Name Above Every Name - The Name Foretold

Devotional

Day 1: The Wonderful Counselor Who Knows and Guides Us

Jesus is the source of all wisdom and truth, offering counsel that is perfect and complete. He is not merely a good teacher; He is wisdom and truth in His very essence. He knows you intimately, understanding your deepest thoughts, desires, and needs. His divine guidance transcends all earthly wisdom, providing a sure foundation for every decision and circumstance. You can trust His counsel completely, for He knows exactly what you need. [07:38]

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 ESV)

Reflection: As you face a specific decision or uncertainty this week, what would it look like to actively seek the counsel of Jesus, the source of all wisdom, rather than relying solely on your own understanding or the advice of others?

Day 2: The Mighty God Who Fights For Us

The title "Mighty God" reveals Jesus as a divine warrior, not a distant or passive deity. He is the champion who fights for His people, possessing power over every force of nature, sickness, and spiritual darkness. His might was displayed in calming storms, healing diseases, and ultimately conquering sin and death. This truth offers profound hope, reminding us that no challenge is too great for Him. In every situation, we can find strength in His limitless power. [13:11]

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life are you currently facing a storm or a giant that feels overwhelming? How might your perspective change if you truly believed that the Mighty God is fighting for you in that situation?

Day 3: The Everlasting Father Who Reigns Forever

Jesus is the eternal king whose rule and reign have no end. His fatherly care and sovereign authority are not temporary but extend from before time began into eternity future. He is the creator and sustainer of all things, holding everything together by His powerful word. This eternal reign is our sure hope, a promise that He is making all things new and will one day return to fully establish His kingdom of justice and righteousness forever. [18:05]

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. (Isaiah 9:7 ESV)

Reflection: When the news cycle or your personal circumstances tempt you to believe that chaos reigns, how can you actively remind your heart of the eternal, unchanging reign of Christ, your Everlasting Father?

Day 4: The Prince of Peace in Our Troubles

True and lasting peace is found not in the absence of trouble, but in the presence of a person: Jesus, the Prince of Peace. He Himself told us that in this world we will have trouble, but we can take heart because He has overcome the world. His peace is not like the world's peace; it is a deep, guarding peace that transcends human understanding and protects our hearts and minds even in the most difficult circumstances. [22:20]

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 ESV)

Reflection: What specific trouble or anxiety are you holding onto today that you need to exchange for the heart-guarding peace that only Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can provide?

Day 5: The Saving Name Revealed for Us

The name "Jesus" was given by God Himself and reveals His ultimate purpose: to save His people from their sins. It is the English form of "Yeshua," which means "The Lord saves." This is not a name chosen by human parents, but a divine declaration of His mission. He is also called "Immanuel," which means "God with us," showing that He does not save from a distance but comes near to be with us, offering Himself as the sacrifice for our sin. [28:22]

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21 ESV)

Reflection: In what practical way can you live today in the freedom and confidence that comes from being known and saved by Jesus, the one whose very name means "The Lord saves"?

Sermon Summary

Names carry expectation and shape response. The passage opens by pointing to Isaiah’s long‑ago prophecy that assigns four royal titles to the coming Savior: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Isaiah frames hope for a people in distress by announcing a divine ruler whose government will rest on his shoulders; those titles declare identity and purpose before the name appears. The Gospels then identify that name as Jesus—Yeshua, the Lord who saves—and Matthew recounts the angelic instruction that reveals his mission: to save his people from their sins.

The title Wonderful Counselor highlights divine wisdom incarnate. Jesus does more than teach; he embodies wisdom and addresses both the visible need and the deeper spiritual problem—sin. Examples in scripture show him diagnosing hearts, forgiving sin, and connecting law and mercy in ways human leaders cannot replicate. As the Mighty God, Jesus exercises sovereign power over nature, sickness, demons, and death; his miracles display that no created force can rival his authority. That power reassures a people facing threats and affirms that God actively fights for his own.

Everlasting Father names the reignal and protective aspect of the Messiah’s rule. The phrase signals a fatherly governance that endures, fulfills Davidic promise, and upholds justice continuously rather than temporarily. The kingdom stands in the tension of “already and not yet,” inaugurated by Christ but awaiting consummation at his return. The title Prince of Peace closes the portrait: Jesus administers God’s shalom, providing present peace amid trials and promising ultimate reconciliation of all things.

When the angel directs the name Jesus, the prophetic titles find specific fulfillment: Yeshua means “the Lord saves,” and Emmanuel means “God with us.” Together those names describe how God rescues—by coming near, assuming human life, and offering himself as ransom. The passage urges turning to the person named above every name for wisdom, power, fatherly rule, and peace, and points faithful practice—prayer, thanksgiving, trust—toward him as the source of enduring hope and salvation.

Key Takeaways

1. The Wonderful Counselor in Jesus Jesus embodies wisdom, not merely instruction. His counsel meets surface needs and uncovers heart realities, showing that true guidance locates sin and points to mercy. Turning to him reframes questions from problem solving to covenant trust, inviting dependence on a wisdom that knows each person fully. [06:31]
2. The Mighty God fights Divine might in Jesus means God does battle on behalf of the weak and afflicted. Miracles and authority over nature and death reveal a rescuing power that refuses to be merely symbolic. Trust in him reorients fear into hope because the One who governs creation also governs individual hardship. [12:15]
3. Everlasting Father and reign Fatherhood here names a sustaining, just, and enduring rule rather than mere paternal sentiment. The Messiah’s reign fulfills covenant promises and secures a future where justice and restoration persist without end. Living under that rule reshapes how the present kingdom is endured and anticipated. [17:12]
4. Prince of Peace brings lasting shalom Peace in Christ transcends temporary calm; it guards heart and mind amid trouble and points forward to cosmic reconciliation. This peace functions as both present resource—anchoring prayer and thanksgiving—and future promise when all wrongs meet redemptive repair. Practicing prayer rooted in thanksgiving lets this peace govern anxious thought. [20:29]
5. Jesus named to save sinners The specific name Jesus (Yeshua) declares purpose: the Lord saves by coming near as Emmanuel. Salvation unfolds through God’s entrance into human life, substitutionary love, and resurrection victory that pulls sinners into covenant life. Faith in that name aligns daily trust with the reality of a God who entered history to rescue. [27:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - Names: expectation and emotion
[03:35] - Isaiah’s prophecy and purpose
[06:31] - Wonderful Counselor explained
[12:15] - Mighty God displayed in miracles
[17:12] - Everlasting Father and eternal reign
[20:29] - Prince of Peace: present and future
[27:59] - Name revealed: Jesus and Emmanuel

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Observation questions

What four titles does Isaiah 9:6 assign to the coming child, and what is said about the government’s relationship to him?
According to the angel’s instruction in Matthew 1:21, what specific name is given to the child and what is the purpose of that name?
How does the title “Wonderful Counselor” differ from merely being a wise teacher or advisor? [07:38]
What demonstration of power did Jesus show in Luke 8 that caused the disciples to ask, “Who is this?” [14:23]

Interpretation questions

Why might Isaiah have chosen to describe the coming ruler with titles like “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father” hundreds of years before his birth, especially during a time of national distress for Israel?
Jesus is called both “Wonderful Counselor” and “Prince of Peace.” How do these two roles work together in his ministry and in a believer’s life?
The name “Jesus” means “the Lord saves,” and “Emmanuel” means “God with us.” How do these two names work together to explain the method and purpose of salvation? [31:11]
The kingdom of God is described as “already and not yet.” What does this tension mean for how believers experience peace and power in the present age? [18:24]

Application questions

When facing a difficult decision or seeking guidance, how can you intentionally turn to Jesus as your Wonderful Counselor instead of relying only on human wisdom or quick fixes? [12:15]
The title “Mighty God” means Jesus fights for his people. What situation in your life right now requires you to trust in his power rather than your own strength or understanding?
The “peace of God” is said to guard our hearts and minds. What practical steps can you take this week to move from anxiety to prayer and thanksgiving when worries arise? [24:22]
How does remembering that Jesus is the “Everlasting Father”—a king who reigns forever—change the way you view current struggles, injustices, or personal suffering?
In what area of your life do you most need to embrace the truth that God is “with you” right now, and how can you actively rely on his presence this week?
The name “Jesus” declares that “the Lord saves.” How does this truth influence the way you share hope with others who are feeling burdened by guilt, shame, or sin?

Sermon Clips

22s

#JesusIsWisdom

“See, what we see in the gospels is that Jesus, he's not just a good teacher. He is a good teacher. But he's a different kind of teacher. Because Jesus doesn't just have wisdom, he is wisdom. He doesn't just speak truth, he is truth in his very essence.”

26s

#TruthInJesus

“See, church, if you're looking for counsel, if you're looking for wisdom, if you're looking for truth, it's found in a person. Truth and wisdom are found in Jesus. There's no other name to look for. He's the name that transcends names. He's the name that's above all names. He is wisdom and truth.”

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