The Best Christmas Tree

Isaiah 11 (King James Version)
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins

Prophecy Fulfilled
-> The prophet Isaiah lived about 700 years before Christ
-> Isaiah prophesies that a "shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse"
-> Jesse was the father of David, the king who inaugurated a royal dynasty of 20 kings that ruled 500 years, until Jerusalem fell in 586 B.C.
-> After 600 years, a king is born from Jesse's long-dormant stump
-> The shoot that rises from the stump of Jesse bears fruit; the childless king becomes the father of a greater nation than Abraham's
-> Isaiah 11:2–3 describes Jesus as the king with a sevenfold spirit
-> Because he possesses the infinitely perfect Spirit of God, Jesus knows what is going on deep within each person (Isaiah 11:3)
-> If there is a dead stump in your life, ask King Jesus to grow there

After years of exile, Israel longed for the coming Messiah. Isaiah prophesied that God would send a perfect king to restore his people. Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. He brought new life to the Davidic dynasty, as he was filled with the sevenfold Spirit of God. He came to teach justice and righteousness, and he will return again one day to judge all people. As we wait for his return, Christmas time provides the perfect opportunity to renew our loyalty to King Jesus.

Conclusion
-> Israel waited 600 years for their Messiah King, and by the time he came many had given up hope
-> We have been waiting all these centuries for our great king to come again
-> While we wait, this king reigns within our hearts and is quietly conquering hearts around us
-> Now is the time to renew our loyalty and trust in King Jesus