Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube
The Intentional Life
  • Listen
  • Watch
  • Read
  • Attend
  • About
    • About Dr. Randy Carlson
    • Stay Connected
    • Membership
    • Contact
    • Share your Story
    • Who Is Jesus?
    • Found on Family Life Radio
    • Free Resources
  • Donate
Menu
  • Listen
  • Watch
  • Read
  • Attend
  • About
    • About Dr. Randy Carlson
    • Stay Connected
    • Membership
    • Contact
    • Share your Story
    • Who Is Jesus?
    • Found on Family Life Radio
    • Free Resources
  • Donate

Context (Part 1)

  • January 10, 2018
Steven Davis

Steven Davis

Every year around this time, Dr. Randy does a program called One Word for One Year, where he asks you to choose a word that becomes your theme or brand for the year. At one point I had chosen Consistent as my word for the upcoming year, but after going for a walk, I realized my word was really context.

For Advent I taught through a series at my church called Prophecies for Christmas. And the first two I tackled were Isaiah 7 and 9. Here they are. You probably know them.

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 NAS)

“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 NAS)

Most of us know these verses from Christmas Eve services, but did you know that’s not all of either prophecy? So what’s the context?

The rest of the prophecy from chapter 7 is a good news, bad news situation. And the bad news is the kings of Egypt and Assyria were going to swarm in and wipe out Ahaz’s kingdom. So part of the prophecy happened within a few years and had national repercussions. The other part happened 700 years later and was fulfilled with the birth of Christ, which had global repercussions.

For the prophecy from chapter 9, it’s all good news. First, 700 hundred years after Isaiah’s time, a child was born, a son was given—Jesus. The earlier verses of the prophecy speak to the nature and role of Christ:

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” (Isaiah 9:2 NAS). This perfectly describes Jesus. Why?

“He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!’” (Luke 2:28-32 NLT)

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’” (John 8:12 NAS)

There’s a third part of the prophecy from chapter 9: “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:7 NAS).

Those are 700-year-old and 3000-year-old prophecies. Why 3000 years? Because that kingdom will increase and will be “upheld in justice and righteousness” forevermore. That’s yet to be, which means, we’re in the middle of this prophecy! We’re in the middle of its context.

So when we look at these three parts of the prophecy, we have to ask these huge questions: How do you fit, and how are you fitting within the truth and scope of God’s Word? Are you knowledgeable or ignorant? Obedient or rebellious? Consistent or erratic? Intentional or haphazard? Another way to put it: How are you doing?

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 ESV)

“Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NLT)

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:3-6 NLT)

There’s a second question we need to ask, and join me next time for that.

[bctt tweet=”Most of us know these verses from Christmas Eve services, but did you know that’s not all of either prophecy?” username=”TheILCenter”]

Go Deeper

Has this article been encouraging? Take your intentional life in Christ to the next level and you can receive ongoing, monthly coaching from Dr. Randy Carlson. Become a member of the Intentional Living Center today with your monthly gift of any amount.

Donate Button

 

CATEGORIES
Popular Posts

Your Windows are Unique

Finding a balanced perspective through the head, heart and hand If you recall, earlier this

Read More »

Your Window to the World

How Head, Heart and Hands provide you with a unique perspective Whenever you look out

Read More »

Your Response for Such a Time as This

You’ve probably seen it all by now. Your inbox teems messages from every organization or

Read More »

Your Life Lived on the Face of a Clock

6 things to consider for how you live out God’s purpose Thinking of our lives

Read More »

Words Matter – A Look at God’s Intentions for Your Words and His

Dr. Randy Carlson   What people say to you can make you feel better or

Read More »
Previous Next

Related Articles

Loading...

It’s All in Your Attitude

Dealing with Roadblocks and Resistance

Nine Habits of an Intentional Parent

Site Links

  • About Dr. Randy
  • Statement of Faith
  • Ways to listen
  • Donation Info
  • Financial Statements
  • Prayer Wall
  • Who Is Jesus?
  • Share Your Story
  • Free Resources
  • Contest Rules
  • About Dr. Randy
  • Statement of Faith
  • Ways to listen
  • Donation Info
  • Financial Statements
  • Prayer Wall
  • Who Is Jesus?
  • Share Your Story
  • Free Resources
  • Contest Rules

About

Intentional Living

National Ministry Headquarters |
PO Box 35300 – Tucson, AZ
85740 | (800) 776-1070

EFCA


Tax ID

#86-0672542

Charity Navigator

Latest Episodes

Open Phones

February 2, 2023

Faith, family, finances, health, and work. Around here we call those the 5 essentials. Any of them problematic? Any questions come to mind? Sign up

Read More »

Open Phones

February 1, 2023

When you look into the face of your child, or your spouse, or your boss, any questions come to mind? Now the question is: who

Read More »

Subscribe to our weekly broadcast and updates

Support Intentional Living

Your donation makes a difference!

DONATE!

Social

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube

© 2023 Copyright Family Life Communications Incorporated. All rights reserved.    Privacy Policy