God with Us

Session 1: Emmanuel, God with Us

Heart Change: To feel God’s nearness in every circumstance.

Life Change: To rely on Christ, even when our path is dark and unclear.

Story:

Guy stuck on roof after flood. 3 times; a jet ski, a boat, a Helicopter; He dies and goes to heaven and asks why God didn’t rescue him. God says he sent him three different signs in the way of three different people to save him.

Isaiah 7:10–14 ESV

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Ahaz, the leader of God’s people, is facing down two armies, one from Syria and one from Ephraim. In the midst of this chaos, God promises Ahaz that neither army will overcome his people. It seemed like an unbelievable, even overly optimistic promise.

Think about God’s promise to his people. He promised he would send Emmanuel, God with us. So if God is with you, he will work everything out for your good and his glory. This is good news!

Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Now turn with me to the main verse for tonight.

Matthew 1:23 ““Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

Seven hundred years after Isaiah spoke these words, a teenage girl who was betrothed to marry a man named Joseph had a visit from an angel, who told her that she was to be the human vehicle through whom the Messiah of God would come. And somewhere in the confusion of this surprising and miraculous pregnancy, we read the quote from an old prophet, who stood toe-to-toe with a king and announced to anyone who had ears to hear, "There is nothing too difficult for God. He is coming to this very city. It will be for all people. Trust Him with your problems, believe His promises, hang on when it feels too hard to hang on - and you will see what God can do."

What we see from the OT and NT that God wants to be with us. He wants to know us. He wants us to have a relationship with Him.

So What?

If you are not a Christian or are just learning about Jesus, the name Emmanuel is an invitation. God came because our lives were shrouded in darkness. If you feel like you are in darkness, know that for you a child has been born. To you a son has been given. Jesus came for you in your darkness.

God has not abandoned us to darkness. He knows what we need and sent Jesus to enter our darkness so that we could receive his light.

The birth of Jesus is a gift of light in our darkness. But like any other gift, you must receive it.

No matter what you are going through today, God offers you his presence. He wants to be with you so that you can have peace and assurance of his goodness. In what ways do you need God today? This week?