You're listening to Mountain View Church Audio, Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City, Whitehorse, UConn. Here's this week's message. How'd you ever felt lost in the dark without hope? In the early 90s, I was one of the Boy Scout leaders in my hometown. One December, we set out to scout a new hiking road to the volcano, a path none of us had ever tried but one that seemed promising on the map. Almost immediately, the mountain tested us. First came the plants that burned our skin with every brush.
Then we realized there was no real trade at all. We were carving one with every step. Several times we hit dead ends, forced to turn back and try again. Still, we pushed forward, driven by determination and maybe a little stubbornness. Hours passed before we noticed our water was gone. By late afternoon, we were high on one of the volcano's peaks, exhausted, thirsty, and running out of daylight.
Fear started to creep in as we understood how lost we were. But we hold on to one hope. If we could just descend toward the coffee plantation, we knew, lay somewhere below. We'll find water, a road, and safety. At 7 p.m., in the dark, we finally reached the edge of the plantation. And then we saw them, the lights of the town far below, flickering like tiny stars on the mountainside.
They became the signal we followed. We knew our families were already worried and we wouldn't find a ride at that hour. So we left the road behind and cut straight through the coffee field, guided only by that distant globe. Those lights represented everything we need. Shelter, food, and the chance to let our loved ones know we were safe. That night, hope was not an idea. It was a direction. A light in the dark. A reminder that even when the path disappears, something ahead can still call us forward. And for us, as believers, Jesus is a light shining in the dark. Welcome to Mountain View Church. My name is Herbert. I'm the children's pastor.
Today, we are launching our new series called Advent in Isaiah, a journey through the prophet's vision of the Messiah. During these four weeks, we'll be talking about the hope of Emmanuel, the peace of the prince, the joy of salvation, and the love of the servant. This week, we are talking about the hope of Emmanuel. I'm Adrienne. I'm Freya. This week, we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent. Today, we light the candle representing the hope of Christ.
Today's scripture reading comes from the book of Isaiah, chapter 7, verse 14. The Lord himself will give you a sign. The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Emmanuel. And here is the big picture of this verse. It is a time of political fear and spiritual doubting. King Ahaz of Judah was facing a threat for two neighbor nations.
The king, instead of trusting God, he looked to Assyria for help. Isaiah declares that the Lord himself will give a sign not just for Ahaz, but for all generations to show that God is in control and present with his people, even when they or we don't trust him. Because in our time, we also face moments when fear shade trust. Canadians today are navigating real pressures, rising costs of living, debates about identity and inclusion, political divisions, and uncertainty in international relationships. These are real challenges, and depending on how this affects you personally can create an atmosphere of anxiety, much like the fear that spread in Judah's time. So let me ask you the same question that Isaiah's story asks each of us.
Have you ever felt afraid or unsure about what will happen? Even though we as people doubt about God and his care for us, he remained faithful. Isaiah's message reminded Israel and us that God is with us even when we are afraid. That our hope is not in human power of alliances, but in God's promises and that God's plans are coming to light even when we cannot see how. The virgin is going to have a baby, and he will be called Emmanuel, says Isaiah 7, verse 14. And Emmanuel means God with us. Jesus' birth fulfilled this prophecy. God came to live among us as the person of Jesus. God kept the promise to be with us, not just in good times, but especially in hard times. So let's begin to unfold this verse. Hope in the midst of shaking.
Judah, the southern kingdom, was suddenly found itself under serious threat by two neighboring nations, Syria, that is called Aram, and Israel, that is called Ephraim. According to Isaiah chapter 7, verse 2, where we can read this, the royal family of Ahaz was stolen. The army of Aram has joined forces with Ephraim's army. So the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled with fear. They shook just as trees in the forest shake when the wind blows through them. The goal of these two nations was simple. Pressure Judah into joining their rebellion against Assyria that dominated the region.
And the effect was immediate. Fear swept across the nation, government leaders and ordinary citizens. The Bible tells us they shook just as trees in the forest shake when the wind blows through them. The future seemed uncertain. And fear filled the atmosphere. Above all Judah's problem stood a great power, Assyria, an empire that controlled nations, wealth, and rulers.
But in the middle of this threat, God gave his people a promise, a child called Emmanuel, showing that no empire could ever be greater than the presence of God with us. And God provides a sign. In the middle of this fear, God sends the prophet Isaiah to speak to King Ahaz. And according to what is written in Isaiah 7, verse 4, God sends this message. Tell Ahaz, be careful, stay calm, do not be afraid.
Do not lose hope because of the great anger of these two nations. After all, they are nothing but two pieces of smoking firewood. God promises that the enemies, Ahaz feared, will not succeed in their plans. And the sign of Emmanuel. God offers Ahaz a sign. Any sign he wants to prove that God is trustworthy. But Ahaz refuses, pretending to be humble by saying, I won't ask, I won't test the Lord.
In reality, Ahaz had already decided to rely on Assyria for help instead of trusting God. So, Isaiah declares that God himself will give a sign. The virgin is going to have a baby, and he will be called Emmanuel. Let's talk about how this prophecy is fulfilled. There are two positions about how this prophecy is fulfilled. There is an immediate fulfillment, and some scholars believe the prophecy had an initial fulfillment in Isaiah's time.
Possibly through a child born to a young woman as a sign to Ahaz that the threat will pass. But this prophecy also pointed forward to something far greater, the Messianic prophecy. And Christians interpret this as an ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, as referred in Matthew chapter 1, verses 22 and 23, where we can read, all this took place to bring about what the Lord had said will happen. He had said through the prophet, talking about Isaiah.
The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Emmanuel. And the name Emmanuel means God with us. In Christianity, the interpretation of Emmanuel is not just about the name, but as the title, describing the incarnation, God becoming human in Jesus. And if we look at what is written about this child in Isaiah 9, verse 6, we found this. And he...
talking about this child, will be called Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God. The Hebrew word for wonderful is the word pele and means extraordinary miracle, a phenomenon completely outside of human conception or natural events. And this reinforces the belief in Jesus, divine nature, and God's presence with humanity. And that's why now we can be sure that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy and our best hope. Emmanuel is not just a name. It is a promise. God with us. God for us. God entering our fear, our waiting, our desire with hope that cannot be shaken. Because of Emmanuel, we can live with hope today. Our hope is not rooted in circumstances, politics, or our ability to predict the future.
Our hope rests in the truth that God himself came near in Jesus, fulfilling the ancient promise and proving that he is both powerful enough to save us and close enough to guide us. And because Jesus is the wonderful advisor and mighty God, we can trust that no matter how uncertain life becomes, we are not abandoned. God is with us. And please think about this. What does God with us mean in your life right now? And after doing this, remember, if you are in grief, God is with you. If you have joy, God is with you. If you are living in uncertainty, God is with you. Hope is not just a dream we imagine. It is the certainty we hold because God is with us.
Just like my team, on that mountainside, tired, unsure, and lost in the dark, we all face moments when life feels confusing and uncertain, times when fear seems louder than our faith. But just as the lights of that distant town guided us home, Isaiah reminds us that God gave us His light in the darkness. Emmanuel, God with us. It has faced political pressure, national fear, and impossible decisions. We face our own pressures today. Economic strength, cultural tensions, global instability, and personal battles that shakes us like the trees in Isaiah's story. Yet, the message God gave them is the message he gives now. Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. I am with you.
Emmanuel is not a prophecy fulfilled or a name spoken at Christmas. Emmanuel is a reality to live in, God with us, when the news is heavy, when decisions are overwhelming, when loneliness presses us in, when joy surprises us, and when grief bends us low, and when we are just trying to find our way forward. So today, as we begin our Advent journey, remember this truth. Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is the steady confidence that God has come near and He will not leave us. If you are grieving, God is with you. If you are rejoicing, God is with you. If you are uncertain, God is with you. And because God is with us, we can walk forward step by step, even in the dark, trusting that His light will always lead us home. This is the hope of Emmanuel. Let's pray.
Lord, we thank you for the promise of Emmanuel, God with us. In moments of fear, remind us that your presence is greater than anything that threatens us. In times of doubt, teaches us to trust you instead of leaning in our own strength. When we feel overwhelmed by uncertainty, be our wonderful advisor and mighty God. Fill our hearts with courage, our minds with peace, and our steps with confidence. Help us to live every day aware that you walk beside us, you go before us, and you hold our future. Make us people of hope, shining your light in a world that feels dark and divided. Thank you, Jesus, for coming near, for being our Emmanuel. We rest in you today. Amen.
Thank you for joining us today. I would like to invite you to connect with Mountain View Church at mountainview.church slash connect or through social media at Mountain View Whitehorse. Also, consider subscribing to our YouTube channel, turn on the notification, and you'll see the new videos every week. Now, take a minute with us. Here is what is new.
Merry Christmas. As we step into the holiday season, we want to pause for a moment and talk about generosity. In 2 Corinthians 9-7, Paul reminds us that each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. That posture of giving is a joyful response to God's provision with open hands and open hearts. Today, we're launching our year-end giving campaign, an invitation for you, your family, or your business to make a year-end tax-deductible donation. For most charities, including churches, a large portion of annual support comes in during the final quarter of the year with a significant increase in December. With that in mind, we're asking if you would consider supporting the mission and ministry of Mountain View Church as we continue bringing the gospel to the north in the coming year. Whether you're part of the Mountain View family or not, we would greatly appreciate your support as we look ahead to what God has planned in 2026.
Your generosity fuels real ministry, helping people hear the good news of Jesus, take steps of faith, grow as disciples, and find community. If you're looking for a meaningful place to give at the end of the year, we'd be honoured to partner with you. There are several simple ways to give. For digital giving, you can give directly through our website, mountainview.church. You can send an e-transfer to finance at mountainview.church or make an anonymous donation through Canada Helps. For physical giving, use a sealed envelope with your contact information on it for receiving, drop your gift in the donation box at the back of the auditorium on Sundays, or mail or drop it off during the week.
And if you want more information or want to explore all the options, just visit mountainview.church slash give. Now on to a special project we participate in annually here at Mountain View called First Gifts. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, before we exchange gifts with each other, we set aside an intentional opportunity to give our first gift in Jesus' name to local organizations serving people in need. Every donation received on December 24th and 25th, including those given during our Christmas Eve gatherings, will be forwarded to three local charities. The White Horse Food Bank, providing emergency food for individuals and families. The Women's Transition Home, offering safety, care, and hope for women and children experiencing violence. And Yukon Cares, helping refugees build empowered and engaged lives here in the Yukon and beyond. These first gifts meet practical needs and shine the compassion of Jesus in our city. Thank you for considering giving to Mountain Dew Church. Your partnership means a lot. We're so grateful for you and for your generosity. Have a very Merry Christmas.
We're less than a month away from Christmas Eve. This is one of the most important nights of the year, and I'm really looking forward to gathering with you all as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. This year, we'll be hosting three Christmas Eve gatherings on Wednesday, December 24th at 4 p.m., 5.30 p.m., and 7 p.m. For those who prefer to gather in homes or for those who might be working this Christmas, there will be online options available. All of them are listed at mountainview.church slash watch listen. Our theme this year is the light of the world. Each gathering will include Christmas carols, scripture reading, multimedia presentations, and a short reflection on how and why the light of the world is Jesus Christ.
These are family-friendly gatherings with some special stuff planned just for the kids. Then we'll end the gathering with some hot beverages and Christmas treats. If you've already decided that you're attending one of our gatherings, it would help us a ton if you could register in advance. It makes a huge difference in our planning, seating, and welcoming guests. You can register right now at christmasinwhitehorse.com. That's christmasinwhitehorse.com. Speaking of guests, Christmas Eve is the single most likely time of year that someone will say yes to a church invitation.
People who might not come to a church service on Sunday morning are very open to attend on Christmas Eve. So pray about who you can invite, who you can bring along with you. Maybe a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, a family member. Your invitation might open the door for someone to hear the gospel for the very first time. Let's step into this season of joy knowing Jesus is the light of the world and sharing the hope of Jesus that every heart needs. I'm looking forward to celebrating together. Come back next week. Pastor Jeremy will be back and talking about the peace of the Prince.
to receive Jesus today or would like to connect with our church community, visit mountainview.church and click the connect link. If this podcast and radio ministry has been a blessing to you, please consider partnering with us or making a tax-deductible donation at mountainview.church. Thanks for listening to Mountain View Church Audio. Join us next week for more Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City of Whitehorse UConn.