Immanuel
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Intro
been a while since he have been home!
Christmas season is upon us and we want to look at a great word, great name, great title that is referred to during xmas
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.
“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“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.”
as proof that Jesus was God’s son, he was born from a virgin
The Bible teaches that he was God in the flesh and dwelt among us
One of his titles is Christ . . . which means the with a captal “THE” anointed one
Another title is Immanuel which means God with us! Because Jesus literally walked around with mere humans:
he did the regular things like: hold conversations, traveled, ate, laughed, cried
he did amazing things like: heal the sick, raise the dead, calm the raging sea, feed 5000
and the taught with authority
he was God with us
and as Christians, we can thankfully say that God is with us!
God
more than a friend even though having a friend with you is good
more than family though having family is very helpful
more than a pastor though having a pastor with you is pretty cool (pastor can you bless the food)
more than an angel though its good to have angels watch over us
but God himself
The decision maker is with us
the source is with us
the creator is with us, the creator of the friend, family, pastor, and the angel is with us
and there are blessings and benefits and priviledges because God is with us
Since God is with us, evil is kept in check
this doesn’t mean that no troubles will come your way, God allows us to go through storms, but when God is when you, he puts a limit on the type of storm, strength of the storm, the size of the storm, how long the storm can last
he keeps evil in check.
in the story of Job, thought satan is allowed to attack Job, God limits what he allows satan to do
when the people of Israel were disobedient, and God allowed other nations to subjugate them, he only allowed those nations to go so far and rule them for so long
when God is with us he keeps evil in check
instead of complaining about what HAS happened to us, we should take time to thank God for what he kept in check. If the devil had his way, everything would be so much worse
His presence with us keeps evil in check just like a police officer parked on the side of the highway keeps fast drivers in check
I would drive the speed I want, if not for the presence of the officer
the enemey says, I would do what I want to you, if not for the presence of God in your life, but you’ve got Immanuel
Since God is with us, there is immediate help
with people, you have to wait until they get there, wait until they send the money, wait until they finish their other appointments . . . doesn’t matter if you need it right away
with financial institutions you have to wait until business hours, wait until the funds clear . . . doesn’t matter if you need it now
with the mail, you have to wait until the mailman comes . . . doesn’t matter what your deadline are
but with God there is immediate help, the BIble says, “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”
we have the assurance that if we need it right now, we get it right now . . . . because since God is with us, there is immediate help
and if we don’t get it right now, we can have peace that apparently we don’t need it right now . . . because God is with us
Since God is with us, he is accessible, available, and approachable
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus is our high priest and he sympathizes with us because he walked this same earth and knows the temptations and trials of being human
so we can go to him in confidence, and receive gracy and mercy for since God is with us, he is accessible, available, and approachable
back to our main verse
“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.”
Immanuel, god with us . . .
Since God is with us, he Brings comfort
there is a comfort in being in the presence of someone who really loves you, really cares for you, really wants the best for you, someone who really wants to help you
someone who knows all about you
someone who will tell you the right things
someone who will tell you the truth
someone you know will help you, protect you, encourage you, look out for you
God brings comfort
Jesus called the Holy Spirit, who is with us, the Comforter
he let’s you know everything will be ok!
Immanuel, Since God is with us
evil is kept in check
there is immediate help
He is accessible, available, and approachable
He brings comfort
just to name a few . . . and these are great things, but there is a lesson in how it was first used
let’s go to the old testament
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
this was spoken to Ahaz, king of Judah, king over God’s people, but he was an evil king
even sacrificed one of his sons to a false God
can read about him in second kings 16
two opposing kings and there armies have been attacking them, and the threat is getting even worse, it is a very desperate situation and he and his officials were very afraid, but God told Isaiah to tell King Ahaz that God would help Judah
in fact, Isaiah told the king, that God says you can ask for any sign, confirmation that God can and will help you
but this king did not believe that God could or would help them, and he was not interested in changing his evil ways . . . so he refused to ask for a sign
in fact had chosen another source of help, he made an alliance with an evil nation (Assyria) to come help him
So Isaiah rebuked him and said,
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey.
For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.
Commercial - in Bible study of Daniel we talked about the dual fulfilment of many prophecies
near future fulfillment - prophecy comes to pass
far future fulfillment - prophecy comes to pass in a fuller and final way
for Isaiah the the final, far futrure, and full fulfillment is that a virgin, who will remain a virgin, Mary, will have a child by the power of God, Jesus, and this child Jesus is actually God with us!
the near future fulfillment meant this: a lady that is now single, will get married, have a child, and name him Immanuel . . . by the time this child is old enough to know right from wrong and old enough to start eating solid food . . . these opposing kings you are so afraid of will be no threat at all . . . won’t even be around
and you would have opened the door to the evil Assyrian nation for nothing
and he went on to say that this evil nation you called upon for help, instead of God
this evil nation you trusted, instead of God, they will turn upon Judah, and THEY will devastate Judah
and Egypt will come and get some licks in too
“Immanuel” God with us, is originally a rebuke!
the sense is why do you doubt, when God is with us???
if you have faith, hearing the name Immanuel is an encouragement
if you doubt, hearing the name Immanuel is a rebuke
for if God with us means that
evil is kept in check
there is immediate help
He is accessible, available, and approachable
He brings comfort
then we should not doubt
do not doubt, even when in a desperate situation like King Ahaz was . . . .because God is with us
do not doubt and turn to another source, an evil source of help when you could have turned to God
turn to sugar daddy’s and mommas in your life
turn to payday loans - they’r evil
turn to an immoral scheme
turn to stealing
turn to lying
don’t turn to the Assyria in your life
turn to God, for he is right there, for he is with us!
i know the situation is desperate . . . but trust Immanuel . . . . trust that God is with you
When we don’t turn to God, and turn to another source it’s like having a grease fire in your kitchen that is out of control . . . and you call cousin bob from down the street . . . . instead of fire department next door
and when cousin Bob get’s there, it will feel good seming him arrive, but in the end, he’s going to throw some water on the grease fire . . . . things end up worse
trust in God, Immanuel, God with us!
the last part of verse 9 in this same chapter of Isaiah summarizes it
God tells this king
Isaiah 7:9b (NIV)
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ ”
whatever you are facing stand firm in your faith
God is willing
God is able
Have faith, God will keep that evil in check
God will be your present help
God is accessible, available, and approachable
God will comfort you
God will stengthen you
God will make a way
God will bring you out
God is with us
