Restoring the Relationship with the Father: Walking With Him One Day At A Time
Walking with someone else can change one’s pace, equipment, and even destination but only a fool travels a great distance alone. Walking with another allows for support and assistance. In a poignant sermon, Pastor Jim reflects on the profound significance of the birth of Jesus, emphasizing the restoration of a broken relationship between humanity and God. As we delve into the core message of the sermon, we discover the transformative power of Jesus, who has done all the work to reconcile us with the Father. The central question resonates: Will we choose to walk with Him?
Emmanuel – God With Us:
The sermon begins with a reminder of the prophecy found in Isaiah 7:14, “A virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us.” This proclamation sets the stage for understanding the depth of the events in Bethlehem. Jesus, as Emmanuel, signifies God taking on flesh and dwelling among humanity. Max Leo aptly captures this divine incarnation, stating that God came down, becoming one of us.
Living Out the Promise:
The heart of the message lies in living out the promise embedded in the name Emmanuel. Jesus, born in Bethlehem, grew from a child to a teenager and eventually into an adult who walked and talked with humanity. This profound act mirrored God’s initial interaction with mankind in the garden, fulfilling the divine dream from the very beginning. The promise, then and now, is that God desires to walk with us once again.
Understanding the Depth:
To truly grasp the significance of that night in Bethlehem, Pastor Jim challenges us to prepare our hearts. The birth of Jesus was not just a historical event but a divine intervention, a manifestation of God’s relentless pursuit of a relationship with His creation. The depth of God’s love and commitment is unfathomable, extending beyond the manger to the cross and beyond.
Continuing Promises:
As we reflect on the birth of Jesus, we are reminded that the promises made back then continue to unfold today. God’s desire to be with us, to walk and talk with us, persists through every season of life. The promises delivered in Bethlehem echo through the ages, inviting us to embrace the transformative power of a relationship with Jesus.
Walking in Glory:
The sermon culminates with a glimpse into the future. Pastor Jim encourages us to envision the day when everything turns upside down, and we walk and talk with God once again in glory. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was not just a singular event; it was the beginning of a redemptive journey leading to the ultimate restoration of all things.
In contemplating Jim’s powerful sermon clip, we are challenged to respond to the profound truth that Jesus has done all the work to restore our relationship with the Father. The name Emmanuel serves as a constant reminder that God is with us, inviting us to live out the promise of walking with Him. As we navigate life’s journey, let us prepare our hearts, understand the depth of God’s love, and eagerly anticipate the day when we will walk with Him in glory once again.
Walking with God in the Garden of Eden
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and He formed man and woman in His image. In Genesis 2, we see a picture of intimacy and closeness between God and humanity. Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, a paradise where they experienced unbroken fellowship with God. Genesis 3:8 describes how they heard “the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” This implies a personal and direct relationship, where man and God walked together in perfect harmony.
The Fall and Separation
However, this perfect relationship was disrupted by sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world, causing a separation between God and humanity. Genesis 3:23-24 tells us that God expelled them from the Garden of Eden, signifying the broken fellowship. The intimate walk with God was replaced with a chasm caused by sin, which affected all of humanity thereafter.
The Promise of Redemption
Despite the fall, God’s love for humanity did not wane. Throughout the Old Testament, He promised a way to restore this broken relationship. Prophets foretold the coming of a Messiah who would bridge the gap between God and man. Isaiah 53:5 speaks of the suffering servant who would be “pierced for our transgressions” and “crushed for our iniquities,” hinting at the redemptive work to come.
The Work of Jesus
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to fulfill these prophecies and restore our relationship with God. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made a way for humanity to be reconciled with God. In John 14:6, Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” By dying on the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, and by rising from the dead, He conquered death and paved the way for eternal life.
Reconciliation and New Life
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God. Romans 5:10-11 states, “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” This reconciliation means that we can once again be walking with God, not just in this life but for all eternity.
Eternal Walking with God
The promise of eternal life with God is a central theme in the New Testament. Revelation 21:3-4 gives us a glimpse of this eternal fellowship: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” This passage describes the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan to restore the intimate walking with Him that was lost in Eden.
Conclusion
From the Garden of Eden to the promise of eternity, the narrative of the Bible shows God’s unwavering desire to be walking in close relationship with humanity. Sin may have caused a separation, but through Jesus Christ, the way has been made for us to be reconciled and to walking with God forever. This eternal fellowship is a gift of grace, made possible by the redemptive work of Jesus, who invites us to embrace this restored relationship and look forward to an eternity spent in His presence.
