What Does it Mean to have God with Us?

Rev Gideon Lee

We are going to celebrate Christmas in a week's time and we know that is the day Christ came to be with us. Emmanuel, God with us. What does it actually mean?

The name Emmanuel only appeared 3 times in the Bible. Twice in Isaiah and once in Matthew.

Isaiah 7:10-14

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

That's the first time it's mentioned.

Isaiah 8:8

and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it,

passing through it and reaching up to the neck.

Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, Immanuel!”

That's the second time. Now let's look at Matthew.

Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

What does it mean to have God with us? What does it mean to have Emmanuel?

There was a story about a submarine in the war that sank. The people in there were clinging on to every oxygen tank in the submarine. They were desperate and clinging to any hope. The captain sent out mayday and all were waiting or a rescue. After a while, hope starts to diminish after every hour.

If it's a boat you can still jump out and cling to anything that float but this was a submarine. Suddenly, as divers were looking for the submarine, the people in the submarine was knocking in Morse code hoping the divers can pinpoint where the submarine is. The Morse code was their hope. And from outside, they'll knock back with the code, there is hope.

That is the cry of humanity. We all want to have hope. Someone posted that he dreamt that the ringgit was soaring. We all hope. Is there hope? Maybe you are going through a trying time and you're asking the same question. Is there hope?

John Wesley passed away in 1971 and his last words was that God is with us. He was suffering in pain but he said that God is with us. And that is what we are celebrating in a week's time. God is with us.

This morning I want to ask three questions. Emmanuel was mentioned in three instances. The question is what does the word Emmanuel meant to Isaiah? Second, what does Emmanuel meant to Matthew? And lastly what does Emmanuel meant to you?

Isaiah was speaking to King Ahaz. He was a terrible king. He would sacrifice his own children to the gods. This was a mean and cruel king. At that time the Assyrians were increasing in power. Syria and Israel and Judah wanted to form a coalition so that they can fight the army of the Assyrians.

King Ahaz wavered and was undecided whether to join or not. Because of this Syria and Israel wanted to punish him and put another king on Judah. But King Ahaz, being cunning, he made a pack with the Assyrians. But the pack didn't last and the Assyrians turned on him.

So he was in a desperate situation when the prophet asked him to turn back to God. But King Ahaz in all his pride refused and use men instead. Because of that Judah suffered greatly.

Isaiah 7:13-14

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah announced to Ahab and told him he would have got a sign. And a name will be given even before the child was conceived. And that there will be peace in the land but the king refused.

In spite of King Ahaz failure, God did not withheld his son. God still sent his son on Christmas day. God is still faithful to bless and take care of you. Sometimes in our own stubbornness, God is still faithful. What Isaiah saw was God's faithfulness. He saw hope in the name Emmanuel. That there was still hope in God. Emmanuel, God with us. He is here with us. God's very presence is here to dwell amongst us.

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

This is the God we serve. Isaiah saw hope in God. That God will come true for them. How many of you know this song that we sing from Isaiah 7?

What about Matthew. What does Emmanuel means to him?

Matthew 1:23

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

For Matthew it was something like this. There was an artist that drew a winter scene. It was a dark and dreary house that looked lonely and empty. It was not a cheerful picture. Right in it was a snowstorm. You could see that it was not cheerful. Then the artists took a dab of yellow and he showed the fire that was in the house through the window. In all that dark and dreariness was a beam of light.

And in Jesus  was that beam of hope. That was what it was like to Matthew. For him it meant salvation in the midst of darkness. They were living under the yolk of the Roman empire under king Herod. Emmanuel meant that God came to offer salvation. But we know Jesus  came not to establish a physical Kingdom but a spiritual Kingdom. Many of them thought he was coming to establish a physical Kingdom but that was not why Jesus came. Matthew saw salvation from sin.

So what does Emmanuel means to you? Is it just a name or just another celebration? To me it means a God who cares. He could have just stayed in heaven but he came. What does this earth means to him? He came because he cares.

He is also a God who understands. He went through life like how we will. In all its pains and disappointments. There was not much said about his life when young. Some of the cheeky youths ask me did Jesus fall in love. He understands us. If he was a God that stays in the heavenlies and he say he cares for me, I would ask how would he know? But Jesus went through everything including betrayal. He understands our weaknesses as well. Yet he still came.

Emmanuel also means a God who loves me. By his demonstration on the cross. How would you know God loves you if I ask you this? The Bible tells us so and all of us have experienced it. He bothered to send his one and only son. He went and made himself like man that he can understands me.

He's also Emmanuel, a God who forgives me. I don't know how many times I've failed him but he still forgives. This Christmas has been the busiest for me but wherever I shared I always tell them that God forgives.

I was speaking in USM in their Christmas Celebration event and they had a hall of about 150 people and it was packed, organised by the Christian Fellowship of USM. At first I was not sure because of my timing but I went ahead to go preached.

I shared about Christmas and at the end of it I made an altar call. Sometimes in my heart I still say what happens if nobody comes out? But I still made an altar call. This is USM with thinking people who questions. When I made the call, there were four that came out for salvation and I was surprised. That was the last place I'd expect people to come out. They came out and were crying. God still forgives. He came to offer us the forgiveness of sin.

Doesn't matter how well they looked on the outside, everyone who does not know Jesus  is not complete. They came out and gave their lives. God is just awesome.

Emmanuel is also a God that has saved me. I've tasted of his goodness. He is a God that saves and offers each and everyone of us the gift of salvation. In God we have everything. He who has the son has everything.

What does Emmanuel means to you church? That you have to sort it out. That you'll have an answer. What does Emmanuel means to you? What does God with us means to you? What does Christmas means to you?

For Isaiah it was hope. For Matthew it was salvation. For you, what does Emmanuel means to you?