Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: RSS
God with us 4 – Always
Merry Christmas! We are so glad to celebrate with you today in Plano Tx at Redemption Church. My name is Chris Fluitt and I am excited to be bringing the Word of God to you today.
GOD WITH US
For the past
Matthew 1:23 (NIV2011) “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Over the past 3 weeks we have told you that God is with you in the silence, in the pain, and in the struggle. Today I want to tell you that God is with us always.
God with us – Always
The Christmas story should not be limited to the month of December. The Christmas story reveals God’s plan from the beginning.
Genesis 1 tells us about the beginning of creation.
Genesis 1:1 (NIV2011) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:2 (NIV2011) Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Genesis 1:3 (NIV2011) And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
God with us from the beginning
God starts everything by drawing near to a formless, empty, and dark place. God draws near and allows his Spirit to hover upon this formless, empty, and dark world.
God draws near and says “let there be light.” God then continues with creation. He creates everything that we would need… light, land, sky, vegetation, sun, animals… and then once everything we needed was created, God reached down into the earth and created us.
You are the centerpiece of God’s creation from the beginning.
God created Adam & Eve and then He walked with them. God was with them. God did not just create them and then walk away. God was with them.
God is with us, from the beginning. From the beginning it was God’s desire to walk with us.
The Christmas story is the fulfillment of God’s desire to walk with us.
John 1:1 (NIV2011) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In that same beginning that we read about in Genesis 1, John tells us about the Christmas story.
John 1:14 (NIV2011) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
In the beginning was the Word… the Word was God… the Word came in flesh… God came in the flesh.
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of Mathew 1:23 where He is called Immanuel – God with us.
Christmas is all about the Incarnation.
INCARNATION – IN FLESH
Incarnation is a Latin word that means “in flesh.” Incarnation is used in the Latin translation (Vulgate) of John 1:14. “The Word came in flesh.” God came in the flesh and it has been His plan from the beginning.
It has always been God’s plan to be with you. He created you, to be with you. He provided all that we would need in creation so that He could step down into our world and be with us.
Have you been feeling alone? It has been God’s plan from the beginning to be with you. He wants to be with you.
If the incarnation has been God’s plan from the beginning, then maybe we ought to think about it more? We ought to celebrate it more. The incarnation is not just for consideration during the Christmas season. It has been His plan from the beginning… and it is His plan always.
God with us – Always
He is not just with us in the creation… but always.
He is not just with us in the manger… but always.
Not just with us on the cross… but always.
Not just with us at the moment we come to faith… but always.
In the silence, in the pain, in the struggle… Always.
Jesus wants to place His Spirit, the Holy Spirit inside you forever…
John 14:16 (NIV2011) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—
John 14:17 (NIV2011) the Spirit of truth…
Jesus wants His Spirit in your flesh… forever! …Because God is with us always.
Before Jesus left Earth and ascended into Heaven, He said this…
Matthew 28:19 (NIV2011) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:20 (NIV2011) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
God is with us from the beginning. God is with us now. God is with us always… even to the end.
Jesus ascended into heaven, but He is still with us. One day Jesus will return in the flesh. Revelation 1:7 says “EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM.” Zechariah 14:4 tells us the spot Jesus will return – The Mount of Olives (The same location where He ascended).
Scripture is clear that Jesus is God in the flesh. Scripture is clear that He will return to Earth. But you know something scripture never says. It never says that Jesus is going to leave us. Once His feet touch the mount of Olives He will be crowned King and He NEVER LEAVES EARTH AGAIN. God will be with us ALWAYS!
We should live like God is with us.
Being with you has been God’s plan from the beginning. That ought to change how you face problems.
Jesus is willing to face death, hell, & the grave to be with you. That ought to give you some confidence.
Jesus has placed His Spirit within you FOREVER. Remember this in the pain, struggle, & silence.
Jesus is coming back one day and He will never leave. He will make everything right. This is the hope you are needing.
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV2011) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:6 (NIV2011) So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Because God is with me my hope is not found in money.
…I have contentment and happiness.
… I have confidence.
… I have help and won’t be afraid.
… “What can mere mortals do to me?” God is with me.
Romans 8:35 (NIV2011) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Romans 8:37 (NIV2011) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
The one who loves us is with us.
The one who is for us is with us.
We should live like God is with us.
Too often, because of problems we believe God is not with us. We misunderstand that God’s plan has been from the beginning, to be with us forever.
God loves us and wants to be with us. He wants to take care of us.
Psalm 23:1 (NIV2011) A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Psalm 23:2 (NIV2011) He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
Psalm 23:3 (NIV2011) he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:4 (NIV2011) Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:5 (NIV2011) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Psalm 23:6 (NIV2011) Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
It is His plan from the beginning. And Jesus come in the flesh is that same plan… that same God come to be with us.
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV2011) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
To us this child is born & son given… but it was more than just another birth. This son is God! (Mighty God) This child would be Father! (Everlasting Father).
His plan from the beginning is to be with us always. That means that God is with us right now.
God is with us now
In the beginning God drew near to a dark, formless, & empty world. Through Jesus we have a NEW BEGINNING when He stepped into our dark, formless, & empty life.
When Adam & Eve sinned in the garden it brought separation between them & God. But God still desired to be with them, so God put on flesh and came to earth.
Your sin separates you from God, but God still desires to be with you.