12-22: Immanuel, God With Us
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Thank you for joining us for worship today! We're grateful you can join us for our Christmas service. In today's sermon we look at the meaning of 'God with us' and the implications for us in our daily lives.
Resources:
: The Bible Project :: https://www.bibleproject.com
: YouVersion Bible App :: https://www.bible.com
Matthew 1:12-23
[12] After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. [13] Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. [14] Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. [15] Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. [16] Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
[17] So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
Conception and Birth of Jesus
[18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. [19] And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. [20] But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. [21] She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” [22] Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: [23] “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
Notes:
1. What Does Isaiah Mean? A Look At Ahaz: Isaiah 7:1-14
A. There was no need to fear.
B. Ahaz failed to believe God.
C. Before the child was born, the nation would suffer because Ahaz would not listen to God’s plan.
2. What Does Matthew Mean? “God With Us:”
A. The strictest theological meaning:
B. In a practical sense:
Look at these FOUR practical thoughts of “God with us”
1. God is with us in the sense that He is for us. “If God be for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
2. God is with us in the sense that He is among us. “And standing in the midst of the churches one was like the Son of Man” (Revelation 1:13, 20)
3. God is with us in the sense that He is in us. “To whom God would make known what are the riches of His glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:17)
4. God is with us in the sense that He is always near us. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)
C. In an illustrative sense:
3. What Does Immanuel Mean For Us Today? Isaiah 9:6
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
A. Immanuel made peace for us with God.
B. Immanuel gave us peace with God. We have peace because peace has been made on our behalf.
C. Immanuel’s peace is now the believer’s peace.
1. “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15)
2. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world give do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John14:27)
3. “These things (My Word) I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace” (John 16:33)
