Immanuel: Experiencing God's Presence

Living in Reflection

Bobby Humes

Today's Scripture: Luke 2:18-20

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Luke 2:18-20 NIV

18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Immanuel: Experiencing God's Presence

Transformational Joy

Jon Fredricks

Today's Scripture: Matthew 2:9-11 NIV

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Matthew 2:9-11 NIV

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV

11 ...He has also set eternity in the human heart…

1) A FLICKERING HOPE

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Matthew 17:20 NIV

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

2) AN UNCHARACTERISTIC PAUSE

Matthew 2:1-2 NIV

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Acts 17:27 NIV

27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

James 4:8 NIV

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you...

Isaiah 55:6 NIV

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

3) A WONDERFUL SURRENDER

Matthew 2:11 NIV

11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 11:28 NIV

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

John 14:6 NIV

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Immanuel: Experiencing God's Presence

The Journey

Jon Fredricks

Today's Scripture: Matthew 2:1-8 NIV

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Matthew 2:1-8 NIV

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

John 3:16 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1) THE JOURNEY BEGINS WITH THE FATHER

John 6:44 NIV

44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

John 12:32 NIV

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Revelation 3:20 NIV

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

2) THE JOURNEY IS A NATURAL RESPONSE

Acts 17:27 NIV

27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV

9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Romans 1:20 NIV

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

3) THE JOURNEY IS A FAITH DECISION

Mark 4:31-32 NIV

31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Revelation 3:20 NIV

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Immanuel: Experiencing God's Presence

God's Perfect Plan

Jon Fredricks

Today's Scripture: Matthew 1:18-23 NIV

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Matthew 1:18-23 NIV

18 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. 19 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.

20 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. 21 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.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

1) THE WITH US IS THE PROMISE FULFILLED

John 1:1-4 NIV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

John 1:14 NIV

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Isaiah 7:14 NIV

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

2) THE WITH US IS A PROMISE TO ACTUALLY WALK WITH US

John 15:4 NASB

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

Hebrews 13:5 NIV

5 … because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

John 14:16 NIV

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever

Matthew 28:20 NIV

20 … And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

3) THE WITH US IS MORE THAN ENOUGH

John 3:16-17 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Romans 8:31 NIV

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

1 John 4:4 NIV

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Psalm 23:1-6 NIV

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Praying Like It Matters

Prayers That Worship

Bobby Humes

Today's Scripture: Habakkuk 3:1-3 ESV

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Isaiah 43:7 ESV

everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Psalm 51:17 ESV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Philippians 4:12-13 ESV

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Habakkuk 3:1-3 ESV

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth. O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah.

His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.

Habakkuk 3:7-9 ESV

Habakkuk 3:11-13 ESV

Habakkuk 3:17-19 ESV

1) WEAKENED WORSHIP

Matthew 15:8-9 ESV

This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

Isaiah 59:2-3 ESV

but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness.

John 4:22-24 ESV

You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Mark 12:30 ESV

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

2) WORTHY WORSHIP

Psalm 44:1 ESV

O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:

Psalm 77:12-14 ESV

I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.

Psalm 92:4-5 ESV

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 ESV

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

Psalm 48:10 ESV

As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

Ephesians 6:10 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Psalm 18:1-3 ESV

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

3) PRAYER THAT WORSHIPS

Habakkuk 3:2 ESV

Philippians 4:8 ESV

Habakkuk 3:18 ESV

Phillipians 4:6 ESV

Habakkuk 3:19 ESV

Psalm 40:8 ESV

Praying Like It Matters

While You Wait

Jon Fredricks

Today's Scripture: Habakkuk 2:4 NIV

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Psalm 16:11 NIV

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Matthew 11:28 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Acts 17:27 NIV

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

James 4:8 NIV

Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Habakkuk 2:4 NIV

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness

Habakkuk 2:4 KJV

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Galatians 3:11 NIV

11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 1:17 NIV

17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Proverbs 15:29 NIV

The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

1) FIND WHAT IS TRUE

Habakkuk 2:4 KJV

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Matthew 6:10 NIV

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

2) TAKE THE STEPS YOU ALREADY KNOW

Habakkuk 2:4 KJV

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

1 Peter 3:12 NIV

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

James 5:16 NIV

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Acts 10:1-4 NIV

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”

Isaiah 58:10 NIV

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

3) GET FOCUSED ON FAITH

Habakkuk 2:4 KJV

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Matthew 21:22 NIV

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Matthew 17:20 NIV

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Galatians 3:11 NIV

11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

Galatians 3:14 NIV

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

John 14:6 NIV

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:13 NIV

13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Praying Like It Matters

Prayer Position

Jon Fredricks

Today's Scripture: Habakkuk 2:1 NIV

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Habakkuk 1:2 NIV

How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?

Habakkuk 2:1 NIV

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

Habakkuk 2:1 ERV

I will stand like a guard and watch.

I will wait to see what the Lord will say to me.

I will wait and learn how he answers my questions.

Habakkuk 2:1 VOICE

I will take my place at the watchtower.

I will stand at my post and watch.

I will watch and see what He says to me. I need to think about how I should respond to Him

When He gets back to me with His answer.

John 17:3 NIV

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

1) TAKE MY PLACE

Habakkuk 2:1 NIV

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

2) EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Habakkuk 2:1 NIV

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

James 1:6 NIV

6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

3) GO TO GROW

Habakkuk 2:1 VOICE

I will take my place at the watchtower.

I will stand at my post and watch.

I will watch and see what He says to me. I need to think about how I should respond to Him

When He gets back to me with His answer.

1 Peter 2:2 NIV

2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

4) PLAY THE LONG GAME

Habakkuk 2:1 ERV

I will stand like a guard and watch.

I will wait to see what the Lord will say to me.

I will wait and learn how he answers my questions.

Colossians 4:2 NIV

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Luke 18:1 NIV

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.