February 08, 2003(13)
THE MIRACLE OF RENEWED CAPABILITIES. The power and virtue of a name change. The Lord took a letter from His own name JHVH and inserted it in the name of Abram, (high father). Changing his name to Abraham (father of a multitude). Gen. 17:5 The name of his wife was changed from Sarai (ruler) to (princess or queen). The letter h, which He used is the <heth> in Hebrew. It is the eighth letter in the Hebrew alphabet and is significant of resurrection and revival. Isaac was born of parents that were as < good as dead >. Heb. 11:12 The impossible became the fact by the power and virtue of the promises of the Lord. ALL THINGS are possible to those who believe. Mark 9:23 The Lord is unlimited in all of His intents and designs. He will accomplish all that He has promised in His Word. In Abraham and Sarah the Lord started to build a dynasty that would be eternal and everlasting.
MESSIANIC CAPABILITIES. Jesus is the continuation of that reign which will rule from the New Jerusalem in the ages to come. Jesus, born in a miraculous manner. Born of a virgin. Not after the will of man but after the divine will and intent of God the Father. To accomplish His will the Lord has and will bypass the usual to do the unusual. Among the titles given Christ In the great prophetic utterance of His birth and subsequent ministries is one that is extremely interesting. He will be the < everlasting Father >. This has no reference to any other person, except the Lord Jesus Christ. He is destined to be a Father. He is not the Father of the redeemed. As our redeemer He is granted many titles and positions but never is He called our Father. Even so, He is called the everlasting Father. Isa. 9:6 The word is as eternal as eternal can be meant to mean. It bears the connotation of perpetuity, eternal, world without end. It is not intended to portray Him as the Father of eternity, but to be just exactly what He is declared to be, the everlasting Father.
OF THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT, THERE SHALL BE NO END. Isa. 9:7 It is extremely difficult to obtain opinions pertaining to the previous statement and this one. Most commentaries seem to ignore them. They are vital and of great importance, else the Lord would never have Isaiah record them. The Lord is eternal. Everything about Him is everlasting. He has never ceased to exist and have being, nor will He ever. All that He accomplishes is for eternity. He builds for that which shall never end. Therefore it is not strange to read that of the increase, the growth and expansion of His domain and empire there will be no end. The responsibility of leadership and government is to be on His shoulders. The high priest bore the twelve stones with the twelve names of the tribes of Israel on His shoulders. So, the Lord Jesus, the great shepherd, our High Priest, our Governor will be responsible for the establishment of an eternal government and an eternal nation.