Always Present
Part 1 of the “O Come Let Us Adore Him” Series
8 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: 23 “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him Jesus. – Matthew 1:18-25 (NASB)
The BIG Idea:
When Joseph discovered that the woman he planned to marry was expecting a child that wasn’t his biological child, he sought to distance himself from her. God’s supernatural intervention inspired Joseph to dwell with Mary’s newborn, so that through Jesus, God would dwell with us. Through a personal relationship with Jesus, we can experience the presence of God with us wherever we go. However, we must not keep God’s presence solely to ourselves. Rather, we must seek guidance for ways we can share the power and blessing of God’s presence with everyone we meet.
Even heroes in the Bible wrestled with how to respond appropriately when trust is broken – including Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.
The marriage arrangement between Joseph and Mary was most likely prearranged.
Joseph wanted to honor Mary, even if it initially seemed to him that she did not honor her commitment to him.
How are we to respond when our trust has been violated?
Is there someone God is calling you to extend grace and kindness to right now?
Has God ever called you to change your plans at the last minute?
Joseph had a plan, but God had a purpose. Our hearts plan our way, but the Lord directs our steps.
“To fulfill God’s plan, God needed a master craftsman. God needed a man who was sturdy, stable, and practical, yet sensitive to the voice of God. God needed one who would stand quietly with a young virgin who might have seemed an object of ridicule, yet who carried in her womb the Hope of the world. Joseph was strong but compassionate; he was able to lead the tiring expedition to Bethlehem and to the stable, to love and encourage the mother of Christ. Joseph, as the man of the house, was the teacher to give Jesus His first lessons in the law of God. And in Jerusalem, when the boy was twelve and it became evident that His first allegiance must be to another Father, Joseph was the man to humbly and silently step back and let God step forward. Amazingly, Joseph never spoke a word in the Christmas story. But what he did, speaks volumes to us all.” – Dr. David Jeremiah
The Messiah was to bring salvation, but this salvation involved more than personal forgiveness.
5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord Our Righteousness.’ – Jeremiah 23:5-6 (NASB)
10 Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask for a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I put the Lord to the test!” 13 Then he said, “Listen now, house of David! Is it too trivial a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. 15 He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. 16 For before the boy knows enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be abandoned. 17 The Lord will bring on you, on your people, and on your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim separated from Judah—the days of the king of Assyria.” – Isaiah 7:10-17 (NASB)
Sometimes trusting God puts us in a position where we must walk forward by faith – unsure of where the next step will lead and whether people will understand.
“Emmanuel” means that not only will God’s presence be with God’s people, but God will be present in the flesh with them in the first century through Jesus and now with us in the Holy Spirit.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? – I Corinthians 6:19 (NASB)
Since the presence of God is with us wherever we go, we can be God’s ambassador in any and every situation – bringing a glimpse of the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.
Questions for Reflection:
Have you ever been betrayed or dishonored? How did that make you feel?
What was your response when you felt betrayed or dishonored?
When have you seen someone display radical grace and kindness to someone who had hurt them? How does their example inspire you to do likewise?
How are we to respond when our trust has been violated?
Is there someone God is calling you to extend grace and kindness to right now?
Have your plans ever been changed by something out of the ordinary?
How have you experience God being with you? How does knowing that God is always near encourage you when things are going well and when things are not going well?
When has following God brought ridicule from your friends and family?
Have you ever been discouraged from being obedient to Jesus because it didn’t make sense to others? Did you do it anyway? If so, what was the outcome?
Do you realize that you can be God’s ambassador in any and every situation because God is with you?
The BIG Idea:
When Joseph discovered that the woman he planned to marry was expecting a child that wasn’t his biological child, he sought to distance himself from her. God’s supernatural intervention inspired Joseph to dwell with Mary’s newborn, so that through Jesus, God would dwell with us. Through a personal relationship with Jesus, we can experience the presence of God with us wherever we go. However, we must not keep God’s presence solely to ourselves. Rather, we must seek guidance for ways we can share the power and blessing of God’s presence with everyone we meet.
Even heroes in the Bible wrestled with how to respond appropriately when trust is broken – including Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.
The marriage arrangement between Joseph and Mary was most likely prearranged.
Joseph wanted to honor Mary, even if it initially seemed to him that she did not honor her commitment to him.
How are we to respond when our trust has been violated?
Is there someone God is calling you to extend grace and kindness to right now?
Has God ever called you to change your plans at the last minute?
Joseph had a plan, but God had a purpose. Our hearts plan our way, but the Lord directs our steps.
“To fulfill God’s plan, God needed a master craftsman. God needed a man who was sturdy, stable, and practical, yet sensitive to the voice of God. God needed one who would stand quietly with a young virgin who might have seemed an object of ridicule, yet who carried in her womb the Hope of the world. Joseph was strong but compassionate; he was able to lead the tiring expedition to Bethlehem and to the stable, to love and encourage the mother of Christ. Joseph, as the man of the house, was the teacher to give Jesus His first lessons in the law of God. And in Jerusalem, when the boy was twelve and it became evident that His first allegiance must be to another Father, Joseph was the man to humbly and silently step back and let God step forward. Amazingly, Joseph never spoke a word in the Christmas story. But what he did, speaks volumes to us all.” – Dr. David Jeremiah
The Messiah was to bring salvation, but this salvation involved more than personal forgiveness.
5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will live securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord Our Righteousness.’ – Jeremiah 23:5-6 (NASB)
10 Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask for a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I put the Lord to the test!” 13 Then he said, “Listen now, house of David! Is it too trivial a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. 15 He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. 16 For before the boy knows enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be abandoned. 17 The Lord will bring on you, on your people, and on your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim separated from Judah—the days of the king of Assyria.” – Isaiah 7:10-17 (NASB)
Sometimes trusting God puts us in a position where we must walk forward by faith – unsure of where the next step will lead and whether people will understand.
“Emmanuel” means that not only will God’s presence be with God’s people, but God will be present in the flesh with them in the first century through Jesus and now with us in the Holy Spirit.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? – I Corinthians 6:19 (NASB)
Since the presence of God is with us wherever we go, we can be God’s ambassador in any and every situation – bringing a glimpse of the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.
Questions for Reflection:
Have you ever been betrayed or dishonored? How did that make you feel?
What was your response when you felt betrayed or dishonored?
When have you seen someone display radical grace and kindness to someone who had hurt them? How does their example inspire you to do likewise?
How are we to respond when our trust has been violated?
Is there someone God is calling you to extend grace and kindness to right now?
Have your plans ever been changed by something out of the ordinary?
How have you experience God being with you? How does knowing that God is always near encourage you when things are going well and when things are not going well?
When has following God brought ridicule from your friends and family?
Have you ever been discouraged from being obedient to Jesus because it didn’t make sense to others? Did you do it anyway? If so, what was the outcome?
Do you realize that you can be God’s ambassador in any and every situation because God is with you?