God with Us

On March 2, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 53: 4-5

Surely our griefs (sickness) He Himself bore, and our sorrows (pains) He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging (stripes) we are healed.

Many of you will recognize this language because it is quoted in the New Testament. We will cover that quote later. This is from the amazing prophet, Isaiah. You saw from yesterday’s verse how in synch he was with Yahweh God. What really makes the prophet Isaiah and his book so astounding is the revelation he had of Jesus. He is the one who wrote, “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7: 14). I tell you all of this so you will understand this prophet’s ministry and his revelation of the Christ. God showed him the Christ’s coming and ministry. He saw Jesus being born and later being pierced for us.

Let me say first, read this verse in many versions. There is so much here and so many nuances that I believe you could spend all week on this verse. Second, there is no way I can cover all of what this verse says in this mini-message. The sound bite we must leave with, the minimum comprehension is this, “By his stripes, we are healed.”

There are reasons for every part of Jesus arrest, sentencing and crucifixion. One piece of those events was the beatings he endured. I have thought of this so many times and am completely convinced that Jesus was beaten and bruised in every single part of his body. Even the soles of his feet were striped by the whips. Now here is what makes this challenging. Jesus intended that it be so because he already knew what Isaiah saw. He understood the prophecy and the healing that would ensue because of his beating. It may break your heart to think about it, but Jesus was bruised and beaten so that we could be healed.

If you’ve thought much about Jesus’ ministry you’ve come to recognize that he took all the bad things on himself so that we could have the good. Obviously, the biggest example of this was that he took our sins in trade for his righteousness. We got his righteousness; he got our sin. What a deal. The same is true here. Isaiah is trying to help us understand that our healing was in Jesus’ stripes. He bore our sickness in his body and carried our pains. The scourging he endured was the seed he sowed for our healing.

Now here is the bit I wanted to get to. I find this hard, but important and I have shared this with very few people. When I am hurt, sick or injured, I remember this verse and I remember Jesus’ stripes. I have come to understand that the reason he was bruised in every part of his body was so that every part of mine would be healed. So, if I hurt my ankle, I think about the stripes and whelps that were on his ankle and I know that his stripes have made me whole. When you are sick or hurt, you might do this too. Remember that Jesus was bruised in that part of his body so that you might be healed. Wear your healing like he bore those stripes.

One last note. We must understand when we were healed. In this passage, Isaiah was looking forward to coming events. He was before Jesus, looking towards the cross. Isaiah, seeing those events, said, “By His scourging (stripes) we are healed.” He said, we are healed, not that we will be. Isaiah places our healing at Jesus’ scourging. That is to say, you were healed 2000 years ago. That means, we aren’t trying to get God to heal us. That is said and done. We are trying to get ourselves in harmony with the Trinity, so that the healing and health which are already ours, is revealed in our lives.

Questions, comments? Click “reply” or go to Ask Ivey at IveyMinistries.org.

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In and Through

On December 16, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Ephesians 4: 6      TPT

And he is the perfect Father who leads us all, works through us all, and lives in us all!

Jesus rattled the world when he told people that he and the Father would live in us and through us (John 14: 23). He spoke of the Father with a familiarity that rankled the Jews. Truly, the familiarity with which we speak of the Father today still unsettles some. Interestingly, only the Apostle John leaned into this revelation of Immanuel, God with us. John understood that the name applied to more than Jesus spending a short time walking the earth. It is, in fact, the New Covenant in a word. Man, that is a big revelation, one we are still grappling with.

Paul came along behind the twelve disciples. Except for John, the gospel writers mostly gave an account of the life of Jesus. Paul took those accounts and Jesus’ teachings and explained them. I said last week, he seemed to understand the Apostle John well and he continued John’s teachings. This revelation that God lives in us is so big that even after both John and Paul unveiled this great mystery, it still remains cloaked for many people.

I hope you revel in the idea that God is not only with you, but in you, even if your mind cannot comprehend it. Honestly, I cannot fully grasp it either, but I do glory in the truth of it. We don’t need to pray to a far-removed deity, God in heaven. We can turn inward and find the creator right there. Isn’t that amazing?

Perhaps I am just in the Christmas Spirit, but this seems like a good Christmas message. Perhaps it is Christmas and Easter rolled up together. This “God with us” thing is central to Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth. Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father and what a job he did. He so thoroughly accomplished his task that the Father packed up and moved in with us. Can you even grasp the enormity of that? It is mind boggling!

I hope that this Christmas season, you will enjoy Emmanuel, God with us. Every time you hear a Christmas carol, I hope you are reminded of the King who came to make his abode with you. Merry Christmas!

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Immanuel

On December 11, 2020   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Isaiah 7: 14

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel.

Immanuel – God with us. Of all the things that are unique about this new covenant, the one I like best is that God is present with us all the time. Yahweh revealed the coming miracle to Isaiah. It was bigger than just the Messiah which was promised. In the name Immanuel, God revealed an entirely new type of relationship that humanity would have with divinity. God sent his son here not just to save us from sin but also to create a new temple, the temple of the Holy Spirit which is not made of stones and mortar but of human sinew. What an amazing miracle!

Some people think the virgin pregnancy was the miracle of miracles. That is peanuts compared to the reality that God made us His temple and has come to make His abode in us. Yahweh didn’t just send a Messiah. He transformed the entire spiritual realm. Humans became the living building stones by which the Lord built His kingdom on earth and He is still building that kingdom.

This message of God with us is a Christmas message, sure, but it is so much more than that. I have tried to intimate what a game changer this event was. During this time of Covid-19 we can appreciate “Immanuel” at an entirely different level. God is with us. We have all three parts of the Trinity living with us, integrating their life with ours. Our hearts can be strengthened because God has sent His comfort and joy in the person of Jesus, our Christ. But it doesn’t end there. Jesus also sent us a helper, the Holy Spirit. We are not alone nor are we abandoned. This Christmas let’s all meditate on Immanuel – God with us. Make every day a revelation of Jesus sitting beside you. He is alongside you at work and he is baking cookies with you. No matter what you do this Advent Season, engage your thoughts about God with you. The more we consciously make ourselves aware of God’s presence with us, the more peace we will experience. Blessings!

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Immanuel

On December 19, 2019   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 73: 23 – 24

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory.

When Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah, he said the savior would be called Immanuel. Immanuel means God is with us. That is one of the most important pieces of prophecy in the entire Bible. It is a key piece of theology. God is with us.

Jesus’ coming to earth, his sacrifice and subsequent resurrection change the entire dynamic between God and people. The temple moved. Instead of being an edifice made of stone and mortar, the new temple is you. God has come to live in us and to be with us continually. He is now intertwined with us and us with Him. There is no separation other than that which we create. Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him,” (John 14: 23). Jesus and the Father intend to make their abode with us. Jesus also promised that the Father would send the Holy Spirit who would come and be with us forever (John 14: 16). So there you have it, all three persons of the Trinity coming to earth to live in and with you always.

This is the dream and hope of the psalmist. He recognized God with him. He also hints at an important aspect. As long as we are with God, He is with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us, but it is important that we are “continually” with Him also, as the psalmist wrote. He made a decision to be continually with God and then acknowledged that God had taken hold of his right hand to lead and counsel him all the days of his earthly life. Then, at the end of his days, he knew and expected that God would receive him into glory. In other words, their partnership will never end. God was with him all the days of his earthly existence and then the Lord received him into the heavenly abode of God. That is the promise we have, God with us. Grab hold of His right hand and enjoy life with Immanuel.

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God with Us

On December 11, 2017   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Matthew 1: 23

“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” WHICH TRANSLATED MEANS, “GOD WITH US.”

The New American Standard uses small caps to indicate a quote taken from another part of scripture. You will often find the New Testament writers quoting from the Old Testament Scripture. In this case, the quote comes from Isaiah 7: 14.

Jesus accomplished much during his tenure on earth. However, in the company of salvation, redemption and restoration, I find this great marvel and joyous blessing oft overlooked. I would say, though, that this miracle of God with us is among the greatest of all the gifts God has given us.

I have enjoyed several conversations recently on this very topic and I believe there is revelation in the land. More and more people are receiving a fuller revelation of Jesus with each of us at all times. For these people, Jesus’ presence is becoming something very real. One of the discoveries I have made about God recently is that He is very literal. We often take His words figuratively but that is us, not Him. In His statement about the child Immanuel, whom we also call Jesus, He was being very down to earth literal. He meant that God is now with us 24/7. Let that sink in for a moment. He is literally there with you right now. What does that mean to your life?

Well, first of all, you are never alone and never have to feel alone. He is as close as your next breath. Wait, did you breathe? He was there in that breath. That is a huge revelation when is sinks in. It also means that he is within your grasp every moment. One of my friends was discussing some of the wonderful traits of puppies. One of them is that you can hold and cuddle them. They are easy subjects of all the love and affection you have to give and they give unqualified love in return. There is another name for that kind of love and acceptance: Immanuel.

God is revealing Himself as that ever present love. God is love. Immanuel means God with us that means love with us at all times. God worked a miracle so that He could be with us every minute. He is really as close as your perception. If you can receive it, He is as close and cuddly as a puppy. If your heart will accept, He is arms around you. And for you tough guys out there, He is the safe Father who is big enough, strong enough to hold you in His arms and let you be a little boy. You can cry on His shoulder, giggle in His face. You can sleep in His lap, and even tell Him silly little jokes.

Our Father really is this close to us and He is making a point to reveal His presence to this generation. He wants you to open your sensors to the awareness of God with you right now and every minute. Ain’t it great? The baby savior was given a name of great comfort and presence. He was not given a warrior name or a kingly name. His purpose is to be with you. You’ve just got to love a God who makes His purpose being with you.

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Inhale

On April 20, 2017   /   Word of the Day   /   1 Comment

Isaiah 7: 14

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Immanuel, or Emmanuel, the name means God is with us. Right now, as you read these words, God is with you. There is a superficial understanding of this and then there is the revelation of God with you.

Most of us readily accept the name given to Jesus and its meaning which is repeated in Matthew and revealed in John. We know that Jesus came to earth and showed himself as God with humanity. I am not here to bring you this “general” understanding, though. The purpose of writing this daily devotional is to continually encourage you into a deeper relationship with this God. I want you to receive the revelation of this scripture and the name Immanuel as a personal message to you from God.

Immanuel – God with YOU! When you read the book of John you see God’s intent to be with us every minute of every day. He talks about abiding. What does that mean? He wants to move in. Wow! Right now, even as you read this, your Father is right there with you. He is so close that He hears you breathe.

God sent His son, Immanuel – God with us, so that forever and ever He could be with us. Jesus bought that for Him and for us. I love thinking of Him as being in my breath. He is that close. Inhale! God is with you.

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