Rev. Dustin ParkerImmanuel
Concordia Lutheran Church
Christmas Eve, Carols Service 7:00 Pm
His Name Shall be Called
IMMANUEL
Isaiah 7:10-14 & Matthew 1:18-25
† IN JESUS NAME †
May this reminder of the birth of the prince of peace, make even more sure the peace that comes, from realizing that He is with you!
The phrase doesn’t stand alone….
The phrase is one we are used to hearing this time of year,
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (Mt 1:22)
Tonight, as we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, understanding the origin of the prophet’s words will help us realize why the birth of a baby in a small village, in a small occupied country on the backside of the Roman Empire is so important. Why the birth of a man who would be executed changes our very lives.
For indeed, the very context of Isaiah’s words show us the need we have for a God who would demonstrate to us His love. And in a manger, as a Virgin gave birth in such a crude setting….God answers our call, to know He is present…. To know He is Immanuel..
Ahaz as the World
The prophesy regarding the Child born of a virgin, was originally given to a King named Ahaz, His nation, the remnant of David’s kingdom called Judah, was oppressed by Syria, and the rebellious ten tribes of Israel. Caught in between the armies, young Ahaz gets very desperate. Listen to this description of their situation . “When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with (Israel) Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz2 and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.”
As you read his story in 2 Kings, you see a young man desperate for answers, for some way to fix all that seems to be going wrong. In his desperation, he would eventually turn away from God, and worship other gods – even to the extent that he would sacrifice his own son, to the Canaanite God Moloch, thinking it might appease the false God, and that Ahaz’s Kingdom would return to its former glory.
But before Ahaz gets that desperate, we see the scene in the reading our deacon read not long ago…
God asks…
In that reading, the prophet Isaiah goes up to the King, and speaks for God. Listen to his words again…
"Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above."
Ahaz’s response is one that is all to common today. Nope, won’t do it, won’t ask for it, I will not test the Lord…that is not right!
Ahaz refuses
I wish I knew more of Ahaz, as to why he wouldn’t ask God for a sign, for something that would show him he didn’t walk alone. In desperate times Moses would ask, and God answered. Gideon would ask, and we even talk of such requests from his story. King David would ask, as would his son Solomon, and God would answer each of them as well.
What stopped Ahaz? Is it fear that God wouldn’t answer? Perhaps it is fear that we would become dependent on the signs? Perhaps it was simply pride, as he thought God had placed him in the position of King, and therefore he should be able to handle this on his own!
Why don’t we ask? A re we too often like Ahaz? Are we afraid to ask God for direction? Are we afraid to admit we need assistance? Do we cling, without thinking it through, to passages that tell us God will not give us more than we can endure? If the latter, we forget He said that to people who realize they walk humbly with their God.
Why do we, when our hearts our troubled like Ahaz, when our strength is challenged like trees challenged by the wind, why don’t we turn to the God who is Immanuel?
I mentioned a little while ago, that it is recorded in scripture, that Ahaz would in desperation off his son as a burnt sacrifice to a god named Moloch. Something incredibly unnecessary, for the Son who was to be sacrificed was not Ahaz’s. It was the one laid in the manger.
Here is his and our answer
For this was the answer God provided to Ahaz’s denial, the answer that God provides for all,
I will give you a sign, I will show you your salvation, and far more…. You can call on me, and I am there…
For a virgin will miraculously conceive, and she will give birth to a son, and shall call His name Immanuel…
The Immanent God – God with us, Here and now. Walking with us..
Even to us, who celebrate this incredible event this evening.
He is with us. He will never leave us… He is here. In this place we call a Sanctuary, a Holy Place, a Refuge from the world that causes us to quake in our boots. It’s not about asking Him to prove Himself – its about realizing that in His love for you, He is there - walking with you, It’s realizing that when He commands us not to use His name in vain, He is inviting you to use His name!
He will never leave you – that is His promise. He will walk with you, bring healing to broken hearts, Hearts broken by sin. He will remove your guilt and shame, and walk with you daily.
For this child born to us, is Immanuel, and the peace of the night of His birth is nothing compared to the peace He brings from the Father – the peace that surpasses all understanding, and guards your hearts and minds, protected by Immanuel, Jesus our Savior!
AMEN?
Christmas Eve, Carols Service 7:00 Pm
His Name Shall be Called
IMMANUEL
Isaiah 7:10-14 & Matthew 1:18-25
† IN JESUS NAME †
May this reminder of the birth of the prince of peace, make even more sure the peace that comes, from realizing that He is with you!
The phrase doesn’t stand alone….
The phrase is one we are used to hearing this time of year,
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (Mt 1:22)
Tonight, as we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, understanding the origin of the prophet’s words will help us realize why the birth of a baby in a small village, in a small occupied country on the backside of the Roman Empire is so important. Why the birth of a man who would be executed changes our very lives.
For indeed, the very context of Isaiah’s words show us the need we have for a God who would demonstrate to us His love. And in a manger, as a Virgin gave birth in such a crude setting….God answers our call, to know He is present…. To know He is Immanuel..
Ahaz as the World
The prophesy regarding the Child born of a virgin, was originally given to a King named Ahaz, His nation, the remnant of David’s kingdom called Judah, was oppressed by Syria, and the rebellious ten tribes of Israel. Caught in between the armies, young Ahaz gets very desperate. Listen to this description of their situation . “When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with (Israel) Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz2 and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.”
As you read his story in 2 Kings, you see a young man desperate for answers, for some way to fix all that seems to be going wrong. In his desperation, he would eventually turn away from God, and worship other gods – even to the extent that he would sacrifice his own son, to the Canaanite God Moloch, thinking it might appease the false God, and that Ahaz’s Kingdom would return to its former glory.
But before Ahaz gets that desperate, we see the scene in the reading our deacon read not long ago…
God asks…
In that reading, the prophet Isaiah goes up to the King, and speaks for God. Listen to his words again…
"Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above."
Ahaz’s response is one that is all to common today. Nope, won’t do it, won’t ask for it, I will not test the Lord…that is not right!
Ahaz refuses
I wish I knew more of Ahaz, as to why he wouldn’t ask God for a sign, for something that would show him he didn’t walk alone. In desperate times Moses would ask, and God answered. Gideon would ask, and we even talk of such requests from his story. King David would ask, as would his son Solomon, and God would answer each of them as well.
What stopped Ahaz? Is it fear that God wouldn’t answer? Perhaps it is fear that we would become dependent on the signs? Perhaps it was simply pride, as he thought God had placed him in the position of King, and therefore he should be able to handle this on his own!
Why don’t we ask? A re we too often like Ahaz? Are we afraid to ask God for direction? Are we afraid to admit we need assistance? Do we cling, without thinking it through, to passages that tell us God will not give us more than we can endure? If the latter, we forget He said that to people who realize they walk humbly with their God.
Why do we, when our hearts our troubled like Ahaz, when our strength is challenged like trees challenged by the wind, why don’t we turn to the God who is Immanuel?
I mentioned a little while ago, that it is recorded in scripture, that Ahaz would in desperation off his son as a burnt sacrifice to a god named Moloch. Something incredibly unnecessary, for the Son who was to be sacrificed was not Ahaz’s. It was the one laid in the manger.
Here is his and our answer
For this was the answer God provided to Ahaz’s denial, the answer that God provides for all,
I will give you a sign, I will show you your salvation, and far more…. You can call on me, and I am there…
For a virgin will miraculously conceive, and she will give birth to a son, and shall call His name Immanuel…
The Immanent God – God with us, Here and now. Walking with us..
Even to us, who celebrate this incredible event this evening.
He is with us. He will never leave us… He is here. In this place we call a Sanctuary, a Holy Place, a Refuge from the world that causes us to quake in our boots. It’s not about asking Him to prove Himself – its about realizing that in His love for you, He is there - walking with you, It’s realizing that when He commands us not to use His name in vain, He is inviting you to use His name!
He will never leave you – that is His promise. He will walk with you, bring healing to broken hearts, Hearts broken by sin. He will remove your guilt and shame, and walk with you daily.
For this child born to us, is Immanuel, and the peace of the night of His birth is nothing compared to the peace He brings from the Father – the peace that surpasses all understanding, and guards your hearts and minds, protected by Immanuel, Jesus our Savior!
AMEN?
