{"id":2163,"date":"2021-12-09T19:42:34","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T19:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2163"},"modified":"2021-12-17T16:52:10","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T16:52:10","slug":"12-december-2021-god-with-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2163","title":{"rendered":"12 December 2021: &#8220;God with us&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"228\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/crib.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2071 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/crib.jpg 228w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/crib-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/crib-16x24.jpg 16w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/crib-24x36.jpg 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/crib-32x48.jpg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bethel Baptist Church<br>Worship Service @ Home<br>12 December 2021<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2155\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/> <strong>Previous Service<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2184\"><strong>Next Service<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1007\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=72\">Podcasts<\/a>&nbsp;page<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"12 December 2021: \u201cGod with us\u201d\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2TEnTeakrLs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Welcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Christmas Day Service this year will be on Zoom at 10.30 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Testimony<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\">Wendy came across these words spoken by Jesus:<br><br><em>\u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.\u2019 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you\u201d<\/em> (Matt. 5:43).<br><br>She realised she needed to forgive someone, pray for them, and leave them in the Lord\u2019s hands. A great weight lifted when she did so, Amen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Worship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mary, Did You Know with Lyrics\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JPsgIhlYQmM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read: <\/strong>Matt. 1:18-25&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>they will call Him Immanuel (which means \u2018God with us\u2019).<\/p><cite>Matt 1:23<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no conflict with, <em>\u201cyou are to give Him the name Jesus\u201d<\/em> (cf. Boris is his name, yet they call him <em>\u2018Prime Minister\u2019<\/em>). Jesus is <em>\u2018Immanuel, God with us\u2019<\/em>, (prophesied 700 years previous in Isaiah 7:14) but unlike the title, Prime Minister, it refers to the very essence of His being, <em>\u201cGod with us\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whereas Joseph named Him Jesus \u2013 <em>\u201c<strong>you<\/strong> are to give Him the name Jesus\u201d<\/em>, Matthew\u2019s plural, <em>\u201c<strong>they <\/strong>will call Him Immanuel\u201d<\/em> looks ahead to those whom He will save from their sins, because only God can forgive sins (cf. Mark 2:7). Such is hugely significant, and in a passage in which the Trinity is very much involved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>the Holy Spirit brings about the birth (Matt 1:18)<\/li><li>the Lord God, the Father, speaks through the prophet about His Son (Matt 1:22-23)<\/li><li>the Son of God became flesh (Matt 1:23).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The assurance of God\u2019s Presence was vitally important in the OT e.g. commissioning a new leader, Moses,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cI will be with you\u201d<\/p><cite>Exodus 3:12<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joshua:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cI will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you \u2026 the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go\u201d<\/p><cite>Joshua 1:5, 9<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gideon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cI will be with you..\u201d<\/p><cite>Judges 6:16<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jeremiah:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cI am with you &#8230;\u201d<\/p><cite>Jeremiah 1:8<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See how Moses would not continue on his mission to lead Israel to the promised land until he had the assurance of God\u2019s Presence with them, (Exodus 33:12-17),<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The Lord replied, <em>\u2018My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest\u2019<\/em>.<\/p><cite>Exodus 33:14<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such was necessary as His servants felt inadequate to complete the task they had been assigned. Jesus promises that He, God, will be ever present with His disciples and mentions two occasions in particular:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>When they gather for prayer (or any other business) in His name, Matt. 18:20: \u201cFor where two or three gather in my name, <strong>there am I with them<\/strong>\u2019\u201d, and<\/li><li>When witnessing, Matt. 28:18-20: \u201c\u2026&nbsp; <strong>And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age<\/strong>,\u201d<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Possibly the two areas of ministry we feel most inadequate for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Questions for Discussion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>How important is it to you to know the Lord is with you?<\/li><li>What are some of the implications of Jesus Christ, Immanuel?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quote of the week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cAlways in all circumstances we have the assurance of \u2018Immanuel\u2019 &#8230; God with us\u201d<\/em><br><br>Philip Yancey<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Verse of the week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cI will ask the Father&#8230;He will give you another advocate\u2026.to be <strong>with you<\/strong> for ever -the Spirit\u201d<\/p><cite>John 14:16<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heavenly Father, reveal the glory of Your Son in the power of Your Spirit through Your Church, at this Christmas-time. We especially pray for Your favour on those who are lost, lonely, in prison, in hospital, unwell, bereaved, depressed and downcast. We pray for all those working in front-line services. May this prove to be a most significant time as they experience, even for the first time, Your Presence with them through Jesus Christ, Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the&nbsp;Podcasts&nbsp;page. Welcome The Christmas Day Service this year will be on Zoom at 10.30 a.m. Testimony Wendy came across these words spoken by Jesus: \u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.\u2019 But I tell you, love &#8230; <a title=\"12 December 2021: &#8220;God with us&#8221;\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2163\" aria-label=\"Read more about 12 December 2021: &#8220;God with us&#8221;\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2163","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2163"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2188,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2163\/revisions\/2188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}