Scripture Reading: Psalm 23

Introduction

A. On the day Jesus was born, a remarkable prophecy was fulfilled: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14; cf. Matthew 1:23).

B. What a blessing it was to the people Jesus met to have God with them, and what a great blessing it is to us still today!

Discussion

I. What a comfort it can be to know that God is with us!

A. God will be with us in the hour of trial (2 Timothy 4:16).

B. God will be with us in the hour of sorrow (Psalms 23:4).

C. God will be with us in the hour of death (Luke 16:22).

II. Do we always welcome God to be with us?

A. When we pray for the Lord to “go with us” (Exodus 33), do we really want Him to come all the time?

B. Do we dismiss the Lord in our conversations?

C. Do we dismiss Him during stressful situations?

D. Do we dismiss Him in times of temptation?

III. Is God with you today?

A. Sin separates the soul from God (Isaiah 59:2).

B. There are many people who think that God is with them when really He isn’t (1 Samuel 5:3–7).

C. If there is sin in your life, God cannot be with you until your sin has been remitted (Joshua 7).

Conclusion

A. If you wish for God to be with you in your life, you must be holy, because He is holy (1 Peter 1:14–16; Leviticus 11:44–45).

B. If we will be faithful to Him until the end, we can be caught up on the last day to “always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)!