God With Us!

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ.

No other religion we would dream to see some soap God with us from a Muslim God's there. Let's all were here it's always God's there and were here. This is God's, God with us joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word.

Our world, it is the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which means God with us.

Matt is quoting Isaiah the prophet Isaiah wrote these words 700 years before Jesus was born what you think about just imagine we go back 700 years were right in the beginning of the Renaissance were about 150 to 200 years before Columbus ever set sail for the Americas. Imagine someone writing something that prophetic in a coming to fruition today because that's what happened when he wrote that there's two remarkable aspects to what ever says one is a virgin shall be with child and that's not what I want to talk about today want to talk about the second one decision shall call his name Emmanuelle, which translated means God with us. The eternal Almighty infinite God is with us all through the Bible and you see God sending people to us. Great men like Moses great kings like David a great prophet like Isaiah, Jeremiah, but that's not what this says this says God with us. If you think about it you'll find it incomprehensible. How does God become one of us, how you leave the throne of heaven show up in a manger in Bethlehem, the creator becomes one of his creatures, and the question is why, because he loves us he loves us so much that it becomes one of us had he not become one of us, all human beings forever be completely lost. It was that big of an event, God with us this infinite magnanimous gesture is what is gives the salvation of mankind, the creator of everything in the universe comes through the birth canal, born a baby overwhelming, but I want to open your Bibles and go to John chapter 1 and John puts a little bit different spin on it, but I want to see what John says he writes about 40 to 50 years after Matthew right jobs at the end of his life. He's an old man when he writes us and he's had a lot of time to think about so John becomes much more philosophical about this truth. John says in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the word was God.

The word there is the Greek word log the logons to the Greek philosophers was the most essential meaningful thing in life log loss would be the solution to the mysteries of life and so John uses the term log us to describe Jesus and notice he said then he was in the beginning with God all things came into being through him, and apart from him nothing came into being that is coming to being is the creator of everything. This log us from God. In him was life and the life was the light of men.

And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it been on verse 10 he was in the world of the world was made through him, and the world did not know any came down to his own and those who were his own, they did not receive but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name who were born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God and the word of God became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the father full of grace and truth. John's perspective just a little bit different. John's talking about the deity of Christ.

Matthews talking about the humanity of Christ. Notice in verse 14 he said we beheld his glory is dorks the glory of God. If you really beheld the glory of God with us. Have you given thought of what that there's no religion on earth like no other religion would he would dream to see some so preposterous, God with us from a Muslim God's there. Let's all were here it's always God's there and were here, but this is God's here, God with us.

Some of the most gifted thinkers in Christianity of thought about this quite a bit. CS Lewis in his book mere Christianity said the second person and God the son became human himself and was born into the world as an actual man. I will man of a particular height with hair of a particular color speaking a particular language weighing so many pounds. The eternal being who knows everything and who has created the whole universe became not only a man but before that a baby before that a fetus is mother's womb is profound. God Almighty here, the infinite God AW toes are one of my favorite writers said the coming of Jesus Christ and into this world represents the truth more profound than any philosophy. All of the great thinkers of the world together could never have produced anything even remotely approaching the wonder and profundity. You said disclosed in the message of these words, God among us. The words are wiser than all learning understood in their high spiritual context, they are more eloquent than all oratory. There are more lyrical than all the music ever written. They tell all of mankind sitting in darkness that you have been visited by the light of the world, Maxim, Cato, contemporary writer. When God chose to reveal himself. He did so through human body.

The tongue that called forth the dead.

That was a human tongue the hand to touch the leopard had dirt under its nails the feet upon which the women wept calloused and dirty and his tears don't miss his tears. They came from the heart is broken is yours and mine is ever been. Frederick Buettner said the claim that Christianity makes for Christmas is that in a particular time and place. God came to be with us himself when Quirinius was governor of Syria. In a town called Bethlehem a child was one who, beyond the power of anyone to account for was the high and lofty one now made low and helpless. The one who inhabits eternity came to dwell in time, the one whom none can look upon and live is delivered and is stable under the soft in different gaze of the cattle, the father of all mercies is put himself now under our mercy will happen. Emmanuelle God with us.

He's God. I do know this and believe it is the best plan possible CS Lewis was safe because as the one he chose. But my goodness, to grow up as a baby, God with us totally incomprehensible night in the beginning I'm just left the way the Magi were just for wonder and awe just can't understand it. I was one of just pulled on my knees and worship him that he became one of us. But as I understand the reason for this because he chose this plan so that on the basis of his love for you and for me. We have an opportunity to spend forever with him. I thought about more than that and there's a lot more to it, God with us that say three things this morning how important God with us should be to us because God is with us, you and I can endure all of the difficulties of living monikers plan all because God is with us. Hebrews 13 five Jesus said I will never leave you or forsake the thought, God with us.

Paul cause of Christ in me the hope of glory.

He says look on never leave you or forsake you some 27 one the Lord is the defense of my life who, what, I fear everything but how many times did Jesus say fear not wisely telling us that because you and I have no reason to fear none why God is with us. Just imagine you go into an operating room in the hospital and you laying there menu for something beside Eunice Jesus is right beside you said I'm right here. I'm not leaving a member forsake you. Think about all the things you could be afraid of. And yet, Jesus is standing right beside you with us on not tell me if he did that physically would you be afraid of anything you wouldn't. Whenever we start suffering and ever we go through difficulties when we begin to think where is God, I'm so alone.

I have to go through this myself.

You never go through losing yourself, not ever.

He's with us he's always with us.

That's what he says someone 1860.

If the Lord is with me and for me I will not fear anything. Isaiah 43.

Do not fear. I have called you by name your mind and when you pass through the waters, I'll be with you even after he finished work on the cross, he told the disciples of us. I'll be with you to the end of the age right here, God with us.

And this is something we often forget so forgetful of anxiety and fear and worry because we don't realize he's right here. And remember, if I through another verse and I like Romans 828 he's with us he's right with your niece is owned by the way, all things will work for your good policy to know when you're going through some terrible is it for like that you should see that's the point he's making. I'm right here I'm sovereign over your life. I'm never gonna leave you nor forsake you. He always shows up again Maxim caters is this God gets into things he gets in the Red Sea.

He gets in the big fish he gets into lines, dens and furnaces.

He gets in the bankrupt businesses in jail cells in the Judean weddings and funerals and Galilean Tempest look and you'll find that everyone from Moses. The more that is already discovered God's right there with you in the middle of every storm of your life. You have to believe that this member when the disciples went through the storm what they said to him, Lord, don't you care were perishing. He stilled the storm and looked at him and said oh you man of little faith because God is with us.

We can endure the difficulties of life. Secondly, because God is with us, you can always expect God to answer your prayers go with me to Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 14 and when we 13 because it gives a context for the sermon. He said, and there is no creature hidden from his site. All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of him whom we have to do that serve a general idea that tells you by this capability. What can he do what is he knows going on anything so then he says.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our confession, for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are yet without sin not remember a prophet represents God to the people. The priest represents the people to God. He said no. We have a great high priest. He tries to tell them that Jesus is not like a Levitical priest is not erotic in his priesthood is Melchizedek in he's like the King priest of Salem in Genesis.

That's what is like is even much more than that, but he is our King priest and so that should give us a real understanding of who he is and what he's done. Know what's interesting about this is that he says who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.

Jesus not only sympathize with everything you go through. He can empathize with everything you're going through. He can do it in a very very different kind away, he experienced weariness. Just like when we get weary, he experienced complete disappointment, disappointment, and the leaders of Israel disappointment in his own disciples disappointment and mankind in general. He experienced desertion he experienced in is what that's like, he experienced hatred. They hated him experience what that's like and then he experience what it's like to hang on across and pay for the sins of the world which is so far beyond.

I want to waste worse when it's a what that must've felt like you want pain I've had pain you're facing death at a young age.

I died at a young 81 suffering weariness. I can feel everything you're feeling because I became a man Emmanuelle God with us.

So we have offers us so much more than sympathy. He understand, but then it says there that he was tempted in all things. Just like we are. I think what happens to us will read that verse.

You almost want to save married, you know what book your God incarnate without a sin nature. You never said I know what temptations I because I sent first will remember this temptations not sent sin is conceived after Les gets involved in using everyone's tempted Jesus was tempted it says just like you were and yet without sin. In fact I'm gonna say that he was much more tempted in you everywhere you know why you've never been tempted to the degree he has because when you're tempted.

What you end up doing yielding to the ever yield to it now so this email with a full blow of temptation is yes because he got every bit of it. He got all the possible temptation you can have. He said, and yet he never yielded.

I mean, when Satan tempted him three times in the wilderness knows the first one. How many of you been tempted to want to drink or eat after 40 days of fasting and he was offered and I think that was for the idea get. I did yield what he saying in her love Jesus understands you to get you these experienced everything you have and then verse 16. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

While I love the King James or the King James has come boldly to the throne of grace when you're experiencing something difficult in your life.

You said you come boldly to the throne of grace. That's amazing. Think of Israel's image on this. How many people got into God's presence on earth. One went once a year if you go in the holy of holies he had to make a sacrifice for his own sin and then go in there and sprinkle this up the blood on the mercy seat. There were so terrified that he would die in there if he had sinned between him and God.

That tradition is a tied a rope around his ankle so he fell over dead they could pull him up digital going.

The presence of God. Now the writer of Hebrews says you come boldly come right now to me while come boldly if I use Paul's imagery pulses of Romans and call Bob daddy Drew would've ever thought of that. I'm coming boldly in the climb up in your lap and let her tell your daddy and am eager to see how the nail and then you better pray and you should pour your heart out pulses in the Philippians with great supplication.

Be honest with God till now you feel tell me you're afraid tell him whatever you want to tell him he's your father.

Tell God exactly what's going on in your life. Now here's where is a bit abrupt force, but we think is okay once I do that what's going to happen.

God's going to give me exactly what I want here.

Willie maybe and maybe not you see the trouble and we often pray is what we pray for is what we want. So if you're honest will say to our prayers. My will be done more. That's why I'm here to tell you my will needs to be done here.

Jesus evenly pray to have the cup removed and the garden disseminates said nevertheless not my will be number yours and here's what he says. You'll get every time so that we may receive mercy and find grace and help in time of need. So give it to you every time. As to the particulars of the side I may say yes no or might say wait but I'll give you mercy and grace Mobley told Paul and a thorn in the flesh INBOARD. Please take this away for me it's it's restricting my ministry him in agonizing pain and what was God's answer to Paul no. While the apostle Paul when he tell Paul, my grace is sufficient for you. The three tells us, my grace is sufficient. Paul got it. He said that's it. I will never ask you again, I understand now when I'm weak you're strong in my life when I'm stronger we can my life. So gladly, I'll take the infirmity, but he received the grace grace of God is always sufficient.

So it becomes of that and he says that's what I'll give you I can always expect God to help me in an answer my prayers. David Jeremiah says this look you need some help. Got some issues some problems since Christmas season. Some kids that are going south instead of staying on the straight and narrow. Some businesses that didn't turn out the way you thought they would. Some physical issues that you didn't even know about until he got a phone call from your doctor where you go, God said, I sent my son Jesus dying to be one of you so that he could know everything and that you're going to know in life and now he says you got somebody you can talk to and you go to him in your prayer and ask for help in your time of need. Christmas tells us that the primary interest of our Lord is always to help us.

He's always about encouragement. He's always about grace is always about mercy he said is there to help us. He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities and he wants to help us. So what is really saying here is it simply, God understands us, he gets us. He says to me you know you look, you're never going to do this, you're never going to be alone.

I'm here for you. I'll answer your prayer with my grace and mercy.

The third thing. Because of the incarnation. We never serve along I might find this part. Hard to believe but the every once in a while. Ministry is really hard.

You go through so much deep pain with people, loss of loved ones sudden this terrible diagnosis. There's just so much suffering and minister becomes extremely hard and a lot of pastors of the quick because it overwhelms him. I don't do that I might quit. I have a miniature pity party okay and all woe is me, but the point of it is simply this guts is the same thing every time you think you serve alone.

You think you're doing this yourself.

You're not. I'm with you. You never serve God alone matter what you do.

You're never alone.

After serving God. Never do we serve God alone member Moses. He said Moses now therefore go, Moses. I'll be your mouth. Member Moses did what we often when ministry opportunities, he made up excuses don't send me they won't listen to me.

I'm not eloquent that's that's okay I got it. I'll be your mouth, to Joshua, who replaced Moses right but going in the land of Canaan, all of those sites are there. There were like people, his people been slaves for 400 years. It will not fight, he says, have I not commanded you to be strong and of good courage, and don't be afraid, he says, nor be dismayed because, listen to me Joshua, I am with you. The odds change Jeremiah the prophet. What a job description here a great prophet is on what you were born to be a prophet for me to the nation all by the way, know when you talk to will ever listen to got to lament up front. Now I find that the present. No wonder he was the weeping prophet here I am again he said to Jeremiah. Do not be afraid of their faces. I'm with you, and I'll deliver you to his own disciples and us. Jesus said I'm with you always, even to the end of the earth, God with us.

I'm standing in a pulpit, but I pray never alone. The way but that God's going to be here no matter how you serve the Lord, you are never alone when you serve the Lord, because God is with us. We can endure all the difficulties of his life because God is with us. We can always expect him to answer our prayers with mercy and grace.

Because God is with us. We never serve God alone.

All because God is with us. Philip Yancey in a book wrote up the excerpt in his book from the late Paul Harvey one wall winter night a man heard in their regular thumping against the kitchen storm door. He went to the window and as he watched as tiny shivering sparrows attracted to the evident warmth inside were flying into the window, thinking that they could come inside and they would hit the window, they would fall to the ground and get up and fly and hit it again.

The farmer was very compassionate person. He was so touched that he decided to help these helpless birds, and he bundled up and he traipsed through the fresh snow to the open barn for the struggling birds. He opened the barn door. Then he turned on the lights. He taught some hay in the corner any sprinkler trail of saltine crackers to where the birds were to the door of the barn but the sparrows who were scattered in all directions when he immersed in the house they hid in the darkness, and even come to the barn so we tried some other things he circle behind where the birds were, and he tried to drive them into the barn he tossed cracker crumbs into the air toward them, retreating to his house to see if that flutter into the barn their own. Nothing worked Jesus because he was a huge alien creature, and he had terrify these birds the birds cannot understand that he actually wanted to help, so he withdrew to the house and he watched the doom sparrows through the window and as he stared. All of a sudden the thought hit him like lightning from a clear blue sky. If only I could become a bird. If only I could become one of them just for a moment, they would be frightened me so much and I could show them the way to the warmth and the safety and at that moment. Another thought dawned on. He had just grabbed the entire principal of the incarnation God with us.

A man becoming a bird is nothing compared to God becoming a man from the concept of a sovereign being as big as the University created confining himself the human body was and is too much for us to comprehend and understand that's what happened. Emmanuel, God with us. The Christmas story is a whole lot more than shepherds and angels wisemen and a baby. It's about God loving me so much that he cared to come down and be just like me. So that one day I could be just like God's been listening to Pastor Bill Gebhardt on the radio ministry of fellowship in the world. If you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you dislike listen to the message one more time.

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