By Your Side
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Introduction
Introduction
Does anyone know what the leading cause of death is for those who work in God’s ministry? Whether you are in vocational ministry, a ministry board member, a ministry leader or someone who leads others to Christ. No it is not being killed by your spouse because you just came home from another long weeknight meeting. Actually, the leading cause of death for those in ministry is suicide.
Its hard to believe that someone working for God, someone seemingly in the presence of the All Mighty all the time could ever contemplate taking their own life. But the fact is that a lot of the times doing God’s work can be an extremely lonely path in life.
But it is not only those who lead in the church that have those immense feelings of loneliness. All of us who accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior have times when we feel alone because as human beings .....
Sometimes We Feel Alone
Sometimes We Feel Alone
Life can be lonely
There are always times when we feel like there is nobody there
Even when our friends or family are close by
Jesus felt that loneliness in garden when his disciples couldn’t even stay awake
Following God can be lonely
Trusting in God sometimes means leaving our families and friends behind
They might leave us
We might have to leave them
Fulfilling God’s mission can be lonely
People may think your foolish
People may think your selfish
People may not want anything to do with you
God is Always Standing By Our Side
God is Always Standing By Our Side
No matter what we do God is with us
It doesn’t matter what we are doing if we are doing it for God he is with us
Jesus on the cross was paying the price for our sins but God was with him
No matter where we are God is with us
There is no place on earth where we can go that God is not with us
Paul and Silas in prison
We are never alone
God is always with us, no matter what.
He is with at every time of our lives an in everyplace
Omnipresent
God is Always Giving Us Strength
God is Always Giving Us Strength
God gives us strength to withstand
Even when we are suffering God gives us the strength that we need
Stephen being stoned
Paul being stoned
Paul and Silas in prison
Peter in prison
Peter’s martyrdom
God give us strength to proclaim his message
When we think that we have no power to preach the gospel God will give us the strength
A leading L to Christ in school
God gives us strength to do his work
If we are following God’s will for our lives and doing his work he will give us
the energy that we need - I can do all things ....
the words to say - Speaking through Peter on Pentecost
the opportunities to do it - Paul and Lydia in Philippi
God Rescues Us
God Rescues Us
God saves us from our enemies
He can rescue us to do his work
Peter in prison - Acts 12.
Herod persecuted
4 squads of 4 guards = 16 guards for one guy
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
God saves us from ourselves
We are broken because of sin
The Holy Spirit protects us from our sin by transforming us into the image of God
Conclusion
Conclusion
God is always by our side. No matter where were are, no matter what the situation God is with us. He gives us the strength we need when we are doing the work he has given us to do. And he rescues us when we get into trouble for doing his work. So remember you never have to feel alone because God is always with us. Let us pray.