The Arrival of Emmanuel (Christmas Eve Service)

The celebration of advent is the acknowledgement that God has designed his blessings to come through waiting. That’s been our focus this entire Advent season at Oak Hill...

Big Idea: Wait in Faith

The celebration of advent is the acknowledgement that God has designed his blessings to come through waiting. That’s been our focus this entire Advent season at Oak Hill...

At Oak Hill this Christmas season, we’ve been learning that God has designed his blessings to come through waiting.

We’ve learned that the blessing of hope comes when we learn to wait for the right thing… for the arrival of Jesus Christ himself…when our hopes are set on his return and the kingdom he is bringing.

The blessing of peace comes when we learn to forsake the first impulses of our flesh and instead worship him in our waiting...

The blessing of joy comes when we trade our strategizing and doubts and shame for the joy of surrendering to the work only he can do...

The blessing of love comes when we are looking for the right kind of love… the vertical love of God we cannot earn or purchase… the only love that removes our shame and satisfies our soul.

The blessings of God come THROUGH waiting and they come FROM the presence of God himself.

That’s why Christmas is so important… it is the celebration of the presence of God come to DWELL with us...

We celebrate the WONDER of this name of Jesus: “Immanuel, God with us.”

But there is a really important element to waiting that we need to touch on tonight…

And that is that waiting REQUIRES faith.

The essence of waiting… true biblical waiting that waits or the right thing and experiences the presence of God is FAITH.

Series Vision: Find the blessing in waiting for the arrival of Jesus Christ.

The essence of waiting is faith. The essence of blessing is the presence of God.

And at the intersection of faith and the presence of God is the story of Christmas.

Tonight we are going to look briefly at three passages of scripture that tell the Christmas story and lead us to apply THIS BIG IDEA:

Big Idea: Receive the blessing of Immanuel, God with us, by learning to wait in faith.

This Christmas Eve, I want us to see...

Three Reasons “Immanuel, God with Us” Produces Faith

The first instance of this name “Immanuel,” comes in the book of the prophet Isaiah…

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” ( ESV)

The prophecy is actually judgment against a King over God’s people in Judah about 800 years before the birth of Jesus… his name was Ahaz…

The story of waiting began the moment sin entered the world…

It began the moment direct access the presence of God

Three Reasons “God with Us” Produces Faith

Part 1 - Wait in faith because Immanuel is a sign as high as heaven. (Isa. 7:10-14

Context:

You see, Ahaz is WAITING and WORRYING about what is going to happen to him and to Jerusalem… and he is NOT waiting in faith…

His enemies Syria and Israel are about to wage an attack on him… they want to remove him from the throne and set up a puppet government who will stand with them against the king of Assyria…

And so Ahaz and the people of Judah are scared...

“Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (, ESV)

tells us, “the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.”

God says, “Do not be afraid of them… I’m the one in control here and they will soon come to nothing… only stand firm in faith!”

God says, “Do not be afraid of them… they will quickly come to nothing… stand firm in faith!”

But Ahaz doesn’t believe God…

God wants to build up Ahaz’s faith… but Ahaz is finding it hard to stand firm…

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

So God wants to build up Ahaz’s faith…

So God moves even closer to Ahaz… in verse 10, 12 read, “Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”

What’s a sign?

A sign is a marker of what is ahead…

If you are traveling for Christmas tomorrow, you will pass signs saying, “Exit 2 miles… exit 1 mile… exit here...”

God wants to give Ahaz a clear sign that he can believe God for what is coming next.

Here’s what we learn: There is nothing God could to in order to secure a deeper faith in you than to send you his son.

And there is nothing God wouldn’t do in order to secure a deeper faith in Ahaz… he can ask for a sign as high as heaven or as low as Sheol… God is will to move heaven and hell to show Ahaz that he can trust him…

but Ahaz is so gripped by fear that he faithlessly rejects God’s offer.

He makes it sound all spiritual: But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.”

He really just doesn’t want to find out that he needs the Lord… he’s hiding fear behind a fake front of faith.

So God responds, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The house of David… the line of Kings who were supposed to represent God’s authority over his people…

had acted faithlessly for too long… and this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

And God says, “I told you to ask me for a sign as high as heaven and you refused so here’s the sign I’m giving... I’m rejecting you and I’m coming myself.”

The first reason Immanuel, God with us, produces faith is this...

“Immanuel, God with Us” is a sign as high as heaven.

Even though this is a statement of Judgment against Ahaz and his descendents, it is a word of ultimate hope to Israel… a sign that would bring peace and joy and love to God’s people...

In the near future, there would be destruction… the Northern Kingdom of Israel would be desolate and Ahaz’s southern kingdom would be soon to follow....

But there would come another son… born of a virgin…

But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (, ESV)

A virgin will conceive and bear a son…

A woman will produce an offspring…

And he will be called “Immanuel, God with us.”

This is the promise mankind had been waiting for since the Garden of Eden.

“Immanuel, God with us” was the experience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden as they experienced perfect fellowship with their Creator...

“Immanuel, God with us” was what they lost when they fell into sin.

“Immanuel, God with us” is what was promised to be restored when God was issuing the curse for their sin and he said to the tempter… to Satan, that the offspring of the woman would crush his head.

“Immanuel, God with us” was how the promise was given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God visited him personally…

“Immanuel, God with us…” was the goal of God’s Covenant that he made with Israel… what we call the Old Testament today… that he would be their God and they would be his people and he would uphold them with his mighty right hand…

And NOW… we are learning that the promise of Immanuel, God with us would ultimately be fulfilled through… not just any woman… but through a virgin. There would be a miraculously born human Son who would be God with us.

And this is a fear-crushing sign to God’s people…

The wonder of “Immanuel, God with us” produces faith because it is a sign as high as heaven.

There is no greater sign that could be given than that God would come to earth in human form.

says, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ( ESV)

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (ESV)

That’s what it means that Immanuel is a sign as high as heaven… God could not give us a greater sign that he will accomplish his purposes through is people than sending his own son…

And it is a prophecy that held true

And we need not fear tribulation… distress…persecution… famine…nakedness… sword…

They cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ who is Immanuel, God with us.

This is a prophecy that God will accomplish all of his purposes and fulfill all of his promises by coming HIMSELF in human flesh.

And it’s a prophecy that we must respond to in faith.

God came to secure your faith in him.

And so let me ask you this: has God ever made you WAIT to see what he was going to do, and your response in the waiting was one of fear instead of faith his power and presence with you?

Maybe that’s you right now… maybe you are LONGING for God to work in a certain situation… but you are worrying instead of waiting in faith…

It is all of us at some point… and the promise that will secure our faith is this… “A virgin has conceived and bore a son… and she called his name Immanuel.”

Listen… the reason God causes us to WAIT is because there is no faith without waiting. And there is no Immanuel without faith.

The promise of Immanuel is a sign as high as heaven that secures our faith.

And the promise of Immanuel only comes to fruition when we learn learn to wait in faith.

It’s about him fulfilling his purposes and promise and coming into the darkness of our waiting to secure our faith.

Let’s allow faith to rise as we sing the truths of this next song....

Part 2 Remember our big Idea: Receive the blessing of Immanuel, God with us, by learning to wait in faith.

So the promise of “Immanuel, God with Us,” was first given to Ahaz as a sign as high as heaven when he refused to stand in faith 800 years before the birth of Christ…

It was judgment to him… but ultimate hope and peace and joy and love to us...

After Ahaz reigned, Israel and Judah were eventually captured by the foreign powers who terrified them…

Eventually they would return to their land, but still remain under foreign domination…

God would speak through the prophets for a few hundred years more… but then go silent for 400 years.

His people would be waiting… longing… that’s where the celebration of Hanukkah began as they lit candles in expectation of the coming of their Savior King… the Messiah who would rescue them from the Romans… one who would sit on David’s throne...

They expected him to come with great power...

But they never expected him to come like this…

Luke records it from Mary’s perspective - “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”” (, ESV)

A virgin conceives a son… the Son of the Most High God.

This is the one who was PROMISED!!! He will sit on the throne of his father David… he’s the Savior King that God promised would come!!!

But from Nazareth???

There was a saying in that day, “Can anything good come from Nazareth???

And what are we to do with this fact than an unmarried woman is pregnant…

How could a fatherless child be a king?

We get the answer to that question from Matthew… he writes about events that happened just a little later…

“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).” (, ESV)

Here’s the second reason, “Immanuel, God with Us” produces faith:

“Immanuel, God with us” is the Son who came to the lowest places of earth.

The Son of God didn’t just come into situations that were nice and neat and picture perfect.

He was born not just of any virgin… but a virgin who lived in a town everyone hated...

He entered into a situation filled with shame… Joseph was a just man… and not understanding the supernatural miracle of the situation… thought Mary had cheated on him...

But he didn’t want her to experience that shame… so he thought to divorce her quietly...

God’s plan for Mary put her in a very difficult situation…

if Mary had social media, she for SURE was not posting belly bump pics every month because she wouldn’t want ANYONE to know that an unmarried woman was pregnant...

if she had social media, she for SURE was not posting belly bump pics every month because she wouldn’t want ANYONE to know that an unmarried woman was pregnant...

But Immanuel, God with Us was not a promise for people who had it all together.

And it’s not a pr

It was a promise for those who live in the lowest places and hardest situations on earth.

And it was not a promise given so they could fulfill their dreams and live the life they’ve always wanted...

It was a promise given so they could participate in fulfilliing HIS PLAN to receive the life they desperately needed.

And so Mary and Joseph respond in faith…

Mary says, “And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. ( ESV)

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (ESV)

Joseph responds, “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” ( ESV)

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (ESV)

God wants to build your faith as he comes to meet you in the lowest places on earth.

Are you in a low place… believe that he is Immanuel, God with you.

Look at the bigger work he is doing and participate in his story through faith.

Part 3 One more time, our big Idea: Receive the blessing of Immanuel, God with us, by learning to wait in faith.

So the promise of “Immanuel, God with us,” was a judgment against the faithless and proud Ahaz, a privilege to the faithful and humble Mary and Joseph… and it becomes to us the power to wait by faith.

9 months passed… Mary and Joseph waited… and then they got this news that must have been hard for ANYONE in their third trimester…

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

I know that what I just read is really really familiar to many of you...

I have read that every year… often multiple times a year… for as long as I can remember…

But may we never lose the wonder of what happens in those words, “and she gave birth.”

That is the moment that God fulfills the promise… “She will bear a son.”

This is the offspring who WILL crush the head of the serpent… Every other offspring of the woman had failed.

This is the one who would sit on the throne of David… he is born in the city of David...

This is the one who is “Immanuel, God with us.”

And it is as if the world doesn’t know.

He is shoved into the corner of a home where the animals are fed…

He’s laid in their feeding trough for a bed…

But as the rest of the world enjoys a Silent Night, the sound of heaven fills the earth…

The last reason Immanuel brings peace is this:

Immanuel, God with us, is the sound of heaven on earth.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” (, ESV)

Here’s what the angels are saying, “The glory of God in the highest has come to earth bringing the blessing of his PEACE with God and man, and you shepherds can receive him through faith. He is born “unto you” and he is a “sign” given for you.”

Can you imagine the sound!!! They want the shepherds to believe!!!

They know that this is the Sign as high as heaven… a sign for the lowest people on earth (the shepherds…)

And the only way to please God, according to his word… is through faith in his Son.

And so they bring the sound of heaven to earth… so that all who hear would have faith in his Son.

As you read this, you are meant to hear the sound of heaven on earth… it goes like this: This one who lays wrapped in a manger in Bethlehem is worthy of your full faith and devotion!!!

You must believe that this is the one who is promised...

The Savior King who is Lord of all...

The one who is a sign as high as heaven… very God of very God...

This is the Son of God who came to the lowest places of earth...

He was despised and rejected by men and we failed to give him glory...

The flesh and blood that lay in a manger would be PIERCED for OUR transgressions and CRUSHED for our iniquities… he would die in OUR PLACE for our SIN...

And he would rise again in a glorified body to give us new life in him...

Right now he is seated at the right hand of God as Savior and Lord over all...

He is Immanuel, God with Us, his church through his Spirit…

And he is coming again to bring his Kingdom to earth...

And one day… in the new heavens and the new earth… the dwelling place of God will once again be with man… and he will be Immanuel forevermore.

And the question is.. will you wait for that day through faith?

That’s what Christmas is all about...

If you are just waiting for Christmas day… for some time with the family… for some presents under the tree… for some warm fuzzy feelings… you are waiting in vain.

But if you are waiting for what only God can do in bringing his kingdom, you will experience the ultimate blessing of Immanuel, God with us.

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