Emmanuel
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Scripture
Scripture
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Intro
Thanks to God’s great love, we enjoy the very presence of God among us and in us. “God with us” is the meaning the Bible gives us of the name Emanuel.
There’s nothing like a good birthday party - especially when that party is for you. Your favourite cake and ice cream have been prepared, friends and family have been invited, and best of all the presents are all for you! Can you imagine what it would be like if millions of people celebrated your birthday? Wow! You’d never get done opening all the presents!
Do you know of anyone that has millions of people commemorate his birthday? Sure you do. Every year on December 25th, people from around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus. What makes Jesus’ birth so special that people from all walks of life commemorate it? Indeed why does God insist we celebrate the birth of Jesus? There are at least two reasons we want to celebrate Jesus’ birth: his birth is a sign that God is with us, and our celebration is a sign that we are with God.
Imagine your surprise if you were perusing birth announcements in the newspaper and saw a notice that read: “Bob and Betty invite you to celebrate the arrival of their son to be born in the year 2710.” An announcement for a birth that is to take place 700 years in the future? That was the kind of birth announcement the people of Judah received in our text. Although God hadn’t said exactly when this birth was going to happen, the people of Judah would know that it had happened because the child was to be born of a virgin. What’s more, he would be called Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” We know of course that this prophecy was fulfilled when the Son of God became man and was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem.
But why did God make this birth announcement about Jesus at this specific time in history through the prophet Isaiah? The people of Judah, particularly, the people of Jerusalem needed to hear that God was with them. At this time Judah was led by King Ahaz who may have been one of the lousiest kings in David’s dynasty. Although his grandfather and father had been faithful followers of the true God, Ahaz made it his religious policy to follow the gods of whatever nation seemed to be the strongest. Like a careless driver who keeps switching lanes in order to get ahead without any regard for the safety of others or for the speed limits (Walter Westphal), Ahaz thought nothing of shoving aside the Lord’s altar to make room for one idol after another in the Lord’s temple. Ahaz even sacrificed his own children in fire to the god Molech.
The knowledge of this name should impact our lives to be with great joy for the presence of God with us.
He is the Omnipresent God. There is no place in earth where He cannot be found. If you seek Him with all your heart you’ll find Him wherever you are.
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
I. HIS PRESENCE IN THE WORLD
II. HIS PRESENCE IN THE BELIEVER
III. THE DIVINITY OF JESUS
I. HIS PRESENCE IN THE WORLD
A. Being Jesus the Savior of this world
Creation Romans 8:21
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Humanity Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Save us of our past sins
Save us of our present ones
Save us of a future in hell.
II. HIS PRESENCE IN THE BELIEVER
God is so awesome that he has promised to be with us. His presence does so many things to us:
Encourages Joshua 1:6
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Comforts John 14:16-18
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Strengthens Joel 3:16
The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, And utter his voice from Jerusalem; And the heavens and the earth shall shake: But the Lord will be the hope of his people, And the strength of the children of Israel.
Protects Jer 15:20
And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
Guides in times of darkness Exodus 13:21
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
For thou art my lamp, O Lord: And the Lord will lighten my darkness.
Provides Psalms 113:6-9
Who humbleth himself to behold The things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
That he may set him with princes, Even with the princes of his people.
He maketh the barren woman to keep house, And to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.
Heals Jer 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
III. THE DIVINITY OF JESUS
God with us
God is spirit - we know God through the person of Jesus.
God chose to reveal himself through Jesus John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Let Israel hope in the Lord: For with the Lord there is mercy, And with him is plenteous redemption.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Closing
Closing
God is with us in times of danger
But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, And he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
For I am the Lord thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
Since thou wast precious in my sight, Thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: Therefore will I give men for thee, And people for thy life.
He tells us that He will never leave us or forsake us
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?
One of the words for God is Jehovah
Jehovah is a latin pronunciation of the Hebrew Yahweh
You will often hear names for God using Jehovah
For instance:
Jehovah Jireh means God is my provider
Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
The Lord is in our midst… that is what we see this morning
Not only is God high and lifted up on the throne but he is in the middle of our lives as well
This morning I want you to understand that God is with you
Stay Strong vs. 1-9
Because God is with us he wants to tell us to stay strong