I Will Be There

Text:

Hebrews 13:5-6:

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.

6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Theme:

I’ll Be There

Introduction:

• Barry Gordy, the music mogul of the 20^th Century and founder of Motown Records, produced a song for a group with his new child prodigy, Michael Jackson, as the lead vocalist along with his brothers. The group was called the Jackson Five.  The song was called “I’ll Be There”.  The words were as follows:

You and I must make a pact.  We must bring salvation back.

If there is love, I’ll be there.

I’ll reach out my hand to you. 

I’ll have faith in all you do

If there is love, I’ll be there.

• This song sold hundreds of thousand copies and touched the lives of millions upon millions.

• The song is a reflection of the sentiment given from man to woman and vice versa for centuries.
  • In marriage, each vow to stay with the other “through thick and thin”, “for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health”. In essence, both telling the other that I’LL BE THERE.
    • The problem is that sometimes they run into problems that cause the man or woman to have to redefine where THERE is. There changes from by their side to another home, state, or country maybeJ.
  • In intimate relationships, the man is often “croonin’” to the woman that he will be there for her or vice versa.
    • The problem is that sometimes they also run into problems that cause the man or woman to have to redefine where THERE is. There changes from being in the relationship to moving on to someone elseJ
  • In friendships, both parties are often found saying things like “I’ve got your back” or “I’m here for you”.
    • The problem is that sometimes that same “friend” can have your back by putting a KNIFE into it or can be HERE but not for you…for themselves or someone else.
  • We have used these words way too quickly when we know that we don’t control our days or have tomorrow promised.
    • Job said in Job 14:1, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”
      • AND when we don’t control ourselves half the time either
        • Even Paul said in Romans 7:15, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” –> Basically, ain’t no telling what we might do 🙂

Body:

• But, there is one who has promised all of us I’LL BE THERE, and we can trust that it’s TRUE!
  • Elohim
  • Jehovah
  • Our Creator
  • Our Father
  • God
• In our text, Paul acknowledges that God has made a promise to us!
  • In Verse 5 it reads, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”
    • First of all, let us note that God made a promise!
      • The Bible is a book of promises from God à 2Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
    • This promise is that they will never be alone
      • John 8:29, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”
      • John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”
      • I thank God for His promises!!
        • They are not like other folks’ promises!
          • Other people let you downL
        • His promises give comfort even before it is done.
          • God said it à I believe it à It’s already done!!
    • Secondly, God also promised that He would never FORSAKE us
      • God will not turn His back on us!!
        • Regardless of our shortcomings
        • Regardless of our struggles
        • Regardless of our weaknesses
        • Regardless of our past
          • The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Conclusion:

• In my life, I have even been guilty of saying I’LL BE THERE to different people and in different contexts. Sometimes I have been true to my words and other times I have fallen short.  However, one time I said this and will always hold the words as the fiber of my integrity and existence.  It is with my children.
  • At the time of my initial separation, I had a conversation with my girls to explain my separating from my wife at the time. During that conversation, I told them two things to always know!
    • I will always be Daddy!
    • I will always be HERE for them! (It is just that “here” is being redefined right now.)
  • I was telling them that I promised that I’LL BE THERE for them in every way that I had before and even more.
    • Because I love my girls soooo much, I can easily make this promise with all of my heart and being!
      • Whether in body or in spirit, I will always be real to them and will become even more real to them as the days go on.
• Although my love for my girls is unlike any love that I know to one on this earth, we know that God still loves us better!
  • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
    • For God à The Greatest Lover
    • so loved à The Greatest Degree
    • the world à The Greatest Company
    • That He gave à The Greatest Act
    • His only begotten Son à The Greatest Gift
    • That whosoever à The Greatest Opportunity
    • believeth à The Greatest Simplicity
    • in Himà The Greatest Attraction
    • should not perish à The Greatest Promise
    • but à The Greatest Difference
    • have à The Greatest Certainty
    • everlasting life à The Greatest Possession

 

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