Emmanuel: Your Advocate in Every Moment

In the quiet wonder of the Advent season, we often focus on the miracle of Christ's birth, and rightly so. The virgin birth, the humble manger, the angelic announcements, these are the scenes that capture our imagination and draw our hearts toward worship. But there is another dimension to the Christmas story that deserves our attention, one that transforms how we live every single day. Jesus did not just come to save us; He came to stay with us.

Matthew's Gospel gives us two names for the child born in Bethlehem: Jesus and Emmanuel (Matthew 1:21-23). Jesus means "the Lord saves," a name that points to our redemption and rebirth. But Emmanuel means "God with us," a name that speaks to His ongoing presence in our daily struggles, our moments of weakness, and our times of deepest need.

These are not just historical titles. They represent two essential truths: Jesus saves us from our sins, and Emmanuel walks with us through every challenge we face afterward. It would be absurd to think that the God who miraculously created us in the womb and then spiritually rebirthed us through faith would simply abandon us to figure out life on our own. Yet how often do we live as if that is exactly what happened?

We understand advocacy in practical terms. When facing legal trouble, we hire an attorney. When navigating complex systems, we seek someone to help us understand our options. When we are vulnerable, we need someone to stand in the gap.

But have you ever considered your need for a spiritual advocate? 1 John 2:1 makes it clear:
Unless you are living a sinless life, and none of us are, you need an advocate. Every single day. In every single moment. And the wonder of the Gospel is that Jesus promises to be exactly that for us.

Here is where we need to course-correct our thinking. Emmanuel is not a cosmic Siri or Alexa, a distant helper we summon only when we are in trouble, who otherwise sits in the background waiting for our command. He is not the means to our end, existing to champion whatever cause we have decided is most important.

This is a crucial distinction. In our culture, it is common to call on God in moments of crisis while keeping Him at arm's length the rest of the time. We treat Him like a divine problem-solver rather than the sovereign Lord of the universe who created us, saved us, and has every right to direct our lives.

Emmanuel is not at our beck and call. We are fundamentally at His. But here is the beautiful paradox. When we approach Him with the humility He deserves, we find that He steps into our mess with power and presence beyond what we could imagine.

Hebrews 2:14-15 reveals something stunning about Christ's advocacy:
Emmanuel is the reason for resilience in the face of death.

This does not mean believers do not grieve. We do. Deeply. The pain of loss remains real and raw. But the paralyzing fear that death represents the final word? That has been shattered. For those who trust in Christ's resurrection, death is no longer the end of reality but a doorway to reunion (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

Consider how the fear of death can enslave us even while we are living. It keeps us from taking risks, from really being ourselves, from stepping out in faith. We worry about others' opinions, about making mistakes, about wasting the one life we have. The fear of death creates a fear of living.

But when Christ breaks the power of death, He sets us free to truly live, not recklessly, but courageously. Not selfishly, but purposefully. The Advent season can become a launching pad for this kind of freedom, where we look our specific fears in the face and declare: "Jesus, my advocate, died and rose again to set me free. No more. Enough of this fear enslaving me."

Emmanuel's advocacy extends to another critical area, our moments of temptation and weakness. Hebrews 2:18 tells us that:
Did you catch that? Jesus suffered when He was tempted. This was not a casual, effortless brushing aside of temptation. He felt the weight, the pull, the struggle, just as we do. And because He endured it without sinning, He knows exactly how to help us through our own battles (Hebrews 4:15).

Emmanuel is the reason you will emerge from your moment of need.

The temptations we face are varied: to give up on a difficult relationship, to coast when we are tired, to believe the devil's lies about our worth, to pursue shortcuts instead of faithfulness. Whatever the specific struggle, knowing that Jesus understands and that He promises to provide a way through changes everything.

1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us:
This is the promise of Emmanuel. Not that life will be easy, but that you will not face it alone. Not that temptation will disappear, but that you will have the strength to stand against it.

Here is another crucial correction we need. Emmanuel is not the advocate for your entitlement. He is the champion of your childlike faith.

There is a massive difference between demanding that God fix our circumstances according to our preferences and humbly trusting Him to provide what we truly need. Entitlement leads to momentary happiness when God says yes and deep disappointment when He says no. Childlike faith leads to peace regardless of the answer, because it trusts the character of the Father (Matthew 18:3).

Throughout Scripture, the pattern is clear. Moments of entitlement lead to hardship, while moments of humble faith unlock God's provision and power. Jesus Himself taught that we can only enter the kingdom of God by receiving it as a child.

Hebrews 4:16 captures the beautiful balance:
Confidence, yes, but confidence rooted in His character and promises, not in our demands. Humility that draws close rather than pride that makes demands.

In tough times, remind yourself of this truth: this moment will not last forever, but Emmanuel will (Matthew 28:20).

The struggle you are facing right now, the transition, the temptation, the grief, the uncertainty, it has an expiration date. But God's presence with you? That is eternal. His commitment to walk with you through every valley and up every mountain? That never wavers (Psalm 23:4).

When we make demands of God, we position ourselves in opposition to the sovereign of the universe. But when we stop demanding and start drawing close, we find that He turns toward us with blessing and provision beyond what we imagined (James 4:6-8).

Those who draw close will emerge from their struggles. Those who bend the knee will rise with strength. There is hope, abundant and powerful hope, for those who come to Him in humility.

This Advent season, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us also celebrate the ongoing reality of Emmanuel. The Christmas story does not end with a baby in a manger. It continues with a Savior who walks with us every day, an Advocate who stands in the gap for us in every moment of need.

You do not face death alone.
You do not face temptation alone.
You do not navigate life's challenges alone.

Emmanuel, God with us, is the promise that changes everything.

So bring all your failures, all your addictions, all your struggles. Lay them down at the foot of the cross (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus is waiting there with open arms, not just to empathize, but to carry you through.

The birth of Jesus unwraps an amazing advocate who gives you resilience in the face of death and strength through every temptation. As you draw close to Him in humility, you will rise, because He, your advocate, will always give you strength.

That is why Advent matters.
That is why Christmas changes everything.

Emmanuel. God with us. Always.

This reflection only begins to unpack the hope and assurance found in the name Emmanuel. If you want to explore this truth more fully, we invite you to watch “Our Amazing Advocate,” a message from Pastor Fred.

In this sermon, you will hear how Jesus meets us in our weakness, stands on our behalf, and gives us confidence to draw near to God in every season of life. It is a powerful reminder that you are not alone and never have been.

Click here to watch the full sermon and be encouraged by the truth of Emmanuel, God with us.