For Life
Notes
Transcript
See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
INTRO—
INTRO—
“In the fulness of time”…Jesus was born and we clearly see—through the testimony of Scripture—that “God is with us.”
I pray that, over these remaining Sundays preceding Christmas Day, we see the reality to which the Bible testifies…God is with us in our lives today!
GOD is EVERYWHERE! (Psalm 139.7-12)
GOD is EVERYWHERE! (Psalm 139.7-12)
Whether it’s...Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma, Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma, Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo, Tocopilla, Barranquilla, [or] Padilla…Johnny Cash has nothing on our Lord!
David’s important question:
Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
Psalm 139 is a stunning tribute to the greatness of God. After becoming overwhelmed by the knowledge of God in verses 1-6, David turns to the presence of God…recognizing that God is indeed everywhere! For some this thought is scary:
“So, you mean to tell me that God is literally everywhere?”
“Yes, literally.”
“Uh oh.”
David recognizes that there is nowhere he can go to escape (get away from God)…like too many people (too many of us) too often want to do. (Even David.)
Can’t escape the Spirit of God…in heaven, the grave, the east or west coast and beyond...
If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
…or in the darkness. No where to run. No where to hide.
Scary thought when we think about our sin…BUT…David arrives at another thought:
even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me.
God shepherds & sustains us.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We cannot be separated from Jesus and his love for us.
Thankfully, our Lord is EVERYWHERE!
GOD WAS with Us. (Psalm 139.13-18)
GOD WAS with Us. (Psalm 139.13-18)
…before we even had a clue!
God is the author and creator of life…all life.
Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the Lord! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are his— his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Such attentiveness to detail. We have always been thoroughly known.
Bottom line for David, he is amazed and states how precious are God’s thoughts…and vast and numerous!
Our tuning out (sleeping) doesn’t diminish God’s presence with us—”when I wake up, I am still with you!
God started our relationship with him…and sustains it…forever!
GOD LIVES with Us. (1 Corinthians 3.16)
GOD LIVES with Us. (1 Corinthians 3.16)
As Christ followers, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. God lives with us, every day.
This is what Jesus taught and prayed for us...
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.
John reminds us...
You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
We need not fear false prophets or demonic spirits! We need not fear the chaos and instability of this world in which we live!
CONCL—
CONCL—
With the truth that God is WITH US FOR LIFE, we celebrate the angels’ proclamation at Jesus’ birth!!!
But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.
