Emmanuel: God Is With Us
Matthew 1:18-23 KJV
I look at the name of Christ and my mind goes begins to wonder about other names in the Bible, and what they mean. This name Emmanuel has a profound meaning not just to the saint, but unto the World. “God with Us” My friends, it doesn’t get any better then that.
Why is this name so profound? I’m glad that you asked…
Not only does this name tell us where Jesus is, but it also tells us who He is.
God didn’t have to come here to be with us, He didn’t have to be born in a manger, He didn’t haveto be beaten, bruised, accused, and killed, but He did. He did all this and more just that He could be with us.
The verse that really speaks out here is John 1:11
“He came unto his own and his own received him not”
He had tried to be with His fellow man, His fellow nation, but they received Him not. He tried to have fellowship with you and I time and time again, and we received Him not.
I would have to say, I am glad they (Israel) rejected Jesus as the Messiah, for in there doing so it allowed salvation to given unto the Gentiles, and we now know that God is with us.
Today I would like to take a few minutes and look and see what the Word of the Lord has to say about this Emmanuel, God with us. First, answer this question. aren’t you glad that He is with us?
I. EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US……Through the Storms
I’m reminded of the story found in Acts 27, with Paul out at sea and his presence in the mist of the storm, and his confidence that God will see him and them through.
Although the storm was ragging, the winds were blowing at there highest, the waters were crashing against the ship, the goods were tossed overboard, and fear had set in that they wouldn’t make it.
Remember, the storm was strong, but the ship was fine and sailed on.
Paul never tells us that the ship was destroyed, or that there were holes blown in its side, or that they took on water, but that they sailed on through it all, there only loss along the way were things that weighed down the ship. Oh to God that we would lose those things that hold us down.
Paul stood firm, know that God was with him. He said…
1) I know whose I am….Vv.23
2) I know whom I serve….Vv.23
3) I know we will make it….Vv. 23 & 24
4) I know who I believe in …Vv.25
>>>>>>Paul knew that god was with him, and that he is with us !
If you and I can get our minds around who it truly is that is with us, we could stand fimr like Paul no matter what the storms of life may come, and firmly say God Is With Us.
II. EMMANUEL: GOD IS WITH US…..Though the Enemy Rages
Here I’m reminded of our brother Jehoshaphat in II Chronicles 20
In this case we find many enemies gathered, not just one against Gods people.
I’ll ask you some questions that relate to us today, for its clear (we) do not have nations gathered at our front door against us, but we do have a different enemy gathered..
The Bill Collector
The Nay Sayers
The Doubters
The Liars
The Backbiters
The Adversary, the Devil
The Evil among us…Vv.9
~Its important for us to know that EVERYTIME in the bible that someone fasted and
prayed, they received an answer from the Lord.
~It may not have been the answer they were looking for, but they did hear from the Lord.
~In this case Jehoshaphat and all Judah fasted before the Lord. Vv.3-4
~Look at his prayer in Vv.5-13 and how powerful it is.
And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
~I love the sum verse 12.…
for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
~Jehoshaphat is saying the he and we His people know that God is With Us.
Remember what I said about fasting?
Look at the answer from the Lord
II Chronicles 20:15.…
And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
II Chronicles 20:17.…
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
Jehoshaphat and all of Judah knew that God was with Us.
III. EMMANUEL: GOD IS WITH US…. To carry us Home
Can I reminds you of the text found in John 11 of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.
This story of a dead man, a dead friend has moved the hearts of many a lost loved ones.
This story gives hope to those that mourn, that there loved ones will rise again. Why?
Because, Christ tells Martha and Mary that He is the Resurrection and the Life. Vv.25
>The comforting facts of this passage to us today is that we now know and have the
answer to death……JESUS !
Revelation 1:18 says…
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
John 11:25-26 says….
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
>>Martha gives a great answer to the question, “Yea Lord, I Believe”
>>Not that she just believed that her brother would rise again, but that Jesus himself, is
the Christ, the Son of God, and the resurrection and the Life which Isaiah spoke of.
I Thessalonians 4:18 says….
Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words.
CLOSING
No matter if the enemy rages or the storms of life blow we are confident to know that God Is With Us.
Notice a few things here in 1 Thess. 4:16...
Notice who it is coming “for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven”
Who is coming? The Lord himself…not another…aren’t you glad it ‘s Him
Where is He coming from? Heaven…where are we going?….To heaven
Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words…..
GOD IS WITH US
Bro. Stepp
12/08
