Cartoon #1:  “Dear Santa, if you leave a new bike under the tree, I will give you the antidote to the poison I put in the milk!  Michael”

 

Cartoon #2:  “I stopped making a list.  Nothing is considered naughty anymore!”

 

Cartoon #3:  “If you say ‘Merry Christmas’, ‘Happy Holidays’ or ‘Season’s Greetings’, it’s going to offend somebody.  That’s why we’re advising our people to say ‘Bah Humbug’!”

 

On Saturday, October 29th, the Hallmark channel began their “Countdown to Christmas” movie specials.  Those romantic tear inspiring movies that remotely may have something vaguely to do with Jesus’ birth.  Over Thanksgiving - in a nod to what in reality for a lot of people is a non-event - over Thanksgiving the Hallmark channel had their 5 night Thanksgiving Movie Event which was 5 nights of more sappy Christmas movies.

 

We are in the last 7 days folks!  The mad dash to the finish line.  Somehow trying to keep it all together and to somehow in the midst of all the eating and warm fuzzy feelings to take time to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

 

This resonates.  Doesn’t it?  “Only one Black Friday offers eternal savings.”

 

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.

 

We’re going to focus on one verse.  Isaiah 7:14.  Well known.  Quoted by Matthew as he is giving us Jesus’ credentials.

 

Read it with me:  “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign.  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

 

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

 

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

 
God’s bottom line evaluation of Ahaz comes in 2 Kings 16:2:  “Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.  And he did not do what was right in the eyes 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 father 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.

 

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

 

If we think what’s going on in Sacramento or Washington is bad - thank God Ahaz isn’t ruling America.

 

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.

 

Not much changes.

 

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 - does what we often do - Ahaz goes into crisis mode and defaults to trusting his own whit, wisdom, and working.

 

Ahaz - ever the resourceful ungodly - trust self not God ruler - Ahaz takes the silver and gold from God’s Temple - takes the silver and gold from the king’s treasury - sends the wealth of Judah - spiritually and economically - sends all that to Tiglath-pileser - King of Assyria - as a bribe.  “Help!” 

 

Meaning Ahaz turns to the Assyrians for help - not God.

 

Tom Doyle - great quote:  “Political solutions never address spiritual problems.” (1)

 

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.  You’re not alone in that.  So, ask me for a sign.  Something really impossible.  Something only I, God, could do.  As deep as hell and as high as heaven.  Something really out of the box.  There’s no limit on what you can ask for.  I’ll do it.  So you’ll know that you can trust Me.  That I really will deliver you.  Just ask.”

 

Ahaz - after getting this incredible offer from God (imagine if God said that to you) 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.

 

Signs point to things.  Give us information that we need to know.

 

God promises a unique sign to unquestionably demonstrate that God is in sovereign control of what will happen to God’s people - 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 in the insane “nutsoness” of our lives and times - all peoples will know 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.

“Trust Me.  I got it.”

 

“Therefore - meaning even if you refuse to trust Me - even if you refuse to ask - I’m still sovereign.  These are still My people.  I’m still in control.  And Ahaz - You and everyone else - you all need to get this.  So, I’m still going to give you a sign:  Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign - whether you want me to or not - Behold - in Hebrew “Hanah” meaning wake up and smell the coffee buckwheat - pay attention to this - the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

 

That’s a little out of the box.  Isn’t it?

 

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 call His name 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, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us.)  (Matthew 1:22,23)

 

Matthew’s quote here is the first of a long list of prophecies that Matthew refers to in order to show that Jesus really is the long expected Messiah.  The one that God through Isaiah and others was pointing to.  Meaning this isn’t about a name.  Jesus never used the name “Immanuel.”  He never referred to Himself with the title “Immanuel.”

 

This isn’t about a name or title.  The quote is about Who Jesus is.  Where He has come from.  Where He has come to.  God Himself with us.

 

In the midst of where we live our lives - we have this great opportunity -to get our hearts around this bottom line reality:  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.

 

Breaking all that down - three life changing Immanuel truths:  First:  GOD with us. 

 

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 describes that incarnate Deity.

 

Read this with me:  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together…”

Briefly - let’s walk through this.

 

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 - into 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)

 

Jesus is - the firstborn of all creation

 

Which is not about birth order but about Jesus’ rank in His creation.  As a first born is first in the household - Jesus is first in rank - before and above all of His creation.

“For by Him all things were created...”   Meaning Jesus is the source of all creation.  Jesus created the material universe:  galaxies, planets, mosquitoes - whatever.

 

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

 

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.

 

Creation exists “for Him…”  Jesus is the point and purpose of all that exists.  All of this operates for Him. 

 

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.

 

And He is before all things - Jesus existed before creation.  

 

and in Him all things hold together…”  Jesus sustains creation.  There are physical laws by which creation operates - holds together.  It holds together because Jesus holds it together.

 

In reality Colossians is a glimpse - at best - of incarnate deity.  A glimpse of the God Who is with us - emphasis God.

 

Second life changing - Immanuel - truth - God with US.  Emphasis on the “with us” part.

 

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  “Well, 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.”

 

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

 

Isaiah 9 - starting at verse 2.  Thinking about what that means:  God chose to come to us - to you - to me.

 

The people who walked in darkness

    have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

    on them has light shined.

You have multiplied the nation;

    You have increased its joy;

they rejoice before You

    as with joy at the harvest

    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

 

So many people around us live in spiritual confusion - darkness.  Trying to make sense of different philosophies and religions and spiritual teachings - to fuse all that together in a way that becomes some kind of spiritual backdrop for their world view. 

 

In talking with people it just breaks my heart because all that comes out so contradictory and fuzzy and doesn’t answer the deeper questions that we all deal with.  Is there a purpose to my life?  Is there any real truth - some basic morality that makes life work?  What happens next - after I die?  Is there a God that is knowable?  What does that mean?

 

So many people struggling with life with no hope.  Maybe that’s where you’re at this morning.

 

We need light - God’s light.  Only God in His word - written in the Bible - God’s Word made flesh in Jesus the living Word - only God gives us the answers to those questions.  All of us need light - direction - illumination.  God’s light. 

You - God - have multiplied the nation; You have increased its joy; they rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest...

 

In contrast to darkness - confusion - hopelessness - there’s harvest - a sign of abundance, blessing, hope, promise.

 

Why?  How?  Read with me at verse 6:

 

For to us a Child is born,

    to us a Son is given;

and the government shall be upon His shoulder,

    and His name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and of peace

    there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

    to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

    from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

 

A Child - Immanuel - Jesus is born to us!  A Son - Jesus - is born to us!

 

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 Mighty God who is an immovable fortress into which we can run and be safe.

 

Jesus is the Everlasting 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.

 

The zeal - the uncompromising intense passionate devotion - of the Lord of hosts - the commander of heaven’s armies of angels - will do this.  Meaning that the King of kings and Lord of lords has the commitment and authority and power to accomplish this.

 

There is an often told account of the great preacher and evangelist Charles Spurgeon 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 friend 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.

 

The third life changing Immanuel truth is this:  The Choice is Ours.

 

Imagine Mary - a young Jewish girl probably in her mid teens - pure - 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 she’s told that she’s about to become pregnant.  There are significant and ugly consequences for  getting pregnant outside 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’s choice?  “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”  (Luke 1:38)

 

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 Mary 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.

 

We have a choice.  God always gives us a choice.  In whatever circumstances we find ourselves.  To choose to move towards God or away from God.

 

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 circumstances - 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.  God Who loves you.  God Who has come to be with you.  Trust Him and watch what He will do in you and through you for His glory.

 

 

 

_____________________

1. Tom Doyle with Greg Webster, “Killing Christians - living the faith where it’s not safe to believe”, W Publishing Group, Nashville, TN, 2015, page 199.

 

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.