Emmanuel: The Gift of Hope and Divine Presence

 

Summary

The message today centers on the profound mystery and hope encapsulated in the prophecy of Emmanuel, as described in Isaiah 9:6-7. This prophecy, given 700 years before the birth of Christ, reveals the characteristics of Emmanuel—God with us. It is a reminder of the unimaginable love of God, who chose to step into human history, wrapping Himself in human flesh to live among us. This act of divine love is not just a historical event but a present reality that shapes our lives today.

Isaiah's prophecy describes Emmanuel as a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. These are not just titles but conditions we experience because of what God has done for us. As our Wonderful Counselor, Emmanuel provides us with divine wisdom, enabling us to see clearly and make decisions aligned with God's will. As Mighty God, He offers us strength and might, reminding us that we are never alone in our struggles. The focus today is on Emmanuel as our Eternal Father, a concept that challenges us to wrestle with the mystery of the Trinity. This title does not compress the roles within the Godhead but highlights Jesus as our provider and shepherd, leading us into eternal life.

The incarnation is a profound mystery that invites us to stand in awe of God's love and provision. Jesus, our Emmanuel, is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father, yet He chose to become human, to live the life we could not live, and to die the death we deserved. This act of love provides us with the hope of eternal life, transforming our goodbyes into see-you-laters. As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded that this season is about hope—the confident belief that God will fulfill His promises.

In accepting the gift of Emmanuel, we are invited into a relationship with God that transcends time and space. This relationship is not about what we can do but about accepting what God has already done for us. As we reflect on this gift, may we be filled with hope and courage, knowing that our Eternal Father will provide for us for all eternity.

Key Takeaways:

1. Emmanuel as Our Wonderful Counselor: Emmanuel provides us with divine wisdom, enabling us to see clearly and make decisions aligned with God's will. This wisdom is not about intellectual knowledge but about discernment and obedience to God's word. It is a reminder that we have access to God's supernatural wisdom in every aspect of our lives. [41:20]

2. The Mystery of the Trinity: The incarnation challenges us to wrestle with the mystery of the Trinity, where God is one yet exists in three persons. This mystery invites us to stand in awe of God's love and provision, recognizing that Jesus, our Emmanuel, is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father. [45:03]

3. Eternal Father as Provider and Shepherd: As our Eternal Father, Emmanuel is our provider and shepherd, leading us into eternal life. This title highlights Jesus' role in making eternity accessible to us, offering us hope and assurance in the face of life's challenges. [52:17]

4. The Hope of Christmas: Christmas is a reminder of the hope we have in Emmanuel, who transforms our goodbyes into see-you-laters. This hope is rooted in the confident belief that God will fulfill His promises, providing us with courage and assurance in our journey of faith. [58:34]

5. Accepting the Gift of Emmanuel: The invitation to accept the gift of Emmanuel is an invitation into a relationship with God that transcends time and space. This relationship is not about our actions but about accepting what God has already done for us, offering us eternal life and a future filled with hope. [01:08:37]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [31:53] - Introduction and Greetings
- [41:20] - The Prophecy of Emmanuel
- [42:31] - Characteristics of Emmanuel
- [43:58] - Wrestling with the Trinity
- [45:03] - Understanding Eternal Father
- [46:10] - Avoiding Heresies
- [52:17] - Emmanuel as Provider
- [54:36] - The Hope of Eternal Life
- [56:27] - The Beauty of the Gospels
- [57:39] - The Gift of Eternal Life
- [58:34] - No More Goodbyes
- [01:00:35] - The Cost of Sin
- [01:02:51] - The Unimaginable Gift
- [01:04:36] - Hearing God's Voice
- [01:08:37] - Accepting the Gift

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 9:6-7
- John 1:1-4
- Revelation 1:8

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Isaiah 9:6-7, what are the titles given to Emmanuel, and what do they signify about His role? [41:20]

2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between Jesus and the Father in the context of the Trinity? [45:03]

3. What does the sermon suggest about the significance of Jesus being called the "Eternal Father"? [52:17]

4. How does the sermon explain the concept of Emmanuel as our "Wonderful Counselor"? [41:20]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean for believers today that Jesus is described as a "Wonderful Counselor"? How might this influence decision-making in daily life? [41:20]

2. How does the sermon challenge traditional understandings of the Trinity, and what implications does this have for our understanding of God’s nature? [45:03]

3. In what ways does the title "Eternal Father" provide hope and assurance to believers, according to the sermon? [52:17]

4. How does the sermon interpret the hope of Christmas in light of the prophecy of Emmanuel? [58:34]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How might seeking divine wisdom as described in the sermon have influenced your choice? [41:20]

2. The sermon discusses the mystery of the Trinity. How can embracing this mystery deepen your relationship with God? [45:03]

3. Consider a challenge you are currently facing. How does knowing Jesus as your "Eternal Father" change your perspective on this situation? [52:17]

4. The sermon emphasizes the hope of Christmas. How can you actively cultivate and share this hope with others during the holiday season? [58:34]

5. Think about your current relationship with God. How can you more fully accept the gift of Emmanuel in your daily life? [01:08:37]

6. Identify an area in your life where you need to rely more on God’s strength. What practical steps can you take to lean on Him as your "Mighty God"? [41:20]

7. How can the understanding of Jesus as both fully God and fully man impact your view of His role in your life? [52:17]

Devotional

Sure, here is the 5-day devotional based on the key takeaways from the sermon summary:

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Day 1: Divine Wisdom for Daily Decisions
Emmanuel, as our Wonderful Counselor, offers us divine wisdom that transcends mere intellectual knowledge. This wisdom is about discernment and aligning our decisions with God's will. In every aspect of life, we have access to this supernatural guidance, which helps us navigate through complexities and uncertainties. By seeking Emmanuel's counsel, we can make choices that reflect God's love and purpose for us. [41:20]

Isaiah 11:2-3 (ESV): "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear."

Reflection: Think of a decision you are currently facing. How can you seek Emmanuel's wisdom to guide you in making a choice that aligns with God's will today?


Day 2: Embracing the Mystery of the Trinity
The incarnation of Emmanuel invites us to embrace the profound mystery of the Trinity, where God is one yet exists in three persons. This mystery is not meant to be fully understood but to be marveled at, recognizing the depth of God's love and provision. Jesus, our Emmanuel, is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father, and this truth challenges us to stand in awe of the divine relationship within the Godhead. [45:03]

Colossians 2:2-3 (ESV): "That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Reflection: How does the mystery of the Trinity deepen your understanding of God's love for you? Spend time in prayer, asking God to reveal more of Himself to you.


Day 3: Jesus as Our Eternal Provider
As our Eternal Father, Emmanuel is our provider and shepherd, leading us into eternal life. This role highlights Jesus' commitment to care for us, offering hope and assurance in the face of life's challenges. By trusting in Emmanuel as our provider, we can find peace and security, knowing that He will meet our needs and guide us through every circumstance. [52:17]

Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV): "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust Jesus as your provider? How can you actively rely on Him to meet your needs today?


Day 4: The Transformative Hope of Christmas
Christmas is a season that reminds us of the hope we have in Emmanuel, who transforms our goodbyes into see-you-laters. This hope is rooted in the confident belief that God will fulfill His promises, providing us with courage and assurance in our journey of faith. As we celebrate, we are invited to hold onto this hope, allowing it to shape our perspective and actions. [58:34]

Romans 15:13 (ESV): "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Reflection: How can you let the hope of Christmas influence your interactions with others this season? Consider one way you can share this hope with someone in need.


Day 5: Accepting the Gift of Emmanuel
The invitation to accept the gift of Emmanuel is an invitation into a relationship with God that transcends time and space. This relationship is not about our actions but about accepting what God has already done for us, offering us eternal life and a future filled with hope. By embracing this gift, we are called to live in the reality of God's love and grace, allowing it to transform our lives. [01:08:37]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: What does accepting the gift of Emmanuel mean for you personally? How can you live out this acceptance in your daily life, reflecting God's love to those around you?

Quotes



"An eternal father is a condition that we get to experience because of what God has done for us in the person of Emmanuel. All right. You really can't look at the incarnation. You can't really begin to wrap our minds around the incarnation that God would come in the person of Emmanuel. Jesus Christ. 100%. God. 100 % man. Co-eternal." [00:43:06] (33 seconds)


"This baby, literally this baby that is in human flesh, that is crying, that is weak, that is helpless in this manger. You can't fully comprehend what God has done in the incarnation. If we don't wrestle with the Trinity. If we don't wrestle. If we don't wrestle with this core fundamental belief that we hold as Christians, that God is one. God is one." [00:43:43] (33 seconds)


"Jesus Christ our Emmanuel is like like a father in the sense of he is our provider he is our shepherd he is the very one who has made eternity accessible to you and to I he leads us like a shepherd he leads us like a good father he has provided for us eternity an amazing Anger would live the life that we couldn't live and would die on the cross for our sins and would be resurrected, would conquer death." [00:46:56] (54 seconds)


"And it's Jesus, our Emmanuel, that is the provider for us. He's the shepherd for us. And he leads us into eternal life. That's what Isaiah is getting at in this passage today. We get to experience eternity. We get to experience connection and relationship with God the Father. If we're in Jesus, we're in Jesus Christ forever because of what Jesus has provided on our behalf. Our Emmanuel." [00:53:22] (45 seconds)


"Eternal life has been provided by Jesus, who is the, the Father of eternity, we might say. The provider of eternity As our eternal, as our eternal Father, as Jesus, our eternal Father, it should give us a lot of hope today. It should give us a lot of hope today. It should give us a lot of confidence. It should give us a lot of courage today." [00:57:16] (41 seconds)


"And did you know with Jesus, because of our, because of our eternal Father, there are no more goodbyes. In the truest sense of the, in the truest sense, there are no more goodbyes because Emmanuel, Emmanuel, is our eternal Father, according to Isaiah 9, 6 through 7. So not only has he provided us eternal life, this is key. He not only has provided us eternal life, I also love to think about Jesus as our eternal Father, that he will provide for us for all of eternity." [00:58:34] (48 seconds)


"And so Christmas is a reminder of the hope, that we have, that our Emmanuel is none other than our wise counselor, mighty God, eternal father, our provider and shepherd of eternal life, provided us eternal life, but yet you could look at it from the other way as well too, that he provides and he shepherds us for all of eternity." [01:03:44] (38 seconds)


"It's purely accepting what he has done on our behalf. And as we begin to realize the magnitude of the gift, we begin to trust his leadership. We begin to hear his voice. Man, my perspective is just always rocked when I go to Chad and places because there's just not as much. There's not as much clutter in the noises that we hear." [01:04:51] (34 seconds)


"God is with us and guiding us through this life into the next for all of eternity so I pray that you would accept him today online I pray that you would accept him today accept the gift Father we come before you today we love you we thank you Lord you you know we've had a lot of conversations about this and I I pray that the words today honored you and that you that you I pray that you would take anything that was not clear and I pray that through your Holy Spirit you would make it clear." [01:15:08] (39 seconds)


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Transcript
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