https://www.bible.com/events/49179748
Church of the Nazarene – East Rock
God With Us – In the Uncertainty
Living in the will of God often means trusting His plan in the face of great uncertainty.
Today we continue our Advent series entitled “God with Us”.
Christmas, in a word, is about presence. You can’t talk about the significance of Christmas, the most life-changing story in human history, without talking about presence.
This week we begin by understanding why the presence of God with us is such a foundational part of Christmas, and how we can experience His presence in seasons of uncertainty.
The story of Christmas challenges us to see that living in the will of God does not mean the absence of uncertainty. Living in the will of God often means trusting His plan in the face of great uncertainty.
Today, Christmas season 2023, will you trust in the one called Immanuel, God with us?
The story of Christmas may be the best evidence that we can trust his plan, no matter what.
Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary chose faith in the face of immense uncertainty. With her answer, Mary literally put her life on the line. Remember she is legally married, betrothed to her husband- to be found pregnant made her guilty of adultery, punishable by death. Her family would likely dis-own her. She could be shunned, kicked out of the house. Unwelcome at home or at church.
And what about Joseph? He certainly got thrust into his own set of uncertainties, didn’t he?
Matthew records his wrestling with it all.
Matthew 1:18-24
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
Can you imagine the uncertainty that crashed onto the shore of Josephs life when Mary came to him with a baby bump and the story of Gabriel? It had to sound suspect, Joseph knew it wasn’t him. What was he supposed to do? He loved Mary, he loved the Lord, how could this happen?
Joseph’s dreams were seemingly shattered by the mayhem of uncertainty.
But the promise of Presence in the midst of uncertainty changed everything for Joseph.
By all accounts we have, Mary and Joseph were both living for the Lord. They knew is word, they trusted in him, they ordered their lives around following the Lord- but none of that shielded them for facing immense uncertainty.
We think it’s easy because we know how it ends, but there had to be times when the uncertainty was terrifying for this young couple.
The story of Christmas challenges us to see the truth that living in the will of God does not mean the absence of uncertainty. No, rather in Christ you can be sure, even when everything is swirling around.
That’s Immanuel. That’s God with us.
That’s the promise for those in Christ today.
What would it look like for you today to trust God in your uncertainty today No, we don’t know the future. But we can be sure of one thing: God is there
Updates on the new Waynesboro campus
God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey!
Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey.
Giving at COTN
If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!