I'd like to direct your attention now to God's word and invite you to turn to the book of Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah, chapter seven. I'll be reading the first 16 verses. Here now, the word of the Lord. In the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezan, the king of Syria, and Pekah, the son of Ramaliah, the king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. When the house of David was told Syria is in league with Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. And the Lord said to Isaiah, go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shir Jashub, your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the washer's field, and say to him, Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands. At the fierce anger of Rezan and Syria and the son of Ramaliah, Because Syria with Ephraim and the son of Ramaliah has devised evil against you, saying, let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeal as king in the midst of it. Thus says the Lord God. It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass. For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within 65 years, Ephraim will be shattered from being a people. And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all. I'm going to repeat that phrase. If you are not firm in faith, You will not be firm at all. Again, the Lord spoke to Ahaz. Ask a sign of the Lord your God. Let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. And he said, hear then, O house of David, Is it too little for you to weary men that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah. the king of Assyria. The grass withers, flowers fall, the word of the Lord remains forever. Part of our practice in the Black Forest Reform Congregation is to systematically read through the scriptures. And so in September, we started the book of Isaiah. And so it was somewhere, you can do the math, around mid-October, we came to Isaiah 7. Famous passage, well-known to many people, particularly the portion in verse 14, where it says, you will behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel. And we know Matthew takes this verse and applies it directly to the birth of Jesus Christ. But as we were going through Isaiah, this passage, which I've read scores of times, kept rattling around in my head, this phrase of Emmanuel, which means, Matthew interprets it for us, God with us. God with us. And as it kept rattling around my brain, I kept wanting to say, how is it that I'm supposed to understand God with us and what that means for me today? You know, one of my favorite passages in scripture, and I'm sure we can all go to a dozen passages, which is our favorite, But I like it in Exodus chapter three, and you don't have to turn there if you'll just listen. It's the passage of the burning bush where Moses turns aside from watching the flock and he comes and God appears to him. And God in verse 10 says, come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. God commissions him for a specific task. And what does Moses say? Who am I? Think about that. But isn't that our typical inclination when something happens? Well, how's it affecting me? This is about me, isn't it? So God gives Moses a task. Moses' response is, who am I? And if you look closely, you'll realize God never answered Moses' question. He did answer it, but he said, I will be with you. And this shall be the sign for you that I have sent you when you brought the people out of Egypt. See, God talks about it as an accomplished fact. You shall serve God on this mountain. We always say, or maybe I'll speak for me. Why is it that my sin and my pride always makes me think it's about me? And it's not just here in Isaiah, but I hope we can expand that thinking a little bit more, as I've even just now alluded to Exodus. That with God, it's about us coming alongside God, not saying what God's going to come and do for us. Does God come and do things for us? Yes, he does. For his purposes and for his glory. And how are we getting on board with his plan and his purposes? You know, it's the new year. We do some reflecting. I do some reflecting. Kind of do a 360 every year in December. You know, where have I been? Where am I going? 2025. And I started getting some emails as well from different things I have associations with. And I've already alluded to that it's kind of human nature for us to think, what's in it for me? How is it going to affect me? How's the new administration, the new government, going to affect me? I've got a son in the military. How is a new Secretary of Defense going to affect him? We, just human nature. And that thinking, unfortunately, has seeped really into the mentality of evangelical Christianity, particularly in America. I've been getting emails. What's your 2025 going to look? Are you as happy as God wants you to be? Are you having a fulfilled life? Are you having the purpose and joy in life that God wants you to have? Now, I'm not saying God wants you to be sad and miserable, but friends, let's flip that script. God with us. What does that mean for you and me? Let's go to this passage. I think it provides a little perspective on it. As we go to Isaiah chapter 7, we see a situation in which historically Assyria is on the rise. It's around 735 BC. Now it's not a great superpower as of yet. It has not come through and created its empire at this time. But it's on the rise. And other nations can kind of see it's on the rise. And so they're trying to figure out how to maneuver themselves to be ready for this. So particularly the kingdoms of Syria and the kingdom of Israel have made an allegiance. They've made an alliance together. But they're believing they also, in order to strengthen their alliance, they also need Judah to be a part of this. And so they're putting pressure on the king, Ahaz. It's a time of civil wars. It's a time of political coups. It's a time of assassinations of leaders. It's a time of deceit. Nothing like what you had ever imagined in the Middle East today. That was humor. And Ahaz is at a point of time of crisis and making a decision. What do I do? Do I create kind of a weak and false alliance with these other two kings? And if I don't, I know they're plotting against me to maybe have me assassinated and put somebody else on the throne so that they would have the alliance that they would create. He is facing some real political challenges in front of him. Make no mistake about it. And so he has these decisions in front of him. Enter Isaiah. God goes to Isaiah and says, I want you to go and give Ahaz a message. It's one that's really not on Ahaz's radar right now. And that message is, hey, Ahaz, God's got a plan B for you. Trust Him. Put your trust in Jehovah. And he follows it up with an offer that you won't see anywhere else in scripture. The Lord spoke to Ahaz, tell him, ask a sign of the Lord your God. Let it be deep as Shale or high as heaven. He doesn't put any parameters on this. God is saying, I want to show you I am trustworthy. So I'm not going to tell you what I'm gonna do. You give me something. And I will do it, because I want you to trust me. I want you to follow me. I want you to believe in me. I want you to know that I'm with you. He's giving an offer. How do you refuse it? I was going through this. Some of you know that I cooperate with an organization called Oasis Rest International. And about three years ago, we got a new executive director to our organization, a gentleman's name's Nathan LaGrange. And so Nathan was at our place two, two, three years ago, and he was giving us his testimony. And Nathan's testimony is a little bit different than some. In college, he is a self-proclaimed cocky and arrogant, know-it-all individual. All right, he's got the world under control. But there was this blonde haired gal that he really was attracted to. She was a Christian. She was a little skeptical of this cocky and arrogant guy. But she agreed to go out on a date. Not your typical evangelism date that we would think of. They went to a hard rock Christian concert. And at the end of this heavy metal concert, they gave a presentation of the gospel and talked about forgiveness of sins, about Jesus Christ coming to die on a cross for them. And that if anybody wanted to receive Jesus Christ as their savior and receive eternal life, they could. And Nathan was like, I'm all for that. while his wife-to-be was just sitting there cringing because she knew he was cocky and arrogant. And afterwards, as they were going out, she was like, you better not have just been playing games in there. What do you mean? You promised to follow God. Well, yeah. They told me I could have my sins forgiven. That's a no-brainer. She's like, you better not just be poking fun. It's not like I'm gonna become a preacher or anything, which he did. My point is, this invitation was put in front of him that he had never heard before. The good news, that Jesus Christ forgives sinners. And to his ears, This is an offer I can't refuse. This is too good to be true. What sort of idiot would turn that down? And here was Ahaz. He was king, leader of God's people. And God gave him an offer. that I've never seen anywhere else in scripture, begging him to put his faith and trust in him. And what does Ahaz do? Oh, I'm not gonna put God to the test. His pious words were really nothing but a slap in the face to God. And we think, oh, how could he be so arrogant? But don't we see it every day in our hearts and in our pride? Because when things got tough and hard decisions had to be made, I think I'm the one to make them, he has said. I don't think I can trust God on this one. You perform what you practice. You know the old sayings, practice makes perfect. That's really not true, because if you practice the wrong thing, you're going to do the wrong thing, because you practiced it well. I don't think he has ever practiced trust. And now when the most important time of his life came before him, politically and personally, he performed poorly. We have to perform and practice trust on a daily basis in every situation of our lives. because there will become times that we're going to want to lean in our own understanding. God is with us. And to turn our backs on him is an invitation, really, to judgment. And that's what Isaiah ends this passage with. a judgment upon Ahaz and the kingdom. Well, that was the historical context of what was going on. Let's turn quickly to the sign. Isaiah says, you want to turn God down on the offer that he gives to you. Well, guess what? The Lord is going to give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel. So there's different ways scholars see this. Yes, Matthew correctly and rightly interprets and says this is fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe it also had significance for that day. And the Lord gave a sign, and when that sign was fulfilled, it was basically saying, I am a trustworthy God. You failed to trust me. I've given you signs. One of the reasons I had us read from Genesis and Noah as a count and the rainbow. God makes promises to his people. He often in scripture followed them up with signs. and they were always testimonies to his faithfulness. One author said this, signs and wonders in the Bible are miraculous events that signify deeper spiritual truths, showcasing God's presence and authority. Instances include the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles, underlying divine intervention in human affairs. Signs and wonders appear during pivotal moments in biblical history, affirming God's promises and encouraging trust in his plans. These miraculous acts serve to confirm God's message, offer hope and restoration to believers, and reinforce faith through visible manifestations of His power. Understanding signs and wonders enhances comprehension of God's sovereignty and presence. fostering a deeper commitment to faith in both ancient and contemporary context. God with us. When Isaiah proclaimed this to Ahaz, it was not a new message. It might've been new to Ahaz, but take a quick review through scripture from Genesis to Revelation, Adam and Eve in the garden fellowshiped with God. God would come and it says after they had sinned, they heard God walking in the garden. And they hid because they were afraid. He was their God. They were his children. And in the midst of the tragedy of sin, God promised redemption. God's plan has always been to be with his people. And so as history continued, we talked about Noah and the sign of the rainbow, but with Abraham, the covenant to bless and giving the sign of circumcision, we alluded to Moses and the burning bush where Moses asked, who am I? I will be with you. And it was not Moses. But God, who delivered the signs of the plagues and brought them through the Red Sea to take them to a promised land, why? So they would be his people and he would be their God. And as Joshua was crossing in, God tells to him, no man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give to them. God is a covenant faithful God. Gideon. Fascinating passage in Judges 6, where God calls Gideon to go and defeat the Midianites. And here is a reversal almost of Isaiah 7, because instead of God offering a sign, Gideon says, God, please give me this sign. I'm going to put my fleece out. And if it's wet and the rest of the ground is dry, that's a sign to me. God did it. Why? God called him. God is going to accomplish his purposes. He builds in ways for us to trust him over and over and over again. The next night, Gideon's faith was even just a little bit weakened, so he said, God, let me reverse this sign. Let's let the fleece be dry and the ground wet. And it happened. And as he collected his army, To defeat the Midianites, God said too many, and whittled them down to 300 men. Why? So that man would not get credit, but that the nation would know that it was God who was with them. And it was God who was accomplishing his purposes in their midst. David you can't read the Psalms but have the sense the ones that he wrote of where he felt that it was very personal very intimate that God was there with him as his rock and his Redeemer and Isaiah this passage that we've looked at but it's not just in the Old Testament we go to the New Testament and we have over and over a Although now it goes to another level with a fulfillment in Jesus Christ. God, the covenant faithful God, who has been working about his purposes to redeem his people, sent his son and gave us, you might say, the sign of all signs. that he raised him from the dead. And in raising him from the dead, what does Jesus say to us? All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded. And behold, what? Most of you know what I'm about to say. You know this passage well. I am with you always. to the end of the age. I don't know what I'm gonna face this coming year. I look back in 2024, told you I'd do some reflecting now and then, do a little 360 evaluation, There were things I wasn't prepared for and didn't expect. I didn't expect Black Force to lose a pastor. I didn't expect for us to have a commission come in. I didn't expect, well I did kind of when we were told to expect two new grandchildren. At the beginning of the year, I didn't expect we had a family reunion. I got to be with all of my four kids and their husbands and wives and 17 grandkids. Judy and I got to take a once in a lifetime trip to Europe. I said, Judy, that was so much fun. Let's do it again. She's like, no, then it won't be once in a lifetime. Can't afford it. Not doing it? No. shoulder surgery about two and a half months ago. You see, and I'm sure it's the same for you as it was for me, there were highs and there were lows for me personally and emotionally. My circumstances don't impact God's covenant faithfulness. I am just told that he is faithful, he will complete what he has promised, he will accomplish it, and it's my job to get on board and bend the knee to King Jesus. It's not his to get on my agenda. I need to walk with him. I need to be in step with his purposes. God is with us. Are you with Him? Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. One of our benedictions talks about now to him who is able to do immeasurably beyond all that we ask or imagine. Is that your God who is with you? Or when push comes to shove, oh, this one's pretty serious, God. Has national consequences. To him who is able to do immeasurably beyond what we ask or imagine, do we trust him to fulfill his promises. We have hundreds and thousands of years of where he has been true and faithful. And then I saw, this is the words of the Apostle John in the book of Revelation, closing out. We started a little bit with Adam in Genesis, and again we end in Revelation. The same idea, I will be their God. And they will be my people. Again, He's going to accomplish this. It's not depending on our circumstances and what's happening to you or me. And then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, behold, I am making all things new. He also said, write this down for these words are trustworthy and true. And he said to me, it is done. I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty, I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage and I will be his God and he will be my son. This is future to us, but accomplished in Jesus Christ. The gospel today, God with us. Let us pray. Lord, where we are faithless, give us faith. When we are short to believe by your spirit, give us boldness. Lord, to understand your sovereignty and your presence and your grace, help us to embrace your presence with us. To seek first your kingdom, and your righteousness, allowing you to take our fears, to take our doubts, to take our questions, to give us hope and peace through Jesus Christ. For it's in His mighty name, our King and Savior, our Lord Jesus' name I pray.