God shares the best Christmas gift ever. Himself. With whom can you share him this Christmas? Don’t hold back.

Notes And Next Steps

Isaiah 7:1-14 + Part 3 of the series “Come, Lord Jesus"

One of the greatest men of God in the ancient world: Isaiah

• quoted more often in the New Testament than any other book except Psalms
• Jesus’ very first sermon
• witnessed during the troubling times of 8th Century BC
• “Holy, holy, holy” … he says “Whoa” and God says “Go” (Isaiah 6)
• Enabled to see what God was going to do as though it had already happened

When Ahaz … was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah … king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it. Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with Ephraim,” so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. (Isaiah 7:1,2)

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz … Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart … If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’” (Isaiah 7:3,4,9)

Ahaz couldn’t enjoy the splendid gifts of God because he didn’t expect the splendid gifts of God.

“The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

Immanuel means God with us.

“What’s holding you back?”

SPIRITUAL NEXT STEP

What’s holding you back? How will “God with us” help you change your expectations?

Discussion Questions

1. What’s holding you back? How will “God with us” help you change your expectations?
2. Read others of Isaiah’s more than 20 prophecies, predicting by Spirit-inspired words the coming of the promised Savior. Isaiah 9:2-7; 11:2,10; 42:3-6; 49:1-9; 50:6,7; 52:15; 53:1-12; 61:1-3.
3. Google “Where Shepherds Lately Knelt,” “Mary Did You Know,” or “Breath of Heaven,” and listen to them devotionally as you prepare for Christmas.