ADVENT

TEXT: Matthew 1:18-25

MESSAGE: “God With Us”

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“In June 2002 a conference was held at Dartmouth Medical School, in which the leading scientists and medical professionals were brought together to try to determine, “what was it that was causing the explosion of mental illness in America?” And what these scientists discovered was the following in their study “Hardwired to connect.” Human Beings are fundamentally wired for relationship and that the youth in America are experiencing a breakdown in two primary areas in relationships, one of those was other people…and the second primary relationship is with God himself. Secular scientists saying that a breakdown in those two relationships are contributing to mental illness.” — Brian Fikker

‘‘I don’t want to be alone, but I want to be left alone… And perhaps I am writing this for any of you out there who are lonely too. There’s not much we can do about it… But I want you to know that you are not alone in your being alone.’’ — Stephen Fry

“Jesus’ coming is the final and unanswerable proof that God cares.” — William Barclay

TEXT: Matthew 1:18-25

What is “Immanuel?” (1. It’s a narrowness; 2. It’s a nearness; 3. It’s a neediness)

1. It’s narrowness (v. 23 “God”)

First, The God of the bible is NOT lonely. He’s always been in loving relationship.

Narrowness: Trinity (Three in one)

Augustine reasoned in the 5th century…(1 John 4:8)

“In order to have love, there must be a lover, a loved, and the action of love. Since God is the very embodiment of love, and he loved himself, he must have the three natures. In order to be love, God must at the same time be the object, the subject and the verb.”

“Matthew does not hesitate to apply OT passages descriptive of Yahweh directly to Jesus.” – D.A. Carson

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  — Matthew 1:21

2. It’s nearness (v. 23 “with”)

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  — John 1:14

3. It’s neediness (v. 23 “us”)

“…(Jesus) said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”  — Mark 2:17

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

TAKEAWAYS: How do we apply “Immanuel” to our hearts? Let’s ask…

• Do I have a misinformed view of God?

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”  — 2 Corinthians 3:18

• Do I see what it cost God to be near to us?

• Do I have peace because God is with me?

“Immanuel, God with us”…Satan trembles at the sound of it…Let him come to you suddenly, and do you but whisper that word, “God with us,” back he falls, confounded and confused…“God with us” is the laborer’s strength. How could he preach the gospel, how could he bend his knees in prayer, how could the missionary go into foreign lands, how could the martyr stand at the stake…how could men labor if that one word were taken away?…“God with us” is eternity’s sonnet, heaven’s hallelujah, the shout of the glorified, the song of the redeemed, the chorus of the angels, the everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky.” — Charles Spurgeon

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5