His Name - Immanuel (2)
Christmas 2024 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Immanuel - God With Us
Immanuel - God With Us
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.
There are three references in Scripture where God had this name “Immanuel” written.
Immanuel - God with us.
Matthew is quoting from Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.” Matthew therefore applies/attributes the prophecy of Isaiah to the virgin birth of Christ.
I love how Alfred Edersheim states it when he says, “
The golden cup of prophecy which Isaiah had placed empty on the Holy Table, waiting for the time of the end, was now full filled, up to its brim, with the new wine of the Kingdom.
Alfred Edersheim
Last week we meditated on the fact that Joseph was to name the baby Jesus because He would save His people from their sins. He could not be the Savior unless He was Immanuel “God with us”.
Jesus is truly and fully God.
Jesus is fully human - He can save His people by the cross.
Jesus Christ is the God Who took on the rags of humanity.
Questions to consider: “Does Christ know (care)?”
There are 5 implications of “God with us” that we are going to consider this morning.
He knows our World.
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.
He lived (tabernacled/dwelt/lived/ made His abode) with mankind.
This world that He created, He came down and lived in.
He changed His address, He moved to be close to us.
He came to this world so that we could know Him. John states that no man has seen God, but that Christ has revealed Him (God).
John 1:18 (KJV 1900)
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he (Christ) hath declared (made God known, revealed the secrets of the Divine Being) him.
He knows us - but we can know God, through Christ.
c. He continues to live with believers.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Not only does He know our world, but the second implication of “God with us” that we see in scripture is…
2. He knows our Feelings
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
He sympathizes with us. Shares the same sufferings and emotions.
He understands our weaknesses.
Death, Sickness, Pain, Sorrow, Hunger, Loss, Joy, Happiness, Peace, Contentment, etc.
As He knows and understands our weaknesses and our feelings, yet He faced all of it and never sinned.
Not only does He know our world, and he understands our feelings, but the third implication of “God with us” that we see in scripture is…
3. He knows our Temptations
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
He faced real temptations, but never sinned.
Matthew 4:1“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”
He was tempted to act independently from the will of God the Father.
Temptations come in many forms (through our senses, our imaginations, and even through reason).
Temptations come from many places (from within - our heart (the flesh), from without - the world & the devil)
Scriptures warns us about temptation in 1 John 2:15–17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
Christ passed the test of temptation - He did NO sin.
Since He passed the test, we can too. We do not have to give in to sins temptations.
We can resist the flesh, the world and the devil through the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
We have been set free from the power of sin, we can choose not to sin.
Christian - you do not have to give in to the power of temptation, you can have victory through Christ.
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
While He knows our temptations He also understands our sin and death.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Not only does He know our world, he understands our feelings, and He knows our temptations, but the fourth implication of “God with us” that we see in scripture is…
4. He knows our Struggles
Hebrews 2:17–18 (KJV 1900)
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted (He was put to the test), he is able to succour them that are tempted.
a. He is able to succour (help) us - come to our aid, give assistance to us.
b. As He understands our struggles, He is able to come alongside and aid us in any difficulty.
c. The only way that He is able to help us in our struggles is if we take it to him in Prayer, He is our Advocate and Intercessor.
d. Take your anxiety, worry, fears, sins, burdens, cares, pain, thoughts, family, life to Him. Lay it down at His feet.
Matthew 11:28–30 (KJV 1900)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Not only does He know our world, our feelings, our temptations, and our struggles, but the final implication of “God with us” that we see in scripture is…
5. He has promised to continue to be with us until the end of the world (age).
Matthew 28:20 (KJV 1900)
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 (age). Amen.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Immanuel - GOD WITH US
What does that mean for us?
He knows our world, He understands our feelings, He knows our temptations, and He knows our struggles, and He will be “with us” til the end of the age.
If you know Christ as Savior - you can claim these promises today.
* Does Christ Know/Care? Yes, I know He cares.
1 Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
Refrain:
O yes, He cares- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
2 Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near? [Refrain]
3 Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long? [Refrain]
4 Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? does He see? [Refrain]
