Immanuel

"What’s in a name?” William Shakespeare

When you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, you may life in his name John 20:31 There is, in fact, no other name under heaven given among men whereby we can be saved Acts 4:12 So naturally, whatever we do, in word or deed, we ought to do in the name of the Lord Jesus Colossians 3:17. For God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father Philippians 2:11-12 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name Luke 10:17 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst Matthew 18:20 The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous man runs into it and they are safe Proverbs 18:20

His name reveals his character Immanuel – God with us

.  Supernatural In Origin– Not just another child, but God in human flesh, John 1:1, 14; Phil. 2:5-8. Supernatural in Nature – Not a normal birth, but a virgin birth, Isa. 7:14, which produced a child without a sin nature, 1 Pet. 2:22. Supernatural in Mission – Why would God enter this world?  He came to fight a battle that humanity could never wage or win.  He came to do battle with Satan and sin.  Eph. 6:10-18; 1 Sam. 17:47.

HIS NAME REVEALS HIS PURPOSE Jesus – Jehovah Is Salvation

 Speaks of His Desire – The name Jesus reveals a God with a desire to save sinners.  We are told that Jesus came into this world not to condemn the lost, but to save them, John 3:16-18.  This was not a new desire, but it was the heartbeat of God even before the world was formed, Rev. 13:8; 1 Pet. 1:18-20.  God’s plan was conceived in eternity and consummated in time.   Describes His Deliverance – The name Jesus reminds us that He came into this world for the sole purpose of setting the “captives” free, Luke 4:18.  He came for our redemption  Titus 2:14.   Points to His Death – The name Jesus reminds us of the fact that He came into this world to die for our sins.  The only way the sin problem could have been dealt with is through the shedding of blood, Heb. 9:22.  Jesus came that He might die on the cross to set us free from sin!  Gal. 1:4, “for us”; Gal. 2:20, “for me”.

HIS NAME REVEALS HIS power Isaiah 9– his name shall be

.  Wonderful Counselor–: The way that God helps us most in our problems (the way He is our counselor) is by allowing us to see how awesome and wondrous He is Mighty God –the God who can overcome all of life’s dangers. Everlasting Father – God who loves and accepts unconditionally Prince of Peace – God who gives us what the world cannot

The valley of vision Christmas prayer

O source of all good, What shall I render to you for the gift of gifts, your own dear Son? Herein is wonder of wonders: he came below to raise me above, was born like me that I might become like him. Herein is love; when I cannot rise to him he draws near on wings of grace, to raise me to himself.

Herein is power; when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart, he united them in indissoluble unity, the uncreate and the created. Herein is wisdom; when I was undone, with no will to return to him, and no intellect to devise recovery, he came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost, as man to die my death, to shed satisfying blood on my behalf, to work out a perfect righteousness for me!

O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds, and enlarge my mind! Let me hear good tidings of great joy, and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore, my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose, my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father! Place me with ox, donkey, camel, goat, to look with them upon my Redeemer’s face, and in him account myself delivered from sin!

Let me with Simeon clasp the newborn child to my heart, embrace him with undying faith, exulting that he is mine and I am his! In him you have given me so much that heaven can give no more. AMEN