Emmanuel, God With Us

Emmanuel, God With Us  

WHY DOES GOD FEEL SO FAR AWAY?  

God actually desires to draw near to us.  

THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE:

It’s God’s presence that comforts.

It’s God’s presence that amazes.

It’s God’s presence that saves.

The Promise of God’s Presence  

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”  And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars - if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.      

Genesis 15:1 – 6

“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.  

“There, in the tent,” he said.

Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.

”Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?

”Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’  

Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”      Genesis 18:9 - 14

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.     Genesis 15:6

Abraham gave the name Isaacto the son Sarah bore him.   

Genesis 21:3

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”        

Genesis 12:1 – 3

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.      2 Peter 3:9

Promises don’t immediately change your situation. But they can change your experience of a situation.  

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”      

Genesis 21:1 - 6  

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON:

GOD IS FUN  

GOD IS FAITHFUL  

GOD IS IN CONTROL