Christmas 2022 – Part 2 (The Withness of God)

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Christmas 2022

(Part 2 – The Withness of God)

Good Morning and Welcome to Jesus church

We are in part 2 of our Christmas series

• • • Last week we talked about the idea of a “Free Gift”
      • How in our world… strings attached to idea of anything free
      • And how the way God gives gifts is different than how we do
      • Because God gives regardless of your response
    • If u have a Bible lets turn to Matt Chapter 1
      • Matt & Luke give the most detailed account of Xmas story
      • Matthew writes primarily to Jews / Luke to Gentiles
        • That’s why Matthew is very focused on Joseph’s line
        • Also why it emphasizes the 3 wise men (Is. 60 & Ps 72)

Matt. 1:18-23

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: Ager His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example (that meant stone her to death in the town square), was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel”, which is translated ‘God with us’.

[PRAY]

STORY

Ever noticed difference b/w being with someone and WITH them

• • • If I plan a date for my wife and I
      • Biggest deal isn’t that I’m with her at the resturaunt
      • Biggest deal is that I am WITH her (difference)
    • Now I could plan to go watch a movie – That’s great
      • Technically we are together
      • But there is something missing – the “withness”

There is a huge difference in the two – Based on emphasis

• • • If the statement is: Aaron is with Michelle
      • Aaron & Michelle are the SUBJECT – WITH is the VERB
        • If WE are the emphasis – Point is that we is both there
        • So success is based on proximity
      • If WITH is the emphasis – Point is that we are together
        • Success is based on the “Withness”
        • Now both are true – Neither is wrong

Jesus is God with us

In the same way: 2 ways to read this scripture

• • • A quick read is “Jesus is GOD” with us
      • Matthew’s point is that Jesus is God in the flesh
      • That God became man… 100% true
    • Also read it as Jesus is “God with us”
      • Here Matthew’s point is that we are now together
      • Jesus isn’t distant or far away or aloof or unknowable
      • But that He is close, near and involved

Think option 2 – Matthew is going for (2 reasons)

One: Linguistically

• • • The word Immanuel
      • Immanu – Means to be with
      • El – Short for Elohim (God)
        • Literally means “THE WITHNESS US GOD”

Two: Historically

• • • This is a quote of prophet Isaiah (100 years earlier)
      • Isaiah says this during a time of crisis and uncertainty
      • Israel is under attack – Jerusalem is about to be destroyed
        • Everyone is scared to death
    • God says – Just trust me because I am with you
      • No matter what you see on horizon – I am there

Is. 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.

• • • The emphasis is that this is a sign to you
      • That no matter how bad your crisis, fear, situation
      • I will be with in in the midst of it
        • Jesus is God – Absolutely
        • Matthews point – God is with us

All that to say this whole story of Christmas

Its God born into humanity – Emphasis is “Withness” of God

• • • Turn to Matt 28 (from the first to last chapter)

Matt. 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Now the closing line in Matthew) Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

• • • Matthew starts story of Jesus with the “Withness” of God
      • He ends story of Jesus with the “Withness” of God
    • This isn’t just the arc of Matthew – But the whole Bible
      • Think of Genesis where God is w/ Adam & Eve (beginning)
      • Also look at Revelation (ending)

Rev. 21:3

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.

• • • Point is both begin/end focus on God’s desire to be w/ us
      • Like last week… even when he gave his life
      • He died inbetween two sinners – That’s wasn’t on accident
        • But why does God make this His point

TAG: Why does he want to be with us

Answer: Because God is relational

Jn 1:1 – John tells Xmas story way different: Theological poetry

Jn 1:1

In the beginning was the Word (play on Genesis 1) and the Word (Jesus) was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

• • • Meaning before time and space God was in relationship
      • Creation itself was born out of God’s relational nature
      • And we are invited to step into that relationship
    • When Jesus says “I’m with you always” – not just a promise
      • It is a promise – Always with You
        • Good & Bad… Sickness & Health
        • Success & Failure
      • It is also an invitation… because God is relational by nature

Problem: How relate 2 God: What with looks like

1 – Some people’s WITH: Life under God

• • • This is a bartering system b/w you and God
      • This is based on an if/then relationship
        • If you do this…
        • You will get that
      • If you: Go to church – Do good – Volunteer
        • Then nothing bad will happen to you
        • You’ll get the job
    • But when tragedy strikes…
      • You blame him for things He had nothing to do with
      • Then they get angry and bitter at God
      • Because he went back on a deal that you made up
        • B/C there’s an underline sense of entitlement
        • God you owe me

2 – Some people’s WITH: Life over God

• • • These people do what they want when they want
      • This is partially secularism (diff than atheism)
      • You can be Xian and relationship w/ God be this way
    • Live as if God has little or nothing to do with everyday life
      • God is on the edge… you are in the center
        • Career/Body/Love Life/Schedule
    • Also an idea in this of “Biblical principles for life”
      • 10 steps to raising perfect children
      • 5 prayers to make your rich
      • 7 truths that will keep you healthy
        • Underneath subtle way of digging at God
        • You manipulate God into getting what you want
        • Insurance policy just incase God was gonna let u down

3 – Some people’s WITH: Life from God

• • • More interested in getting something from God
      • Than we are in God himself (very popular today)
    • Sociologist from Chapel Hill: Christian Smith
      • Decades of study on what young people believe about God
        • God is a combination Devine butler & cosmic therapist
        • Primarily concern is with their own happiness
      • Called it Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (Social Xianity)
        • Moralistic – Be a good person
        • Therapeutic – All about your happiness and joy
        • Deism – There’s a God – Not involved unless need Him
    • And this consumerism carries into how we relate to God
      • God is a commodity… a religious bank
      • Put something in – So you can get back w/ interest
        • We become more interested in gift than giver

Skye Jethani (Book – WITH)

So much of contemporary religion is focused on gifts rather than God. We use God as a means to repair our family, we use him as a therapist, a political advisor, financial planner. From God’s hand we seek security, influence, power and wealth but do we actually want God himself. We shouldn’t be surprised that when we fixate on what we can attain from God, we fail to experience the peace of his presence in our lives.

4 – Some people’s WITH: Life for God

• • • Exact opposite of life from God
      • This is someone who takes care of the poor
      • This is someone who fights for the voiceless
      • This is the non-profit entrepreneur
      • This is the missionary
    • All for God’s mission – And that’s a beautiful thing
      • But the problem comes when…
        • When the mission of God eclipse
        • The God of the mission
          • This is a recipe for burnout of the soul
          • Messed up way to relate to the God who started all
    • Here’s how you know if the mission is coming before God
      • Live in tension: “Not doing enough” vs “Doing too much”
        • You isolate yourself from others (Excuse to not deal)
      • You feel everyone else is lazy or not doing enough
        • While at the same time say “I wish I could not care”
        • All the while deep down feel a disappointment to God

Tag: You can be in any of these: Under/Over/From/For

We relate to people in the same way

Life under others – People pleasers

• • • Want everyone to like them
      • So they are nice/fun/compliant/encouraging
      • But in return expect you to like them… can’t take criticism

Life over others – Controllers

• • • Goal is to do everything your way
      • Maybe you are bossy or domineering
      • Or sly and manipulative

Life from others – Relationship shopping

• • • People’s worth and value based on what they can do for u
      • Friendship is weighed by function

Life for others – All about the mission

• • • Get on mission with me
      • You’re an obstacle to my mission
      • You’re an asset to my mission
      • You’re part of my mission
        • People become a task to accomplish

Question is: Is there a better way

Answer is yes – It’s God’s way of being WITH us

• • • All 4 of these ways have some truth in them – None all bad
      • Of course we get life from God
      • Of course we live for God
      • Of course living under God’s wisdom is good
      • Of course Biblical principles can be beneficial
    • Underlining mentality: Relationship w/ God is means to end
      • But reality is that GOD IS THE END
      • God is the point
    • Xmas shopping – Lyla hates to be left out
      • One of us will go out shopping for gifts
      • Lyla wants to go
        • Tell her – If you go we can’t buy you anything
        • What would you rather have
          • Christmas presents or go shopping with me
        • She says – I’d rather go with you
          • Now I doubt that is true
          • In the moment I’ll take it

TAG: This is how God wants to it be with Him – Point is relationship

How do you relate to God

If you don’t know – Look at what you value/fear

• • • Life under God
      • Value safety and security…
      • Fear tragedy, hardship and pain (Because God owes you)
    • Life over God
      • Value command, control and your 5 year goals
      • Scared of abandonment, trust and change
    • Life from God
      • Value money, stuff, possessions and success
      • Worry about money, stuff, possessions and success
    • Life for God
      • Value accomplishment and achievement
      • Fear living a normal, ordinary, unimportant life
        • Because you want a better story
        • Scared to death of mediocrity
    • Life with God… You value God and what you fear: NOTHING
      • Because no one can take God from you
      • They can take health… money… name… success
      • Nobody can take the “WITHNESS” of God from u

So how does that work in everyday life

First it’s how you approach the scriptures

• • • Very hard to engage relationship with God if His word is a
      • Rule book (under)
      • Self-help guide (over)
      • Pep talk (from)
      • Manifesto (for)…
    • Instead approach scriptures with God
      • That they would be a context to meet with God
      • As a place or moment to encounter God
        • Not just about the book but about the author
        • Bible is a book that your read as it reads you

Also comes down to prayer

• • • Prayer is communication with God
      • Also is communion with God
    • Late 80’s Dan Rather did interview w/ Mother Theresa
      • One of his questions was about prayer
        • When you pray – What do you say to God
        • Her reply was – I don’t say anything: I listen
          • He asked when you listen what does God say
          • Her reply was he doesn’t say anything: He listens
      • She said – If you can’t understand that… I can’t explain it
    • This is what Paul calls prayer without ceasing
      • This was never meant to quit job and live in a locked room
      • It was in everyday life – Live in continuous “withness” of God
        • I want to learn to always be at 2 places at once
          • Where ever life might take me
          • And with the presence of God

TAG: So all that to say: Read ur Bible and Pray – But do it with God

Brother Andrew – Dishwasher – Practice of presence of God

The time of business with me does not differ from the time of prayer. And in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, many people are calling for different things, but I possess God in as great of tranquility as if I were on my knees before my Savior Jesus.

• • • God is with you where ever you are
      • In the silence of night… afterwork rush hour
      • In the hospital room of your child
    • He is there – It’s His nature and His promise
      • Question isn’t is He with you – Quesiton is are you with him