Emmanuel God with Us: Greatest Gift

“Emmanuel God with Us: Greatest Gift”
by Pastor Kent Munsey
December 20, 2020

And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

• Luke 1:28-37 (NKJV)

Many times during Christmas, small gifts can be overlooked or underestimated, but sometimes the smaller packages are signs that point to a greater gift. Jesus coming to earth, Emmanuel, God with us, is the greatest Christmas gift we can ever receive, but we should not overlook the gift of the Holy Spirit this Christmas.

Luke tells the Christmas story from Mary’s point of view. Mary, a teenager, was terrified that God had chosen her to bring the savior of all humanity into the world. Mary became pregnant through the Holy Spirit. When the angel of the Lord tells Mary that she is going to be the mother of the savior of the world, her first question is how. Whatever your "how" question is this Christmas season, the answer is the Holy Spirit. 

Joseph didn't have questions; he had feelings of doubt, fear, hurt, and betrayal. In response to those feelings, the Holy Spirit spoke to Joseph in a dream and told him not to be afraid. Dreams and visions are the language of the Holy Spirit. 

Christmas often brings questions and feelings of worry, fear, and doubt. Yet there is an answer for every fear, hurt, and disappointment. We can have hope that we are not alone because of the Holy Spirit. The answer to every fear and anxiety is the Holy Spirit. 

Some of us have a real need for direction in this season. After Jesus was born, Joseph needed direction when the evil King Herod sought to kill Jesus. The Holy Spirit directed Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt.  

The Holy Spirit was enough to answer Mary’s questions and Joseph's feelings. The Holy Spirit will protect us too from doubt, worry, offense, hurt, attack, and lack of direction. The Holy Spirit was enough to lead Joseph and Mary, and the Holy Spirit is enough to lead me and you. 

The third person in the trinity works through creation, recreation, and regeneration. In Genesis 1, the Holy Spirit says let there be light. He formed the stars in creation, hovering over the deep, and the Holy Spirit hovers over the deep, dark waters of our hearts. He leads, comforts, and brings forth fruit in our lives. The supernatural gifts may not be tangible, but he works in our flesh, in our questions in our feelings, and in our lives by protecting us. He is available in a practical way. 

Don’t overlook the greatest gift of all: It is the great work that God is doing in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent his disciples all over the world to preach the gospel, but he told them not to go anywhere until he sent the Holy Spirit. Those words are for them then, and they are for us now. Give yourself an early gift. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit this Christmas. 

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

1. What "how" question(s) are you wrestling with this Christmas? Ask the Holy Spirit to speak into this question for you and give it to God.

2. What kind of difficult feelings are you experiencing in this season (worry, anxiety, fear, doubt)? Acknowledge these feelings in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to meet you where you are and replace your worries with peace. 

3. In what area of your life are you searching for direction? Invite the Holy Spirit to lead you in this area and ask him to give you guidance.