Alone, But Not Forgotten

HAVE YOU EVER REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE PROBABLY SAT NEXT TO SOMEBODY THAT GOT BEAT UP BEFORE THEY CAME TO CHURCH, SOMEBODY THAT IS AFRAID OF THEIR OWN CHILD WHEN THEY GO HOME, SOMEBODY THAT CAN’T GET OVER BEING ABUSED AS A CHILD, SOMEBODY THAT IS ABUSING THEIR CHILD, SOMEBODY THAT IS ON PAXEL, REDILIN, ETC. DON’T YOU KNOW THAT THE CHURCH IS FULL OF PEOPLE FROM LODEBAR, LIVING IN LODEBAR! I HEARD PAUL SAY But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

WE ARE AFRAID!

PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO COME UP OUT OF LODEBAR & AFRAID TO ASK FOR SOME HELP. PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THAT THEY WILL GET PUT DOWN, TALKED ABOUT, & INSULTED! FEAR, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE KEEPS US DOWN!

ISN’T IT STRANGE WHAT WE ARE AFRAID OF? I MEAN WE FEAR REJECTION, FEAR FAILURE, FEAR OTHER PEOPLE, BUT WE DON’T FEAR GOD! EVEN THOUGH JESUS SAID Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

WE’LL HIDE OUR FAITH SO WE DON’T OFFEND PEOPLE; STEAL BECAUSE WE ARE TOO ASHAMED TO ASK; WE’LL LIE TO SAVE EMBARRASSMENT; WE’LL

KING DAVID SAYS, DON’T BE AFRAID!

YOU SEE IN THOSE DAYS IT WAS CUSTOMARY & NECESSARY THAT WHEN ONE KING WAS OVERTHROWN HIS ENTIRE FAMILY WAS KILLED OFF TO KEEP FROM A FUTURE UPRISING OCCURRING. NOW, MEPHIBOSHETH HAD BEEN HIDING OUT FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG AND HE WAS DISCOVERED & THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO DIE. BUT TO HIS DISMAY, HE WAS BEING OFFERED A PLACE AT THE KINGS TABLE, A NEW HOME, NEW LAND, & A NEW LIFE.

BUT HE DIDN’T THINK HE DESERVED WHAT HE WAS BEING OFFERED! WHY A DEAD DOG LIKE ME?

MEPHIBOSHETH’S REPLY TO THE KING’S OFFER WAS JUST LIKE MOST PEOPLE. WHY SOMEBODY LIKE ME? I AM NOTHING, COME FROM NOTHING, AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING ME ALL MY LIFE. I WILL NEVER AMOUNT TO NOTHING, I’M CRIPPLED, CAN’T WORK, CAN’T EVEN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF LET ALONE SOMEBODY ELSE. NOBODY HAS EVER CARED ABOUT ME, MOST PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW I EXIST….. WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING FOR SOMEBODY LIKE ME, A DEAD DOG!!!

AND TRUTH BE TOLD NONE OF US DESERVE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US OR ANYTHING THAT HE WANTS TO GIVE US! WE SHOULD HAVE DIED A LONG TIME AGO! CAR CRASH; DRUGS; LUSTS; CRIME; ANGER;

BUT, WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW TODAY IS THAT THE KING, NOT DAVID, JESUS WANTS TO BRING EVERYBODY UP OUT OF LODEBAR AND HAVE US EATING AS HIS TABLE! HE WANTS TO HEAL THE BROKEN, LIFT UP THE DOWN TRODDEN, SET FREE THE ADDICT, GIVE HOPE TO THE HOPELESS, GIVE JOY TO THE JOYLESS, GIVE LIFE TO THE LIFELESS, ELEVATE THE DEPRESSED, BUILD UP THE ONE WITH NO CONFIDENCE, OPEN DOORS FOR THE JOBLESS, PROVIDE SHELTER FOR THE SHELTER LESS….. BE A HUSBAND TO THE ONE WHO HAS NO MAN, A WIFE TO THE ONE WHO HAS NO WOMAN….