SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 13, December 20, 2009

Who do you say that I am?
Emmanuel- God With Us
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-24, Matthew 28:16-20, Isaiah 43:1-6
Optional: Psalm 139:7-10, Joshua 1:1-9
Memory Verse: "Go and make disciples…And surely I will be with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20 (Pre-K to grade 3)
      The angel told Joseph not to be afraid, not to divorce Mary (betrothal was legally binding) because the unborn child, a son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was to be called "Jesus" (meaning Yahweh saves) because he would "save his people from their sins." Then the angel said this was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 7:14) and the baby boy was to be called Emmanuel (meaning God with us). Joseph obeyed.
      Jesus, who is the very WORD of God, temporarily laid aside his power and glory to take on our humanity (become incarnate, a man) and live among us (tabernacled/tented John 1:14). He revealed God to us, dying for our sins as the Lamb of God and conquering death and sin so that we would have the opportunity to have him living IN us and live with him forever. (See Philippians 2).
      God was known as "God with us" in the Old Testament (Jesus' Bible), but in Jesus, God became "with us" in a whole new way. (As Jesus told his disciples before Pentecost, he, the Holy Spirit, is with you and shall be in you.
      Now look at some examples of "God with us" in the Old and New Testaments. David speaks of God as his Shepherd and says, "I will fear no evil for you are with me." (Psalm 23:4) "But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.'" (Isaiah 43:1) (See Psalm 100:3 "Know that the Lord, he is God; it is he who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.") A word received: Come to me, I AM your good shepherd. I know you, I know your name. You are not a stranger to me; I AM with you.
      Psalm 139:7-10 says that God knows everything about us, even when we sit down or stand up and every word before we say it! (Wow!) "You hem me in": God puts a hedge of protection around his people--unless we choose to jump over it! David asks "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Even the darkness will not be dark to you." God is not only everywhere but knows and cares about us. He is not a God far off BUT we can run away from him (like the prodigal son). We have to respond/ make a choice, over and over, to respond to God's desire to be "with us". In John 15:9-12 Jesus makes it clear that we can choose not to remain/abide/live in him, even though "apart from me you can do nothing" and we will be like the withered branch. "'For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.'" (Isaiah 43:3) A word received: You are precious to me and I hold you in my hand. "'Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.'" (Isaiah 43:4) A word received: I gave my life for you and I give my Spirit to you so that I can always be with you. Don't shut me out by hardness of heart.
      God speaks in Isaiah 43:1-6, promising us that he will be with those who turn to him--not matter what happens (fire, flood, etc.) "Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you: and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." (Isaiah 43:2) Word received: Everyone goes through hard times--times of testing and being refined. I want you to look for me in the hard times. I will be there with you in the midst of the storm.
      Paul in the New Testament says something similar, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:7-10) In 2 Corinthians 11:23-30,and12:7-9 Paul tells about some difficult things he has been through but tells us what the Lord said to him, "My strength is made perfect in weakness" so that God will be glorified not Paul. Paul sets a good example for us when he focuses on Jesus. "Not that I have already…been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."(Philippians 3:12-14)
      When God gives a task, he not only gives the ability to do it, he promised to be with the person! In Exodus 3:11-12, when God sends Moses to Egypt to bring God's people out of slavery, Moses objects, "who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? And God said, I will be with you." When God turned over leadership of the Israelites to Joshua God said to him, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous." Then God told him to be careful to obey all the law that Moses had given him and think about it day and night, and finally, "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:5-6, 9)
      When Paul was in Corinth, Greece, after he had been beaten and imprisoned in Philippi and the Christians had gotten him out of town, he experienced a lot of opposition is several places. Then the Lord spoke to him, "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent, for I am with you and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." (Acts 18:9-10)
      Joshua and Caleb were sent as part of the spies, leaders of the twelve tribes, to spy out the land of Canaan before going up against it. The other ten said it was a good land but they warned against trying to conquer it because those people are stronger than we are and all the people there are giants. (Numbers 13:32) But Joshua and Caleb said, "Do not rebel against the LORD and do not be afraid…the LORD is with us." (14:9)
      David, the shepherd boy went out to fight the 9 ft. tall giant Goliath with a sling-shot when all the Israelite army was afraid. David asked, who is this who defies the armies of the living God? (1 Samuel 17) When King Saul questioned him, David told how he had killed both lions and bears who had attacked his sheep and said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (vs.37)
      Identify the choices made by each. What choices do we need to make? How do I align my life to "be with God"-walk with God? We need to make constant choices to trust God and his purposes for me in the face of the giants.
      How do we report to others? Be honest but combine it with trust in God as Joshua and Caleb did. A new perspective! Question: What situations have you been put in by God in the past and how did you report it.?
      In the same way as with Moses, Joshua and the others, Jesus gave his disciples after his resurrection the biggest assignment of all, the Great Commission. We too are called to share that task. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me…Therefore go 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 the things that I have commanded you. And lo, I AM with you always, even to the end of the age."
      Jesus promised (John 14:18 ) that he would "not leave you orphans, I will come to you" with the Holy Spirit. We are able to do whatever task the Lord has for us by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent to live in his disciples. Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8 )

"'Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west;'" (Isaiah 43:5) A word received: I will find you and be with you wherever you go.

"'I will say to the north, "Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!"'" (Isaiah 43:6) A word received: My heart's desire is to restore the captives and hold them in my arms.
      In what ways can we focus on the LORD being with us? How do you "Practice the Presence" of God? (example: Blessing God and giving thanks for little things.)

      Other Words received by teachers for this lesson.
"But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.'" (Isaiah 43:1) (See Psalm 100:3 "Know that the Lord, he is God; it is he who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.") A word received: Come to me, I AM your good shepherd. I know you, I know your name. You are not a stranger to me; I AM with you.

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you: and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." (Isaiah 43:2) Word received: Everyone goes through hard times--times of testing and being refined. I want you to look for me in the hard times. I will be there with you in the midst of the storm.

"'For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.'" (Isaiah 43:3) A word received: You are precious to me and I hold you in my hand.

"'Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.'" (Isaiah 43:4) A word received: I gave my life for you and I give my Spirit to you so that I can always be with you. Don't shut me out by hardness of heart.

      No Sunday School classes on December 27 and January 3.