The Immanuel Lifestyle
God's people in the Old Testament lived in a Visitation Culture.
While those visitations were incredible, they were still limited because they were only temporary.
Isaiah 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.
Matthew 1:18-23 [NLT], This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sin." 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet: 23 "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'"
Three key promises Jesus gave us...
I am going to prepare a place for you - Jn. 14:2
I will come again and get you - Jn. 14:3
I will not leave you as orphans - Jn. 14:18
John 14:16-17 [NASB], I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that he may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him nor know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
As born again believers we have now transitioned from a Visitation Culture to a Habitation Culture.
We now have the opportunity to live an "Immanuel {God-with-us} Lifestyle."
"An Immanuel Lifestyle is living with a conscious awareness that God is always with us and that He wants to be involved in every part of our lives."
1. God is WITH us
Psalm 16:8 [NLT], I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
Joshua 1:9 [NLT], This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
When we know God is with us...
We are never alone.
Heaven's resources are available.
God has our backs.
We are anointed.
Everything is sacred.
Isaiah 43:1-3 [NLT], "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:18-19 [NLT], "But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. 19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed."
2. God is FOR us
Psalm 118:7 [NLT], Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
Romans 8:31 [NIV], What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
When we know God is for us...
We know He isn't against us.
All things work together for our good.
We are more than conquers.
Nothing can separate us from His love.
We have nothing to fear.
Growth and development.
James 1:2-4 [TPT], My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! 3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. 4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
We didn't get in the spot by accident.
Who does He want to be for us in this season?
3. God is IN us
Colossians 1:27 [NIRV], God has chosen to make known to them the glorious riches of that mystery. He has made it known among the Gentiles. And here is what it is. Christ is in you. He is your hope of glory.
John 14:20 [NLT], When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
When we know that God is in us...
Erases doubt
We go everywhere together.
We have His thoughts.
Ability to be His hands, feet and mouthpiece
Ability to be a conduit for His power
Walk in His divine nature
Bear everlasting fruit
Seated in heavenly places
Co-partners in the Father's mission
The Father's mission is for us to receive [experience His expressed] love and to give it away [freely] to every person we meet.