Teacher: Pastor Chet Lowe

Main Scriptures: Matthew 1, Isaiah 7, Luke 2

Date of Teaching: December 24, 2022

• Matthew 1 :22-23
  • This prophesy comes from Isaiah 7:14 hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth
    • It was a message God gave to King Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah
      • King Ahaz was a wicked king
        • But God gave King Ahaz a message, a sign and deliverance anyway
    • “Immanuel” means “God is with us”
      • His presence is a kindness to us because we’re sinners which makes us unworthy to be in the presence of a Holy God
      • It’s His kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4)
      • His presence brings joy (Psalm 16:11)
    • When we don’t have His presence, we’re filled with anxiety (Luke 2:40-48)
      • It’s easy to be distracted and walk away from His presence
      • He promises to draw near to us when we draw near to Him (James 4:8)
        • He will be “Immanuel” to us no matter our past or where we find ourselves. We just have to draw near