I AM WITH YOU

"I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you..." Genesis 26:14 ESV

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;I will strengthen you, I will help you,I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 ESV

"Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, "I am with you, declares the LORD." Haggai 1:13 ESV

"Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20 ESV

Are you feeling the desire to sin right now? Are you feeling very alone in this world? Are you feeling alone in your inner struggles? Are you feeling alone in your loss, in your pain, or in your sorrow and grief? Are you facing circumstances where you feel weak, powerless, and overwhelmed? I have been feeling all of those feelings these past few months. That is why I desire to write to you out of my own battles and let you know who and what has helped me over and over again in and through my own struggles. I pray that it will help you as well dear reader.

The very God who made the universe and came to the earth in Jesus and is present at this very moment by His Holy Spirit says, “I am with you”(Genesis 26:24; Isaiah 41:10;Haggai 1:13; Matthew 28:20). Those are his exact words. Now make this personal for whatever is going on in your life if you think no one knows, no one is watching you, no one cares, no one can help, and you are all alone. Listen to his words as you apply this to the now of your life:

(Put you name here)_______________ I AM WITH YOU!

Would you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking the truth of God into your soul? How does taking this to heart help if you are facing a temptation? First, it reminds you that you are being watched by the God who is present at this moment while you are being tempted. begin to realize that nothing is private, no secrets are possible before God: “I am with you.” “I . . . am . . . with . . . you.”

When tempted say it to yourself: "I am with you." Say it out loud back to God: “You are with me, Lord.”

Because you are aware of His presence when tempted you will begin to be free to say more to Him, like, “Help me. Save me. Deliver me. Have mercy on me. I need you. Make me understand that you are with me. Help me to know and believe that You are with me.” I have found that there are many competing voices in my head that are devious, sly, and argumentative all the time with the truth; but when I begin to listen to the voice of God and preach to myself "I am with you", I have come to find that that the competing voices become more obvious to me. The more I remember and sense the Lord's presence with me, then what those other voices say will sound contrary, lies, devious, hostile to God's will and your welfare and happiness. I begin to wonder how did they ever sound so appealing! The contrast and battle between flesh and the spirit, God's will and our will, right and wrong, good and evil, will become more and more evident.

Slowly I begin to find that the choice that I make in listening to His voice causes my choice to listen to the other voices become less and less.I begin to realize how much I am kidding myself when I do secretive things. Most of us have secret thoughts and do secret deeds that we would never want to be exposed in public. Every time you remember that you are out in public, then you live an out-in-public life. “I am with you” means you’re always out in public. You’ll never get away with anything.

But there is also great assurance because if you would open your eyes, be still, be quiet, and listen, He is right with you to strengthen you, empower you, and to help you. Remember that this one who is with you was tempted in all points. He is familiar with your trouble and "a bruised reed He will not break and a trembling wick He will not quench" (Matthew 12:28), He loves you and is aware of your weakness and is able and more than willing to help you. After all, He who loves you says, “I am with you.”

“I am with you” means that the person who can help you right now knows and is watching. He is not just any person, He is the living God and creator and sustainer of the universe and your life! In fact, He is watching over you to protect you. He will help you escape darkness, because he has transferred you into the kingdom of the Son whom he loves.

What if you face a different struggle today? What if you feel overwhelmed with loneliness and fear, inconsolable grief and sorrow, feelings of abandonment and betrayal? Let's not get religious here. Christan's feel and experience all of these things don't they? Listen again to the sweet, kind, empathetic, compassionate, merciful voice of God:

“I am with you.” “I am with you.”

When I really hear that, and take it to heart, I know That I am not alone. I am safe. I am secure. I am comforted. I am helped. I will not be abandoned. i will not be rejected. I have a friend. I have help. I have someone who knows me and understands me, yet loves me anyway fully and completely. He will not reject me or forsake me.

What if you’re overwhelmed by the guilt, rejection, and shame rime of past failures? “I am with you.” God is not shocked by the ugliness of your past. He came to die for the worst of sinners (as Paul twice refers to himself—1 Timothy 1:15-16). Whatever your struggle, “I am with you” changes everything. It means that I am forgiven and that God holds absolutely nothing against you.

Micah 7:8-9 is a picture of what you say to your enemy when he scoffs at your failures. Here is what you say. John Piper summarizes these words by calling them gutsy guilt. This is because the believer admits that he has done wrong. But he will not surrender his hold on the truth that God is with Him and on his side. Listen to these amazing words. Mark them. Memorize them. Use them whenever Satan comes to accuse you or condemn you.

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication. (Micah 7:8-9)

"I AM WITH YOU"

Let these precious words be on the forefront of your thoughts, your meditations, your drive to work, as you lay in bed, where the battle rages, and in your loneliness, fears, anxieties, pain, and sorrows. Let these words begin filling your soul with comfort, assurance, peace, faith, and joy.

Try this week to get alone with Him in a quiet place and come into his presence and begin to release to Him all of your past sins, all of your present burdens and temptations, and all your fears and anxieties and worries about your future. Then begin allowing His word to fill your mind, your heart, and you soul with the comforting words I AM WITH YOU. Don't rush, allow the reality of His presence fill you with a sense and awareness of His presence with at this moment. Listen to His kind and loving voice breath assurance, faith, and hope like rivers of living water:

I AM WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. I AM HERE FOR YOU. I WILL HELP YOU. I LOVE YOU.

Pastor Bill