Never Alone
This week’s lesson focuses on the promise of God that he will never leave or forsake us. God’s promises are true and we are never alone.
Handout: Never Alone
Matthew 28:19 & 20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
We know that God’s promises are true and that what he says will come to pass.
2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
Sometimes when the storms are life are around us and we are going through hard times, Satan will try to tell us that God has forgotten us and that he has left us but we know that he is a liar and the father of all lies. Let’s see what the word says about Satan.
John 8:44 “he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
We must trust the Father and in his promises and keep the faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Even if it doesn’t feel like he’s there…He is…remember we walk by faith not by sight.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Yes we can trust our Father and his love. We are secure in his hands at all times and at all times he is in control. He will never let his children down. Even if you are going through a time when it seems you are all alone, remember God has a purpose and a plan and he wants you to just keep trusting him by faith. He is there and he is watching you and working behind the scenes on your behalf. You are never alone.
Think of the examples in the word of God of how He watched over and protected his children even when they could not see.
One beautiful example we find in the book of 2 Kings. We know that the king of Syria was at war against Israel and he would take counsel with his servants and let them know where he would set up camp and Elisha the man of God would know and he would send messages to the king of Israel warning him of where his enemies lay in wait.
Of course this infuriated the king of Syria. He was so troubled and upset and he begins to ask who among them is a spy for the king of Israel. His servants inform him that the prophet Elisha that is in Israel is telling and warning the king. So the king of Syria sends spies out to where Elisha is to bring him to where he is. He sent many people with horses and chariots at night and they surrounded the city. Let us go to 2 Kings and find out what happens.
2 Kings 6:14 “therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
2 Kings 6:15 “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do?
So Elisha’s servant wakes up early and discovers that they are surrounded and he says Master what are we going to do? It must have been a scary feeling to the servant seeing so many of the enemy around them. It must have seemed hopeless. Maybe the devil whispered in his ear. Where is your God now? You are surrounded and he has left you to be taken by the enemy, surely you will die. I’m sure then fear began to creep into his heart. He must have felt so afraid. But we know that we do not live by our feelings. We live by faith in our Father knowing that he will deliver. Let’s read on and see what happens. Let’s find out how Elisha answered his servant.
2 Kings 6:16 “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”
Elisha knew that God would deliver them and that he was with them and more powerful than all the armies of this world combined.
2 Kings 6:17 “And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
2 Kings 6:18 “And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.”
2 Kings 6:19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.”
2 Kings 6:20 “And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold they were in the midst of Samaria.
2 Kings 6:21 “And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? Shall I smite them?
2 Kings 6:22 “And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom tho hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.”
2 Kings 6:23 “And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.”
Once again God is true to his word and promise and he delivers. He was with them always even when they could not see. They like you and I were Never Alone.
Over and over in God’s word we see where he has watched over, protected, comforted, and provided for his children. Just like he promises, one day he will take us home to be with him forever and we will only know peace and joy then. No more pain and suffering, no more wars, no more fear. Only happiness and love while eternity rolls…Forever.
I am reminded of a story I read. I want to share it with you because it is most meaningful.
Legend has it that when a Native American male of a certain tribe reach the age of 13 they have to pass through a rite of passage to confirm their status as a man. If they were successful, they were not to relate their experience to anyone, not even their closest friends, as each male must come into manhood on his own.
This is a story of a young male’s right of passage into manhood.
One night, as a young man stood on the cusp of adulthood, his father took him into the woods, blindfolded him, and left him alone. He was made to sit on a stump and he had to remain there the whole night, braving the cold, wild spirits, and the beasts of the land. He was warned not to remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun begin to shine through it. He also was not to cry out for help to anyone.
As the night lingered, his fear mounted. His skin tinged at the burning heat of the moon and shivered at the coldness of silence all at once. He trembled at every rustle of the trees and the howls of the wild beasts.
As time sojourned, he grew in confidence. Through it all, he sat stoically, never once removing the blindfold nor crying for help. It was the way, the only way, to adulthood.
Finally, after what seemed an endless night, the first rays of the sun peeked over the horizon.
He triumphantly removed his blindfold. He had mastered it!
Then, as he surveyed the forest, he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. The realization hit him that his father had been at watch the entire night, braving the very same elements and nature as he had, watching over him and protecting him from harm.
I hope we can draw this lesson from this illustration:
Even as we walk through the valleys of the shadow of death, we too, are never alone. Our heavenly Father casts his watchful eyes over us all the way, all the time. Even when we don’t know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. Unlike the young male, when trouble comes, when the wind blows and storms rage and we can feel fear and danger around, we can reach out to Him and He will answer our need.
Just because you can’t see God, doesn’t mean He isn’t there. He’s always protecting you.
Hang in there child of the MOST HIGH. You are in the hands of Almighty, All Knowing, and Sovereign God. Your loving Father, He is with you always. You are Never Alone.
Dear Righteous, Heavenly Father…
You are the one and only supreme God. There has never been, nor will there ever be one like you. We thank you for yet another week to worship and praise you. We thank you that your promises are true and that you will never leave us nor forsake us. We thank you that you are with us always, and that one day soon you will take us home to be with you forever.
Father we ask for more faith and wisdom. Help us to always look to you instead of the circumstances around us. Help us always know and remember that you will never leave us and that even if we can’t see or feel you, we are never alone.
Thank you for your love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy. Father please comfort, and give grace to your children who are weary. Give them new strength for the journey and the battle against evil forces. We ask you to protect us and our families and we ask you to help us serve you more and seek you more and to draw nigh to you because we know that when we do you will draw nigh to us. We want to know more of you and who you are. We will ever love, worship and honor you in all you enable us to do. Help us to bring others to you and tell them of the love of Christ and how they can become part of our family. In the wonderful, lovely, holy, name of Jesus we ask and pray. Amen.
~*Cindygirl*~
August 7, 2011