GOD WITH US THE MINISTRY OF JESUS - PART 2
Rick Trice
Isaiah 7:13- 15
Matthew 1:20-25
“IMMANUEL”
IMMANUEL...GOD WITH US...THE IMPLICATIONS OF GOD BEING “WITH US”
ARE BOTH COMFORTING AND UNSETTLING
COMFORTING:
MATTHEW 1:23 - FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY
JOHN 14:20 GOD TO LIVE “IN” US
ACTS 17:27-28 GOD IS NOT FAR FROM US; WE JUST HAVE TO REACH OUT
TERRIFYING:
2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-18 - THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD
EX. 33:20-23-- “YOU CANNOT SEE MY FACE, FOR NO ONE CAN SEE ME AND LIVE.” THERE IS DANGER IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
IS 7:13-14-- OUR SIN WEARIES GOD. “WE TRY THE PATIENCE OF GOD”
COMFORTING, BECAUSE GOD PURPOSELY CHOSE TO SPEND A PERIOD OF TIME ON EARTH WITH US; TO WEEP AND LAUGH WITH US; TO FEAST AND HUNGER; BE HAPPY AND SAD. AND FEEL OUR PAIN.
TERRIFYING, BECAUSE JUST THINK OF IT: CHRIST LEFT HIS THRONE, AMONG A MULTITUDE OF ANGELS, SINGING HIS PRAISES, TO STEP DOWN TO THIS HARD, FILTHY EARTH, TO HEAR THE TAUNTS AND RIDICULE OF MEN.
EVEN MORE UNSETTLING TO KNOW THAT, THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT, HE IS PRESENT AND LIVING WITHIN US TODAY. WHATEVER I DO OR WHEREVER I TAKE HIM, HE IS THERE. THE HOLY GOD OF THE UNIVERSE GETS UP IN THE MORNING, GOES TO THE MIRROR, AND LOOKS AT THIS.
HIS STOMACH TURNS BECAUSE HE IS HERE WHEN I BREAK COMMANDMENT AFTER COMMANDMENT.
AND EVERY DAY, THE RIGHTEOUS, POWERFUL GOD OF THE CREATION, HEARS THE WEAK AND FAITHLESS WORDS THAT SOMETIMES COME OUT OF THIS MOUTH. AND HE WEEPS AT THE PAIN AND TRIAL I GO THROUGH, WHEN I WALK IN DEFEAT, BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR ALL THAT; AND IF I WOULD ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE IT, REPENT OF IT, HUMBLE MYSELF, AND RECEIVE HIS POWER OVER IT, I COULD WALK IN VICTORY.
YOU KNOW WHAT THE REAL PRICE JESUS PAID WAS? THE TERRIBLE PRICE CHRIST PAID WAS NOT SO MUCH THE SUFFERING OF THE CROSS, BAD AS IT WAS. I BELIEVE THE WORST PRICE WAS LEAVING THE THRONE OF GRACE, AND STEPPING INTO THE FILTH AND SIN OF THE WORLD, AND THE FILTH AND SIN OF MY LIFE. I SHUDDER AT THE HUMILIATION I PUT CHRIST THROUGH, WHEN HE PEERS OUT OF MY SOUL AND SEES THE PLACES I TAKE HIM.
“HE WAS PIERCED BY OUR TRANSGRESSIONS; HE WAS CRUSHED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS; THE PUNISHMENT THAT BUOUGHT
“HE AT THE CURDS AND HONEY.” (IS 7)
AT THE BEST TIMES, I TURN TO HIS SPIRIT WITHIN ME AND CRY OUT FOR STRENGTH, HELP, AND DIRECTION. AT THE BEST OF TIMES, I ACKNOWLEDGE HIS SOVEREIGNTY IN MY LIFE, AND I GET JUST A TASTE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE FELT LIKE TO BE ADAM, WALKING AND TALKING WITH GOD IN THE GARDEN.
AT THE WORST OF TIMES, I SQUANDER MY RIGHTS AND INHERITANCE AS A SON OF GOD; A JOINT HEIR. I FLIRT WITH MY SINS AND THINK I CAN OVERCOME MY OWN WEAKNESSES, UNDER MY OWN STRENGTH. AND ALL THE WHILE, GOD-WITH-US...GOD-WITH-ME...IMMANUEL SITS IN A CORNER OF MY HEART AND WEEPS FOR MY STUPIDITY AND SHORTSIGHTEDNESS; WEEPS FOR THE WASTED GIFT OF HIMSELF.
IMMANUEL....GOD WITH US...THE COMFORTING HELPER AND THE UNSETTLING PRESENCE OF THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE, IS ALSO THE GOD OF JUDGEMENT.
WE LIKE TO THINK OF THE COMFORTER. IT’S COZY AND WARM, AND THERE WHEN WE’RE AT OUR WITS END AND NO WHERE TO TURN.
IT’S HARDER TO THINK OF THE JEALOUS YAHWEH; GOD OF MOSES; THE GREAT I AM, THE WRATH OF GOD. MOSES COULDN’T EVEN LOOK AT HIM. WHEN HE CAME OFF THE MOUNTAIN, HIS FACED GLOWED WITH THE LEFTOVER GLORY OF THE PRESENCE AND POWER OF GOD ALMIGHTY.
WE TEND TO TREAT GOD AT TIMES THE WAY A LOT OF KIDS TREAT THEIR PARENTS AND ELDERS TODAY: WITH DISRESPECT AND NO THOUGHT TO ANY CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS.
James 4:4-6 says, “YOU ADULTEROUS PEOPLE, DON'T YOU KNOW THAT FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD IS HATRED TOWARD GOD? ANYONE WHO CHOOSES TO BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD BECOMES AN ENEMY OF GOD. OR DO YOU THINK SCRIPTURE SAYS WITHOUT REASON THAT THE SPIRIT HE CAUSED TO LIVE IN US ENVIES INTENSELY?
BUT HE GIVES US MORE GRACE. THAT IS WHY SCRIPTURE SAYS: "GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
WHEN YOU ACCEPTED CHRIST, HE IMMEDIATELY SENT YOU THE COMFORTER, THE HOLY SPIRIT, TO INDWELL YOU
IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER, HE LIVES INSIDE YOU. IT’S UP TO YOU WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM OR NOT; WHETHER YOU USE THE POWER HE’S PLACED AT YOUR DISPOSAL, OR NOT.
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS:
AM I FIGHTING MY OWN BATTLES, AND LOSING?
DO I CALL MYSELF A CHILD OF GOD, BUT ALWAYS MISERABLE?
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. HOW HUMBLE HAVE WE BEEN?
QUICK TEST:
THIS PAST WEEK...
1) DID YOU SPEND ANY PRIVATE TIME IN PRAYER?
2) DID YOU READ GOD'S WORD?
3) DID YOU WORSHIP IN CHURCH ?
4) DID YOU GIVE FINANCIALLY TO THE LORD'S WORK?
5) DID YOU SHARE CHRIST WITH SOMEONE, EITHER VERBALLY OR THROUGH EXAMPLE? (DID YOU TREAT ALL OF YOUR PEERS, AND CO‑WORKERS, AS PEOPLE LOVED BY GOD?)
6) DID YOU CONTROL YOUR TONGUE? (THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH)
7) DID YOU DO SOMETHING FOR YOUR WIFE THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO HER?
8) WERE THE "VISIBLE" YOU AND THE "REAL" YOU CONSISTENT WITH EACH OTHER? (THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE? CHARACTER IS WHAT YOU ARE IN THE DARK)
Luke 3:16-17 John the Baptizer recognized Jesus immediately, as the God of power, boldness, and jealousy and judgement
“...I BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER, BUT ONE MORE POWERFUL THAN I WILL COME, THE THONGS OF WHOSE SANDALS I AM NOT WORTHY TO UNTIE. HEW ILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE. HIS WINNOWING FORK IS IN HIS HAND TO CLEAR HIS THRESHING FLOOR AND TO GATHER TH WHEAT INTO HIS BARN, BUT HE WILL BURN UP THE CHAFF WITH UNQUENCHABLE FIRE.”
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I’M TIRED OF PLAYING AT THIS STUFF. I’VE GOT TO GET DEEPER INTO THIS THING CALLED A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THERE’S TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY, FEAR, DECEPTION AND DESTRUCTION OUT THERE FOR ME TO DEAL WITH IT ALONE.
“WELL, I’VE BEEN A BELIEVER OF CHRIST FOR 40 YEARS,”
BUT EVEN AS CHRISTIANS, WE DO FACE IT ALL JUNK ALONE WHEN WE REFUSE TO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE OUR LIVING GOD AND ALLOW HIM TO POUR HIS GRACE OUT ON US.
IMMANUEL...GOD WITH US...DO YOU CHOOSE TO FEEL THE PRESENCE OF HIS COMFORTING SPIRIT? TO USE IT, TO HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM? OR CONTINUE TO LIVE UNSETTLED LIVES? I’M TIRED OF BEING UNSETTLED.
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