Slaying the Giants In Your Life Series
"Liberation From Loneliness" 2 of 6
May 5, 2002 FBC, Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
A A recent Gallop poll said 4 out of 10 Americans admit to frequent feelings of intense loneliness.
*The Beatles’s song "Eleanor Rigby" describes Father Mackenzie, a lonely priest, wipes the dust from his hands after a funeral, feeling the emptiness of life..Eleanor Rigby is the lonely church custodian, picks up the rice from the sanctuary floor after people’s wedding and "lives in a dream." These two lost souls have gone their lives almost elbow to elbow, inhabiting the same world without connecting-until one buries the other.
a Adults handle their loneliness food, drugs, strained relationships, move, churches, jobs......
b Teens handle their loneliness is different ways....Suicide/Kill others.
*Last Week in Erfurt, Germany
Robert Steinhaueser (19 year old gun enthusiast went to his school and killed 13 teachers (1/3 the faculty), 2 students and a policemen before he turned his 9mm Glock on himself.
*The chief investigator said, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,51322,00.html
He said Steinhaeuser’s mother told police she had not noticed any unusual behavior in her son, described by officials and acquaintances as a loner with few, if any, close friends.
Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado 3 years ago...Eric Harris/Dylan Kleighbolt
*Killed 12 students and themselves. Harris kept a diary....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,40146,00.html
The journal entries flesh out the picture of Harris as a teen who felt excluded by other kids and frustrated with women.
"I hate you people for leaving me out of so many fun things," he wrote. "You people had my phone #, and I asked and all, but no no no no no don’t let the weird looking Eric kid come along."
B Loneliness isn’t a sin-it’s a by-product of being human. (We are made in God’s likeness. Why did He make us? He wanted our fellowship.
a Loneliness becomes a sin when...chose to indulge in it, posses us and ruins our lives, ignore the biblical prescription for it. (Oh yes, the bible talks about loneliness.)
King David: Ps. 102:3, 6-7, 142:4 (If a man like King David-A man after God’s own heart can be lonely...I don’t feel near as bad about my loneliness.)
The Apostle Paul: Started countless missionary churches, spoke multiple languages, well educated, went everywhere, knew everyone, wrote the greatest theological treatise in the book of Romans. Senior Adult/Single......2 Timothy 4:9-11, 16
*Paul felt the icy chill of loneliness. He may be THE Apostle Paul...but he knows your pain.
*I hope you’ll help alleviate the epidemic of loneliness. (Objective)
*What are you doing to stop loneliness? (Probing Question)
*There is a biblical prescription for loneliness. Let’s look!
The Prescription for Loneliness
A Acknowledge the reality of your loneliness.
a Loneliness isn’t a sin. (Let no one tell you it is!!)
b Some pious crispy may tell you different. Give you pious answer #437 "Christians are never alone. The bible says "And lo I am with you, even to the end of the world."
*Loneliness happens. Acknowledge the reality of it. (King Dave/ Paul)
B Accept God’s provision for your loneliness.
a Why did Jesus die on a cross? (Co. 1:21/22) COL 1:21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. [22] But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation–
So we could have Eternal Fellowship with God!
b ONLY God can fully cure your loneliness. (We had a DVD player, took it back to Wal-Mart, they said they had to sent it back to the original manufacturer.)
*You can see counselors, therapists, friends, family, pastors....fine. May help.
*To really fix/cure loneliness, you must go to your original manufacturer and He ALONE can truly fix your long term loneliness.
C Allow God’s Word to fill you.
a The bible has been read for thousands of years, by millions of people...it will sooth and encourage you.
b Two key verses: Ps. 27:10, Heb. 13:5-6
PS 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
Heb. 13:5-6
[5] Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 6 So we say with confidence,"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
*These aren’t all the verses...but they are enough to keep your batteries charged!
*If your lonely, RUN don’t walk to the Word the God. Read it!!!
D Activate your network of Christian Friends. (I John 1:7)
[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
a Christian individualism is an oxymoron. (Simon & Garfunkel sang "I am a rock, I am an island.) The bible says Jesus is the Rock and I (nor any of you) have to be an island all to ourselves. (If we do..it is by choice!)
b You are a part of a church (saints). Join a Sunday School class, Wednesday night prayer/bible study, Men’s Prayer Group, Choir, Wednesday night meals,....volunteer for a ministry.
PR 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
To have friends, be a friend.
Conclusion:
A We all experience bouts of being alone, loneliness. Long-term loneliness is a choice.
a Acknowledge your loneliness (It happens), Accept God’s provision (Cross)
b Allow God’s Word to fill you (Re-charge), Activate your network of Christian friends
B I hope you’ll help alleviate the epidemic of loneliness.
a So far I’ve put all the initiative on the shoulders of the person who is lonely .....
b We should also be on the look out for those who are lonely to lift them up.
*A Japanese sculptor came to America with a unique twist on his art. At his exhibit, each state had a small sign that read, "Please touch." He literally wanted people to feel his art.
*Were use to "Don’t touch, Don’t Enter"
*We are surrounded by people who want to be touched, noticed.
*They don’t have sign around their neck that says "please touch", but be certain most people are hungry for the touch of a friend.
C What are we doing to stop loneliness? (Our & Others)
a During the summer of 1995, Chicago experienced a horribly hot summer.
*Hundreds of people died due to the heat. Tragically, 41 people died without seemingly a trace of family or friends.
*After all of the contacts had been made, 41 people were buried in a mass grave because nobody came forward to claim their remains.
*Let’s not people around die in a vacuum..in isolation....in loneliness.
*About 8 weeks ago I was called to do a funeral...and Mike McClure, his hired man Dave and myself were the only ones who showed up.
b What are we doing to stop loneliness?
*Reach out. Reach in.
