They Shall Call His Name Emmanuel
13 December 09
· Matt 1:18-25
“…and they shall call His name Emmanuel” translated ‘God with us’
· Joseph receives revelation from the angel about the coming of Jesus Christ
· Names in the Bible represents = Identity, character or the destiny of a person
· Ames were often Prophetic of the persons character and destiny
Judg 11:1 Jephtae – He will open, he will breakthrough = broke out, oppress enemy
1King 13:2 Josiah – God is the foundation = Re-laid the spiritual foundation of nation
Matt 1:21 Jesus – ‘Saviour’ = He will save His people from their sin
Matt 1:23 Emmanuel – God with us = Manifest presence and kingdom of God
· Gods original design was a man who would manifest the Kingdom of God
· Gods original design and purpose has never changed
· Gods design is to manifest His presence and glory through the earth Num 14:21
a) Garden of Eden – Adam
Gen 1:26-27 “Let us make man in our image and likeness, let them have dominion”
· Man was designed in the image of God, a spirit being
· Man is able to live in two realms, the natural and the spiritual
· Man was filled with the glory, the power of God, designed to reveal the presence of God
· Man is in relationship with God. God with us in the earth
b) Moses Tabernacle
Exod 25:8 “Let them make a sanctuary that I may dwell among them”
· Gods desire and design is unchanged , He wanted to dwell among men
· v22 “I will meet with you, I will speak with you”
· Emmanuel = God with us, meeting, speaking, manifesting life
· When the Tabernacle was completed, God filled it with His glory Exod 40:34-35
· The Presence of God was with Israel, that made them different
· Exod 33:15-16 “How shall it be known that your people and I have found grace in your sight, except you presence go with us!”
c) Solomon’s Temple
2 Chron 7:1-3 “…the Glory of the Lord filed the Lords house”
· Gods desire and design unchanged, wanted to dwell among men
· Emmanuel God with us meeting, speaking, manifesting supernatural life
· When the temple was completed God filled it with Hid glory
d) Jesus
Matt 1:23 “…they shall call His name Emmanuel”
· Jesus was the expressive image of God Heb 1:3
· Jesus lived in two realms at the same time, the natural and the spiritual
· Jesus carried the fullness of the presence of God
Luke 7:16 “God has visited His people”
· The people recognized that God was among them, God manifested not just in the building but in the flesh also. The Devine clothed with humanity
· Jesus is God manifested – Emmanuel, God with us!
· When you have Jesus, you are connected, your spirit to the spirit of God
· Gods plan is to have many sons in the image of Jesus Rom 8:29
· Gods design is unchanged, He still wants to dwell among us
3. God is With Us:
a) You are the Temple of God
1 Cor 6:17-20 “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”
· God wants to dwell within us and manifest His life and Kingdom
· God wants to manifest His life through us
Ø Individually – 1 Cor12:7 – By manifesting of His power e.g. Joseph
Gen 39:3-4
Ø Corporately – Eph 3:20-22 – By flowing together in love and unity
· When God is with us Gen 39:3-4
Ø His presence is tangible
Ø What we do prospers
Ø Favour comes on us
b) People are often not conscious of God
People are conscious of other things e.g.
· Loneliness
· Guilt
· Low esteem
· Shame
· What we are conscious of flows out of our life and manifest on the earth
· What you set your mind on, you become conscious of Rom 8:5
· You must set your mind on the Spirit to become conscious of and manifest the presence of God
c) How to Increase the awareness of ‘God with Us’
i) Repentance – turning from sin 2 Cor 6:7; 2 Cor 7:1
ii) Worship – consciously surrender and pursuit God Col 3:1-3
iii) Meditate – constantly fill your mind and focus on spiritual realities
‘God is with me’, ‘God is in me’
iv) Speak – Consistently declare the truth over your life “God is with me!”