[Christmas Eve Evening Service] What is the name of this Child? (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25)

Please stand for the reading of God's word during the Advent

season. We have been preaching through

the oh, Aunt Alphonse, which make up the seven prayers of the

great. Hymn O come O come Emmanuel

tonight. I will be focusing on the name

Emmanuel. Looking primarily through this

narrative Through The Eyes of Christ Earthly father.

Joseph, I'll begin in Isaiah 7:14 the prophecy.

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 Emmanuel from Matthew 1:18.

Matthew 1:18

Now, the birth of Jesus Christ, took place in this way, 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 Emmanuel, which means god with

us. When Joseph woke from sleep, he

did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, he took his wife,

but newer, not until she had given birth to a son and he

called his name, Jesus. This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks. Be to God, please be seated.

I don't think. Joseph felt like all was well.

We have the advantage of seeing things that have taken place

already. As Matthew gives us the account.

We know more than Joseph knew when this news hits him.

It's very, very different. I want you to try to put

yourself in his position. Earlier this week, I met with a

couple who told me about their engagement and that they will be

getting married here in this church.

In one year. What their year is going to be

like is very different than what things would have been like,

back in this time period, Joseph and Mary were betrothed.

And what that meant was, they were in a legal Covenant already

for a year. Roughly, they would not spend

time together, in isolation, other people would always be

with them. In order for that Covenant to be

broken, one of the parties would have to file for divorce.

When Joseph learns. That his wife, the one, he's

betrothed to is with child. You and I move quickly Beyond to

the reality of what we know is inside her who is inside her,

but he didn't know that. Whether this is your first time

ever to a Christmas Eve service, are you cannot remember missing

one. There's always more for us to

see. There's always more for us to

understand. And tonight, my prayer is that

everybody who's here, everyone who is worshiping with us and

different parts all over the world watching online that they,

that we would know. It is truly well, with our soul

because of who we are in him. Yeah.

We can relate to Joseph and many ways.

One of the ways we can relate to him, is the idea that when we go

through certain experiences in life, there's moments where we

just simply need to know the presence of God and the promises

of God. I want to show you just for a

few minutes, what the word of God says about, who Joseph was

look with me at the text. We're told that Joseph was a

just man look with me at verse 19 and her husband Joseph.

That's Mary's Being a just man that means that he was a

righteous man. Now I'm going to give you

several words or phrases that are going to have the letter r

in it. If that helps you, I'm glad I'm

not trying to do that on purpose, but there's going to be

several. First one is he's righteous.

And what that means is that Joseph belonged to the Covenant

family of God, because of that, he received the blessings of

those who belong to the Covenant family of God.

And he also designed fire to do things that would please the

Lord. He's like the author of Psalm

119. I will run in the way of your

Commandments when you enlarge my heart, the word that you've

given me a sweeter to my taste than honey.

This is who Joseph was he was a righteous man, but when he heard

this news, we see that he was considering what he should do.

The word tells us he was Resolved to divorce her.

But how did he come to that conclusion?

Well, there's only one of two ways.

Mary could be pregnant in his mind either.

She was assaulted. Or she committed adultery.

She committed adultery, she has broken the law and that is a

capital offense. Joseph has affection for the

woman that he's betrothed to, he loves this woman.

He could not have imagined that this is what would happen to

her. Think about what he's wrestling

with. Who can I trust?

I certainly can't trust her. How can I even trust myself

that? I would be betrothed to one like

her. Think about all the things that

might be going on in Joseph's head thinking about the way in

which he desperately needs the Presence of God, he desperately

needs the promises of God. Who does he talk to?

We know he's a decisive man but in this moment, he really is.

Resolved. Look with me at verse 19.

Being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame.

He resolved to divorce her quietly, understanding the word

of God, understanding what would happen to her because of the

word of God understand. Affection.

He had for her understanding the consequences of what this would

mean for his family and her family for their future.

Spiritually financially, all these things are weighing on

him. Tonight, many of you are not

going to sleep very well. I haven't slept well on a

Christmas eve. Since I was born, I haven't as a

child, I grew up with so much anticipation.

And now as a father of five, it's late nights putting things

together. Some of you will.

Remember the last time Christmas was on a Sunday, I stood in this

pulpit and it was later than the service was a little later in

the night. And I looked at the congregation

and I said, how many of you are working tomorrow?

I am, I'll be here met at 9:30 service and 11:00 service.

And I said, here's the problem. I have a ping-pong table to put

together and I didn't know there were 2,000 screws and I need

help. And I received over 40 text.

Sadly, they came during the sermon.

From people who said we're willing to help.

And the Herby boys, dead Bart Herby.

It has four Sons came to a house about 11:30 stayed, till 4:00

and finish the table. All right, that's an awesome

story. Well, I know it's cold outside

but I have a trampoline All right, that's not true.

My kids are older. We've gotten rid of the

trampoline. We all have sleepless nights.

And not on nights like this that are just filled with his in,

with anticipation. Enjoy for what tomorrow brings

but sleepless nights when we are, considering what we should

do sleepless nights. When we're wondering, who we can

talk to, who we can trust sleepless nights, where we

desperately need to know the presence of God and the promises

of God, we have those nights when our soul is overwhelmed but

our mind is overwhelmed and we're trying to figure out what

the best thing to do is. Is.

That's Joseph. And before he goes to sleep.

He's resolved in his mind to divorce her.

But then comes restraint. This man who will see his very

decisive doesn't move before he goes to sleep, as he goes to

sleep, he's resolved in his mind to do what he thinks is right to

divorce. Marry but then, the presence and

the promise becomes real, God never has a problem revealing

what he wants. An angel comes to Joseph in a

dream. And what the angel does is the

Angel untangles, the not, that Joseph is in the angel, brings

the piece to the puzzle that is missing.

That gives him the ability to see, Mary is he always thought

she was, but never imagining that, she would be the one

carrying the savior in her womb. Joseph was very, very troubled.

He resolved to divorce her. What else could he do?

He went to sleep. and there's restraint and the spirit of God

moves, the angel appears this Advent season.

I feel like I've spent one-on-one time every day with

what many consider to be the greatest living Theologian

Sinclair Ferguson. He's been in this Pulpit several

times. His devotional that came out,

maybe you're go. The dawn of Redeeming, Grace has

been of deep deep. Well, for me, I finished it this

morning day. 24. On day 6.

This is what he writes about Joseph.

Joseph needed that something to happen, and it did.

The Dream Angel gave him the missing piece of the jigsaw

puzzle without which he would have been unable to discern the

Lord's will. God was untangling the not that

Joseph had tried to loosen in his waking hours.

God did so in a way that prevented Joseph from thinking

he had worked it out for himself.

And in this kindness God dissolved any fears.

Joseph might have in wondering whether he was following his own

plans and desires with disregard to God's word the child in

Mary's womb was not the fruit of her sin, but of the holy spirit,

this was the clue. Joseph had needed now.

Things began to fall into place. He was given light Right on his

situation. As the angel said, he had no

need to fear. He was disobeying the Lord by

marrying Mary. So no matter what the

consequences might be, he would do what the angel said.

He did not need any further consideration, Matthews words,

wonderfully, convey his immediate obedience He was

desperate. To hear from the Lord to know

his presence to hear his promises.

He was a righteous man. He resolved to do what was

right. He was restrained.

Sometimes we have those moments when we feel like we must pause,

we must wait. When you have those thoughts,

process them with the Lord. In a dramatic way because this

was a dramatic scene. The woman, he's betrothed to his

carrying the savior of The World.

God knew what he needed. And God knows what you need to.

There is nothing, you are experiencing no question.

You have no thoughts that keep you up in the middle of the

night that God can learn anything about.

But there's something about God that is often missed and that is

that God often bruises those that he will use for his glory.

Bitter providence's are often permitted.

By God because in those moments, they take us to the end of

ourselves were then we really are desperate.

We really are willing to say, whatever Lord you want, whatever

is your will We like Joseph are desperate for his presence and

desperate for his promises. Joseph would be told that the

sun inside Mary's wombs to be named Jesus.

And then he's told of the Fulfillment of the prophecy that

they shall call his name Emmanuel.

And what does that mean gods? Revealed word tells us, it means

god with us. In the church.

Of Jesus Christ. The true church in which he's

the head. everything that we need, he has given and will give

the greatest need. We all have is for our sin to be

forgiven. to be covered to be paid for and that is why Christ

came He came and he lived the life that we could never live,

he died, the death, we all deserve to die.

God With Us was placed on a cross, and we crucified him.

He was raised from the dead. That's why he came conquering

death. And now, after ascending to

Heaven, he lives to intercede. That means to pray for us.

Whatever keeps you up at night, whatever right now is causing

you to say. I'm desperate for his presence.

I'm desperate for his promises he gives but he gives only to

those who have received him. Do you see that's what happens

here? After Joseph hears from the

angel, the missing piece is the not as untangled.

He receives that word and responds.

No matter what, it will cost them.

What matters most to him, is pleasing his Heavenly Father All

is well. For some I fear even tonight

here it's just a Sentimental moment that was really beautiful

to see a young girl. And a woman with beautiful

instrumentation. Use the gifts they've been given

But it's not meant to be just sentimental.

It's meant to be another layer in a worship service to

beautifully Proclaim. What's true that for all who

have received Jesus? All is well now and forever.

This Side of Heaven, that doesn't mean that bitter

Providence is don't exist or that bruising doesn't take

place. But what it does mean is the

very thing we should fear most Eternal separation from God.

For all who receive Christ. That is not your future your

future. Is God With Us visible.

Tangible real site forever. But it starts now.

In God's Providence, you've heard a message tonight.

The declares what the word of God says about?

Who the angel said? This baby is, this baby was?

Have you received Jesus as Savior?

If so, friend, praise God for opening your eyes.

If not, praise God, that you're here to hear this news.

And as you hear my closing prayers and this beautiful

music, maybe this is the night that the Lord and his Providence

decided to visit you Don't open your eyes to call you to

himself. To chill.

You irresistible Grace, where you say, I must receive this

God. This Jesus Jesus said, I am the

way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father,

except through me. I write these things to you.

Who believe in the name of the son of God.

Jesus Emmanuel God With Us. That you may know you have

eternal life. Let me pray.

Father in heaven. There is so much more to see so

much more to hear so much more it understand.

But the simple truth is we either receive you or we don't

and father, I pray tonight that all who are here even if they

feel distant from you that the bruising in the bitter

providence's of this this Earth, this world is overwhelming them

that they would know that you have a plan.

You have full love and I prayed that they would hear the

compelling Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Friend if that is you tonight simply pray and ask Jesus Christ

to save. You receive him in your heart,

ask him to forgive your sins and walk away this night for the

first time ever being able to say for all eternity.

All is well. Lord Jesus, for those who have

already received, you press deeply in our hearts.

The good news of Christ and let us never take it for granted.

Even as we hear familiar pieces, let us not be swept into

sentimental things and miss the reality that what is being

spoken and sung about you is true We pray this in Jesus, holy

name. I'm at.

I'm at.