The Call of Immanuel
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Announcements:
Merry Christmas and welcome to Crosswind Church as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.
Welcome newcomers.
We will not have a Christmas eve service because of
Food pantry - call up Tammy(?)
construction updates(?)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 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.”
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Matthew’s focus - The Royalty of Jesus
Came in humble circumstances… Irony of the King of Kings- born in these circumstances — breaking the 400 years of silence…talk of the darkness of the world to which Jesus was born.
Jesus came as a fulfillment of God’s plan and promise. At this point in the Christmas story, God was moving and orchestrating the events that will set the stage for the birth of His Son. (talk about Jesus needing to be a man.)
God was on the move then (in the first advent of Christ).. God is on the move in the world today (leading up to the Second advent).
God is on the move in the world today. The darkness of our time. Describe our world (South and Midwest tornadoes,,crime, drug addiction..).
To be part of what God is doing today:
Do not take the worldly approach.
Trust the Lord and what He is doing.
Be an Active Part of what God is doing.
1. Do not take the worldly approach.
A crisis, Drama — intrigue (Joseph’s predicament - talk)
Mary told Joseph “I have something exciting to tell you, I am with child.. what, where?? I am pregnant, you silly.. Joseph’s reaction — but wait, “the child is of the Holy Spirit.”
Doubts
Do not go with your first impulse.
Joseph’s reputation
what people would say
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
we can be decent but not godly. (good morals…)
what should be our response — PRAY.
2. Trust the LORD and what He is doing.
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.”
Do not be afraid.. we like hearing this in the context of our natural fears.. the best time and context to hear this is when you are in obedience to God’s will.
10 fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
why personally I will not fear.. we will preach the Gospel… Luke 4:18
The promise to Joshua
“… and she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Yeshua - the Lord is salvation
Psalm 27 verse
That is the message to the world today Yeshua Jesus still saves..
3. Be an active part of what the Lord is doing.
you are a part of what God is doing.. unbeknownst to Joseph..
When it comes to God’s work in the world today.. people fall into four different categories
ignorant
resistant
indifferent
(two sub-categories, can be people of the world.. the way they view Christmas..
people in the church, they have become complacent.
active participant
Food pantry and our participation...
The message of God has not changed from the First advent versus the second advent..
Yeshua - “He will save His people from their sins”.
Allow yourself to be used of God..
Joseph was not insignificant, he fulfilled his purpose in the life of Jesus.
What you do for the Lord is never significant - share the love of Jesus at every opportunity.
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.”
Jesus is Immanuel - God with us.
The Word became flesh...
We are not serving a King Who is distant. Who deployed you as an army but stayed in the safety of His royal palace.
Neither do we have a commander who left us for a while, promised to return..and we will not hear from him..or see him until he returns..
Image of MacArthur here.
Douglas MacArthur
There is also ..
while Jesus is Immanuel, He is also..
Jesus is Immanent - He is always with us.
When He gave the Great Commission, He also promised -
“Behold I am with you always even to the end of the age.”
He is present with us His church.
Be actively engaged in sharing the love of Jesus - This is the call of Immanuel.