From Gary V. Womack.... ALONE

When You Feel Alone

1 Kgs. 19:1-18 ELIJAH felt alone - as the only faithful one left But God had 7,000 that had not bowed to Baal.

Do you ever feel alone - like the only one in the world who loves God?

SAMUEL might have felt as Elijah did when Israel asked for a king:

1 Sam. 8:1-9 Israel had not rejected Samuel, but God

When we try to persuade others with the truth - and they reject it, They are not rejecting us but they are rejecting God.

1 Sam. 12:19-ff Even though they had rejected God, they could repent for God is faithful and will not forsake His people.

PAUL found himself abandoned & left alone - except for Luke:

2 Tim. 4:9-11 Paul was in prison waiting to be put to death.

Sometimes all you can do for those that are alone & hurting is to be there.

2 Tim. 4:16-18 Though all forsook Paul - the Lord stood by him.

JESUS was abandoned by those who had followed Him:

Jn. 6:60-ff He would even be betrayed by one whom He had chosen.

Mt. 26:30-35 Jesus foretells His apostles that they will forsake Him.

Consider how Jesus was forsaken.

Mt. 26:55-58 His disciples forsook Him - & Peter followed at a distance.

Isa. 53:3 "He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid,as it were, our faces from Him ; He is despised, and we did not esteem Him."

Mt. 27:55 "And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were looking on from afar."

Mt. 27:34-36 "Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. (46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud

voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? ' "

In order to stand for truth - we risk standing alone Walking in the way can be a lonely place in this world.

When we feel alone - Remember God's promise

Israel was reminded of God's promise to not forsake them, even in times of despair:

Deut. 4:27-31 He would be there, waiting on them to return to Him.

Israel & Joshua were reminded of God's promise to be with them:

Deut. 31:1-8 The Lord would be with them - thus be strong & courageous

The apostles were reminded that God would be with them in their mission:

Mt. 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) God therefore and make

disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,

even to the end of the age.' Amen."

Later, Paul acknowledged this to be true in the midst of trial:

2 Cor. 4:9-14 Though persecuted, they were not forsaken. They looked beyond the moment to when we will be raised.

The Lord is not far from any of us. Paul spoke of this to the Athenians:

Acts 17:26-27 "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, (27) so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us ; (28) for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' "

As one song says it, "You are only a breath away." - a private prayer away

Mt. 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

INVITATION

He is just outside the door - waiting for us to open to Him:

Rev. 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."