God is with you
Notes
Transcript
Text
Text
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us).
Background
Background
From Charles Stanley's new book, "Christmas: A Gift for Every Heart": Thousands of years of fervent, desperate prayers to God and pleas for deliverance were answered the day Christ was born. It was not just the mere birth of a baby. It was not just a day that a great man appeared on the scene. It was the absolute shaking of the spiritual and physical realms when God Himself was incarnated—becoming one of us in order to carry out all the promises He’d given through the ages. Matthew affirmed, “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’” ().
Introduction
Introduction
Me
Me
my illustration on having to miss a concert due to sickness
We
We
I am not the only person who have felt like this
You when you call down, when you in that hospital bed all alone
Are your present circumstances making you feel depressed and alone ?
Are your present circumstances making you feel depressed and alone ?
Do you feel like you are about to drown?
Never forget that no matter what you are going through that God is with you!
God
God
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
With you through whatever storm you may be facing right now.
If you are sick, he is with you.
many times we can find it looks like God is not with us
many times we can find it looks like God is not with us
with all these trials and tribulations
And in life think it not strange that you face the fiery furnaces of this world. you’re going to experience a lot of beat down. Life is going to wear you out you’re going to want to throw in the towel on yourself. You will experience the storms of life no matter how positive you think it doesn’t matter if you tithe, it doesn’t matter if you pray, life’s going to whop you, and things are going to happen to you and people you care about. Why? I don’t know that’s the way it’s setup. - Les Brown
lots of believers we see them struggling
Joseph - God was with him
The bible constantly said that God was with Joseph
Job - God was with him
God blessed him like 7 times more
Jesus - why have thou forsaken me
God caused him to arise after 3 days and he is now seated at the right hand of the father
Greg Laurie Sermon Archive Immanuel: God with Us
And know this. Jesus knows what it is like to be lonely. He was probably the loneliest man that ever lived. You say, “Oh come on Greg. He always had throngs of people around Him.” Sure He did. But on that final day those multitudes were gone. Even His own hand-picked disciples deserted Him. And even momentarily as He hung on the cross suspended between heaven and earth God the Father turned away as Christ had to bear all the sin of the world as He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” Jesus knows what it is like to be lonely. He knows what it is like to comfort you in your lonely moments. But He is also saying to you, “I am with you. I will never leave you or forsake you.” That is the promise to the child of God. That you are never alone again.
You are not the only person facing this
You are not the only person facing this
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
think it not strange when you go through fiery trials etc
Today I just want to remind you that God is with you
And that is really the essence of the Christian life. God is with us. All other religions essentially say do. Do this and maybe you will be more spiritual. Do that and maybe you will get closer to God. Do this other thing. But in Christianity it is summed up in one word. Done. Done. Why? Because God is with us. It is not me doing it through God. It is God living His life through me. It is Immanuel. God is with us.
Laurie, G. (2014). The Greg Laurie Sermon Archive. Riverside, CA: Harvest Ministries.
Jesus said to His disciples, “Lo I am with you always even until the end of the age.” He also said in the book of Hebrews, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
material
material
Are your present circumstances making you feel depressed and alone ?
Do you feel like you are about to drown?
Never forget that no matter what you are going through that God is with you!
With you through whatever storm you may be facing right now.
Do you realize that? That God is with you. That is the message of Christmas. You are never alone again. Maybe you are isolated and all by yourself. But if you put your faith in Christ God is with you.
If you are sick, he is with you.
If you are in an interview, he is with you.
When you are conscious of His presence every day, you will experience a peace that gives you rest, joy inexpressible in your spirit and a power that nothing in this world can offer. In fact, you will begin to be peaceful and powerful like Jesus. This is because you cannot be in God’s presence without His beauty, love, peace, power and glory rubbing off on you.
You practice God’s presence when you see Him with you in whatever you do and wherever you are.
Laurie, G. (2014). The Greg Laurie Sermon Archive. Riverside, CA: Harvest Ministries.material
God has promised you His constant presence (), but are you conscious of His presence every day? When you are conscious of His presence every day, you will experience a peace that gives you rest, joy inexpressible in your spirit and a power that nothing in this world can offer. In fact, you will begin to be peaceful and powerful like Jesus. You will speak and behave like Him. This is because you cannot be in God’s presence without His beauty, love, peace, power and glory rubbing off on you.
God has promised you His constant presence (), but are you conscious of His presence every day? When you are conscious of His presence every day, you will experience a peace that gives you rest, joy inexpressible in your spirit and a power that nothing in this world can offer. In fact, you will begin to be peaceful and powerful like Jesus. You will speak and behave like Him. This is because you cannot be in God’s presence without His beauty, love, peace, power and glory rubbing off on you.
But how do you practice being conscious of God’s presence?
Laurie, G. (2014). The Greg Laurie Sermon Archive. Riverside, CA: Harvest Ministries.
Beloved, when you become conscious of God’s presence in your life, worries and fears will have no foothold in your mind. You will see Him maximizing your joy and fun, and prospering you in what you say and do!
Do you realize that? That God is with you. That is the message of Christmas. You are never alone again. Maybe your marriage fell apart this year and you feel all alone. Know this. God is with you. Maybe your children have forgotten about you in this Christmas season and the pain is sharp. Know this. God is with you. Maybe you are isolated and all by yourself. But if you put your faith in Christ God is with you.
Thought For The Day
Laurie, G. (2014). The Greg Laurie Sermon Archive. Riverside, CA: Harvest Ministries.
You practice God’s presence when you see Him with you in whatever you do and wherever you are.
You
You
Start by seeing God with you in whatever you do and wherever you are.
Perhaps you are going for surgery. Well, see the Lord in the operating theatre with you, guiding the hands of the surgeons. Your worries will dissipate because nothing can go wrong in the Lord’s presence.
Conclusion
Conclusion
This is why I want to encourage you this Christmas to focus on the hope of every heart: Jesus, our Savior. Unwrap the gift that was first given so long ago on that extraordinary night in the town of Bethlehem. Don’t be distracted by the presents, the food, the activity, or the trimmings. Just look to Immanuel, God with us. Focus on His presence no matter where you are. Because if you do, you will not only rediscover the absolute wonder of Christmas. You will also see how Jesus meets your every need.
This is the foundation upon which every bit of our hope and joy rests. It is the truth that God is with us. He is with you. He loves you. He listens to the cries of your heart. When you are hurting, He is near to you and cares for you. When you are powerless, He gives you strength. When you are in despair, He brings His promises to mind and reveals the blessings He has planned for you. And when you feel disrespected, worthless, or inadequate, He reminds you that you are His, that He died for you, that He adores you, that He is your adequacy, and that He will never let you go.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
What are you facing today? Whatever it is, it is not too big for Him.
· He can save you if you are lost.
· He can help you if you have a need.
· He can comfort you if your heart is broken.
· He can love you if you are lonely.
· He can restore you if you have fallen.