Walking in the Spirit of Jabez

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Although his story is told in only two verses in scripture, Jabez’ message is powerful, life altering and filled with world-changing hope.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10:

“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name [Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain. ”And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested”

I Chronicles 4 lists the descendants of Judah. Judah was the fourth son of Jacob. As Jacob lay dying, he prophesied over each of his 12 sons.  Judah’s prophecy is found in Genesis 49:8-12: “Judah, may your brothers praise you. May your hand be in the neck of your enemies. May your father's sons bow before you. Judah is a lion's whelp. My son, you have gone up from the prey. He stooped, he crouched like a lion; and like a lioness, who shall rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. And the obedience of the peoples to him. Binding his foal to the vine, and his ass's colt to the choice vine, he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. His eyes shall be sparkling with wine, and his teeth white from milk.”

Judah’s tribe will be victorious over their enemies. The scepter signifies the kings in the line of Judah.  David is the first; Jesus is the last.  The feasting and the wine speak of prosperity.

Jabez was born into the tribe of Judah, the tribe of kings. Both Rahab and Ruth married into the tribe of Judah. David was a descendant of Judah. Joseph, Mary and Jesus were members of the tribe.

In spite of the promises that had been declared over the tribe of Judah, Jabez’ mother saw little hope for her son. He had been born in pain. She expected that pain to continue. Jabez means “he will bring pain and sorrow.”

We must be mindful of what we speak over our children and grandchildren.  Likewise, we need to know who we are in the Lord and not take to heart what the world may say about us as Christians.

Jabez did not let the words of his mother limit his life expectations. He called on the God of Israel not only to bless him, but to bless him INDEED. He asked for a big blessing. He asked God to increase his territory, to increase his sphere of authority, to increase his ministry. Jabez knew that he could not move effectively in his increase without the covering and protection of the Lord. He asked for guidance (God’s hand.) He asked the Lord to keep him from evil. Remember that the Lord Jesus taught us all to pray for the Lord to deliver us from evil.

Jabez’ purpose for his increased territory and for the Lord’s intervention in his life is that he would not cause pain, that he would not walk in the curse that his mother had spoken over him. Jabez wanted to be blessed in order to bless others.

 

We can learn from Jabez.

--No matter what our background might be, no matter what others may have spoken over us, God still has a plan to give us a future and a hope.

Jermiah 29:11-12: “For I know the purposes which I am purposing for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you shall call on Me, and you shall go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” 

--We cannot walk effectively in blessing without submitting to God’s authority over our lives.

Psalm 37:3-4:  Trust in God, and do good; you shall dwell in the land, and you shall be fed on truth. Delight yourself also in God, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

--Our desire must be a determination to walk away from evil—evil in both thought and action.

James 4:7-8:  Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, double-minded ones. 

--The purpose of our enlarged territory must be to accomplish our calling without purposefully harming others.

We must ask ourselves some pertinent questions.

--Why do I want my domain to be increased?

--Am I willing to forgo my plans and to submit to God’s plans and purposes?

--Am I desirous of walking away from evil thoughts, conversations and actions?

--Can I honestly say that I do not wish pain on others?

God’s purpose is that we shine forth the glory, power, authority and holiness of our Creator.

Isaiah 60:1- 2: Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the LORD will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.”

Because He loves us and wants the best for us, God desires that we walk in the spirit of Jabez.

 

 

Considering the Heavens: Part Two

By Reverend Lonnie C. Crowe

Shamayin

Strongs

“shaw-mah'-yim, shaw-meh'

From an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; … perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve).” 

Shamayin is the atmosphere.

Psalm 78:23-24: “Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.”

One New Man: “Glossary”

“This is where the millstones are located that grind the manna for the righteous.  His Word is still miraculously feeding us.”

The heavens: Finding HASHAMAYIM – Hebrew Word Lessons

“The heavens, which is a single word in Hebrew, is the fifth word of the Torah, found in Genesis 1:1…

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [Beresheit bara Elohim et ha-shamayin we-et ha-aretz].

Shamayim is “heavens”, ha-shamayim is “the heavens”. In the Hebrew scriptures the heavens refer to the sky. The sun, moon and stars are in “the heavens”:”

Genesis 1:14-15

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.

“The Hebrew word hashamayim includes, within it, the Hebrew word for water, mayim, so it seems that water is consistently connected with the heavens. Scientifically, of course, we know this to be true. Water goes into the heavens as vapour, helps form clouds and returns to earth as rain. We also know that water is necessary to support life. Planet viability is contingent on finding water.”

Biblically the firmament, or sky, is connected with water:

Psalm 148:1-5

“Praise YHWH! Praise YHWH from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!

Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!

Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light!

Praise Him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of YHWH, For He commanded and they were created.

What the waters that are above the heavens mean, we do not know. But the Psalms tell us that the heavens are God’s domain:”

Psalm 115:15-16

“May you be blessed of YHWH, Maker of heaven and earth.

The heavens are YHWH’s heavens, but the earth He has given to the sons of men.”

“We are placed as caretakers of the earth, God, however, controls the heavens. Interesting that there is a distinction between the heavens and God’s place within the heavens.”

 

Elul Meditations:

 Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

1.         1.  Colossians 3:23-24:  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men; knowing that from the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance. For you serve the Lord Christ.

2.    Romans 12:10-13:  in brotherly love to one another, loving fervently, having led one another in honor. As to diligence, not slothful, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in affliction, steadfastly continuing in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.

3.   Deuteronomy 10:12  And now, Israel, what does Jehovah your God ask of you, but to fear Jehovah your God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

4.   Joshua 24:14: Now, then, fear Jehovah, and serve Him in sincerity and truth. And put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt, and serve Jehovah with singing. 

5.   Hebrews 6:10-12:  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same eagerness to the full assurance of hope to the end, that you be not slothful, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

6.    Matthew 25:34-40:  Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink? When did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me. 

7.   Galatians 5:13-14:  For, brothers, you were called to liberty. Only do not use the liberty for an opening to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 

8.   Mark 10:42-45:  But Jesus called them and said to them, You know that they who are accounted rulers over the nations exercise lordship over them. And their great ones exercise authority on them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever of you desires to become first, he shall be servant of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. 

9.   1 Corinthians 15:58: So that, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not without fruit in the Lord. 

10.              1 Corinthians 3:9:  For of God we are fellow-workers, a field of God, and you are a building of God. 

11.              Philipians 2:3-7:  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Do not let each man look upon his own things, but each man also on the things of others. For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

12.              John 12:26:  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there also My servant shall be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. 

13.              Mark 9:35: And He sat down and called the Twelve and said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. 

14.              Matthew 25:21: His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. 

15.              Deuteronomy 13:4: You shall walk after Jehovah your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 

16.              2Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work. 

17.              John 13:14-15  If then I, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

18.              1 Samuel 12:24:  Only fear Jehovah, and serve Him in truth with all your heart. For consider what great things He has done for you. 

19.              Joshua 24:15-16:  And if it seems evil to you to serve Jehovah, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served Beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah. And the people answered and said, Far be it from us to forsake Jehovah to serve other gods. 

20.              Matthew 6:24: No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 

21.              1 Peter 2:15-16:  For such is the will of God, doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish men;  as free, and not having freedom as a cover of evil, but as servants of God. 

22.              Psalm 34:22: The LORD redeems the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be condemned. 

23.              2 Corinthians 4:5:  For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 

24.              Romans 14:17  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is well-pleasing to God, and approved by men. 

25.              Acts 20:35: I have shown you all things, that working in this way we ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 

26.              Galatians 1:10: For now do I persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ. 

27.              Isaiah 54:17: No weapon that is formed against you shall be blessed; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the inheritance of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness is from Me, says Jehovah. 

28.              1 Corinthians 4:1: So let a man think of us as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. And the rest, it is sought among stewards that one be found faithful. 

29.              2 Timothy 2:15: Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

30.              Luke 14:23: And the lord said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. 

  Elul: Serving the King from the Field

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Ecclesiastes 5:9: The profit of the land is for all; the King himself is served from the field.

The Hebrew month of Elul begins at sunset this evening, August 24. Elul is the twelfth month of the Jewish civil year and the sixth month of the religious year. It is a time of repentance in preparation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

During the month of Elul, it is customary to blow the shofar every morning except of the Sabbath from the first day of Elul until the day before Rosh Hashanah. The blasts are meant to awaken our spirits and inspire us to begin the soul- searching which will prepare us for the High Holy Days. Elul is seen as a time to search one's heart and draw close to God in preparation for the coming Day of Judgement, Rosh Hashanah, and Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur.

To Christians, the Fall Holy Days picture the second coming of Christ. The month of Elul represents our journey to maturity in our Lord, to preparing ourselves to be the Bride of Christ in preparation for His return.

Revelation 19: 6-8. “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

The Hebrew word "Elul" can be understood to be an acronym for the phrase – "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" (Song of Solomon 6:3).

The King is in the field where He is accessible to us. He is near us. We can serve Him in loving relationship from the field.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us in life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.

 

Guard Your Joint Spirit (Part 2)

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

When we have surrendered all, we are in position to receive the blessing of Malachi 3:19-21.

Malachi 3:19-21:"Behold the day is coming and all who do wickedly will be stubble, and the Day that comes will burn them up, says the LORD* of Hosts, that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who revere My name, the Sun of Acts of Loving Kindness will rise with healing in His wings and you will go out and prosper like fattening calves in the stall. And you will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall prepare, says the LORD* of Hosts."

“His wings” is an allusion to the prayer shawl which demonstrates the covering and protection of His covenant.

Num 15:38-40:  “Speak to the sons of Israel and command them that they make fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue. And it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look upon it and remember all the commands of Jehovah, and do them; and so that you do not seek after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you prostitute yourself, that you may remember and do all My commands, and be holy to your God.” 

The purpose of the prayer shawl is for everyone to look at it as a picture of the covenant and a reminder of the 613 commandments or guidelines that, with the power of the Holy Spirit, enable us to walk in covenant with our Lord.

Matthew 9:20-22: “ And behold, a woman, who had a flow of blood for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the hem of His garment. For she said within herself, If only I shall touch His robe, I will be whole. But turning and seeing her, Jesus said, Daughter, be comforted; your faith has saved you. And the woman was saved from that hour.”

The woman was not healed by her touching His tallit.  She was healed because she believed in the covenant.  She believed that God is Who He says He is and that God will do what He says He will do.

Matthew 14:34-36: “ And when they had passed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And recognizing Him, the men of that place sent to all that neighborhood, and brought to Him all who were diseased. And they begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His robe. And as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

The people recognized Jesus.  If touching a tallit was all that was necessary for healing, they could have touched any tallit.  In Jesus, they recognized the power and authority of the covenant.

As the Bride of Christ we must recognize the power and authority of the covenant.  We must recognize that power and walk in that authority. Scripture gives us many guidelines for doing so.

Proverbs 4:20-27:  My son, listen to my words; bow down your ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to all his flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from you a wicked mouth, and devious lips put far from you. Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left; remove your foot from evil.” 

As the Bride of Christ, we diligently guard our joint spirit with our Lord and with other Christians.

 

Guard Your Joint Spirit (Part 1)

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Several biblical symbols represent the church. Among them is the church's calling as the holy, radiant, spotless Bride of Christ, the Lamb of God. Many times women in scripture picture the attributes of the church as that Bride. 

Proverbs 31 describes the virtuous woman.  However, Psalm 31 is also a description in metaphor of what the Bride of Christ should be as we walk this planet.   

For now, we are going to concentrate on one word in Proverbs 31:10. “Who can find a woman of virtue? For her value is far above rubies.” 

The word translated as virtue is the Hebrew word khahyil.  It means a force, an army, wealth, virtue, courage, strength, activity, substance, worth.  When we are living virtuously, we become a courageous, force of strength, activity and worth.  We become warriors, impowered by the Holy Spirit, to march in the army of God. 

True virtue can be found only in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.  Remember in a covenant relationship, we give to Jesus all we have and all we are, with is nothing.  He gives us everything He is and all He has which is priceless, eternal and powerful.

Earthly marriage is to be a covenant relationship, a picture of our covenant relationship with Christ as our bridegroom where we exchange our nothingness for His everything.

The prophet Malachi describes how the people of Israel chose to live outside a covenant relationship with God yet still desired the blessings of God.  Malachi compares that to earthly marriage.  Israel is the wife of Jehovah and the Church the bride of Christ. The prophet Isaiah wrote, ‘The Maker is your husband’, Isaiah 54:5,6. In the New Testament the church is likened to a bride, Ephesians 5:22,23.

This refers to a special and intimate relationship with Almighty God. His plan has always been to be in a relationship where the created worships the Creator in spirit and in truth, for the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:8.

The following passage is from the One New Man Bible which is translated directly from Hebrew into English.

Malachi 2:13-17: " You cover the altar with tears, with weeping, and sighing because He will not turn to the offering any more, nor to accept your good will offering. And you say, What for? Because the LORD* has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, yet she is your companion, and your true ally. And did not God make of you one flesh? So that one should have a spiritual kin? And what does that one flesh seek? A Godly seed. Therefore, guard your joint spirit, and do not betray the wife of your youth! For it is hateful in His eyes to send her away, to divorce her, says the LORD*, the God of Israel, and renders one’s garment to be covered with violence, says the LORD* of Hosts; therefore, guard your joint spirit, that you do not betray.   You have wearied the LORD* with your words."

Just as we are to guard our joint spirit with our spouses, we are to guard our joint spirit with our Lord.  The Church is the covenant Bride of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2  “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have espoused you to one Man, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” 

Rev 19:7-8:  “Let us be glad and rejoice and we will give glory to Him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.”

Our heavenly white robe of righteousness comes when we enter into a covenant relationship with our Lord by surrendering ourselves to His love.

I Surrender All  

Author: Judson W. Van DeVenter

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender

Humbly at His feet I bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken

Take me Jesus take me now

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender

Now I feel the sacred flame

O the joy of full salvation

Glory, glory to His name

I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

 

Abiding in Emmanuel Part 2

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
His name is called Emmanuel
God with us, revealed in us
His name is called Emmanuel  

Bob McGee's lovely praise song often resonates in my spirit. The words “God with us, revealed in us” especially capture my heart and remind me of Paul’s words in Acts 17:28: “. . . for in Him we live and move and have our being.”  

Emmanuel means that we are perfectly positioned.

Considering the truth that we live, move and have our being in Him, let’s reflect on some of the comforting words in Psalm 91:1: “Psalm  91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall rest under the shadow of the Almighty.” 

When we are in God’s will, the revelation that our whole being exists in Him awakens us to the understanding that we are perfectly positioned in “the secret place of the Most High.”

Psalm 91:4: “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall trust. His truth shall be your shield, and buckler.” 

Emmanuel means that He has placed us “under His wings.” When we are walking in obedience, we do not need to run to His protection; we are already there.  The tallit is a symbol of abiding in Emmanuel.  When one is under the tallit (the prayer shawl), one is separated unto God and away from the world.

The tallit fringes symbolize the 613 guidelines (commandments) for conscious living through a Jewish lens that are found in the Torah.

As the Torah says: "You will see them [the fringes] and remember all God's mitzvot (guidelines) and do them" Numbers 15:39

Because of our position in Him, we can rest; we can cease from struggling. We can say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence” (Psalm 91:2-3, NKJV).

The power and authority of Emmanuel is released when we make the decision to abide in Him. To abide is more than just “to live”; it is “to accept” or “to act in accordance with.”  When we abide in the Lord, we accept Him and act in accordance with Him. We live our lives in harmony with Him because we know that the path He has chosen for us is the best path. Cherish the admonition that, “Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (Psalm 91:9-10, NKJV).

The hope of Emmanuel is revealed in God’s promises to us:

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation. - Psalm 91:14-16 (NKJV)

Hope is available now.

I love the old hymn:

“O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

The Latin text was first documented in Germany in 1710; however, the tune most familiar in the English-speaking world originated in 15th-century France. Most versions end with the yearning, hopeful cry: “Rejoice. Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

However, as Bible believing, born again follower of Jesus, on the final chorus, we sing, “Rejoice.  Rejoice. Emmanuel has come to thee, O Israel.”

Sadly, when we do not know the power, authority and protection afforded us in Emmanuel, we cry out for that time in eternity when the trials of this life will be over. That is a form of godliness that denies the power of Him in whom we live and move and have our being (2 Timothy 3:5). “Having a form of godliness but denying the power of it; even turn away from these.” 

As I rest in Emmanuel, fear and doubt flee. As I rest in Emmanuel, faith and truth become steadfast. Emmanuel is manifested when we, like Paul, declare:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

Emmanuel—God is with us. Oh, that He may be revealed in us.

Collisions 1:26-27:  “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. For to His saints, God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Habakkuk 3:17-19: “Though the fig tree shall not blossom, and fruit is not on the vines; the labor of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food. The flock is cut off from the fold, and no herd is in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in Jehovah, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Jehovah the Lord is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk on my high places.”

Emmanuel—God is with us. Oh, that He may be revealed in us.