Christmas Candlelight Service

God With Us

Generation after generation longed for the promised Messiah. With each passing generation devout men and women wondered if He would come in their day. To the Jew, this was their hope of restoration. No longer would they be oppressed, no longer would they be second, for the Messiah would bring them to a place of prominence in the World.

But according to the Scripture, the Messiah would be and is so much more. He is the only hope to every man and woman. He would save His people from their sin and give them new life. The Prophet Isaiah wrote of Him:

Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah 9:6–7 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Who wouldn’t want the Messiah to come? Who wouldn’t want the Messiah to come and deal the fatal blow to sin? Who wouldn’t want the Messiah to come and bring Peace upon Earth? The problem was not in His wanting to come but rather the way He would come.

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

O come, O come Emmanuel (pg 167)

How about Joseph? How could one fathom all that is happening? How could this be? He knows that he has not been with Mary, they kept themselves pure. He knows his reputation is at stake. He also knows very well what could happen to those who break the bond of betrothal. He is a just man, so he decides to quietly and discretely give her a bill of divorcement. But God sends the message to him through the Angel “ that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost”Joseph ponders Emmanuel, God with us! Joseph by faith arises from his sleep and does as the Lord requested him. He takes Marry as his wife and does not know her until after Emmanuel was born. Emmanuel, God with us!

Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:18–25 NKJV

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. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 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. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Emmanuel, God with Us. Terri Webb

Luke 1:26-35

Luke 1:26–35 NKJV

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then 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 bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give 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.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Mary, Did you know? Harry Mayhew

Could you imagine what Mary must have been thinking? Maybe this angel made a mistake? Maybe he came to the wrong woman? How could I be chosen for such a sacred task? After the initial shock, the fear must of set in. How can this be? I have never been with a man. How can I be pregnant? What will Joseph say? What will the people say? What if I mess this up? Mary, the angel said “For with God nothing shall be impossible”. Mary responds in faith, “I am the Lord’s servant, may everything you have said about me come true”.

Breath of Heaven. Kourtney Sherman

Luke 2:1-20

Luke 2:1–20 NKJV

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 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 wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

In Your Silent Night Terri Webb

You have heard the greatest story ever told. But it’s not just a story, it’s the Word of God. God became a man, came to this earth, to die and pay the penalty of our sins. Jesus is the hope of all the World. Tonight as we celebrate the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, may we never forget why He came.

1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Silent Night (pg 184)

Communion

O Holy Night Mike Hutchinson