Unwrapping the Perfect Gift: Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace

Devotional

Day 1: A Simple Christmas: Receiving the Good News

This season is joyful, yet memories can ache and needs are real. Choose a simple Christmas that brings Jesus to the forefront and lets lesser things fade. The good news is for all people: a Savior has been born to you, and he invites you to receive him personally. In your home, open Luke 2, pray together, and let hope rise as his presence marks your moments. May this week be centered on the Child given, the Son who saves, and the peace he brings to your heart [27:54].

Luke 2:10–12: The angel reassured them not to be afraid, announcing joyful news meant for everyone. In David’s town a Savior has arrived for you—God’s Anointed, the Lord. You will recognize him when you find a baby wrapped up and resting in a manger.

Reflection: Before your next family gathering, how could you read Luke 2 together and offer a brief, heartfelt prayer for those who are hurting this season?

Day 2: Jesus Our Wonderful Counselor in Confusion

“Wonderful” means beyond comprehension; his wisdom is not ordinary. When decisions weigh heavy, he listens and understands because he has walked our road. He is the High Priest who has felt our struggles and temptations and yet did not sin. You are never without a counselor; draw near and ask for his direction today. Take comfort: his guidance is available, timely, and true [29:07].

Hebrews 4:15: We do not have a high priest who is distant from our weakness; he has shared our pressures and temptations in every way, yet without sin.

Reflection: What decision do you need counsel for, and when this week will you set aside 10 quiet minutes to ask Jesus specific questions and listen?

Day 3: Mighty God, Warrior-King Who Fights for You

You are not defeated when you stand with Jesus. The same Lord who healed the sick, calmed storms, and rose from the grave still moves in power today. When the enemy rushes in like a torrent, God raises a standard and the waters do not overtake you. Your hope is not in your ability but in his strength that never fails. Bring your battles to him and watch courage rise [30:27].

Isaiah 59:19: When opposition sweeps in like a flood, the breath of the LORD drives it back and lifts a banner on behalf of his people.

Reflection: Identify one struggle that feels like a flood—what concrete step will you take to surrender that battle to God (e.g., fasting one meal, asking others to pray, or writing a prayer of release)?

Day 4: Everlasting Father: Constant Love, Secure Belonging

His love does not shift with seasons or depend on your performance. Even when you are inconsistent, he is constant; when you mess up, he is the fixer of your mess. He protects, provides, corrects, and nurtures with perfect fatherly care. In a world of loneliness, he welcomes you into belonging and promises to never leave or forsake you. Trust his perfect track record and rest in his everlasting arms [57:33].

Isaiah 9:6: A child is born for us, a son is given; authority rests on him, and he will be called Wonder-working Counselor, God of power, Father without end, and Prince who brings peace.

Reflection: Who in your life feels alone right now, and how could you embody the Father’s steady love with a specific act of care this week?

Day 5: Prince of Peace: Wholeness in Every Storm

Peace in Scripture is more than the absence of conflict; it is wholeness, harmony, and well-being. Jesus does not merely deliver peace; he is the Prince of Peace, and when he reigns, fear loses its grip. His peace stands guard over your heart and mind even while the winds still blow. He can speak to waves and they listen; he can steady you from the inside out. Receive him afresh today, and let his calm complete you [59:49].

Philippians 4:7: God’s peace goes beyond what we can figure out; through Christ Jesus it stands watch over your heart and your thoughts.

Reflection: What anxious thought greets you most mornings, and what practice will you adopt for the next five days to let Christ’s peace guard that space (breath prayer, a Scripture card, or a short walk)?

Sermon Summary

We stepped into this Advent moment by praying together, recognizing that this season holds both joy and tender memories. I invited you to keep Christmas simple—open Luke 2 with your family, read the story, and let Jesus be at the forefront. We thanked God for the indescribable gift of His Son and asked the Holy Spirit to mark everything we do with His presence. We also set our hearts to generosity, anticipating next week’s offering toward a children’s center—a space where love, hope, and joy become the norm for our kids.

We turned to Isaiah 9:6 and unwrapped the names that reveal who Jesus is and what He brings into our lives. He is our Wonderful Counselor—wisdom beyond comprehension, present and attentive when life is confusing. He is our Mighty God—the warrior King who strengthens the weak, fights what we cannot, and raises a standard when the flood comes. He is our Everlasting Father—constant, unchanging love that doesn’t rise and fall with our performance, the Father of eternity who sustains, protects, and corrects us in perfect care. And He is our Prince of Peace—shalom that is more than the absence of conflict; it is wholeness that steadies hearts and homes, even when storms remain.

I invited anyone who has not received this perfect gift to respond—to acknowledge the need for a Savior and to receive Jesus by faith. When you are born again, destiny shifts, and you enter the family of God. We prayed for the Lord to be our Counselor when we’re confused, our Mighty God when we’re weak, our Everlasting Father when we feel alone, and our Prince of Peace when our hearts are troubled. As we head into Christmas, let’s unwrap the fullness of who He is and share this good news with our community, trusting Him to bring deep peace and lasting change.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor today His counsel is not borrowed wisdom; it is divine insight that meets us in the real weight of our decisions. He listens as One who has felt our infirmities and knows our temptations from the inside. When uncertainty presses, He does not rush us past our questions—He walks with us through them. His wisdom aims not only to inform but to transform. [57:06]
2. He fights as our Mighty God Our confidence does not come from our capacity but from His unrivaled strength. He is the warrior King who steps into battles we cannot win and stands beside us when we feel overmatched. His raised standard does more than repel the flood; it reframes our future as people not defined by defeat. Hope grows where His might is trusted. [58:32]
3. Everlasting Father with constant care His love is not seasonal, sentimental, or performance-based—it is rooted in His eternal nature. He fathers us by protecting, providing, correcting, and staying when others cannot. This steadiness frees us from the exhausting project of self-justification and invites us to live as sons and daughters. Constancy is the miracle we stand on. [60:07]
4. Prince of Peace brings wholeness Peace is not the absence of storms but the presence of a Person who completes us. Shalom mends what is fragmented—hearts, homes, and habits—so that fear loses authority and unity takes root. His peace guards mind and heart, enabling us to act wisely amid chaos. This is a durable calm, not a fragile truce. [62:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:54] - Greeting and prayer focus
[29:07] - Read Luke 2 with family
[29:45] - Opening prayer and names of Jesus
[31:26] - Offering and children’s center vision
[55:07] - Transition to the Word
[55:31] - Isaiah 9:6 introduced
[57:06] - Wonderful Counselor: divine wisdom
[58:32] - Mighty God: our warrior King
[60:07] - Everlasting Father: constant love
[62:33] - Prince of Peace: wholeness and calm
[64:43] - The perfect gift invitation
[66:44] - Prayer of response
[68:42] - Kids’ play introduction
[102:02] - Closing blessing and candlelight invite

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Isaiah 9:6

Observation questions

Read Isaiah 9:6. What are the four names given there, and what image or immediate hope does each name raise in your mind? [55:31]
The title "Wonderful Counselor" was described as wisdom beyond comprehension that walks with us through questions. Where in Luke 2 or your life have you seen God’s counsel appear in the middle of confusion? [57:06]
The name "Mighty God" was described as a warrior King who raises a standard when the flood comes. What kinds of "floods" (overwhelming problems, fear, enemies) most easily make you try to fight on your own? [58:32]
"Prince of Peace" was explained as shalom—completeness and well‑being, not merely absence of conflict. What signs distinguish a fragile calm from the durable shalom described here? [01:02:33]

Interpretation questions

What does calling Jesus "Everlasting Father" imply about his way of caring for people across failures, seasons, and time? [01:00:07]
How should the idea of Jesus as "Wonderful Counselor" change the way a person approaches prayer, decision‑making, and seeking advice? [57:06]
How does understanding Jesus as "Mighty God" reshape how a community should respond to injustice, fear, or spiritual opposition? [58:32]
In what ways does the title "Prince of Peace" reframe priorities for family life and church unity during a busy or anxious season? [01:02:33]

Application questions

Make a plan to read Luke 2 aloud with family or a friend this week. Who will you invite, on what day, and how will you keep it simple and focused on Jesus? [29:07]
When you face a confusing decision this week, what concrete steps will you take to seek the Wonderful Counselor (scripture read, quiet time, asking a mature Christian for prayer)? Set a time and person who will help you follow through. [57:06]
Identify one area where you have been depending on your own strength. What specific step will you take to rely on the Mighty God instead (ask someone to pray with you, stop a task and pray, take a faith step you’ve avoided)? [58:32]
Name one strained relationship or unsettled situation in your life that needs shalom. What one practical action will you take this week to invite the Prince of Peace into that situation (a phone call, a handwritten note, a request for mediation, an act of forgiveness)? [01:02:33]
Consider the offer of the "perfect gift"—forgiveness and new life. If you are ready to receive it, who will you tell and who will you ask to pray with you as you take that step? If you already know this gift, who will you invite to hear it this season? [01:05:16]
The church is planning to give toward a children’s center that creates a place of hope and joy for kids. How can you participate this week—by giving, by volunteering, or by inviting others to give—and what concrete commitment will you make? [32:30]
Write a short statement (3–4 sentences) acknowledging that God's love is constant and not performance‑based. Share it with one trusted friend or small group member and ask them to pray that this truth would sink into your heart this season. [01:00:07]

Sermon Clips

You know what that means?That it means no matter what we're tempted of, no matter what we're going through, he's already been through it.So when we go to this Wonderful Counselor, he already has the answer because he's already been through everything that we will ever go through.Isn't it good to know that he's experienced and that he's available to each and every one of us?So what I want you to know is remember that you're never without a counselor.The Wonderful Counselor can walk with you today. [00:58:00] (31 seconds) #NeverWithoutCounselor

The second thing, he's a mighty God.He protects and he empowers us.So this term, mighty God, reveals Jesus.And I'm going to use a term that we don't hear about him often, but it's a very valuable term.He's a warrior king.In other words, listen, he knows how to fight battles on our behalf.Somebody ought to say amen right there.Because you're never defeated when you're on the side of Jesus.The Bible is clear that he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.So no matter what scheme the enemy throws at you, you are victorious because of, listen to me, because he is our mighty God.Hallelujah. [00:58:30] (41 seconds) #VictoriousInJesus

Isaiah 9 and 6 isn't just a prophecy.Listen to me.It's a promise to be fulfilled.And every name that he bears is a gift that he shares.When you need guidance, he is your counselor.When you need strength, he is your mighty God.When you need love, he is your everlasting Father.And when you need calm, he is your Prince of Peace.So this Christmas and every day, unwrap the fullness of who he is.The perfect gift from heaven that each and every one of us need to be able to go to where he has prepared for us. [01:06:04] (39 seconds) #UnwrapTheGiftOfChrist

Would you pray with me real quick this morning?Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, we bless you and we love you.And we thank you for being our Wonderful Counselor when we're confused.We thank you that you are our mighty God when we're weak.And we thank you that you are our everlasting Father when we feel alone.And that you are our Prince of Peace when our hearts are troubled.So help us to rest in who you are and to share your love with the world that is in need. [01:06:44] (30 seconds) #RestInHisNames

Now if you're here today and you don't know this Jesus as your Savior, while heads are bowed and eyes are closed.And you would like to say, Pastor, today I want the perfect gift.I want to receive something, someone who is eternal.The forgiveness of my sins.I want to start a life fresh and anew today.And the only way that I can do that is to be born again.When you are born again, you are born into the family of God.You become a son, a daughter of the Most High God.And by doing that, your destiny from hell, destruction is changed to heaven, glory eternal. [01:07:15] (45 seconds) #BornAgainNewLife

Would you stand with me this morning?Let me again say God bless you and thank you for being here today.I pray that something that has been said, a prayer that has been had, a song that has been sung, has touched your heart.And that you don't leave this place the way you came.In Jesus' name.God bless you.I look forward to seeing you back next Sunday at 10 a.m. for a very simple Christmas to where we will have candlelight service.It's one that you don't want to miss, I promise.And so I look forward to seeing you back next week. [01:41:41] (35 seconds) #JoinOurCandlelightService

Can we close in prayer?Father, we love you today.And we are grateful for unto us a child is born, and unto us a son has been given, and the government will be upon his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.Lord, thank you today that you have revealed to us the good news which causes great joy.For unto us you have sent your son.For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. [01:42:19] (38 seconds) #GiftOfEverlastingLife

Father, as we go into this season of Christmas, may it be one that lives are forever altered and changed because of the love of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.Now, Lord, as we prepare to leave this place today, for those that have made decisions to surrender their life to you today, I pray that they will have strength to live it out each and every day.And I pray that they will be part of the bigger body of Christ to where we find strength one with another, and we celebrate the good news of the Messiah, Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the living God. [01:42:59] (41 seconds) #LifeChangedByChristmas

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