By Brenda Black
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Last week, we wondered over the Wonderful Counselor. This week we'll discover the power of a Mighty God, feared before He was ever born by those in the heavenly realms who knew that this infant babe came to rule the world. We must never forget “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.” (1 John 3:8b)
The fierce Spartans had a saying: “come back with the shield or on top of it” which meant don’t come back unless you are victorious. The samurai were heavily armed soldiers covered in armor and willing to die for their masters. They wielded a sword sharp enough to slice a man in two. The Roman Legion helped establish an empire that was unrivaled in terms of size and power through discipline and strategy and cruel inhumanity. Some of the mightiest warriors in history banked on advanced weaponry, raw courage, loyalty and wit to win wars and conquer millions. But for all their blood, sweat and tears, the battles fought and won were temporary at best. And the might they expended amounted to a mere drop in the bucket to the Almighty Himself.
Mighty God, El Gibbor – Strong, powerful, mighty, champion, hero! The soldiers of Israel are described as “mighty men of valor” in the book of Joshua and the Lord Himself is called “mighty in battle” in Psalm 24:8. Jesus is a powerful warrior and His army is incited to rise in the ranks and go into battle fearless.
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 103-4)
To think of an innocent babe in the manger and sing songs of a holy and silent night are soothing thoughts and sounds of Christmas. But what did it sound like in the heavenly realms when Jesus came to earth? Were there swords drawn by demons and angels? Did the holy charge of God surround that cave and create an impenetrable barrier unseen by human eyes, but gleaming and fierce to the glowering orbs of an army of demons kept at bay and powerless? They couldn't stop His birth. They couldn't stop His purpose.
Christ was born. Christ lived. Christ battled the devil himself in the desert and won! Christ gave up His life and took it back again, conquering the grave! That's the Mighty God who was born a baby!
He's a Wonderful Counselor, deserving of our worship and our obedience. And Jesus is a Mighty God, able to protect and defend us. He promises His strength and commands our allegiance. The battle we wage is not against flesh and blood, but against the dark forces and a deceitful enemy. This Christmas, I am glad that my Jesus has already won the victory and that I live in freedom in a heavenly kingdom secured by a Mighty King!
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