The Powerful Message of “Emmanuel”

Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18–25 NLT

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Key: Matthew 1:22–23

Matthew 1:22–23 NLT

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

INTRODUCTION:

Sometimes we can become so familiar with the Christmas story, that we can overlook some simple, but profound details. One of those details is the depth of the prophetic words quoted from Isaiah 7:14, and spoken by way of commentary by the Evangelist Matthew. “They will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.”

These words are full of divine weight and meaning. They also have much to say to you and I as believers today.

What does Emmanuel mean to the believer?

I- GOD HIMSELF CAME TO DELIVER US FROM OUR SINS. (Matthew 1:21)

Matthew 1:21 NLT

21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

A- Jesus was not a servant of God, but God Himself.

1- Jesus was prophesied in Isaiah 9:6-7.

Isaiah 9:6–7 NLT

6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

2- Jesus is clearly called God. (John 1:1)

John 1:1 NLT

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

B- God himself came to deliver us from our sins. (Matthew 1:21)

Matthew 1:21 NLT

21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

1- God was unwilling to leave us in our sins, but came to be the offering for our sins. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

II- GOD HIMSELF CAME TO LIVE AMONG US AS ONE OF US. (Matthew 1:23)

Matthew 1:23 NLT

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

“Μεθʼ ἡμῶν ὁ θεός” = God [is] with us.

A- God became flesh to live among human flesh.

1- God himself became human flesh and lived among us. (John 1:14)

John 1:14 NLT

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

(Col 2:9)

Colossians 2:9 NLT

9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

B- Jesus lived a life filled with all of the trials and temptations we face.

1- He faced all of every type of suffering and testing we face. (Heb 2:17–18)

Hebrews 2:17–18 NLT

17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

(Heb 4:15)

Hebrews 4:15 NLT

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

2- He is able to help us in all we face.

(2 Cor 1:3–4)

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NLT

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

(1 Pet 5:7)

1 Peter 5:7 NLT

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

III- GOD HIMSELF CONTINUES WALK WITH US THROUGH LIFE’S JOURNEY.(MATTHEW 1:23)

Matthew 1:23 NLT

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

A- God promised his personal presence will continue with us.

1- Jesus promised his personal presence. (John 14:16–18)

John 14:16–18 NLT

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

(Heb 13:5)

Hebrews 13:5 NLT

5 … For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

B- God goes with us through our most trying times.

1- There is nothing we can face that He will not be with us. (Rom 8:38–39)

Romans 8:38–39 NLT

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

IV- GOD HIMSELF WILL CERTAINLY LIVE WITH HIS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT ETERNITY.

A- God promised us a home with him in eternity. (John 14:1-6)

John 14:1–6 NLT

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

1- Jesus is preparing a place for us.

2- We will spend eternity WITH Him.

B- God promised he would make his permenant eternal home with us.

1- God is going to spend eternity with His people. (Revelation 21:1-5)

Revelation 21:1–5 NLT

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

2- God is Going to do away with everything that causes distress.

3- God is going to make everything new and good for His people.

CONCLUSION: