
The Immanuel Demonstrating Love
Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT)
Jesus, the True Celebration of Christmas 04 | Mick Veach | leader pastor | first aired on 12.19.2021
Read Scripture:
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. —Matthew 1:18-25
I. Introduction:
A .We have looked during this advent at what the Christ child brought us
- Hope
- Peace
- Joy
B. Today, the Sunday before Christmas we look at the Immanuel, the God who is with us demonstrates his love for us.
C. V. 23 — She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means God is with us.
- This is a game changer
- We are not alone
- We don’t have to try and get God’s attention
- God is with us
D. Difference between this truth and other religions of the world
- Islam—God is distant and demanding
- Hinduism—There are many gods which you must appease
- Animism—God is in everything
- Deism—God created everything but left us to fend for ourselves
E. Christmas brings us the incredible story of God with us
- Pursuing us
- A Scripture that details how He desires to love us personally
F. John 3:16—Details how God loved us
- He gave his one and only son for us
G. The entire character of God is love
- I John 4:16—God is love and all who live in love live in God and God lives in them
H. Let’s look at the names of God that detail how God loves us
II. Seven Names of God that Demonstrate God is Love
A. Elohim—Father God/God the
Gen 1:1—In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth
Romans 8:15–…you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, Abba Father
- His Spirit lives in us and confirms that we are his children
The presence of a Father makes everything ok
a. Holding your hand during a storm
b. Reassuring you that He’s got this
c. Giving perspective and hope
d. A sense of strength and wisdomBeing loved unconditionally by your father brings
a. Security
b. Perspective5. Key Point—God the Father loves us and is always there for us
B. El Shaddai—God Almighty, the
God
- And His strength is unmatched
- His power and majesty have no equal
- No dualism occurring with the Devil
It is important to note that God does not need us to be fulfilled
a. He created us to enjoy relationship with us
b. We walked away from this relationshipHis love for us motivated him to sacrifice for us
- Relationship is possible because Jesus atoning sacrifice
Psalm 91:1—He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Protection from all evil
Biblical Scriptures that show his power is for us
a. Romans 8:31—if God is for us who can be against us
b. Phil 4:13—I can do all things through Christ…
c. Zech 4:6—Not by might or by power but by my Spirit says the LordHis Power is accessible to us because He loves us
Example of my going to college and getting a degree through his strength and power
10. Key Point—God of Love is ready to give us his power for victory in life
C. El Roi—The God
Gen. 16:13—Hagar wandering in the wilderness, desperate and alone, angel of the Lord appears and gives her comfort
- She says you are El Roi, you are the God who sees me
Nahum 1:7—The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.
Acts 16—God sees Paul and Silas in prison as they sing praise to Jesus during their imprisonment.
- He not only sees them; He delivers them from jail
Question—Does Jesus see me?
- He not only sees you, he understands you better than you understand yourself
5. Key Point—You are never alone, Jesus is with you until the end
D. Jehovah Jireh—The God who
Gen. 22:1-19—Abraham knows that God himself will provide a lamb for the sacrifice and He did
- Abraham saw God’s provision because He stepped out and trusted God
Are you willing to step out and watch God provide for you?
- We can’t put criteria on it
Biblical Character Job experienced God’s provision but it was not in Job’s timeline or demands
- Are you willing to be patient?
James 5:7-8—Be patient for the Lord’s return as farmers wait patiently for the rain for their crops
Phil 4:19—My God will supply all your needs according to riches in glory in Christ Jesus
a. Jesus said, if earthly fathers know how to provide for their children, how much more our father in heaven will provide for his children
b. God desires to provide for your needs, big and small
c. There is no limit to God’s provisionIt is in the trust of small provisions that we learn to trust Jesus for the big provisions in our life
7. Key Point—God’s love moves him to provide for his children
E. Jehovah Nissi—The Lord is my
Exodus 17:15—Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my banner
a. His powerful defense of His people.
b. God is their confidence in battle
c. He is their rallying point and their identity is found in HimQuestion—Where is your identity today?
- It needs to be in the fact that you are a child of God
Question—What battle are you going through today?
- Jesus is your defense and your confidence as you face your giants
Knowing who you belong to changes everything
5. Key Point—The Lord is our defender and our confidence
F. Jehovah Shalom—The Lord is
John 14:27—Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give you.
- Jesus tells us that we have peace in the midst of the storms
John 16:33—I have told you these things, so that in me you may peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world.
- Jesus warns us that trouble is a part of life but peace can accompany you during these difficult time
Col. 3:15—Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…
I Peter 5:7—Cast your anxiety on him for he cares for you
a. What is it you are facing today?
b. Give it to Jesus in prayerBiblical Examples of Peace in the midst of challenges
a. David facing Goliath
b. Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem
c. The disciples in the boat and a storm comes upon themJesus loves you so much that he desires you to experience peace regardless of your situation
- It will be this peace that will be attractive to all that know you
7. Key Point—Jesus will grant peace for all that love Him
G. Jehovah Rapha—The Lord that
Jeremiah 30:17—God says, I will restore you to health ad heal your wounds declares the Lord
Jesus desires to heal us
a. From our sin
- John 1:29—behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
b. From our physical needs- Luke 5—Jesus heals the paralytic man
c. From our emotional needs- Psalm 34:18—The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit
What is our role in this healing process?
a. James 5:16—Confess your sins to one another, anoint and pray for each other
b. Eph 6—Break down strongholds in Jesus nameWhat is your need today?
a. Jesus is willing to bring you to complete healing
b. By his stripes we are healed.5. Key Point—Healing is for everyone that believes
Call to Action
1. Renew your mind daily with Truth about God’s love
2. Claim your gifts in Jesus today
3. Lean into the love of Jesus and begin to love others deeply
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