Standing Alone

1. Introduction
   1. When I started off as a Christian, and began to do soul winning, really getting involved in the church, really wanting to be all I could possibly be for the Lord,
   2. telling everybody about our Lord Jesus Christ. As time went on, I would say to my comrades why are you not as enthusiastic as I am?
   3. Their answer was Son, when you’ve been doing it as long as we have, and the newness wears off, you begin to realize that not everyone is as gung ho as when they first got saved.
   4. I said “I disagree with you. I’ll always be enthusiastic and energized and motivated to see lives changed as mine was.” I took it seriously.
   5. I’d say to my comrades, “Did you? They said the newness wears off and I said to them I disagree.
   6. When I read the scripture that the word of God is fresh and new every morning. Lamentations 3:23: They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. I’ve been a Christian since 1981.
   7. I never stopped trusting and believing, though I made a lot of mistakes and had to ask for a lot of forgiveness. I’m still fighting the good fight of faith.
   8. I’m fighting with vigor, with enthusiasm, standing in faith, praying in faith, trusting in my Lord and Savior, and he’s always leading the way.
   9. I then knew at that point I was standing alone but that’s ok. I knew that my Lord and Savior would never leave me or forsake me. Hebrews 13:5: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
   10. Sometimes in this life we have to walk alone. We have to know what God has made us to be, and by standing alone, what I mean by this, is that when everyone’s going to a very comfortable position, I am not, and I will not.
   11. I will stand firm. I will teach firm. I will preach firm. The Lord is my buckler and refuge. Psalm 91:4: He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
   12. We must stay away from compromise at all costs if we’re going to maintain as solid, strong, war-fighting Christians.
   13. This day and age that we live in now is the Laodicean Church Age, the lukewarm church, the false word that’s being administered through the church,
   14. the disarming of saints from carrying their bibles, not knowing their bibles, listening to what anyone and everyone says.
   15. Not realizing that they’ll stand before the Judgment seat of Christ if saved, or the Great White Throne judgment if unsaved,
   16. When Christ asks them “Why did you do this or that, why did you stay complacent, comfortable, never reaching out, never telling anyone about Me,
   17. Sharing all the testimony that I built in your life for you to hold onto and now your end has come. Now you and the Lord have come face to face.
   18. There will be no more excuses or repentance and no more turning back. It’s either one or the other.
   19. At the Great White Throne judgment, it will be a complete reviewing of your life. If you make it to that arena, you’d better forget it.
   20. There are many pastors and TV preachers that are duping, lying, falsifying and hypnotizing the saints. They will not be forgotten about.
   21. When they say to the Lord “Didn’t I cast out demons and adhere to your word? I taught them all the gifts of the Spirit.
   22. I lived a lavish life which I thought was the abundant life of prosperity.
   23. He will say depart from me, you iniquity, I never knew you. Everything you did was for selfish gain.
   24. Standing alone in this climate and world that we live in only to get worse. We must stay close to God’s Word.
   25. We must read God’s Word and stay away from things that lead us astray.  Man is not the final authority.
   26. Man has the authority and is ordained of God to keep His Principles and standards. And to look on the things of others more than himself.
   27. His job is to train and eqquip the saints for the work of the ministry. Now let us look into our message, Standing Alone.

2. Where are you today? Where do you stand?
   1. Do you stand on God’s inerrant Word? Psalm 119:160: Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. In the New Testament it says let God be true and every man a liar. God’s Word is worthy of our trust. If He said it, He will do it. You can stand on that.
   2. Do you stand on Jesus Christ as the only way to the Father? John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. No one is going to get to God by, Budha, Sung Myung Moon, or any other besides Jesus
   3. Do you stand on salvation by grace through faith? Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. We’re not saved by works. We’re not saved by baptism. We are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone.
   4. And finally, do you stand on the fact that you’ll NEVER EVER lose your salvation if you truly have it. Ephesians 4:30: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. If you sincerely asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart and be your Lord and Savior, you are saved. You are sealed. Now, as a result of that, live a lifestyle of service to Him out of gratitude. These are the principles every Christian should stand on.

3. Are you with the majority? Are you just going with the flow?
   1. God doesn’t want us going through the broad gate with the majority, that leads to destruction. Matthew 7:13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: These are the ones that go through the motions of Christianity but never truly asked Christ into their hearts and lives.
   2. Instead, we who have sincerely trusted Christ, will not go with the majority. Matthew 7:14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. I am one of those few. What about you? Have you found the narrow strait gait by receiving Christ, or are you with the majority at the broad gate?

4. Are you just listening to what the pastor says? Are you checking out what he says?
   1. This is why I talk about carrying your bible to church all the time. Be a Berean and check out what I’m saying to make sure it’s the absolute truth. Acts 17:11: These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Did you catch that? These were more noble, more honorable because they didn’t just take what they heard as being gospel. They checked it out. What about you?

5. Have you ever felt alone? If so, what brought you there?
   1. Did you get there because you have put Jesus first, over everyone else? Matthew 10:37: He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. It’s good to have family & friends. God is a God of family, and He brings people into our lives to help us along the way, but we must always put God first before any of them.
   2. Know that if the world hates you for your stand, they hated Jesus and the Father before they ever hated you. John 15:24: If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. If you stand for the Word of God and speak against sin, you’re not going to be popular with mankind, but you will be pleasing to God and have His Favor.

6. What’ve you done to reject selfishness, selfish gain, the “me-myself-and-I” concept?
   1. Are you seeking God first every day? Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Before your feet hit the floor, and before you think about or worry about anything else, seek Him. Talk to Him. Put Him first in your life.
   2. Are you denying yourself and picking up your cross daily? Luke 9:23: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, & follow me. This is God’s Call to everyone that wants to be a true Christian. He also said that if we do not pick up our cross and deny ourself, we are not worthy of Him.
   3. Are you looking on the things of others more than yourself? Philippians 2:4: Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. This is why we make sure to check in on people, and let them know how much they are appreciated. We pray for one another. We help each other whenever we can.

7. Are you a compromiser? Have you compromised God’s Word?
   1. Christian compromise is making shameful concessions to God’s Word and Will. It is departing from the Truth.
   2. A compromiser is one who leaves the doctrines and principles of God’s Word to reconcile a competing philosophy or way of life.
   3. An example of a compromiser was Peter. Paul tells us of an incident where he had to correct Peter. Galatians 2:11-13: But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. Are you a compromiser like Peter, or do you stand on the inerrant Word of God and seek to save the lost?
   4. Have you had to take a stand, or stand alone, possibly losing friends or family for your stand for Christ?

8. Who in the bible stood alone?
   1. Moses was a Hebrew raised in Pharaoh’s palace who went to the Pharaoh to demand the release of his people from slavery. Hebrews 11:23-24: By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Moses stood alone for God and for the Nation of Israel, and God used him to rescue the Israelites from bondage in Egypt.
   2. Nehemiah gave up his job as the king’s cupbearer to rebuild the city of his exiled people. Nehemiah 2:1-2: And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, You can read the rest of the story, how that Nehemiah asked the king to let him leave to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah stood alone for God and had to fight the enemy at the same time he was building the walls.
   3. Paul was a former Christian killer who became an Apostle, and faced many trials and persecutions after his conversion. He had this testimony in 2nd Corinthians 4:8: We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Paul stood along many times for the gospel and did not compromise God’s Word at any time.

9. and what was their sacrifice
   1. Moses sacrificed the comforts of being in Pharoah’s house. He could have been in line to be the next Pharaoh. Instead he confronted Pharaoh.
   2. Nehemiah also sacrificed the luxuries of being in the king’s palace, to stand for God and the nation of Israel. He fought and built to restore the walls of the land of Israel.
   3. Paul also sacrificed the comforts of a Pharisee’s life to serve the Lord. What will you sacrifice to stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ?
10. Story of the Hymn “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”
    1. In the spring of 1858 revival was taking place in Philadelphia. The movement grew out of midday prayer meetings coordinated by the YMCA.
    2. Dudley A. Tyng, a young minister, soon came to be recognized as its leader.
    3. Though there was some controversy over his anti-slavery preaching, Tyng was known and loved for his zeal for the work of God.
    4. On Tuesday, April 13th, 1858, Rev. Tyng was studying at his country home when he went to the barn to check on his mule which was driving a machine that shelled corn.
    5. As he patted down the animal, the sleeve of his gown got caught in the cogs of the machine, and his arm was severely injured.
    6. The arm was soon amputated, the wound became mortal, and Tyng died the following week.
    7. Before he died, however, he was asked by friends if there were any messages he would have them give to those who had participated with him in the revival work.
    8. Tyng responded briefly, beginning with the words, “Tell them, ‘Let us all stand up for Jesus.’”
    9. In the days and events following Tyng’s death, these final words were invoked several times and became a resounding exhortation to all who’d been affected by his ministry.
    10. When George Duffield, Jr. preached to his own congregation the next week, he focused on Ephesians 6:14 (“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…”) and concluded his sermon with a hymn he had written.
    11. It began with the line, “Stand up, stand up for Jesus.” The hymn was soon picked up by publishers, and it quickly became an established work.
    12. Similar to “Onward Christian Soldiers,” it became popular among soldiers of the Civil War, most likely because of its militaristic imagery and language.
    13. But, as we noted with that hymn, the connection to worldly battles was not the author’s intent;
    14. Christians have often sung soldier songs, because, as God tells us in Ephesians 6 and elsewhere, our lives in Christ are a fight for faith in the midst of spiritual enemies. We are called to stand in the strength he supplies.
    15. (I have one delightfully awkward memory of this hymn. We occasionally sang this song in a church I attended many years ago;
    16. one Sunday we sang it but it was during a part of the service where we all sat.
    17. Everyone was wondering how we could sing “Stand up for Jesus” when we were all instructed by the bulletin to sit;
    18. finally one brave lady stood up and the rest of us soon joined her.) Let’s all stand for the gospel of Jesus, even if we have to stand alone.

11. Conclusion
    1. If you’re fighting the good fight of faith, studying God’s Word, leading people to salvation, looking on the things of others more than yourself,
    2. picking up your cross and following Christ, you might be standing alone.