Today, I am speaking on “Immanuel.” What is the meaning of Immanuel? Firstly, Immanuel is a Hebrew name for males, and it means “God with us.” In the Old Testament the name was given to a child born in the time of Ahaz.
This child’s birth was a sign to the king that Judah would no longer be attacked by Israel and Syria; God would be “with Judah” by protecting them.
Therefore, from today, you’ll no longer be attacked by the enemy – lack, sickness, disease, fear, poverty because God is with you to protect you.
In the Old Testament, a baby was born whose name means “God with us.” In the New Testament, a baby is born whose entire life means “God with us;”
What is the significance of the old testament Immanuel? The Old Testament Immanuel is a prophecy of the birth of Christ, the Messiah.
Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
The Gospel of Matthew confirms the prophecy about the Old Testament Immanuel.
Matthew 1:18-23 says, “…22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet (in Isaiah 7:14), saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.”
Remember that according to the Scriptures, if you are Born Again:
1. God is in you (1 Jn. 4:4), “...greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
2. God is for you? Romans 8:31, 37 says, “What shall we then say to THESE THINGS? If God be FOR us, who can be against us? ....37 Nay, in all THESE THINGS we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”
Which things? All the trials and troubles you are going through right now.
3. God is on your side. Psalms 118:6 says, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” So, there is absolutely no reason for you to be afraid of anything.
4. God is with you (Josh 1:5; Matt 28:30; Heb. 13:5). This is the meaning of “Immanuel.”
For how long is God with you? Forever! Hebrews 13:5 says, “...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
For how long is God with you? Always! Matthew 28:20 says, “... I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
If you are Born Again, just know that God is with you always. The very moment you accepted Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour Jesus came into your life and began to dwell in your spirit-man in the person of the Holy Spirit.
In Revelations 3:20 Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door of your heart, and knock: if any man hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”
Beloved, when you are conscious of the fact that God is with you always, you will fear no evil.
Psalms 23:4 says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: Why? FOR THOU (GOD) ART WITH ME; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
- You may be crying right now because of the adverse circumstances surrounding you, but if you can just realize that God is with you, then it will become clear to you that you cannot go under.
- Your bank account may be in red, but you know that God is with you.
- You may have just lost your job and it seems that all hope is gone, but you know that God is with you.
- You have just lost a loved one, the person that has always paid all your bills and it seems all hope is gone, but you know that God is with you.
- You are not sure how you are going to get the next meal, but you know God is with you.
- The doctors may have told you that your case is hopeless and that you have three days to live, but you know that God is with you.
- Your marriage may be going through serious shakings right now even to the point that divorce is the next step, but you know that God is with you.
- You may be right in the middle of a terrible storm, but you know that God is with you
- You may be in the fiery furnace right now like the three Hebrew children, but you know that God is with you even in that place.
That you are engaged in a battle does not make you a conqueror. A conqueror is someone who is permanently registered on the winning side. If you are a child of God, you are permanently registered on the winning side. Why? Because you know that God is with you and He, Jehovah Nissi, is the very one that fights the battle for you while you keep your peace. This is what makes you not just a conqueror but more than a conqueror. Hallelujah! Conquerors are people who know no defeat or failure because they know that God is backing them (2 Cor. 2:14; 1 Jn. 4:4; 1 Jn. 5:4).
There is a level of confidence that builds up in you when you are sure that God is with you always. This was the case with Joshua and Caleb (Num. 13:26-14:9). In their hopeless situation, Joshua and Caleb recognized that God was with them, and so they cannot be defeated.
In John 8:29 Jesus demonstrated the need for you to develop a consciousness that God is with you always. Jesus said, “And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone...”
As we enter the New Year, just be very conscious of the fact that God is with you always. The consciousness of this fact will help you to start the New Year well and also finish it strong.
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!
Compliments of the season!!
• Your friend: I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG)
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