25 December 2005 – Christmas Day
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker, Taegu, South Korea
BIG IDEA: GOD IS WITH US.
REFERENCES: Luke 15:1-7; Matthew 1:18-23; Isaiah 7:14 - KJV ( Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel); Psalm 42; Psalm 43; Deut. 22:23-25 (How a man should handle his espoused being raped); Deut. 24:5 (When a man take a new wife – he shouldn’t go off to the army …); Deut. 20:7 (let the man be exempt for one year); Genesis 38:24 ; 2 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 – KJV; 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 (The Arabian Invasion of Judah and King Jehoshaphat);
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Matthew 1:18-23; Isaiah 7:14
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Matthew 1:18-23; Isaiah 7:14
III. READ THE TEXT: Matthew 1:23 KJV - Behold, a virgin shall be with shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us.
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others, during this HOLY SEASON AND TIME OF WAR, the importance of calling JESUS to be WITH US.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “EMMANUEL”
INTRODUCTION:
My brothers and sisters, on a count of 3, please join me in COLLECTIVELY saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS … for it’s HIS BIRTHDAY!
1-2-3 … HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!
Now, on behalf of Dedra, Kenny, Kendall, Kendric, and I, we WISH YOU ALL … A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I encourage all – particularly those that may be somewhat angry because they didn’t get precisely what they wanted for CHRISTMAS - to remember AND NEVER FORGET that JESUS IS THE REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON!
It’s His B-I-R-T-H-Day!
Let us not forget in the chilled background of kids playing, families breaking bread together, muttered-sounds of The Salvation Army hand-bells ringing, and American dropping coins of help into containers – WE’RE A NATION AT WAR;
In the chilled background where the 2 day old snow lay in Daegu – there are bright colors of red, green, and white on display.
And … although, many of us, can hear the sounds of gift exchanging, and the quick tearing of wrapping paper; along with kids playing, CHRISTMAS songs and caroling … America is at WAR even as I speak.
In fact, there are many gifts that were opened this morning … without sons and daughters;
many gifts were opened without mothers and fathers; and many gifts were opened without brothers, sisters, and friends … to salvage and to share the moment …
THEREFORE, IN HONOR OF OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE PAYED THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE …
… AND IN HONOR OF THOSE … THAT ARE CURRENTLY SERVING AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS DURING THIS HOLY SEASON … LET US PAUSED FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
Thank you!
*****************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 1: Now, my brothers and sisters, most of you can attest to the fact that as a congregation, FOR THE PAST 4-5 WEEKS, we have been dealing with various topics … REGARDING MARRIAGE & DIVORCE BUSTING.
a. ALL OF WHICH, ARE AVAILBLE ON VHS, DVDs and Cassettes, AT NO COST TO YOU.
b. JUST SIMPLY SEE OUR VIDEO/COMPUTER MINISTRY STAFF and they will fill you in on the details.
c. We believe, if heed is taken, these resources can greatly enhance marriages and relationships – everywhere!
d. In fact, many of you, may recall … DURING OUR BIBLE STUDY (THIS PAST WEEK) WE EXPLORED AND SURVEYED HOW MANY COUPLES SHARED NICKNAMES FOR ONE ANOTHER.
e. JUST AS THERE ARE STORIES AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SURROUNDS MILITARY NICKNAMES such as …
f. FROGS for Navy Seals;
g. MATELOTS for Sailors;
h. LEATHERNECKS for Marines;
i. DOGFACE for Infantry soldiers;
j. … and G.I. for soldiers.
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
MOVE 2: THERE ARE ALWAYS STORIES and CIRCUMSTANCES which surrounds THE NICKNAMES THAT COUPLES’ SHARE.
a. AMAZINGLY … WE DISCOVERED SEVERAL COUPLES WITH UNIQUE NICKNAMES.
b. WIVES HAD CREATED NICKNAMES FOR THEIR HUSBANDS SUCH AS:
c. BIG DADDY … BABY, BABY, BABY … SWEETIE, BULGOGIE, SEXY, BABE, AND KENNETH … TO NAME A FEW …
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS*********************
MOVE 3: WHILE HUSBANDS HAD NICKNAMES FOR THEIR WIVES LIKE …
a. HONEY, PHAT MAMA, YO-BO,
b. BOO, TAN, SWEET CHOCOLATE, AND HONEY-COOKIE. …
c. NOW … MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS … AS INDICATED IN BIBLE STUDY … NICKNAMES TELL SOMETHING ABOUT THE PERSON BEARING THE NAME.
********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 4: As an only child, I was given the nickname of LUCKY at birth.
a. The story behind the nickname has to do with the fact that prior to my birth, my mother had had seven miscarriages.
b. Apparently, she had been diagnosed as having a 5-ball tumor.
c. After the constant nudging of my father, to see another physician, my mother finally gave in and consulted another physician …who confirmed my father’s suspicion – MY MOTHER WAS PREGNANT.
d. Therefore, based primarily on the circumstances that surrounded my conception, my father CONVINCED her that regardless of the child’s gender, its nickname would be LUCKY.
e. My brother and sisters … there are almost always STORIES or CIRCUMSTANCES behind nicknames.
********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 5: LIKEWISE, IN OUR TEXT, THIS AFTERNOON WE DISCOVER JESUS’ also had a NICKNAME – EMMANUEL.
a. This nickname was first mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14 – during a dangerous TIME WHEN WAR for BOTH Judah and Jerusalem was in the air;
b. NEARLY 20 years after the death of Isaiah’s Cousin - King Uzziah, in Chapter 7, …
c. … JUDAH AND JERUSALEM found themselves being threatened by an ungodly alliance of wicked kings (from Syria and Israel).
d. The people of Judah and Jerusalem was SCARED.
e. Therefore, during this NATIONAL CRISIS, it was the Prophet Isaiah that provided the people of God SOME COMFORT through both a unique sign and prophecy.
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS*********************
MOVE 6: For don’t you remember the sign THAT GOD PROVIDED was embodied in the name of Isaiah and the name of Isaiah’s son.
a. Isaiah means – “SALVATION”; AND HIS SON’S NAME – SHEAR-JA-SHUB means “The remnant shall return,” The remnant shall be saved.”
b. So, in spite of the enemy’s claim to utterly destroy God’s people and their way of life … God sent his messenger to COMFORT GOD’S PEOPLE AND THEIR KING WITH signs AND prophecy OF COMFORT AND HOPE.
c. The sign in part was embodied in the name of the prophet, and the name of the prophet’s son that accompanied him on his visit to meet with King Ahaz;
d. Whereas the prophecy (that Isaiah spoke of) was A FUTURISTIC SIGN of a VIRGIN’S BIRTH.
e. A VIRGIN: A young woman that had NEVER KNOWN A MAN SEXUALLY would become pregnant WITH DELIVERANCE.
f. I can hear Isaiah saying to King Ahaz … King, I know that this doesn’t pass the common sense test … but HANG IN THERE … because deliverance is on the way … Judah and Jerusalem will NOT be destroyed.
********************TAKE 5 BEATS*********************
MOVE 7: For the scripture says:
a. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)
b. Likewise, in our text this afternoon, over 900 years later, we find the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Matthew 1:23:
c. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
d. In other words, THE VIRGIN’S BIRTH represents God need for us to become SPIRITUAL PURE and His understanding that we can’t do it by ourselves – SO HE HAS COME TO BE WITH US … IN ORDER TO HELP US …
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS********************
CELEBRATION:
IF WE ACCEPT HIM … EVERYWHERE WE GO …HE IS WITH US … TO ENABLE US … TO EMPOWER US AND TO COMFORT AND DELIVER US …
IF WE GO TO IRAQ, - GOD IS THERE; IF WE GO TO AFGHANISTAN – GOD IS THERE; IF WE GO TO GERMANY – GOD IS THERE !
HE’S IN FLORIDA; HE’S IN MISSISSIPPI; HE’S IN LOUSIANNA
EVERYWHERE WE GO … HE IS WITH US …
HE’S IN ALABAMA, AND HE’S IN CALIFORNIA … AND HE’S HERE IN SOUTH KOREA.
EVERYWHERE WE GO – HE’S EMMANUEL …
