Series: Christmas 2022
Sermon: Immanuel “God with Us”
Bible Passage: Matthew 1:22-23
I. A huge military alliance threatened the tiniest nation of Judah and its capital Jerusalem (Isa 7:1-2 cf. 2 Kings 15:37)
1. Jerusalem was not strong enough to face this military alliance; so, they were helpless
2. The courage of the king and his people was severely damaged (Isa7:2)
3. They didn’t have a matching military and political means to face their enemy
4. When they were attempting to seek help from a wrong source, Assyria (cf. Isa 7:10-13; 2 Kings 16:7), God promised to be with them in their time of fear and helplessness
i. God sends prophet Isaiah to king Ahaz with the offer of help
ii. God’s offer of help was going to be confirmed by the birth of a son who need to be named “Immanuel” (Isa 7:14)
iii. Ahaz turned down God’s offer of help and approached Assyria (cf. Isa 7:10-13; 2 Kings 16:7)
iv. God remained faithful to His Word
5. We read similar situations in Matthew 1–2
i. Threat to marriage of Joseph and Mary (threat to relationships)
ii. Threat to the life of Baby Jesus from Herod the Great and his son, Archelaus (political and social threats)
iii. There was an utter helplessness with regard to the sin of God’s people (moral threat)
6. God promises help to Joseph and Mary (Matt 1:23) with the sign of a Son who is to be named “Immanuel”
i. God tells Joseph that He will be with him at his crisis and challenging time (cf. verse 20)
ii. God offers help in his personal crisis, and political and social threats (ch. 2)
iii. God offers help to their utter helplessness in the face of sin (cf. 1:21)
iv. Unlike Ahaz, Joseph believed God’s offer/promise
a. Joseph was saved from his family crisis
b. Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus were protected from the hands of the aggressors
c. Ultimately, sinners are provided with the Savior
v. If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all (cf. Isa 7:9) and “do not fear” (cf. 1:20)
7. A good number of us are like Joseph facing crisis and threats
8. The Day of Christmas is a reminder that God sends His help in Immanuel
Take Away:
Face your crises and threats by accepting God’s offer in “Immanuel” and avoid seeking help in wrong sources