EMMANUEL…GOD
WITH US
Gloria Phifer
Our God is a
"Giver." John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only
Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.
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What are your
thoughts about God being a Giver? That God gave His very Best? What about His
love for this world?
Isaiah
9:6 For unto "us" a Child is born, unto "us" a Son is
given.
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Notice: this Child, this Son was given for
"us!" what are your thoughts?
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The government is on His shoulder and His Name shall be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE
EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE. KJV
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When you look
at these Names what stands out to you?
This is something that I need to
meditate on. All of them are so
profound. This Wonderful Child will be
given His government…upon the throne of David. HE IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD
OF LORDS.
Think
of the Mighty God becoming a Seed in a woman's womb. Allowing Him self to
become a baby coming from the womb of Mary. To become vulnerable to man kind. The wonder of it all!
Isaiah
7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; BEHOLD
A virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son and shall call His Name IMMANUEL.
GOD
WITH US!!!
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How personal
this is to us. What are your thoughts that He came to be with us?
THE
ANNOUNCEMENT
(Nazareth
in Greek means "The guarded one.") I thought this was interesting. I
am sure the angels were guarding Mary, Joseph and especially Jesus Christ…the
Holy One. I wonder what the angels thought of the Lord of Hosts, Captain of
Heavens Armies, becoming a baby. Hebrews 1:5 & 6. Heb. 2:16, 1 Peter
1:12. Soon, the angels will be sent to
announce the birth and light up the sky. I don't know what all of God's
universe consists of, but I've always wondered if all the universe stood in awe
as Almighty God took on flesh to dwell upon us. The wonder!!!
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Thoughts
Luke 1:26-56. Mary is a young virgin.
Gabriel, (Strong's…"Warrior of God or Man of God. an Archangel) the
Messenger from God, came to the small town of Nazareth to bring her a message. Notice 31
and 32 The NAME…JESUS…HE SHALL BE GREAT
AND SHALL BE CALLED THE SON OF THE HIGHEST!!! VS. 35…CALLED THE SON OF GOD.
JESUS
means "Jehovah is Salvation!!!"
JESUS THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES… Philippians
2:5-11. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess…JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
Romans 10:8-13.
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What are your
thoughts about Jesus and His wonderful Name?
I
love the Name of Jesus. (I love Jesus!!!) I can't begin to count the times in
my life (really daily) that I call on the Name of Jesus. There is no other Name
as wonderful and powerful. God, His
Father, gave Him this NAME.
Acts. 3:1-10 and vs. 15 & 16.
The Prince of Life…Through faith in His Name this man was healed. There is
Power in the Name of Jesus.
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As I read
about the power in the Name of Jesus it increases my faith. What about you?
Jesus came in
the "fullness of time." Gal. 4-7. He came to make us sons of God. I
love the 'Fullness of time!" This plan was from the foundation of the world.
Rev. 13:8b. "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." John
1:12-14. The Word was made "flesh" and dwelt among us…the Glory of the
Only Begotten or the Father, full of grace and truth. (He came to
"tabernacle" among us.) He
put on flesh in order to dwell with us.
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What are your
thoughts that He took on flesh and became a human being so He could be with
us.? Emmanuel…God with us.
(When you have time read all of Luke 1…Elizabeth, Mary's cousin
is pregnant with John the Baptist).
Mary
is a virgin. She is legally bound to be married to a man named Joseph who is
also from the tribe of Judah.
They are descended from King David. When
Joseph found out she was pregnant he was upset. Matthew 1:18-25. Once more we see the Name Emmanuel…God with us (vs. 23) and once
more we see the Name…JESUS!!! For He will save His people from their sins.
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Here is our
Savior. What are your thoughts?
I
remember as a child being told that Jesus loved me. The song "Jesus loves
me" would come to me during my young years when I was in a desperate
place. When I thought life was not worth living…this song would come to me.
JESUS LOVES ME…THIS I KNOW…FOR THE BIBLE
TELLS ME SO. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes,
Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me… for the Bible tells me so.
Thank
You Heavenly Father for giving us Your Only Begotten Son Jesus…We give you
praise!!! EMMANUEL…GOD WITH US! OUR SAVIOR JESUS!
All glory to Emmanuel!!!
I
wanted us to look at a prophesy Zechariahs (John the Baptist father gave when
John was born concerning the Messiah.) Luke 1:78-79 "Through the tender
mercy of our God, whereby the Day Spring from on High has visited us. To give
light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet
into the way of peace."
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Your thoughts
on this incredible prophesy?
I
am very touched that it was the tender mercy of God that Jesus Christ…the Day
Spring from on High visited us…to give us light in our darkness and to guide
our feet into the Way of Peace. (Jehovah Shalom…the Lord our Peace.) The Prince of Peace.
THE BIRTH
Luke 2:1-7. Bethlehem means "House of Bread."
The Bread of Life was born there.
Swaddling
meant "To strap or wrap with strips. To swathe an infant after the
oriental custom…wrap with swaddling clothes. "Strong's Conc.
I
find it interesting that the Roman government made this degree that the whole
world would be taxed. This brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. (God can use governments to get
His will done.) Micah 5:2. Out of this little town would come The Ruler in Israel. (This prophesy was
given somewhere around 750 BC .KJV.)
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What are your thoughts? I love prophesy. We know God had a
plan…Praise Him!!!
Our Creator, the Mighty God, came from the
womb of a woman and became the Son of Man. (Jesus called Himself: The Son of
Man. Matt. 18:11) was wrapped and held by His mother. He was a baby. He had been a Seed, given by the Holy Spirit,
developed in the darkness of the womb, came through the birth canal into the
dim light of the stable and took His first breath. How astounding. He was not
born in a palace…He was born in a stable (perhaps even a cave) used for the
animals.)
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Thoughts?
There
was no room for Him in the inn. I think of our society now. Is there room for Jesus? Why is His Name blasphemed? Why do they want
to destroy the real meaning of Christmas? Why do they want to take Jesus out of
Christmas? Because the enemy wants to
remove Jesus from the consciousness of mankind. But, Jesus will never be removed!!!
To remember and believe in Jesus means HE CAME!!! And He came with purpose…the Lamb that takes away the
sin of the world. (John 1:29) We will
all die (unless the rapture comes first) but Jesus was born to die for you and
me…so we could have life abundantly.
What
love! He left His place in Glory and
come to this sinful world…to become the Son of Man. For you and me.
PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MAN.
Luke 2:8-20. Angels announce His
birth…"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
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If you had
been one of the shepherds and the sky lit up with angels giving this
announcement…what would it have been like for you?
The
first ones to hear the news were the shepherds. How appropriate…The Good
Shepherd had been born. John 10:11-14. Jesus said" I Am the Good
Shepherd." HE CAME…for His
sheep. All glory to God!!
We
will not take the time this morning but when you have time read about Him being
taken to the Temple
and presented to God His Father. (Luke 2:21-40.)
WISE MEN SEEK THE KING OF THE JEWS
Matt. 2:1-15. (Jesus was born in
Judea…Strong's...Greek...Judaea…means "He
shall be praised.")
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Who were these
wise men? Strong's Greek.
"Magos" a Magi an, oriental scientist, wise man. The name given by
the Babylonians, (Chaldeans), Medes, Persians and others to the wise men,
teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers.
King Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with him vs.3.
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Why do you
think all of Jerusalem
was troubled along with king Herod?
Tradition
says "three wise men", but there could have been quite a procession.
There may have been more wise men; plus the ones who traveled with them.
Concerning
the star…there is a prophesy in Numbers 14:17
They
had seen His star in the East and came to worship Him. Notice vs. 11 "They
came into the house." They were no
longer in the manger.
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What were the
gifts given to The Child?
Gold: Given for a King. Strong's
"perhaps furnishing what is needed." Frankincense.
Greek…"libanos" the incense tree. Incense itself…frankincense. A white
resin burned as fragrant incense. Myrrh: Greek "Smyrna…A bitter gum and costly perfume; also
an antiseptic…it was used for embalming. A perfumed ointment.
LASB: FOOTNOTES:" These wise men
gave these expensive gifts as worthy acknowledgement for a future King. Bible
students have seen in the gifts symbols of Christ's identity and what He would
accomplish. Gold was a gift for royalty; frankincense was a gift for Deity; and
myrrh was a spice used to anoint a body for burial. These gifts may have provided the financial
resources for the trip to Egypt
and back. "
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What are your
thoughts concerning these three gifts…given to The King?
Emmanuel…God
with us. Jesus, our Savior, Who took on flesh and dwelt among us. Wonderful,
Counselor, Almighty God, The Everlasting Father and The Prince of Peace.
