Emmanuel (God With Us)

Well, it's good to be back.

It's been probably three weeks or more since I was here.

And this sermon is going to be a little different than what I've normally done.

It's more of a topical approach.

And it's kind of funny because this morning I heard mom mention she's like,

Oh, Ryan's probably not going to use much scripture at all this morning as a joke.

Now, in that joke, I have probably the most scripture that I'm going to use this morning that I ever have.

And so it's on the topic of Emmanuel and taking the meaning of that which means God with us.

And we see this brought up in a few different places in scripture.

But it's talked of from Genesis to Revelation.

And this is what Christmas is about.

And I think sometimes we forget it.

Now we hear it and we're reminded of these things.

But do we really dwell on it?

And I'd say Satan's done a very good job of distracting us from the truth.

We think of Christmas as family time or opening gifts or the good food or many different things, these traditions.

And they're not bad things.

But if we're not careful, they distract from what it's actually about.

And sometimes we become numb to what the Christmas story is actually about.

We just become dull.

When we hear it, we're like, Oh yeah, Jesus came.

He was born in a manger, born of a virgin.

He lived.

He did ministry.

He died for us.

He rose again.

And I hope that what I just said bothers you.

Because it should.

Because I said it in a very mundane, plain way.

We forget the hope and who Jesus actually is.

And I want to do a run through from Genesis to Revelation.

But I want to start in Isaiah 7.

And it says this.

Isaiah 7 verse 14.

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.

This was given hundreds of years before Jesus came.

But it's a prophecy of the Lord saying this will happen.

And I don't want us to miss many important factors in this verse alone.

It's like, one, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.

Now as adults knowing, it's like a virgin does not just conceive and bear a son.

But here we see God's hand at work.

And she will.

And they shall call his name Emmanuel.

Which means what?

God with us.

And do we often forget who God is?

What does that mean?

God with us.

Jesus being fully God and fully man.

And let's just take a moment to go back to Genesis.

It says this.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The earth was without form and void.

And darkness was over the face of the deep.

And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, let there be light.

And there was light.

And God saw that the light was good.

And God separated the light from the darkness.

God called the light day.

And the darkness he called night.

And there was evening and there was morning.

The first day.

And it continues on.

And it says, God says.

And it happens.

Again, verse 6.

And God said, let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters.

And let it separate the waters from the waters.

And God made the expanse and separated the waters.

And that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse.

And it was so.

God speaks and it happens.

He says, let there be light and there is light.

God says, let there be light.

Let there be light.

Let there be light.

Let there be light.

And I was reminded through one of my fourth year mods.

We watched a video by Louis Giglio.

And he's going through the different stars in the universe.

And just as he continues, there's bigger and bigger and bigger and grander.

And more massive stars that we can't even compare in size.

We don't even understand the size or the magnitude or the power within these things.

Yet, he ties it all back to say that God says, let there be light.

And it happens.

And this is the same God that says, I will be with you.

The same God that came to earth as a baby born of a virgin.

And he speaks life into what is dead.

And we'll get into that more.

And going now, in my devos, I've been reading through Exodus.

And it says, actually before I go to Exodus, I'm going to go back to Genesis.

There's still some more I want to pull out here.

Genesis 2.7.

After God had created all things, he had put man in the garden, Garden of Eden.

And 2.7 says this,

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.

And the man became a living creature.

And we see that God is the one that has formed us.

That took the dust and breathed life into that man.

And we all have the breath of life because of what God has done.

It's a gift from him.

And then chapter 3, verse 8, it says this,

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.

And the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Now at this point, Adam and Eve had sinned.

They disobeyed God.

But we see this concept of God being with them.

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.

We see this right from the beginning that God is with man.

He's walking with them.

And as a result, their sin, it separates us from the Lord.

But God doesn't leave them from there.

But he continues to walk with them.

But it's going towards a purpose and a plan that God has planned beforehand.

And we see it starting to take place here.

And in my devos, I've been reading in Exodus.

In Exodus 13, 17 to 22, it talks about the pillar of cloud and fire as the people are being led out of Egypt.

And when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near.

For God said, lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.

But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea.

And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.

But then we go on and it says,

And the Lord went before them, verse 21,

God is with them.

And he's leading them and guiding them as they walk along.

And we see this again, Exodus 14, verse 13 to 14.

Exodus 14:13–14

And Moses said to the people,

Fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.

For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

We see that God is with them.

When God is with them, their salvation is there.

He's the one that delivers them.

And we see God's presence come down at Mount Sinai in Exodus as well.

God comes down on the mountain, and he's with his people.

And we see this same concept in the tabernacle,

where the tent of the Lord is among the people.

He's with them.

He's leading them.

Then it continues further yet.

And we see in Joshua, chapter 1, verse 5 to 7.

Joshua 1:5–7

It says this,

Only be strong and very courageous,

Again, the Lord makes clear,

I'm with you as I was with Moses.

Emmanuel, God with us.

And we see this continues on and on through Judges.

We see Samson being an example of this.

And Samson's one story that always catches my attention,

because he picks up a donkey jawbone

and kills a thousand men with swords,

and he uses a jawbone.

It's impossible.

And the only reason he can do that is because God is with him.

And I'm reminded of another story.

Jonathan and his armor bearer.

They're going, it's just the two of them.

And there's 20 or 25 trained soldiers of the Philistines,

and they're like,

If they call us up this hill,

we know that God is with us.

Okay, if you know military,

going up the hill is probably the worst decision you can make.

But they say,

If they call us up there,

we know that God is with us and will deliver us.

And they said,

Come up here.

And they go up,

and they kill them all.

God was with them,

and he delivered them.

He's their salvation.

And to continue on,

we see in Psalm 100,

I'm just going to read the whole thing.

And that what should our response be?

Make a joyful noise to the Lord,

all the earth.

Serve the Lord with gladness.

Come into his presence with singing.

And we can come into his presence

because of what Jesus has done on the cross.

Because of why he came.

He came to restore that relationship with him.

Know that the Lord, he is God.

It is he who made us,

and we are his.

What did we just see?

We read in Genesis,

it's God that breathed life into our bodies.

He formed us.

He created us.

We are his pasture,

and the sheep of his pasture.

What a blessing that is.

Like,

that we can come before the Lord that said,

let there be light,

said,

let this come to play

by speaking.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him.

Bless his name.

For the Lord is good.

His steadfast love

endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

I think of the many Christmas songs we sing.

At Christmas,

joy to the world.

And do we sing that song with joy?

Do we enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise?

Give thanks to him and bless his name.

For the Lord is good,

and his steadfast love endures forever.

Remember,

when Adam and Eve sinned,

that could have been the end.

God could have started over.

He could have said,

this is enough.

I'm not doing this again.

Or I'm going to do this a little differently.

But we see his mercy and his love.

As we see in Genesis,

God actually makes the sacrifice

for Adam and Eve,

and clothes them.

Covers their nakedness.

And he forgives them of their sin.

Then as we read Isaiah 7, 14,

that the promise of Emmanuel is coming.

But then we see in Isaiah 9, 1 to 7,

it says this,

but there will be no gloom for her

who is in anguish.

In the former time,

he brought into contempt

the land of Zebulun

and the land of Naphtali.

But in the latter time,

he has made glorious

the way of the sea,

the land beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light.

Those who dwelt in the land

of deep darkness on them

has light shone.

You've multiplied the nation.

You've increased his joy.

And they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as they are glad

when they divide the spoil.

For the yoke of his burden

and the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken

as on the day of Midian.

For every boot

of the tramping warrior

in battle to malt,

and every garment

rolled in blood

will be burned

as fuel for the fire.

Then verse 6,

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government

shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace,

and of the increase

of his government

and of peace,

there will be no end

on the throne of David

and over his kingdom

to establish it

and to uphold it

with justice

and with righteousness.

From this time forth

and forevermore,

the zeal of the Lord

of hosts will do this.

And we see this

and the heading

of this chapter

is for to us

a child is born.

Who's Isaiah talking

about here?

Now there

is multiple

fulfillments here,

but ultimately

it's looking

towards Christ

and what he will do.

And this is why

we see when Jesus

comes as Messiah

and is teaching

the people,

they're like,

sweet,

Rome's going to be

overthrown.

And they're pulling

from this being

one of the passages,

and the government

shall be upon his shoulder

and his name

shall be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace,

and of the increase

of his government

and of peace,

there will be no end

in the throne of David

and over his kingdom.

And so we see

they're in hopes

of he's coming over,

he's coming

to take over

the government.

He's going to take

over the world

and reign.

But Jesus makes clear

it's the kingdom

is, my kingdom

is not of this world.

He says I'm coming

to make a way

and this will be fulfilled

and we're going to

get to that still

because there's a promise

of it still coming.

It's Christ's second coming,

he's coming

and he will reign

on earth.

But his first coming

when he was born

in the manger

was not to establish

this yet.

But as I read

this passage,

I look and it's

the names that are given.

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace,

these are just a few

of the names

given.

And even as we have

and we just celebrated

a new baby

being born into the world,

Sophie,

she's not given

any of these names.

But Jesus was

and is

these things.

then we can continue

going

moving forward

and

this is

it's just so exciting.

I don't know,

I'm so excited

right now.

As Ezekiel 36

says this

and

I'm reminded

I look

back

and we read

these stories

and we see

the Israelites

and God saying

if you do

these things

I will be with you.

Follow me,

trust me,

allow me to lead.

And Ezekiel 36

gives another promise

and

verse 26 and 27

it says this

and I will give you

a new heart

and a new spirit

I will put within you

and I will remove

the heart of stone

from your flesh

and give you

a heart of flesh

and I will put

my spirit

within you

and cause you

to walk in my statutes

and be careful

to obey my rules.

And we see

the Israelites

going through

this pattern

and

judges especially

we've

talked about it

as a sin cycle

and

as the sin cycle

starts

in judges

you can see it

continually get worse

and worse and worse

and it talks about

this judge came

ruled for this many years

and the people

returned to sin

and it says

the people

went back

to their old ways

and continued

and we see this cycle

over and over

and over and over

and I'm sure

we've seen it

in our own lives

but Jesus

comes

and we're gonna

get to this

as well

but he sends

his spirit

to dwell in us

it's no longer

where we're

told over

and over

and over

these are the things

but he says

I will put my spirit

within you

and cause you

to walk in my statutes

and be careful

to obey my rules.

Jesus

has come

to set us free

as Paul would put it

from this body

of death

and we're gonna get

there as well

but

before we do

I wanna read

through Matthew

Matthew 1

21 to 23

says this

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

where was that

taken from

Isaiah 7

behold the virgin

shall conceive

and bear a son

and they shall call

his name

Emmanuel

which means

God with us

and we see

this is where

it's being fulfilled

Jesus

has been born

this is the promise

that was given

hundreds of years

before

be played out

and we see

right from the

beginning

God

with us

and he's

continuing this

on

he's

got this plan

right from the

start

and we could go

back to Genesis

and talk about

this very thing

of what Jesus

does on the cross

for after the fall

it says this

the Lord said

to the serpent

because you've

done this

cursed are you

above all livestock

and above all

beasts of the field

on your belly

you shall go

and dust

you shall eat

all the days

of your life

verse 15

I will put

enmity between

you and the woman

and between your

offspring

and her offspring

he shall bruise

your head

and you shall

bruise his heel

looking

to Christ

and what happens

on the cross

Jesus dies

on the cross

for our sin

he takes

the wrath

of God

upon him

Jesus was

a sinless

man

perfect

in every way

yet died

as if

he was the

worst of sinners

and he did

that for us

and for what

purpose

that God

will be with us

sin separates us

from him

and it's only

through him

that we can

have reconciliation

that we can

come before him

and we see

after

after Christ's

death

he says this

this is where

we see

part

of why

Jesus

came

Matthew 28

Matthew 28:18–20

verse 18

to 20

says this

and Jesus

came and

said to them

this is already

after his death

and resurrection

Jesus came

and said to them

all authority

in heaven

and on earth

has been given

to me

go therefore

and make

disciples of all

nations

baptizing them

in the name

of the father

and of the son

and of the holy

spirit

teaching them

to observe

all that I've

commanded you

and behold

listen here

I am with you

always

to the end

of the age

Emmanuel

God

with us

he will be

with us

always

and he's

given us

power

he's given us

his spirit

to live this out

he's giving us

a new heart

that we can

actually

walk in

his ways

and Jesus

in John

16 33

also says this

I've said

these things

to you

that in me

you may have

peace

in the world

you will have

tribulation

but take heart

I've overcome

the world

he's with us

who can stop

the Lord

no one

as in Romans

if God is for us

who can be

against us

no one

we see this

continues

in Ephesians

2 1

says this

why

does Jesus

coming

born of a virgin

born in the manger

why

does this Christmas

story mean

so much

why is it

so important

why should we

rejoice

knowing that

Christ has

come

why should our

hearts erupt

in praise

of what

God has

done

and doing

it's because

we are dead

in our trespasses

and sins

and when he says

I will put a new

spirit within you

I will give you

a heart of flesh

it's because

we're dead

it's not

just that we're

lost

or

confused

it's

there's no

life in us

Christ is

coming to put

that life

in us

put his

spirit within

us

to teach

us

and to

lead us

and

to give

us

new life

and we

see this

in Ephesians

2

4-10

but God

being rich

in mercy

because of

the great

love with

which he

loved us

even when

we were

dead in

our

trespasses

made us

alive

together

with

Christ

by grace

you have

been saved

and raised

us up

with him

and seated

us with

him in

the heavenly

places

in Christ

Jesus

so that

in the

coming

ages

he might

show

the

immeasurable

riches

of his

grace

in kindness

towards us

in Christ

Jesus

for by

grace

you have

been saved

through faith

and this

is not

your own

doing

it is

the gift

of God

not a

result

of works

so that

no one

may boast

for we

are his

workmanship

created in

Christ

Jesus

for good

works

which God

prepared

beforehand

that we

should

walk

in them

it's

of nothing

we have

done

it's

Christ

work

on the

cross

that we

are

saved

and we

see this

through the

Old Testament

as well

they had

this process

in the

temple

the

tabernacle

of

making

sacrifices

doing

sacrifices

for their

sins

and many

other

things

but

sin

being

one

of

them

and

each

year

there was

a

sacrifice

made

for

their

sins

for

the

sins

of

the

whole

people

the

whole

congregation

and year

by year

they had

to make

these

sacrifices

but

Jesus

dies

on the

cross

and there's

no longer

any need

for sacrifice

to be

made

now there's

still need

for confession

but Christ

has paid

the price

there's

still need

to walk

in godliness

it doesn't

give us

a green

card

or a green

light

to go

keep on

sinning

we're to

grow in

him

we're to

walk in

him

and he's

given us

all that

we need

to be

able to

do that

and we

see that

played out

pretty clearly

in Ephesians

the immeasurable

riches of

his grace

and later

on chapter

three

that according

to the

riches of

his glory

and now

to him

who's able

to do

far more

abundantly

than all

that we

ask or

think

according

to the

power

at work

within

us

to him

be glory

in the

church

and in

Christ

Jesus

throughout

all

generations

forever

and ever

amen

he's

given us

all things

we need

to walk

in godliness

we can

keep going

Hebrews 4

14 to

16

since

then we

have a

great

high priest

who's

passed

through

the

heavens

Jesus

the

son

of

God

let us

hold

fast

our

confession

for we

do not

have a

high priest

who's unable

to sympathize

with our

weaknesses

but one

who in

every respect

has been

tempted as

we are

yet without

sin

let us

then with

confidence

draw near to

the throne

of grace

that we

may receive

mercy and

find grace

to help

in time

of need

Jesus

came as

a man

and lived

on this

earth

he was

tempted

in every

way as

we are

tempted

yet he

did not

sin

he's able

to understand

he knows

what this

life entails

sometimes

I think

we're like

well

God

you don't

understand

it's like

no if

anybody

understands

it's him

he is

with us

and he's

gone before

us

and he's

going

before us

but there's

a call

we see

that

that what

Christ has

done

it's a

gift

that he

holds his

hand out

and says

here

this is

what I've

done for

you

but we

have a

choice to

make

we have a

choice to

receive

that gift

or to

turn it

away

in the

gospels

Jesus

says

as he's

living

come

and follow

me

pick up

your cross

die to

yourself

and live

for me

surrender

your life

and when

I think

of what

Christ

has done

when I

look back

at the

gospel

and the

truth

and the

price that

Christ

paid for

me

there's

nothing

that I

can give

in return

that would

equal that

amount

so what's

my response

but to

give my

heart to

him

to give

my life

to him

and say

Lord

here it

is

take it

and use

it

for your

glory

and now

revelation

Revelation 21:1–8

21

verse 1

to 8

this is

still to

come

says

this

then I

saw a

new

heaven

and a

new

earth

for the

first

heaven

and the

first

earth

had

passed

away

and the

sea

was no

more

and I

saw

the

holy

city

new

Jerusalem

coming

down

out

of

heaven

from

God

prepared

as a

bride

adorned

for her

husband

and I

heard a

loud

voice

from the

throne

saying

behold

the

dwelling

place

of God

is with

man

he

will

dwell

with

them

and they

will

be

his

people

and God

himself

will be

with them

as their

God

he will

wipe away

every tear

from their

eyes

and death

shall be

no more

neither

shall there

be mourning

nor crying

nor pain

anymore

for the

former

things

have

passed

away

and he

who is

seated

on the

throne

said

behold

I'm

making

all

things

new

also

he

said

write

this

down

for these

words

are

trustworthy

and

true

and he

said to

me

it is

done

I am

the

alpha

and the

omega

the

beginning

and the

end

to the

thirsty

I will

give

from the

spring

of the

water

of life

without

payment

the

one who

conquers

will have

this

heritage

and I

will be

his

God

and he

will be

my

son

but

then

there's

a warning

here

but as

for the

cowardly

the

faithless

the

detestable

as

for

murders

the

sexually

immoral

sorcerers

idolaters

and all

liars

their

portion

will be

in the

lake

that burns

with fire

and sulfur

which is

the second

death

we see

this

promise

of what

is coming

that God

behold

the dwelling

place of

God

is with

man

he will

dwell

with

them

and they

will be

his

people

and God

himself

will be

with

them

as

their

God

he is

coming

and he's

coming to

dwell with

us

he has

come

first

and he

sent his

spirit to

come live

within us

to make

us a

new

creation

but yet

he'll come

again

and this

time to

conquer

to reign

to rule

that he

may dwell

with us

and verse

six

and he

said to

me

it is

done

I'm

the alpha

and the

omega

the beginning

and the

end

does that

ring a

bell

when Jesus

was on the

cross he

said it

is finished

and yet

again here

he comes

again

and he

says again

it is

done

but verse

eight

but as

for the

cowardly

the faithless

the detestable

as for

murderers

the sexually

immoral

sorcerers

idolaters

and all

liars

their portion

will be in

the lake

that burns

with fire

and sulfur

which is the

second death

if

you're in that

category

there's still

time

to come

to Christ

because at

one point

we all

walked in

that way

you might

say no

I didn't

murder

but did

you hate

your brother

or sister

and that

doesn't mean

immediate

family

that means

anyone

say it

well I

didn't

I haven't

been

faithless

did you

doubt

God

have you

ever doubted

him

the cowardly

have you been

afraid

to do

something

that God

has asked

sexually

immoral

lust

idolaters

raise

something

higher

than God

and

I can

assume

we've

all raised

ourselves

at some

point

higher

than him

have you

lied

yes

and Jesus

says if you

commit one

of these

you've

transgressed

the whole

law

this is

why

there's

such

hope

with

Christ

coming

because

apart

from him

we're

dead

but he's

come

and given

us life

he said

I'm

taking

the wrath

of God

he paid

the price

so that

we may

have new

life

so that

we can

live in

him

so what

is Christmas

all about

it's

about

the story

of God

with us

from the

beginning

and he's

going to

be with

us

in the

end

it's

about

Jesus

who is

fully

God

and fully

man

lived a

perfect

sinless

life

which is

impossible

for any

other man

to do

and died

as if he

had committed

all the

sin

as he

took it

upon

himself

for us

if he

wouldn't

have come

we would

remain

dead

in our

trespasses

and sins

as we

went through

in Ephesians

2

so what

is our

response

how should

we respond

we should

respond

with hearts

full of

praise

for it

is

celebrating

the first

coming

of our

savior

who came

to deal

with sin

and we

look ever

so

expectantly

for his

return

when he

returns in

glory to

bring

judgment

and in

this we

see both

his love

and his

justice

being poured

out

and those

two go

together

but the

psalmist

responds in

awe and I

hope we do

that not just

at Christmas

or Easter

but each time

we pick up his

word and spend

time with him

and I want to

close with

Psalm 111

which says

this

praise the

Lord I

will give

thanks to

the Lord

with my

whole heart

in the

company of

the upright

in the

congregation

great are

the works

of the

Lord

studied by

all who

delight in

them

full of

splendor

and majesty

is his

work and

his righteousness

endures forever

he has caused

his wondrous

works to be

remembered

the Lord is

gracious and

merciful

he provides

food for those

who fear him

he remembers his

covenant forever

he has shown his

people the power

of his works in

giving them the

inheritance of the

nations

the works of his

hands are faithful

and just

all his precepts

are trustworthy

they are

established forever

and ever

to be performed

with faithfulness

and uprightness

he sent

redemption to

his people

he has commanded

his covenant

forever

holy and

awesome is

his name

the fear of the

Lord is the

beginning of

wisdom

all those who

practice it

have a good

understanding

and his praise

endures forever

and my prayer

as well as a

question for you

is is this

our hearts

response

to the Christmas

story to the

gospel

because it

should be

the psalmist

cries out

praise the

Lord I will

give thanks

to the Lord

with my whole

heart in the

company of the

upright in the

congregation

great are the

works of the

Lord studied by

all who

delight in

them

and he

continues to

go on full

of splendor

and majesty

as his work

and his

righteousness

endures forever

let's not

forget what

Christmas is

about

it's about

Emmanuel

God with

us

and not

forget who

God is

not belittle

him in this

little box of

our lives

that we

place him

in

he's the

God of the

impossible

the God

that speaks

and it

happens

that same

power that

rose Jesus

from the dead

is given to

us to walk

in him

to live in

him

and so I

hope

and pray

that this

Christmas

we will

stand in

awe of

what

God has

done

and the

gift

that Jesus

is

to us

and as

the church

as the body

of believers

we need to be

sharing this

truth

this gospel

the work

that Christ

has done

with those

around us

because there

are many

in this

town alone

that are

dead

in their

trespasses

and sins

and maybe

they've heard

the gospel

but they

need to hear

it again

so go

from here

rejoice

in the

Lord

but also

share the

good news

thank you

now