There was a lady who had a circle of friends that she really wanted to buy Christmas presents for.  But, she had been so busy at work - time had slipped away - she just wasn’t able to get to the store to buy any gifts.

 

Time was running out.  So not too many days before Christmas she decided to give up on the gift idea and just buy everybody the same Christmas card.

 

She went to the local gift store and hurriedly went through the now picked over stack of cards and found a box of fifty - just exactly what she wanted.  She really didn’t take time to read the message.  But, she did notice the beautiful cover - a manger scene with angels and a star and a gold border around it all.  She thought, “That’s perfect.”  So she signed all of them, “With all my love.”  And sent them off to her friends.

 

As New Year’s came she had time to go back and look at the two or three cards she had left over from that stack.  She finally read the message inside.  It said, in a little rhyme, “This Christmas card is just to say, a little gift is on its way.” (1)

 

How many of you have all of your Christmas shopping done?  For those of you who still need to pick up a few gifts - I’d like to share a couple suggestions.

First:  The Star Trek Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set.  “Beam up and collect all the classic kowagunga characters.”

 

Or this for the younger kids:  Playskool’s “My First Autopsy” - from the exploring the world around us series.  Notice the cat.

 

Given the current economic climate something for adults - a machine that prints cash - just like the government.

 

If you’ve been shopping you know that the major controversy out there - for clerks - is what?  Whether to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.  Right?  The major confusion as to what the real meaning of Christmas is.

 

“The Kwanzaa Kumquat never came.”

 

“Seriously, Linus, do some research before camping out.”

 

Christmas is kind of snapshot of life.  A mad dash to the finish line.  Somehow as we’re running we’re suppose to keep up and keep it all together.  Along the way we’re suppose to be enjoying ourselves - eat a lot - have warm fuzzy feelings - take time to celebrate Jesus’ birth - and do all the church stuff.  And why???

 

One last cartoon.  “What’s that?”  “Hopefully a light to the next sale.”

 

This morning we have a great opportunity to be reminded of the incredible value - the worth - that God places on each one of us.  How greatly He loves us.  The lengths He’s willing to go to demonstrate His great love.  This morning we get to pause together and focus on the bottom line of what Christmas is all about.

 

Please turn with me to Isaiah 7:14 - you’ll find Isaiah 7:14 on page 492 of the Bible under the chair in front of you - or you can look up at the screen.  This is a pretty familiar verse so I’d like for us read it out loud together so we can get in fresh in our minds.

 

Do you have it?  Read with this prophecy with me.  Isaiah 7:14:  “Therefore - Hang on to that.  We’ll come back to the therefore - Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

 

The setting of this verse - where it fits in history - has significance for us.  The “therefore” part.  Why is this prophecy here in Isaiah? 

 

In 735 to 734 B.C. - at the time of this prophecy - Ahaz was the king of Judah.  Do you all remember Ahaz?  Ahaz was the father of who?  Hezekiah.  Remember him?  Hezekiah was a good king or a bad king.  Good. 

Hezekiah becomes kings.  Steps in and cleans up - removed absolutely everything that was evil in Judah.  Hezekiah trusted God - clung to God - acted with Godly wisdom.  Did what pleased God.  Hezekiah followed God.  It was a huge 180° change of direction for the nation.

 

Ahaz - Hezekiah’s father was a good king or a bad king?  Bad.

 

2 Kings 16:2 - is God’s bottom line summary statement about Ahaz - 2 Kings 16:2:  Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he - Ahaz - did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God, as his father David had done.

 

Reading on in 2 Kings 16 - the account of Ahaz’s life - we’re told that Ahaz walked in the way of the kings of Israel.  Which meant a long list of ungodly perversity.  On the top of that list was Baal worship - which meant whatever kind of perverse immorality a person could dream up.  They did it.

 

2 Kings 16 tells us that Ahaz made his son pass through the fire.  Which means that Ahaz takes his son - places him on the altar of the god Molech - has him burned - alive - a living sacrifice to this pagan god.  In 2 Chronicles were told that Ahaz did that to his sons - plural - roasted alive several of his sons in pagan worship.  What kind of man would do that?.

 

2 Kings 16 records that Ahaz offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places - on the hills of Judah - under every green tree.  On the hills people put up carved phallic stones.  More perversity.  Immoral rites - taking place all over the hills of Judah - perversity in direct opposition to God’s law given through Moses.  Perversity led by Ahaz.

 

Does this sound familiar?  We’re tracking?  Yes?  Ahaz is one wicked king - a godless leadership - leading a society far from God - focused on perverse sexuality.

 

In the days of Ahaz there were two world powers - Assyria and Egypt.  Assyria in the northeast.  Egypt in the south west.  In between were a number of smaller nations - like Judah and Israel - that were trying to stay alive while being pawns in the geo-politics of Assyria and Egypt.

 

In the midst of this geo-politices - Rezin - King of Aram - think Syria - one of these pawn states - and Pekah - King of Israel - form and alliance against Ahaz.  Rezin and the Arameans take over a whole section of Judah - clearing out the Judeans.  120,000 Judeans are killed in one day.  Maaseiah - one of Ahaz’s sons is killed.  200,000 Judeans are led off into slavery.  Eventually Rezin and Pekah come up against Ahaz at Jerusalem.

 

So Ahaz repents and turns to God for help.  Not really.  Just making sure we’re still together.

 

Ahaz takes the silver and gold from God’s Temple - takes the silver and gold from king’s treasury - basically robs Fort Knox - sends the wealth of Judah - spiritually and economically - sends all that to Tiglath-pileser - King of Assyria - as a bribe.  Turns to the Assyrians for help - not God.

 

At that time God sends the prophet Isaiah to plead with Ahaz to trust God.  God - through Isaiah - gives to Ahaz words of comfort and reassurance.  “Your enemies - Israel and Syria - they’re weaker than you think.  I’ve got it covered.  Trust me.”

 

In the verses just before Isaiah 7:14 God tells Ahaz, “I know you have trouble trusting Me.  So, ask me for a sign.  Something really impossible.  Something only God could do.  As deep as hell and as high as heaven.  There’s no limits on what you can ask for.  I’ll do it.  So you’ll know that you can trust Me.  I really will deliver you.  Just ask.”

 

Ahaz tells Isaiah - the prophet of God.  “I don’t need no help from God.  I’ve already hired the Assyrian army to save us."

 

At that point - God chooses - despite Ahaz’s refusal to trust God - God chooses to give this faithless - wicked - king - a sign that goes beyond anything Ahaz could have imagined.

A unique sign to demonstrate that God is in sovereign control of what will happen to Ahaz and Judah - of what will happen to Syria and Israel and the Assyrians.  A sign with world shaking significance that clearly demonstrates that God is in control of all history - past - present - and future.  A sign that all the peoples of the world for all time - even us today - all peoples will know about - that - even the midst of the destruction of the kingdom and the exile of God’s people - in the midst of the worst of what can happen to us in life - it will remain a sign of hope and reassurance for God’s people.

 

“Therefore - even when you refuse to trust Me - I’m still in control and Ahaz - and everyone else - you all need to know this - therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold - pay attention to this - a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

 

Some 750 years after this promise is given - the angel Gabriel comes to a young Jewish girl named Mary - of the line of David - a virgin - engaged to Joseph - the angel Gabriel speaks to Mary these words:  “Do not be afraid; Mary; for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High”  (Luke 1:30-32)

 

Matthew writes:  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel’  (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:22,23)

In the midst of where we live our lives we need to get our hearts around this bottom line reality of Christmas:  Immanuel - God with us.  To think about what this means for us today - in the best and worst of what can happen to us in this life - and beyond.  What this sign of hope and reassurance means for us.

 

First is this incredible truth:  GOD with us.  Let’s try that together, “God with us.”  Emphasis on God

 

Turn with me to Colossians 1:15-17.  In the Bibles under the chairs in front of you that’s on page 157.  These are powerful verses that describe Jesus who is God.

 

We sing the words of Charles Wesley:  “Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel.” (Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing)  Colossians 1:15-17 describe the incarnate Deity.  Incarnate - carne - carne Asada - God in the flesh.

 

Colossians 1:15:  “He - Jesus - is the image of the invisible God...”

 

Say this with me,   “Jesus is the image of the invisible God.”

 

When the angel Gabriel told Mary she was going to have a baby Mary asked, “How?” Gabriel tells her, “It’s going to be the work of the Holy Spirit.  The baby born of you will be utterly holy - the Son of God.”  (Luke 1:34,35)

 

Mary is not the mother of God.  She’s the chosen vessel through whom God enters into our world as human flesh and blood.  The invisible made visible in the flesh - God incarnate.

 

The Bible tells us that God is invisible.  That means that God doesn’t have a physical body like we do.  He has a mind, emotions and a will - but not a body.  God is spirit.  (John 4:24)  Spirits don’t have flesh and blood.  But Jesus does.  (Luke 24:39)

 

Lord Byron once said, “If God is not like Jesus Christ, then God ought to be like Jesus Christ.”  To see Jesus is to see God.  Jesus is the visible expression - the very image - of the invisible God.

 

Going on - Colossians 1:15:  [Jesus] is “the firstborn of all creation” - He’s the head of God’s household - first in rank - above all of creation.

 

Verse 16 - for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones of dominions or rulers or authorities - and in case that doesn’t cover everything - all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

 

Walk with me through the scope of what’s being said here.

 

Verse 16 says “by Him - Jesus - all things were created”  That means that Jesus is the architect and the builder of everything that is.

 

Jesus is the source of creation.  “All things have been created through Him.”  Imagine that.  The material universe:  stars, galaxies, planets, solar systems, trees, grass, mountains, seas.

 

And not just the visible - but the invisible:  Jesus created electricity - radiation - magnetism - the atoms and the basics of what holds everything together.

 

And not just forces and things - Jesus created concepts and attitudes:  grace, mercy, truth, love, the essence of life itself.  All that exists - has come into being because Jesus was motivated to create it.

 

Verse 16 says that goal - the point of all that exists - the goal of creation is “for Him.”  All of this operates for Him.  A few decades ago Albert Einstein said that space is not a linear concept - extending outward in a straight line - but space is curved in on itself - joining again with itself.

 

Creation originated within Jesus - and converges again towards Him.  He is the reason why all things have been made.  Eventually all of the cosmos and all the events of history will find their place in the great purpose of the Father to honor and glorify Jesus.

 

Then in verse 17 Paul writes that, “He is before all things - Jesus existed before creation - and in Him all things hold together.”  Its Jesus Who holds all things together.  He is the preserver - the sustainer - of creation.

 

Years ago - back in the ’70’s - I took a tour of this place - the linear accelerator over at Stanford University - which was really cool.  We got to go in the main computer room.  First place I ever saw touch screen computer controls.  Imagine that - back in the ‘70’s.  That was advanced stuff. 

 

How many of you have seen that long building that runs under 280 over by Palo Alto?  If I understand what they do there - under that long building is a long tube that the scientist send particles of matter through - accelerating them to pretty close to the speed of light - and then they shoot these particles into different types of materials to see what happens.  Basically they’re trying to smash atoms and sub-atomic matter apart.

 

To do that takes a tremendous amount of power - enough power to run the cities of Modesto, Turlock, Merced, Atwater, even Hornitos - and have power left over.  Something holds the atom together with enormous - incredible power.  That power - according to the Bible - is vested in Jesus.  He has the power to sustain creation.

 

The first part of this incredible truth is GOD with us - emphasis on God.  The second part is God WITH US.  Let’s try that together, “God with us.”  Emphasis on the “with us” part.

 

Please turn with me to Isaiah 9 - starting at verse 2.  You’ll find Isaiah 9 on page 493.

 

God’s plan of salvation - His plan of giving us life with Him - all that didn’t start in the manger in Bethlehem - or in the womb in Nazareth.  The virgin birth of Jesus was not some last minute  “Let’s see if this’ll work” idea.  It was planned by God - conceived - pun intended - conceived in the mind of God - Jesus - before the beginning of creation.

 

Before Adam was created - God knew Mary and chose her to be a part of His plan of salvation.  Just as Mary was in the mind of God - so are we.  So are you.

 

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 1:4:  “He chose us in Him - Jesus - before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.”

 

God has chosen to come to you.  Say this with me:  “God chose me.”

 

Look with me at Isaiah 9 - starting at verse 2.  Think with me about what it means that God chose to come to us - to you.

 

Isaiah 9:2:  The people who walk in darkness will see a great light Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them

 

Doesn’t that where we live our lives?  We need light - God’s light.  In the confusion around us about what family means and marriage and the basic morality of what makes life work.  People struggling with life with no hope.  The only light at the end of the tunnel is what?  The headlight of an oncoming train.  All of us - at one time or another need light - direction - illumination.  God’s light. 

 

Verse 3:  You - God - shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; they will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest - in contrast to darkness - confusion - hopelessness - there’s harvest - a sign of abundance, blessing, hope, promise.

 

Why?  How?  Verse 6:  For a child - who’s the child? - Immanuel - Jesus - will be born to us, a son - who? - Jesus - will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore - it just keeps getting better forever - The zeal - the uncompromising intense passionate devotion - of the Lord of hosts - the commander of heaven’s armies of angels - will accomplish this.  Meaning that the King of kings and Lord of lords has the commitment and authority and power to accomplish this.

 

Jesus - God with us - Jesus is the The Wonderful Counselor who gives perfect divine counsel - wisdom - applying it lovingly to our circumstances.

Jesus is the Almighty God who is an immovable fortress into which we can run and be safe.

 

Jesus is the Eternal Father who is tender, faithful, wise, loving us forever with a fatherly love.  The example of fatherhood.  If our father’s messed up.  Jesus never will.

 

Jesus is the Prince of Peace who is the only means of peace that this world is groaning for - true lasting peace in our hearts - minds - and souls. 

 

Jesus is the One who comes to uphold true eternal justice and righteousness.  We need justice.  We need to be made right with God - to look forward to living in a relationship with God forever.

 

One day, the great preacher and evangelist Charles Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend.  As they walked, Spurgeon noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof.  At the top of the vane were these words:  GOD IS LOVE.  Spurgeon said to his friend that he thought that it was a inappropriate place for such a message.  “Weather vanes are changeable,” he said, “but God’s love is constant.”

 

His fiend said, “I don’t agree with you.  You misunderstood the meaning.  That sign is indicating a truth - regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love.”

 

The birth of Jesus is the reality of God’s consistent undeserved love towards us.  When we can each begin to grasp - wrap our hearts around -  how much God loves us - each of us as we are - then we can begin to realize that we’re not alone in this present darkness.  God is with us.

 

All of which means that each of us has a choice.  God always gives us a choice.  In whatever circumstances we find ourselves.  To choose to move towards God or away from God.

 

The Choice Is Ours.  Let’s try that together, “The choice is ours.”

 

Imagine Mary - a young Jewish girl - chaste - faithful - devout.  She’s engaged to Joseph.  Which means that she was eligible to be engaged - a woman of intelligence - mastering the skills of running a home - trustworthy - responsible.  A woman of good reputation and character.  Her world is ordered and predictable.

 

Now - in a culture that stones adulteresses - she’s told that she’s about to become pregnant outside the boundary of marriage.  What must have gone through her mind - what fears and uncertainties?  How was she suppose to explain the pregnancy to her family - to Joseph?

 

There’s a choice here.  Mary needs to make it.  The angel Gabriel tells  Mary that she “will conceive” - future tense.  She hasn’t conceived - yet.  God will do this in you.  But you must choose to let Him.  Permission must be given.

Mary responds - she chooses, “I am the Lord’s servant.  May it happen to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:31,34,35,38)

 

It would be so easy for us to fall into the trap of thinking that Mary was somehow a superhuman - supernatural - individual with divine powers.  There are a lot of people out there who have raised Mary to a status way beyond what the Bible tells us - some even to the position of being equal to Jesus.

 

It would be easy to look at her and compare ourselves, “I’m no Mary.  How could I ever have her faith?  God could never work in my life like He worked in hers.”  But Mary is an ordinary person - bound by the same flesh and circumstances that each of us are bound by.  A sinner - needing the Messiah - Jesus our Savior.

 

Ahaz knew about God.  He had the prophet Isaiah speaking God’s word to him.  Ahaz chose to trust the Assyrians - and his kingdom was left desolate.  Mary had the angel Gabriel speaking God’s word to her.  She chose to trust God - and we see the results.

 

So we have a choice.  We hear these words, “a virgin shall conceive” and we know the fulfillment - Immanuel - God is with us.  But we need to chose to respond - to chose to allow God to work in our lives.  Regardless of the consequences, will we trust God?  Will we surrender ourselves to the work of God in our lives?

If you remember nothing else this morning remember this:  Trust God who has come to be with you - who loves you - and He will take you - and do the miraculous in you and through you.

 

 

________________

1. Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes, page 81

 

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.