GOD WITH US

One important reason for the birth of Jesus Christ is that He might save His people from their sins. This truth is clearly stated in Matthew 1:21, " And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus: for He shall save His people fro their sins".

However, this might not have happened but for the fulfilment of the word of God through His prophet in the book of Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel". This was further emphasized and confirmed by the angel of God in 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 God with us".

But, why would God need to be with us? Why do we need to have God with us? And, what does it entail to have God with us?

Jesus while talking to His disciples compared earthly fathers in their dealings with their children to God as our Father. The truth is God can not be compared to man in any way. Matthew 7:11, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Just as it is the joy of every father to see their children happy at all times. So, also God will always want His children to be happy. And, if there is anything that can make the children unhappy, it is unfulfilled promises. For instance, if you have been away from home for some time and you have promised your children that you are coming back on a particular day, I think as a good father, the least you can do is to fulfil your promise.

It is important therefore for God to be with us so as to fulfil His promise.

God made promises to His people in the following scriptures;

Genesis 28:15, "And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of".

Joshua 1:5, "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee".

As a loving and caring Father, God proved His love towards us when this promise was fulfilled at the birth of Jesus Christ. 

And, as soon as Jesus finished His ministry on earth, His last statement before His departure emphasized more on this promise of God to be with us. The promise remains valid till date.

Matthew 28:20, "and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen".

Believe it or not, the presence of a good father with his children always put situations under control. Difficult situations like hunger, lack, insecurity, attack, shame, fear and death are put under control when a good father is with his children.

The following reasons however justify why we need to have God with us;

Psalms 50:15, "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me".

1. Therefore, for God to hear us when we call on Him in the day of trouble, we need to have Him with us. It is after this, that He can answer us, deliver us and then we can glorify Him in return. 

The presence of God is so important that Moses in Exodus 33:13-15 told God that it is not necessary for them to continue in their journey except the Lord will go with them. 

2. It does not matter how tactful and organised your enemies can be, when God is with you, your enemy is labouring in vain. 

Isaiah 8:9-10, "Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

10, Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us".

Jeremiah 15:20, "And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD".

3. When God is with you, your enemies will have no option but to make peace with you. Your enemies will certainly make effort to bring you down but after several attempts without success, they will know of a truth that God is with you and this will make them arrange how to make peace with you.

Genesis 26:26-31, "Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

27, And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

28, And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;

29, That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.

30, And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

31, And they rose betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace".

4. When God is with you, you can be sure of divine help. Even when the world has condemned and rejected you, God said in Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

5. In our journey of life, it is certain we shall come across different challenges. Some of the roads will be very rough while some will be smooth. We will come across mountains and valleys. Likewise, we will meet rivers along our path and many times, we will come across the fire. But, when you have God with you, your safety is guaranteed. 

Isaiah 43:2, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee".

6. Finally, when God is with you, carrying out divine order will not be an issue. Sin will become irritating, living a life of holiness will become a habit and it will become a lifestyle that will deliver unto you the anointing of the Holy Ghost and power to do exploit. 

Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him".

To have God with us, we must become members of His family. 

Matthew 1:21 states that Jesus was born so that He can save His people from their sins.

He has come so as to save as many that identify with Him.

Therefore, to have God with you;

1. You must be born again. 

John 1:11-13, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13, Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God".

John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me".

2. You must love the Lord your God by keeping His commandments.

John 14:23, "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him".

In conclusion, if you want God to fulfil His promise by always being with you, there is a need to make your ways right with Him. You have to confess, forsake your sins and surrender your life to Jesus. Make a decision to follow Him for the rest of your life and He will forever be with you as well.