TEXT: MATTHEW 1:21-23; 1 PETER 5:10
Matthew 1:21-23
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
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.
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
OPENING REMARK
Everybody, praise the Lord! Emmanuel is here. Your Saviour, Healer is here – God with us. He will take away every sickness and infirmity.
INTRODUCTION
We are here again to lift up Emmanuel, we are believing in Him and are being transformed by Him. This December GCK as well as Retreat focuses on Emmanuel and today, we are looking at
EMMANUEL, THE MERCIFUL GOD OF ALL GRACE.
Mtthew 1:21-23. Christ came not to pet sinners or tolerate sin in His Kingdom but to set everyone free from sin. If sin overwhelms your life, welcome, He will give you salvation from sin and set you free. Some people don’t believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, but it is true. The Word of God confirms it to us that a virgin shall bear a Son and He shall be called Emmanuel, meaning God with us. Everything we need He will do for us tonight.
A. THE MERCIFUL GOD WITH GRACE FOR ALL (John 1:16-18; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Romans 3:23-24)
The grace of God is available for all. The most vile sinner, the most terrible sinner will get his portion. The grace of God is like a sea of water which can never run dry. The grace of God came to us through Jesus Christ, through Emmanuel, our Lord Jesus Christ. Tonight is the night of spectacular miracles in every life. Jesus is Emmanuel, the Son of God the Father who reconciles us to God and brings salvation to us.
Titus 2:11-14. The grace of God does not bring sin and iniquity to us, but salvation and new life. It was because grace was not in your life, that was why you were swimming in sin in the first place. Tonight is your night to be saved. As many as come to Him will be saved. God is holy, man is unholy, God is of love, but man is of hatred, God is good, but man is bad. He has power to bestow His good nature upon us.
Anyone abiding in the grace of God is able to resist sin. The reason why grace comes is to help us live soberly, righteously and Godly in this present evil world. It will happen in your life if you believe. Your neighbour will see you and will be amazed because you are not as you used to be. Then you will tell them that it is because of the grace of God.
The change happened because the Saviour comes to you, He said He stands at the door and knocks, it you open to Him, He will come in and abide with you. He looks into your life and removes every kind of sin, small and great. He redeems and renews your life and the grace of God manifests in you everywhere you are – home, business place, office, etc. You will be zealous of good works, unlike before when you were zealous of evil works.
2 Corinthians 9:8. God is able to make all grace abound in your life. God’s grace does not come in trickles, it comes in abundant and sufficient measure. Whenever you raise your hand during altar call, God’s grace to overcome sin flows into your life.
Romans 3:23-24. When the grace of God is not in your life, you are bereft of the glory of God. His grace brings glory to your life and you have power to live above sin.
B. HIS MANIFOLD GRACE AND GOODNESS FOR THE AFFLICTED (Psalms 145:8-9,19; Acts 10:38,43; Mark 7:37; Romans 2:4)
When you are sick and have incurable diseases, you are afflicted.
There is pain and afflictions, but tonight, every affliction is taken away and the goodness of God locates you. At the mention of the name of Jesus, all plagues and afflictions are taken away. God is good to all – to Israel then and to the rest of us today. His goodness takes away all sickness and diseases.
Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” The power of God was over Christ in multiple measures and He healed all who were sick and afflicted – He never turned anyone away, He never pronounced any sickness as too difficult to deal with. He cleansed the lepers, He revived parts of the body that were dead, He brought joy, transformation and healing and deliverance to many lives.
Some people say when they are suffering because the will of God permits it. No, it is not the will of God for anyone to suffer, the devil is the one who wants us to suffer. Christ healed all who were under the yoke of sicknesses because God was with Him.
Mark 7:37 “And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.” In every part of your body and in your life, the Lord will do all things well.
Why does Jesus heal all, even the ones who were yet to come to Him in repentance? (Romans 2:4) He is drawing them to Himself. He is telling them He could do so much for them if they come fully to Him. Be the first person to come to Him tonight. He will do you good.
C. THE MANIFESTED OF GOD FROM THE ALMIGHTY (Acts 11:23,26; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Corinthians 15:10,58; Hebrews 12:15-17,28)
He is the all-powerful and at the name of Jesus tonight, all problems are solved. He manifests and splashes His grace upon us as the Almighty and able God.
Acts 11:23 “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” When Barnabas came to Antioch, he saw a great transformation in the lives of the believers. They were not bitter and angry people, rather their lives were transformed. This is how it ought to be in your life. You life must be different after you are saved.
You cannot claim to be saved when you are still bugged down with anger of over ten years, lying, stealing and adultery of the past. After conversion, you don’t go back to the jungle of sin. You don’t go back to the gangs or hard drugs, sin partners in adultery, robbery gangs, but a new life comes to you, and everyone around you must know that you are saved. Barnabas counseled the brethren in Antioch to cleave to the Lord with a purposeful heart.
2 Corinthians 6:14-16 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
You cannot and must not be unequally yoked with unbelievers again after your salvation. You no longer have any part with unbelievers or participate in anything that has to do with idolatry. You are totally separated from sins and sinners in the world. You are not eating, drinking with or running errands for them. Nothing unclean will come near you anymore.
Those of us who are already saved, we are saved by grace, upheld and uplifted by grace.
1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Don’t say that Crusade is only for sinners, it is also for the saved to receive more grace to be what they ought to be. When we don’t live as God wants, it only means that the grace of God over us has been in vain.
The grace of God does not come by your crying, shouting, rolling on the floor, but by you asking Him to bestow it upon you.
Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” The grace and goodness of God will come upon your life tonight.
Bow your head and close your eyes. Pray to the Lord. Ask for the grace of God for salvation and sustenance in the faith.
