Emmanuel: The Assurance of God's Presence with Us

 

Summary

The theme of "God with us" is a profound and encompassing truth that spans the entirety of the Bible. It is not merely a historical reflection but a living reality that shapes our present and future. The Reformation reminds us to look forward, using the lessons of the past to live for Christ today. The phrase "God with us" encapsulates the entire biblical narrative, from the intimate fellowship in the Garden of Eden to the ultimate restoration in the New Jerusalem. Despite humanity's fall and the resulting alienation, God has continually sought to restore this relationship, culminating in the promise of His eternal presence with us.

Psalm 56 offers a beautiful reflection on God's intimate care for us. David's words remind us that God is not distant; He is deeply aware of our struggles and sorrows. The imagery of God collecting our tears in a bottle signifies His profound empathy and remembrance of our pain. This assurance is rooted in the reality that God is for us, a truth made manifest in Jesus Christ, whose very name, Emmanuel, means "God with us." This divine presence is not contingent on our worthiness but is a gift of grace through faith in Christ.

The Reformation emphasized the importance of confidence in God's promises, moving away from doubt and towards assurance. This confidence is not based on our merit but on the unchanging nature of God's Word. The Word of God is central to our understanding and experience of His presence. It is through Scripture that we learn of God's love, His promises, and His faithfulness. The Spirit works through the Word to bring God to us, making His presence a tangible reality in our lives.

In times of doubt and fear, we are called to trust in God's Word, which assures us of His presence and care. The Reformation teaches us that God desires a confident people, assured of His love and presence. This confidence enables us to face life's challenges with the assurance that God is with us and for us. As we engage with His Word, we are reminded that God is not only with us but actively working for our good, drawing us closer to Him.

Key Takeaways:

- The concept of "God with us" is central to the entire biblical narrative, highlighting God's desire to restore the intimate fellowship lost in the Garden of Eden. This theme culminates in the promise of eternal communion with God in the New Jerusalem, reminding us that God's presence is both a present reality and a future hope. [03:22]

- Psalm 56 beautifully illustrates God's intimate care for us, capturing our tears and remembering our struggles. This imagery reassures us that God is deeply aware of our pain and is actively involved in our lives, offering comfort and hope in times of distress. [09:27]

- The Reformation emphasized the importance of confidence in God's promises, moving away from doubt and towards assurance. This confidence is rooted in the unchanging nature of God's Word, which reveals His love and faithfulness to us. [13:14]

- God's Word is central to our understanding and experience of His presence. It is through Scripture that we learn of God's promises and His faithfulness, enabling us to trust in His presence and care even in times of doubt and fear. [19:15]

- In times of struggle, we are called to trust in God's Word, which assures us of His presence and care. This trust enables us to face life's challenges with the assurance that God is with us and for us, drawing us closer to Him. [25:35]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - The Reformation's Forward Vision
- [01:08] - Learning from the Past
- [02:15] - God with Us: A Biblical Theme
- [03:22] - Restoration and Future Hope
- [04:12] - Omnipresence and Intimacy
- [05:05] - Personal Reflection and Assurance
- [06:17] - Luther's Confidence in God
- [07:11] - Psalm 56: God's Care for Us
- [08:51] - God's Intimate Knowledge of Our Pain
- [10:07] - Assurance in Christ
- [11:47] - Overcoming Doubt with Faith
- [13:14] - Confidence Rooted in God's Word
- [16:15] - Facing Persecution with Trust
- [19:15] - The Centrality of Scripture
- [25:35] - Trusting God in Times of Struggle

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: "God with Us"

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 56:8-11
2. Psalm 139:7-10
3. Matthew 1:23

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Observation Questions:

1. In Psalm 56:8-11, what imagery does David use to describe God's care and remembrance of our struggles? How does this imagery convey God's intimate involvement in our lives? [07:45]

2. According to the sermon, how does the theme of "God with us" span the entire biblical narrative, from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem? [03:22]

3. How does Psalm 139:7-10 illustrate the concept of God's omnipresence, and what does it suggest about our ability to escape God's presence? [04:12]

4. What does the name "Emmanuel" mean, and how does it relate to the central message of the sermon? [11:11]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the assurance that "God is for us" in Psalm 56:9-11 impact a believer's response to fear and adversity? What does this reveal about the nature of faith? [08:17]

2. The sermon mentions that the Reformation emphasized confidence in God's promises. How does this confidence differ from presumption, and why is it important for a believer's spiritual journey? [14:36]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's Word is central to experiencing His presence? How does this understanding shape a believer's approach to Scripture? [19:15]

4. How does the sermon illustrate the personal and communal aspects of the Reformation's message about God's presence? What implications does this have for modern believers? [05:33]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How can the assurance of God's presence, as described in Psalm 56, change your perspective in similar situations? [08:51]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of confidence in God's promises. What specific promise from Scripture do you need to hold onto more firmly in your current life circumstances? [13:14]

3. How can you make engaging with God's Word a more central part of your daily routine to experience His presence more tangibly? What practical steps can you take this week? [19:15]

4. Consider a current struggle or fear you are facing. How does the truth that "God is for you" empower you to face this challenge differently? [16:15]

5. The sermon highlights the importance of moving from doubt to assurance. What doubts about your faith or God's promises do you need to address, and how can your small group support you in this journey? [11:47]

6. How can you use the understanding of "God with us" to encourage someone else who might be struggling with feeling alone or abandoned by God? [10:36]

7. Reflect on the role of the Reformation in shaping your understanding of God's presence. How can this historical perspective inspire you to live out your faith more boldly today? [05:33]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Presence: A Present Reality and Future Hope
The concept of "God with us" is central to the entire biblical narrative, highlighting God's desire to restore the intimate fellowship lost in the Garden of Eden. This theme culminates in the promise of eternal communion with God in the New Jerusalem, reminding us that God's presence is both a present reality and a future hope. The biblical story begins with God walking with Adam and Eve in the Garden, a symbol of perfect fellowship. Despite humanity's fall, God has continually sought to restore this relationship, ultimately promising His eternal presence with us. This promise is not just a distant hope but a present reality that shapes our lives today. We are invited to live in the assurance of God's presence, knowing that He is actively working to bring about His ultimate plan of restoration. [03:22]

Revelation 21:3-4 (ESV): "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"

Reflection: How can you live today with the awareness that God's presence is both a current reality and a future promise? What changes might this awareness bring to your daily life?


Day 2: God's Intimate Care in Our Struggles
Psalm 56 beautifully illustrates God's intimate care for us, capturing our tears and remembering our struggles. This imagery reassures us that God is deeply aware of our pain and is actively involved in our lives, offering comfort and hope in times of distress. The psalmist David expresses a profound trust in God's empathy, knowing that God collects every tear and remembers every sorrow. This assurance is rooted in the reality that God is for us, a truth made manifest in Jesus Christ, whose very name, Emmanuel, means "God with us." In our moments of pain and uncertainty, we can find solace in the knowledge that God is not distant but is intimately aware of our struggles and is working for our good. [09:27]

Psalm 56:8-9 (ESV): "You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me."

Reflection: Think of a recent struggle or pain you have experienced. How can you invite God into that situation, trusting in His intimate care and presence?


Day 3: Confidence in God's Unchanging Promises
The Reformation emphasized the importance of confidence in God's promises, moving away from doubt and towards assurance. This confidence is rooted in the unchanging nature of God's Word, which reveals His love and faithfulness to us. The reformers taught that our assurance is not based on our merit but on the steadfastness of God's promises. By grounding our faith in the unchanging Word of God, we can move from doubt to a confident trust in His love and faithfulness. This confidence enables us to face life's uncertainties with the assurance that God is with us and for us, drawing us closer to Him. [13:14]

Isaiah 40:8 (ESV): "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with doubt? How can you anchor your confidence in the unchanging promises of God's Word today?


Day 4: The Centrality of Scripture in Experiencing God's Presence
God's Word is central to our understanding and experience of His presence. It is through Scripture that we learn of God's promises and His faithfulness, enabling us to trust in His presence and care even in times of doubt and fear. The Bible is not just a historical document but a living testament to God's ongoing work in the world and in our lives. As we engage with Scripture, we are reminded of God's love and His desire to be with us. The Spirit works through the Word to bring God to us, making His presence a tangible reality in our lives. [19:15]

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Reflection: How can you make engaging with Scripture a more central part of your daily routine to experience God's presence more fully?


Day 5: Trusting God in Times of Struggle
In times of struggle, we are called to trust in God's Word, which assures us of His presence and care. This trust enables us to face life's challenges with the assurance that God is with us and for us, drawing us closer to Him. The Reformation teaches us that God desires a confident people, assured of His love and presence. By trusting in God's promises, we can navigate the difficulties of life with hope and courage, knowing that He is actively working for our good. This trust is not passive but calls us to actively seek God's presence and guidance in every situation. [25:35]

Psalm 46:1-2 (ESV): "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea."

Reflection: What is one specific challenge you are currently facing? How can you actively trust in God's presence and promises as you navigate this situation?

Quotes

"God with us" when He created us and walked with us in the garden of the cool of the day. What an intimate fellowship that must have been with God, just strolling by, stopping to chat. That may be overstating it. He was still holy, He was still majestic, He was still sovereign, but that intimacy of contact that God established with the creatures He made to bear His image, and then our first parents ruined it. [00:02:18]

And so there was alienation, there was distance, and one could say that the whole message of the Bible is how God comes back to us. God does not leave us in our situation that we are against Him, but He comes because He's for us. And, so it's a huge topic. We could look at the whole Bible. How does the Bible end? It ends with God making His dwelling place with man. [00:03:02]

Psalm 56, I'm going to read verses 8-11. This is God's own Word. "You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God whose word I praise, in the Lord whose word I praise, in God I trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?" [00:07:40]

The psalmist here is meditating on how he can have assurance that God remembers him. Remembers him particularly in difficulty. "You have kept count of my tossings." David seems to be reflecting back on a time when he was in flight, in fear for his life, sleeping in the wilderness, no doubt tossing and turning on the rocks of the desert. [00:08:40]

And when David, in desperation and fear and alarm and grief, wept before the Lord, David says, "You put my tears in your bottle." That has to be one of the most beautiful, poetic images in Scripture. For God's people, not one tear is ever shed that God does not remember. That God does not know about, and care about and draw close to us. [00:09:38]

And Luther, as he would read this passage, would say to us, "And we know that, we're assured of that, we can have confidence of that." Because God has given us His own Son. And we see His face for us in the Son, we see His love for us, in the Son. The Son's name is God with us. Emmanuel. [00:10:49]

And so sent His own Son to show His love, and show His care. And to die to take away our sins so that we could be His own dear people. And He wants us to have that kind of confidence, that kind of assurance. When Luther was a young man and was considering becoming a monk there was a proverb in his day. And the proverb was, "Doubt makes the monk." [00:11:25]

But what Luther discovered in the face of Jesus Christ, what Luther discovered testified to throughout the Scripture, was God does not want a doubting people. He want a confident people. He wants an assured people. He wants a people who can say with David, "This I know, that God is for me." This I know that God is for me. [00:13:07]

You can't know it because of your own strength or your own wisdom or your own holiness. You could only know it if God has reached out to you in grace, to bring you to faith in His Son. But when you've known the Son, when God has come to be with you in the Son, then whatever the troubles, whatever the circumstances, whatever the loss, whatever the pain, we can say, with David, "This I know, God is for me." [00:13:37]

Through His Word. That's what the psalmist focus is on here. Through His Word. That's why I thought what Dr. Ferguson had to say to us on worship was so powerful, so critical. It is not primarily what we see in worship, or what we touch in worship, it's what we hear in worship that matters. It's when we hear the reading of the Scripture. [00:19:29]

It's the Word that brings God to us because it's The Word of God. You know most answers to most theological questions are really pretty simple. Why is the Bible important? Because it's God's Word. If instead of calling it the Word of God, we said, “It's God speaking," would we have a different feeling towards it? [00:20:48]

The Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Word is the Word of God. The Word of God contains the Christ of God. All these come together to bring God to us, to make God with us. And that's why listening is at the heart of the religion that God has revealed to us. It is the way that God comes to be with us. [00:22:00]

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Transcript
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