April 9, 2024 • 12 mins
Welcome to The Heartbeat of Faith Podcast, In this enlightening episode, hosted by the esteemed Dr. Andrew Farley, we will embark on a spiritual journey through d Christmas themes embedded within the pages of the Bible. Today's focus turns to Isaiah 9, where an iconic prophecy of Christ's birth is unveiled, offering five remarkable names for the coming Messiah: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Dr. Farley's passionate exploration dives deep into the meaning of Jesus as our Counselor, contrasting it with the sinister counsel that brought darkness into the world.
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In a gripping saga, we uncover the devious serpent's role in the Garden of Eden, spewing deceitful counsel that led humanity astray. The tragic enticement of becoming one's own god set the course of evil for generations. Yet, Dr. Farley highlights that Jesus seeks to undo this narrative, offering a path of righteousness, life, and order through His divine counsel. In another episode, "The Sermon on the Mount," we witness Jesus delivering powerful guidance, emphasizing the importance of treating others with kindness and the narrow path to the kingdom of God.
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For more encouragement in God's grace visit AndrewFarley.org.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray with my whole heart. I have sought you.
Don't let me wander from your commandments. I have hidden
your word in my heart that I might not sin
against you. Psalm Chapter one, nineteen, verses ten and eleven. Lord,
I thank you for your wise counsel. You are the
(00:24):
fountain of eternal wisdom, and I seek your guidance in
all things. Though I may not always understand your will
or why specific paths are taken, I thank you that
through your help and insight, I can recognize what is
true and pure. May the fruit of your spirit be
my patience in making difficult decisions. And I trust that
(00:48):
no matter what door I walk through, there you are
on the other side, because you always live in me.
In Jesus name, Amen, thank you for praying with me today.
Now discover the profound intricacies of the heartbeat of faith
with doctor Andrew Farley.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Long ago from the pan of Isaiah, a Christmas prophecy
broke forth and filled desperate hearts with hope.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
For unto us a child is born, unto us, a
son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called wonderful counselor the Mighty God,
the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, of the increase
of his government and peace. There shall be no end
(01:49):
upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom. To
order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice.
From henceforth ever forever, the zeal of the Lord of
Hosts will perform this Isaiah nine six through seven.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
These names for the Messiah embody his mission for mankind,
and they reveal how we can relate to him every day.
Welcome to the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. I'm your host
Andrew Farley, and it's a joy to be with you.
Today we're exploring Christmas themes found in the Bible. Today
(02:32):
we look at Isaiah nine, the most iconic prophecy about
Christ's birth. It was written to the people of Israel
during a difficult time. In this passage, Isaiah described a
child that would be born and gave him five unique names,
Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, ever Lasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
(02:58):
Today we seek to understand Jesus's title as our counselor
deceitful counsel is what brought darkness into the world.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Yet in the garden, there was a lurking evil in
the form of a serpent. He was crafty and a
deceitful messenger, determined to lure man away from God's loving presence.
While God spoke life into existence, the serpent spoke death.
His words directed towards Eve. Trying to twist and deceive.
(03:35):
He approached her saying, did God really say you could
not eat from any tree in the garden? Eve replied,
we may eat of the fruit of the trees in
the garden. However, God instructed us not to eat of
the fruit of the tree of good and evil, nor
shall we touch it lest we die. The serpent, knowing
(03:58):
that pride was the path away from God, God said,
you will not surely die. God knows that when you
eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you
will be like him, knowing all good and evil. This
enticed Eve, and has enticed humanity for all generations after her.
(04:18):
The possibility of being our own gods has directed the
path of evil for thousands of years.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Satan disguised himself as a counselor and offered devastating advice.
Evil counsel provoked Eve to rebel against God, bringing sin,
death and devastation to our world. Jesus, being the word
of God himself, wants to do the opposite. His words
(04:46):
bring righteousness and life into our world.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
There was a pause, and Jesus stood to his feet.
The wind blew from behind him, and his robe flowed
in the wind. He stepped down once and raised his voice.
He did not want anyone to miss his next words.
Treat others the way you wish to be treated. This
is the true heart behind the law of God. And
(05:14):
understand this that the gate to the Kingdom of God
is narrow. The easy path is wide and open. However,
its ease is deceptive. It is the way of death.
The true path of God is hard. It requires sacrifice, struggle,
and humility. This is why many will choose to avoid it. Ultimately,
(05:36):
a tree is judged by its fruit. Every healthy and
good tree bears fruit that people can enjoy. Every bad
tree produces thorns and poison. The same as with our hearts.
A good heart will produce good actions. Likewise a bad
heart will produce corrupt actions. Make no mistake, words are
not enough. Not every one who declares to know the
(05:59):
Lord will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
The sweet counsel of Jesus foreshadowed the truth about our
identity as good trees bearing good fruit. In Christ, We've
been made new creations with hearts that are good and pure.
We are the fragrance of Christ and the righteousness of
God in this world. Our actions and words flow from
(06:26):
the goodness within us. We no longer have to strive
or struggle to produce good fruit, because it's our new
nature to do so. We are holy, blameless, and children
of God, fully accepted and loved. Let this truth sink
deep into your mind as you go about your day,
(06:47):
knowing that you are walking in the fullness of who
you are in Christ. Embrace your newness and live in
the freedom and joy that comes from being a god
good tree bearing the fruit of love, kindness, and righteousness.
Rejoice in the truth that you are a reflection of
(07:11):
God's goodness and grace in this world. Righteous men and
women of sound judgment have altered the course of history
through their wisdom.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Judging over Israel at that time was Deborah. She was
a strong and wise woman, a prophetess devoted to God.
People would often seek Deborah's wisdom and come to her
with disputes. Her pragmatism, discernment, and sensitivity to God's spirit
made her a leader worth following. When the oppressive hand
(07:47):
of Jabin pressed upon the throat of Israel, Deborah sent
for Barak, a commander of Israel's army. Barak came at
once and stood at attention before Deborah. She spoke to him, saying,
the Lord has commanded you to take ten thousand soldiers
and go against Cisarah. Daniel paused and looked deep in
(08:11):
the king's eyes. He was a truly terrifying man, large, muscular,
and demanding of power. However, Daniel could see a deep
hurt behind him. Underneath the rough exterior was a tortured soul.
No wise man or enchanter can know the mystery the
king has asked, Daniel replied. The King's brows furrowed and
(08:33):
he was about to raise his fist at Daniel. However,
Daniel continued, there is a God in heaven who knows
all and sees all. He has made known to me
your dream, not because I am wise or special, but
because the Lord has a message for you.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
These men and women spoke with kings and commanders to
steer the people of Israel to salvation, their lives pointed
for forward to Christ. Just like Isaiah's prophecy, today Christ
endwells us and plays a vital role as our counselor.
He's not only our comforter and helper, but he also
(09:13):
reminds us of who we are as children of God.
In moments of doubt or confusion, he counsels us and
provides wisdom beyond our understanding. Romans eight sixteen tells us
that the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that
(09:34):
we are children of God. This means that the indwelling
Christ affirms our identity and assures us of our secure
position in Him. Even more, the indwelling Christ is always
available to guide and counsel us in the moment we
need it. In John fourteen twenty six, Jesus promises that
(09:58):
the Holy Spirit, whom he'll send, will teach us all
things and bring to our remembrance all that he has
said to us. This shows that the indwelling Christ is
our source of wisdom and understanding, guiding us in every
decision and circumstance. As our counselor, the indwelling Christ intercedes
(10:23):
for us when we don't know how to pray. Romans
eight tells us that the Spirit helps us in our
weakness and intercedes for us with groanings that are too
deep for words. This means that even when we struggle
to find the right words or express our needs, the
indwelling Jesus Christ prays on our behalf, uttering prayers that
(10:48):
align with the heart of God. Our counselor the indwelling
Christ is our helper and our strength. In Philippians four,
Paul declares that he can do all things through Christ,
who strengthens him. This reminds us that we don't have
to rely on our own abilities, but we can depend
(11:10):
on the indwelling Jesus to empower us and provide everything
we need even in our darkest hour. The indwelling Christ
is not a distant religious figure from the past, but
he is our very life in the present. Galatians two
twenty says, I've been crucified with Christ. It is no
(11:33):
longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
This shows us that the indwelling Christ is not separate
from us, but he lives within us, guiding and empowering
us from the inside out. We can trust in his
presence and rely on him to inspire our hearts. Thank you,
(12:00):
Thank you for listening to today's episode of the Heartbeat
of Faith podcast. Follow the podcast so you can learn
the Bible in this entertaining and inspiring way. Download the
Prey dot com app, and for more encouragement in God's grace,
visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's Andrew Farley dot org.
Let us pray with my whole heart. I have sought you.
Don't let me wander from your commandments. I have hidden
your word in my heart that I might not sin
against you. Psalm Chapter one, nineteen, verses ten and eleven. Lord,
I thank you for your wise counsel. You are the
(00:24):
fountain of eternal wisdom, and I seek your guidance in
all things. Though I may not always understand your will
or why specific paths are taken, I thank you that
through your help and insight, I can recognize what is
true and pure. May the fruit of your spirit be
my patience in making difficult decisions. And I trust that
(00:48):
no matter what door I walk through, there you are
on the other side, because you always live in me.
In Jesus name, Amen, thank you for praying with me today.
Now discover the profound intricacies of the heartbeat of faith
with doctor Andrew Farley.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Long ago from the pan of Isaiah, a Christmas prophecy
broke forth and filled desperate hearts with hope.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
For unto us a child is born, unto us, a
son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called wonderful counselor the Mighty God,
the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, of the increase
of his government and peace. There shall be no end
(01:49):
upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom. To
order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice.
From henceforth ever forever, the zeal of the Lord of
Hosts will perform this Isaiah nine six through seven.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
These names for the Messiah embody his mission for mankind,
and they reveal how we can relate to him every day.
Welcome to the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. I'm your host
Andrew Farley, and it's a joy to be with you.
Today we're exploring Christmas themes found in the Bible. Today
(02:32):
we look at Isaiah nine, the most iconic prophecy about
Christ's birth. It was written to the people of Israel
during a difficult time. In this passage, Isaiah described a
child that would be born and gave him five unique names,
Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, ever Lasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
(02:58):
Today we seek to understand Jesus's title as our counselor
deceitful counsel is what brought darkness into the world.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Yet in the garden, there was a lurking evil in
the form of a serpent. He was crafty and a
deceitful messenger, determined to lure man away from God's loving presence.
While God spoke life into existence, the serpent spoke death.
His words directed towards Eve. Trying to twist and deceive.
(03:35):
He approached her saying, did God really say you could
not eat from any tree in the garden? Eve replied,
we may eat of the fruit of the trees in
the garden. However, God instructed us not to eat of
the fruit of the tree of good and evil, nor
shall we touch it lest we die. The serpent, knowing
(03:58):
that pride was the path away from God, God said,
you will not surely die. God knows that when you
eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you
will be like him, knowing all good and evil. This
enticed Eve, and has enticed humanity for all generations after her.
(04:18):
The possibility of being our own gods has directed the
path of evil for thousands of years.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Satan disguised himself as a counselor and offered devastating advice.
Evil counsel provoked Eve to rebel against God, bringing sin,
death and devastation to our world. Jesus, being the word
of God himself, wants to do the opposite. His words
(04:46):
bring righteousness and life into our world.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
There was a pause, and Jesus stood to his feet.
The wind blew from behind him, and his robe flowed
in the wind. He stepped down once and raised his voice.
He did not want anyone to miss his next words.
Treat others the way you wish to be treated. This
is the true heart behind the law of God. And
(05:14):
understand this that the gate to the Kingdom of God
is narrow. The easy path is wide and open. However,
its ease is deceptive. It is the way of death.
The true path of God is hard. It requires sacrifice, struggle,
and humility. This is why many will choose to avoid it. Ultimately,
(05:36):
a tree is judged by its fruit. Every healthy and
good tree bears fruit that people can enjoy. Every bad
tree produces thorns and poison. The same as with our hearts.
A good heart will produce good actions. Likewise a bad
heart will produce corrupt actions. Make no mistake, words are
not enough. Not every one who declares to know the
(05:59):
Lord will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
The sweet counsel of Jesus foreshadowed the truth about our
identity as good trees bearing good fruit. In Christ, We've
been made new creations with hearts that are good and pure.
We are the fragrance of Christ and the righteousness of
God in this world. Our actions and words flow from
(06:26):
the goodness within us. We no longer have to strive
or struggle to produce good fruit, because it's our new
nature to do so. We are holy, blameless, and children
of God, fully accepted and loved. Let this truth sink
deep into your mind as you go about your day,
(06:47):
knowing that you are walking in the fullness of who
you are in Christ. Embrace your newness and live in
the freedom and joy that comes from being a god
good tree bearing the fruit of love, kindness, and righteousness.
Rejoice in the truth that you are a reflection of
(07:11):
God's goodness and grace in this world. Righteous men and
women of sound judgment have altered the course of history
through their wisdom.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Judging over Israel at that time was Deborah. She was
a strong and wise woman, a prophetess devoted to God.
People would often seek Deborah's wisdom and come to her
with disputes. Her pragmatism, discernment, and sensitivity to God's spirit
made her a leader worth following. When the oppressive hand
(07:47):
of Jabin pressed upon the throat of Israel, Deborah sent
for Barak, a commander of Israel's army. Barak came at
once and stood at attention before Deborah. She spoke to him, saying,
the Lord has commanded you to take ten thousand soldiers
and go against Cisarah. Daniel paused and looked deep in
(08:11):
the king's eyes. He was a truly terrifying man, large, muscular,
and demanding of power. However, Daniel could see a deep
hurt behind him. Underneath the rough exterior was a tortured soul.
No wise man or enchanter can know the mystery the
king has asked, Daniel replied. The King's brows furrowed and
(08:33):
he was about to raise his fist at Daniel. However,
Daniel continued, there is a God in heaven who knows
all and sees all. He has made known to me
your dream, not because I am wise or special, but
because the Lord has a message for you.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
These men and women spoke with kings and commanders to
steer the people of Israel to salvation, their lives pointed
for forward to Christ. Just like Isaiah's prophecy, today Christ
endwells us and plays a vital role as our counselor.
He's not only our comforter and helper, but he also
(09:13):
reminds us of who we are as children of God.
In moments of doubt or confusion, he counsels us and
provides wisdom beyond our understanding. Romans eight sixteen tells us
that the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that
(09:34):
we are children of God. This means that the indwelling
Christ affirms our identity and assures us of our secure
position in Him. Even more, the indwelling Christ is always
available to guide and counsel us in the moment we
need it. In John fourteen twenty six, Jesus promises that
(09:58):
the Holy Spirit, whom he'll send, will teach us all
things and bring to our remembrance all that he has
said to us. This shows that the indwelling Christ is
our source of wisdom and understanding, guiding us in every
decision and circumstance. As our counselor, the indwelling Christ intercedes
(10:23):
for us when we don't know how to pray. Romans
eight tells us that the Spirit helps us in our
weakness and intercedes for us with groanings that are too
deep for words. This means that even when we struggle
to find the right words or express our needs, the
indwelling Jesus Christ prays on our behalf, uttering prayers that
(10:48):
align with the heart of God. Our counselor the indwelling
Christ is our helper and our strength. In Philippians four,
Paul declares that he can do all things through Christ,
who strengthens him. This reminds us that we don't have
to rely on our own abilities, but we can depend
(11:10):
on the indwelling Jesus to empower us and provide everything
we need even in our darkest hour. The indwelling Christ
is not a distant religious figure from the past, but
he is our very life in the present. Galatians two
twenty says, I've been crucified with Christ. It is no
(11:33):
longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
This shows us that the indwelling Christ is not separate
from us, but he lives within us, guiding and empowering
us from the inside out. We can trust in his
presence and rely on him to inspire our hearts. Thank you,
(12:00):
Thank you for listening to today's episode of the Heartbeat
of Faith podcast. Follow the podcast so you can learn
the Bible in this entertaining and inspiring way. Download the
Prey dot com app, and for more encouragement in God's grace,
visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's Andrew Farley dot org.
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