”The Light That Shatters Darkness” Sunday Morning December 7th

This sermon explores Isaiah 9:6's prophecy of the Messiah by examining the historical context of 8th century BC Israel, when both northern and southern kingdoms had fallen into political corruption, moral debauchery, and spiritual darkness. Pastor Joe Fant demonstrates how God, through the prophet Isaiah, promised a coming child who would be the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This prophecy was fulfilled 700 years later when Jesus began His ministry in Galilee—the very region Isaiah identified. The sermon emphasizes that while human governments and political alliances fail, Jesus established an eternal kingdom of justice and righteousness. God pursues His people even in their darkest moments, and the baby in the manger represents God's zealous love for His people, offering hope, victory over sin and death, and eternal joy to those who turn to Him in faith.

Key Points:

• The historical context reveals three types of darkness in Isaiah's time: political (corrupt kings seeking pagan alliances), moral (idol worship and child sacrifice), and spiritual (turning to demons and necromancers instead of God)
• King Ahaz in the south and King Pekah in the north both rejected God and led the people into wickedness, seeking protection from Assyria through political alliances rather than trusting God
• Isaiah prophesied that the regions first devastated by darkness (Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee) would be the first to see the great light
• Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by beginning His ministry in Galilee, bringing the light of the gospel to the darkest places first
• The victory Jesus won through His death and resurrection surpasses even Gideon's miraculous victory over 135,000 Midianites with only 300 men
• Jesus is the child born and son given who possesses perfect government, eternal wisdom, divine power, and brings true peace
• The solution to darkness is unwavering loyalty to Scripture and proper fear of the Lord, not looking to worldly solutions
• God pursues His people even when they are far from Him, demonstrating His zeal and love through sending prophets, His Word, and ultimately His Son

Scripture Reference:

• Isaiah 9:1-7 (primary focus on verse 6)
• Isaiah 8:12-22 (context of darkness and calling to Scripture)
• Isaiah 1:2-4, 21-23 (description of Israel's moral corruption)
• 2 Kings 16 (King Ahaz's wickedness)
• 2 Kings 15:27-28 (King Pekah's evil reign)
• Matthew 4:12-17 (Jesus beginning ministry in Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy)
• John 1:1-14 (Jesus as the Light of the world)
• 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (victory over death through Christ)