EMMANUEL: GOD WITH US | Pastor Aaron Graham

Our word for 2025 is “Dwell”—to live in close relationship with God and with one another. David’s longing in Psalm 27:4 steadies us: one thing…to dwell in the house of the Lord, to gaze on His beauty, to seek Him. We traced that longing through Exodus: God delivers not simply for freedom’s sake but for worship—His presence among His people. And that’s the wonder of Christmas: not that we climbed to God, but that God came near to us, right in the middle of our distractions, deadlines, and relational drama. We love because He first loved us.

Matthew 1 shows God breaking in during Joseph’s most anxious hour. He reminds Joseph of his story—“son of David”—and then dismantles the barrier that keeps many of us stuck: fear. “Do not be afraid” isn’t sentimental counsel; it’s the steadying anchor of Emmanuel. The virgin birth isn’t a side note; like the resurrection, it’s essential. God often calls us into things our minds can’t fully grasp. Faith learns to trust the One who speaks, even when the path is costly or confusing.

Obedience flows from faith. Joseph awakens and does what God commands—publicly protecting Mary, privately restraining his desires, and naming Jesus as instructed. I shared how a simple text about a mom in a shelter confronted me: sometimes God’s invitations come as straightforward opportunities to love. James reminds us that faith without works is dead. At times we must say a costly yes; and yet disobedience will always cost more. That’s why we filter every prompting through two questions: Is it aligned with God’s word? Is it aligned with God’s purposes?

Names matter. Emmanuel declares who Jesus is—God with us. Your given name, or even a Spirit-breathed descriptor over your life, can be prophetic. But before we chase our unique calling, we must know the Name above every name: Jesus, the Lord who saves us from sin and from a self-centered life. The presence that once filled tabernacle and temple now seeks to make your heart a cathedral. So do not fear; He is with you. This season, we will set aside 21 days to fast and pray—not to earn God’s presence, but to quiet lesser desires so we can hear and obey the One who has already drawn near.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Grace moves first; we simply receive God came to dwell with us before we could ever get our act together. Christmas confronts our illusion of self-rescue and invites us into a relationship initiated by God’s love. Receiving His nearness reorders our priorities and frees us from earning what was always a gift. [04:22]
• 2. Fear distorts; presence reorients obedience Fear turns us inward and shrinks our world to what we can control. God answers fear not with explanations but with Himself—“I am with you.” From that Presence, we can risk reputation, comfort, and control to do what He says. [06:24]
• 3. Trust the miracle you can’t explain The virgin birth is essential, not optional; it anchors our faith in God’s sovereign initiative. Often He invites us into assignments that exceed our categories. Obedience here isn’t naivety; it’s a reasoned trust in the One whose word creates reality. [09:11]
• 4. Obedience is costly; disobedience costs more Joseph’s yes involved public misunderstanding and private restraint, yet he chose God’s word over ease. Faith becomes concrete in small mercies and big risks—both require surrender. Over time, the hidden costs of disobedience far outweigh the immediate costs of obedience. [14:02]
• 5. Receive your name from His Name “Emmanuel” names Jesus’ essence; your identity becomes clear only in Him. Before discerning your unique calling, anchor in the Savior who names and saves you. From that center, your life becomes a faithful descriptor of His presence in the world. [28:10]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:28] - Dwell: Psalm 27:4 vision
• [01:16] - Delivered to Dwell: Exodus recap
• [03:28] - God comes amid year-end chaos
• [04:22] - Nearness, obedience, and grace
• [05:45] - Joseph’s lineage and our fears
• [07:02] - Do not fear: Isaiah 41:10
• [08:26] - Virgin birth and fulfilled prophecy
• [11:38] - A text that tested obedience
• [18:46] - Costly obedience in a hostile world
• [20:56] - Testing leadings; purity and restraint
• [25:06] - Grace trains self-control; fasting ahead
• [28:10] - Names, identity, and knowing Jesus
• [31:12] - Emmanuel dwelling within our hearts
• [33:27] - Invitation and prayer of surrender

1. In Matthew 1:18-19, what crisis is Joseph facing, and what course of action had he decided on before the angel appeared?
2. In verses 21-23, what two names are given to the child, and what do those names mean?
3. According to verses 24-25, list the specific actions Joseph takes in response to God’s word.
4. Why does the angel call him “Joseph, son of David,” and how does that connect him to God’s larger story? ([05:45])

1. “Do not fear, for I am with you” shows that God answers fear with His presence. How does that shift a person from self-protection to obedience when decisions are costly? ([07:02])
2. The virgin birth anchors the story in God’s initiative. Why is that essential to the gospel, and how does trusting what we cannot fully explain shape faithful obedience in confusing seasons? ([09:11])
3. Joseph’s decision to refrain from consummation until after Jesus’ birth shows restraint with purpose. What does this teach about ordering desires under God’s purposes? ([21:44])
4. “You are to give him the name Jesus…they will call him Emmanuel” holds together salvation and presence. How do these two truths define the mission of the Messiah and the identity of His people? ([14:29])

1. Name one fear that is shrinking your world right now (reputation, resources, control). What would it look like to act from “God with you” rather than from fear this week? ([06:24])
2. Where might obedience feel costly for you right now—at work, with family, in community, in purity, in generosity? What step of obedience will you take, believing that disobedience costs more in the long run? ([14:02])
3. Consider a simple, practical need you’ve recently seen (a text, an email, a neighbor’s request). What is one concrete act of mercy you can do this week, and who can join you? ([11:38])
4. When you sense a prompting, practice the two filters: Is it aligned with God’s Word? Is it aligned with God’s purposes? Share a recent prompting and walk it through those two questions together. ([20:56])
5. Where do secondary desires (food, comfort, screen time, spending) drown out your primary desire for God? What fasting or boundary could help you listen and obey more clearly over the next 21 days? Be specific. ([25:06])
6. “One thing…to dwell in the house of the Lord.” What is one daily or weekly rhythm you will adopt this month to help you dwell—Scripture, silence, corporate worship, a prayer walk, or a device-free hour? ([00:28])
7. What “name” or Spirit-given descriptor has marked your life (past or present)? How does anchoring in Jesus’ Name—Savior and God-with-us—clarify or correct your sense of identity and calling for 2025? ([28:10])