“God With Us”

 Wishlist

“A Christmas series that brings the wonder, joy, and meaning of Christ’s birth to life.”

Introduction:

Good morning friends and family. This morning we are going to finish this Christmas themed sermon series entitled “Wishlist”. I do hope that all of you had a marvelous Christmas and that you experienced the joy of salvation offered through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 

Before we get to deep into today’s message, I wanted to give you a bit of a road map of where we will be going over the next several weeks. In fact, I wanted to let you know the direction of my preaching through Easter. 

Starting January 5th, I will be preaching through a new series entitled “Turning Points”. This series will explore those pivotal times, those divine encounters where everyday people encounter the living God. You’ll see that there is nothing special about any of these characters. They are just like you and me. They are living their lives, raising families, working jobs. Then, all of a sudden, these men and women come face to face with God. Paul sees Jesus on the road to Damascus if you will. This encounter changes their lives. It is a true turning point. We will learn more about Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Rahab, David, Elijah, Peter, Paul, Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, and the Apostle John. This series will last 10 weeks. 

Once we are done with that series, we still start a new series that will lead us into Christ’s resurrection. This series is called “Because He Lives”. It will start March 30th. "Because He Lives" explores the ramifications of Jesus' resurrection. What did His resurrection change? How were our lives altered? What hope does the resurrection offer? Knowing that the resurrection is real, what should we do with that information? Everything is different and the world will never be the same "Because He Lives". 

Im really excited about these new series and I pray that you will find them convicting, inspiring, and life changing. 

So, back to “Wishlist”. Today’s message is entitled “God With Us”. 

Today’s Message:

“God With Us”

The name “God With Us” is just incredible when you stop and think about it. I mean, what could be more comforting, more exciting, than knowing that the God who created the universe didn’t stay distant but came to be right here with us? That’s what Emmanuel—“God With Us”—means! Jesus didn’t just drop in for a visit; He entered into our messy, everyday world. He walked where we walk, faced what we face, and brought heaven down to earth in a way we could see and understand. And here’s the amazing part—this wasn’t just a random thing. It was not an accident or some cosmic happenstance. No! It was promised way back in Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” 

Friends God keeps His promises, and Jesus is the proof of that. So when we call Him “God With Us,” it’s like a giant neon sign reminding us that God doesn’t just care about us from a distance. He came close, He came for us, and He’s still with us today. Isn’t that amazing?

Oh friends, Christmas is so important to the overall story of our redemption. The story of Christmas and the story of Jesus’ resurrection are like two chapters of the same incredible book, and you can’t fully appreciate one without the other. Christmas is where it all begins—God stepping into our world as a baby in a manger. Think about it: the King of the universe, the one who spoke the stars into place, humbled Himself to be born into our broken world. That’s love on a whole other level! But here’s the thing: Christmas sets the stage for what’s coming. Jesus didn’t just come to be a sweet little baby; He came with a mission—to save us. As Jesus Himself said in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

And that’s where the resurrection comes in. Christmas is God saying, “I’m with you,” but the resurrection is God saying, “I’ve defeated sin and death for you.” Without Christmas, there’s no cross. Without the cross and the resurrection, Christmas would just be a nice story about a baby. But together? They tell the greatest story ever. God came to us at Christmas so He could die for us on the cross and rise again at Easter, proving His power over sin and death. Christmas gives us hope because it shows us the lengths God was willing to go to rescue us. The resurrection seals that hope, guaranteeing that through Jesus, we can have new life forever. It’s all connected, and it’s all amazing!

Do me a favor friends, fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”. You cannot have the cross without the cave. There is no messiah without the manger. Christ’s story, the story of man’s redemption starts at Christmas. 

Today’s Thought:

You Cannot Have The Cross Without The Cave! 

There Is No Messiah Without the Manger! 

Christ’s Story Starts…At Christmas!

You’re going to hear a couple of conversion stories this morning. The first story is that of Lee Strobel. Dr. Strobel was a reporter for one of the largest news outlets in the United States. Lee grew up outside of the church. As he grew up, he developed a militant hatred for matters of faith, Christianity and Scripture. After being confronted and challenged by the woman who would eventually become his wife, Strobel set out to disprove Christianity. Much in the same way that C.S. Lewis tried to discredit Scripture and faith. He began to investigate this “Jesus” character. He left no stone unturned. He gathered every fact. He pulled all the information together. Do you know what he discovered? It’s real. It’s all real. It happened. Jesus was born. He lived. He died. He rose. It was at this discovery that Lee Strobel accepted Christ as his Savior. He wrote a book entitled “The Case For Christ” that chronicles his journey to faith in Christ. You should check it out. The quote that I am about to read is from his other book entitled “The Case for Christmas” where Dr. Strobel investigates the happenings around the birth of Jesus. You should really check it out. It is a fascinating read. Listen to what Dr. Strobel concludes. 

“The Christmas story—the story of the incarnation and birth of Jesus—has been told and retold so many times that it’s easy for us to miss the staggering reality it represents. But when we pause to consider the evidence, we find a narrative that is both historically credible and profoundly significant. The baby in the manger was, in fact, the unique Son of God, sent on a mission to be the savior of the world.” 

Today’s Quote:

“The Christmas story—the story of the incarnation and birth of Jesus—has been told and retold so many times that it’s easy for us to miss the staggering reality it represents. But when we pause to consider the evidence, we find a narrative that is both historically credible and profoundly significant. The baby in the manger was, in fact, the unique Son of God, sent on a mission to be the savior of the world.” 

-Dr. Lee Strobel’s “The Case For Christmas”

Background and Context:

This morning we are reading from Matthew 1:18-25. Before we read from Matthew’s Gospel this morning, I wanted to set up the scene for you. 

Friends this is where the Christmas story truly begins, showing us how God worked through ordinary people to do something extraordinary. Mary is engaged to Joseph. She finds herself pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Imagine the confusion and fear they must have felt—especially Joseph, who, as a good and honorable man, planned to quietly break off the engagement to protect Mary from shame. But God steps in. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because her child is from God. The angel reveals the child’s name will be Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves,” and that He will save His people from their sins, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that a virgin would give birth to Immanuel, “God With Us.”

Statement of Belief:

I do want all of you to know that…

We believe the Bible is inspired, infallible, and authoritative. It is vital for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. God’s Word brings life, peace, and protection, and it profoundly touches the human soul. As a unique and powerful book, let us stand in reverence and respect for it.

Today’s Scripture:

Matthew 1:18-25 ESV

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. [19] And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. [20] 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. [21] She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." [22] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: [23] "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). [24] When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, [25] but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Pastor: “This Is The Word of The Lord.”

Congregation: “Praise The Lord, Praise His Holy Name.”

Jesus’ Birth Was…

I. Powerfully Demonstrated vs. 18

There is so much that could be said about the birth of Jesus. After all, people have been talking about His arrival for ages now and look–we are still talking about it today. 

Do me a favor this morning, fill in our first blank. Jesus’ birth was powerfully demonstrated. We see this in verse 18. 

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Think about the mysteries surrounding Christmas. You have the star. Scientists, astronomers, and theologians alike have tried to unravel the mystery of the star that led the wise men to Jesus. What about the mystery of the angels? It seems that angels are everywhere in relation to Christ’s arrival. We see angels come to Zechariah. Gabriel shows up to Mary and to Joseph. Then we see the angels tear the night sky open when they give the birth announcement of Jesus to the shepherds. While we see angels throughout the pages of Scripture, their presence in this story, the sheer number of appearances, testifies to the importance of Jesus’ birth. Then we have visions. Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, has four visions by himself. That does not include all the other people that have visions. How do we explain those unique encounters? Then there is the mystery of God’s timing. Why did God choose that time, that place, and those people to bring the Savior of the World? 

Of all the events, occurrences, and encounters that surround the story of Christmas, there is probably one mysterious event that has confounded man for ages. 

Can you guess that mystery?

The virgin birth! 

How can a virgin conceive a child? This miraculous event, foretold in Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in Mary, is a mystery of divine power. It shows that Jesus’ birth was not an ordinary event but a supernatural act of God. 

The virgin birth is one of the most incredible demonstrations of God’s power in the Christmas story. Again, how can a virgin conceive a child? That’s impossible by human standards, but that’s exactly the point. God was showing the world that nothing is impossible with Him (Luke 1:37). The virgin birth wasn’t just a neat miracle; it was essential for Jesus to be born without the stain of sin. He wasn’t born of an earthly father but was conceived by the Holy Spirit, making Him fully God and fully man—perfect in every way.

When Mary asked how she could possibly have a child since she was a virgin, the angel explained, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35 KJV). Luke underscores that the Holy Spirit would supernaturally bring about the conception of Jesus. This wasn’t a physical act but a divine miracle, where the Spirit of God exercised His creative power to cause Mary to conceive. Luke wants us to understand that this event was entirely God’s doing, with no human involvement, ensuring that Jesus would be born fully divine and fully human.The Holy Spirit played the central role here, working supernaturally to bring about this miraculous conception. It wasn’t anything Mary did; it was all God’s power and plan.

Now, some people want to elevate Mary to perfection, arguing that she had to be sinless to give birth to a sinless Jesus. But that’s not what the Bible teaches, and it’s not what we believe as Southern Baptists. Mary was a sinner, just like us, in need of God’s grace. What makes the virgin birth so extraordinary is that God chose an imperfect, ordinary woman to bring the Savior into the world. Mary herself recognized her need for a Savior, praising God in Luke 1:47 by saying, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” If Mary needed a Savior, she wasn’t sinless.

And that’s the beauty of it. God didn’t choose Mary because she was perfect; He chose her because of His grace and her willingness to trust Him. That’s a powerful reminder for us today. God doesn’t need us to be perfect to use us. He’s in the business of working through ordinary, flawed people to accomplish extraordinary things. The virgin birth shows us that salvation is completely God’s work, from start to finish. It’s His power, His plan, and His grace on full display. 

Powerfully demonstrated indeed!

Jesus’ Birth Was…

I. Powerfully Demonstrated vs. 18

II. Proclaimed Dramatically vs. 20

So, our first point is that Jesus’ birth was powerfully demonstrated. Our second point is that Jesus’ birth was proclaimed dramatically. Go back to verse 20. 

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.

A few weeks ago we talked about angels. We learned about what they do, how they carry out God’s mission of grace. We also learned about how they did spiritual battle and conducted spiritual warfare on behalf of God and for our good. We learned that angels are to be respected but not worshipped. They are not to be trifled with and we should be grateful for their help when God deploys them. 

As I stated earlier, angels are mysterious beings and their presence, being so prominent in the Christmas story, should signal to us that what is happening is unique, unimaginably special, and awe inspiring. 

All that being said, the temptation is for us to focus on the messenger and forget the message. We tend to linger on the power of the angel and forget the news that angel was proclaiming. While the message of the Savior’s arrival arrived first to Mary and Joseph, the message of salvation would be for all people. Everyone would be invited. It doesn’t matter your gender, your race, ethnicity, or nationality. It doesn’t matter who much money you have or how much you lack. Rich or poor, all are welcome. 

Some will hear the message of salvation proclaimed early and others will respond later in life. No matter. All that is required is a repentant heart and a faith in Christ. 

Are you familiar with the parable of the vineyard workers? The parable is captured in Matthew 20:1-18. Jesus is of course teaching. Jesus tells the story of a landowner who hires workers for his vineyard at various times throughout the day—early in the morning, mid-morning, noon, afternoon, and even late in the day. At the end of the day, the landowner pays all the workers the same amount, starting with those who were hired last and worked only an hour. When those hired first see that everyone is paid the same, they are upset, feeling it’s unfair since they worked all day in the heat.

The landowner responds by saying he has done them no wrong; they agreed to work for a day’s wage, and he chose to be generous to the others. He challenges their attitude by asking, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matthew 20:15, ESV).

What we end up discovering is that God’s grace is based on His generosity and not our merit. We learn that God’s ways are not our own. After all, there is no way that you or I would do what the owner did. No way. 

By the way, Im glad that God is not like Stuart. I’ll tell you why. 

How many of you have heard the name Reggie Kray? Reggie Kray, along with his twin brother Ronnie were London mobsters in the 1950’s. The brothers were notorious gangsters who ruled London’s East End. The brothers were involved in organized crime. They committed armed robberies, they assaulted people, they extorted people, and yes–committed heinous acts of murder. Eventually, Reggie and Ron were arrested and sentenced to life in prison. 

These men were exceedingly brutal, vicious, and horrible. They left a sea of victims and their tales are infamous even today. 

The year was 1983. Reggie Kray had been incarcerated for a number of years now. He was a hardened criminal. That is when he encountered Carol Ann Kelly. Mrs. Kelly was visiting a relative who was in the same prison as Reggie Kray. Mrs. Kelly is a devout follower of Jesus Christ. In fact, later in life she would devote herself to full time missionary service. She would travel to far off lands to share the Gospel of Christ. Mrs. Kelly immediately saw that Reggie Kray needed Christ. Everyone else just saw a murderous criminal. Carol-Ann Kelly saw a man in need of salvation, desperately seeking, crying out for help. The two began to write letters to one another. Kelly sent Reggie a Bible. He read it from cover to cover. She answered his questions. She prayed for him. She would come once a week to have Bible study with Reggie Kray and other villains in the prison. 

Years would pass by and Carol Ann would contract cervical cancer. Reggie Kray, for the first time ever, prayed. He prayed that if God would cure Carol Ann of her cancer, he would give his life and heart to Jesus Christ. 

For the record, this is not something that I prescribe. God does not always work in this manner and pinning your salvation to whether or not God performs a miracle is not something that I would encourage. 

Still, that’s what Reggie prayed. God answered the prayer of this sinner. He answered the prayer of this killer, this mobster, this gangster. 

When Reggie Kray heard of Carol Ann’s healing, he dropped to his knees and gave his heart to Jesus Christ. Prison guards said that the Reggie Kray that they first met was now gone. Lost forever. The old foul mouth Reggie Kray has been transformed into a kind, gentle, humble, and gracious man. 

In an interview with Carol Ann, she said this about Reggie Kray. 

“We talked a lot about the cancer, and I tried to get him to understand that he could be set free in prison and use the rest of his life to help others. I couldn’t believe it when he told me that he prayed for me. To think of a murderer praying is a powerful thing.”

Reggie Kray died in 2000. 

You see friends, Jesus was not born, He did not come to live among us, He didn’t die for us, so that we could feel affirmed in our identity. He did not endure torture, suffer, and die so that we could get a cosmic pat on the back. God did not send Jesus, His Son, so that we could remain the same. 

Jesus was born, Jesus lived, Jesus died, Jesus resurrected so that we could be transformed. It doesn’t matter if you accepted that message of salvation when you were 5 and were “good” your entire life or if you were a notorious gangster/mobster and heard the message of Jesus on your deathbed. 

Salvation is offered to all. The message of Jesus may have arrived first to Mary, then to Joseph, but that message has spread far beyond them. It is a message for all people, at all time. And just like it says in Luke 2L10-11, it’s good news. 

Luke 2:10-11 The Amplified Bible

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah).’”

Jesus’ Birth Was…

I. Powerfully Demonstrated vs. 18

II. Proclaimed Dramatically vs. 20

III. Prophesied Divinely vs. 22-23

So, we have come to our last point. Jesus’ birth was powerfully demonstrated, proclaimed dramatically, and it was prophesied divinely. Again, go back to verses 22-23. 

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: [23] "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). 

The coming of Jesus was not some accident. It was foretold. Prophesied for hundreds of years. Seen all the way back in the book of Genesis. This wasn’t just some random event in history. It was the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan, announced through His prophets long before the shepherds saw that star or the angels filled the night sky.

Think about that! Centuries earlier, Isaiah had spoken those words (Isaiah 7:14), and now, in Bethlehem, they came true. Jesus’ birth wasn’t a coincidence. It was divine, carefully planned, and foretold in a way that only God could orchestrate.

Jesus fulfilled more than 300 prophecies in His life, death, and resurrection, and the odds of one person fulfilling just a fraction of these prophecies are astronomically small—beyond human probability.

Mathematician Peter Stoner famously calculated the odds of one person fulfilling just 8 specific prophecies (like being born in Bethlehem, betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, and crucified) and found it to be 1 in 10^17—that’s 1 in 100 quadrillion (100,000,000,000,000,000). To put it in perspective, that’s like covering the entire state of Texas with silver dollars two feet deep, marking one, and having a blindfolded person pick out the marked coin on the first try.

When you expand it to fulfilling 48 prophecies, the odds become 1 in 10^157—a number so large it’s almost incomprehensible! And Jesus didn’t just fulfill 8 or 48; He fulfilled over 300.

This isn’t chance; it’s evidence of God’s divine plan. These fulfilled prophecies show that Jesus is undeniably the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and give us every reason to trust Him completely. It’s a reminder that God’s Word is true and that His promises never fail!

But here’s where it gets even more exciting—Jesus fulfilled so many prophecies! For example, in Numbers 24:17 (NLT) it says, “A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel.” That’s the prophecy of the star that led the wise men to Jesus! God was announcing to the world that the King, the Messiah, had arrived. Or how about Micah 5:2, which prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem? It says, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.” And where was Jesus born? Right there in Bethlehem, just as Micah said!

These fulfilled prophecies aren’t just cool facts—they’re proof. They give Jesus ultimate credibility as the Son of God. Who else could fulfill these things so perfectly? The virgin birth, the star, the town of Bethlehem—every detail was part of God’s plan, and Jesus checked every single box. This should give us a sense of awe and confidence in Him. If God kept every promise about Jesus’ coming, you can trust Him to keep His promises to you. He’s faithful. He’s trustworthy. And He’s got a plan for your life just like He did for His Son.

So as we celebrate this Christmas, let’s remember that Jesus’ birth was not just powerfully demonstrated or dramatically proclaimed—it was divinely prophesied. It’s proof that we can trust Him with everything. That’s the good news of Christmas! Merry Christmas, church, and have a happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Closing Prayer:

Let’s bow our heads and pray together.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for the powerful, dramatic, and divine way You brought Him into the world, fulfilling every prophecy and proving that Your Word is true and trustworthy. Lord, the virgin birth, the star, the angels, the fulfilled promises—they all remind us of Your incredible love and the perfect plan You had to save us.

Jesus, we are humbled by the fact that You came to be God with us, stepping into our broken world to bring hope, redemption, and eternal life. You are the Messiah, the promised One, and we place our trust in You. Strengthen our faith, Lord, and give us the confidence to rest in Your promises, knowing that You are always faithful.

As we celebrate this Christmas season, help us to remember the true meaning of it all: that You came for us, to save us, and to show us the way back to You. May our hearts be filled with joy, and may we carry the light of Christ into the world around us.

We thank You for Jesus. We thank You for Your love. And we praise You for the hope and peace that can only be found in You. In the mighty and precious name of Jesus, we pray.

Amen.