SUNDAY SERVICE December 23, 2007

GOD WITH US--IMMANUEL

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

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As the Christmas season approaches, it's good to meditate on WHY we'll be celebrating. Otherwise, we can get  caught up in Christmas trees, ornaments, food, and presents---all good things, but not what Christmas is really about.

Christmas is about 'GOD WITH US'. What we are celebrating is the miraculous Historic event that shows the incredible love that God has for us---for you! God Himself, came to earth in the form of a tiny vulnerable baby, who would grow up as a human and live among ordinary people.

WHY DO WE NEED GOD WITH US? Because we cannot make it on our own. No matter how big and loving a family we have—no matter how many friends—without God WITH US, we are alone and lonely. We were designed to be WITH GOD, but we could never get to Him—so He came to us.

That, in itself is amazing, but there’s more. He didn’t come to us in all His Glory as an untouchable Being that we could only gaze at from afar. He came to us as a human being who we could relate to and approach—who was like us in every way and was tempted in every way—yet without sin.

Hebrews 4: 15For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

HE CAME DOWN TO US AND WAS BORN AS ONE OF US—A HELPLESS BABY—A BABY WHO WOULD GROW UP AND ENDURE ALL THE TEMPTATIONS THAT MAN CAN POSSIBLY ENDURE AND UNDERSTAND ALL OUR SUFFERING.

He wouldn't be a rich man or have a royal title before His name (as far as men were concerned). He would live among the poor and the middle class people of the day.

He would deliver the Father's Word. He would show the Father's Love---His Mercy, His healing, His Forgiveness. To the people around Him, He was IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived as a man who was tempted in all things, just as we are, yet He was without sin. But by this, He would feel everything we would ever feel. He would learn first hand what it was like to be a human being on this Earth so that He could pray for us. And, He would live and overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit---just as we, as believers do today. He would be our pattern---our model for living.

And then, He would die for us, taking on Himself every sin, every sickness, every infirmity that ever was or would be, so that we could be righteous before God---so that we could be cleansed and pure, and healed of our diseases. And, He would rise from the dead, ascend to the throne of God so He could send us His Promise. The Holy Spirit, God Himself, could come and dwell inside of us---if we would believe and invite Him into our lives.

Now we can live with the same power inside of us that Jesus, the Son of God, had within Himself as He walked this Earth.

What is Christmas about? Let's make it very personal. Christmas is about God with you.

So, is He? If you don't have God within you, you can---right now. He's just a prayer away. Ask Him to forgive your sins, to come inside of you, to be Lord of your life. He will do it.

And for those of you who already know Him as Lord, this is a wonderful time to commit yourself to God anew and have a fresh start. God is a God of new beginnings---of taking old things and, not making them better, but making them completely new!

God wants to be with us in every area of our life. He wants to be involved in every decision. He wants us to be aware of His presence—and celebrate it. He wants to dwell in a heart filled with praise toward Him. Today, let’s start celebrating Christmas…God with us..Emmanuel.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Acts 2:33 "And now he sits on the throne of highest honor in heaven, next to God. And just as promised, the Father gave him the authority to send the Holy Spirit--with the results you are seeing and hearing today.