When People Let You Down
Introduction:
It is a very painful experience when friends let you
down or desert you. It can be quite upsetting and
discouraging when someone you thought you could trust
turns on you or betrays you. Also it can be very
discouraging when a Christian disappoints you.
Unfortunately, these are the sad facts of life. They
happen. The apostle Paul can relate to how you are
feeling. He knew what it was like to be forsaken by
those closest to him.
Text:
II Timothy 4:14-17
Body:
I.
The Lord Will Repay
(Verses 14-15)
·
Alexander the coppersmith did Paul much harm. There are
evil people in the world that will do their best to
bring harm to God’s people. They oppose the teaching of
Christians. (Acts 6:9-12) Some “vigorously;”
oppose us! (Matthew 10:17)
·
We must be constantly on guard against these evil
people. (Philippians 3:1-2) Be alert; watch out for
them.
·
Remember the Lord will repay. Old
Testament: Psalm 28:4, Psalm 62:12 New
Testament: Galatians 6:7
·
We must leave it in the Lord’s hands. (Romans 12:17,
19)
II.
People May Forsake You
(Verse 16)
·
This verse pictures a court scene where not a single
person came to Paul’s defense to support him. (Psalm
55:12-13)
·
“Forsook” – abandoning someone at the worst possible
moment; leaving someone in a terrible condition (Mark
14:48-50)
·
Paul knew that following Jesus sometimes meant going it
alone. (Song: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”)
·
Note this Verse: II Timothy 4:10 Demas had
abandoned Paul at the worst possible time; he had
deserted the apostle in dire circumstances.
III.
The Lord Will Stand By You
(Verse 17)
·
Time after time, the Lord had stood by Paul in Damascus,
Lystra, Philippi, Thessalonica, Ephesus, and many other
places. The apostle no doubt remembered how Jehovah had
stood by the three Hebrew young men in the fiery furnace
or Daniel in the lion’s den.
·
We should know that when no one else will come to your
aid, God is always there with you. (Hebrews 13:5-6) In
the Greek, the promise is emphatic – “I will never,
never, never leave you. . .”
·
Christians today need to be reminded of the promises
that the Word of God contains concerning the Lord
standing with us. (Psalm 9:10, Psalm 37:25, Psalm
37:28, 39-40, II Corinthians 4:7-9)
Conclusion:
It is truly a painful experience when others, even
friends, abandon us when we need them the most. But let
us take comfort in the fact that our Savior will never,
never, never forsake us.
Bobby Stafford
January 4, 2015
Video
