The Untold Christmas Story 2 – He Is With Us
The Untold Christmas Story 2
God is With Us
GOD WITH US (Matthew 1:23)
Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’
Matt 1:23 NLT
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Easy to say God is with us when things go well or at Christmas
God in the valleys —Enjoy mountaintops—Know Him in the valleys
God in the wilderness—Deepest need becomes a gift—Drives us to depend on Him!
God in the storms—Difficult times that blow up out of nowhere.
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God is with us in the valleys
God is with us in the wilderness
God is with us in the storms
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God is with us = Emanuel (Jesus)
Jesus is with us to be with us in the valleys
Jesus is with us to walk with us through the wildness
Jesus is with us to calm our storms
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VALLEYS
We praise God on the mountaintops
but we get to know him intimately in the valleys.
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Psalm 84:5-7 – Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
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Valley of Baka—Valley of Tears, Valley of Weeping, Valley of Loss, Mountain—Valley of Tears
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What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Ps 84:5 NLT
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We may be in the Valley, but the valley is not the destination.
“Even though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death”
Because of Christmas, we are just passing through.
Enjoy him on the mountain—Get to know him in the Valley
Jesus is with us to give us STRENGTH
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WILDERNESS
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:3-5
YOUR DEEPEST NEED BECOMES A GIFT WHEN IT DRIVES YOU TO DEPEND ON GOD.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Ps 34:18
Jesus is with us to give us REST
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STORMS
Acts 27:20 – When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm
continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
Psalm 16:8 NLT
Never let the presence of a storm cause you to doubt the presence of God!
Jesus is with us to give us HOPE
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LIFE
When we are lost – He provides a divine guide
When we feel attacked – He defends with justice
When we are lonely – He is the companion our soul longs for
When hurt is overwhelming – He is a comfort
Weakness is not overwhelming because in Him we have strength
While we were yet sinners – He was and still is our savior
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Jesus is with us to give us LIFE
John 10:10 He is with us to give us life.
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HE IS WITH US
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. John 14:15-19
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20
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Jesus is with us to give us STRENGTH
Jesus is with us to give us HOPE
Jesus is with us to give us REST
Jesus is with us to give us LIFE