Sunday 5th January, 2025

As we conclude the celebrations of Christmas and New Year, we may find ourselves having enjoyed the festivities, gatherings, and joys of the season. Yet, we must pause to reflect on the true message of Christmas: ‘Emmanuel – God with us.’

The question we must ask ourselves today, on this first Sunday of the year, is that: Is Jesus, the Son of God, truly with you? If God is not with us, then we are walking with someone else or relying on our own strength and unwise flesh-based wisdom. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, we may be pleasing the worldly god instead of walking and living with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Key Scriptures

Isaiah 7:14 – ‘Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name IMMANUEL.’

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.’

1 John 3:7–10 – ‘Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.’

3 things that prove Jesus is With You!

1.       The Power to Erase & Remove

Jesus removes misconceptions about God, showing us that He is a loving Father.
John 1:18 – ‘No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.’

He calls us to erase idols from our lives, as nothing can stand before the Lord.
1 Samuel 5 – The Ark of the Covenant caused the idol Dagon to fall when placed in its temple.

He erases distance between us and the Father, drawing near to us in times of trouble, debt, loss, or unemployment; because He is the physical image of God the Father. Amen

2.       The Power to Express – Love of God.

John 3:16 – ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’

God has expressed His amazing love for you personally:

• As our past is FORGIVEN.
• He gave us a PURPOSE for Living.
• He assured us a HOME in Heaven

In response, we are called to love Him and love our neighbors as He has loved us.
Ephesians 3:18–19 – ‘…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.’ This love is everlasting, reaches everywhere, restores even from the deepest pit, and covers our failures with hope.

3.       The Power to Enable

In John 14:8–9 Jesus shows us that knowing Him is knowing the Father. Through Christ, we are enabled to have a true relationship with God, not just religion. That relationship produces humility, because the closer we come to Jesus, the more we realize our need for Him. If knowing Jesus does not humble us, then our knowledge is still shallow.

This humility should flow into our relationships, with our physical family and with our spiritual family. Are we building relationships with love, honor, and service, or with pride and self-interest? We were created for relationship with God and with one another, and when we surrender to Christ, He activates the power to enable us to walk in humility, unity, and love.

How you can know the power of JESUS is with you:

1. As I carry the God given power to ERASE/REMOVE every obstacle that dares to hinder my walk with Christ.
2. I walk in the power to EXPRESS and demonstrate the same unconditional love of Jesus to others.
3. I live in the power that ENABLES and nurture a deep, authentic relationship with the Lord, my Father.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord Jesus, I fully surrender my life into Your hands. Thank You for stepping down from heaven to erase my past, to pour out Your unfailing love, and to receive me as a beloved child of the Father. Walk with me every moment, be my Emmanuel God with me today, tomorrow, and forever.
Amen.

 

Bible References:

1. Isaiah 7:14
2. Matthew 1:23
3. 1 John 3:7–10
4. John 1:18
5. 1 Samuel 5
6. John 3:16
7. Ephesians 3:18–19
8. John 14:8–9

Preached By,

Adeel Abid Pace

Founder & Senior Pastor

Call To Worship Ministries, Dubai.

Blog assist by

Tamsil Munir

Media Associate

Call To Worship Ministries, Dubai