7. Immanuel: I AM With You

Introduction

Review Hallowed Be Thy Name series

YHWH Shalom: I AM Peace

YHWH Yireh: I AM Provider

YHWH Roi: I AM Your Shepherd

YHWH Rophe: I AM Your Healer

YHWH Tsuri: I AM Your...

Refuge

Strength

Shield

Rock

YHWH Shammah: I AM There

YHWH Shammah

If God is really there, how do we experience his presence day to day?

If you want to experience God’s presence day to day, you have to look for him—look for God in the ordinary, everyday places; look for God in the usual places, like church and the Bible; and look for God in the quiet places—we’re running out of quiet places in life.

Today’s message is Part 2 to that one.

Immanuel: God with us

Immanuel first appears in Isaiah 7:14. This verse is later cited in the Gospel of Matthew 1:23, and applied to Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Immanuel or Emmanuel? Immanuel is the Hebrew spelling, while Emmanuel is the Greek spelling.

Subject: If God is with us, how do we experience his presence day to day? If God is present, how can we see that he’s there?

There are seasons in which we don’t experience God’s presence, the “Dark Night of the Soul...”

Big Idea

If you want to experience God’s presence day to day, you have to be where he is. If you want to see Immanuel: God with you, you have to place yourself where you can see him.

Talking on the phone with a kid who’s trying to show you something…

Implications

If you want to be where God is, abide in his love. If you want to place yourself where you can see God with you, live in his love. (John 15:9-11)

John 15:9–11 ESV

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Exposition

That word “abide” means “to live” or “to dwell.” How do we live in Jesus’s love? By keeping his commandments (v. 10)—by doing what he says, living the way he teaches us to live.

Illustration

Am I living wth God? Or am I living for God?

Am I bringing Jesus into my life? Or am I bringing my life into Jesus?

What brings me the greatest joy (see John 15:11)? The love of Christ? Or getting a scholarship, landing a great job, helping my kids become successful?

Application: If you want to be where God is and experience his presence day to day, abide in his love. Find your life in Christ. (Matt 10:39)

Matthew 10:39 ESV

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

If you want to be where God is, go where God is. If you want to place yourself where you can see God, place yourself where God is at work. (Matt 25:34-40)

Matthew 25:34–40 ESV

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Illustration — Story from Praying the Names of Jesus

Application — Local volunteer opportunities to serve “one of the least of these” and not only experience the presence of Immanuel, but be the presence of God to those who most need him.

Conclusion

If you want to be where God is…

Abide in his love

Go where he is