Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:23

C.I.: Heaven’s Answer to Earth’s Problems

Today the world celebrates the birth of Jesus (idyllic scenes of a manger surrounded by sheep & cattle), bright star overhead, etc. – But many today don’t have those feelings. Highest incidence of suicide is now (CDC)!
As we saw in our Reading – there are many titles for Jesus – but one of the best is “Immanuel”!!!

I. Earth's Problems are Answered by One Word, “Immanuel”

A. PROBLEM #1: An Unplanned Pregnancy (Luke 1:26-39)

1. The birth of Jesus was not something Mary had planned.
a. (Lk. 1:30-34), “‘Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. – Behold, you
will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.’ – And Mary said
to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’”
1) Mary’s bringing of Jesus into the world created a problem for her.

b. The consequences Mary might have had to face - were greater than anything we face today!
1) (Gen. 38:24), “Judah was informed, ‘Your daughter-in-law has played the harlot, behold,
she is with child by harlotry.’ – Judah said, ‘Bring her out and let her be burned.’”
2) (Deut. 22:21), “They shall bring the girl to the doorway of her father’s house, and the men of
the city will stone her to death, since she has committed an act of folly in Israel playing the H.

c. Even today an unplanned pregnancy – can create great problems for people...
1) Cite Allen Guttmacher Institute report: 49% of all pregnancies are unplanned/54% aborted…
2) Since over half of these end in an abortion – most people are saying, “I can’t deal w/this!”
3) Now try to imagine a young, unmarried Jewish girl named Mary who has become pregnant?

d. Yet Mary knew if “God [is] with Us” (Immanuel) – then she understood that she & He together
could handle any problem that arose – if she would just trust in Him.
1) (Lk. 1:46-49), “Mary said, ‘My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my
Savior. – For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant; for behold, from
this time on all generations will called me blessed. – For the Mighty One has done great
things for me.’”
2) Pregnancies today aren’t miraculous – yet planned/not - they are from God, (Psa. 127:3),
“Children are a gift…,” - If we keep Him with us during/after the pregnancy – it will be OK!

B. PROBLEM #2: Marriage Difficulties (Matthew 1:18-25)

1. Not all of us have had to deal with an unplanned pregnancy - but most have had marriage problems.
a. (vs. 18-19), “Now the birth of Jesus was as follows. – When His mother Mary had been
betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
– And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to
divorce her secretly.”
1) The 1-year betrothal period was for the Jews – just as binding as a marriage (divorce to end).
2) While he had every right to have Mary stoned to death – he instead opted for a divorce.

b. Marriage today is in trouble… (statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau)
1) 10% of pop. in the U.S. is divorce (it’ll get worse) – 50% of new marriages is 1997 end in D!
2) When 2 people believe “God with Us” – chances of getting a divorce decreases dramatically!

c. (vs. 20-21), “But when he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord had appeared to him in a
dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which
has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. – And she will bear a son, and you shall call His
name Jesus, for it is He who will save the people from their sins.”
1) It is not enough to be “religious,” or “go to church.” – We must trust that God is with Us!
2) (vs. 24-25), “And Joseph arose from his sleep, and DID as the angel of the Lord commanded
him, and took Mary as his wife, - and kept her as a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and
he called His name Jesus”

d. Someone may say, “When God speaks to me - maybe then I won’t divorce! But until then…?!”
1) Yet God has spoken to us - through His Son, (Heb. 1:1-2), “God, after He spoke long ago…
2) He wants to be an active member in every marriage – and He will - IF we listen to Him!
3) (Eph. 5:22, 25), “Wives, be subject to your own husbands … Husbands, love your wives….”

C. PROBLEM #3: Government Intrusions

1. Joseph and Mary would have been happy to have their Child in Nazareth.
a. Yet God had other plans, (Lk. 2:1,3), “Now it came about in those days that decree went out from
Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. – All proceeded to register…”
1) Years before God had made a promise - (Micah 5:2), “You Bethlehem Ephrathah, are by no
means least amongst the clans of Israel, from you One shall go forth from Me to be a ruler…”
2) So, the decision by Caesar caused Joseph & Mary to become “homeless” at a very bad time!!

b. Yet that intrusion was nothing compared with what King Herod had in mind…
1) (Matt. 2:16), “…he [Herod] became very enraged, and sent an slew all the male children
who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs who were 2 years old an under.”
2) With abortion laws & certain other government policies – children today are still in danger.
a. “God with Us” - does NOT mean our lives will be wonderful. – (Mt. 10:34), “Do not think I came to bring peace upon the earth….”
b. But it does mean we have Someone we can turn to - when we are struggling. (Rom. 8:31), “Since God is for us, who can be against us?”
3) (Matt. 2:13), “…an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise, take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain their until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.’”
4) When we trust in God – no government or force are earth can truly harm us!

CONCLUSIONS:

1. For “Seekers of God” – but who haven’t found Him – (Matt. 2:1-2), “Now after Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in
Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who is born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east,
and have come to worship Him.”
2. The God they are looking for - is WITH US – and He has given us a command, (Matt. 28:19-20)!