INTRO: We are never alone. We just sang: “I walk in danger all the way…I walk with Jesus all the way…our walk is heavenward all the way. ”We are never alone. God is always with us. At our right hand. Day in and day out. Anywhere. Everywhere. "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your Presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell—there you are!" (PSALM 139:7, 8). There is no escaping from the presence of the Lord. WE NEVER WALK ALONE. I. The Lord is always near to bless his children. II. The Lord is always here for his children to praise him.
I. THE LORD IS ALWAYS NEAR TO BLESS HIS CHILDREN
A. Verse 10. Jacob was running away from his twin brother, Esau. Esau planned to kill Jacob.
1. Esau was angry over his inheritance. He was older it was his. Jacob now possessed it.
2. Jacob was alone, planning to go to Haran. This was a 500-mile journey. Weeks of travel.
B. Verse 11. The sun had set. Time to stop. Sleep. A stone was Jacob’s pillow. Hopeless.
1. Verse 12. Jacob dreamt about a stairway to heaven. Angels were going up and down.
2. Verse 13. The Lord was at the top. “I am the LORD…” Great comfort. Blessing. Not alone.
3. Verse 14. Lord promised Jacob many descendants. Would be a blessing for all nations.
C. Verse 15. Lord: “I am with you…will watch over you…bring you back…done what I have promised you.”
D. Consider Jacob for a moment. Fleeing for his life. Brother hates him enough to kill him. Alone. Night. Stone pillow. Weeks of travel. Does not seem like anything is going his way. Forsaken. Forgotten. Ever felt a bit like Jacob?!? “Oh, woe is me!” The Lord had great plans for Jacob. The Lord has great plans for us. We are not alone. Never. Ever. The Lord is always near us. Always near to bless us. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to give you peace, not disaster, plans to give you hope and a future” (JEREMIAH 29:11). Our world today is chipping away at God’s promised plans. There is no hope. Our future? We are destroying the climate. Killing the earth. And peace? When was the last time the world spoke of peace? The Lord’s plans are what matter the most. God gives us hope. He controls all things for our good. Our future is perfectly safe, waiting in heaven. We have the peace of God that goes beyond human understanding. God knows us. Loves us. Forgives us. PEACE!
E. Our enemies are all around us. None of them have any power in comparison the Lord God of Armies. Satan wants us give up hope. Wants us to doubt. Wants us with him in eternal punishment. The world tempts us to eat, drink, and be merry. Our sinful flesh tries to lead us astray. Tries to make the broad path to destruction seem desirable. Be thankful the Lord is near us. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid and do not be terrified before them, because the LORD your God is going with you. He will not abandon you and he will not forsake you” (DEUTERONOMY 31:6). We tell Satan to get behind us. We say “NO” to the temptation of this world. We flee from our earthly desires and lusts. The Lord is near us to bless.
F. We face temptations and spiritual battles head on with the power or the Word of the Lord. Our first reading (DEUT. 30:14) reminded us that the word is near us. In our mouths and hearts. In chapter 1 of John’s gospel we are comforted in knowing the Word became flesh. Jesus was born. Lived. Died. Was buried. Rose again from the dead. All of this willingly. Humbly. To bless us eternally. "For you gave him authority over all flesh, so that he (Jesus) may give eternal life to all those you have given him. This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent" (JOHN 17:2, 3).
WE NEVER WALK ALONE. The Lord is always near us to bless his children.
II. THE LORD IS ALWAYS HERE FOR HIS CHILDREN TO PRAISE
A. The situation seemed hopeless. Jacob alone. Running away from family. Night. Stone pillow.
1. Lord comforts Jacob with a dream. Jacob is not alone.
2. This was a dream of comfort. Hope. Future. Blessings.
B. Verse 16. Jacob woke up. Now knew “certainly the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
1. Verse 17. Awe-inspiring place. “This is the gate to heaven.”
2. House in Hebrew is Beth. God in Hebrew is Elohim. Shortened form is El. Bethel.
C. Verse 18. Jacob wakes up in the morning. The stone pillar becomes a memorial to the Lord.
1. Jacob pours oil on the stone. Anoints. Prophets, priests, and kings anointed. Lord’s choice.
2. Verse 19. Luz is now Bethel. Abraham worshiped at Luz before. Now Jacob and again later.
D. Jacob’s future changed dramatically when he recognized the Lord’s blessings. Never alone. It is no different for us. At times we may neglect that simple, powerful truth that we never walk alone. We grow in years physically. By God’s grace we also mature in God’s wisdom spiritually. Ask anyone who is older = wiser than yourself. They know the truth of the Lord’s presence. And promises. "Until your old age, I am he, and until you have gray hair, I myself will hold you up. I myself made you, and I myself will lift you up. I myself will hold you up, and I will rescue you" (ISAIAH 46:4). We never walk alone.
E. Jacob was overcome with thankfulness and joy. Daily we too can see our loving, heavenly Father’s hand in our lives. The Lord God delivers us. He has saved us from our enemies. Jesus lived. Died. Was buried. Rose again. Ascended into heaven. The perfect life of Jesus paid the price for our sins. Once. And for all. We are thankful. Jesus’ resurrection conquered our last enemy…death. We rejoice. The sacrifice of Jesus moves our lips to praise him. "Through Jesus, therefore, let us constantly offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name" (HEBREWS 13:5). We know our heavenly Father knows us. Loves us. Our lips can share this good news with others. Our lives praise the Lord.
F. We face the challenge today of explaining the basics of God to an unbelieving. All too many today are not Biblically informed. People have mistaken ideas about God. Who he is. What he does. The world has a desperate need to know the basics. Our lips of praise can easily share the basics of the One who created all things. "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for you have created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created" (REVELATION 4:11). Some may question creation and the Creator. Invite them to look at nature. Ask them to explain the marvels they see. Number of stars. Change of seasons. Miracle of birth. Wonders of human body.
CONC.: The hymn reminded us that we “I walk in danger all the way…I walk with Jesus all the way…our walk is heavenward all the way.” In other words, we never walk alone. "…our Lord Jesus Christ…will also keep you strong until the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord” (1 CORINTHIANS 1:8, 9). God IS faithful. Our loving, heavenly Father has call us to be his own. His children. The Lord is always near to bless his children. The Lord is always here for his children to praise him. We never walk alone. “We walk with Jesus all the way. Our walk is heavenward all the way.” Every day WE NEVER WALK ALONE. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
PENTECOST 8 readings.: DEUTERONOMY 30:9-14; COLOSSIANS 1:1-14; LUKE 10:25-37; (PSALM 25)
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