4 words for you when you don’t feel his presence
June 8, 2026
I would rather be here than any jail they make. Amen. I’m just glad to be here and honored to have you here with us today. And who needs a bulletin? Anyone need a bulletin? Need a bulletin or ushers to get it for you. It’s got all the announcements in there. We’re relying more on that for announcements. But it is VBS. And our workers do a super, super job.
Pray for them by the end of the week. You say, who are the workers? By the end of the week, they’ll be the ones that are disheveled and mad at each other. And if they are wearing a tie, it’ll be hanging down to their ankles by that time.
But I was reading an article this week. It was sharing that the vast majority of people who are pastors or song leaders or assistant pastors were reached when they were children. They were saying in the article, if we don’t reach children, then we’re going to miss out on a lot of our future leaders in the Christian world.
And just the importance of VBS, I praise the Lord for our workers, doing a great, great job at it. It’s an exciting time. We will have Wednesday night service. If you’re in VBS, stay there. But if you’re not, over in Building A, it’s the couples class. We have service over there. Sometimes those smaller settings are sweet services. We’ve had some good services on Wednesday night. So if you’ll be there at 6:30, we’d love to have you for that. We’ll just continue on with a normal schedule for that, and that would be great.
Ushers, if you come for offering. And this is a good announcement. We have the full offer for the sale of this. We’ve shared it with you: 2.3. It is a cash offer. We are to close on or before July the 31st. They have deposited $23,000 into Paul and Tammy Chisgar’s Lunch Fund. And we’re dreaming there; I got my wife’s attention all of a sudden here now.
But, of course, the escrow account. And things are looking good on that. So next weekend, we will start sharing the grounds with them. Now, they’re so gracious about it. It’s a Congolese congregation. They’re right on salvation. They’re our brothers and sisters in Christ. I, of course, haven’t met them all. I’ve met their leadership. Just good, sweet people. But they’ll be meeting on Saturdays from noon to two and then Sundays from one to four. So just kind of keep that in mind. We’ll have to have the parking lot cleared out fairly early because they should start coming in around 12:30, 12:45. We want to have that parking lot cleared out for them. Praise the Lord, just good people to work with.
And it looks like the offer’s going to go fully through. It’s never done until you close, and the wire transfer is in the bank now. But things are looking good. Please continue to pray. I’ve said it so often, but when you started praying at 7 o’clock, that’s when things started happening.
And so just wherever you are, pray, pray, pray, and pray this thing will be fulfilled. We will start sharing with them next weekend, so I want you to make a note of that. I did not know about that till yesterday, I believe we kind of finalized that. And they’ve been good to us; we want to be good to them. So next Saturday they’ll be here from noon to two, and then Sunday also, and it’ll be like that.
God’s really blessed. Our schedules don’t conflict much at all. So it’s a good part on that. And we’ve given you details, but we’ll continue paying utilities. We pay them anyway. But in return for that, once we close, we still will not pay anything to stay in the building. We stay here for up to two years. So just good, good terms. God’s worked all that out. The Lord is really—He deserves credit for it all. And He hears prayers.
And He’s a good God. We’re so thankful for that. But things will change as to touch next weekend on that. So I want to make note of that. And don’t forget about that, if you would, please.
Praise the Lord for the Usseltons. They’re awesome. They’re sweet spirit, great people. Help us in our school. And Brother Usselton’s here on Tuesday morning with the children drop-off. And then Ms. Cindy, she does a very important thing on Friday. She brings pizza for lunch. That’s an important job for sure, amen. And say, “How is your Christian school growing?” Pizza, that’s how. And I’m teasing, praise the Lord for them.
Brother Austin, to which you leave, and a word of prayer for offering, please, sir. Number 560. Number 560. Y’all, it is wonderful to be a Christian. Life has by our place. My joy by day and night, then let my lips proclaim it. I like Thy will, mine acts to serve Thine ends, change some frowning foes to smiling friends, chastened my soul till I make me more with me for Thy core.
Thank you, Brother Tim. I appreciate that good, good message.
Turn to Psalm chapter number 145, if you would please. And I appreciate Ms. Grace making her way through the maze to get back to the piano. And I told Ms. Meyer this morning, there’s no gym fee, but our pianist is going to get her exercise today.
Good deal. You know, it’s good for us Baptists to get our world shook up every once in a while anyway. And if somebody sits in your seat every once in a while, that’s probably a good thing. Life will be all right. But Psalm 145 this morning. And for just a bit, I want to focus on this truth: Four words for you when you don’t feel His presence. Four words from God’s Word when you don’t feel His presence.
By the way, it’s very important that you listen, especially if you plan on living for the Lord over the long haul. If you want to just be a flash in the pan, in and out for a couple months, okay, you don’t have to listen. But if you like to spend your life living for the Lord and close to the Lord, I would encourage you to listen very intently today. Four words for you when you don’t feel His presence. We’re going to focus on one verse, one verse here found in Psalm 145.
You know, preaching awfully will do that. You’ll take one verse and just lift it out and you’ll focus on that one verse. That’s not sinful. That’s not wrong. Now, it must be able to fit in with the rest of Scripture when you bring it back in there. But preaching does that. That’s what typically preaching does, and we’ll do that today. We won’t diverge a lot from it, but we will not do other scriptures injustice in that. Psalms 145, verse number 18, in God’s Word—not Psalms. What did I just say? Some of you are looking like, “Wow, my goodness.” You know, Psalms 145. I’d tell you the verse, but then you won’t look at me anymore.
Let’s stand if you would please. I’d read God’s Word together. Verse number 18, Psalms 145 and verse number 18 of God’s Word. The Bible there says the Lord—by the way, that’s capital letters, all of them in the King James Bible. That means Jehovah. That’s why I don’t like to even mess up the spelling or the capital letters. All of it’s important.
The Lord, Jehovah, is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. Would you read that verse out with me together? Here we go: “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him.”
One more time, please. Here we go: “The Lord is nigh unto all them, to all.”
Would you pray with me that God would speak to all hearts about this great truth? Father, Lord, You make this truth come alive. Lord, I don’t know all the different ways it needs to be applied, but You do. And Lord, would You put Your finger on the way it needs to be applied to every single heart here this morning? And Lord, we’ll thank You. We’ll brag on You for what You do. And we’re asking, Father, we’re believing because we’re asking in the name of Jesus for this. Amen.
Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated.
I love it. I mean, I absolutely love it when I feel God’s presence. I got to be careful. I got seaweed and everything else in the world all around me here. I had a cell blowing in my hair a while ago.
I love it. I mean, whether it be a church time or in your prayer time, you know me, most of you do. Very much, I love to take a walk in the woods. And sometimes, sometimes when I’m out away from everybody and everything, you feel like you could just reach out and touch the Lord. Boy, it’s wonderful when it’s like that.
I mean, it’s just precious. Nothing like that in all the world. We sing songs about it. A sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour that calls me from a world to grow my way. When you’re there, you feel God’s presence there. You know, it doesn’t matter what kind of problems you have going on in your life. When you feel God’s presence, they really don’t matter.
I love this statement: Someone said, “Instead of telling God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big your God is.” And, you know, just you feel God’s presence. Everything’s wonderful. I mean, your wife is mad at you. You know she’s going to offer burnt sacrifice when you come home to eat. But still, life’s good. You’ve had a black eye before; you’ll be all right.
I mean, just everything’s just, you’re just flying high, and it’s wonderful. Your spiritual gas tank is full, automatically boom. If any kind of gas tank is full right now, that’s a benefit, amen. You don’t talk about it, but it’s just this wonderful. I love it. Anybody out there, you just love it when you feel God’s presence? Amen. And it’s just, “In Thy presence is fullness of joy,” Psalm 6.
It’s awesome. And by the way, you need that every once in a while. And I ask the Lord to give that to you every once in a while. But can I be honest? There are times I’ll go to my prayer spot or church service, man, I want to feel God’s presence. I’m craving it, if you will. Can I be real honest with you? I don’t feel it.
Sometimes, whatever the reason, sometimes I feel like I’m just going through the motions, a ritual. Now, you’re probably never like that, I’m sure. You ever feel like you’re walking through mud, you know, when it’s mud and your foot, and it kind of sinks in there, and your feet feel heavy? You ever feel like that in your prayer time?
You come to church because you know you ought to go to church. The Lord told us to go to church, Hebrews 10:25, “and so much the more as you see the day approach.” And you’re obeying the Lord, but it used to be exciting. The preacher used to speak to your heart, but it just kind of feels like you’re not even in the service; you’re watching the service. You ever feel like that? Someone called it disassociated.
You used to shed tears, but the tears aren’t there. And your question sometimes is, “Is the Lord even hearing my prayers?” I know you never do those things. I do that sometimes.
And I think, “Lord, are You even up in heaven listening to me?” And here’s sometimes the thing—I’m sure this does not happen to you, but this happens to me sometimes. Sometimes I know Paul, and Paul is not the Christian Paul ought to be.
And I think, “How can a holy, righteous God, that’s thrice holy, and He knew no sin—Jesus, I mean—and He’s just so far, as far as the heaven above the earth, as far as His thoughts and ways above mine,” and I feel like I’m so dirty, and surely He’s not listening to me. Anybody ever feel like that? Oh, shame on you. No.
I’m there more than I want to admit. I’m being honest. For whatever reason, sometimes it is we’re getting right with the Lord. By the way, if you’re in the Christian life over the long haul, there ought to be times you’re getting right with the Lord. Because let me hit on a secret with you: You’re not perfect. So there ought to be times we’re getting right with the Lord.
And when you’re going through that, David, King David, he was getting right with the Lord for sure over there in Psalm 51. And David writes this through the inspiration of God when he’s getting right with the Lord. He says, “Cast me not away from Thy presence. Take not the Holy Spirit from me.”
Whether it be that maybe you’re not where you ought to be for the Lord and not where you want to be for the Lord, and you don’t feel like you’re worthy to be in His presence—and you know, the Bible says by our own heart, over in 1 John 3, he says our own heart condemns us sometimes. Whether it be for that or maybe just going through a time of testing. You know, they say during the test the teacher’s always silent.
And sometimes that’s the hardest part of the test: you don’t feel His presence. That can be tough. Job, when he was going through—by the way, he was one of the best Christians around, best Christian in the East for sure. And Job is going through that time of test again, and God used Job to pen these words. Let me read them for you: “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him. On the left hand where he does work, but I cannot behold him. He hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see him.” Wow, that’s Job. That’s a good God. God was bragging on Job. And yet Job, when he was going through the time of testing, he says, “Lord, I’m looking for You, but I don’t feel Your presence.”
I’m reminded of our Savior, our perfect example. Praise the Lord, we can still see the cross, even through the ocean, we can see the cross, amen. But when Christ—I think maybe one of the greatest trials that Jesus went through on the cross, remember one of the seven utterances? One of those utterances that Jesus said on the cross, He said, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” Jesus even went through it.
Can I just be honest for you? Sometimes, for whatever reason, you’re just—I’m there sometimes. I’m just in a rut. I’m just being awful, and I’m struggling to get out of that rut, and I’m trying to. And I think to myself, “Am I doing this because it’s a ritual, or do I really believe God’s up there?” Anybody ever in there?
I was going through one of those seasons several years ago. I was struggling. I’m just like, “Lord, I want more. I don’t want to go through the Christian life like this for the rest of my life.” I was struggling. And this is a little bit important to kind of notice: It wasn’t my season, but I was still trying my best to be in the Word.
And I came across Psalm 145:18. Man, it caught my attention.
I’ll be honest, at the moment it did not change my feeling of His presence, but it changed my faith. Such a help. I said, “Man, I got to memorize. I need that verse right there. Man, let me put that in my arsenal. Let me get that bullet and put it in my quiver.” And these four words specifically really spoke to my heart when I was going through that season.
And I want you to notice these four words very quickly here from this one verse. Four words for when you don’t feel His presence. Number one word: Look back at that verse, verse 18. By the way, I hope this verse is stuck in your head for the rest of your life. Amen, I really do. It’s a great verse. Help me out. Verse number 18, Psalm 145:18. The Bible says, “The Lord is what?” Wow.
I didn’t feel like that. I felt like He was a thousand miles away, to be honest with you. But it was so encouraging to realize, “Hey, He said right there, the Lord is nigh.”
Can I say this? When you’re at this point, don’t go by your feelings. I like it when feelings get involved; that’s wonderful. But if I just go by feelings, I’m going to be up one day, down the next. I’m going to be on a roller coaster ride. And when things are really low, I’m going to drop out of this thing.
I cannot go by my feelings. I’ve got to go by this book right here, His Word. And He said, “The Lord is what?” He is nigh. Man, what a wonderful thing. When my heart condemns me, He’s still nigh. When I’m questioning everything because everything I do turns to mud, I can’t do anything right. I’m going through a time of testing. He’s still nigh, friend.
I mean, when I’m out of my season and my heart is cold, He’s still not—He’s not there because my heart is right. He’s there because the blood of Jesus is applied. He’s nigh. I think about this: This is King David that God used to pen Psalm 145. It’s a Psalm of Praise, a wonderful Psalm. But King David—now think about it, King—I don’t know, I meant to look it up, but I didn’t, just to be honest with you. What was the population of Israel under King David? I can think of a couple of things and maybe get roundabout, but especially when he was King of Judah and Israel, all the whole thing.
And you’re talking, you’re talking well over a million, just off the top of my head. Of course, that’s not good off the top of my head. My head’s not always right, friend. Don’t say amen right there, please. A couple million people. Think about it. Think about it. King David, I think King David, now he had his issues like all of us, but King David, I think he cared about his people and his kingdom.
And David, if he’s like a lot of leaders, David, I’m sure there were times he wished, “I wish I could go out and be what I need to be to all the people,” but David knew he couldn’t do that. But think about David, King David—there’s no way he could meet the needs of all the people, all the rest of that. But think about David, as God leads him, and David, he says, “Hey, the Lord is nigh.” Earlier in this Psalm, it’s talking about that God is the King. Thinking about the praise that David is giving to God in his heart and his mind when it says, “Hey, Lord, You’re a King that You’re nigh unto all Your people. I can’t be nigh to all my people. I mean, there’s no way I can do it, but God is such a wonderful God, our Almighty King. He’s King of kings and the Lord of Lords, and He is nigh. He’s close to all of His people.”
That’s what’s going through the heart and the mind of King David as he writes. I’m so glad I don’t serve a God that’s a million miles away and doesn’t care.
Some people believe that. I thought, “Oh my God, He’s nigh.” Praise the Lord for that. It doesn’t matter what country, what language. I had the privilege of praying with a man from Brazil yesterday and trying to lead him in the sinner’s prayer. And he said, “Hey, if I pray, I’m going to pray in Portuguese.” He said, “Praise the Lord. The Lord understands Portuguese, friend.”
He’s nigh. It doesn’t matter what race, what nationality. If you’re a man or a lady, tall or—we were talking in Sunday school, I was always short, wanting to be tall. Doesn’t matter if you’re five foot three, amen. He’s nigh, close. Friend, don’t listen to your feelings. Listen to His Word. He’s nigh. Satan will tell you He’s not close. Your own flesh will say He’s not close, but He’s nigh.
Doesn’t matter your IQ. Doesn’t matter your background. I’m a real emotional person. It doesn’t matter what you are. He says He’s nigh, close to you. Now that’s the first word that caught my attention. Let’s look at the second word.
But it was such a blessing to me when I got it. It’s amazing. God just gives you the verses when you need them if you keep looking. Right when you need it, He’ll give it to you.
Look back at this verse. Let’s read the whole thing again. We’ll go back to this word. You ready? Let’s read it out loud together. Psalm 145:18. Here we go. Here we go: “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him.” Here’s the second word: “The Lord is nigh unto what?” Unto all.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I can feel like I’m not part of the all. I feel like I’m left out, forgotten about. But God said, “No, no, all.” The Lord is nigh to all.
I don’t want to take too long on this. I’m trying to move along very quickly until we get to this fourth word, but all. Friend, you’re part of the all. I think about some of our people, and I was raised this way and whatnot. And I didn’t realize this until a couple years ago, but I lived in either a camper or a trailer until I was 13. When I was 13, we moved into our first house.
And, you know, well, that’s all right. It doesn’t matter all that stuff we can all think of. He’s nigh to all. He’s nigh to all. He’s nigh to all. He’s close to all. Help me up. He’s nigh to who? Are you part of the all?
So do this, would you please? Would you put your name in there instead of saying “all”? Would you put your name there? And just whatever your name is, let’s say your name. Here we go: “He is nigh unto [Your Name].” Now we’ve got to finish the verse, but yeah. He is nigh unto you, friend. Even when you don’t feel like it. Even when Satan’s filling you with a bag of lies, the Lord is nigh unto all.
Let’s keep going. Let’s get the third word. We’re going to get out here pretty quick if we go this quick, right? Praise the Lord, nobody said amen. How many of you are going to have fried chicken when this is over? That’s why nobody said amen; we’re doing good. We’ve got one. We’ve got one there. All right. Look at this verse, number 18. “The Lord is nigh unto what?” All them that what?
That’s so important. He’s nigh, He’s close, unto all that call. Can I just—and this is a simple message—but can I just say this: keep calling. When you maybe are trying to get right with God and you don’t feel like you’re worthy to be in His presence, that’s a lie from the devil, by the way. Nobody’s worthy to be in His presence if you’re relying on yourself.
But friend, when you feel like that, keep calling. Because He’s nigh unto all them that call. When you’re going through the routine and you’re just kind of stuck in the mud and your heart’s not warm and tender like you want it to be, can I just say this? Keep calling. God wasn’t going to show me the verse if I didn’t just stay in there. I wasn’t doing it real good; I didn’t pass by 100%. Can I just say this, by the way? Nobody passes by 100% besides Jesus.
But you hang in there, you don’t give up, keep calling, friend. When you find nobody’s listening and you’re just all alone, hey friend, He’s there, and you keep calling, keep calling, keep calling. In the middle of that call, if you lost your desire, start calling, “Lord, bring my desire back,” but you keep calling.
You know, maybe the worst thing about a pity party? Well, it could be you suck your thumb off like some people. But you’re over in your corner, sucking your thumb. Come on, we’ve all been there before. Maybe the worst thing about that is you’re not really calling; you’re having a pity party.
You know, maybe the worst thing about it when I’m trying to figure out my time of testing and all my trials and how to get out of it, and I’m contemplating, I’m contemplating, but I’m not calling. And the Lord is nigh unto all them that call. I mean, when the devil tells you, “God’s not listening,” say, “Devil, I’m not listening to you. You’re a big, fat liar.” But even if it’s not, I’m just going to keep calling. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call.
Keep calling. Keep calling. How many have ever seen this magazine? Miss Jenny Fontaine used to get it years ago, and she would use it for a little while, and then she would give us her old ones. I loved them. It’s called Country. For those who live in the country or love the country, I think is what it is. Anybody ever seen that magazine? Good. All right, we have some true Christians here.
I’m teasing, of course, but it is just a country magazine, beautiful pictures and whatnot. And on the back of that magazine, it would always have a picture with a little quote. And I forget one of those that she gave to us. And on the back of it, it had a picture of an Amish people, and they had the horse and the wagon, and they’re going through a mud puddle. The wagon’s in the middle of this mud puddle. And it says this, the caption over the picture said this: “Never yell, ‘Whoa!’ in the middle of a mud puddle.”
Can I change this? Never stop calling in the middle of a mud puddle. Is that proper English, people here? Brother Chip says, “No way, man.” Brother Chip says no. Somebody else says yes. I don’t know. I’m not an English professor. We don’t speak English anyway; we speak Southern around here, amen. Hey, just keep in your mud puddle. Just keep calling. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call. Keep calling. The devil will do anything he can just to keep you from calling.
It was encouraging to me as God led me to this verse here in these words. And I said, “Lord, all by good, I need this, Lord. I don’t feel like You’re close to me, Lord, but Your Word says it. I’m going to go by not by my feelings, but by Your Word.”
And it was so good for me. But I said, “Now, Lord, I don’t want to just misuse this verse. I want to get it all in here.” So I kept reading the verse. Let’s read the whole verse again. Would you read it all with me here, verse number 18? “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him.” Well, that last part—I said, “Now, Lord, what do You mean there?” To all that call upon Him in truth.
I started, “Lord, I mean, I need this promise right now. I’ve got to have it. I’m not on fire like I used to be. My heart’s not warm, and I don’t feel You like I want to feel Your presence, Lord.” And so I need this promise. And so what do You mean? And the first thing that came to my mind—you’ll know it, help me out if you know the verse—John 14:6. Jesus said, “In Me, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” Jesus said He is the truth. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in…”
Now wait a second. That helps out a whole lot when you’re trying to get back close. You’re backslidden, trying to get back close, because I don’t get close to Him through my marriage. I get close to Him through Jesus, Mary. You see, He said over there, “Hey, I want you to come boldly to the throne of grace,” not because you’re all that, because Jesus is your High Priest, and He’s all that.
And you don’t have access to the throne room because you’re a super Christian. By the way, I say this all the time, but it’s so true: Friend, the honest, simple truth is there is no super Christian. There’s only a super Christ. And you get in the presence of God not because you’re all that. You’re getting in the presence of God because Jesus is all that. And you have presence with God. You’re nigh to God because you call upon Him in the name, in the merit of Jesus, who is truth. Man, hey, listen, devil, stick that in the pipe and smoke it. The Lord is nigh here with me right now because of Jesus. That’s what He’s saying right there. Friend, you don’t have to worry about it. He’ll never leave you nor forsake you. He will be right there by you when you feel it and when you don’t feel it because Jesus purchased that for you on the cross. Amen.
The old devil’s a sly, old fox. And he’ll convince you that God doesn’t care about you and He’s ten million miles away from you, but he’s a liar. Jesus, He’s the truth. He’s the truth. Boy, when you come by the way of the cross—D.L. Moody used to say, “No one leaves from God empty-handed unless they go to God full of themselves.”
Man, you come by the way of the cross. He’s waiting for you, friend. He’s got His arms wide open. When you’re stuck in the mud and out of the season, we all go through that and cold heart, come on over there, not because your heart’s all that. Come over there because Jesus is all that. That’s what He’s teaching. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him in…
Now let me say this: It starts at salvation. You see, if I’m just trying to be good enough to earn my way into His presence eventually into heaven, I’ll never get there. The best I can do—the Bible says our righteousness, that’s the best—our righteousness is as filthy rags.
And it all starts when I come to this time where I realize I’m a sinner, can’t save myself, I’ll never earn my way into the presence of God in heaven one day. And I say, “Oh, Jesus, I believe You died on the cross for me personally and paid for my personal sins. And I want to trust You as my way to Father heaven.” And God says, “I’m going to birth you into My family. I’ll adopt you. You’re My daughter, you’re My son.” And you come to the Father through Jesus, which is the truth. You become His child. Oh, you know, His children have access to Him all the time, all the time.
I know of a preacher who pastored a pretty good-sized church years, years ago, and he told his sons, “Boys, no matter what’s going on, how busy it is, you can come to my—if it’s truly needy, you know, if you’re not just wanting to, if Mom said no, so you’re going to come to me and ask and see if I say yes, not that type of thing.” You know, your children don’t do that, you understand that. But if it truly needs attention, my office door is open to you, my sons, any time of the day. And God comes to His children and says, “Any time of the day.”
If you’re born again through the blood of Jesus, you’re safe any time of the day you come, and I’ll be nigh. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him.
It’s kind of like this. Let me see. Oscar, can I get you? Bentley. Come on, Bentley. Come on over here. Bentley, come over here. Right there. If you stand right there, Bentley. Good job, Bentley. Good job, Bentley. And Oscar’s right here, right there. And let’s get you a little bit farther away here, a little bit farther there, right there, Bentley. Now, they’re, I don’t know, seven feet away from each other.
But Jesus will just say, “Oscar.” Oscar is the Father. Is that kind of scary? Well, you teenagers say, “Oscar’s a good boy, but I don’t know about being God now.” And so there’s a Father. Bentley over here, Bentley’s a good boy. Bentley is a good boy. He’s been covered on Sunday night. Praise the Lord for that. That’s been a good thing. But Bentley wants to get close to God, and Bentley can’t get over there on his own. But you know what? Jesus—give me a hand. I’m not being weird. Just give me a hand. Jesus brings us close to the Father. Yeah, that’s Jesus. He’s our daysman Job talks about. Yeah, that’s the Father. Thank you guys. Thank you guys. Notice they say, “I ain’t touching each other, though,” you know. They never did.
He’s nigh unto all them that call upon Him, that call upon Him in what? Here’s another point, another point. “Lord, I want to get everything because I want to claim this promise. Tell me something else about it.” Look over in John. We’ve been in John 14. We just mentioned that verse number six. Look over in John 17. John 17.
John 17. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. John 17. And look at verse number 17, John 17:17. I want you to see this. He’s nigh unto all of them that call upon Him in truth. Look at John 17:17. Once you’re there, would you say amen? Amen. John 17:17: “Sanctify them through Thy truth. Thy what?” Thy Word is truth. What’s it mean? His Word. Jesus is the living Word; this is the written Word right here.
Can I say this in a day and time where they say there’s no absolute truth? That is the absolute truth. At the end of the day, we’re not going to be judged by the polls and what political polls and everybody else says. We’re not going to be judged by any of that. We’re going to be judged by that book right there. That is the absolute truth right there. The God that created it all, He’s the owner, the Creator of the universe. That’s His Word, and that is truth right there.
And the Bible says He’s nigh unto all of them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
Now, if you’re trying to get right with God, that can be so helpful because He says in His Word, “If we confess our sins…” Help me out if you know it. “…if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So when I feel dirty because, you know, on my own I am, but I’ve already confessed it about a million times and I don’t feel cleansed, I’m going to go back and I’m going to call upon Him in truth. And the truth says I’m forgiven and cleansed. So I don’t want to go by my heart that condemns me. God’s greater than that. I want to go by His Word, and His Word says I’m cleansed. To all who call upon Him in truth.
What is it said by there in Psalm 119:105? “The Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my…” Do you need a lamp and a light during the light time? In the middle of the day, do you need it? No. When do you need that? When it’s dark. See? And He’s saying, look, those that are—you’re going through a tough time, it’s a dark time, and you’re using His Word to be a lamp and a light, and it’s going to direct your paths and your feet. God says, “I’m nigh to those people like that.” It didn’t say He’s nigh unto someone that’s perfect because nobody’s there, but He’s nigh unto those that call upon Him in the truth. That’s what He’s saying.
Friend, can I just—you don’t have to be perfect; you’re not perfect, but you can be close to Him, or should I say He’s nigh to you, to all them that call upon Him in truth. So important.
Then one last thing, we’re going to be done here. I said, “No, Lord, I want to make sure I can claim this promise because I sure need it, Lord. I’m not where I—sometimes I just feel so close to You, but I don’t feel like that right now. And I’d like to get back to that, Lord.” And boy, this verse, God showed me this verse. I said, “Thank You, Lord. Now I want to make sure I’m applying it like I ought to.” And You said right there, He’s nigh to all of them that call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
Well, that’s Jesus. That’s the Word of God. That’s truth. And then, kind of just very quickly, truth about ourselves. You know, don’t be like the guy. Remember the guy over there, Luke 18?
It’s a parable Jesus is telling. And it’s the Pharisee and the publican that are praying. And the Pharisee, the Bible says a couple things about him. We won’t take time to look it up, but the Pharisee, the Bible says he’s not even really praying. He’s acting like he’s praying, but he’s talking to himself. And he’s like, “Lord, I fast twice in the week.” And then he’s just telling about how good he is, and then he starts talking about, “You know, I praise the Lord, I’m not like so-and-so over there.” And then that other, that publican, he just—he said, “Lord, I’m so messed up.” He didn’t even want to look up. And God said that publican—that’s the guy I heard. Don’t go to God acting like you’re all that, friend.
I’m not trying to be mean, not trying to deflate your ego or whatever it may be, but you’re not all that. He’s all that.
And when you just go to Him humbly and honest, “Lord, I’m coming to You. I’m not all that. I admit it, but Lord, I believe You’re all that.” And You said right there that You’re nigh to all them that call upon You in truth. I want to be just totally honest, vulnerable about my life and what I am and what I’m not. I just want to pour my heart out to You like he says in Psalm 62:8. And I just want to be dead honest with You, Lord. And God says those people right there, I’m nigh to them.
Oh, friend, you’re just coming—in front of everybody, we have a little bit of a facade. But when you go alone with God, learn to pull all that facade down. Just learn to be very open and honest and vulnerable with God.
The Lord says, “I’m nigh unto all of them that call upon Me in truth.” Wow. One last story. We’re going to be done.
Brother Billy Senior raised his hand. Where are you going to get fried chicken from, brother? Zaxby’s, okay, okay. They got a good salad. I may have to be healthy if I go there. Well, okay, they do have good chicken. Forget the salad, right?
Brother Bobby Robertson, he pastored at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown, North Carolina, for forty—I don’t know, fifty—just forever. God used him so, so much, just a man of God. One of my heroes, Brother Bobby. I remember him telling this story, heard him tell his story. When he was a young man—I don’t know if he was pastoring—but a young preacher, he said a professor, if you will, Bob Jones Sr., he had started a Christian university, Bob Jones University. And Bob Jones Sr. was going to come to their area and preach. And Brother Bobby was a young country preacher, never been to Bible College or anything like that. But he said some of us local preachers, we were debating about going to hear this guy. Brother Bob would say this: “Back in the day, we either thought you were either a God-called preacher or you were educated.”
Kind of let that sink in for a little bit. You know, he said that was just that’s what we thought back then. So we were like, “We don’t know if we want to go hear this professor, this guy that started a university. Does he really know God or not?” You know, that type of thought. Well, we’ll go give him a chance. And so they kind of went to hear Bob Jones Sr., one eye on him, type of thing. “Well, I don’t know about this guy.”
And Brother Bobby would always tell this story. He said before he preached, he prayed. And he said during his prayer, he prayed this: He said, “Lord, before I preach, I just need to come and sit in Your lap for a little bit. You’re my Dad. I need to sit in Your lap for a little bit, God. Can I do that before I preach?” And Brother Bobby said he’s the real deal. I won’t listen to that man; he’s the real deal. Because he learned to come to God just in the truth.
The Lord, help me out. Sit with me. It’s verse number 18. Sit with me. Read it if you need it. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.” Jesus, the Word, and the truth about ourselves.
Would you bow your heads and close your eyes? Heads bowed, eyes closed.
You’re there and you say, “Preacher, God spoke to my heart somewhere along the line. Maybe you’re trying to get closer to the Lord. Maybe you don’t feel His presence like you had before. Maybe you’re going through just the rut like we all do. But you said, ‘Well, God spoke to my heart somewhere along the line, and I’m going to claim this promise.’” God spoke to my heart. That’s you this morning. You just lift your hand. Now, “Preacher, God spoke to my heart.” God bless you. God bless you. Oh, I want you to claim this promise. It’s a wonderful promise. It’s for you, friend. If you’re a born-again Christian, it’s for you. God wants you to have it. He gave it to you. I want you to use that when you’re down. I want you to use that when the devil’s on you. I want you to use that when you’re trying to get right with the Lord. Oh, friend, He’s nigh unto all of them, to all who call upon Him in truth.
Maybe you hear this morning, you say, “Preacher, I can’t fully claim that promise because I don’t know that I’m saved. I need to go to Jesus for my salvation.” Friend, this is the most important thing in all the world I’m talking about at this moment here. It’s you going to heaven or to hell forever that hangs in the balance. You’re never going to go to heaven on your own, but if you’re there and you say, “You know, I admit it, I’m a sinner. I believe Jesus died on the cross and rose again, and I want to call on Jesus to save me.” He’ll be nigh, friend. But that’s you. You’ve never put your faith in Jesus to be your Savior. That’s you. Right there where you are, wherever it may be, would you call on Him right now? Would you call? “Jesus, You are the truth. I need You to save me.” It might not be these words, but something like this. You call on Him right now: “Dear Lord, I admit it, I’m a sinner. I understand there’s a penalty on my sin. But I believe You died on the cross for me. And right now, Jesus, I’m asking You, would You be my Savior? Would You be my truth? Would You be kind of like the pastor of those two boys? Would You bring me to the Father, to heaven one day? Thank You, Jesus.”
Our heads are bowed, eyes are closed. You said, “Preacher, I never have, but I just asked Jesus to be my Savior.” You just did that in your heart right there. If you just did that, we just simply slip your hand up. Anybody here just called on Jesus to be my Savior? Anybody like that? Anybody like that? I don’t see any hands. Hey, Christians, bless.
Let’s believe, let’s claim. Let’s take this promise this morning. Would you do that? Let’s stand if you would please. We want to have a word of prayer. You come spend some time with the Lord. You’ll be obedient. Others are already at the altar. If He’s calling you, you come, you’ll be obedient to the Lord. Would you do that?
Father, thank You for this wonderful promise. I sure need it, Lord. Thank You. You’re nigh. I’m so grateful, Lord, even this week. I just hear there and yon. But You’re nigh to all them that call upon You in truth. Thank You for that. Help us to just relish and draw from this promise. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Would you be obedient? The Lord speaks to you, would you be obedient? Lord tugging at your heart, come spend some time. You spend some time where you’re standing. Just draw nigh to Him. He’s there, whether you feel it or not, He’s there. You’re calling upon Him in truth through Jesus, through His Word. You’re honest about yourself. He’s nigh. And the devil can’t stand up to it. So when he tells you, “God’s not close to you,” you’re going to quote it one more time. You got it? You got it? Psalm 145:18. You’re ready? You’re ready if you got it? You need to get your Bible, get your Bible. Can you say it without looking? I’ll probably mess it all up myself. I’m not looking right now. Y’all ready? Here we go. Here we go: “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”
How many of you are going to say that this week? Good, good. It’s God’s Word. Use it all week long. Shoot the devil with it all week. Amen. Make him run away. He’s defeated anyway.
Original File: 2026-06-08 - Pastor Paul Chisgar ＂4 words for you when you don’t feel his presence＂ - Sunday AM 6⧸7⧸2026