Wednesday, December 4, 2013

December 4, 2013

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."  Matthew 1:22-25

Have you ever gotten the silent treatment?

It's uncomfortable isn't it?

Usually when you get the silent treatment it may last for a day or two. Many in Israel felt like God had given them the silent treatment for - get this - 400 years!

A thorough study of history would reveal that God had actually been doing a lot to prepare for His next big statement He was about to make. The Apostle Paul recorded it like this, "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."  Galatians 4:4-5

You have to understand the  sense of desperation God's people felt after four centuries of supernatural silence in order to grasp the significance of "Immanuel"!

Over the next few posts I want to share three reasons why Immanuel matters so much!

It's God's Reminder

It's God's Revelation

It's God's Redemption

The coming of Immanuel is the reminder that God hasn't forgotten His people and that His promises are true! There were over forty prophecies fulfilled by the birth of Jesus! Here are a few of them:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  Micah 5:2

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,and will call him Immanuel."  Isaiah 7:14

"Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:7

As God reminded Moses, "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus 
shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."  Exodus 3:14

God is eternal and omnipresent. There has never been a moment in time or an inch in space that God has not filled! Nor will there ever be!

We should never forget that, but when we do, He reminds us He is always present and He always keeps His promises!

The birth of Jesus on that first Christmas proved it.