"God Is With Us"
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As we enter into this Christmas Season, for many folks Christmas time is a season of coming together with family and friends. We share a meal with one another, we sing songs, exchange gifts, and have celebrations. But it is important to remember that the main focus of Christmas is the Savior Jesus Christ.
But have you ever wondered why Jesus is, or should be our main focus? The reason is that Humanity is lost. People are separated from God because of sin. And because of our sin our only hope to be forgiven is that someone come and take all the punishment for our crimes.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
God himself did this for us. God sent His Son from eternity, and from His throne, to step down to this earth and be born in a lowly manger, in order to take on human flesh. So, our hope today is in Christ who was born to be our Savior.
Every time we read the Gospel accounts we see exactly who Jesus is. We see that He talks like God, He acts like God, He thinks like God, He does miracles, and He responds with love, kindness and mercy. This is the immeasurable gift of Christmas. God’s own son, gave up His throne, His wealth and came to dwell with us. Immanuel, that He might save His people from our sins.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
The miraculous gift of Christmas is God being born in a manger, so that we can be born again in His glory. So, God chose the name Jesus for His Son and this is a fundamental thing that we as believers need to know because it was an overarching purpose for the Son to come to earth. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Joshua, Jeshua, or Jehoshua which means Jehovah or (Yaweh) will save. As Jesus came to earth born of a virgin, it was God the Father’s plan that Jesus would grow up to testify about His Father and would be our salvation. By Christ’s death on the cross and triumphant resurrection from the grave, Christ would save His own from sin to repentance, all those who would receive faith to embrace His atoning work.
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us).
The title of our Message today is “God Is With Us.” There are many times however as we journey through this life where it may feel as if God is far from you, or He is not with you. So, how can we know for sure that God is with us???
How Is God With Us?
How Is God With Us?
Turn with me to Isaiah chapter 9.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The Christmas story that we read about in the gospels actually began several hundred years before Bethlehem. One Old Testament prophecy after another promised a coming Messiah. This main passage in Isaiah chapter 9 is the centerpiece of all prophecies as was written 600 years before Christ’s birth. The prophet Isaiah promised that it would be a miraculous birth different than the world have ever witnessed. Isaiah proclaims to us attributes given to this exceptional child. To the Jewish nation, Isaiah’s prophecy was news of a coming King. To the rest of the world. the prophecy promised a Savior, God incarnate, whose coming would forever change human history. So, let us take a look at how God is with us by seeing who Jesus is.
Jesus is the Son of Man.
Jesus is the Son of Man.
Notice with me the first part of verse 6 here. “A child will be born to us.” This is a tremendous statement about the humanity of Christ. Jesus’s life began like ever other human. He was born. He cried and got hungry like every other infant. We also know that as Jesus grew up He experienced every temptation common to humanity and yet He never sinned. (Hebrews 4:15) As a man, Jesus felt everything we feel. Jesus was hurt like we hurt, Jesus wept like we weep, and in His death He even felt the weight of sin as He took our upon Himself. Clearly we see how God is with us and even relates to us.
Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus is the Son of God.
We now turn to the Lord’s divine side. Verse 6 tells us that, “A son will be given to us.” Notice that Isaiah here does not say born but given to us. Isaiah helps us to see here that Jesus existed before His birth. He was already God the Son who is the second person of the Holy Trinity, before He stepped down out of heaven to come to earth. Jesus came as the Son of God in a human body to conquer sin and death forever. Jesus is the perfect Son of God who is our only hope for this lost world.
Jesus is the King of Kings.
Jesus is the King of Kings.
Verse 6 again tells us something else about Christ. “The government will rest on His shoulders.” What does this mean??? This statement looks beyond the birth of Christ and looks into the future, when Jesus will rule and reign over a literal kingdom the encompasses all kingdoms and governments.
44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,
In that future day Christ will reign as sovereign ruler over a worldwide kingdom of righteousness and peace. It may not look like Jesus is ruling even now but He is and someday when He returns we will truly understand how Mighty and Powerful our King of Kings and Lord of Lords truly is.
Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor.
Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor.
Isaiah tells us that His name (Jesus) is the Wonderful Counselor. In a world full of confusion it is so good to know that there is one true counselor in which we can run too. As we open up the gospels we see that there where many times when people came to Christ and Jesus always knew what to say. Jesus always knew when to reach out to those who where seeking Him and saw the helpless and hurting and was always there to give kind and wise advice. Listen to these words about Jesus from the gospel of John.
46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
Jesus is the only one who is the source of all truth. He in fact is the way, the truth, and the life. So, we must come to Him to make sense of life’s difficult times and confusion. Jesus is the wise and wonderful counselor who knows everything. Jesus knows all about you. He knows the needs of your heart and what you are currently struggling with. And He knows how to answer your needs. Will you trust Him today? Will you turn to Him today? The Lord always gives wise counsel to those who will hear him and obey him.
Jesus is Mighty God.
Jesus is Mighty God.
Isaiah also tells us that Jesus is our Mighty God! Jesus is a Mighty King. 1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us that God is not a God of confusion but of peace. This helps us to see that Jesus is not a God of chaos, but the God who can come and provide wonderful counsel and divine power by bringing things to order. Christ tells His subjects what to do because He is a mighty God who is sovereign over all things. This should help us to understand that only Christ can forgive sin and has defeated Satan. Because of this Christ has set us free from the power of evil and redeemed us. It is good news today to know that Christ does not leave us or give up on us. He will restore what is broken and bring healing where it is needed. He is a Mighty God!
Jesus is the Eternal Father.
Jesus is the Eternal Father.
There are 2 final things that I want to share with you to help us see how God is with us. Isaiah tells us that Jesus the Everlasting Father. Jesus is the Father of Eternity. Jesus is the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth.
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”
The point that I want you to see today is that there is nothing to hard for Christ. Your day may seem hard and the relationships around you may see impossible. The crisis in front of you may seem overwhelming but when we take all of these things to Christ there is no issue to hard for Jesus. He is the Creator and Sustainer of everything. He is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end, the Father of Eternity. Isaiah 46 tells us this about Christ.
10 declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans chapter 8 that Christ guarantees that all things will work together for the ultimate good of all His kingdom subjects. Will you trust in Him today and know that God is with you?
Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
Finally, Isaiah reminds us of even more good news about Jesus. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. In God’s Kingdom there will be no more sin, there will be no more conflicts because Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Even today Christ offers you peace from God.
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
And Jesus brings the peace of God to those who walk with Him. When Jesus was born, the start to His earthly life was marked by angels who pronounced peace on earth.
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Down through history there has never really been lasting peace on this earth. There have been wars and rumors of wars and the start to more wars, but someday when Christ returns peace will be available to men and women who have trusted in Christ. God’s peace is available to those whom he is pleased. In other words, God is pleased with people who have fully surrendered to Christ. If the Lord has taken first place in your life and you fear Him then you understand what this peace is all about. Isaiah chapter 9 verse 7 goes even further to help us see the peace that the Lord’s kingdom will bring to earth.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
God’s perfect peace will get better and better. This may be one of those mysteries of the Messiah’s reign but it helps us to see that God does gives us peace and that He is truly with those who are His children. The gift of Jesus is good news for us today. Jesus is the Son of Man and He is the Son of God. He is our Mighty and Wonderful Counselor and He is the King of Kings. He is God with us today. IMMANUEL!
Will you let Him be God with you?
(Pray and Lead into Communion)