Remember Immanuel

Dec 21, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Remembering Jesus: Mercy at the Table

Pause and thank Him for steadfast love and tender mercies. As you come to communion, be honest with God—repent where needed and receive His washing and renewal. Remember the cross, the new covenant in His blood, and the empty grave. As you eat and drink, you proclaim His death and look forward to His return. Let gratitude rise for the faithfulness that has carried you and will carry you still. Rest in the mercy that meets you right where you are [21:50].

1 Corinthians 11:23–26
On the night He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body given for you; remember Me whenever you eat it.” After supper He took the cup and said, “This cup is the new promise sealed in My blood; whenever you drink it, remember Me.” Each time you share this bread and cup, you announce the Lord’s death until He returns.

Reflection: Before your next communion, what specific conversation with God—confession, gratitude, or reconciliation—do you need to have, and when will you set aside time this week to do it?

Day 2: Emmanuel—God With Us in Trouble

We often ask, “Where is God?” when the pressure rises, yet Emmanuel means “God with us” even in the storm. You cannot outrun Him; His goodness and mercy keep pursuing you. In joy and in grief, in clarity and in confusion, He does not abandon you. Breathe this simple prayer today: “God, You are with me.” Let that truth quiet fear and steady your steps [58:03].

Matthew 1:22–23
All this happened to fulfill what the Lord had promised through the prophet: a virgin would conceive and bear a Son, and His name would be called Emmanuel—God with us.

Reflection: Where do you feel most alone right now, and what small practice (a breath prayer, a short walk while praying, or a written reminder) could help you notice God’s nearness in that specific place this week?

Day 3: When You’re Ready to Quit, Keep Obeying

Hard moments make us want to quit on God’s plan. Joseph almost walked away quietly, but God met him and said, “Do not be afraid.” Jonah ran in the opposite direction, yet God spoke to him again and sent him back into purpose. God’s promises do not bounce; He keeps every word He speaks. If you’ve paused or run, you can turn and obey again today. Take the next step and trust that He goes with you [35:36].

Jonah 3:1–3
The Lord’s word came to Jonah a second time: “Get up, go to Nineveh, and deliver the message I give you.” Jonah rose, obeyed, and entered the city to proclaim what God had said.

Reflection: What call or act of obedience have you postponed, and what is one concrete step you will take in the next 48 hours to move forward?

Day 4: A Fourth Man in the Fire

God’s people have felt the heat before—furnaces, lion’s dens, caves of discouragement. Yet in the fire there was Another, and in the den an angel shut mouths; presence turned panic into peace. God may not remove every trial, but He meets you inside it. He will show up at the right time and in the right way. Keep walking, knowing you are not walking alone [22:41].

Daniel 3:24–25
The king jumped up in alarm and asked, “Didn’t we throw three men into the flames, tied up?” “Yes,” they answered. He said, “Look—I see four men unbound, walking unharmed in the fire, and the fourth looks like a heavenly figure.”

Reflection: Name one “fire” you’re in right now; how will you look for signs of God’s nearness there (inviting a friend to pray with you, journaling answered prayers, or meditating on a promise)?

Day 5: Share the Light You Carry

Jesus is the light of the world, and He calls you the light of the world too. Light does its best work in dark places, not only among other lights. When you hold steady in peace and pass on hope, the room brightens—one candle to another. Let your everyday actions point people to Jesus, not just your Sunday words. As a new season begins, shine through prayer, unity, and mercy where you live and work [24:36].

Matthew 5:14–16
You are the world’s light; a city on a hill can’t be hidden. No one lights a lamp to cover it; they set it up high so it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine through your good works so people see and honor your Father in heaven.

Reflection: Who outside your normal church circle needs light right now, and what specific act (a meal, a listening ear, a prayer at work, or practical help) will you offer this week?

Sermon Summary

We began at the table, slowing our hearts to remember Jesus—His body broken, His blood of the new covenant—and thanking God for mercy, steadfast love, and the promise that Christ will return. From there, I reminded us: you can’t outrun God. His goodness and mercy pursue us, not to condemn, but to bring us home. As a church, our heartbeat remains the same: acknowledge, trust, and lean on God daily. We celebrated prayer rhythms and shared how God moved through our COPE partnership—twelve days of blessing young moms, diapers and wipes for the break, and a last-minute detour that had me in a borrowed Santa suit so I could pray over every baby I held. It wasn’t my plan, but it was God’s appointment.

We also named what we believe: life begins at conception. That conviction must be matched with compassion—no ostracizing mothers who chose life. Holiness and mercy are not enemies; they belong together. We had a joyful Gingerbread Bash and asked the Lord for a larger space, and I announced Miami Prayer Nights—twelve monthly citywide gatherings across Miami in 2026 for worship and unified intercession. Jesus prayed we would be one; it’s time to live that prayer.

Then we wrestled honestly with the question many of us ask when hardship hits: where is God? Scripture’s answer is Emmanuel—God with us. Joseph was ready to quietly walk away; Jonah ran in the opposite direction; Elijah sat under the weight of despair. Yet in each story God drew near, redirected, and strengthened. That’s why I urged us: don’t quit. Don’t quit on your calling, your marriage, your children, or what God has placed in your hands. Human instincts say “escape”; faith says “endure.” God’s promises don’t bounce; He delivers what He speaks.

We ended with candlelight. Jesus is the Light of the world—and He calls us the light of the world. Light isn’t for bright rooms; it’s for dark places. Let’s carry what we receive here into neighborhoods, workplaces, and city streets. As we close this year and step into the next, may we expect fresh vision, walk in humility, and be anchored in the One who never leaves us. Emmanuel is not a seasonal lyric; it’s our daily reality.

Key Takeaways

1. Emmanuel: God with us. God’s nearness is not a mood; it’s a covenant reality. When fear says “you’re alone,” Emmanuel answers, “I’m here.” His presence reframes trouble—not by denying pain, but by sharing it and leading us through. Let this truth steady your breathing and your steps. [58:03]
2. Don’t quit on God’s plan. Joseph prepared to walk away, and Jonah ran—both very human responses. Yet God interrupted their exits and reissued their assignments, proving He is more committed to His plan than we are to our panic. When pressure peaks, hold your post; what feels like an ending may be God’s doorway to faithfulness. [1:10:48]
3. Mercy and truth for life. We hold that life begins at conception, and we hold mothers with compassion. Holiness without mercy harms; mercy without holiness hollows. The gospel compels us to confront sin, protect life, and embrace people—so they meet Jesus, not our rejection. [42:50]
4. Shine beyond the church walls. Light is most needed where it’s darkest—homes, schools, offices, city streets. When you carry peace into panic and kindness into conflict, people see a different kingdom. Don’t hide your light among lights; share it where fear and cynicism have become normal. [1:24:13]
5. Unity is a spiritual engine. Jesus tied the world’s belief in Him to our oneness. Division dilutes witness; unity multiplies authority. When churches pray together and honor one another, the city hears a clearer gospel—and heaven’s weight rests on our agreements. [54:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:12] - Communion: Preparing Our Hearts
[21:50] - Bread and Cup: Remembering the Cross
[35:24] - You Can’t Outrun God
[36:25] - Vision: Acknowledge, Trust, Lean Daily
[37:58] - Tuesday Prayer and Year-End Notes
[38:56] - COPE Outreach Impact
[41:27] - Santa Suit Detour, Praying for Babies
[42:50] - Life Begins at Conception—Show Grace
[46:32] - Gingerbread Bash and Space Need
[54:00] - Miami Prayer Nights: Citywide Unity
[56:28] - Where Is God? Emmanuel
[1:10:48] - When Trouble Tempts Us To Quit
[1:23:45] - Candlelight: Be the Light
[1:31:07] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Matthew 1:18-25

Observation questions

In Matthew 1:18-25, what was Joseph planning to do when he learned Mary was pregnant, and what changed his course?
What two names are given to the Child in this passage (Jesus and Emmanuel), and what does each name mean according to the text?
“It wasn’t my plan, but it was what God wanted.” What happened during the Santa suit detour, and what specific fruit came from it? [41:50]
What reason was given for launching citywide prayer nights—what did Jesus link to our oneness? [54:56]

Interpretation questions

When fear asks, “Where is God?” how does the promise of Emmanuel in Matthew 1 reshape that question and the heart behind it? [58:03]
Joseph was ready to step away quietly, and Jonah ran the opposite direction. What do these stories reveal about human instinct under pressure and God’s persistence with His assignments? [01:10:48]
If life begins at conception, how do holiness and mercy walk together so that both the value of the child and the dignity of the mother are upheld—without shaming or compromising? “You can’t do both.” [42:50]
If believers are “the light of the world,” where should that light show first and why? What happens when light is only shared inside church walls? [01:25:02]

Application questions

Don’t quit. Where are you most tempted to walk away right now (calling, marriage, parenting, work, ministry)? What would “holding your post” look like this week in that exact spot? [01:17:48]
Emmanuel in real time. When panic hits, what short prayer will you breathe (“Emmanuel, You are with me”), and what single action will you take in faith within the next 24 hours? [58:03]
Your Nineveh. Who or where has God asked you to go that you’ve been avoiding? What is one concrete next step you will take in the next 72 hours to obey? [01:14:14]
Mercy and truth for life. Name one practical way you can support a mom or family this month (diapers, rides, babysitting, a meal, tutoring). How will you make sure your tone communicates honor, not shame? “You can’t do both.” [42:50]
Shine beyond the church walls. Identify one “dark” place you will carry light this week (home, school, office, city street). What specific act of kindness or peace will you do there, and when? [01:25:02]
Unity as a spiritual engine. What step can you take to practice oneness with believers beyond your circle—attend a prayer night together, collaborate with another church, or pray weekly for another congregation by name? [54:56]
Prayer rhythms. What prayer rhythm will you commit to as the year turns—daily time, a weekly fast, or joining a corporate prayer time? What barriers do you need to remove to make it real (alarm, ride, childcare)? [37:58]

Sermon Clips

32s

#GodIsWithUs

“And we see through scripture constantly, time and time again, God's promise of being with his people. We see God with them. We see it in Abraham. We see it with Joseph. In the pit, God was with him. In the palace, God was with him. In the prison, God was with him. And in the palace as the second in command of all of Egypt, God was with him through everything. And it is a promise that you and I have that God will be with us. We asked the question, God, where are you? And he's like, I'm with you.”

32s

#GodGivesSecondChances

“Even though Jonah had quit on God's plan, God didn't quit on Jonah and just reiterated the plan for Jonah to go and obey. And some of us, we're here today, and we have quit on God's plan. We've quit, but God says, just get right with me, repent, and I will again call you to do what I once told you to do. That second time, Jonah got up and went to Nineveh and said, repent. And you know what happened? The people repented. And the people got saved.”

26s

#WalkIntoTheBlessing

“And some of us, that's where we are right now. And you know what God says to Habakkuk, right? A few verses after, he says, I'm going to do new things in your life right now that if I told you, you wouldn't believe me. And there's some of us, you're at the precipice. You're at the point about walking into the blessing that God's like, if I even told you about it right now, you wouldn't believe me. But you're between quitting or walking into it. Don't quit. Walk into it.”

45s

#ShineHisLight

“But you know what happens when we're going through trouble, but we remember that Jesus is with us, our light shines bright. People around us, they look and they say, how are you in so much peace with everything that they're saying is happening in the world? Let me tell you about my Jesus. Let me tell you about the baby born in a manger, Emmanuel. What happens when my light is then shared to another and to another? Before you know it, everyone can see because we pass it on.”

27s

#FaithOverFear

“And so how do we respond when we get the phone call? How do we respond when we get the message? How do we respond when things go hard? Many of us, our first gut reaction, feeling abandoned and wanting to quit. But then we remember God is with us. And we know that he will do what he promised because he's faithful.”

33s

#CourageInChrist

“When you and I remember he's with us, it changes our step, doesn't it? God's with me. I don't have to fear. And so church, as we think about our lives, what we're going through, the things we encounter, the trouble we face, we've got to remember God is with us. But when will he show up? When it's the right time. But this is hard. Yep. It was hard for Jesus too, wasn't it?”

37s

#HeIsHereNow

“And how do we respond? We respond at times, God, where are you? I've been there. I've done that. And the prayer is that we're able to be reminded and remember God is with us. In the moment of difficulty, in the moment of trial, in the moment when you want to quit, surrender, do whatever it is, being reminded that he has come and that he's with us now, that he will always be with us.”

46s

#FaithIsHuman

“Many times our first reaction when trouble arises is not, God, what are you doing? But many times that first reaction is we feel alone and abandoned. Have you ever felt alone or abandoned? I mean, it's what all of these different people must have been feeling. And again, Pastor Ibaiz preached a few weeks ago and she mentioned about us remembering that all of the people in Scripture were human too. It means that they went through things just like we go through things. So I can imagine that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for a minute must have felt like, all right, God, we're trusting in you, but they're throwing us in the fire. What's up?”

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