Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name
Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So, all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Pastor Kyle preached the last Advent sermon on the Sunday before Christmas that our confidence in life is firm when we know who is with us. This fact is true with family, friends, teams, community or church. We need trusted people around us, who challenge us, hold us accountable, rebuke us when we are wrong, celebrate with us and stand by us in tough times because we know that they are “for” us. How different would you feel if you knew and trusted that God was with you? Yet, the Scriptures of the Bible tell us that all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful God is with us wherever we go. Psalm 139:7-10 “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”
Pastor Kyle pointed out five examples from Joseph in the Matthew 1 passage on how to reflect that God is with us. (1) Be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others above your own and be willing to help. Philippians 2:3-5 tells us, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Be aware of short-comings, but never put people to shame but work to restore fallen people back to an upright position. We live in a “me” society today; getting whatever you want, whenever you want. Personal public attacks and cyber-attacks on social media destroy, not build up or repair relationships. Be honest that we tend to put our own needs and desires before those of others. You are free to be the person that you are, but child of God remember “whose” you are.
(2) Be a first-time listener with God. God’s love never leaves His children. GO to Him in prayer. He teaches us and leads us as our heavenly Father. Yet, due to our fallen sin nature, we have to be taught to do the “right” thing because we are included by the sinful desires of the flesh to do the “wrong” thing.
Let’s continue Pastor Kyle’s message on “God is with you” in the next post
In Christ, Brian
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