Choose Joy 08 | KW
Part of Choose Joy
December 18, 2019

The Joy of Immanuel: God with Us

Matthew 1:18-25

Choose Joy 08 | Mick Veach | lead pastor| first aired on 12.22.19

Introduction

  1. For many, this holiday screams loneliness if you are:

    a. Divorced
    b. Widowed
    c. Single
    d. Even unhappiness can give you a sense of loneliness

  2. How do we handle this?

    a. Busy Schedules
    b. Noise
    c. Christmas events
    d. Vices/Sin

  3. Today, we celebrate what we celebrate every
    Christmas—God is with us, Immanuel
    Joy follows this reality

Immanuel’s Impact on Us

I. God

Reveal Answer

A. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and quotes Isaiah 7:14 (23)

  1. God’s plan is being fulfilled
  2. Immanuel becomes a reality

B. God’s plan is evident from the beginning on His initiation

C. God invades the world by sending His Son, Jesus Christ to change the game—Matthew 1:18

D. He modeled unconditional love for us

  1. While we were yet sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8)
  2. Sent His Son to save the world (John 3:17)

E. God initiates with us

His continuous pursuit of us keeps us growing and becoming more like Him
1. Disciplines us (Hebrews 12)
2. He won’t allow us to get away with our selfishness

Key Point—Joy is available to us because He is our JOY

II. God

Reveal Answer
His
Reveal Answer
For Us

A. He came in the form of a servant even though He is God (Philippians 2)

B. He loved us with a perfect love

  1. He gave even when we did not want it (Romans 5:8)
  2. He risked in that He knew that we may not choose His provision
  3. It was unconditional—Agape
  4. He served us, not Himself
  5. He desired for us to win, not Him

C. He did not come to condemn us, but to save us (John 3:17)

D. We can call Him Abba, daddy (Romans 8)

E. What does it look like to have this kind of love?

  1. Security—to handle the things life throws at you
  2. Acceptance—through the good and bad
  3. Loneliness—it is lessened by the fact that He is with me
  4. Never ending
  5. Motivating—to please Him because of this reality in our life
  6. Changes us so that we desire to be with Him

Key Point—God’s love changes us and JOY is possible

III. God Is Our

Reveal Answer

A. His name will be Jesus and He will save His people from their sins (21)

B. Jesus is the only way (John 14:6)

C. General Revelation—God is made known to us—Romans 1

D. Specific Revelation—John 14:6—Jesus

E. Many say they believe in Jesus and salvation, but what does that mean?

  1. Nicodemus, must be born again (John 3)
  2. Confession (I John 1:9)
  3. Repent (Acts 3:19)
  4. Believe (John 3:16)
  5. Receive (John 1:12)

Key Point—Immanuel is Jesus our Savior, the Gift that keeps giving. Joy is for everyone who knows Jesus.

Call to Action

  1. Recognize God’s work in your life today
  2. Accept His love daily
  3. Say yes to His gift of salvation through Jesus

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