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Jesus would be called Immanuel
(Isa 7:14 NIV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
(Isa 8:8 NIV) and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it, passing through it and reaching up to the neck. Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, O Immanuel!”
(Mat 1:23 NIV) “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, “God with us.”
Three times in the Bible, Jesus was given the title “Immanuel”, which means “God with us”.
God humbled Himself to dwell in a lowly place
(Phil 2:5-7 NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
In order for Immanuel to dwell with us, He had to empty Himself. Remember that Moses had asked to see God’s glory but was only able to catch a glimpse of it. Human limitations prevent us from seeing God in His full glory. In order for God to dwell among us, He had to humble Himself and empty Himself.
Phil 2:5-7 was not just written for our information. It was written as a commandment for us to follow. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”. God, in all His majesty, was willing to come down to a lowly place. Are we willing to come down to a lowly place? Is there a situation God has called you to go to that is a lowly place? Perhaps God has called you to give up a glamorous job for one that is lowly. Perhaps God has asked you to reach out to people who are lowly. Are we willing?
God’s presence on earth serves as an example
(Col 1:15 NIV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
When Jesus dwelled on the earth, He gave us the opportunity to know the heart and mind of God like never before. He is the visible image of the invisible God. God’s people in the Old Testament times had God’s laws and they knew what they were supposed to do under different circumstances.
But when Jesus came, God’s people not just had principles, they had a living example. God in Jesus demonstrated how we are to live our life. Immanuel, God with us, gave us an example to follow.
(John 13:14-15 NIV) Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. {15} I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
God’s presence gives us what we need to do His work
(Mat 28:19-20 NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matt 28:19-20 has been called the Great Commission. But we are not commissioned to do the work ourselves. Jesus promises to be with us always.
Are you struggling to do God’s work alone? You will fail unless you do it with God’s presence. Invite God to come into your ministry and do His work through you.
(1 Chr 28:20 NIV) David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
God’s presence gives us protection
(Gen 28:15 NIV) I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
(Deu 31:6 NIV) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Josh 1:5 NIV) No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
(Isa 41:10 NIV) So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God has promised to be with us to protect us. Are you in a precarious situation? Perhaps your job is at stake. Perhaps there are people plotting against you.
God’s presence gives us provision
(Heb 13:5 NIV) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
There is no need to love money. We can be content with what we have because God’s people will not experience lack. God has promised that He will never leave nor forsake us.
(Isa 41:17 NIV) “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
(Psa 37:25 NIV) I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.