I Can Count on Jesus!

Introduction

There’s an old gospel song, that was origianlly written by the great Rev. James Cleveland, that later on in the early 2000’s, another gospel great in Vickie Winans, would later adopt, whose lyrics were so simple but were yet so powerful in stating, “I’ve been lied on, cheated, talked about, mistreated, I’ve been used, scorned, talked about sore as bone. I’ve been up, down, almost to the ground, but long as i got King Jesus, long as i got King Jesus, long long long as I got Him, I don’t need nobody else. A song of encouragement that would indicate that regardles of what people say or do, regardless of who stays or who leaves, regardless of whatever life’s situations come my way, as long as i got Jesus, I don’t need nobody else! I said as long as i got Jesus, everything will be alright! Because it is in Christ Jesus that I have everything I need! I heard the song writer say that if I lost everything, and didn’t have anything, and you were the only thing, I’d still have everything! Brothers and sisters, I want to encourage you on today that if you don’t get anything else out of life, GET JESUS! Because just as sure as the day you were born, you are going to have some tough times! And you are going to need somebody who can help you navigate the storms of life, you’re going to need somebody who can get you through some things, that only He can get you through! Yea, you’re going to depend on mama, and lean on daddy, and look to your brothers and sisters. But don’t get upset when you find out that even with all that mama can do, mama can only do but so much! Don’t get bent out of shape when you find out that even as strong as daddy is, daddy can only carry you but so far! Don’t lose yourself in looking for brother and sister just to find brother and sister got their own thing going on and can’t come to your rescue! That’s just the way life works sometimes, but even with all that, you’re going to need somebody, that you can always count on! You’re going to need somebody that regardless of where you are, regardless of what time it is, regardless of what you find yourself up against, you’re going to need somebody who will always be there when you call! YOU’RE GOING TO NEED SOMEBODY, YOU CAN COUNT ON!!!

Background

Paul pens this letter to Timothy, which is believed to be Paul’s last letter written before his execution. Paul writes from inside a Roman jail to encourage young Timothy in the ministry! He encourages Timothy in chapter one to be strong in the ministry by knowing that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. And it is for this reason, he tells Timothy to be thou therefore not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.

He then continues in chapter 2, and gives young Timothy the charge of taking what was imparted into him and passing it on to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.

He charges him once again to study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Point 1: Paul had Dependable Company

Scripture to point 1:

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me,

Paul said that’s ok God, even though everybody else forsook me, even though no one is standing with me, don’t hold it against them Lord, I ain’t even tripping like that, because even though no one is with me, I’m not alone! When I can’t count on nobody else, I can always count on Jesus! Paul didn’t get bent out of shape when he needed somebody to come to his defense, but looked around and didn’t see anybody. Because in contrast to the desertion of his friends, he realized the Lord stood with him!

Brothers and sisters, if ain’t nobody told you yet, I want to inform you that sometimes in life, you are going to find yourselves in some situations to where all you want is somebody just to stand with you! There’ll be times where it seems as if you are there for everybody else, but when you need it, nobody is there for you! I don’t need help when I’m up, but when the chips are down, I need somebody I can count on! But I stopped by to tell you, be of good cheer, and know that when everybody else is gone, the Lord is standing right there! And when you got the Lord standing with you, you don’t have to worry about a thing, because every little thing, is going to be alright! David said, “Yea, though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy stafff they comfort me. When God is with you, you don’t have to fear, because God will, take care of you! Be not dismayed, whatever betide, God will take care of you! Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you! No matter what may be the test, Lean weary one, upon His breast!

Moses said, in Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

THE LORD IS DEPENDABLE COMPANY! When I can’t count on nobody else, I know, I can always count on Jesus!

Point 2: Paul had Divine Capability

Scripture to point 2:

and strenghtened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear:

The Lord stood by Paul to provide strength! Strenthened means to enable someone to do something. In God being Paul’s help and strength, the gospel message was fully proclaimed so that the heathen world heard it. God gave Paul the courage and opportunity to preach, and Paul had fulfilled his plans of reaching Rome with the gospel. In defending himself before the judge, Paul had used the occasion and the stage to proclaim the gospel. In proclaiming the gospel before such and audience, it was possible for Paul to feel as though he had reached all the Gentiles with the message.

Paul was destined to preach the gospel in Rome! Acts 23:11 “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

Here is Paul, undoubtedly in prison for preaching the gospel, knowing that possibly his end is near still yet, with the help of the Lord proclaims the gospel message at his prelimenary hearing. There are people who will willing shut their mouths about Jesus for much less dire situations.

But even in the face of adversity, Paul was able to carry out his divine assignment, because he had divine capability! And maybe there’s somebody here today, that you feel you are incapable of doing what God has purposed you to do. And because of your own incapabilities, you have failed to move in the direction God has called you to move. If you’re relying on your own strength, then yes you’ll never make it. You got to know where it is that your help comes from! The Psalmist said that I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from which cometh my help! All my help comes from the Lord! Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” When you have purpose on your life, you got to be willing to move self out of the way and allow God to move within you! It is God who gives purpose, and it is God who fulfills purpose! Psalm 57:2 “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” God will be your strength. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Point 3: Paul had Deep-seated Confidence

Scripture to point 3:

and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

There is much speculation about the identity of the lion. The early Greek commentators believed that Paul was referring obliquely to Nero, on account of his cruel nature. Other guesses are that the lion is Satan, or death, or more generally, the great danger in which his enemies had placed him in. But at all events, Paul emerges from this incident as a New Testament Daniel for whose protection the Lord shut the lion’s mouth.

Paul had a confidence that since the Lord delivered him from the mouth of the lion, that the Lord shall deliver him from every evil work. In other words, his confidence was in that if the Lord did it before, He can do it again!

Conclusion