God With Us!
God With Us • Sermon • Submitted
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· 62 viewsThe introduction to Christ in the world is one of the most significant events in human history. But how does it really effect me on a daily basis? How can we take Jesus out of the manger and put him in our everyday lives? Today I want to show you how you can say with confidence God is with me.
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Introduction
Can you believe that we are at the end of another year?
This is our last Sunday to meet in 2017. I always use this time to reflect on what has been accomplished and what path I will be taking in the coming year.
There are so many times that life is just impossible to manage.
This is the time that many of you make new years resolutions like going to the gym, and going to church; Usually in that order.
There are so many thing pulling at us, wanting from us, tugging on our heart strings, impossible relationships, crazy bills and crazy decisions.
Like it or not the new year is going to start. You will try to be disciplined in your resolutions but we always wait until February to see what path you are actually going to take.
At some point you start walking a path of normalcy. A path that you are expecting to take you to your destination over this year.
Some times it does some times it doesn’t.
I see 4 kinds of path setters in this world, and I’ll bet you you fit into one of these:
Those that set a path of destruction for themselves.
Those that set a path of dictation. Letting others set it for them.
Those that set a path of determination.
Those that join the path of divinity. God’s path for their life.
You might ask what does this have to do with Christmas? I want to look at the path that Joseph had to choose and see if we can’t gain some insight and encouragement for our own lives.
Story Line
God Sets an Impossible Path.
God Sets an Impossible Path.
Matt 1:18-
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 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).
When God calls you to the impossible he always takes the responsiblity to see it through.
When God calls you to the impossible he always takes the responsiblity to see it through.
There are times when we make life impossible and God has no responsiblity to help you our rescue you.
But for those that are following the Lord, God will call you to things you cannot accomplish on your own.
When you follow God’s plan you join him in the work of redemption.
Joseph made a choice to follow God’s crazy plan because he believed Jesus would save the people from their sins.
I follow God’s plan for the same reason. I watched a guy last Thursday bow his head, repent before God, and come into a new relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus is still saving people from their sin.
When God calls you to the impossible he always takes the responsiblity to see it through.
When God calls you to the impossible he always takes the responsiblity to see it through.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
God Sets a Pre-Ordained Plan
God Sets a Pre-Ordained Plan
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
We can trust God’s impossible plan for our lives when we realize we are just a small piece of the bigger picture.
John
It’s not that God creates you your own path. God has a plan and a path that he is traveling. When you yield to him he finds a spot for you on that path.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
heb 10:
The path that humanity is on will never lead to restoration of forgiveness of sin.
For the world to be redeemed from their sin, God himself would have to intervene. (last week’s message: “The Divine Line.”)
Jesus was willing to join God’s plan of redemption, and clear a new path of salvation.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Sacrifice will always be required for the redemption of other.
Joining God’s plan always requires a sacrificial offering for the sake of others.
Joining God’s plan always requires a sacrificial offering for the sake of others.
We are invited to join in the sufferings of Christ so that others can be redeemed.
God in the propitiation
What are you willing to give or give up for the redemption of mankind.
You have to be willing to pray the prayer of Jesus: “Father no my will but your will be done.”
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Phil 2:7
Obedience will require sacrifice.
Sacrifice has always been the cost of freedom.
Freedom from sin in no different.
Someone has to be willing to sacrifice for the people of this community if they are going to be set free from their sins.
Someone must show them a new path instead of the path of destruction.
God has called on us to give our lives for the sake of the gospel that others can experience the joy of salvation.
God Sets Personal Provision
God Sets Personal Provision
Jesus is Immanuel. God is still with us
Jesus is Immanuel. God is still with us
The last thing Jesus said to his disciples was a promise that he would be with them always.
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matt 28:
God never leaves alone on his path he walks with you.
He guides you on His path.
He protects you on His path.
He provides for you on His path.
He encourages you on His path.
God has promised to never leave us or forsake on His path.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Jesus is Immanuel. God is still with us.
Jesus is Immanuel. God is still with us.
Challenge and Invitation
Who’s path are you on.
A path of self destruction? Running as hard and fast as you can from God.
A path of reaction? letting others determine your course.
A path of redemption, which is the path of God?
God has come to the world.
God is here in this room.
God is wanting to live in your heart.
God is with us.
He is aware of the mess you have made.
He invites you into a life of redemption.
He wants to empower you to do his work today.
We are going to have a time of communion and prayer this morning.
If you are ready to give your life to Jesus and would life for me to pray over you I will be here in the front.
In the chair in front of you there is a packet of bread and juice. After I pray I want you to take communion as a symbol that you are ready to walk with Jesus in this path of redemption and sacrifice so that others can be saved.
Let’s all bow our heads in honor of Jesus this morning.