Coming Home For Christmas- Week 3

Devotional

Day 1: Emmanuel: God came near to rescue us

Christmas proclaims that God didn’t wait for people to climb a path to Him—He came to us. Emmanuel means God with us, present and pursuing, not distant or reluctant. If you wonder where He is, remember He is near to all who call, and especially close to those who belong to Him. Draw near, and you will find He was already leaning toward you with mercy and rescue. Let your heart rest in the truth that He has come close on purpose to save and stay. [03:12]

Matthew 1:21-23
Mary will have a Son, and His name will be Jesus, because He will rescue His people from their sins. All of this fulfills what God promised long ago: a virgin would bear a Son who would be called Emmanuel—God with us.

Reflection: Where, specifically today, can you “slide closer” to God—one small move of prayer, Scripture, or obedience that says, “I want You near”?

Day 2: Draw near to God through Jesus alone

There are many spiritual paths offered in the world, but only one Savior who came for you. Jesus did not come to make you religious; He came to make you righteous and alive to God. Life truly begins when you trust Him, not when you perform for Him. If you believe He rose and openly confess Him as Lord, you are welcomed, forgiven, and brought into real relationship. Let this be a day of clear trust and open confession. [04:08]

Romans 10:9-10
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and trust in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be rescued. With the heart we trust and are made right with God, and with the mouth we confess and step into salvation.

Reflection: If you’ve treated faith like performance, what is one simple confession you will speak out loud today that places your trust in Jesus alone?

Day 3: If He’s with you, He’s for you

God’s nearness means God’s favor; His presence is not neutral. He is not for sin or anything that enslaves, but He is absolutely for your freedom, healing, and wholeness. Knowing He is your helper stirs a loving response—letting go of idols that crowd first place in your heart. As love for Jesus grows, love for lesser things fades, and courage to obey increases. Walk boldly today, because the One who stays with you also stands up for you. [05:27]

Hebrews 13:5-6
Keep your life free from craving what others have; be content with what God has given. He has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you,” so we can say with confidence, “The Lord helps me; I won’t be afraid—what can people do to me?”

Reflection: What “good thing” has quietly become a first-place thing, and what step could you take this week to loosen its grip so Jesus stays first?

Day 4: Nothing can separate you from His love

When God is for you in Christ, no accusation holds and no enemy prevails. The Father gave His Son for you, the Son intercedes for you, and nothing in life or death can cut you off from His love. Even when storms rise, you are sealed and held. Let this assurance quiet the fear that God might let go. You are more than a conqueror because His love will not release you. [06:39]

Romans 8:31-39
If God is for us, who can stand against us? He did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all—so won’t He also give us everything we truly need? Who can accuse those God has made right or condemn those for whom Christ died and now prays? Nothing—trouble, danger, or even death—can tear us away from Christ’s love. In all these things we overwhelmingly win through the One who loves us.

Reflection: Where do you most fear that God might let go of you, and how could you bring that specific fear into prayer today with Romans 8 open before you?

Day 5: Security, stability, success, strength, and peace

When you know God is with you, for you, and not leaving you, your soul settles. His presence brings security under His wings, stability when the world shakes, success that flows from His Word, strength for each step, and peace that quiets the night. This isn’t earning; it’s abiding—living under His care and walking in His ways. Let your heart make the Lord your dwelling place today, and breathe easy under His promise. He delights to cover and carry you. [07:15]

Psalm 91:1-4, 9-11
Those who live close to the Most High rest in His shadow. We can say, “God is my refuge and fortress; I trust Him.” He rescues from hidden traps and shields like a protective wing. Because you’ve made the Lord your home, no disaster has the final word, for He commands His angels to watch over you in all your ways.

Reflection: Of the five gifts—security, stability, success, strength, or peace—which do you need most right now, and what is one concrete practice you will embrace this week to receive it from God?

Sermon Summary

Christmas declares Emmanuel—God with us. Not a ladder we climb or a path we invent, but the God who came close in Jesus. I asked a simple question: is God with you? Scripture answers: draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. When we move toward Him, we find He was never far. He’s not just alongside; by His Spirit, He dwells within those who trust Christ. That’s why the name matters: Emmanuel is not poetry; it’s a promise embodied.

Jesus is the only way to the Father. That isn’t narrow; it’s merciful clarity. He is the way, the truth, and the life. To have the Son is to have life—real life, not just breath in our lungs but the life of God in our souls. Jesus didn’t come to make us religious; He came to make us righteous and alive. Salvation isn’t mystery math; it’s confession with the mouth and faith in the risen Christ. When we believe, the Holy Spirit seals us—God’s own guarantee—so we walk through life as people kept, not guessing.

If He is with us, then He is for us. Those two can’t be separated. He’s not for sin or bondage; He’s for your freedom, your healing, your flourishing in His ways. And because He is for us, nothing can separate us from His love—no pressure, no power, no season. That confidence then forms our inner world. In a culture busy pushing God to the margins and surprised by the darkness that rushes in, Emmanuel brings the stability our souls crave.

What does His nearness produce? Security: under His wings, we find refuge and strength. Stability: when storms hit, houses built on the Rock stand. Success: keeping His word at the center leads to good success—not mere achievement, but fruit that lasts. Strength: “I will help you,” He says, and He does. Peace: the kind that lets you lay down and sleep because He watches over you. So I invited everyone who hasn’t yet to call on Jesus. Because life truly begins when Emmanuel moves from a Christmas word to a present reality in your heart.

Key Takeaways

1. Draw near; God draws nearer Closeness to God isn’t random; it’s responsive. When we take even small steps toward Him, He meets us with Himself. Spiritual drift is often solved not by striving, but by turning and moving His direction—He’s never been far. Proximity is a promise for seekers. [04:25]
2. Jesus alone opens the way There aren’t many planes heading to the same destination; there’s one Way, and His name is Jesus. Exclusivity sounds harsh until you realize He is the One who came for us and made the way at His own expense. Trusting Him gives real access to the Father. [07:23]
3. God with you means for you Some believe God is present but not pleased. Scripture ties His presence to His help: “The Lord is my helper.” He is not endorsing sin; He is empowering freedom. His with-ness arrives as advocacy, not apathy. [19:19]
4. Nothing can separate you now Union with Christ is sturdier than your best day and stronger than your worst one. Neither pressure, failure, nor unseen powers can pry you from His grip. The Son who died and rose now intercedes, making your security as steady as His throne. [25:22]
5. His presence stabilizes and brings peace When God is your dwelling place, you gain a settled heart in an unsettled world. Security, stability, strength, and peace are not luxuries; they are the fruit of Emmanuel in daily life. Storms still come, but houses on the Rock hold. [39:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:41] - Emmanuel: God with us
[03:07] - Is God with you? How to know
[04:25] - Draw near and He draws near
[05:16] - The truck story: who moved?
[07:23] - Jesus is the only way
[09:15] - Life in the Son vs. mere living
[12:16] - How to be saved: Romans 10:9–10
[16:12] - Sealed by the Holy Spirit
[17:46] - He will never leave nor forsake
[18:33] - If He’s with you, He’s for you
[23:29] - Nothing can separate us: Romans 8
[29:49] - What His presence produces
[31:14] - Security under His wings: Psalm 91
[34:42] - Stability on the Rock
[36:17] - Success, strength, and peace
[39:40] - Prayer of salvation and response

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Matthew 1:21–23
- John 14:6
- Romans 8:31–39

Observation questions

In Matthew 1:21–23, what mission is tied to the name “Jesus,” and what promise is tied to the name “Emmanuel”?
In John 14:6, what three titles does Jesus claim, and what exclusive statement follows those titles?
In Romans 8:31–39, what is Jesus doing right now for believers, and what list of pressures and powers are named as unable to separate us from His love?
The phrase “draw near to God…and He will draw near to you” promises what specific response from God to what simple step on our part? “Draw near to God…and He will draw near to you.” [04:25]

Interpretation questions

If “Emmanuel” means “God with us,” how should that change how a person thinks about reaching God—trying to climb up to Him versus receiving the God who came down to us in Jesus (Matthew 1:21–23)?
John 14:6 can sound narrow in today’s world. How can Jesus being “the way, the truth, and the life” be understood as merciful clarity rather than exclusion?
The line “The Lord is my helper” sits beside “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” What does that teach about God’s posture—present and actively for His people, not passively nearby? “The Lord is my helper.” [18:04]
Romans 8:31–39 says nothing can separate believers from Christ’s love. How should that shape someone’s inner world on both their best day and their worst day?

Application questions

What is one simple step you will take this week to “draw near” (time, place, plan)? And what do you need to “slide over” from, like the truck story picture of moving closer? [06:18]
Where have you believed God is present but not pleased with you? In that exact spot, what would it sound like to boldly say, “The Lord is my helper,” and ask for His help? [18:04]
Who is one person you love that needs gentle clarity that Jesus is the way? How will you share John 14:6 with humble courage this week (words, timing, tone)? [07:23]
Name one area of life that feels shaky right now. What is one Rock-solid action you will take to rebuild there—hearing and doing Jesus’ words? [34:55]
What would “meditating on the Word day and night” look like in your actual schedule this week? Pick one practice (verse on a card, audio Bible commute, lunch verse, evening review) to try for 7 days. [36:17]
Where do you most need to hear God say, “I will help you”? What small, concrete act of faith will you take while expecting His help? [37:45]
What is one bedtime routine change you can make so you can “lie down in peace and sleep,” entrusting the night to God (phone off earlier, prayer of thanks, Psalm at bedside)? “I will both lie down in peace and sleep.” [38:10]

Sermon Clips

Here's the reality. The reality is a lot of people treat God that way. They're like, where is God? Well, here's what you're going to find out about God. God is very consistent. He will draw near to those who draw near to him. God is not far. If you want to get close to God, you can get as close to God as you possibly want. But it's on you, praise God. [00:06:34] (18 seconds) #DrawNearToGod

So here's my point. If you're in here, Peru, online, and you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you may be living the best life. You may have it all. But there's something on the inside of your heart that only Jesus can fill. Only Jesus can fill. And you will never be everything that God has called you to be until you fill it with Jesus. And you say, Jesus, come into my heart. And at that point, what you're going to find out is all the treasures of the earth, all the accolades of men, all the things that the world promises fail deeply compared to having Jesus at the center of your life. [00:11:35] (36 seconds) #JesusFillsYou

``God is with you. And if he's with you, the principle is, he's for you. You may not know this, but he is for you. I have met people who believe God is with them, but they do not believe God is for them. But the reality is you cannot separate the two. If he is with you, he is for you. Matter of fact, the reason he is with you is to show you he's for you. Does that make sense? [00:18:47] (27 seconds) #GodIsForYou

So we know that God is with us because we put our faith and trust in Christ. And we not only know he's with us, we know he's for us. And that changes everything. Everything. He is for us. Listen to this. This is the way I was thinking about it. The principle is, if God is with me, then he must be for me. Important. Let's distinguish it in what we're saying. He is not for sin. He's not for lust. He's not for unbridled passions. He's not for any of those things. He is for our freedom, our liberty, our healing, our prosperity, our blessing, and all the promises that God has spoken in his word. [00:19:36] (36 seconds) #GodForFreedom

So here's my point. You ready? Is God for you? God is for you. Here's the truth. Is God for me? Is God with me? Uh-huh. Then guess what? Nothing can separate me from him. He's Emmanuel. He's God with us. He's not just with us when we do good. There are believers. Let me say it this way. I grew up thinking this is the way it worked. If I do good, then God's with me and God's for me. But if I do bad, then God's against me and he's mad at me. Why? Because that's the home I grew up in. [00:25:53] (34 seconds) #NothingCanSeparateUs

If you're a believer and you put your faith and trust in Christ, I use this example. And I didn't want to use this verse this weekend because, but I love it. It's in John 10. And it talks about how Jesus, all that God, the Father has given him, he's wrapped his hands around. And that the Father has wrapped his hands around him also. And he doesn't lose any, according to the Bible. All right? Which is absolutely powerful. [00:26:46] (24 seconds) #JesusHoldsUs

We are living in a time and in a period of time in history where everything is being shaken. Now, that's good and bad, but here's the reality. You've got to have a foundation that's not connected to the world. And by putting your faith and trust in Christ, your foundation is not the world. It's God's kingdom. And because of that, it adds stability to your life. I'm stable. I'm stable. God's going to take care of me. Why? He's with me. He's for me. Watch this. And he's never going to leave me. And because I know that, I'm stable. Stable. [00:30:29] (32 seconds) #KingdomFoundation

So let me summarize and then we'll pray. You ready? Check this out. Is God with you? Is God for you? Can anything separate you from him? No way. What does that bring into your life? Just a few things. Brings security stability success strength I was looking for another S word but it didn't work. Brings peace to your heart. All right? [00:39:00] (24 seconds) #GodBringsSecurity

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Coming Home For Christmas- Week 3

Devotional

Day 1: Emmanuel: God came near to rescue us

Day 2: Draw near to God through Jesus alone

Day 3: If He’s with you, He’s for you

Day 4: Nothing can separate you from His love

Day 5: Security, stability, success, strength, and peace

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Coming Home For Christmas- Week 3

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