Never Alone

Meditation John 8:21-30

1. Jesus said to them that he is going his way and that they shall look for him but will not find him, but will die in their sins. He also said that where he goes nobody can come. (V21)
2. The Jews said if Jesus will kill himself as he told them where he is going no one can come. ( V22)
3. Jesus said unto them that he is from above. But they are from the world. He told them that he is not of the world. (V23)
4. Christ said that they will die in their sins. If they believe not that Jesus is the Christ that will die in their sins.  (V24)
5. Then asked him who he was and Christ said he was the same whom he said unto them from the beginning. (V25)
6. Jesus said he has many things against them to judge, but his father is true, and he speaks of those things he heard from him. (V26)
7. They did not understand that he was talking to them about his father. (V27)
8. Then Christ said that once he had been lifted up then they shall understand who he is and he did not do anything by himself but what his father taught him to speak. (V28)
9. Jesus said that his father is always with him and he had not left him alone, for he does all things to please him. (V29)
10. Many people believed in him when he spoke these words. (V30)

 LIFE APPLICATION :

And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
John:8:29

Many of us go through periodic times of loneliness. We feel lost and lonely. We put our trust in man and end up in more trouble.

Loneliness kills. We don't find a companion who cares for us. We cannot identify ourselves with any others. No one is there to understand our deep inside feelings.

Most of all... We feel we are ALL ALONE.

Worst is when we are to do a whole lot of things ..... Alone.

 When burdens press our shoulders and we don't have anyone to lift those burdens up.

Dear Child of God,
The WORD of GOD is coming to you. Let us see how to handle loneliness God's way.

Some biblical examples :
Let us see some of the experiences and feeling of loneliness of great men of God in the Bible.

David and loneliness:

Let us read a few scriptures that portray loneliness in the life of David.

A. I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
Psalm:102:6

I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.
Psalm:102:7

He portrays himself as a pelican in the wilderness, as an owl in the desert, a sparrow sitting alone on the housetop, and worst of all as a dead man forgotten by everyone and as a broken useless vessel.

I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
Psalm:31:12

B. The experience of Elijah the prophet:

And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
1 Kings:19:10

Elijah felt so lonely that he was the only one left in the multitude of the prophets.

C. There were many others who went through the dark paths of loneliness.

A. Joseph was put in the pit. 

And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
Genesis:37:24

B. Jeremiah was put in a dungeon.

Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
Jeremiah:38:6

C. Job cried out but no one heard him.

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
Job:19:7

D. What more..... Jesus himself was left alone to die on the cross.

And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
Mark:15:36

Dear Child of God,
Loneliness is piercingly painful. Let us see now from the scriptures some promises of what God tells us .... to speak when we feel lonely.
The WORD of GOD says,

1. REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN BY GOD:

 We are not forgotten by God. The whole world can forget us. We may be left alone. We may say that even GOD himself has forgotten us.

But we have a heavenly father who can never forget us as we are carved in the very palm of his hands.

But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Isaiah:49:14

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Isaiah:49:15

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
Isaiah:49:16

He has formed and made us and we are not forgotten by him.

Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
Isaiah:44:21

2. This great God not only remembers us but also tell us that he is with us and not to fear for he is there to help us.

For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah:41:13


Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
Isaiah:43:5

 3. HE NOT ONLY HELPS US BUT ALSO FIGHTS OUR BATTLES:

Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
Isaiah:54:4

4. HE SHALL GIVE US REST AND WE SHALL NOT BE AFRAID ANYMORE

But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.
Jeremiah:46:27

5. HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US COMFORTLESS BUT WILL FILL US WITH PEACE:

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John:14:18

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John:14:27

6. HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US ALONE TILL HE ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE HAS PROMISED FOR US.

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.
Genesis:28:15

Let us therefore Learn how to make a good company of the Lord by taking these promises for ourselves.
David took strength from the Lord. He says,

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Psalm:40:17

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm:23:4

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm:27:1

Jesus knew that he was not alone but his father is always with him.

And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
John:8:29

How about you dear child of God! Learn to take God's comfort and find your rest. God bless you...

Overthrow SELF PITY

MEDITATION John chapter 5: 1-9

1. In Jerusalem there was a pool named Bethesda having five porches where many impotent people, lame and blind were laying. (V1-3)
2. They were waiting for the water to be stirred as some times an angel comes down and troubled the water and whoever stepped in first were healed of all their diseases.  (V4)
3. There was a man lying there with an infirmity for 38 years. ( v5)
4. Jesus saw him lying and asked him if he wants to be made whole (V6)
5. The impotent man said that there was no man to put him in the pool when the water is stirred and someone else enters first. (V7)
6. Jesus told him to rise, take up his bed and walk.  ( V8)
7. Immediately the man was made whole and he took up his bed and walked.  (V9)

LIFE APPLICATION:

Today I would like to bring to light the stronghold of self-pity, which the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to, through this meditation:

1. I would like to analyse the condition of this person. If you can identify yourself with this person, then this meditation is for you.
A. 38 years of infirmity.

A long term illness undefined, that he can do nothing by himself and under the mercy of others.
Many times we are unable to pick ourself up. We are lying in our weaknesses (V5)

B. He had repeated failures;

 He has seen before his eyes the waters being stirred and someone being healed but not himself. (V7) We see a lot of people around us coming out of problems easily, but not us.

C. He was discouraged because of repeated failures:

He puts it as, when the water is stirred, someone else enters first and he misses every time. (V7)

D. He was very angry:

He was angry with people that nobody helped him out in his distress. (V7)

E. He was sad:

He was sad again, as he has no way out. (V7)

Who has more reason to feel pity for himself, more than this man??

Also the self-pity can follow a  series of emotional manifestations like,
Discouragement, disappointment, sadness, depressive thoughts, hopelessness and why not even thoughts of suicide.

So how are we to deal with it? Scroll down to know more...

 1. Waiting for Miracle:

Long term waiting is not a pleasant situation to face. The WORD of GOD says,

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs:13:12

Yes, whenever our hopes are deferred our heart is sick. But when what we desired comes it is like a tree of life.

Dear brothers and sisters, is your heart sick of waiting? God has a better way of dealing it. The WORD of GOD says,

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah:40:31

If waiting for a miracle is making your heart and life sick, wait on the Lord, for strength.
He will give you the strength to run till you receive your miracle.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
Psalm:84:5

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
Psalm:84:6

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
Psalm:84:7

You want to move from strength to strength? You feel your strength failing? You cannot go 1 step further, wait on the Lord and he will be your strength.

2. Dealing with repeated closed doors:

This is another source of frustration. We desire for things to happen and if it doesn't our heart is becoming sick. We don't stop there, we blame God for that too. This is human nature.

What to do when confronted with closed doors everywhere?

1. Be still:

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more forever.
Exodus:14:13

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm:46:10

Let us be still and know that he is our God.

2. BRING our desires before God:

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Psalm:145:19

Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
Psalm:21:2

3. Acknowledge GOD and allow God to direct your paths:
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs:3:6

C. Dealing with discouragement:

Discouragement hits everyone. Even the great prophets like  Elijah and Jonah were discouraged that they wanted to die.

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
1 Kings:19:4

Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
Jonah:4:3

But praise God for the blood of CHRIST we can boldly go before the throne of grace.

Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews:4:16

Dear brother, Dear sister do not be disheartened... through CHRIST we have Grace upon Grace. We do not need to stay discouraged forever.

We can boldly approach the throne of Grace when in distress.

3. Dealing with anger and sadness:

Getting angry or becoming sad, especially with other people when our things don't work our way is not going to help us any further.

This is where we renew our minds to rise up. Christ has promised us a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness.

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah:61:3

Put on the garment of praise, that is the treatment for a heavy Spirit. It is a willful act. We might sometimes have to force ourselves to give thanks to God. But do it...
 This is how we declare to the enemy that we are no more on the bed and along with the people who are going to be there in infirmity forever...

This is what CHRIST means, RISE UP, TAKE YOUR BED and WALK. My good friends, the word of life is spoken in your life. Rise up... stir your spirits and renew your strength like an Eagle...

All the more.... Rejoice! We have a miracle-working GOD