Well, it's good to be back.
It's been probably three weeks or more since I was here.
And this sermon is going to be a little different than what I've normally done.
It's more of a topical approach.
And it's kind of funny because this morning I heard mom mention she's like,
Oh, Ryan's probably not going to use much scripture at all this morning as a joke.
Now, in that joke, I have probably the most scripture that I'm going to use this morning that I ever have.
And so it's on the topic of Emmanuel and taking the meaning of that which means God with us.
And we see this brought up in a few different places in scripture.
But it's talked of from Genesis to Revelation.
And this is what Christmas is about.
And I think sometimes we forget it.
Now we hear it and we're reminded of these things.
But do we really dwell on it?
And I'd say Satan's done a very good job of distracting us from the truth.
We think of Christmas as family time or opening gifts or the good food or many different things, these traditions.
And they're not bad things.
But if we're not careful, they distract from what it's actually about.
And sometimes we become numb to what the Christmas story is actually about.
We just become dull.
When we hear it, we're like, Oh yeah, Jesus came.
He was born in a manger, born of a virgin.
He lived.
He did ministry.
He died for us.
He rose again.
And I hope that what I just said bothers you.
Because it should.
Because I said it in a very mundane, plain way.
We forget the hope and who Jesus actually is.
And I want to do a run through from Genesis to Revelation.
But I want to start in Isaiah 7.
And it says this.
Isaiah 7 verse 14.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.
And shall call his name Emmanuel.
This was given hundreds of years before Jesus came.
But it's a prophecy of the Lord saying this will happen.
And I don't want us to miss many important factors in this verse alone.
It's like, one, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.
Now as adults knowing, it's like a virgin does not just conceive and bear a son.
But here we see God's hand at work.
And she will.
And they shall call his name Emmanuel.
Which means what?
God with us.
And do we often forget who God is?
What does that mean?
God with us.
Jesus being fully God and fully man.
And let's just take a moment to go back to Genesis.
It says this.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form and void.
And darkness was over the face of the deep.
And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And God said, let there be light.
And there was light.
And God saw that the light was good.
And God separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light day.
And the darkness he called night.
And there was evening and there was morning.
The first day.
And it continues on.
And it says, God says.
And it happens.
Again, verse 6.
And God said, let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters.
And let it separate the waters from the waters.
And God made the expanse and separated the waters.
And that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse.
And it was so.
God speaks and it happens.
He says, let there be light and there is light.
God says, let there be light.
Let there be light.
And I was reminded through one of my fourth year mods.
We watched a video by Louis Giglio.
And he's going through the different stars in the universe.
And just as he continues, there's bigger and bigger and bigger and grander.
And more massive stars that we can't even compare in size.
We don't even understand the size or the magnitude or the power within these things.
Yet, he ties it all back to say that God says, let there be light.
And it happens.
And this is the same God that says, I will be with you.
The same God that came to earth as a baby born of a virgin.
And he speaks life into what is dead.
And we'll get into that more.
And going now, in my devos, I've been reading through Exodus.
And it says, actually before I go to Exodus, I'm going to go back to Genesis.
There's still some more I want to pull out here.
Genesis 2.7.
After God had created all things, he had put man in the garden, Garden of Eden.
And 2.7 says this,
Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
And the man became a living creature.
And we see that God is the one that has formed us.
That took the dust and breathed life into that man.
And we all have the breath of life because of what God has done.
It's a gift from him.
And then chapter 3, verse 8, it says this,
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
And the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Now at this point, Adam and Eve had sinned.
They disobeyed God.
But we see this concept of God being with them.
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
We see this right from the beginning that God is with man.
He's walking with them.
And as a result, their sin, it separates us from the Lord.
But God doesn't leave them from there.
But he continues to walk with them.
But it's going towards a purpose and a plan that God has planned beforehand.
And we see it starting to take place here.
And in my devos, I've been reading in Exodus.
In Exodus 13, 17 to 22, it talks about the pillar of cloud and fire as the people are being led out of Egypt.
And when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near.
For God said, lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.
But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea.
And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.
But then we go on and it says,
And the Lord went before them, verse 21,
God is with them.
And he's leading them and guiding them as they walk along.
And we see this again, Exodus 14, verse 13 to 14.
And Moses said to the people,
Fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.
For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.
We see that God is with them.
When God is with them, their salvation is there.
He's the one that delivers them.
And we see God's presence come down at Mount Sinai in Exodus as well.
God comes down on the mountain, and he's with his people.
And we see this same concept in the tabernacle,
where the tent of the Lord is among the people.
He's with them.
He's leading them.
Then it continues further yet.
And we see in Joshua, chapter 1, verse 5 to 7.
It says this,
Only be strong and very courageous,
Again, the Lord makes clear,
I'm with you as I was with Moses.
Emmanuel, God with us.
And we see this continues on and on through Judges.
We see Samson being an example of this.
And Samson's one story that always catches my attention,
because he picks up a donkey jawbone
and kills a thousand men with swords,
and he uses a jawbone.
It's impossible.
And the only reason he can do that is because God is with him.
And I'm reminded of another story.
Jonathan and his armor bearer.
They're going, it's just the two of them.
And there's 20 or 25 trained soldiers of the Philistines,
and they're like,
If they call us up this hill,
we know that God is with us.
Okay, if you know military,
going up the hill is probably the worst decision you can make.
But they say,
If they call us up there,
we know that God is with us and will deliver us.
And they said,
Come up here.
And they go up,
and they kill them all.
God was with them,
and he delivered them.
He's their salvation.
And to continue on,
we see in Psalm 100,
I'm just going to read the whole thing.
And that what should our response be?
Make a joyful noise to the Lord,
all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come into his presence with singing.
And we can come into his presence
because of what Jesus has done on the cross.
Because of why he came.
He came to restore that relationship with him.
Know that the Lord, he is God.
It is he who made us,
and we are his.
What did we just see?
We read in Genesis,
it's God that breathed life into our bodies.
He formed us.
He created us.
We are his pasture,
and the sheep of his pasture.
What a blessing that is.
Like,
that we can come before the Lord that said,
let there be light,
said,
let this come to play
by speaking.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him.
Bless his name.
For the Lord is good.
His steadfast love
endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
I think of the many Christmas songs we sing.
At Christmas,
joy to the world.
And do we sing that song with joy?
Do we enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise?
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the Lord is good,
and his steadfast love endures forever.
Remember,
when Adam and Eve sinned,
that could have been the end.
God could have started over.
He could have said,
this is enough.
I'm not doing this again.
Or I'm going to do this a little differently.
But we see his mercy and his love.
As we see in Genesis,
God actually makes the sacrifice
for Adam and Eve,
and clothes them.
Covers their nakedness.
And he forgives them of their sin.
Then as we read Isaiah 7, 14,
that the promise of Emmanuel is coming.
But then we see in Isaiah 9, 1 to 7,
it says this,
but there will be no gloom for her
who is in anguish.
In the former time,
he brought into contempt
the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali.
But in the latter time,
he has made glorious
the way of the sea,
the land beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
Those who dwelt in the land
of deep darkness on them
has light shone.
You've multiplied the nation.
You've increased his joy.
And they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad
when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken
as on the day of Midian.
For every boot
of the tramping warrior
in battle to malt,
and every garment
rolled in blood
will be burned
as fuel for the fire.
Then verse 6,
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government
shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace,
and of the increase
of his government
and of peace,
there will be no end
on the throne of David
and over his kingdom
to establish it
and to uphold it
with justice
and with righteousness.
From this time forth
and forevermore,
the zeal of the Lord
of hosts will do this.
And we see this
and the heading
of this chapter
is for to us
a child is born.
Who's Isaiah talking
about here?
Now there
is multiple
fulfillments here,
but ultimately
it's looking
towards Christ
and what he will do.
And this is why
we see when Jesus
comes as Messiah
and is teaching
the people,
they're like,
sweet,
Rome's going to be
overthrown.
And they're pulling
from this being
one of the passages,
and the government
shall be upon his shoulder
and his name
shall be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace,
and of the increase
of his government
and of peace,
there will be no end
in the throne of David
and over his kingdom.
And so we see
they're in hopes
of he's coming over,
he's coming
to take over
the government.
He's going to take
over the world
and reign.
But Jesus makes clear
it's the kingdom
is, my kingdom
is not of this world.
He says I'm coming
to make a way
and this will be fulfilled
and we're going to
get to that still
because there's a promise
of it still coming.
It's Christ's second coming,
he's coming
and he will reign
on earth.
But his first coming
when he was born
in the manger
was not to establish
this yet.
But as I read
this passage,
I look and it's
the names that are given.
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace,
these are just a few
of the names
given.
And even as we have
and we just celebrated
a new baby
being born into the world,
Sophie,
she's not given
any of these names.
But Jesus was
and is
these things.
then we can continue
going
moving forward
and
this is
it's just so exciting.
I don't know,
I'm so excited
right now.
As Ezekiel 36
says this
and
I'm reminded
I look
back
and we read
these stories
and we see
the Israelites
and God saying
if you do
these things
I will be with you.
Follow me,
trust me,
allow me to lead.
And Ezekiel 36
gives another promise
and
verse 26 and 27
it says this
and I will give you
a new heart
and a new spirit
I will put within you
and I will remove
the heart of stone
from your flesh
and give you
a heart of flesh
and I will put
my spirit
within you
and cause you
to walk in my statutes
and be careful
to obey my rules.
And we see
the Israelites
going through
this pattern
and
judges especially
we've
talked about it
as a sin cycle
and
as the sin cycle
starts
in judges
you can see it
continually get worse
and worse and worse
and it talks about
this judge came
ruled for this many years
and the people
returned to sin
and it says
the people
went back
to their old ways
and continued
and we see this cycle
over and over
and over and over
and I'm sure
we've seen it
in our own lives
but Jesus
comes
and we're gonna
get to this
as well
but he sends
his spirit
to dwell in us
it's no longer
where we're
told over
and over
these are the things
but he says
I will put my spirit
within you
and cause you
to walk in my statutes
and be careful
to obey my rules.
Jesus
has come
to set us free
as Paul would put it
from this body
of death
and we're gonna get
there as well
but
before we do
I wanna read
through Matthew
Matthew 1
21 to 23
says this
she will bear a son
and you shall call
his name Jesus
for he will save
his people
from their sins
all this took place
to fulfill
what the Lord
had spoken
by the prophet
behold the virgin
shall conceive
and bear a son
and they shall call
his name Emmanuel
which means
God with us
where was that
taken from
Isaiah 7
behold the virgin
shall conceive
and bear a son
and they shall call
his name
Emmanuel
which means
God with us
and we see
this is where
it's being fulfilled
Jesus
has been born
this is the promise
that was given
hundreds of years
before
be played out
and we see
right from the
beginning
God
with us
and he's
continuing this
on
he's
got this plan
right from the
start
and we could go
back to Genesis
and talk about
this very thing
of what Jesus
does on the cross
for after the fall
it says this
the Lord said
to the serpent
because you've
done this
cursed are you
above all livestock
and above all
beasts of the field
on your belly
you shall go
and dust
you shall eat
all the days
of your life
verse 15
I will put
enmity between
you and the woman
and between your
offspring
and her offspring
he shall bruise
your head
and you shall
bruise his heel
looking
to Christ
and what happens
on the cross
Jesus dies
on the cross
for our sin
he takes
the wrath
of God
upon him
Jesus was
a sinless
man
perfect
in every way
yet died
as if
he was the
worst of sinners
and he did
that for us
and for what
purpose
that God
will be with us
sin separates us
from him
and it's only
through him
that we can
have reconciliation
that we can
come before him
and we see
after
after Christ's
death
he says this
this is where
we see
part
of why
Jesus
came
Matthew 28
verse 18
to 20
says this
and Jesus
came and
said to them
this is already
after his death
and resurrection
Jesus came
and said to them
all authority
in heaven
and on earth
has been given
to me
go therefore
and make
disciples of all
nations
baptizing them
in the name
of the father
and of the son
and of the holy
spirit
teaching them
to observe
all that I've
commanded you
and behold
listen here
I am with you
always
to the end
of the age
Emmanuel
God
with us
he will be
with us
always
and he's
given us
power
he's given us
his spirit
to live this out
he's giving us
a new heart
that we can
actually
walk in
his ways
and Jesus
in John
16 33
also says this
I've said
these things
to you
that in me
you may have
peace
in the world
you will have
tribulation
but take heart
I've overcome
the world
he's with us
who can stop
the Lord
no one
as in Romans
if God is for us
who can be
against us
no one
we see this
continues
in Ephesians
2 1
says this
why
does Jesus
coming
born of a virgin
born in the manger
why
does this Christmas
story mean
so much
why is it
so important
why should we
rejoice
knowing that
Christ has
come
why should our
hearts erupt
in praise
of what
God has
done
and doing
it's because
we are dead
in our trespasses
and sins
and when he says
I will put a new
spirit within you
I will give you
a heart of flesh
it's because
we're dead
it's not
just that we're
lost
or
confused
it's
there's no
life in us
Christ is
coming to put
that life
in us
put his
spirit within
us
to teach
us
and to
lead us
and
to give
us
new life
and we
see this
in Ephesians
2
4-10
but God
being rich
in mercy
because of
the great
love with
which he
loved us
even when
we were
dead in
our
trespasses
made us
alive
together
with
Christ
by grace
you have
been saved
and raised
us up
with him
and seated
us with
him in
the heavenly
places
in Christ
Jesus
so that
in the
coming
ages
he might
show
the
immeasurable
riches
of his
grace
in kindness
towards us
in Christ
Jesus
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
for we
are his
workmanship
created in
Christ
Jesus
for good
works
which God
prepared
beforehand
that we
should
walk
in them
it's
of nothing
we have
done
it's
Christ
work
on the
cross
that we
are
saved
and we
see this
through the
Old Testament
as well
they had
this process
in the
temple
the
tabernacle
of
making
sacrifices
doing
sacrifices
for their
sins
and many
other
things
but
sin
being
one
of
them
and
each
year
there was
a
sacrifice
made
for
their
sins
for
the
sins
of
the
whole
people
the
whole
congregation
and year
by year
they had
to make
these
sacrifices
but
Jesus
dies
on the
cross
and there's
no longer
any need
for sacrifice
to be
made
now there's
still need
for confession
but Christ
has paid
the price
there's
still need
to walk
in godliness
it doesn't
give us
a green
card
or a green
light
to go
keep on
sinning
we're to
grow in
him
we're to
walk in
him
and he's
given us
all that
we need
to be
able to
do that
and we
see that
played out
pretty clearly
in Ephesians
the immeasurable
riches of
his grace
and later
on chapter
three
that according
to the
riches of
his glory
and now
to him
who's able
to do
far more
abundantly
than all
that we
ask or
think
according
to the
power
at work
within
us
to him
be glory
in the
church
and in
Christ
Jesus
throughout
all
generations
forever
and ever
amen
he's
given us
all things
we need
to walk
in godliness
we can
keep going
Hebrews 4
14 to
16
since
then we
have a
great
high priest
who's
passed
through
the
heavens
Jesus
the
son
of
God
let us
hold
fast
our
confession
for we
do not
have a
high priest
who's unable
to sympathize
with our
weaknesses
but one
who in
every respect
has been
tempted as
we are
yet without
sin
let us
then with
confidence
draw near to
the throne
of grace
that we
may receive
mercy and
find grace
to help
in time
of need
Jesus
came as
a man
and lived
on this
earth
he was
tempted
in every
way as
we are
tempted
yet he
did not
sin
he's able
to understand
he knows
what this
life entails
sometimes
I think
we're like
well
God
you don't
understand
it's like
no if
anybody
understands
it's him
he is
with us
and he's
gone before
us
and he's
going
before us
but there's
a call
we see
that
that what
Christ has
done
it's a
gift
that he
holds his
hand out
and says
here
this is
what I've
done for
you
but we
have a
choice to
make
we have a
choice to
receive
that gift
or to
turn it
away
in the
gospels
Jesus
says
as he's
living
come
and follow
me
pick up
your cross
die to
yourself
and live
for me
surrender
your life
and when
I think
of what
Christ
has done
when I
look back
at the
gospel
and the
truth
and the
price that
Christ
paid for
me
there's
nothing
that I
can give
in return
that would
equal that
amount
so what's
my response
but to
give my
heart to
him
to give
my life
to him
and say
Lord
here it
is
take it
and use
it
for your
glory
and now
revelation
21
verse 1
to 8
this is
still to
come
says
this
then I
saw a
new
heaven
and a
new
earth
for the
first
heaven
and the
first
earth
had
passed
away
and the
sea
was no
more
and I
saw
the
holy
city
new
Jerusalem
coming
down
out
of
heaven
from
God
prepared
as a
bride
adorned
for her
husband
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
and he
who is
seated
on the
throne
said
behold
I'm
making
all
things
new
also
he
said
write
this
down
for these
words
are
trustworthy
and
true
and he
said to
me
it is
done
I am
the
alpha
and the
omega
the
beginning
and the
end
to the
thirsty
I will
give
from the
spring
of the
water
of life
without
payment
the
one who
conquers
will have
this
heritage
and I
will be
his
God
and he
will be
my
son
but
then
there's
a warning
here
but as
for the
cowardly
the
faithless
the
detestable
as
for
murders
the
sexually
immoral
sorcerers
idolaters
and all
liars
their
portion
will be
in the
lake
that burns
with fire
and sulfur
which is
the second
death
we see
this
promise
of what
is coming
that God
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 is
coming
and he's
coming to
dwell with
us
he has
come
first
and he
sent his
spirit to
come live
within us
to make
us a
new
creation
but yet
he'll come
again
and this
time to
conquer
to reign
to rule
that he
may dwell
with us
and verse
six
and he
said to
me
it is
done
I'm
the alpha
and the
omega
the beginning
and the
end
does that
ring a
bell
when Jesus
was on the
cross he
said it
is finished
and yet
again here
he comes
again
and he
says again
it is
done
but verse
eight
but as
for the
cowardly
the faithless
the detestable
as for
murderers
the sexually
immoral
sorcerers
idolaters
and all
liars
their portion
will be in
the lake
that burns
with fire
and sulfur
which is the
second death
if
you're in that
category
there's still
time
to come
to Christ
because at
one point
we all
walked in
that way
you might
say no
I didn't
murder
but did
you hate
your brother
or sister
and that
doesn't mean
immediate
family
that means
anyone
say it
well I
didn't
I haven't
been
faithless
did you
doubt
God
have you
ever doubted
him
the cowardly
have you been
afraid
to do
something
that God
has asked
sexually
immoral
lust
idolaters
raise
something
higher
than God
and
I can
assume
we've
all raised
ourselves
at some
point
higher
than him
have you
lied
yes
and Jesus
says if you
commit one
of these
you've
transgressed
the whole
law
this is
why
there's
such
hope
with
Christ
coming
because
apart
from him
we're
dead
but he's
come
and given
us life
he said
I'm
taking
the wrath
of God
he paid
the price
so that
we may
have new
life
so that
we can
live in
him
so what
is Christmas
all about
it's
about
the story
of God
with us
from the
beginning
and he's
going to
be with
us
in the
end
it's
about
Jesus
who is
fully
God
and fully
man
lived a
perfect
sinless
life
which is
impossible
for any
other man
to do
and died
as if he
had committed
all the
sin
as he
took it
upon
himself
for us
if he
wouldn't
have come
we would
remain
dead
in our
trespasses
and sins
as we
went through
in Ephesians
2
so what
is our
response
how should
we respond
we should
respond
with hearts
full of
praise
for it
is
celebrating
the first
coming
of our
savior
who came
to deal
with sin
and we
look ever
so
expectantly
for his
return
when he
returns in
glory to
bring
judgment
and in
this we
see both
his love
and his
justice
being poured
out
and those
two go
together
but the
psalmist
responds in
awe and I
hope we do
that not just
at Christmas
or Easter
but each time
we pick up his
word and spend
time with him
and I want to
close with
Psalm 111
which says
this
praise the
Lord I
will give
thanks to
the Lord
with my
whole heart
in the
company of
the upright
in the
congregation
great are
the works
of the
Lord
studied by
all who
delight in
them
full of
splendor
and majesty
is his
work and
his righteousness
endures forever
he has caused
his wondrous
works to be
remembered
the Lord is
gracious and
merciful
he provides
food for those
who fear him
he remembers his
covenant forever
he has shown his
people the power
of his works in
giving them the
inheritance of the
nations
the works of his
hands are faithful
and just
all his precepts
are trustworthy
they are
established forever
and ever
to be performed
with faithfulness
and uprightness
he sent
redemption to
his people
he has commanded
his covenant
forever
holy and
awesome is
his name
the fear of the
Lord is the
beginning of
wisdom
all those who
practice it
have a good
understanding
and his praise
endures forever
and my prayer
as well as a
question for you
is is this
our hearts
response
to the Christmas
story to the
gospel
because it
should be
the psalmist
cries out
praise the
Lord I will
give thanks
to the Lord
with my whole
heart in the
company of the
upright in the
congregation
great are the
works of the
Lord studied by
all who
delight in
them
and he
continues to
go on full
of splendor
and majesty
as his work
and his
righteousness
endures forever
let's not
forget what
Christmas is
about
it's about
Emmanuel
God with
us
and not
forget who
God is
not belittle
him in this
little box of
our lives
that we
place him
in
he's the
God of the
impossible
the God
that speaks
and it
happens
that same
power that
rose Jesus
from the dead
is given to
us to walk
in him
to live in
him
and so I
hope
and pray
that this
Christmas
we will
stand in
awe of
what
God has
done
and the
gift
that Jesus
is
to us
and as
the church
as the body
of believers
we need to be
sharing this
truth
this gospel
the work
that Christ
has done
with those
around us
because there
are many
in this
town alone
that are
dead
in their
trespasses
and sins
and maybe
they've heard
the gospel
but they
need to hear
it again
so go
from here
rejoice
in the
Lord
but also
share the
good news
thank you
now