Emmanuel: God's Presence and Promise This Christmas

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus, Our Constant Rescuer

Jesus came to save us from our sins and deliver us from fear, death, and condemnation. His mission is encapsulated in the word "sozo," which means to save, heal, and preserve. This Christmas, remember that Jesus is continually rescuing us from spiritual, physical, and emotional perils. [02:43]
Jesus' name, Yahshua, is not merely a label but a declaration of His mission to save and keep us safe. The Greek word "sozo" encapsulates this mission, meaning to save, heal, and preserve. Jesus is our Savior, continually rescuing us from spiritual, physical, and emotional perils. He is the Christ, the anointed one, fulfilling the prophecies as the Messiah who rules over His people. His anointing as prophet, priest, and king empowers Him to bring truth, offer sacrifice, and establish a kingdom of righteousness. In this flawed world, adversity is inevitable, but it is through these challenges that God's favor and anointing are revealed. The story of Mary, who faced great adversity yet was blessed, illustrates that God's favor enables us to succeed despite difficulties. Adversity is not a sign of God's absence but an opportunity for His power to manifest in our lives. Jesus, our Emmanuel, is reliable and present in every trial, offering us the strength to overcome.
Matthew 1:21-23 (ESV): "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Reflection: Think of a recent fear or challenge you faced. How can you invite Jesus to rescue you from it today?

Day 2: Embracing the Anointed One

Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one, fulfilling the prophecies as the Messiah. His anointing as prophet, priest, and king empowers Him to bring truth, offer sacrifice, and establish a kingdom of righteousness. Embrace His lordship and the benefits of His anointing in your life. [09:47]
Jesus, as the Christ, is the anointed one who fulfills the ancient prophecies of the Messiah. His anointing is threefold: as a prophet, He brings truth and revelation; as a priest, He offers the ultimate sacrifice for our sins; and as a king, He establishes a kingdom of righteousness and justice. This anointing empowers Him to rule over His people with wisdom and love. Embracing His lordship means recognizing the authority and power He holds in our lives. It is an invitation to experience the benefits of His anointing, which include guidance, protection, and the assurance of His presence. By acknowledging Jesus as the Christ, we align ourselves with His divine purpose and partake in the blessings of His kingdom.
Isaiah 61:1-2 (ESV): "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to embrace Jesus' anointing as prophet, priest, or king? How can you invite His authority into that area today?

Day 3: Finding Favor in Adversity

Adversity is not a sign of God's absence but an opportunity for His power to manifest. God's favor enables us to succeed despite difficulties, as seen in Mary's story. Trust that God's favor will see you through every challenge. [17:36]
In the midst of adversity, it is easy to feel abandoned or forgotten. However, adversity is not a sign of God's absence but rather an opportunity for His power to manifest in our lives. The story of Mary, who faced great adversity yet was blessed, illustrates that God's favor enables us to succeed despite difficulties. Her journey was marked by challenges, but through it all, God's favor was evident, guiding and sustaining her. This favor is not limited to Mary; it is available to all who trust in God. When we face trials, we can be assured that God's favor is with us, providing strength, wisdom, and the ability to overcome. By trusting in His favor, we can navigate adversity with confidence, knowing that God is working all things for our good.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent adversity you faced. How can you see God's favor at work in that situation, and how can you trust Him more in future challenges?

Day 4: The Incarnation: God with Us

The incarnation is God's way of writing Himself into our story. Jesus, as Emmanuel, is God with us, ensuring that we are never alone. This Christmas, reflect on the profound truth that God entered our space to be with us. [22:59]
The incarnation is a profound mystery and a testament to God's love for humanity. By becoming flesh, God wrote Himself into our story, entering our world to be with us. Jesus, as Emmanuel, is the embodiment of this truth—God with us. This means that we are never alone, no matter the circumstances we face. The incarnation assures us of God's presence in our lives, offering comfort, guidance, and hope. It is a reminder that God is not distant or detached but intimately involved in our lives. This Christmas, as we reflect on the birth of Jesus, let us remember the significance of the incarnation. It is a call to embrace the reality of God's presence and to live in the light of His love and grace.
John 1:14 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: How does the truth of God being with you change the way you approach your daily life? What steps can you take to become more aware of His presence?

Day 5: Trusting in the Reliability of God

Jesus, our Emmanuel, is reliable and present in every trial. Accepting Him as Savior and Lord is the most reliable decision we can make, as He promises to be with us through every adversity, offering His unfailing love and guidance. [37:59]
In a world filled with uncertainty and change, the reliability of God is a source of comfort and strength. Jesus, our Emmanuel, is reliable and present in every trial we face. His promise to be with us through every adversity is a testament to His unfailing love and guidance. Accepting Him as Savior and Lord is the most reliable decision we can make, as it anchors us in His steadfast presence. This reliability is not based on our circumstances but on His unchanging nature. As we trust in His reliability, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence, knowing that He is with us every step of the way. His presence offers peace, assurance, and the strength to persevere.
Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV): "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.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'"
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in God's reliability? How can you actively choose to rely on His presence and promises today?

Sermon Summary

The Christmas season is a time to reflect on the profound gift of Jesus Christ, who came to save us from our sins and deliver us from the kingdom of darkness. In Matthew 1:21-23, we are reminded of the prophecy fulfilled through Jesus, who is called Emmanuel, meaning "God with us." This signifies that God is not distant but intimately involved in our lives. Jesus came not only to save us from sin but also to deliver us from fear, death, and condemnation. His coming ensures that we will never be separated from God, and we can live free from the fear of death and the power of sin.

The name Jesus, or Yahshua, is not just a name but a declaration of His mission to save and keep us safe. The Greek word "sozo" encapsulates this mission, meaning to save, heal, and preserve. Jesus is our Savior, continually rescuing us from spiritual, physical, and emotional perils. He is the Christ, the anointed one, fulfilling the prophecies as the Messiah who rules over His people. His anointing as prophet, priest, and king empowers Him to bring truth, offer sacrifice, and establish a kingdom of righteousness.

In this flawed world, adversity is inevitable, but it is through these challenges that God's favor and anointing are revealed. The story of Mary, who faced great adversity yet was blessed, illustrates that God's favor enables us to succeed despite difficulties. Adversity is not a sign of God's absence but an opportunity for His power to manifest in our lives. Jesus, our Emmanuel, is reliable and present in every trial, offering us the strength to overcome.

The incarnation is God's way of writing Himself into our story, much like a writer inserting themselves into their creation. Jesus, as Emmanuel, is God with us, ensuring that we are never alone. This Christmas, we are reminded that God is not confined to our space but has entered it to be with us. Accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord is the most reliable decision we can make, as He promises to be with us through every adversity, offering His unfailing love and guidance.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus as Savior and Deliverer: Jesus came to save us from our sins and deliver us from fear, death, and condemnation. His mission is encapsulated in the word "sozo," which means to save, heal, and preserve. This Christmas, remember that Jesus is continually rescuing us from spiritual, physical, and emotional perils. [02:43]
2. The Anointed One: Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one, fulfilling the prophecies as the Messiah. His anointing as prophet, priest, and king empowers Him to bring truth, offer sacrifice, and establish a kingdom of righteousness. Embrace His lordship and the benefits of His anointing in your life. [09:47]
3. Adversity and God's Favor: Adversity is not a sign of God's absence but an opportunity for His power to manifest. God's favor enables us to succeed despite difficulties, as seen in Mary's story. Trust that God's favor will see you through every challenge. [17:36]
4. The Incarnation: The incarnation is God's way of writing Himself into our story. Jesus, as Emmanuel, is God with us, ensuring that we are never alone. This Christmas, reflect on the profound truth that God entered our space to be with us. [22:59]
5. Reliability of God: Jesus, our Emmanuel, is reliable and present in every trial. Accepting Him as Savior and Lord is the most reliable decision we can make, as He promises to be with us through every adversity, offering His unfailing love and guidance. [37:59]
** [37:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - The Name of Jesus
[01:49] - The Purpose of His Coming
[02:43] - Deliverance from Sin and Fear
[05:43] - The Meaning of Sozo
[09:47] - Jesus as Christ the Lord
[13:58] - Anointed as Prophet, Priest, and King
[17:36] - Favor in Adversity
[18:53] - The Role of Adversity
[20:24] - Mary's Story of Adversity
[22:59] - The Incarnation: God with Us
[37:59] - Accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord
[38:33] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Sermon Clips

"For unto this day is born in the city of David a Savior which is called Christ the Lord. If he had just come, and walked the streets, then it wouldn't have done us a whole lot of good. But he came to save us from our sins. He come to be our Savior. And as a Savior, he has come to deliver us not only from sin, but I mean it's glad that he has come and he has saved us from our sins. That's very important. We cannot see God with our sins, and so he has forgiven us of our sins. But he also has come to deliver us from Satan's domain, or Satan's kingdom." [00:02:48] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"We will never have to know what it feels like to be separated from God. Because Jesus came. The Savior has come. And the Savior has come. And being a fact, the Savior has come. He has come to save us from death. He's come to save us from condemnation of our sins. That we don't have, even though we are sinners, we don't have to be condemned because all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God." [00:04:05] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"He is called Jesus. He is called Christ the Lord. He's Christ. He is the anointed one. He has been anointed as the Messiah of God and the Lord who rules over his people. He is Christ the Lord. He is the Messiah. And Isaiah 7, 14 in the prophecy which was fulfilled by Jesus and it is spoken of even in the New Testament that we will find out that Jesus coming as Christ the Lord fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah that he is the Messiah." [00:07:23] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"What makes him the Messiah? The anointing. The separation. The anointing separates. He sets us apart. He gets us ready for the use in which God has us for. And so this Jesus just didn't come and save us. And thank God he did. And we thank him for all the benefits of being our Savior. But he comes with a title. And that title means he is Christ. He is the Christos. He is the anointed one. He is the Messiah." [00:08:03] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Favor is the ability to succeed over adversity. And we all have adversity. We realize that the Savior has come. That Christ has come. And that he's here. And now he's here. That whenever we take him at his word. We are blessed. What is the blessing I just told you? That divine intervention from God is going to cause your work to succeed. And whenever he blesses you. The favor of God comes upon you." [00:17:49] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Don't allow adversity to stomp you. Don't allow adversity to cause you to quit. Just wait for the favor. And know the favor is there. And it's going to manifest itself. And right in the midst of your adversity. Then you're going to receive success. Because that's what the word favor means there. Right in the middle of Mary's mess. God calls her to succeed. That's the favor. You don't know it. You don't even know if you have favor or not. Until you have adversity." [00:18:17] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Through what you're going through. To show that's who he is. The Bible even just tells us and, and, and, and reminds us, well, matter of fact, in Luke 145, he says, it says, how you react will define your destiny. How did she, how did Mary react? She just blessed the Lord. She just trust her. How many knows it? How many know that fruit is always important with what you're going through?" [00:21:58] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"The incarnation is God with us Emmanuel is God literally writing himself in our story the first Russian cosmonaut that went up into space the first one to be in space said that at the time actually it was Soviet Union that whenever they went into space the religion if you will or the belief of the Soviet Union was that of atheists believed there was no God and so this cosmonaut that went up into space he figured when he got up there that he would find God if there was a God he says well I always believed and brought up there was no God when I got up there there would be no God if there was a God then I would know that I guess I would believe in him he came back he says well I was in space I looked around there was no God." [00:29:16] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"I'm here to suggest to you today that not out of the way but close enough that that's what the incarnation is about that's what Emmanuel is all about that's what Christ God with us is all about that God created us and then God looked down on us and he saw us displaying he saw us suffering he saw us drowning he saw us a gummed up mess and what did God do he did the same thing that Dorothy Sayers did he wrote himself into our story he became Emmanuel he says without us they'll never find me unless they're like a Russian cosmonaut you will not find God he's not on the second floor you can't find him in your space you got to go in his space and so God so loved the world that he gave his only son and he came down and the story and the people that he created he wrote himself into our story this morning he is Emmanuel he is Christ incarnate he is God incarnate he is the God who loves us so much that he wrote himself into our story today because he loves us that much and if you find him and do something that Hamlet couldn't do with Shakespeare you can find him today and if you find him and see him as Christ the Lord he'll love you he'll be with you and it'll be the best most reliable decision you've ever made in your life this Christmas season amen give the Lord a hand clap of praise everybody stand what a story what" [00:32:44] (122 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"you're going to succeed through your adversity the whole adversity you're going through it's just boy Mary she went through adversity but God placed something on the inside of her that through all the adversity that she went through it covered all the pain all the struggle she went through because the favor of God was upon her every head bound every eye closed I want you to be thankful this morning for Emmanuel God with us he wrote himself into your story he said well preacher you don't know what I'm going through my family is upside down I've got struggles I just don't know I started coming to church at one time it's like all hell broke loose I just thought it was cushy let me go ahead and help you there's nothing in this book that says your life is going to be cushy just because you come to God but I am here to tell you there's everything in this book that says you're going to make it all the way through because my God is reliable he is reliable and the most important thing is today that he is your Emmanuel he is your Jesus the Christ he is the Messiah he is the one that has come and he has written himself in your story I don't know everything about your story but I want to remind you this morning that God is not inside your time he's not inside your space he's outside of your space he sees your life from beginning to end and he has written himself into your story and if you call upon him today he will answer you if you accept him as someone Savior and Lord it will be the most reliable decision you've ever made in your life can we make that prayer today can we make that decision today can everybody just take the hands of the woman beside you I'm not even going to single out today I just want us to say it today because I think if nothing else that we can be thankful today that God loves us so much that he wrote himself into our story and he has a story some of us a little more characters than others but guess what that's just the way he wrote us but he has wrote himself into our story just I'll repeat after me say Lord Jesus I thank you for accepting me" [00:35:36] (141 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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