Message Four: "God With Us"

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
Matthew 1:23

One day a 73-year-old woman met a 77-year-old preacher, and they fell madly in love. The old man of God courted her in the summer, and they sat on the porch for their dates. She was a little deaf and their conversations were quite audible. One night the preacher said loudly, “Matilda, I love you.” “I know it,” she replied, “but don’t talk so loud, the neighbors will hear!”

There are some things that should be whispered, but here’s one thing that should be shouted. It’s found in Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Jesus was born of a woman, having no earthly father. He wasn’t a man who became God, but God who became man. Jesus was God dwelling in human flesh–God seeing through human eyes, God hearing through human ears, God speaking through human lips, God working through human hands, God walking through human feet, God living through a human heart.

Jesus is God with us to save us from our sins. God, in order to become a saving God, had to become God with us. He had to identify Himself with us. He had to live our lives. For sin can’t be removed by a remark. It can be blotted out only by being born. Its stain and sentence can be erased only by being endured. And that’s why God became man. That’s why Jesus was born of a virgin. He was born without sin. He lived our life, faced our temptations, and living without sin, He bore our sin, carried our sorrows and died our death. He did it all that He might become our Savior from sin. And Jesus came to save by a miracle of birth. He’ll save you by another miracle of birth–the new birth. It’s not by blood–that is, it’s not by your natural heritage; nor by the will of the flesh–that is, not by your natural desire or personal effort; nor of the will of man–that is, not in a way that any creature or church can do for you; but of God. As you receive Him as your Savior from sin, He’ll save you and you’ll be born again.

Jesus is God with us to strengthen us in our struggles. He’s not a God afar off, but a God at hand. He doesn’t love you and then leave you. He doesn’t save you and shout, “Root, hog, or die.” He stays with you once you ask Him to come into your heart. He promises, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Have you noticed how men and women in the Bible grew brave, and strong, and holy in the presence of our Lord? The weak Peter grew strong, the greedy Zacchaeus grew generous, the quarrelsome man of Gadara grew calm, the polluted Samaritan adulteress grew pure, when Christ was nigh. He came between them and their temptations. He sheltered them from Satan. He helped them to be better. What He did for them, He’ll do for you.

Jesus is God with us to sustain us in our sorrows. One day a golden statue was made of a king. It was ninety feet high and nine feet wide. Then a command was given, “When the band strikes up, you’re to fall flat on your face to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue; anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a flaming furnace.” When the band began to play, everyone fell to the ground and worshiped the statue–except three young men.

The king, in a terrible rage, ordered them to be brought to him, and he offered them one more chance, saying, “If you refuse, you’ll be thrown into a flaming furnace within the hour. And what god can deliver you out of my hands then?” “O Nebuchadnezzar,” they replied, “we’re not worried about what will happen to us. If we’re thrown into the flaming furnace, our God is able to deliver us out of your hand, Your Majesty. But if He doesn’t, please understand, sir, that even then we’ll never under any circumstances serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have erected.”

Then the king became angry. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual, and he called his strongest men to bind them and throw them into the fire. They were bound, and because the fire was so hot, the flames leaped out and killed the men as they threw them in. So the three men fell down bound into the roaring flames. But suddenly, as he was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed, “Didn’t we throw three men into the furnace?” “Yes,” they answered. “Look,” he shouted, “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the flames, and they aren’t even hurt, and the fourth looks like the Son of God.”

In all our fierce trials today we too find we’re not alone. Our Lord is with us. He’s our saving, strengthening and sustaining God!

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.