Tag: Matthew 1:20-23
Day 2–“Immanuel”–God with us.
Scripture reading for June 2: Matthew 1:20-23 “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel.”
God’s promise of His presence with His people and giving them rest was faithfully reinforced over time by prophets like Isaiah who spoke plainly about a virgin conceiving and bearing a son. (Isaiah 7:14) This Son would be given the Name “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” Not only would God be present with His people, but He would save them from their sins. The angel visiting Joseph, the betrothed husband of the virgin Mary, clearly instructed Joseph to act in faith to take Mary as his wife. The Child she was carrying was conceived through the Holy Spirit. The angel gave Joseph the Name “Jesus” for this unique Child, Who would save His people from their sins. Joseph, at first fearful, believed God’s messenger and took Mary as his wife and raised Jesus as a son.
Now, instead of a visible cloud of glory or pillar of fire, God the Father sends His Holy Spirit to dwell in believers in His Son, Jesus. Believing in Jesus saves us from the penalty and power of our sins. Jesus give us rest from guilt and shame and working for acceptance. His Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. His Spirit marks us as belonging to God and distinct among all people. The Holy Spirit brings gifts and graces empowering His people to share God’s love and desire to see all saved from their sins and adopted in His family. Since God has placed us as first responders in a role of serving hurting people, we should eagerly seek to receive the Father’s Gift of the Holy Spirit. We should ask for the Gift as we believe in Jesus.
Father God, thank You for being true to Your promise to Moses, Isaiah, and through Your Son Jesus Who is “Immanuel,” God with us! I believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son. Fill me again with Your Holy Spirit that I might reflect Jesus to those I serve. Amen.
Sunday rest and reflection–Immanuel
Greetings friends! God bless your day of rest! God is with us and we are secure in His amazing love!
As we have read through the books of Solomon and now are beginning Isaiah, there are many topics that we could reflect on. We could reflect on the life of Solomon who began so well. He was visited by the Lord and was told that he could ask the Lord for anything. Solomon wisely chose to ask for wisdom to govern the people of God. God gave him wisdom and riches and honor as well. (1st Kings 3:5-12) He had this wisdom and wrote it down for us in the book of Proverbs. He later violated the Word of God and took many wives from many lands. These women corrupted him and led him into idolatry. The book of Ecclesiastes is written later in his life and is a depressing account of his quest to find meaning in life under the sun! The Song of Songs was probably written early in his life when he was close to God.
Even wise men go astray and God knew that man needed something more than a temple and animal sacrifices. Just seeing God in a vision or having a Word from Him failed to prevent a man’s downfall. Isaiah was given the task of telling God’s backslidden people, these descendants of David and Solomon, about God’s plan. About 700 years before Christ, Isaiah spoke a Word from the Lord which was written down for us. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) (Matthew 1:20-23) Matthew quoted this verse in his recounting of the birth of Jesus Christ, saying that Jesus’ birth was a fulfillment of what the Lord had spoken through the prophet Isaiah!
Mankind experienced “God with us” in the physical person of Jesus Christ for 33 years. He lived among His people, the Jews. They saw Him and heard His authoritative teaching and experienced His miraculous works. His bigger goal was to have each of His followers throughout history to be indwelled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be “God with us” to each individual as well as to His people when they gathered together in His name. For nearly 2000 years this special empowerment has been available to believers everywhere who have asked for it. ‘God with us’ is the mark of the New Testament Christian. ‘God with us’ keeps us fresh and moving towards the goal of seeing the Lord. We are so blessed to live in the wonderful dispensation of “Immanuel”! In His Love, Pastor John
Daily Scriptures for Overcomers in 2016!
Scripture reading for January 1: Matthew 1
As we begin 2016, I have chosen, after prayer, to go through the New Testament again this year. I will do one chapter each day for five days each week and chose one scripture or short portion from each chapter and apply the verses to help believers overcome the world, flesh, and Devil. Let me encourage you to read with me through the New Testament or even the whole Bible this year. Ask the Lord each day for fresh manna to feed your soul and give you overcoming power and the joy of victory! It is the Lord who always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus!
Key Scriptures: Matthew 1:20-23 “But after he had considered this, (divorcing Mary because she was pregnant) an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,”Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel”–which means, “God is with us.”
Joseph was a righteous man who encountered a difficult situation. His fiancee’ Mary was found to be pregnant and they had not yet come together! His natural thinking was to divorce her quietly and move on. But God broke in with amazing instructions that were hard to understand and would require great humility and faith. He was to take Mary as his wife and name the Son to be born “Jesus”. This angel also told Joseph that the child was from the Holy Spirit and would save His people from their sins. Joseph believed the angel and by faith, obeyed!
Observations for over-comers: If we are to overcome our fears and walk in victory, we must hear God’s Word and obey! In doing so, we, like Joseph, help our Lord bring His Word to fulfillment and hasten the day of His coming! “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)