Our Immanuel is God the Holy Spirit in us, to transform us into the image of Christ.
Sermon Title: IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US
Sermon Text: MATTHEW 1:23 (NIV)
By: BRO JEREMY LEONES
Sermon Notes:
“If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: “God with us.” We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ, but the greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the Omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth!”
John McArthur
Immanuel, God with us, is the heart of our Christmas hope.
I. ISAIAH’S IMMANUEL
(Isaiah 7:14)
Isaiah’s Immanuel was a sign to the Jews that God’s presence remained with them despite their unfaithfulness, giving them a divine hope in the grace of God. But Isaiah’s Immanuel was just a foreshadow of the ultimate Immanuel who eventually came 700 years later on that first Christmas during the time of Matthew.
II. MATTHEW’S IMMANUEL
(Matthew 1:21)
Matthew’s Immanuel was Jesus, God Himself, in flesh and blood who came to deliver His people from their sins.
III. OUR IMMANUEL
(Hebrews 2:14-15, 17-18; Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 1:13)
Our Immanuel is God the Holy Spirit in us, to transform us into the image of Christ.
REFLECT:
Are you still in awe of Immanuel?
Are you still trusting in Immanuel?
Are you still living for Immanuel?
ENDING THOUGHTS:
Immanuel has come, and our lives are forever changed.
This is where we find hope.
This is where we surrender our desires to figure out everything about our lives.
This is where we lay it all at the feet of Jesus, and rest…knowing he is with us.