WE ARE NEVER ALONE!

MATTHEW 1:23: “ Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

OBSERVATION: There are times in all of our lives when we feel like we are all alone. We find ourselves walking in a valley of indecision, prolonged suffering, or the unknown. In these times it is easy to begin to feel sorry for ourselves. The temptation is to isolate ourselves by pulling away from anyone and everything. Yet, the reality is…

WE ARE NEVER ALONE!

IMMANUEL is with us! Jesus, God with us, is always present and is calling us to draw close to Him in these times of loneliness. Peter reminds us of this truth.

• James 4:8: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

God did not leave us alone in our sin and will not leave us alone in our time of need. Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. This is the wonder of Christmas. When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and with us every day. 

WE ARE NEVER ALONE!

• John 14:15-18: “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

We need to resist the devil as he tries to discourage us and isolate us from the very people we need during our time of trial. We draw near to God as we draw near to His Word and His people – the church. When we are struggling, when our faith is weak, when we don’t understand the path we are on – this is the time we need to run into the House of God and seek His face!

• Psalm 73:16-17a: ”When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me— Until I went into the sanctuary of God…”

It was in the presence of God that the Psalmist found clarity. All of his wonderings were put in perspective. It is not that all of our questions are instantly answered. Rather, it is that we find ourselves firmly held by His loving hands. He promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us. This is the truth we are reminded of when we are with God’s people and are abiding in God’s Word.

Just as God did not create man for the Sabbath but the Sabbath for man, so God did not create man for the church but the church for man. We need the church, the Body of Christ. The church is the manifestation of the fullness of God. The church is the pillar and ground of truth. It is the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ, His spiritual house made of living stones – you and I – filled with the Holy Spirit.

When we feel all alone – this is the time we need to run into the House of God! The enemy wants us to run away. Love calls us to run towards our fears into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we do – we find ourselves wrapped in the arms of Immanuel – God with us! This is the wonder of Christmas and the wonder of the Christian life.

IMMANUEL…GOD WITH US!

Ephesians 1:22-23: ”And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Hebrews 10:23-25: ”Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

Matthew 28:20: “…And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”

In Jesus’ Name!