Coming Back, Week 2: The Lonely

Goals of this series:    1.    To see you invite 2 people each week to church. 2.    To see those you invited give their hearts to Jesus.  Title of my message:  The Lonely PLAY SONG    "I have my books and my poetry to protect me. Shielded in my armor, Hiding in my room, Safe within my womb, I touch no one and no one touches me. I am a rock; I am an island."   WHY do we have loneliness? WHO are the lonely? WHAT is the cure to loneliness?  Why all the loneliness?   1.    We are not meeting together. (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—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 2.    Sin propels us into isolation. God creates us with a longing for belonging.  Sin creates within us desperation for isolation. (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. (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.   Who are the lonely?  Divorced On Benefits College Students Single Moms Housewives Elderly What is the cure for loneliness?   1.    Seek out relationships. (Proverbs 18:1) (NKJV) A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. (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. Relationships are all there is.  Everything in the universe only exists because it is in relationship to everything else.  Nothing exists in isolation.  We have to stop pretending we are individuals that can go it alone. –Margaret Wheatley 2.    Serve other people. (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. (Philippians 2:4) (NLT) Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 3.    Stay with the Lord. (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’s mouth. (Jeremiah 3:22) (NLT) “My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the Lord our God.