God With Us - 2

Immanuel means God is With Us

Matthew 1:20–23 NKJV

20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Last week: Experiencing God in the Valley—Enjoy him on the mountaintops—Get to know him valleys.

Experiencing God in Wilderness

Experiencing God in Wilderness

Wilderness is a Metaphor: Trials—Hardship—Wandering

Wilderness usually lasts longer than the valley.

Not sure what you should do next

Stay in job—Back school—Loans—Something better—Wilderness.

Continue to rent (No equity)—Faith step to purchase—Wilderness.

Keep dating—Hope propose—Call quits, start over—Wilderness.

His career is moving—Kids—House—Vacation

Stuck—Paralyzed—Afraid

 Teenagers—At some point—Up to here—Don’t make me…

 Boss is passive aggressive, narcissistic, demanding.

 Making up ground financially—Car breaks, toilet floods, tictac nose.

 Make dinner for everyone and they all leave dishes on table (UP)

Wilderness often follows mountaintops.

Everything’s going great and then: BOOM. You can handle a lot—One thing pushes you over.

Jesus baptized—At once sent into wilderness tempted 40 days

Mark 1:4–12 NKJV

4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.

YOUR DEEPEST NEED BECOMES A GIFT WHEN IT DRIVES YOU TO DEPEND ON GOD.

1 Kings 19:3–5 HCSB

3 Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, 4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.”

Stood down evil King Ahab—Prophesied drought consequence sin.

For 3 years, King Ahab—full force pursuing Elijah.

While hiding—Fed by ravens—Raised the dead

Stands down 850 false prophets—Called Fire

Destroy false prophets—Asked God for rain—Cloud.

Protection and provision of God!

Really angry woman makes a threat—Falls apart!

When you look at Eljiah—He seems exhausted—Maybe you can relate.

Hurting—Confused—Empty

When you think you are TIRED—Not just tired—You are Spiritually Depleted.

Physical rest—Spiritual replenishment.

The Lord is my shepherd—Makes me lie down—Restores my soul.

1 Kings 19:5–6 NKJV

5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again.

1 Kings 19:7–8 NKJV

7 And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.

1 Kings 19:9–10 NKJV

9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

NOTICE: God doesn’t preach a sermon! Doesn’t rebuke Eljiah! Where’s your faith?

God tells him to eat and rest.

Serve a God of 2nd Chances.

Didn’t get it right last time—Lord is coming to you again. (UP)

What are you doing here?

What good is this going to do? Awake at night.

Then God meets Elijah in his need.

Your deepest need becomes a gift when it drives you to depend on God.

First thing to do in the Wilderness: Eat

Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV

16 Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.

Jeremiah 15:16 AMP

16 Your words were found, and I ate them; and Your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.

Second thing to do: Encounter the Presence of God

1 Kings 19:11–12 HCSB

11 Then He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.

Wind—Lord was not in the wind

Earthquake—Lord not in earthquake

Fire—Not in the fire.

Earth—Wind and Fire—God is not in any of it.

God wasn’t in the remarkable!

God was in the ordinary.

God was in the whisper.

When we are overwhelmed by stress—Overcome by anxiety?

Why does God’s voice seem so quiet?

Why doesn’t he speak to us in spectacular and powerful ways?

If he wants me to know him? Experience him? Trust him?

Why does God whisper? He whispers because… He is close.

Psalm 34:18 NKJV

18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The devil shouts lies—God whispers truth.

Not by shouting louder—But he’s calling me closer.

James 4:8–10 HCSB

8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

To Experience the Presence - Praise and Worship Him

Psalm 22:3 NKJV

3 But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Psalm 22:3 AMP

3 But You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].

1 Kings 19:14–16 NKJV

14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

1 Kings 19:18 NKJV

18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Third thing to do: Realize you are NOT the only one.

Fourth thing to do: Turn your focus outward

Fifth thing to do: Put the Word in your Mouth

Matthew 4:1–11 NKJV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Luke 4:13–14 NKJV

13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. 14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.