Why You Feel So Alone Right Now (And What God Actually Says)

🔗Watch the full livestream here:   / alliancechurchappleton   Why do you feel so alone right now? Most of us, even on our most ordinary day, carry around a quiet fear that we are facing what we are facing by ourselves. And the answer the Bible gives to that fear is one of the most surprising things in all of scripture. In this sermon, Dr. Dennis Episcopo opens our brand new series Counterfeit Kings with the story of a scared, lonely king named Ahaz, three enemy armies marching toward his city, and the prophet God sent to meet him at the waterworks of Jerusalem. The story is in Isaiah 6 and 7. King Ahaz is one of the worst kings in the Bible. He even sacrificed his own son on a pagan altar (2 Kings 16). And yet, when his world is closing in and three nations have lined up against him, God does not abandon him. God sends Isaiah, the greatest preacher of the eighth century, to meet him at the upper pool with one message: you are not alone, but you have to trust me. Dr. Dennis Episcopo unpacks something here that most of us miss. Isaiah brings his son to the meeting. The boy's name is Shear Jashub, which means "a remnant will return." Isaiah is preaching a sermon just by showing up with his child. And then God gives Ahaz a sign that will echo across the next 700 years of history: a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he will be called Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14, fulfilled in Matthew 1). Two children. Two names. One message. You are not alone. Then Dr. Dennis Episcopo turns the corner from ancient history into right now. The message Ahaz needed is the same one a lot of us need today. God is with you in the thing you cannot solve. But you have to trust him, because Isaiah 7:9 also says, "Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm." Faith is the door God invites you to walk through. And here is where the gospel becomes the only thing that has ever actually worked. Most of us look at "just trust Jesus" and call it too simple. But Jesus told his disciples that following him would cost everything: deny yourself, pick up your cross daily, follow me (Luke 9:23). The fruit of a real Christian is self denial, cross bearing, and loyal trust. Imposters will not pay that price. At the cross, the old you gets crucified, and Jesus rises up to live his life through you. That is why Dr. Dennis Episcopo's life verse is Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." If you are exhausted from white knuckling your way through a season that keeps breaking you, this is the message you needed today. If this teaching met you somewhere today, leave a comment with the thing in your life that has been making you feel alone. Like it, share it with someone walking through a hard season, and subscribe to follow the whole series. If you are local to the Fox Valley and looking for a church home, we would love to meet you in person this Sunday in Appleton, Hortonville, or Neenah. 🙏 Thanks for watching! If this message encouraged you, consider liking, subscribing, and sharing it with someone who needs it. 🔔 Don't forget to turn on notifications so you never miss a new message from Alliance Church. 📍 Looking for a church near you? Learn more or plan your visit: https://www.alliancechurch.org/ 📱 Stay connected: Instagram: @alliance_church Facebook: @Alliance Church Website: https://www.alliancechurch.org/ ❤️ Want to support what God is doing through Alliance? Give securely online: https://www.alliancechurch.org/give #AllianceChurch #SundaySermon #BibleTeaching #JesusSaves #ChristianFaith #ChurchOnline #WisconsinChurch #FaithThatMoves #HopeInJesus #SermonSeries #faith #jesus #god #christianity #christian #hope #trust #alone #bible #church #gospel #immanuel