Hebrews 1:1Hebrews 1:2 Now, in these last days He has chosen to make Himself known in a very personal and real way. The voice of the Lord is heard through the Word of the Lord, the scriptures which have been given to us. No longer is He a God afar off but now, it is His desire to reveal Himself to each one who would know Him in a very personal way. He truly wants us to fully know Him as Immanuel. God with us.
1 Peter 1:23 To know Jesus as Immanuel one must have been born of the seed, the Word of the Lord. That Word is a living seed, producing eternal life in the heart of the believer. It is not the seed of man, which is corruptible but it is the seed of the Lord, which is incorruptible. The result of that seed is a continuous and abiding work of the Spirit of the Lord. Its effect is not temporary but yields an abiding, everlasting life in the Spirit which will grow and bring forth a perfect individual.
John 14:16 The promised Comforter [Parakletos], the counselor, the one who would stand by under all circumstances. The promised Holy Spirit. One who was to come and never leave or go away. He was not only sent for the establishment of the church but is greatly needed for the church in the end of the age. He who was to come was different from the one who went away, yet similar in nature and being. His responsibility would be to reveal those things which pertain to Christ. To make them real and living in the heart of those who follow the Lord Jesus.
John 16:15 Delegated to the Holy Spirit is the ability to open a complete understanding of the Lord Jesus and His Word. John 15:5 A simple illustration used by the Lord Jesus to demonstrate a divine truth. There is nothing more necessary in the Christian walk than to be persistent in following Jesus. As the branches of the natural vine need the vine for their subsistence, so there must be a constant contact with the source of all life on our part or the limb will die. All life, all strength, all power is drawn from Him. Without Him we can do nothing. We are utterly dependent upon the Lord Jesus Christ in order to maintain a spiritual life that is growing and fruitful. To lose contact with Him is to dry up and die. That is when the branch is cut off and destroyed in the fire. Abiding in Christ is a matter of life or death.
John 15:6John 15:7 We know Him as our Immanuel and experience the thrill of knowing that God is with us through His WORD. His Word is life. It creates stability in the Christian. It shows what and who Jesus is, making Him very, very real. The New Birth will create a hunger for a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of the Lord will make Him known. Prayer which follows the pattern of the Word is effective and yields good results because it is prayed according to the Word and not according to our earthly desires.
2 John 9. Immanuel, God with us. The person who recognizes and honors the doctrine of Christ, will abide in the same. The precious result of such a commitment is the presence of the fullness of the Godhead dwelling within that individual. There is a status in Christ where His people know what full and absolute fellowship with the Lord is like. This is what He is seeking from us, that the completeness of all that He is might live and dwell in His church. In these last days He will find a people who perfectly fit His desires. She is called a perfect church, the Bride of Christ.
John 14:23 The whole of the manifestation of Christ in His people is founded on love. Love is the key to the heart of the Lord and to the kingdom of heaven. Where there is love, there will be a confirmation of kingdom blessings and power. Love enables one to keep the Word of the Lord, thus assuring us of the presence of the Lord. Note, Jesus said, WE will come and take up residence with those who love and obey the Word. A beautiful heavenly combination yielding fruit unto eternal life.
Colosians 2:9 Of a truth, the visitation of the Lord Jesus to this earth was the revelation of Immanuel. In Him dwelt all the completeness, all fullness of the Godhead. Being in Him, we are complete. Brought to the same status as He. That is the ultimate purpose of the whole plan of salvation. That He might find a bride who is perfect and in every aspect like unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 1:23 The church is His body and is to be the fullness of the one who fills all in all. Ephesians 4:13 The destiny of the church is to achieve every thing that our Immanuel is and has revealed unto us. We are to reach His stature. His bearing. His nature. His being. Being brought to the perfection which is to be found in the Lord Jesus. Like him in Godlike nature and purpose. Like Him in righteousness and true holiness. So fully bearing His likeness that we can readily be chosen to be His beloved Bride. Immanuel living and abiding in us.(Seattle, December 16,2003).Christmas Message 2003:GPdIWORLDUS