed. Are you among women. And what I'm doing too is I'm going through the book of Luke. You can do this and I encourage personal Bible study go through and jot down things You don't understand and things you want to go to later, but I want to just stop on this point.

Mary’s Favor and the Errors of Marian Devotion

Mary highly favored. Mary is highly favored the Lord is with you blessed. Are you among women and we see an interesting thing here? I actually as many of you know, I wrote a article recently on the differences between Roman Catholicism and Mary and I have never Mary and Roman Catholicism and Protestants and Christianity historical Christianity what just what the differences are and I've never received more criticism than anything I've ever done anything not even close you can times it by ten and Talking about Mary worship and Mary adoration and immaculate conception that she was conceived herself.

She remained a virgin the perpetual virginity of Mary and she was conceived In without sin the the immaculate conception and the assumption of Mary that she was taken up to heaven. And we did not die and there's so many things in people.

I said, well, it's tradition. What's the big deal? The big deal is many times they take that and then they begin to put her in a position where she wasn't designed to be and begin to worship and adore her in this area and You'll see the Protestants probably don't give Mary enough credit and Roman Catholicism teams seems to give too much.

But the Bible is clear that she is highly favored she's a highly favored person throughout the Bible and what we're going to see here is Jesus was born the theologians called a hypostatic Union. Like what is that hypostatic Union.

The Hypostatic Union and Christ’s Sinlessness

Divine nature and human nature meet and if you try to figure that out You will get a headache. It's one of those things that you just know is true because the Bible teaches it and Jesus was was free of sin.

Well, how is that possible? He was hooked to to marry the placenta the blood but he was born of God through the Holy Spirit. So although Mary's blood probably gave life and nutrition Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit.

Therefore was without the sin. It's an interesting very interesting truth that how that all worked. But we see that that the Holy Spirit through God is visiting Mary and telling her you are highly favored and then verse 29 But when she saw him She was troubled at his saying and considered what manner of greeting this was then the angel said to her do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God and Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and you shall call his name Jesus and he will be great and will be called the son of the Most Highest and the Lord.

God will give him the throne Of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob Forever and of his kingdom there will be no end and it's interesting to when in any time angels would visit people they would say don't be afraid.

Why. Because people would be afraid and when the angels would show up and and and people are just so afraid of this presence of The angel that that she's afraid the shepherds are afraid throughout the Old Testament people are afraid Because of God's presence obviously in these angels and being sent from God.

Fear, Divine Sovereignty, and the Need for Salvation

Now when we're not in control or we don't understand something we get fearful. And that's often why when you see the angels visiting people, they would become fearful because they're not in control. They don't know what's happening.

I'm losing that control. Maybe that's some practical application for you when you're not in control and you don't understand something instead of getting afraid go to God. Instead of getting fearful and I don't know what to do go to God because often life is Throwing us curveballs every day and we don't know what's going on.

We get fearful and We find also in this passage that man cannot save himself. Man cannot save himself. God himself had to provide the sacrifice man couldn't save himself. And this is interesting. When you talk about the good news or the gospel.

The the wonderful news is that man was destined to die and perish eternally without God. But God sent his son. Born of a virgin free of sin. He sent his son. He provided the way for salvation and it's interesting when Jesus is on the cross we look back 2 ,000 years before that and they many many estimate that this is the somewhat the same location that Abraham was going to sacrifice his son on That altar and then 2 ,000 years fast-forward.

God is sacrificing his son. So we see an interesting parallel that and it's interesting Abraham's son you think of some little four-year-old. It wasn't a four-year-old. This man was in his late 20s.

Maybe 30 years old and he was obedient to his father and then we Abraham says don't worry son God will provide a sacrifice and it's interesting to look at the parallels and look at the foreshadowing. That happened man cannot save himself.

So that's what's happening here and he couldn't have done it as a child. I believe Jesus went because of the sacrifice he had to go through certain things and he wouldn't have been able to do it as a child.

Because he had to lay his life down willingly. I don't imagine a teenager going to the cross. I don't imagine a young adult you still have to get some of that pride out of you, right? And yeah, I'm gonna do things my way.

Christ’s Willing Sacrifice and Endurance of the Cross

But we see Jesus probably around 30 years old. 30 years from now from when we celebrate Christmas. He wasn't born December 25th. I hope you know that it wasn't probably cold out. It was more in the in the fall and in different times.

But we use this date to celebrate what happened at that at the manger. So 30 years later the point I'm trying to get down to this is he laid down his life. Willingly it couldn't have been a child giving its life.

It had to be a man Jesus Christ laying down his life and he had to endure the cross. He had to endure the cross and it's interesting. We think we have mental anguish. But can you imagine from the moment you realize what's happening?

I don't know what age he was at but he knew about the cross. How would you live. Okay, 25 more years 20 years 15 12 and the year he knows he was born to die. He knows he's going to the cross. So we had to endure the cross.

He had to go through what he went through. But he also had to from the time he was a little child once he realized his calling and who he was to it. Can you imagine the mental anguish to know what you're going to go through in a few years?

And when the year gets here in a few months and when the week gets here and he kept his composure. He didn't have a nervous breakdown. He didn't he endured the cross and we see a wonderful example in him.

This is why he's called wonderful counselor, but eternal father. This is wonderful news. He's called an eternal father and then the angels announced Jesus to the shepherds. Isn't interesting how God goes to the lowly and the receptive?

The Shepherds and the Good News of Great Joy

He didn't go announce it to the Kings King Harry. He didn't go announce he went to the shepherds. Those who are lonely and receptive will receive from God. Lowly not saying lonely lowly and receptive humble and we and want to receive from God.

Now there they were in the same country with the shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night and Behold an angel the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid.

Here we go again. Then the angel said to them do not be afraid for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. Which will be to all people for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior Who is Christ the Lord.

Christ is a word that means anointed one Lord is his his headship his lordship over us. He's the anointed one Jesus Christ the Lord. It's a whole title there of who he was. For there's born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is called Christ the Lord and this will be the sign.

To you you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger and suddenly there Was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts Praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and to on and on earth Peace goodwill toward men.

I would have loved to sing sing this worship or saw this worship set wouldn't you? The angels. Singing the angels rejoicing peace goodwill toward men. That's why he's called the Prince of Peace Everlasting Father that's his title Prince of Peace.

He's the ruler of peace. We know who the ruler of darkness is. We know who the ruler of discouragement is and chaos and confusion. What is happening in our world today? Is that Jesus? No, that's the Prince of Destruction.

So Jesus is the Prince of Peace now. It's interesting on this note. There on this note of peace and goodwill toward men many people say what good news Shane. Good things of great joy will come to all people.

What great news look around us. Are you guys insane? Are you not watching what's on the news? Are you living in a tent by yourself? What do you mean? What good news? I mean when you say that good what's goodwill toward men what's happening here?

Receiving the Gospel Through Surrender

Well Here's the here's the key. The good news has to be received. The good news has to be received. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance in order to receive in order to Experience the good news and the peace of God you have to receive it.

It doesn't just happen on its own. So all these people struggling and all this chaos confusion. They're rejecting God's offer of salvation. They're rejecting his offer of peace. It has to be embraced.

It has to be taken. Think about this when is there peace throughout our life and we don't you know. Talk to those we read history books World War one World War two many wars when was there peace when someone surrenders.

Now, how does that parallel with us? That's when you'll have peace when you surrender. That's when there's well, I'm not surrendering gum you won't win this fight. You will not you think you think America has a strong military.

You haven't seen anything until God tells one angel to go kill 185 ,000 in the Assyrian army. That you will not win this battle. So peace comes when you surrender. Peace comes when you surrender. Just this week I Think it was on Wednesday or or so I had the privilege and I call it a privilege because it was something it was it was hard.

It was difficult, but I'm glad I was given the opportunity. There was a person through a friend of ours that was able to go with me. So I was I was there was two people. This man in West Hollywood who is actually he's home he's a homosexual and he is a male prostitute in that area and He his friend.

He's sick and his friend said hey, would you be interested in talking to about sure? I'd love to so I drove down to West Hollywood and met with this person for two hours and just talked and and Shared God's love and not condemning just oh and it was he was very open very receptive.

But the one thing the sticking point was this Surrender surrender but but. But I was born this way and God's Word isn't really true is written by men and and I don't want to give up that Area and I don't and and and he's he's sick and he's not doing well and he doesn't want to see he wants to hold on to that portion of his life and It's it's sad to see that's why I say I don't joke around when I say I see people dying Spiritually with living water just steps away just steps away.

Would you. I wish you could force something like to open your mouth, you know drink up drink this living water. But you can't you can only love and proclaim and pray and petition, but they have to receive the gracious gift.

Salvation, Despair, and the Prodigal Son

Why am I in so much turmoil is that I want to kill myself every single day. Every single day. I want to kill myself. I'm thinking of ways to do it. What am I supposed to do? Here's your gracious gift.

God has given you eternity and peace. You've got to receive it. You've got to surrender and what happened? Doesn't want to surrender. So see we want peace. But we don't want to take the step to get that peace.

And I wonder how many people. How many people that pertains to today? It was interesting. I think it's something we all should think about and I talked to him about Salvation and and you know when he was a bump boy, he went to church and and You know, I didn't want to question his salvation and of course I challenged him in that area.

But I also told about the story of the prodigal son, you know. If you're caught in eating if you're eating with pigs, you're pretty depressed. The prodigal son was eating the swine food and the Bible says when he came to himself.

When he came to himself he surrendered he came to himself. He said I've got a father who loves me and the father didn't sit there and condemn him the father ran to his son. So you have this picture of God running to the prodigal?

But God's not gonna just take you and pick you and put you where you need to go. He wants you to run to him and return and then he will welcome with open arms. The father ran to the son and embraced him.

It's a wonderful story we see here, but that could be a long rabbit trail so I'm gonna get back on track. But I think some of you are here just here just tonight just to hear that you will have peace when you surrender.

What time is it? We could just end it on that note. You you will have peace when you surrender now this works for a believer as well. If they're not having peace if they're they're in turmoil, it's because they probably need to surrender a certain area of their life.

That's keeping them in that bondage. That's how we have peace to give it all to God. Another example of him in West Hollywood, but another lady I talked to heroin addict. And one of the hospital homes and you give them the same exact message.

Same exact message and one is filled with just God's love and begins weeping and giving her life to the Lord and surrenders and You see one that does not and I was reminded of an old Saying that the Puritans used to say the same Sun the same Sun that melts the wax hardens the clay.

The same Sun the same Word of God that will melt the wax that this sermon Will either melt or harden? Depending on what we do with it the shepherds visit Jesus chapter 2 verse 15. So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another.

Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass. Which the Lord has made known to us and they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen him they made widely known the saying which was which was told them concerning this child and all.

Those who heard it marveled at those things which were told by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.

As it was told them. Now it's interesting, you know, I keep saying that because there's a lot of interesting stuff here. But the shepherds the shepherd I caught myself on that one. I don't have to wait till I get home tonight.

My wife tell me you said that 25 times. It's funny when you when you speak a lot you tend to tend to pick up habits bad habits and good habits. But Mary the shepherds went to visit. Married to see the baby right then it just happened right then and now I don't want a lot of you.

Just as just a nugget of truth a fact that you know that you found out tonight. But you don't change your little manger scenes, you don't have to change your manger scenes, but the the wise men weren't there.

You know that right the wise men came maybe a year or two later and then we don't know if there was three. Just as wise men. They brought frankincense myrrh and gold and so we have our main right the wise men and the shepherds and the animals and you know.

It's good to represent those things. But just as a nugget there just so you know. The wise men probably were came a long time later because when they told King Herod Herod wanted to stop the birth of Jesus and he wanted all.

Kids under the age of male kids children under the age of two to be killed and Fulfilling prophecy. Rachel you will weep for your children and not be able to be comforted. Simon's or I'm sorry Simeon's prophecy.

Simeon, the Holy Spirit, and Spiritual Life

This is a man who was there at the temple and he saw Jesus he'd been praying to see Jesus because the Holy Spirit God revealed to him that you will see the Messiah the the the anointed one and Behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and this man was just and devout waiting for the Consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

I wanted to stop there for a minute. Consolation what is what do you think of that word when you think of that word? Consolation do you think of console? That's what he is. He's waiting for the comfort of Israel.

Are you comforted this evening back to the peace issue? This is the consolation of Israel. This is the comfort of mankind and then the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit was upon this person and we've learned as we've been going through the book of Acts that the Holy Spirit is not.

Some weird cosmic gas out there. It's part of the triune nature of God and the Holy Spirit comes alongside of us. Comforter the Holy Spirit is in us and the Holy Spirit can come upon us. And when you see the Holy Spirit coming upon Peter the Holy Spirit coming upon Paul the Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus after his baptism this wonderful work of the Holy Spirit and I was reminded and I want to remind you.

Are you alive? Spiritually tonight. Because many of us can go through the motions, but are you alive spiritually? Do you have the Holy Spirit upon you and God's Word is in your heart like a burning fire?

And I just love the things of God and the Holy Spirit is upon me. You're ministering to people you're praying for people or are you dying? Spiritually. Because that can change tonight as well. You have to surrender.

Prophetic Fulfillment in the Birth of Christ

He was waiting because the scriptures foretold of his birth. Simeon was waiting for Jesus because the scriptures foretold of his birth now. This was challenging because there are 300 or so scriptures dealing with the fulfillment of Jesus Christ.

Would you like to sit and go through all 300? Some yes. No. Okay. Here's what you do. Google all 300 and you just. It's amazing, but just some highlights. He was born of a woman now. Keep in mind. This is written hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years before Jesus was even born.

That's why I don't understand the Pharisees. I don't understand the religious leaders who they they knew the scriptures. They knew the Torah. They knew they knew it. They studied it and what and when they see everything happening what happened?

How can you the heart the hardness of the heart the the human heart can get so hard. That you cannot be receptive and open when God is slapping you in the face. It's right there. It's crystal clear and you can still turn a deaf ear to what God is doing.

But he was born of a woman in Bethlehem a descendant of Abraham from the lion from the tribe of Judah. The lion of the tribe of Judah. There was a massacre of children would take place a messenger would pair prepare the way being John the Baptist.

His own people would reject him. He was crucified with criminals. They gambled for his garments. No bone would be broken and on and on it goes that the Bible also says that he is the final Sacrifice the final of a Passover lamb and what happened in the Old Testament.

They used a lamb. And in the Passover When they were delivering the children of Israel were being delivered and when they put the blood on their door. When the ain't death angel came by he saw the blood he would pass over that house.

He would leave and that's where that word comes from. And now we see Jesus filling that role that role Verse 26 and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death. We're again talking about Simeon before he had seen the Lord's Christ so he came by the Spirit into the temple the Holy Spirit led him into the temple and when the Parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law.

Simeon’s Prophecy and the Gospel’s Conviction

He took him up in his arms and blessed God and said Lord now you're letting your servant depart in peace according to your word for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all peoples a light to Bring revelation to Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel and Joseph and his mother marveled at those things Which were spoken of him then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother Behold this child.

This is critical. This child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign which will you be be spoken against? Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul. Also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed may be opened.

And on this on this line here. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul. Also something we forget about Christianity is the gospel the good news. Right that we're talking about the gospel condemns you before it releases you.

I've stated that many times before the gospel will con the gospel condemns me. I'm condemned and then it releases. If you Surrender and if you repent the gospel penetrates and hurts before it heals it shows me my sin.

Then I see my need for a Savior. See what there's always a double-edged sword the gospel hurts to help it convicts to Restore it makes person upset to ultimately bring peace. I mean we just sang that song didn't we know well know.

Well, come and see what God has done. God says come and drink of the water freely come to me all your weak and heavy laden I will give you rest come to me and let me show you salvation. Come and see what God has done.

It's always an invitation. Always an invitation. And what happens though people their hearts get hard and I don't want that He shall be called wonderful counselor and mighty God. Those are two titles.

Jesus as Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace

I wish I had Time to go through but if you're going through a challenging situation, and you don't know where to go. You don't have you don't have answers things are confusing. He is wonderful counselor.

Me wonderful is is is the totality of what God knows his direction his guidance. He's a wonderful counselor. Everlasting Father mighty God Prince of Peace. He's mighty the enemy. That's why I often say the devil and Jesus are not equal.

They're not fighting to get equal. Jesus has overcome the line of the tribe of Judah has Overcome these are titles. He has he's not working for these so if you need counsel if you need direction take it to God.