Feeling pulled in a hundred directions? In this message, Pastor Eric Robertson will be sharing how the Wonderful Counselor can cut through all of the noise.

King Ahaz (2 Kings 16:1-20) became the King of Judah at 20 years old. The nation of Israel was fractured after Solomon's reign. The Northern Kingdom and their alliances made Judah unstable. Isaiah tells Ahaz and the nation to repent and return to God, then God will deal with the Northern Kingdom (Isaiah 7:8–9). Ahaz refuses and instead creates an unholy alliance with Assyria, using the temple's gold and silver as payment. Assyria helps Ahaz defeat the North, but Ahaz began worshipping Assyrian gods (1 Kings 16:15–19.

What does this have to do with Christmas?

After Ahaz rejects God's counsel, Isaiah prophesies again:

Isaiah 9:6–7

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... He will reign on David's throne... with justice and righteousness... The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

God will solve not only Israel's problems but the world's problems... with a child. In this series, we will look at the four names of this child and see how the names of Jesus can still save the world and save you.

God's Got a Plan

We hear Wonderful Counselor and think Jesus is simply someone we vent to, but what if He is your strategist? "Wonderful Counselor" in Hebrew is:

peleʾ—divine, miraculous, beyond comprehension

yoʿetz—counselor or strategist

Why the Confusion?

We don't have a handful of trusted voices—we have many, and we're faithful to none.

1. We don't want to get things wrong.
2. We want to control outcomes without owning failures.

Result... analysis paralysis. Jesus becomes a voice among many.

What are we missing?

The issue isn't a lack of strategies but too many, and we aren't committed to the one that matters. Our spiritual lives aren't led by King Jesus but by worldly advisors. The names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9 are names of God. Ahaz's willingness to adopt any counsel made him unable to live out his calling. The way of Jesus is not one way among many—it is the ONLY way.

Jesus is not just an Advisor; He is The Advisor. His way works only when we fully commit.

Matthew 13:44–45 — We don't add the Gospel; we sell the farm and buy the field.

Matthew 16:24–26 — We need single-hearted obedience. God's wisdom often contradicts the world's.

When we are faithful to God's counsel, we receive God's outcome.

Next Steps: One Way, One Voice, One Counselor

1. Pick ONE thing God is dealing with you about and obey.
2. Remove ONE voice that weakens your walk.
3. Give God ONE moment of undivided attention daily.

Are you following the Wonderful Counsel of Jesus?