At this time of year I am so aware that for many it is not a happy time.I would like to encourage you to read the following piece that blessed me.I pray that it will remind us all that we are NOT alone! Blessings and Jesus love xxxx
EMMANUEL - GOD IS WITH US
INTRODUCTION
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
When the Good News of the birth of Jesus Christ was announced to Joseph something wonderful was about to happen. In addition it was going to be the fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 7:14). But something about Jesus was revealed in the process. It was something about His name. His name would be Emmanuel. Names tell us about a person. In the old days names meant something and told you something about the person. In our home we named our one child Caitlin Joy. Caitlin means PURE and Joy of course means JOY. We anticipated that our daughter would be PURE JOY (And she has been). Now the angel comes and tells Joseph that Jesus will also be called Emmanuel – which means GOD WITH US! Something about Jesus was going to different – now God himself would be with us. But what does it mean for God to be with us? Have you ever thought about it? I see three critical aspects in the statement GOD IS WITH US!
1. GOD IS WITH US
God is with us simply means that God is with us. We are not alone. God is not some far off heavenly being but He is with us. We can know a connection to God.
A. You are not alone
The fact that God is with us means that you and I are never alone. You may feel alone and isolated, but God is with you.
B. He will never leave you - no matter what
When you pass through the waters, He will be with you. When you pass through rivers of difficulty you will not drown. When you pass through the fire the flames will not burn you. For He is the Lord your God. He is not a fair weather friend, here when things are going well and gone when things are rough or difficult.
Matthew 28:20 God has said, “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.”
Never is a very long time and extends beyond human life. No matter what you are going through, this truth remains. He will never, never leave you.
C. God is with us - there is no ultimate defeat
If God is with us we have a recipe for success and overcoming. If Jesus says ’I am with you’ it makes ultimate defeat impossible.
Isaiah 8:10 Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
If God is with us who stands to be against us? We can know ultimate victory. On the basis of this great fact, we can go to God without hesitation. It is for this same reason that we should not turn to other things. No matter what, don’t stop going to God.
D. God will not leave you (us)
Hebrews 13:5 For God has said, “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.”
We cannot be separated from His love.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when He died for us.
God will not leave us and we cannot be separated from His love. Therefore, you can have eternal optimism. God loves you and He has NO plans of deserting you.
Not only is God with us but He is also for us. Some people think that God is against them and angry and cross with them. Some people see God as a God who is waiting for them to put a foot wrong. Some people when they think of God they think of judgment. But the truth is that God came to be with us because He was for us and not against us. God sent Jesus to the world because He loved the people of the world! No matter what you have been led to believe, I am here to tell you that God is for you! God is not against you; God is not anti you. God is not waiting for you to fall or fail. God is for you.
A. If God is for us who can be against us?
Romans 8:31 ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’
If God is for us then we are destined to win. Destined to win on every front. Destined to overcome sin. Destined to overcome guilt and fear. Destined to conquer those things that would endeavor to destroy us. Destined to win. Who can be against God? Are your problems greater than or beyond God? NEVER. If God is for us, who can be against us!
B. If God is for us we have nothing to fear
Numbers 14:9b ‘The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.’
If God is with us we do not need to fear. God wanted to take the nation of Israel into the land flowing with milk and honey. He had good things in store for them. But they had heard bad reports and become afraid. As a result they almost missed out on what God had for them. Fear can rob us of just about everything. I am here to remind you that God is for us. He is with us. We do not need to be afraid.
C. God is for us and He will come through for us
Psalm 56:9 ‘When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me.’
David understood this. He had confidence in God. He knew that when he cried out, God would answer him, because God was for him. What a way to live! I believe that God wants us to enjoy the same degree of favour. I also believe that God wants us to enjoy the same degree of confidence.
D. Because God is for you, you can be confident
The fact that God is with us should cause us to have great confidence.
Jeremiah 29:11-12 I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
God is for you! God has plans for your good. God does not have plans for your evil. God has plans to give you peace and hope. God has plans to answer our prayers. God has plans to see us through. God's plans ensure that our FINAL OUTCOME will be a good one! God is for you.
3. GOD IS IN US
Not only is God with us, He is also for us. In addition to the fact that God is for us, He also wants to come and live in us. God does not want to be on the outside of our lives, He wants to come and make His home within our hearts.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.
God is knocking at the door of our hearts and lives and He wants us to open the door and let Him in. In this way God can really be with us as individuals. Then we can enjoy the reality of the fact that GOD IS WITH US, GOD IS FOR US and GOD IS IN US! Don’t you want this for yourself? There are three things we need to do:
1. Confess our sins: 1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. We need to repent: This means we must turn around and walk in a different direction.
3. Invite God into your heart and life! God will never force His way into our lives. He waits for us to open the door to Him and give Him place in our lives.
Would you consider doing that today? God wants to make His home in your heart!
By: Andrew W Roebert
Email: andrew@alivetogod.com
Website: http://www:alivetogod.com
POSTAL ADDRESS: Box 32190 Glenstantia, Pretoria, South Africa, 0010
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