Feel Alone Sometimes?
“Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.” Isaiah 50:10
The lady who was most instrumental in leading me to Christ, who invited me to the meeting where I was saved, later departed from Christ. The man who preached that night when the LORD saved my wretched soul also departed from Christ, committing heinous crimes. So, who saves us saints? CHRIST! Why would we ever blame our dear LORD and Savior for what mere sinful men do?
We must continue to choose God – to love Him with all our being, heart, mind, spirit, and strength.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
The LORD is with us as we are with Him.
“The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2
When our LORD Jesus had fed the 5,000 and they departed, He turned to His 12 and asked “Will ye also go away?” (John 6:67) In other words, Jesus asked them, “are you also going to leave me?” Watch Peter’s answer:
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:66-69
WHERE would we go if we left the Almighty? Where is there to go? Selah.
“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Psalms 73:25
“I am realizing that the closer we get to Jesus’ return, the tougher it is to find those who want to go with you.” Stacy Strother
Remember when Elijah thought he was the only one left following the LORD?
“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18
Jesus assured Paul that he was not alone either …. “For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.“ (Acts 18:10)
Will we follow Him, even when it costs us “friendships” with people we thought were true friends? Consider this important question which should test our hearts as to whom we love the most.
“NO MAN stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 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.” 2 Timothy 4:16-18
Even when “no man stood” with Paul, He knew Christ was with him and He pressed toward the mark for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). The apostle Paul is a blessed and God-given example given to us. We are following Paul as he followed Jesus – no matter who else does or doesn’t!
Is Jesus worth it to you? Is He truly your very “FIRST love”? (Revelation 2:4-5)
Have you driven this stake in the ground yet? If not, would you consider doing so today?
The girl who invited me to the meeting where I was saved backslid shortly afterward. So, I was faced with the life decision as to where my attention – the affections of my heart – were going to be focused. And, I was forced to seek the face of the One who saved me and who I was going to serve. This was not difficult due to having that personal, intimate relationship with the LORD. – “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
The man who preached when God saved my wretched soul was a false prophet.
So what? Shall this be my excuse for not serving the LORD? Shall I walk away from God for what men do? How foolish would that be!?
I used to drive an Acura (an old one), so should I go dump it in the lake since I found out that a bank robbery was performed in an Acura?
“They are without excuse.” Romans 1:20
Am I not 100% responsible before my LORD, God, and Maker for my own life?
“For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” Romans 14:10
Judgment Day is on the way. Can you see this? On Judgment Day, there will be many who say “But LORD, the people who were supposed to be following You weren’t truly following You and when I found that out I waned, and then that caused me to backslide.” Then will He say to them “Depart from Me ye cursed and ye worker of iniquity, into everlasting fire!” (Matthew 7:21-23; 25:46)
Should I have left the LORD Jesus Christ because of what men were doing?
Should I have condemned them or prayed for them? What shall I do today toward them? Condemn or lift them up? Is God wanting them to perish or is He “not willing that any should perish”? (2 Peter 3:9)
The LORD is calling us to soundness of doctrine, soundness of heart and mind, and soundness of Christlikeness, being evermore conformed to the image of the Son of God who is coming soon (Romans 8:29).
Beloved, let us never blame the Almighty, immutable God, even Jesus Christ who is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” for what faulty, sinful men do! (Hebrews 13:8).
“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6
It’s only those who are not truly seeking the face of the LORD who condemn and turn aside their hearts from the LORD when others fail. Instead of praying for them and being sorrowful for the lapse of another, they foolishly scorn, never stopping to admit their own failings, heart wanderings, and sin.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
Are you a restoring agent (Galatians 6:1-2) or are you a self-righteous modern Pharisee who sits in the seat of the scornful? (Psalms 1; Matthew 23)
Never forget that the self-righteous need to be saved too!
While witnessing with a pastor on the streets as a new believer, we came upon a lost man who was down and out, living on the street. When he heard the Gospel, the sinner said “There’s too many hypocrites in the church!” To this the pastor immediately responded with: “Would you rather go to church with the hypocrites OR do you want to go to hell with them?”
That pastor stated this well over 20 years ago and it stuck in my mind by God’s grace. He’s so good to us!
Never judge God for what men do!
Never judge God for what men do! Jesus taught that those who have been saved MUST “endure to the end” or they will be lost in hell forever.
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13
Many Believers have and are Currently Suffering for Christ
YOU are not alone in your sufferings and afflictions and persecutions our LORD promised to ALL who will truly follow Him (2 Timothy 3:12). In fact, if you are not being persecuted, you’d better “examine yourself whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:7-10
Note 1 Peter 5:9 – “knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
it’s Time to get happy if you are being persecuted for Christ OR it’s time to mourn that you aren’t!
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:13
Being hated, shunned, and persecuted is a reason to rejoice! Jesus told us so! Listen to your Master, your LORD, your Savior:
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12
Some are so very clueless because they are not walking in the light and therefore walk in darkness. Though they are church attenders, they are out of touch and out of step – not abiding in and with Christ and therefore don’t know Him and have no fruit to prove such (John 15). These will be cast into the fire (Matthew 7:21; 25:14-30; John 15:6; 2 Peter 2:20-22, etc.). These counterfeits have not chosen to truly engage in a relationship with Christ and therefore have borne no fruit and do not qualify for the blessedness of being purged by the Potter who is the Savior – “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2) They mock and scoff and wonder about the true body of Christ – that minute remnant of saints who are genuinely following their LORD and consequently suffering greatly as was foretold. They ask “Why” such and such is happening to you without ever stopping to realize that as a remnant, rare disciple of Jesus, you are actually obeying Him and doing what HE told you to go do and that’s spread His Gospel. And for such you are suffering “the afflictions of the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:8)
Those who said a prayer to be saved in the past, attend church, confess they are saved, etc., and yet have no real walk of obedience to Jesus, have a mere “form of godliness, but denying the power” or rule and reign of Christ in their lives because they are “lovers of their own selves” and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7)
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Articles
The Daily Cross in Prayer [podcast]

Prayer is inseparably connected with knowing God (John 17:3).
(Excerpt from the book I Die Daily)
“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalms 5:3
Let’s isolate and dismantle these words of God a bit. Under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David says to the LORD:
- That He (God) would hear his (David’s) “voice”
- That “in the morning” the Psalmist would arise and seek God in prayer
- Deliberately “in the morning,” he would “direct” his prayer and praying to the LORD – “in the morning … I will look up”
From this passage, we see that David planned or scheduled, in an intentional and calculated fashion, to meet with the LORD every morning. The phrase “in the morning” appears twice in this inspired transmission of the Holy Ghost. The man whose heart panted after the LORD – to behold His precious beauty – declared that he would “direct” (point) his prayer upward to the LORD “in the morning.” (Ps. 5:3; 27:4; Acts 13:22) Communing with the LORD was priority to David, and therefore occupied first place in his daily life. He sought the LORD firstly as he arose from sleep, and before he went forth into his day.
Jesus commanded that if any person will come after Him – truly follow Him – he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him (Luke. 9:23-24). There is no place that the cross applies more than in daily prayer. The moment one arises, he will choose either to seek God or dwell upon self-sentiments and such. He will seek Christ, or he will seek his own salvation or rescue from his troubles. We all make a “daily” choice:
“… choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15
No different from those covenant saints the LORD spoke to in this important passage, those whom we dwell among are serving self – the flesh – and yet we are called upon by the LORD to “choose” to daily serve Him rather than self. We are called to “be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life.” (Phil. 2:15-16)
The LORD is calling us to purposefully declare Him as the LORD and Master of our lives, and this we do by making the premeditated decision to seek Him daily in prayer communion. Like Joshua, the way we “choose” to “serve” God must be premeditated, deliberate, daily, and in practicality. Daily, early morning, first fruit prayer is all three of these. It is the fruit of the crucified life – the life that is dead to self and in whom Christ dwells and reigns. – “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)
To those who seek God and not their own devices, there are many benefits (Ps. 68:19).
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
The precious peace of the “Prince of Peace” rules and reigns and makes sound the hearts of those who deny self’s ability to overcome and solve issues and problems, and instead earnestly and diligently rely upon God’s power to do such for them (Isa. 9:6; 26:3).
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3-4
As we fix our whole being upon Jesus Christ, our thoughts will be upward to His “glorious high throne,” which is “the place of our sanctuary.” (Jer. 17:12)
God is calling each of His saints to give his whole being to Christ, and to those things that “are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Php. 4:8).
So, according to Philippians 4:6-8, saints are to rely upon the LORD and not self by submitting all their requests in prayer to Him who is their Source, and to think upon those things of Christ which are “true … honest … just … pure … lovely … of good report … if there be any virtue … if there be any praise.” It is upon “these things” that we are instructed to “think on.” (Phil. 4:8)
God’s thoughts are infinitely higher than ours, and yet it is not until we become truly “crucified with Christ” that we are going to be ruled by His thoughts and peace (Isa. 55:8-9; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 4:6-7).
Changing the way one thinks is being done by millions of people who are not regenerated (not born again). New age and religious teachers hold this thought transformation teaching closely. Anyone can change the way they think for self-serving reasons – to stop smoking, to visualize and earn more money, to have more self-esteem, etc. However, hell still awaits all who are not born again, and that takes facing the living God and Judge in repentance for sin and placing all faith in Jesus Christ, the only Savior (Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5). The only renewing of the mind and thoughts that brings glory to Jesus Christ, is that which begins with one casting his whole being upon the LORD afresh – presenting himself a “living sacrifice … unto God.” Let’s look at Romans 12:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
Those who are presenting their bodies to the LORD as “living sacrifice(s)” are infused and enabled by His grace to keep their minds or thoughts stayed (fixed) upon the LORD and not self, as they look for Jesus’ soon return (Col. 3:1-4). They trust Christ and not their own strength, reasoning, whims, philosophies, or wisdom. As they give themselves over to Christ and His infinite divine power, and become weak in self and self’s abilities, Jesus’ power raises them up to trust Him and rely upon Him alone – to rest the weight of their whole beings in Him who is able. They first declare that they are not able, and that only “God is able.” (Eph. 3:20; 2 Cor. 9:8) These are they who have and are finding out in a personal way that there really is nothing impossible with the LORD!
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27
Abraham trusted God. He is our human example of a man who walked with God – by faith believing that God would raise up that to which he died. Concerning the promise of a son being born to him and his aged wife, the Bible records these words from the LORD to His servant Abraham:
“Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:14
If God can and will split the Red Sea for His people, and cause a 100-year-old man and his 90-year-old wife to have a child, what in your life can’t He do? (Gen. 17:17)
Here’s yet another question posed to our hearts from the LORD:
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27
God requires that we die to self-will, self-help, and self-esteem, and lay our lives in His holy, perfect, and more-than-sufficient hands. He can then work in us and in our lives – raising up His holy standard and power to glorify Himself in and through His children. Nothing will be impossible for the LORD to perform in the lives of those who deny themselves and, like Abraham, trust God to raise up His solutions, answers, and blessings to bring Himself glory.
“(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth (makes alive) the dead, and (God) calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Romans 4:17
God called forth Isaac out of Abraham’s loins when it was an otherwise impossibility in the natural. In your life, beloved, “Is there anything too hard for the LORD?” (Gen. 18:14)
Our connection with God is all about relationship, and the quality of that relationship is exemplified in our prayer lives – or lack thereof. If a person is pursuing the LORD, he has a prayer life. He lays down his own desires and life and seeks God’s life. This is perhaps in no other scrutiny seen more clearly than in the value he assigns to his prayer life, and the heart affections and time he is willing to invest in it.
In Psalms 63, the Psalmist captures the life of the person who truly has a heart after God.
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” Psalms 63:1-8
The following is an excerpt from My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers:
“’At that day ye shall ask in My name.’ John 16:26. We are too much given to thinking of the Cross as something we have to get through; we get through it only in order to get into it. The Cross stands for one thing only for us – a complete and entire and absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ, and there is nothing in which this identification is realized more than in prayer.
‘Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.’ Then why ask? The idea of prayer is not in order to get answers from God; prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God. If we pray because we want answers, we will get huffed with God. The answers come every time, but not always in the way we expect, and our spiritual huff shows a refusal to identify ourselves with Our Lord in prayer. We are not here to prove God answers prayer; we are here to be living monuments of God’s grace.
‘I say not that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself loveth you.’ Have you reached such an intimacy with God that the Lord Jesus Christ’s life of prayer is the only explanation of your life of prayer? Has Our Lord’s vicarious life become your vital life? ‘At that day’ you will be so identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction.
When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to fix the blame on someone else. That is always a snare of Satan. You will find there is a reason which is a deep instruction to you, not to anyone else.”
PRAYER: Father, please bless this life to honor You and Your will first and foremost in this life You have granted, by my being authentically crucified with Christ. Please unite my heart to fear Your holy name and to number with wisdom this short time on this earth as a gift from You. I love You, Jesus, and thank You for dying for my sins and for the resurrection power of the Holy Ghost You placed in us upon salvation, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. You must increase but I must decrease. This moment, if never before, I declare and deliberately decide to place You first daily in my life – I am crucified with Christ. Early will I seek Thee. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Capture Points
- Discuss Psalms 5:3 along with Mark 1:35 and the importance of daily and first fruits prayer in the life of every disciple of Jesus.
- Transcribe onto an index card and discuss Romans 12:1-2 (KJB recommended).
- Write out on an index card Mark 10:27: “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (KJB)
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Abiding
The Joy of God’s Word [podcast]

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
“Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.” Psalms 119:89
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
PRAYER: Heavenly Father please match and exceed every trial You allow me to go through with Your joy! For You said that the joy of the LORD is my strength! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Audios
Current Events and the Name of Jesus Christ [podcast]

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14
IF we are praying God’s WORD in the name of JESUS CHRIST…. in His bless-ed humility, God is answering!
I don’t think we begin to realize the power that is in the name of Jesus Christ – and available exclusively to those who are HIS.
Memorize the word of our LORD Jesus recorded in John 14:13-14.
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3
One commentator notes: “The universal fascination with knowing what is going on in the world has ancient roots. Knowing that Jesus is a well-known rabbi, some ask for his take on the hot news of the day. “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices” (Luke 13:1). Pilate, the governor, has executed some Jews while they were in the act of offering their sacrifices, mingling their blood with the animal blood. Jewish sentiment is likely strongly against Pilate, although some seem to be critical of the people who have suffered. Maybe they deserved it.”
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