Matthew 1:22-23…Ready

Matthew 1:22-23…Ready

All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”— which means, “God with us.” (i.e. God incarnate or God in the flesh.)

More Notes & Applications   

• Encourages believers that were not alone, that whatever problems, struggles, and situations we find our self’s in God is with us. (Take comfort in knowing that no matter the trials and tribulations of life, God will bring you through it!)

• Reminds believers how God is always near, and not just when we’re doing good and things are going great. But also when we’re struggling and when things are going bad. (Know that God is still there whether your feeling lovable or unlovable!)

• Reminds believers how Jesus didn’t just come to hang out with us or make us feel better about ourselves, rather He came Save us and change us in real ways!

• Teaches the next time we’re going through a hard time, wondering where God is in all this. We can know that God hasn’t abandoned us, but has a reason and purpose in it even though we can’t see it right away. (Always remind yourself of God’s presence even on the toughest and darkest days!)

• Calls for bringing God’s presence/power into every situation. (Always remind yourself that your not fighting your battles alone, that God is going to be there to deliver you and give you the victory over it!).

• Encourages believers how we have a God who is loving & sympathetic, that He knows and understands our struggles, temptations, and weaknesses and will never leave, forsake, or abandon us no matter what! (cf. Heb. 4:15-16, 13:5-6)

• Assures believers in being successful in whatever endeavor that God has called us too, whether its in life or ministry. (Always remind yourself the next time you feel discouraged, abandoned, or too timid to take on some daunting project remember that God is with you!)

• Reminds believers even when it feels that God is a million miles away, that you cant feel Him or see Him, know that He is near!

• Teaches how we can bring our sin, guilt, and shame before God and not feel judged or condemned, but loved and forgiven.

• Reminds believers how it is not our willpower, self-effort, or wisdom that will give us the victory over temptation and addiction, but the Lord’s presence in our life’s! (Know your not alone, that God is there to help you fight the battle, so don’t give up?)

  Even today, the next time your going through the battles of life, whether its loss of a job, sickness, death, divorce, surgery, bankruptcy, illness, cancer, sin, temptation, depression, loneliness, etc. we can have confidence and assurance that God will be there, strengthening and supporting us through it! (cf. Rom. 8:31, 8:38-39)

  Note:  In context the quoted passage of Isaiah was in reference to a message of encouragement to Ahaz King of Judah, that God would rescue and deliver him from his enemies, the two kings Rezin of Israel and Pekah of Syria-(2-Kings 16:5) who were about to invade His country. And as a sign Ahaz was told a virgin would give birth to a child and name him Immanuel. (Is. 7:1-16) Some scholars believe that the Virgin being spoken of here as the wife of Ahaz who would bore him a child. Others believe that it is reference to a young woman betrothed to Isaiah who would bare him a child. (cf. Is. 8:1-3) This is what is known as a telescoping prophecy to be both fulfilled in the immediate future, within the life time of it’s original hearers and then later more fully fulfilled through the birth of Christ by Mary.

  -Virgin-Meaning: Because the word “Virgin” has two definitions “Betula”-meaning literally Virgin, and “Alma”-meaning “Young Maiden” (cf. Gen. 24:43, Prov. 30:19) Scholars have debated whether Isaiah 7:14 was simply referring to a “Young Woman” and not literally a Virgin. Others argue that if the sign that Isaiah had been referring to was simply meant to be a young woman having a baby, that in it’s self would have been no big deal, since such an event happened every day! Therefore Isaiah had to be referring to some sort of miraculous birth that was out of the ordinary.

  (For additional Applications get the whole Book) 

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