December 7, 2025 - The Gift of God's Presence (Matthew 1:18-25 - Scott Gardziella)

And the mess they're in, though, isn't just external. It's not just what Rome is doing. It's what's going on in their own hearts. As God's people, they have not followed God well. They need a rescue not just from what's out there, but from their rebellion in here. And so they're looking for a Messiah, for someone to rescue them and bring them back to the way of faith. [00:31:19] (21 seconds)  #RescueFromWithin

Why is it that Jesus has to come into our mess in such a messy way? I mean, couldn't it have been a little cleaner? I mean, just think stable. I think mess. God is demonstrating that Jesus didn't just come into our mess to help us. He came in a messy way to identify with us, that he is fully human and he understands our pain and our difficulty. [00:36:21] (27 seconds)  #GodInTheMess

So what do we do with this truth that Jesus comes into our mess? How do we begin to apply it? Well, let me just first give you a moment to examine your life and say, where's your life a mess? Now, maybe you're doing okay right now, but my guess is there's been a mess and I guarantee you there will be one. Where is the mess in your life? Are you willing to invite Jesus to be your Emmanuel, to be God with you, to be present? The problem may not go away, but you know what? Neither will Jesus. He says, I am here with you. I understand and I care. [00:38:32] (40 seconds)  #JesusStaysWithYou

Another application for us, those of us who are Christ followers, are you willing to be Jesus in the midst of somebody else's mess? Because that's how Jesus often shows up, through His people. Are you willing to be Christ in the middle of somebody else's mess? And their problem might not go away. The question is, will you? Or will you stay with them and care and be there? [00:39:12] (27 seconds)  #BeJesusToOthers

Here's the good news. With God, you don't have to knock the door down. He is with us. You don't have to wake him up. You don't have to convince him that you're important. He is with us. It's much more like a little child who, in the presence of a parent, just puts their arms up like this, expecting to be scooped up and helped. That's exactly where God wants us. I am here, and I will care for you. And I will give you courage and strength in the face of fear. [00:46:02] (28 seconds)  #ChildlikeTrust

God says, I am with you. Our response is, yes, God, I need that. You are with me. So Jesus enters our mess. That's what Emmanuel means. He lives with us. He brings us peace through his Holy Spirit and his people. But he brings us more than just comfort. He brings change. He brings transformation. Because God is more interested in changing your heart than he is changing your circumstances. And that's good news. [00:47:58] (29 seconds)  #GodChangesHearts

It's in the Old Testament we call Joshua, that's all one and the same name. And you know what it means? Salvation. Salvation. Name him Jesus because he will save our people, or his people, from their sin. So what's being announced here is, though they're under Roman occupation, the first concern of God is not saving them from the Romans, but saving his people from themselves. God with us in here. [00:49:58] (28 seconds)  #JesusSavesUs

Emmanuel doesn't mean that Jesus comes and just sits in our mess with us. I mean, that's nice, but that doesn't seem to solve a whole lot. He's also giving us a hope and a future. Not just rescuing us from our past, but giving us a hope and a future. So the last implication of the term Emmanuel, of God living with us, is that it means that he calls us from mess to ministry. Jesus calls us from wallowing in our mess to beginning to minister to other people. [00:53:55] (28 seconds)  #MessToMinistry