BROADCASTS.com

Published: March 24, 2013, 9:46 p.m.

\n

Goals of this series:\xa0

\n

\xa0

\n

1.\xa0\xa0\xa0 To see you invite 2 people each week to church.

\n

\n

2.\xa0\xa0\xa0 To see those you invited give their hearts to Jesus.

\n

\n

\xa0Title of my message:\xa0 The Lonely

\n

\n

PLAY SONG\xa0

\n

\xa0

\n

"I have my books and my poetry to protect me.

\n

\n

Shielded in my armor, Hiding in my room, Safe within my womb,

\n

\n

I touch no one and no one touches me. I am a rock; I am an island."

\n

\n

\xa0
WHY do we have loneliness?

\n

\n

WHO are the lonely?

\n

\n

WHAT is the cure to loneliness?

\n

\n

\xa0Why all the loneliness?

\n

\n

\xa0

\n

1.\xa0\xa0\xa0 We are not meeting together.

\n

\n

(Hebrews 10:24-25) (NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another\u2014and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

\n

\n

2.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Sin propels us into isolation.

\n

\n

God creates us with a longing for belonging.\xa0

\n

\n

Sin creates within us desperation for isolation.

\n

\n

(Genesis 3:8) Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

\n

(Psalm 68:6) (NCV) God gives the lonely a home. He leads prisoners out with joy, but those who turn against God will live in a dry land.

\n

\xa0

\n

Who are the lonely?\xa0

\n

\n

Divorced

\n

\n

On Benefits

\n

\n

College Students

\n

\n

Single Moms

\n

\n

Housewives

\n

\n

Elderly

\n

\n

What is the cure for loneliness?

\n

\xa0

\n

1.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Seek out relationships.

\n

\n

(Proverbs 18:1) (NKJV) A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

\n

(2 Timothy 4:9-11) (NLT) Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.

\n

\n

Relationships are all there is.\xa0 Everything in the universe only exists because it is in relationship to everything else.\xa0 Nothing exists in isolation.\xa0 We have to stop pretending we are individuals that can go it alone. \u2013Margaret Wheatley

\n

\n

2.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Serve other people.

\n

\n

(2 Timothy 4:13) (NLT) When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers.

\n

\n

(Philippians 2:4) (NLT) Don\u2019t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

\n

\n

3.\xa0\xa0\xa0 Stay with the Lord.

\n

\n

(2 Timothy 4:16-17) (NCV) The first time I defended myself, no one helped me; everyone left me. May they be forgiven. But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength so I could fully tell the Good News to all those who are not Jews. So I was saved from the lion\u2019s mouth.

\n

\n

\n

(Jeremiah 3:22) (NLT) \u201cMy wayward children,\u201d says the Lord, \u201ccome back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.\u201d \u201cYes, we\u2019re coming,\u201d the people reply, \u201cfor you are the Lord our God.

\n

\xa0