#1 The “Names of God”
Series
"IMMANUEL – GOD WITH US!"
TEXT: Isaiah 7:1-14; 9:6; Matt. 1:22-23
INTRO: At one of
the darkest moments of
ILLUS: One day in
July, a farmer sat in front of his shack, smoking his corncob pipe. Along came a
stranger who asked, "How's your cotton coming?"
"Ain't got none," was the answer.
"Didn't plant none. 'Fraid of the boll weevil."
"Well, how's your corn?" "Didn't
plant none. 'Fraid o' drouth."
"How about your potatoes?" "Ain't
got none. Scairt o' tater bugs."
The stranger finally asked, "Well,
what did you plant?"
"Nothin'," answered the farmer. "I
just played it safe."
-- James S. Hewett, Illustrations
Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 204.
The usual reactions of most are:
frustration, doubt, fear, anxiety ... the sense of confinement. IF the dark situation is NOT THE RESULT
of our disobedience to God's Word we can have hope, and even if it is because of
disobedience to God's Word and we are willing to repent God can bring us hope
again ... for He made a promise to Judah that still is the greatest promise to
mankind today ... THE PROMISE THAT GOD WILL BE WITH
US!
PROP.
SENT: One of the greatest
prophecies about Jesus' coming into the world as a babe was the name He would
have: "IMMANUEL" which translated means: "God with
us!" So if darkness
surrounds us, either innocently or even because of disobedience; if we
repent and submit to God HE promises to be with us!
I. STANDING IN FEAR! Isa. 7:2-9;
9:6
A. Normal Reactions Isa. 7:2
1. Ahaz and Judah's situation
was bad: (
a. The
b. In a sense Judah had brought
some of this upon themselves, they had been living in disobedience to God and
His Word, thus they had exposed themselves to evil
influences.
2. Their reactions were much
like ours when we find ourselves surrounded also:
a. Fear gripped the king and the
nation!
b. What were they to do? Isa. 7:2b “…so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were
shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the
wind.”
3. They felt overwhelmed ... who
could possibly help them; the problem was greater than their strength and
resources!
4. They had a real problem on
their hands ... God was allowing such a situation to turn them from their
disobedience.
a. Their next step would be
crucial.
b. Would they turn back to God or would they
try to solve it their own way with their own strength? This is always the consummate
question when we hit these places in our life – and it can get us deeper into
trouble when we try and solve it in our own wisdom and
strength!
ILLUS: Whenever I
am flying and I engage people in conversation a confession is almost always
forthcoming when they find out I am a psychiatrist. A few years ago, before all
of the modern security measures were installed at the nation's airports, a man I
was sitting next to on a coast-to-coast flight told me, "You know, I used to be
deathly afraid of flying. It all started after that man brought a bomb on board
a flight to
I asked, "Well, what did you do
about it?"
He replied, "Well, I went to one
of those special schools for people who are afraid of flying and they told me
there was only one chance in ten thousand that someone would be on board my
flight with a bomb. That didn't make me feel much better. The odds were still
too close. But then I reasoned that if there was only one chance in ten thousand
that one bomb would be on the plane, there was only one chance in 100 million
that two bombs would be on board. And I could live with those
odds."
So I asked, "But what good would
that do you?"
He quickly replied, "Ever since
then, I carry one bomb on board myself -- just to improve the
odds." -- Dr. Jerome Frank, professor of psychiatry at Johns
Hopkins University -- James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale
House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 365.
c. The quality of the outcome
would be determined by what they chose!
5. All they could see at the
moment was FEAR ... and lots of it too!
B. Needed Revelation! Isa. 7:3; 9:6
1. First they needed to
understand God's purpose in this situation ... to wake them up to their need
to repent and trust God!
2. What they needed was what
Isa. 7:3 begins with: "THEN THE LORD
SAID..."
a. This was their problem, till
now it had been what they said, not
what God said!
b. If we listen, God has an
answer for us!
3. Part of the answer was
beginning to confront the king with God's answer, not just personal
opinions.
4. The ultimate revelation would
be found in the prophecy of Isa.
9:6.
a. “A CHILD IS
BORN” -- Christ's humanity!
(1. He would experience our life
and hurts.
(2. He would know hunger, thirst,
exhaustion, disappointment, pain, growth, a troubled heart, tears, birth and
even physical death!
b. Does God really understand us
and can He really identify with us in our humanity ... too often we have viewed
Jesus as floating around on this earth for 3 years doing miracles and having a
glowing halo over Him ... speaking parables every time He spoke ... always under
control and confident of His mission, but the scriptures portray for us His
identification with humanity as well, and for a good
reason!
5. HUMANITY OF CHRIST Hebrews
a.
Birth
b. Growth -- youth and
Teen
c. Hungered and
ate
d. Thirsted and
Drank
e. Had parents and
brothers
f. He knew
loneliness
g. He became
weary
h. He was troubled in
Spirit. (Distress and
confused-concern)
i. He
wept
j. He
slept
k. He was
surprised
l. He had financial
pressures, taxes, and treasury.
m. He got
angry
n. He knew physical
pain
o. He had to be taught –
learned
p. He himself taught
others
q. He did household
chores
r. He held down a job at
one time -- was an employee
s. He learned to
cook
t. Settled
arguments.
u. Went to church.
(Synagogue)
v. Had to be obedient to others
over him.
w. He had to make hard decisions.
(
x. He knew what it was to be
misunderstood by others.
y. He even experienced what it
was to feel like God had forsaken you.
z. He even experienced
death!
1a. He knew the feeling of losing a friend
(Lazarus)
2b. He knew the feeling of failure
(Judas)
3c. He knew the emotions of joy and happiness
too (wedding celebration)
4d. He needed friends (both male and
Female).
5e. He knew what it was to be treated
unfairly.
6f. He knew what it was to need to be
reassured: (“THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL
PLEASED”)
7g. He knew what it was to give love. (Little
children, disciples, lost sinners)
8h. He knew what it was to be tempted to
disobey God’s Word!
9i. He learned obedience to others and
submission to authority. (Parents
and nation)
10j.
He experienced the need to help others as well! (Healing, feeding,
etc.)
11k.
He learned what it was to need to pray and spend time with
God!
6. WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO YOU
THINK JESUS WOULD HAVE DONE HAD HE LIVED TODAY?
a. Would He eat at
McDonalds? Hold down a job at
IBM?
b. Would he drive a Ford? Visit malls?
7. God coming as a human as well
as divine and lived among us!
a. This hardly looks like an
answer at first! Ahaz would have
thought the same thing ... "what we need is an army, not a baby!" was
probably in his mind!
b. God's way of solving the most
difficult problem of humanity was found in a manger of all places –
really!
c. God still baffles the mind in
how He solves our most difficult problems; many times His solutions are so
different from what we would have thought!
d. "A SON IS
GIVEN" – Christ's deity
(1. The Son could not be born since He has always been the
Son, but He could be given ... to you and me!
(2. What a solution; to give us –
you and me, the most powerful source in the universe, how could anything outdo
this?
(3. Yet, even in this there is a
condition, you must accept the gift or you don't possess
it!
e. How many have missed the
greatest gift of God because of the fear of the
unknown?
ILLUS: An Arab
chief tells a story of a spy who was captured and then sentenced to death by a
general in the Persian army. This general had the strange custom of giving
condemned criminals a choice between the firing squad and the big, black door.
As the moment for execution drew near, the spy was brought to the Persian
general, who asked the question, "What will it be: the firing squad or the big,
black door?"
The spy hesitated for a long time.
It was a difficult decision. He chose the firing
squad.
Moments later shots rang out
confirming his execution. The general turned to his aide and said, "They always
prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid
of the undefined. Yet, we gave him a choice."
The aide said, "What lies beyond
the big door?"
"Freedom," replied the general.
"I've known only a few brave enough to take it." -- Don McCullough, "Reasons to Fear Easter," Preaching
Today, Tape No. 116.
8. And so with Judah and King
Ahaz … God promised them victory, but with a condition. Isa. 7:9b
C. Necessary Reassurance Isa.
7:4-9
1. "Be careful, keep
calm, and don't be afraid..." Isa. 7:4
a. God tells him to stay calm
BEFORE He tells him the answer to the problem!
b. The point: GOD STARTS WITH
US, NOT ALWAYS WITH THE PROBLEM FIRST! … SOMETIMES WE ARE THE
PROBLEM!
2. Isaiah begins to reassure
Ahaz, an important ministry!
a. We need in the church people
who are builders of faith!
b. This was not just wishful
thinking on Isaiah's part ... although Isaiah would tell Ahaz that he must
exercise faith in order for God to solve the problem!
3. Barnabus in the New Testament
serves as a good example of this, his name literally meant: "SON OF
CONSOLATION (encouragement)!"
a. This doesn't mean that
Barnabus ignored sin in other people’s lives, just that he encouraged them to
trust God and to repent!
b. Us too, we must encourage one
another, but not to the extent we ignore sin, our own sin or sin in
others!
4. IN LIGHT OF GOD'S PROMISE TO
BE "IMMANUEL" (or "God with
us") these two kings who were going to come against them was in God's
eyes nothing but two smoldering twigs! [Isa.
7:4]
a. Though the world doesn’t take
God serious, we must!
b. The world only sees Christ as
an “ornament” in our culture … but we
must be careful to see Him as the ALL SUFFICIENT ONE.
ILLUS: Society
never actually wanted the Incarnation.
"Emmanuel, God-with-Us" does not sell computer games or cologne. Society wanted the cute stuff -- rustic
stable, adoring shepherds, fluffy sheep, cows, donkey, holy family, infant
Jesus, gift-bearing kings, stars, angels, St. Nicholas, reindeer, fir trees,
holly, and presents. The pagan
stuff they will retain -- even if they do dye the trees powder blue and decorate
them with miniature hanging appliances and Disney ornaments.
...
The marketplace will also retain
some of the traditional hymnody, but in upbeat arrangements that remove them
from the realm of traditional worship.
Ancient chants are popular, too.
They sound religious and profound and -- best of all -- nobody
understands Latin, so no shoppers are offended. -- Maureen Jais-Mick, "Ready or Not: The Return of
Christmas" (Cresset, Dec. 1995).
Christianity Today, Vol. 40, no. 14.
c. And so it is with us in our
most pressing problems ... they are no match for God if we follow His
ways.
d. We don't have to be overcome
by circumstances, but can be overcomers!
II. STANDING IN FAITH! Isa. 7:10-14; Matt.
1:22-23
A. Never Retreat! Isa.
7:10-13
1. God always has a plan ... we
just need to FIND and FOLLOW it!
a. Here is where Ahaz blew
it!
(1. Isaiah reveals God's plan ...
and calls upon Ahaz to have faith! Isa.
7:9b
(2. Ahaz has a
choice ... so did all
b. The one word jumps out of
verse 9: "IF"
2. God will bring victory, but
we must stand repentant and faithful!
a. Ahaz tried to sound spiritual
in his rejection of God's offer of help:
b. READ Isa. 7:10-13 What he was really saying in a very
spiritual sounding way was: "I WON'T OBEY YOU GOD!" Isa.
7:12
3. It is bad enough not to trust
close friends, but not to trust God is really bad!
a. A friend may fail you ...
but God cannot!
b. He is
trustworthy!
4. Not trusting God is like
trying His patience! READ Isa.
7:13
a. Those in this world hardly
take it seriously!
b. Even some in the religious
world ignore the power of the reality of Christ’s coming, “God with
us!” The religious
leaders of Jesus’ day certainly didn’t take Him
seriously!
c. How about
us?
ILLUS: If
Christmas is the anniversary of the appearance of the Lord of the universe in
the form of a helpless babe, it is a very important day. It's a startling idea, of course. My guess is the whole story that a virgin
was selected by God to bear his son is a way of showing his love and concern for
man. It's my guess that in spite of
all the lip service given to it, it's not an idea that's been popular with
theologians. -- Harry Reasoner, quoted by Vic Pentz, "On Beyond Zebra,"
Preaching Today, Tape No. 63.
5. What's your excuse when God
speaks?
a. “I want to be a
good steward of God's money by not using too much gas to go to church too
often.” (When the real issue is a failure
to tithe)
b. "Since God wants
me to love people I try and never mention sin in any way so as not to offend
anyone." (When the real issue is avoiding dealing with
sin)
c. "The Bible
teaches moderation in all things, so I try not to go to church too much or talk
too much about salvation."
(When the real issue is lack of
commitment)
d. "I know the Lord
wants me to be a good example and witness in paying my bills so when we get
caught up we will begin to tithe!" (When the real issue is
stewardship)
e. "The Bible says
God loves the "cheerful giver" so once my attitude is right we will begin to
give." (When the real issue is lack of
giving)
6. These excuses and others are
only retreats from God's plans and Will, they may sound spiritual ... but they
are only cop-outs!
a. Disobedience can have
serious consequences.
b. Captivity and pain resulted from Ahaz and
Judah's failure to obey and repent!
There was a real price tag for sin!
B. Now
Revealed!
Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:22-23
1. The promise of God to help
them! “IMMANUEL” – “God with
us!” Isa. 7:14
2. What else could they hope for
... if God is for you who can be against
you?
3. Ahaz and Judah missed the
hope they could have had ... another generation had the privilege of seeing "IMMANUEL" because this generation failed the "IF"
test.
a. Repentance and obedience
could have brought a different experience for them.
b. It doesn't get any better
that having "GOD WITH
YOU!"
4. This is the Christmas story
... “GOD WITH
US.”
a. Our faith doesn’t have to be
huge to start with, even small faith to begin with will help, and it will grow
as we exercise it. God came as a
small baby, we must start somewhere, even if small!
ILLUS: Faith
doesn't have to be huge ... just use what you have at first, example: the Bridge
over
b. Faith grows in time and
practice.
5. In MATT. 1:22-23 this promise unfolds ... though again
with a condition, that we believe on the Son and repent of our sins; the same
conditions given to
6. What problem could possibly
overshadow this provision!
NONE!
a. "IMMANUEL" – “God with
us!”
b. When the enemy had a plan ...
God had one too – His name was JESUS!
c. While the WORLD WAITS IN
FEAR, the BELIEVER CAN WAIT IN FAITH!
d. The choice though is still
ours to make!
7. The bottom line: "IF YOU DON'T
STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH, YOU WILL NOT STAND AT ALL!" Isa. 7:9b
8. FAITH-FUL not FEAR-FUL!
QUESTIONS:
(1. Where are
you? In Ahaz's shoes or
Isaiah's?
(2. Are you in a trial and
fearful?
(3. Have you repented if
this is needed?
(4. Are you standing in
faith, or seated in failure?
(5. Can anything be better
than knowing that "GOD IS WITH
YOU?"
CONCLUSION: The greatest revelation
of Christ's birth is that He is "IMMANUEL" meaning "GOD WITH
US." If He is for us –
and He is with us, who can be against us?
NO ONE or NO THING! The only
reason to fear is if we haven't repented or we aren't trusting God ... stand
in forgiveness and faith and you can't lose ... GOD WILL BE WITH
YOU!