Emmanuel, The Majestic God Of Glory

Matthew 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 2:8-10

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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. (Matthew 1:21-23). The Lord made a special historic event by giving the world His Son through the virgin birth. Everything about Jesus was miraculous and supernatural.  His conception, birth, protection, life, ministry, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, post-resurrection appearances, ascension, His return in the rapture and at the second coming. He will take you from grace to glory because He is the Lord of grace and glory and He will do the incredible in your life.

1.  EXALTATION OF THE GOD OF GLORY

                1 Corinthians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 5:30-31; 2:33,37-42

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11). Christ is exalted above angels, men and all the offspring of Adam. There are many names in the world including names of sicknesses, men and women, evildoers and destroyers but the name of Jesus is higher than every name. Christ’s name is higher than any sickness or calamity. Every power of darkness that stands to threaten God’s children will bow in the Name of Jesus. The moment sinners accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and invite Him to their lives as Lord and Saviour, they receive forgiveness and salvation to the glory of the Father. It is not by how much you shout, cry or roll on the ground, that you receive a miracle from God rather it is by having faith in the possibilities of the name of Jesus. He will be the Lord over every challenge of your life and your progress and achievement will bring glory to God. You must believe in the Righteous One for your salvation and not in your self-improvement techniques. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:3031). The people who were primarily responsible for killing Jesus still received forgiveness in the Name of Jesus. God of heaven has exalted that name for the salvation of men of all ages. Christ gives the genuine and heaven-sent repentance that is acceptable to God. He gives us the broken and contrite heart that gives us the conviction and decision to turn away from sin.

        2.   EXCHANGE OF OUR GUILT FOR GLORY

                Hebrews 2:10; John 17:14-17,22-23; 1 Peter 4:1-19; 2 Corinthians 3:18

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). The remembrance of our sins brings shame, regret and remorse. Christ comes to take all our guilt away to give us grace and glory. “ For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:10). We were not sons in the past, we were sinners condemned, guilty and ashamed. “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.” (John 1:12). As we turn to the Lord and believe in His name, we are transformed from being sinners to sons and from being defiled to become daughters of God. Christ is the Captain and Conqueror, going before us to give us grace, and godliness and lead us to glory. Christ changes us and makes us new men and women because “old things are passed away, and all things are become new.” “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth, And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:1417,22-23). The people who come to the Lord always make an exchange of their worldly practices for His word. We become cleansed and sanctified by His word so that we can share in the glory He had with the Father. When He gives us forgiveness, He keeps us from the evil in the world. Christ is the Lord of glory and there are things the Lord of glory will not do. People who live defiling and disgraceful lives have not received the Lord of glory in their lives. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18). When you get born again, guilt and condemnation are taken away and He leads you from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. He takes the useless things in your life and exchanges them for useful things in glory.

        3.   EXPECTATION OF THE GREATEST OF GLORY

2 Peter 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:10-12; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Peter 5:1-4

The Lord will soon return in the greatness and glory of heaven, not to suffer as a substitute but to take us to glory. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:3-4). God gives us total freedom from slave makers, slave drivers and slave traders who want us to be under their evil and ungodly influence. The most wicked slave masters are those who want to keep God’s children under sinful bondage but God frees us from the slavery of Satan and sinners. We claim our freedom by being partakers of His promise of the divine nature. He removes our guilt, condemnation, and defiling nature, and gives us the divine nature to carry the grace, godliness and glory of Emmanuel anywhere we go.