2. Matthew 1:23 (NLT) “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

3. Matthew 1:18-19 (NLT) 18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

4. This was a time of personal crisis for Joseph.

5. Matthew 1:20-21 (NLT) 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

6. Matthew 1:22-24 (NLT) 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.

8. Isaiah 7:2b (NIV84) …so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

9. This was a time of personal crisis for King Ahaz and a national crisis for his nation.

10. Isaiah 7:4a (NIV84) 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid.

11. Isaiah 7:4b-7a (NIV84) Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” 7 Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

12. Isaiah 7:4b-7a (NIV84) “‘It will not take place, it will not happen, 8 for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’”

13. Ahaz rejects the promises of God.

14. Joseph believed the angel. Ahaz did not believe Isaiah.

15. Isaiah 7:9b (NIV84) “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

16. Isaiah 7:14 (NLT) 14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

17. Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) 3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

18. John 1:14 (NLT) 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

19. John 1:14a (THE MESSAGE) 14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood…

20. Immanuel! God is with us!

22. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 6PM