Bringing Forth Emmanuel
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:23
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Bringing Forth Emmanuel
Father, I thank you for the old rugged cross on Calvary: that cross that our Lord and Saviour Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of Lords endured; that cross that is standing there in eternity dividing death from life; that cross where Jesus shed His blood, the blood that atoned for our sins, the blood that gives us strength from day to day; that blood that will never lose its power.
Matthew 1:23 opens with, “Behold,” and when this word appears in the Bible, it signifies that we are to pay attention. “Behold” is meant to get our attention, to alert us that something new is here, that a mystery is about to be revealed and decoded. It goes on to say, “… a virgin shall be with child.” Of course being with child means that a woman is pregnant. Virginity and pregnancy do not go hand in hand, but the Bible says to behold, look out, pay attention, something new is about to happen. It says a virgin shall be with child and she shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is interpreted as God with us.
In my understanding, “a virgin” means that everything that is untouched, unused, undefiled, uninhabited, un-experienced, uncharted, full of potential, and brand new is a virgin. When a woman is pregnant and brings forth a son, she is productive. This year is pregnant with the presence of God to those who will behold. If you and I pay attention to what is new, uncharted, unused, undefiled, and uninhabited, if we pay attention and notice that the future is pregnant with potential, possibilities, and productivity, it will bring forth a child, a new life. If you take note and look at this year as virgin that is pregnant with potential and possibilities, it will bring forth a new life, it will bring forth Emmanuel, the presence of God within you.
If you are aware of this new time, sensitive to the potential and perceptive of the possibilities, and you bear in mind that God Almighty who gave you the priviledge of this year is a God of good thoughts, then you will know according to the Word of God in Hebrews 6:9 that this is a year of better things. The verse says, “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation….”
If what you desire this year is that you manifest that of which heaven is persuaded, you will manifest better things in your life. This is so because the God of better things is able to make better things real in your life. You will then embrace the potential and possibilities of this year; you will bring forth a new life because God is with you. When God is with you all things are possible. You will bring forth the presence of God, Emmanuel, in everything: in your home, your church, your relationships, your industry. You will be productive and christen this year Emmanuel, because you will see God evidently on your side. It is one thing to talk about God and another thing altogether to experience Him. I pray that God will give you the grace to bring forth a new life this year.
Prayer Points:
The beginning of a new life begins with accepting Jesus who is Emmanuel, as your personal Lord and Saviour. When you accept Jesus and invite Him into your heart, you are asking God to be with you and you will have a new life. The potential that has been buried, waiting for this new season of life will manifest. Your possibilities will become reality, your productivity will be amazing, and you will become a wonder to many. David was able to say, I am as a wonder unto many for you are my God.
Will you behold this year? Will you look at the year as virgin, that is uncharted in experience, full of potential, brand new, unused, untouched, and pregnant with potential and possibilities? Will you bring forth a new life, new productivity? Will you be able to call this year Emmanuel, the year of God’s presence in your life? I pray that this will be your experience. I pray that you will not be locked up by yesteryears’ experience, that you may walk in this new revelation. Brethren behold; pay attention. May you produce in a new way this year so that others will recognize what you produced as a product of God’s presence, as a product of Emmanuel which is God with you. May God be with you always in Jesus’ name. Amen.
