1 00:00:01,145 --> 00:00:05,493 You know the thing about this subject 2 00:00:05,493 --> 00:00:07,255 is that you all can relate. 3 00:00:07,255 --> 00:00:10,009 Well, wait, is there anybody here that can't relate? 4 00:00:10,009 --> 00:00:15,004 Is there anybody here that's never experienced loneliness? 5 00:00:15,004 --> 00:00:18,595 Nobody's raised a hand. 6 00:00:18,595 --> 00:00:20,788 So, ok, if you've all experienced it, 7 00:00:20,788 --> 00:00:27,044 define it for me. 8 00:00:27,044 --> 00:00:30,045 Lack of companionship. 9 00:00:30,045 --> 00:00:44,276 Now, is lack of companionship loneliness? 10 00:00:44,276 --> 00:00:46,799 Not necessarily. 11 00:00:46,799 --> 00:00:49,222 Is it related? 12 00:00:49,222 --> 00:00:53,952 It's related. 13 00:00:53,952 --> 00:00:56,932 Or is it that loneliness may have 14 00:00:56,932 --> 00:00:59,800 different types of meaning? 15 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,213 Like I was thinking, 16 00:01:01,213 --> 00:01:04,438 some of you that have ever read Tolkien, 17 00:01:04,438 --> 00:01:07,213 you may remember a "lonely mountain." 18 00:01:07,213 --> 00:01:12,480 What does "lonely mountain" mean? 19 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,463 It's by itself. 20 00:01:14,463 --> 00:01:16,499 Have you ever - some of you maybe, 21 00:01:16,499 --> 00:01:18,704 perhaps have seen the message 22 00:01:18,704 --> 00:01:20,733 that Charles Leiter did 23 00:01:20,733 --> 00:01:23,786 on the loneliness of Christ? 24 00:01:23,786 --> 00:01:29,083 Have any of you ever seen that message? 25 00:01:29,083 --> 00:01:30,874 What do you think he meant by that? 26 00:01:30,874 --> 00:01:34,107 If you've listened to it, where did Charles go with that message? 27 00:01:34,107 --> 00:01:39,688 What did he mean by the loneliness of Christ? 28 00:01:39,688 --> 00:01:45,586 Maybe right in line with what Ken just said. 29 00:01:45,586 --> 00:01:48,234 No companionship. 30 00:01:48,234 --> 00:01:52,606 How did Christ not have companionship? 31 00:01:52,606 --> 00:01:58,821 I mean in what way was He void? 32 00:01:58,821 --> 00:02:05,521 How was Christ lonely? 33 00:02:05,521 --> 00:02:08,089 There's nobody who could be sympathetic with Him, 34 00:02:08,089 --> 00:02:09,918 because nobody else was like Him. 35 00:02:09,918 --> 00:02:13,140 Nobody else was headed down a road - 36 00:02:13,140 --> 00:02:15,037 you remember when He's trying to tell 37 00:02:15,037 --> 00:02:16,650 His disciples about the fact 38 00:02:16,650 --> 00:02:18,279 that He was going to Jerusalem 39 00:02:18,279 --> 00:02:21,376 and there, He was going to suffer for sin. 40 00:02:21,376 --> 00:02:26,153 What were they doing? 41 00:02:26,153 --> 00:02:28,905 They were arguing about who was going to be the greatest. 42 00:02:28,905 --> 00:02:30,224 When He's in the garden 43 00:02:30,224 --> 00:02:32,230 sweating great drops of blood, 44 00:02:32,230 --> 00:02:34,535 what are they doing? 45 00:02:34,535 --> 00:02:37,905 They're barely able to stay awake. 46 00:02:37,905 --> 00:02:43,686 The idea was that He had nobody sympathetic. 47 00:02:43,686 --> 00:02:49,167 He was alone with regards to anybody else 48 00:02:49,167 --> 00:02:52,530 who could identify with His situation. 49 00:02:52,530 --> 00:02:56,451 Now, typically, when we think about loneliness, 50 00:02:56,451 --> 00:02:58,239 what are we thinking about? 51 00:02:58,239 --> 00:02:59,604 Are we thinking about: 52 00:02:59,604 --> 00:03:03,699 there is nobody else who can identify with me? 53 00:03:03,699 --> 00:03:05,307 Perhaps. 54 00:03:05,307 --> 00:03:12,079 But what do we typically mean by loneliness? 55 00:03:12,079 --> 00:03:15,083 (from the room) Lack of attention? 56 00:03:15,083 --> 00:03:16,156 Tim: Maybe. 57 00:03:16,156 --> 00:03:17,468 But I can tell you this, 58 00:03:17,468 --> 00:03:18,926 there are people in this world 59 00:03:18,926 --> 00:03:21,614 who we might call "loners," 60 00:03:21,614 --> 00:03:23,980 who like to be alone, 61 00:03:23,980 --> 00:03:27,614 and when they're out watching the sunset - 62 00:03:27,614 --> 00:03:29,977 I mean, there's lots of times I can remember 63 00:03:29,977 --> 00:03:34,124 growing up and being in the woods hunting 64 00:03:34,124 --> 00:03:35,897 all by myself - 65 00:03:35,897 --> 00:03:39,083 maybe a few creatures of God's making 66 00:03:39,083 --> 00:03:42,753 are roaming around out there. 67 00:03:42,753 --> 00:03:47,842 But I'm far outside of earshot 68 00:03:47,842 --> 00:03:52,378 of any human being besides myself. 69 00:03:52,378 --> 00:03:54,779 And I didn't feel lonely. 70 00:03:54,779 --> 00:03:58,142 And yet there are people who are married, 71 00:03:58,142 --> 00:04:00,123 and yet they feel lonely. 72 00:04:00,123 --> 00:04:03,305 There are people in a crowd - 73 00:04:03,305 --> 00:04:08,560 you can have somebody go to a fellowship 74 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,273 and experience loneliness. 75 00:04:11,273 --> 00:04:12,759 So what do we mean? 76 00:04:12,759 --> 00:04:17,275 What happens when we feel lonely? 77 00:04:17,275 --> 00:04:20,028 Notice that. Notice the word I'm saying there. 78 00:04:20,028 --> 00:04:22,463 We feel. 79 00:04:22,463 --> 00:04:24,799 It's got to do with how we feel 80 00:04:24,799 --> 00:04:27,279 so much of the time. 81 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,802 It's subjective. 82 00:04:29,802 --> 00:04:31,733 Right? Loneliness is subjective. 83 00:04:31,733 --> 00:04:33,052 You can take a person 84 00:04:33,052 --> 00:04:35,045 and put them out in a barren place 85 00:04:35,045 --> 00:04:37,706 and they don't feel lonely. 86 00:04:37,706 --> 00:04:41,155 And you can put them in a crowd 87 00:04:41,155 --> 00:04:43,632 and a person can feel lonely. 88 00:04:43,632 --> 00:04:45,254 It doesn't have to do with whether 89 00:04:45,254 --> 00:04:47,595 they're among people or not among people. 90 00:04:47,595 --> 00:04:52,806 Now, it can be related to that undoubtedly. 91 00:04:52,806 --> 00:04:54,187 The loneliness of Christ - 92 00:04:54,187 --> 00:04:56,734 nobody was able to sympathize. 93 00:04:56,734 --> 00:04:58,353 Alone. 94 00:04:58,353 --> 00:05:01,944 There's an idea where you don't have 95 00:05:01,944 --> 00:05:03,102 somebody sympathetic, 96 00:05:03,102 --> 00:05:05,764 and there can be a loneliness in that sense 97 00:05:05,764 --> 00:05:07,867 that nobody else can identify 98 00:05:07,867 --> 00:05:09,887 with the situation that I'm in. 99 00:05:09,887 --> 00:05:13,846 And there's definitely a connection 100 00:05:13,846 --> 00:05:19,421 with the kind of loneliness that we feel. 101 00:05:19,421 --> 00:05:21,970 We can feel like there's nobody 102 00:05:21,970 --> 00:05:24,283 to communicate with; 103 00:05:24,283 --> 00:05:26,614 there's nobody to get close with; 104 00:05:26,614 --> 00:05:28,438 there's nobody to fellowship with; 105 00:05:28,438 --> 00:05:30,810 there's no companionship. 106 00:05:30,810 --> 00:05:33,048 There was no companion of Christ 107 00:05:33,048 --> 00:05:35,539 that was His equal or that could sympathize 108 00:05:35,539 --> 00:05:37,480 or that knew what He was going through. 109 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,093 There was nobody for Him to relate to. 110 00:05:40,093 --> 00:05:41,168 That's the idea. 111 00:05:41,168 --> 00:05:43,729 And loneliness is that. We feel that. 112 00:05:43,729 --> 00:05:45,703 A wife can feel lonely even though 113 00:05:45,703 --> 00:05:47,265 she's married to a man. 114 00:05:47,265 --> 00:05:49,406 Why? Because she feels distant. 115 00:05:49,406 --> 00:05:51,788 She feels like there's no communication. 116 00:05:51,788 --> 00:05:54,836 She feels like there's no companionship there. 117 00:05:54,836 --> 00:05:57,602 Isn't it amazing? God made us social. 118 00:05:57,602 --> 00:06:00,032 Have you ever thought about how amazing it is 119 00:06:00,032 --> 00:06:04,351 that we can even feel lonely? 120 00:06:04,351 --> 00:06:06,778 We can feel that. 121 00:06:06,778 --> 00:06:08,506 God made us that way. 122 00:06:08,506 --> 00:06:14,135 God made us social creatures. 123 00:06:14,135 --> 00:06:17,074 I doubt that there's a loner 124 00:06:17,074 --> 00:06:18,346 on the face of this earth 125 00:06:18,346 --> 00:06:25,485 that truly desires to be isolated 126 00:06:25,485 --> 00:06:29,112 and exclusively without any interaction 127 00:06:29,112 --> 00:06:32,996 with other people. 128 00:06:32,996 --> 00:06:35,402 Now they may say it. 129 00:06:35,402 --> 00:06:37,214 They're trying ot protect themselves. 130 00:06:37,214 --> 00:06:38,584 They may say they like it, 131 00:06:38,584 --> 00:06:41,274 but I don't think there's anybody that really likes it. 132 00:06:41,274 --> 00:06:44,282 I believe God has made us social. 133 00:06:44,282 --> 00:06:46,292 Because the greatest loner in here 134 00:06:46,292 --> 00:06:48,588 didn't raise his hand when I asked 135 00:06:48,588 --> 00:06:51,471 if there was anybody who's ever felt loneliness 136 00:06:51,471 --> 00:06:52,746 or hasn't felt it. 137 00:06:52,746 --> 00:06:54,068 Nobody raised their hand. 138 00:06:54,068 --> 00:06:57,739 Now maybe somebody's not just wanting to be 139 00:06:57,739 --> 00:06:59,645 brought to attention here, 140 00:06:59,645 --> 00:07:01,846 but I think the reason nobody raised your hand 141 00:07:01,846 --> 00:07:03,520 is because you're all being honest. 142 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,344 You've all experienced loneliness. 143 00:07:05,344 --> 00:07:08,552 And the thing about it is 144 00:07:08,552 --> 00:07:16,049 it can be one of the sorest trials 145 00:07:16,049 --> 00:07:19,141 that God can put His people to. 146 00:07:19,141 --> 00:07:23,848 Loneliness can be a trial 147 00:07:23,848 --> 00:07:27,579 of immense proportion. 148 00:07:27,579 --> 00:07:32,342 And so I want us to talk about loneliness tonight. 149 00:07:32,342 --> 00:07:37,819 How do we deal with it? 150 00:07:37,819 --> 00:07:41,516 How do we deal with it if we're the one feeling lonely? 151 00:07:41,516 --> 00:07:45,759 How do we help others who are feeling lonely? 152 00:07:45,759 --> 00:07:48,863 Let me ask this. 153 00:07:48,863 --> 00:07:58,670 What is it that truly ministers to loneliness? 154 00:07:58,670 --> 00:08:01,714 Because you can be in a crowd and be lonely. 155 00:08:01,714 --> 00:08:03,885 You can be married and have kids 156 00:08:03,885 --> 00:08:06,824 and be lonely. 157 00:08:06,824 --> 00:08:12,543 So what is it that really ministers to loneliness? 158 00:08:12,543 --> 00:08:16,209 What ministers to it? 159 00:08:16,209 --> 00:08:18,869 Tell me from your own experience. 160 00:08:18,869 --> 00:08:22,291 Everybody here is admitting to having felt 161 00:08:22,291 --> 00:08:25,005 and experienced the difficulty, 162 00:08:25,005 --> 00:08:27,039 the trial of loneliness. 163 00:08:27,039 --> 00:08:31,625 What is it that actually helps? 164 00:08:31,625 --> 00:08:33,745 What is it that alleviates it? 165 00:08:33,745 --> 00:08:38,526 What is it that causes it to go away? 166 00:08:38,526 --> 00:08:40,909 A listening ear. 167 00:08:40,909 --> 00:08:44,656 So somebody willing to invest time in you. 168 00:08:44,656 --> 00:08:45,792 Quality time. 169 00:08:45,792 --> 00:08:47,949 Because to have a listening ear 170 00:08:47,949 --> 00:08:50,520 means what? 171 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:54,464 What does a listening ear indicate? 172 00:08:54,464 --> 00:08:57,594 What does it communicate? 173 00:08:57,594 --> 00:09:01,768 You're willing to carry their burden. 174 00:09:01,768 --> 00:09:03,814 Somebody cares. 175 00:09:03,814 --> 00:09:07,555 So it's got to do with relationship on that level, right? 176 00:09:07,555 --> 00:09:10,085 That somebody actually comes along 177 00:09:10,085 --> 00:09:12,355 who shows you that they care. 178 00:09:12,355 --> 00:09:15,073 So in other words, bodily presence 179 00:09:15,073 --> 00:09:18,655 doesn't make loneliness go away necessarily. 180 00:09:18,655 --> 00:09:20,494 It's somebody who cares. 181 00:09:20,494 --> 00:09:22,333 It's somebody who loves you. 182 00:09:22,333 --> 00:09:25,417 It's somebody who invests in your life. 183 00:09:25,417 --> 00:09:26,914 Right? 184 00:09:26,914 --> 00:09:29,473 Somebody you know who's thinking about you. 185 00:09:29,473 --> 00:09:30,853 I mean, my wife likes that. 186 00:09:30,853 --> 00:09:34,279 She just likes to know I'm thinking about her 187 00:09:34,279 --> 00:09:38,873 when I'm not with her. 188 00:09:38,873 --> 00:09:44,017 Because isn't there a loneliness in that? 189 00:09:44,017 --> 00:09:50,566 I was just heading out the door today 190 00:09:50,566 --> 00:09:53,392 and Letty and Jordan were walking by. 191 00:09:53,392 --> 00:09:56,784 And I was telling them about when I was 192 00:09:56,784 --> 00:10:00,013 just down in Corpus Christi on Saturday night. 193 00:10:00,013 --> 00:10:04,592 I mean, some of the most hellish things 194 00:10:04,592 --> 00:10:07,863 were bombarding me when I was down there. 195 00:10:07,863 --> 00:10:13,192 And the thought crossed my mind: 196 00:10:13,192 --> 00:10:19,501 Oh no, I wonder if nobody's praying for me. 197 00:10:19,501 --> 00:10:21,402 And then today I looked at all my emails 198 00:10:21,402 --> 00:10:24,419 and it was interesting how many of the people - 199 00:10:24,419 --> 00:10:28,304 I had bunches of emails from being gone 200 00:10:28,304 --> 00:10:30,717 over the weekend - and how many 201 00:10:30,717 --> 00:10:34,364 of the people said they were praying for me. 202 00:10:34,364 --> 00:10:36,994 That matters. 203 00:10:36,994 --> 00:10:38,823 To know people are thinking about you; 204 00:10:38,823 --> 00:10:40,383 to know that people love you; 205 00:10:40,383 --> 00:10:41,941 to know that people are willing 206 00:10:41,941 --> 00:10:47,819 to lend that ear or to invest or they care. 207 00:10:47,819 --> 00:10:49,625 I mean, can you imagine people 208 00:10:49,625 --> 00:10:51,794 behind the scenes - like the Apostle Paul 209 00:10:51,794 --> 00:10:53,759 who you knew were willing to be 210 00:10:53,759 --> 00:10:56,567 thrown into hell for you? 211 00:10:56,567 --> 00:10:57,843 He wished himself accursed 212 00:10:57,843 --> 00:11:01,756 and cut off from Christ. 213 00:11:01,756 --> 00:11:06,465 There's something about that. 214 00:11:06,465 --> 00:11:11,125 Loneliness - so much goes hand in hand 215 00:11:11,125 --> 00:11:18,319 with just feeling that you're forgotten. 216 00:11:18,319 --> 00:11:19,684 Right? 217 00:11:19,684 --> 00:11:21,136 Nobody's thinking about you. 218 00:11:21,136 --> 00:11:23,180 To have that feeling - 219 00:11:23,180 --> 00:11:29,929 nobody really cares about me. 220 00:11:29,929 --> 00:11:37,262 But now let's make a connection here 221 00:11:37,262 --> 00:11:51,318 that as a Christian, is that true? 222 00:11:51,318 --> 00:11:55,626 "For He careth for you..." 223 00:11:55,626 --> 00:11:57,291 You know, during those three years 224 00:11:57,291 --> 00:11:58,839 that I was single, 225 00:11:58,839 --> 00:12:01,487 although loneliness was probably 226 00:12:01,487 --> 00:12:03,292 the most bitter trial that I endured 227 00:12:03,292 --> 00:12:04,607 through those three years, 228 00:12:04,607 --> 00:12:06,507 and the sharpest loneliness 229 00:12:06,507 --> 00:12:08,703 that I have experienced in almost 230 00:12:08,703 --> 00:12:12,790 the 25 years that I've been a Christian - 231 00:12:12,790 --> 00:12:16,272 I also had seasons of the greatest 232 00:12:16,272 --> 00:12:20,780 closeness to Christ. 233 00:12:20,780 --> 00:12:22,356 And there's nothing comparable. 234 00:12:22,356 --> 00:12:26,818 No relationship in this world can compare to that. 235 00:12:26,818 --> 00:12:29,022 And here's one of the things. 236 00:12:29,022 --> 00:12:31,149 As much as I want to stress 237 00:12:31,149 --> 00:12:34,768 that we need to have our eyes open 238 00:12:34,768 --> 00:12:36,950 to those who are lonely, 239 00:12:36,950 --> 00:12:39,364 and seek to minister - 240 00:12:39,364 --> 00:12:40,621 like I know James, 241 00:12:40,621 --> 00:12:42,815 I can see him right ahead of me - 242 00:12:42,815 --> 00:12:45,234 but I know James went and got married. 243 00:12:45,237 --> 00:12:47,642 He knew what the single life was like. 244 00:12:47,642 --> 00:12:49,769 He went and got married. 245 00:12:49,769 --> 00:12:51,697 And on a regular basis now, 246 00:12:51,697 --> 00:12:53,732 they're having people over to their house 247 00:12:53,732 --> 00:12:55,375 and they're showing hospitality. 248 00:12:55,375 --> 00:12:57,934 You know if you've come through those lonely years 249 00:12:57,934 --> 00:13:00,001 that's a good way to respond. 250 00:13:00,001 --> 00:13:01,437 We need to be mindful. 251 00:13:01,437 --> 00:13:04,253 We need to be thinking about 252 00:13:04,253 --> 00:13:07,245 who those are that will be lonely 253 00:13:07,245 --> 00:13:08,731 and help to bear the burden; 254 00:13:08,731 --> 00:13:12,350 help to come in and alleviate that loneliness. 255 00:13:12,350 --> 00:13:14,372 Remember, love is going to do that. 256 00:13:14,372 --> 00:13:15,762 Love is going to treat others 257 00:13:15,762 --> 00:13:17,845 the way it wants to be treated. 258 00:13:17,845 --> 00:13:20,475 And because you've all experienced loneliness, 259 00:13:20,475 --> 00:13:23,764 I just want to say this. 260 00:13:23,764 --> 00:13:28,422 There is a real tendency to the self-pity 261 00:13:28,422 --> 00:13:30,547 I think that Martha brought up. 262 00:13:30,547 --> 00:13:32,525 You know what happens? 263 00:13:32,525 --> 00:13:35,532 I can remember this. 264 00:13:35,532 --> 00:13:38,695 I can remember that one of the young people in the church, 265 00:13:38,695 --> 00:13:40,452 he was feeling lonely. 266 00:13:40,452 --> 00:13:42,750 He was feeling self-pity. 267 00:13:42,750 --> 00:13:46,719 He got sick. 268 00:13:46,719 --> 00:13:48,459 And he went and spent time 269 00:13:48,459 --> 00:13:53,991 with his former girlfriend who's lost. 270 00:13:53,991 --> 00:13:59,098 I said, brother, what are you doing? 271 00:13:59,098 --> 00:14:02,021 He said well, nobody in the church 272 00:14:02,021 --> 00:14:05,083 ever made soup for me 273 00:14:05,083 --> 00:14:07,909 when I got sick. 274 00:14:07,909 --> 00:14:10,109 And I said to him, brother, 275 00:14:10,109 --> 00:14:12,106 when's the last time you made soup 276 00:14:12,106 --> 00:14:14,505 for anybody in the church? 277 00:14:14,505 --> 00:14:15,981 He never had. 278 00:14:15,981 --> 00:14:18,167 And you know one of the problems 279 00:14:18,167 --> 00:14:19,651 that can happen especially when 280 00:14:19,651 --> 00:14:25,932 we have a church full of single people? 281 00:14:25,932 --> 00:14:30,785 Not exclusively, but lots of single people? 282 00:14:30,785 --> 00:14:33,409 Is you can get all the single people 283 00:14:33,409 --> 00:14:37,547 on a self-pity binge 284 00:14:37,547 --> 00:14:40,034 where nobody's thinking about anybody else 285 00:14:40,034 --> 00:14:41,323 because they're thinking: 286 00:14:41,323 --> 00:14:42,976 I'm lonely. Woe is me. 287 00:14:42,976 --> 00:14:46,495 And you're going along and you're thinking about 288 00:14:46,495 --> 00:14:50,676 what other people don't do for you, 289 00:14:50,676 --> 00:14:52,893 when probably one of the greatest ways 290 00:14:52,893 --> 00:14:56,358 out of loneliness is not to wait 291 00:14:56,358 --> 00:14:58,663 for other people to come along to you. 292 00:14:58,663 --> 00:15:00,601 Now, they should. 293 00:15:00,601 --> 00:15:02,723 We do have a responsibility to one another 294 00:15:02,723 --> 00:15:04,732 and we need to be seeking out one another. 295 00:15:04,732 --> 00:15:07,166 But if you're in a situation where you're lonely, 296 00:15:07,166 --> 00:15:12,384 rather than allowing self-pity 297 00:15:12,384 --> 00:15:14,036 to rule the day, 298 00:15:14,036 --> 00:15:17,274 take that loneliness - 299 00:15:17,274 --> 00:15:18,988 much the way Ruby and I can 300 00:15:18,988 --> 00:15:25,153 remembering back - 301 00:15:25,153 --> 00:15:27,765 and we're not in a good place, I know, 302 00:15:27,765 --> 00:15:30,666 with regards to the hospitality thing. 303 00:15:30,666 --> 00:15:32,991 But I'm hoping, Lord willing, 304 00:15:32,991 --> 00:15:36,127 my responsibilities in Austin are going to be alleviated 305 00:15:36,127 --> 00:15:37,877 and I'm hoping that Thursday nights 306 00:15:37,877 --> 00:15:39,465 are going to very quickly become 307 00:15:39,465 --> 00:15:42,226 one of our nights that we can 308 00:15:42,226 --> 00:15:46,447 begin to reach out to people more that way. 309 00:15:46,447 --> 00:15:49,497 But, I just want you single people to be thinking 310 00:15:49,497 --> 00:15:52,064 that if you know loneliness, 311 00:15:52,064 --> 00:15:54,062 you've experienced loneliness, 312 00:15:54,062 --> 00:15:56,215 don't let that hurt; 313 00:15:56,215 --> 00:16:00,726 don't let that experience drive you 314 00:16:00,726 --> 00:16:03,801 into the realms of self-pity. 315 00:16:03,801 --> 00:16:10,230 Let it drive you to show compassion to others. 316 00:16:10,230 --> 00:16:15,357 Let it drive you in feeling your own pain from it 317 00:16:15,357 --> 00:16:18,189 to go do what this guy didn't do. 318 00:16:18,189 --> 00:16:20,183 I mean, rather than feeling the self-pity 319 00:16:20,183 --> 00:16:23,504 that no member of the church ever made him soup, 320 00:16:23,504 --> 00:16:28,944 let it be a trigger in your own mind: 321 00:16:28,944 --> 00:16:30,559 I ought to make soup for people 322 00:16:30,559 --> 00:16:33,833 when they get sick. 323 00:16:33,833 --> 00:16:38,755 You might find that the visitations 324 00:16:38,755 --> 00:16:40,920 that you receive from Christ 325 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,582 in the midst of keeping His commandments 326 00:16:43,582 --> 00:16:47,348 very much akin to like John 14:23 327 00:16:47,348 --> 00:16:49,833 when He's talking about manifesting Himself; 328 00:16:49,833 --> 00:16:55,472 making His abode (v. 21, 23 there in John 14). 329 00:16:55,472 --> 00:16:57,432 But what's it connected with? 330 00:16:57,432 --> 00:16:59,140 Keeping His commandments. 331 00:16:59,140 --> 00:17:01,063 It's doing the things that please Him. 332 00:17:01,063 --> 00:17:02,440 Do you think it pleases Him 333 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,389 when we pour out ourselves for others? 334 00:17:04,389 --> 00:17:07,563 Do you think He's likely to fill your cup 335 00:17:07,563 --> 00:17:09,225 so that you can minister to others 336 00:17:09,225 --> 00:17:11,779 as you're seeking to pour yourself out for others? 337 00:17:11,779 --> 00:17:15,158 Certainly, we have promises all through the Scriptures like that. 338 00:17:15,158 --> 00:17:17,497 And see, the thing is we can react 339 00:17:17,497 --> 00:17:21,035 to our loneliness in a wrong way. 340 00:17:21,035 --> 00:17:23,415 "Woe is me." 341 00:17:23,415 --> 00:17:25,297 We can react that way. 342 00:17:25,297 --> 00:17:27,107 And we can even deepen that loneliness 343 00:17:27,107 --> 00:17:29,215 by feeling like nobody else can sympathize. 344 00:17:29,215 --> 00:17:30,542 And look at everybody else. 345 00:17:30,542 --> 00:17:33,592 Everybody else gets this or everybody else gets that. 346 00:17:33,592 --> 00:17:35,043 Nobody's doing this for me 347 00:17:35,043 --> 00:17:36,766 and God hasn't given this to me. 348 00:17:36,766 --> 00:17:40,802 And we can compound it with self-pity. 349 00:17:40,802 --> 00:17:45,330 But that's not the way to respond. 350 00:17:45,330 --> 00:17:50,991 You see, Paul talked about comfort; 351 00:17:50,991 --> 00:17:53,927 being comforted. 352 00:17:53,927 --> 00:17:56,941 I think we can comfort one another, 353 00:17:56,941 --> 00:17:58,802 and as we comfort one another, 354 00:17:58,802 --> 00:18:01,435 I think we can expect and experience 355 00:18:01,435 --> 00:18:04,073 the comfort that comes from the Lord. 356 00:18:04,073 --> 00:18:05,835 And as He comforts us 357 00:18:05,835 --> 00:18:07,578 and He comes visit us, 358 00:18:07,578 --> 00:18:09,818 we can again in turn seek to comfort 359 00:18:09,818 --> 00:18:11,567 others with the comfort whereby 360 00:18:11,567 --> 00:18:13,036 He's comforted us. 361 00:18:13,036 --> 00:18:14,920 We're learning - constantly learning 362 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:23,540 and pouring ourselves out that way. 363 00:18:23,540 --> 00:18:31,268 Have any of you actually been 364 00:18:31,268 --> 00:18:38,532 in a situation where you're experiencing loneliness, 365 00:18:38,532 --> 00:18:44,418 and other than somebody coming along 366 00:18:44,418 --> 00:18:47,507 and spending time with you, 367 00:18:47,507 --> 00:18:48,719 lending you an ear - 368 00:18:48,719 --> 00:18:50,597 which that's good and we need to be 369 00:18:50,597 --> 00:18:52,761 ministering to one another in that way. 370 00:18:52,761 --> 00:18:54,984 But let me ask you this. 371 00:18:54,984 --> 00:18:58,743 Have any of you experienced loneliness 372 00:18:58,743 --> 00:19:03,771 and ever had somebody speak truth 373 00:19:03,771 --> 00:19:08,185 to you in a way and biblically whereby 374 00:19:08,185 --> 00:19:13,445 you found your loneliness dispelled? 375 00:19:13,445 --> 00:19:16,447 Is there any truth that's helped any of you 376 00:19:16,447 --> 00:19:17,829 in the midst of loneliness? 377 00:19:17,829 --> 00:19:19,187 (from the room) 378 00:19:19,187 --> 00:19:23,406 I've been going through loneliness in the past year. 379 00:19:23,406 --> 00:19:27,017 And a passage that's helped me is 1 Corinthians 7:35. 380 00:19:27,017 --> 00:19:43,044 (unintelligible) 381 00:19:43,044 --> 00:19:45,328 Tim: Give your loneliness. 382 00:19:45,330 --> 00:19:54,077 But is that loneliness or that aloneness? 383 00:19:54,077 --> 00:19:55,770 How do you take that? 384 00:19:55,770 --> 00:19:58,107 When you used the word loneliness right there, 385 00:19:58,107 --> 00:19:59,632 how did you mean it? 386 00:19:59,632 --> 00:20:11,418 (unintelligible) 387 00:20:11,418 --> 00:20:15,315 How many have in some way or another - 388 00:20:15,315 --> 00:20:16,710 those of you who are single 389 00:20:16,710 --> 00:20:18,485 or you remember being single, 390 00:20:18,485 --> 00:20:20,366 how many of you have found any help 391 00:20:20,366 --> 00:20:23,669 in that verse? 392 00:20:23,669 --> 00:20:24,810 (from the room) 393 00:20:24,810 --> 00:20:26,404 What was the verse again? 394 00:20:26,404 --> 00:20:28,466 Tim: It was a text out of 1 Corinthians 7 395 00:20:28,466 --> 00:20:31,136 where it speaks about the usefulness 396 00:20:31,136 --> 00:20:34,508 of being single. 397 00:20:34,508 --> 00:20:37,368 And Jeremy was just bringing together 398 00:20:37,368 --> 00:20:41,835 the idea that - look, there is 399 00:20:41,835 --> 00:20:44,367 the gift of singleness that's described there. 400 00:20:44,367 --> 00:20:48,812 I reckon, but even if you don't have the gift, 401 00:20:48,812 --> 00:20:51,448 the very same thing that can be accomplished 402 00:20:51,448 --> 00:20:54,736 by having the gift, can be accomplished 403 00:20:54,736 --> 00:20:56,627 if you don't have the gift, 404 00:20:56,627 --> 00:21:01,236 but are single in the fact that what? 405 00:21:01,236 --> 00:21:03,704 Rather than giving your time to a husband 406 00:21:03,704 --> 00:21:05,528 or giving your time to a wife, 407 00:21:05,528 --> 00:21:08,469 you are able to what? 408 00:21:08,469 --> 00:21:09,829 In an undivided fashion, 409 00:21:09,829 --> 00:21:12,064 give yourself to the Lord. 410 00:21:12,064 --> 00:21:16,913 And if you don't have a gift of singleness 411 00:21:16,913 --> 00:21:18,815 but you're in that situation, 412 00:21:18,815 --> 00:21:21,515 it's likely going to compound 413 00:21:21,515 --> 00:21:25,779 your loneliness if you're really desiring 414 00:21:25,779 --> 00:21:28,300 to be married and you're not, 415 00:21:28,300 --> 00:21:34,797 that can tend to compound that loneliness. 416 00:21:34,797 --> 00:21:38,401 And yet, what Jeremy is saying is 417 00:21:38,401 --> 00:21:42,937 that is a season that rather than succumbing 418 00:21:42,937 --> 00:21:44,582 to the woe-is-me attitude; 419 00:21:44,582 --> 00:21:48,483 rather than succumbing to the self-pity, 420 00:21:48,483 --> 00:21:50,744 that that is a time in life when you can be 421 00:21:50,744 --> 00:21:56,589 especially fruitful and give yourself to the Lord. 422 00:21:56,589 --> 00:21:59,921 That's what I'm wanting to hit on right now. 423 00:21:59,921 --> 00:22:02,204 We need to minister to one another. 424 00:22:02,204 --> 00:22:04,437 We need to get involved in one another's lives. 425 00:22:04,437 --> 00:22:06,269 We need to have an eye for the people 426 00:22:06,269 --> 00:22:08,658 in the church who are most likely 427 00:22:08,658 --> 00:22:12,647 prone to loneliness. 428 00:22:12,647 --> 00:22:13,958 We need to be reaching out 429 00:22:13,958 --> 00:22:15,401 and loving one another 430 00:22:15,401 --> 00:22:19,687 and doing what we ourselves would want done. 431 00:22:19,687 --> 00:22:21,765 But I'm really wanting to focus in 432 00:22:21,765 --> 00:22:26,149 on some truth that really helps. 433 00:22:26,149 --> 00:22:27,841 I mean, really helps. 434 00:22:27,841 --> 00:22:30,981 We can often throw truth out. 435 00:22:30,981 --> 00:22:33,271 But, we're talking about deepest needs here. 436 00:22:33,271 --> 00:22:35,761 We're talking about deep longings. 437 00:22:35,761 --> 00:22:39,077 We're talking about deep trial, 438 00:22:39,077 --> 00:22:40,851 struggle, pain. 439 00:22:40,851 --> 00:22:44,278 Loneliness is a pain. 440 00:22:44,278 --> 00:22:46,468 We feel it. It cuts. 441 00:22:46,468 --> 00:22:50,797 It's hard to endure. 442 00:22:50,797 --> 00:22:55,791 And if there are truths that really help - 443 00:22:55,791 --> 00:22:57,488 they really help - 444 00:22:57,488 --> 00:23:00,295 I want to know what they are. 445 00:23:00,295 --> 00:23:02,188 Martha. 446 00:23:02,188 --> 00:23:04,759 (from the room) I struggled with loneliness a lot. 447 00:23:04,759 --> 00:23:08,665 Probably the thing that's helped me the most 448 00:23:08,665 --> 00:23:11,482 has been Psalm 50:23. 449 00:23:11,482 --> 00:23:14,760 Tim: Psalm 50:23. 450 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:16,403 "The one who offers thanksgiving 451 00:23:16,403 --> 00:23:18,620 as his sacrifice glorifies Me." 452 00:23:18,620 --> 00:23:21,839 Bear in mind that 453 00:23:21,839 --> 00:23:24,554 where I'd gone in sinful self-pity 454 00:23:24,554 --> 00:23:26,747 is just all about me. 455 00:23:26,747 --> 00:23:29,592 When I turn my mind to thanksgiving 456 00:23:29,592 --> 00:23:30,763 towards the Lord, 457 00:23:30,763 --> 00:23:33,584 (unintelligible) 458 00:23:33,584 --> 00:23:36,418 My thoughts aren't toward myself, 459 00:23:36,418 --> 00:23:40,041 but giving thanksgiving towards the Lord. 460 00:23:40,041 --> 00:23:42,929 That's when He comes and there's joy there. 461 00:23:42,929 --> 00:23:44,954 Tim: But did you catch that? 462 00:23:44,954 --> 00:23:47,095 She gives thanks. What's she doing? 463 00:23:47,095 --> 00:23:48,902 She's communing with the Lord. 464 00:23:48,902 --> 00:23:56,805 And she said that's when He comes 465 00:23:56,805 --> 00:23:58,773 and the cloud lifts. 466 00:23:58,773 --> 00:24:07,372 You see, as a Christian, we're not alone. 467 00:24:07,372 --> 00:24:09,121 We may experience loneliness, 468 00:24:09,121 --> 00:24:11,512 but we're not alone. 469 00:24:11,512 --> 00:24:14,367 Not only are we not alone, 470 00:24:14,367 --> 00:24:16,805 we have a Savior who bids us 471 00:24:16,805 --> 00:24:18,152 do things like this: 472 00:24:18,152 --> 00:24:22,893 "I stand at the door and knock." 473 00:24:22,893 --> 00:24:24,407 He says if anyone opens to Me, 474 00:24:24,407 --> 00:24:28,797 I will come in and eat with them. 475 00:24:28,797 --> 00:24:33,996 I'll sit across the spiritual table from you 476 00:24:33,996 --> 00:24:39,177 and I'll fellowship with you. 477 00:24:39,177 --> 00:24:43,235 "My Father and I will make our abode with you." 478 00:24:43,235 --> 00:24:52,904 "I will manifest Myself to you." 479 00:24:52,904 --> 00:24:56,904 Those texts right there ought to help you. 480 00:24:56,904 --> 00:25:00,112 Because when you're experiencing loneliness, 481 00:25:00,112 --> 00:25:01,920 you can take that pain 482 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:03,554 and you can pour it out, 483 00:25:03,554 --> 00:25:10,246 because Jesus can sympathize. 484 00:25:10,246 --> 00:25:12,157 One of the ways we feel lonely 485 00:25:12,157 --> 00:25:14,387 is we feel nobody can sympathize. 486 00:25:14,387 --> 00:25:18,939 Nobody could sympathize with Christ 487 00:25:18,939 --> 00:25:22,171 because He walked a path no one else has walked. 488 00:25:22,171 --> 00:25:25,273 But I'll tell you this about His path. 489 00:25:25,273 --> 00:25:30,216 Everywhere you've walked was on that path. 490 00:25:30,216 --> 00:25:32,952 Now His path went beyond where you've gone, 491 00:25:32,952 --> 00:25:36,135 but it hasn't gone short of where you've gone. 492 00:25:36,135 --> 00:25:37,713 Everything you've experienced, 493 00:25:37,713 --> 00:25:39,108 every trial you've tasted, 494 00:25:39,108 --> 00:25:42,304 every bit of loneliness that you have felt, 495 00:25:42,304 --> 00:25:43,958 He felt. 496 00:25:43,958 --> 00:25:46,236 Can you imagine? 497 00:25:46,236 --> 00:25:48,474 I'm going to the cross 498 00:25:48,474 --> 00:25:55,327 to pay the massive debt owed for sin. 499 00:25:55,327 --> 00:25:56,843 You say something to the guys. 500 00:25:56,843 --> 00:26:00,322 They're arguing about who's going to be the greatest. 501 00:26:00,322 --> 00:26:02,047 He's going to die for them. 502 00:26:02,047 --> 00:26:04,762 He's going to pour out His life's blood. 503 00:26:04,762 --> 00:26:07,830 He's going to be crushed under the wrath of God. 504 00:26:07,830 --> 00:26:10,320 He's going to Calvary. 505 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:12,722 He's got to go by way of Gethsemane 506 00:26:12,722 --> 00:26:15,995 where the very anguish of it - 507 00:26:15,995 --> 00:26:19,118 He said that He was nigh unto death. 508 00:26:19,118 --> 00:26:20,945 This thing is going to bring Him 509 00:26:20,945 --> 00:26:22,791 under such turmoil of soul, 510 00:26:22,791 --> 00:26:24,567 that even just in the garden, 511 00:26:24,567 --> 00:26:28,037 imagining the cup that He needs to put to His lips, 512 00:26:28,037 --> 00:26:31,823 (incomplete thought) 513 00:26:31,823 --> 00:26:33,440 God is just sustaining Him. 514 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:35,042 It's the only thing that keeps 515 00:26:35,042 --> 00:26:37,873 His soul from separating from His body 516 00:26:37,873 --> 00:26:39,004 right at that point. 517 00:26:39,004 --> 00:26:40,766 He's under such distress, 518 00:26:40,766 --> 00:26:43,263 sweating as it were great drops of blood. 519 00:26:43,263 --> 00:26:45,371 He's not even to the cross yet. 520 00:26:45,371 --> 00:26:47,622 And He's telling His disciples 521 00:26:47,622 --> 00:26:49,430 back down the road, 522 00:26:49,430 --> 00:26:51,357 I'm heading to Jerusalem, 523 00:26:51,357 --> 00:26:53,782 and this is going to happen to Me. 524 00:26:53,782 --> 00:26:57,855 His God is going to forsake Him. 525 00:26:57,855 --> 00:26:59,100 And they're arguing about 526 00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:00,671 who's going to be the greatest. 527 00:27:00,671 --> 00:27:03,017 Do you think that was a lonely road? 528 00:27:03,017 --> 00:27:04,236 These guys don't get it. 529 00:27:04,236 --> 00:27:06,551 These guys cannot relate. 530 00:27:06,551 --> 00:27:09,823 And then when He's actually on the eve of the cross, 531 00:27:09,823 --> 00:27:13,135 here He is and He's under such anguish. 532 00:27:13,135 --> 00:27:21,399 It's twisting the very inner being 533 00:27:21,399 --> 00:27:23,970 with the turmoils of the coming cross 534 00:27:23,970 --> 00:27:27,137 where He'll be poured out like water. 535 00:27:27,137 --> 00:27:30,581 And He looks over and there they are asleep. 536 00:27:30,581 --> 00:27:34,724 They can't pray. 537 00:27:34,724 --> 00:27:36,418 It's a lonely road. 538 00:27:36,418 --> 00:27:39,205 And He's gone places none of us 539 00:27:39,205 --> 00:27:41,991 can ever imagine. 540 00:27:41,991 --> 00:27:44,239 But the thing is, He was made like us 541 00:27:44,239 --> 00:27:45,340 in every respect 542 00:27:45,340 --> 00:27:47,238 and He feels what we feel. 543 00:27:47,238 --> 00:27:48,861 And so He can be sympathetic. 544 00:27:48,861 --> 00:27:53,414 See, the thing is, when your pain is most sharp, 545 00:27:53,414 --> 00:27:55,590 you can boldly approach the throne of grace 546 00:27:55,590 --> 00:27:58,217 and you can know there is a sympathetic High Priest 547 00:27:58,217 --> 00:28:01,008 who has felt what you're feeling, 548 00:28:01,008 --> 00:28:02,686 and there's help. 549 00:28:02,686 --> 00:28:04,693 If there's anything you ought to be able 550 00:28:04,693 --> 00:28:07,841 to take courage in, it's that. 551 00:28:07,841 --> 00:28:12,023 There is grace to help in time of need. 552 00:28:12,023 --> 00:28:15,520 Like I say, if you will go pour out yourself in love; 553 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:17,139 if you'll think "woe is me," 554 00:28:17,139 --> 00:28:20,391 why doesn't somebody (fill in the blank)? 555 00:28:20,391 --> 00:28:26,362 Oh... maybe I should go do that. 556 00:28:26,362 --> 00:28:29,087 Maybe I should be doing that. 557 00:28:29,087 --> 00:28:30,757 (incomplete thought) 558 00:28:30,757 --> 00:28:33,142 Now look, if there's an elderly widow 559 00:28:33,142 --> 00:28:34,782 and she just can't get out; 560 00:28:34,782 --> 00:28:36,034 she can't do those things, 561 00:28:36,034 --> 00:28:37,628 that's another thing. 562 00:28:37,628 --> 00:28:41,778 She ought to be a special object 563 00:28:41,778 --> 00:28:44,793 of the church's attention when it comes to this. 564 00:28:44,793 --> 00:28:48,523 But when you're young and single, 565 00:28:48,523 --> 00:28:50,571 you have energy. 566 00:28:50,571 --> 00:28:53,062 You have cars. 567 00:28:53,062 --> 00:28:55,684 You have legs that are strong. 568 00:28:55,684 --> 00:28:57,561 You can run somewhere. 569 00:28:57,561 --> 00:28:59,098 You can help others. 570 00:28:59,098 --> 00:29:01,137 You can pour yourself out for others. 571 00:29:01,137 --> 00:29:03,945 You can minister to others. 572 00:29:03,945 --> 00:29:05,943 And you know, I have it on good authority 573 00:29:05,943 --> 00:29:08,295 that if you pour yourself out for others, 574 00:29:08,295 --> 00:29:12,139 God will pour Himself out for you. 575 00:29:12,139 --> 00:29:15,246 Have you ever seen any promise like that in Scripture? 576 00:29:15,246 --> 00:29:16,639 (from the room) 577 00:29:16,639 --> 00:29:18,561 I was thinking 2 Corinthians. 578 00:29:18,561 --> 00:29:21,314 He's the Father of mercies and God of comfort, 579 00:29:21,314 --> 00:29:22,799 and the reality in my life - 580 00:29:22,799 --> 00:29:25,125 my experience in times of loneliness 581 00:29:25,125 --> 00:29:28,963 is when it's like the self-pity thing too, 582 00:29:28,963 --> 00:29:30,833 but the most comfort I find is when 583 00:29:30,833 --> 00:29:33,776 I am pouring myself out for others - 584 00:29:33,776 --> 00:29:36,951 people who have needs or are struggling. 585 00:29:36,951 --> 00:29:38,931 And taking my eyes off myself 586 00:29:38,931 --> 00:29:41,059 and not be introspective is when 587 00:29:41,059 --> 00:29:43,149 the Lord has really blessed me 588 00:29:43,149 --> 00:29:44,837 in some supernatural way 589 00:29:44,837 --> 00:29:46,442 and comforted me because I'm not 590 00:29:46,442 --> 00:29:53,582 thinking of myself and thinking of others' needs. 591 00:29:53,582 --> 00:29:55,933 Tim: I can remember those years 592 00:29:55,933 --> 00:30:01,378 that I got involved in Little Brother Little Sister program. 593 00:30:01,378 --> 00:30:06,319 I got involved with a juvenile home situation. 594 00:30:06,319 --> 00:30:08,206 But get involved in those things. 595 00:30:08,206 --> 00:30:12,645 And you know what? I got involved in sports. 596 00:30:12,645 --> 00:30:15,810 There was a church league softball, 597 00:30:15,810 --> 00:30:17,372 church league volleyball. 598 00:30:17,372 --> 00:30:18,748 I got involved in that. 599 00:30:18,748 --> 00:30:24,381 And I got involved in as many Bible studies as I could. 600 00:30:24,381 --> 00:30:26,219 You know what? 601 00:30:26,219 --> 00:30:28,732 I'm not surprised on Tuesday nights 602 00:30:28,732 --> 00:30:32,797 that the vast majority of you are single. 603 00:30:32,797 --> 00:30:34,918 I know why that is. 604 00:30:34,918 --> 00:30:36,776 Loneliness compels you to want to be 605 00:30:36,776 --> 00:30:38,244 where other young people are. 606 00:30:38,244 --> 00:30:39,991 I know. I was there. 607 00:30:39,991 --> 00:30:41,886 I remember the Friday night Bible study 608 00:30:41,886 --> 00:30:43,500 that I used to go to. 609 00:30:43,500 --> 00:30:51,083 I can't remember anybody in that class that was married. 610 00:30:51,083 --> 00:30:54,976 But that's a good way to do it. 611 00:30:54,976 --> 00:30:57,569 Don't forsake the assembling together of the brethren. 612 00:30:57,569 --> 00:30:59,232 Don't do that. 613 00:30:59,232 --> 00:31:04,351 You need that. 614 00:31:04,351 --> 00:31:07,810 When there's meetings like this, be there. 615 00:31:07,810 --> 00:31:09,841 I understand when people get married. 616 00:31:09,841 --> 00:31:12,075 They start having to work at their marriage, 617 00:31:12,075 --> 00:31:13,767 and they start having to raise kids 618 00:31:13,767 --> 00:31:15,717 that they don't come on Tuesday nights. 619 00:31:15,717 --> 00:31:20,142 I understand that. 620 00:31:20,142 --> 00:31:21,779 But this is a good place to come. 621 00:31:21,779 --> 00:31:22,964 But not only to receive. 622 00:31:22,964 --> 00:31:25,156 It's good to be where other young people are. 623 00:31:25,156 --> 00:31:27,167 It's good to be where other singles are. 624 00:31:27,167 --> 00:31:32,398 It's good to come out into social environments. 625 00:31:32,398 --> 00:31:33,531 But you know what? 626 00:31:33,531 --> 00:31:35,257 When you do that, 627 00:31:35,257 --> 00:31:38,313 invest your life in others. 628 00:31:38,313 --> 00:31:41,626 Don't be the quiet guy 629 00:31:41,626 --> 00:31:45,003 that stands over in the corner. 630 00:31:45,003 --> 00:31:47,370 I understand that some people are quiet. 631 00:31:47,370 --> 00:31:50,141 I'm naturally quiet. 632 00:31:50,141 --> 00:31:55,446 But love will invest itself in other people 633 00:31:55,446 --> 00:32:02,968 even if you're not the most socially smooth person. 634 00:32:02,968 --> 00:32:04,735 And other people will appreciate it. 635 00:32:04,735 --> 00:32:07,241 They really will. 636 00:32:07,241 --> 00:32:09,219 There are lots of people in this world 637 00:32:09,219 --> 00:32:12,085 that will appreciate your efforts. 638 00:32:12,085 --> 00:32:14,079 But go visit the nursing home. 639 00:32:14,079 --> 00:32:16,814 There's Big Brother, Little Brother programs. 640 00:32:16,814 --> 00:32:20,843 There's all sorts of places that you can 641 00:32:20,843 --> 00:32:23,883 invest your lives in needy people, 642 00:32:23,883 --> 00:32:27,209 needy seniors, needy children, 643 00:32:27,209 --> 00:32:29,726 others that we talked about - 644 00:32:29,726 --> 00:32:31,795 the impaired, the handicapped, 645 00:32:31,795 --> 00:32:34,383 people that are in wheelchairs, 646 00:32:34,383 --> 00:32:41,699 people who are especially prone to loneliness. 647 00:32:41,699 --> 00:32:43,679 Pour yourselves out for others. 648 00:32:43,679 --> 00:32:47,701 Don't waste this single part of your life 649 00:32:47,701 --> 00:32:54,896 just in self-pity and "woe is me." 650 00:32:54,896 --> 00:32:56,360 Really take advantage; 651 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:58,218 really take opportunity to get 652 00:32:58,218 --> 00:33:01,312 the best mileage out of this season 653 00:33:01,312 --> 00:33:02,677 of your life. 654 00:33:02,677 --> 00:33:04,489 Redeem the time, right? 655 00:33:04,489 --> 00:33:05,522 The days are evil. 656 00:33:05,522 --> 00:33:06,943 Redeem the time. 657 00:33:06,943 --> 00:33:11,613 Don't add more evil to it by all your self-pity. 658 00:33:11,613 --> 00:33:14,657 And in all of this, 659 00:33:14,657 --> 00:33:19,617 if there's anything that's comforting, 660 00:33:19,617 --> 00:33:22,392 I mean, I find it comforting now 661 00:33:22,392 --> 00:33:25,207 when I experience the bitterest of trials. 662 00:33:25,207 --> 00:33:27,802 And I experience trials now stronger than 663 00:33:27,802 --> 00:33:30,776 those that I experienced back then 664 00:33:30,776 --> 00:33:32,980 of loneliness. 665 00:33:32,980 --> 00:33:36,563 But one thing that's an anchor 666 00:33:36,563 --> 00:33:41,185 is this truth that we've seen from Hebrews 12. 667 00:33:41,185 --> 00:33:44,366 His suffering isn't random. 668 00:33:44,366 --> 00:33:49,354 His suffering that He brings in our life has purpose. 669 00:33:49,354 --> 00:33:58,233 It's not just happening by chance. 670 00:33:58,233 --> 00:34:00,856 God is designing it with purpose. 671 00:34:00,856 --> 00:34:02,787 I can know that. 672 00:34:02,787 --> 00:34:05,394 I need this trial. 673 00:34:05,394 --> 00:34:07,201 Why? 674 00:34:07,201 --> 00:34:11,588 Because He's imparting His holiness to me. 675 00:34:11,588 --> 00:34:14,964 I need this to be more like Christ. 676 00:34:14,964 --> 00:34:17,778 I mean, if we can really come to grips 677 00:34:17,778 --> 00:34:22,460 with there is a Vine-dresser, 678 00:34:22,460 --> 00:34:26,532 and I am a branch, and He prunes. 679 00:34:26,532 --> 00:34:29,672 And like Charles Leiter says, 680 00:34:29,672 --> 00:34:32,514 the vine-dresser is never closer 681 00:34:32,514 --> 00:34:37,130 to the vine than when he's pruning. 682 00:34:37,130 --> 00:34:38,533 And if we can really know, 683 00:34:38,533 --> 00:34:42,232 wow, there's a hand of a God who loves me so much - 684 00:34:42,232 --> 00:34:45,045 remember, He's not going to withhold any good thing. 685 00:34:45,045 --> 00:34:47,204 any good thing. 686 00:34:47,204 --> 00:34:48,892 Not one. 687 00:34:48,892 --> 00:34:51,038 And if the greatest good thing in your life 688 00:34:51,038 --> 00:34:53,761 right now is loneliness, then you'll have it. 689 00:34:53,761 --> 00:34:55,575 If it's a husband, you'll have it. 690 00:34:55,575 --> 00:35:01,148 If it's loneliness, you'll have that. 691 00:35:01,148 --> 00:35:03,465 You know what, as bad as I wanted 692 00:35:03,465 --> 00:35:05,741 to be married those first three years, 693 00:35:05,741 --> 00:35:09,244 I was not ready to be married. 694 00:35:09,244 --> 00:35:10,945 In fact, sometimes I wonder still 695 00:35:10,945 --> 00:35:12,750 if I'm ready to be married. 696 00:35:12,750 --> 00:35:15,401 But I was not ready. 697 00:35:15,401 --> 00:35:17,482 I'm not saying it's been easy for Ruby 698 00:35:17,482 --> 00:35:18,918 after those three years, 699 00:35:18,918 --> 00:35:22,299 but I recognize, I wasn't ready. 700 00:35:22,299 --> 00:35:23,996 And God recognized that. 701 00:35:23,996 --> 00:35:25,420 That loneliness was necessary 702 00:35:25,420 --> 00:35:28,691 for that given season. 703 00:35:28,691 --> 00:35:31,029 And so is all of our suffering. 704 00:35:31,029 --> 00:35:32,478 And just to come to the place 705 00:35:32,478 --> 00:35:35,365 where we really recognize, 706 00:35:35,365 --> 00:35:37,408 wow, I have a loving Father. 707 00:35:37,408 --> 00:35:40,106 Remember? Do you remember that from Hebrews 12? 708 00:35:40,106 --> 00:35:42,457 This is evidence of His love. 709 00:35:42,457 --> 00:35:45,169 Not that He dislikes me, 710 00:35:45,169 --> 00:35:50,951 but that I am an object of His love. 711 00:35:50,951 --> 00:35:55,375 He says in other places the apple of His eye. 712 00:35:55,375 --> 00:35:58,780 We are the ones that He had His Son 713 00:35:58,780 --> 00:36:01,008 shed His blood for. 714 00:36:01,008 --> 00:36:05,336 Do you remember the argument of Romans 8:32? 715 00:36:05,336 --> 00:36:11,918 If you get the biggest, best, 716 00:36:11,918 --> 00:36:14,789 most valuable - 717 00:36:14,789 --> 00:36:17,671 if you get that, 718 00:36:17,671 --> 00:36:21,943 how is He going to withhold any lesser thing from you? 719 00:36:21,943 --> 00:36:24,071 He's not. 720 00:36:24,071 --> 00:36:25,915 And He's never going to let anything 721 00:36:25,915 --> 00:36:27,095 come along to harm you. 722 00:36:27,095 --> 00:36:29,664 Everything works together for your good. 723 00:36:29,664 --> 00:36:31,961 He's only going to give you good in this life. 724 00:36:31,961 --> 00:36:33,704 Now, it doesn't always feel good. 725 00:36:33,704 --> 00:36:36,298 Loneliness does not feel good. 726 00:36:36,298 --> 00:36:38,670 But you know what loneliness is doing? 727 00:36:38,670 --> 00:36:41,291 Day in, day out? 728 00:36:41,291 --> 00:36:44,067 It's like those pruning shears. 729 00:36:44,067 --> 00:36:48,818 It's like the fire that the silver gets put in to 730 00:36:48,818 --> 00:36:52,598 and it comes out and the dross is skimmed off. 731 00:36:52,598 --> 00:36:56,364 It's put back in and out, in and out, 732 00:36:56,364 --> 00:36:57,749 and in and out. 733 00:36:57,749 --> 00:37:00,029 And every time, more dross is coming off. 734 00:37:00,029 --> 00:37:03,246 And it's from one degree of glory to another. 735 00:37:03,246 --> 00:37:05,896 As that's happening and you're beholding Christ 736 00:37:05,896 --> 00:37:07,616 and you're being made to suffer 737 00:37:07,616 --> 00:37:09,513 and you're keeping your eyes on Christ 738 00:37:09,513 --> 00:37:11,091 and back and forth it goes. 739 00:37:11,091 --> 00:37:13,401 And you continue communing with Him, 740 00:37:13,401 --> 00:37:15,687 and even though it is a bitter trial, 741 00:37:15,687 --> 00:37:18,843 by degrees - from one degree of glory to another, 742 00:37:18,843 --> 00:37:21,928 you are being transformed into the image of Christ. 743 00:37:21,928 --> 00:37:24,463 And you're becoming more and more 744 00:37:24,463 --> 00:37:28,786 this object of His crafting 745 00:37:28,786 --> 00:37:31,695 and beautiful to behold. 746 00:37:31,695 --> 00:37:34,845 Purer and purer and purer. 747 00:37:34,845 --> 00:37:37,838 We don't like it. We don't like it. 748 00:37:37,838 --> 00:37:39,459 None of us wants loneliness. 749 00:37:39,459 --> 00:37:40,599 None of us wants pain. 750 00:37:40,599 --> 00:37:41,970 None of us wants to suffer. 751 00:37:41,970 --> 00:37:45,163 Why don't we want pain? Because it's painful. 752 00:37:45,163 --> 00:37:46,634 It hurts. 753 00:37:46,634 --> 00:37:48,633 And none of us choose it. 754 00:37:48,633 --> 00:37:50,653 We all would choose Christlikeness, 755 00:37:50,653 --> 00:37:52,672 but none of us want to choose the path 756 00:37:52,672 --> 00:37:57,117 that God has designed for it to come. 757 00:37:57,117 --> 00:38:00,541 But if we can really just come to recognize, 758 00:38:00,541 --> 00:38:04,676 God loves me. 759 00:38:04,676 --> 00:38:06,770 And it's hard. It's hard. 760 00:38:06,770 --> 00:38:09,841 Because we look at: 761 00:38:09,841 --> 00:38:11,395 you're a young lady, 762 00:38:11,395 --> 00:38:12,884 and you see another young lady, 763 00:38:12,884 --> 00:38:14,180 she gets a husband. 764 00:38:14,180 --> 00:38:15,611 And you feel like: 765 00:38:15,611 --> 00:38:18,560 God loves her. Not me. 766 00:38:18,560 --> 00:38:20,907 But that's not true. 767 00:38:20,907 --> 00:38:22,500 If you're children of God, 768 00:38:22,500 --> 00:38:24,138 God loves you both. 769 00:38:24,138 --> 00:38:31,426 And the truth is that oftentimes - 770 00:38:31,426 --> 00:38:32,505 well, we know it. 771 00:38:32,505 --> 00:38:35,111 Nobody's going to say they made their greatest strides 772 00:38:35,111 --> 00:38:41,528 in Christlikeness when everything was good. 773 00:38:41,528 --> 00:38:44,621 And the reality is, as much as 774 00:38:44,621 --> 00:38:48,448 a godly wife is a gift of God; 775 00:38:48,448 --> 00:38:51,119 as much as a godly husband 776 00:38:51,119 --> 00:38:56,417 is a gift of God and definitely to be cherished, 777 00:38:56,417 --> 00:38:59,648 it may be that those of you that don't get that 778 00:38:59,648 --> 00:39:04,049 but get the suffering and trial of loneliness, 779 00:39:04,049 --> 00:39:06,994 you're making advances towards Christlikeness 780 00:39:06,994 --> 00:39:11,778 at a pace that other people may not be. 781 00:39:11,778 --> 00:39:15,809 And in God's timing - He knows the perfect timing for all. 782 00:39:15,809 --> 00:39:17,695 And He knows the seasons 783 00:39:17,695 --> 00:39:20,356 when it's going to be difficult. 784 00:39:20,356 --> 00:39:23,002 But before you always see 785 00:39:23,002 --> 00:39:26,240 the grass greener on the other side, 786 00:39:26,240 --> 00:39:27,892 you do need to know 787 00:39:27,892 --> 00:39:29,565 that I've met more than one person 788 00:39:29,565 --> 00:39:30,867 that when they got married, 789 00:39:30,867 --> 00:39:33,144 the real trials started. 790 00:39:33,144 --> 00:39:36,299 So, before you think your own case 791 00:39:36,299 --> 00:39:44,542 so desperate and so to be loathed, 792 00:39:44,542 --> 00:39:46,459 I know more than one person 793 00:39:46,459 --> 00:39:52,855 that would love to be single again 794 00:39:52,855 --> 00:39:57,844 after getting married. 795 00:39:57,844 --> 00:40:01,184 Anything else? Any truth 796 00:40:01,184 --> 00:40:04,624 that you have specifically found 797 00:40:04,624 --> 00:40:07,770 genuinely helpful? 798 00:40:07,770 --> 00:40:09,627 And you see, we talked about this, 799 00:40:09,627 --> 00:40:10,998 did we not? 800 00:40:10,998 --> 00:40:14,160 That part of loneliness is when you think 801 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:21,639 everybody's forgotten you. 802 00:40:21,639 --> 00:40:26,432 You know the problem we have 803 00:40:26,432 --> 00:40:30,294 with what James just said 804 00:40:30,294 --> 00:40:36,753 is there's a difference when 805 00:40:36,753 --> 00:40:41,030 I'm at my desk and my wife comes in 806 00:40:41,030 --> 00:40:43,767 and sits on my lap 807 00:40:43,767 --> 00:40:50,647 and we have a face to face conversation. 808 00:40:50,647 --> 00:40:54,827 Or we hug each other. 809 00:40:54,827 --> 00:40:59,636 There's a difference in that 810 00:40:59,636 --> 00:41:03,000 and us going into this book, 811 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:06,201 into one of the Old Testament prophets 812 00:41:06,201 --> 00:41:10,162 and reading it. 813 00:41:10,162 --> 00:41:13,894 What's the difference? 814 00:41:13,894 --> 00:41:17,208 One's by sight. One's by faith. 815 00:41:17,208 --> 00:41:21,354 There's a difference. 816 00:41:21,354 --> 00:41:25,833 One requires faith. 817 00:41:25,833 --> 00:41:27,977 We need to believe it's true. 818 00:41:27,977 --> 00:41:30,682 But look, faith isn't an artificial thing. 819 00:41:30,682 --> 00:41:33,069 Faith really does lay hold on the promises of God 820 00:41:33,069 --> 00:41:34,688 and it believes them. 821 00:41:34,688 --> 00:41:36,680 So by faith, we believe. 822 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:38,112 We believe that He's there 823 00:41:38,112 --> 00:41:39,960 and we believe that He cares. 824 00:41:39,960 --> 00:41:41,302 I mean, that matters. 825 00:41:41,302 --> 00:41:42,372 That's not useless. 826 00:41:42,372 --> 00:41:45,174 It's different, but it's not useless. 827 00:41:45,174 --> 00:41:47,748 It's not like it's of none effect. 828 00:41:47,748 --> 00:41:51,062 It is. 829 00:41:51,062 --> 00:41:53,763 And just remember this, 830 00:41:53,763 --> 00:41:55,934 just remember this: 831 00:41:55,934 --> 00:41:58,117 That even though there's a difference 832 00:41:58,117 --> 00:42:00,051 between believing that 833 00:42:00,051 --> 00:42:02,293 and having my wife come into my office 834 00:42:02,293 --> 00:42:07,119 and sit on my lap, 835 00:42:07,119 --> 00:42:11,052 it's very experiential 836 00:42:11,052 --> 00:42:17,217 when Jesus Christ manifests Himself to us. 837 00:42:17,217 --> 00:42:23,277 Somebody read John 14:21. 838 00:42:23,277 --> 00:42:25,272 Because I think this is really important. 839 00:42:25,272 --> 00:42:28,531 Because in times of loneliness, 840 00:42:28,531 --> 00:42:32,868 where we are lacking the companionship 841 00:42:32,868 --> 00:42:39,299 with other human beings, 842 00:42:39,299 --> 00:42:43,577 companionship with Christ is precious 843 00:42:43,577 --> 00:42:46,274 and it can be so real 844 00:42:46,274 --> 00:42:49,494 and it can be so manifest. 845 00:42:49,494 --> 00:42:53,792 Somebody read John 14:21. 846 00:42:53,792 --> 00:42:56,361 "Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, 847 00:42:56,361 --> 00:42:57,791 He it is who loves Me. 848 00:42:57,791 --> 00:43:00,195 And he who loves Me, will be loved by My Father, 849 00:43:00,195 --> 00:43:03,774 and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." 850 00:43:03,774 --> 00:43:06,038 But did you see the conditions? 851 00:43:06,038 --> 00:43:07,728 What are the conditions of Him 852 00:43:07,728 --> 00:43:09,415 manifesting Himself to us? 853 00:43:09,415 --> 00:43:12,197 It is for everybody? 854 00:43:12,197 --> 00:43:16,110 What are the conditions? 855 00:43:16,110 --> 00:43:19,242 Say that again? 856 00:43:19,242 --> 00:43:22,710 Keeping His commandments. 857 00:43:22,710 --> 00:43:27,172 It's really important that 858 00:43:27,172 --> 00:43:29,803 when you're in these situations of loneliness 859 00:43:29,803 --> 00:43:32,019 and you're being tried by that, 860 00:43:32,019 --> 00:43:34,713 that you don't just fall off into sin. 861 00:43:34,713 --> 00:43:40,091 That you're striving to love Him. 862 00:43:40,091 --> 00:43:41,873 That's why I think it's so important 863 00:43:41,873 --> 00:43:44,586 for you to pour yourselves out - 864 00:43:44,586 --> 00:43:46,226 when you feel loneliness - 865 00:43:46,226 --> 00:43:48,289 to pour yourselves out for other people. 866 00:43:48,289 --> 00:43:52,091 Let that be the motivator. 867 00:43:52,091 --> 00:43:59,596 Let that be the impetus behind you. 868 00:43:59,596 --> 00:44:01,544 Let that be the catalyst 869 00:44:01,544 --> 00:44:04,670 that sends you in the direction 870 00:44:04,670 --> 00:44:07,742 of visiting others 871 00:44:07,742 --> 00:44:10,764 and showing love for others 872 00:44:10,764 --> 00:44:14,445 and seeking to alleviate other suffering, 873 00:44:14,445 --> 00:44:19,475 especially other's loneliness. 874 00:44:19,475 --> 00:44:22,913 In so doing, you're going to be doing that. 875 00:44:22,913 --> 00:44:27,378 Because after all, what is it 876 00:44:27,378 --> 00:44:32,153 to really fulfill Christ's commandments? 877 00:44:32,153 --> 00:44:34,191 Isn't it love? 878 00:44:34,191 --> 00:44:36,575 As you're pouring yourself out for other people, 879 00:44:36,575 --> 00:44:38,879 oh, if there's something that tends 880 00:44:38,879 --> 00:44:45,410 to only deepen and compound loneliness, 881 00:44:45,410 --> 00:44:47,937 it's when you withdraw into yourself, 882 00:44:47,937 --> 00:44:51,211 feel self-pity, 883 00:44:51,211 --> 00:44:53,238 kind of isolate yourself, 884 00:44:53,238 --> 00:44:54,613 and don't want to reach out 885 00:44:54,613 --> 00:44:56,016 and help other people. 886 00:44:56,016 --> 00:45:00,700 That only spirals this thing downward. 887 00:45:00,700 --> 00:45:05,208 Any other truth that we would apply? 888 00:45:05,208 --> 00:45:09,438 Yeah, whoever waters will himself be watered. 889 00:45:09,438 --> 00:45:12,210 There's many places in Scripture - 890 00:45:12,210 --> 00:45:14,900 "with the measure that you measure, 891 00:45:14,900 --> 00:45:19,948 it will be measured back to you." 892 00:45:19,948 --> 00:45:21,758 Pour yourselves out for the hungry, 893 00:45:21,758 --> 00:45:23,578 you're going to cry out to the Lord, 894 00:45:23,578 --> 00:45:28,118 Isaiah 58 says, and God's going to say, "Here I am." 895 00:45:28,118 --> 00:45:31,195 Among many other promises there. 896 00:45:31,195 --> 00:45:33,489 Secure and fulfilled. 897 00:45:33,489 --> 00:45:36,201 She's sitting at the feet of Christ. 898 00:45:36,201 --> 00:45:39,346 Yeah, if you're totally satisfied in the Lord, 899 00:45:39,346 --> 00:45:44,502 it's a loneliness killer. 900 00:45:44,502 --> 00:45:50,666 And one other thing for God's people, 901 00:45:50,666 --> 00:46:05,899 this momentary, light affliction does what? 902 00:46:05,899 --> 00:46:10,670 Prepares for us an eternal weight of glory. 903 00:46:10,670 --> 00:46:14,149 You know one thing you can take comfort with? 904 00:46:14,149 --> 00:46:17,717 Your suffering is momentary. 905 00:46:17,717 --> 00:46:19,153 Whatever you're experiencing 906 00:46:19,153 --> 00:46:21,029 as far as loneliness, 907 00:46:21,029 --> 00:46:22,646 the day is coming soon - 908 00:46:22,646 --> 00:46:26,423 a few more rolling suns at most - 909 00:46:26,423 --> 00:46:34,821 and you will be eternally fulfilled. 910 00:46:34,821 --> 00:46:36,795 Look, if every tear is wiped away, 911 00:46:36,795 --> 00:46:40,790 every tear of loneliness is included. 912 00:46:40,790 --> 00:46:44,306 There is no loneliness in glory. 913 00:46:44,306 --> 00:46:47,475 So your suffering? 914 00:46:47,475 --> 00:46:54,917 It's as your life is. It's a vapor. 915 00:46:54,917 --> 00:46:56,915 I know it seems long now. 916 00:46:56,915 --> 00:46:58,882 It seems sharp now. 917 00:46:58,882 --> 00:47:04,610 But putting it in proper perspective. 918 00:47:04,610 --> 00:47:05,897 Any other Scripture? 919 00:47:05,897 --> 00:47:08,720 Any other truth that anybody knows? 920 00:47:08,720 --> 00:47:12,082 One other comment that I would make right here 921 00:47:12,082 --> 00:47:14,771 is I know - I love this - 922 00:47:14,771 --> 00:47:17,708 I don't remember the exact message, 923 00:47:17,708 --> 00:47:19,757 but I've heard Paul Washer 924 00:47:19,757 --> 00:47:22,044 emphasize the fact that our God 925 00:47:22,044 --> 00:47:24,611 is a jealous lover. 926 00:47:24,611 --> 00:47:29,486 And you know one of the things 927 00:47:29,486 --> 00:47:32,755 about those three years 928 00:47:32,755 --> 00:47:38,033 that God kind of put me in isolation? 929 00:47:38,033 --> 00:47:41,741 You know, I'm sure He did that 930 00:47:41,741 --> 00:47:45,978 to teach me to walk with Him. 931 00:47:45,978 --> 00:47:51,014 And I'll tell you, God will put you often 932 00:47:51,014 --> 00:47:56,604 in lonely places because He wants you 933 00:47:56,604 --> 00:47:59,339 to walk with Him 934 00:47:59,339 --> 00:48:02,507 and to commune with Him. 935 00:48:02,507 --> 00:48:07,210 And He may very specifically remove 936 00:48:07,210 --> 00:48:10,093 something from your life 937 00:48:10,093 --> 00:48:12,190 if you're investing too much in it 938 00:48:12,190 --> 00:48:16,128 or you have your hopes set too much on it. 939 00:48:16,128 --> 00:48:18,563 He will leave you in that place 940 00:48:18,563 --> 00:48:22,019 because He wants you to walk with Him 941 00:48:22,019 --> 00:48:24,260 and talk with Him and commune with Him 942 00:48:24,260 --> 00:48:25,726 and find your all in Him 943 00:48:25,726 --> 00:48:27,611 and find your satisfaction 944 00:48:27,611 --> 00:48:30,052 and find your fulfillment. 945 00:48:30,052 --> 00:48:32,529 And I really believe that during those three years, 946 00:48:32,529 --> 00:48:36,699 you know what, I never had a serious thought of marriage 947 00:48:36,699 --> 00:48:38,723 in my whole lost life. 948 00:48:38,723 --> 00:48:41,511 It never even crossed my mind. 949 00:48:41,511 --> 00:48:42,718 The moment God saved me, 950 00:48:42,718 --> 00:48:46,060 I wanted to get married. 951 00:48:46,060 --> 00:48:48,319 But now, for three years, 952 00:48:48,319 --> 00:48:49,878 God left me in a situation 953 00:48:49,878 --> 00:48:53,003 where that wasn't the case. 954 00:48:53,003 --> 00:48:54,411 And I spent many a night 955 00:48:54,411 --> 00:48:57,384 walking lonely fields 956 00:48:57,384 --> 00:49:01,100 and dirt roads. 957 00:49:01,100 --> 00:49:04,926 I call them lonely because I was alone. 958 00:49:04,926 --> 00:49:08,010 Out under the moon. 959 00:49:08,010 --> 00:49:13,030 But oh, the free hours 960 00:49:13,030 --> 00:49:19,038 to talk and walk with Christ. 961 00:49:19,038 --> 00:49:20,480 Walking with Him. 962 00:49:20,480 --> 00:49:22,177 God just putting me in a place 963 00:49:22,177 --> 00:49:26,103 to learn to commune with Him 964 00:49:26,103 --> 00:49:29,537 and to trust Him. 965 00:49:29,537 --> 00:49:30,779 And you have to know, 966 00:49:30,779 --> 00:49:33,522 God is in the business of doing just that 967 00:49:33,522 --> 00:49:37,290 with all of His children. 968 00:49:37,290 --> 00:49:40,588 He wants our heart. He wants our affections. 969 00:49:40,588 --> 00:49:43,703 He wants us satisfied in Him. 970 00:49:43,703 --> 00:49:50,172 He doesn't ever want to be in a position 971 00:49:50,172 --> 00:49:53,460 where He's saying to His child: 972 00:49:53,460 --> 00:49:55,490 "Here I am," 973 00:49:55,490 --> 00:49:59,448 and the child is just longing - 974 00:49:59,448 --> 00:50:01,394 like looking over His shoulder 975 00:50:01,394 --> 00:50:03,414 and longing for something else 976 00:50:03,414 --> 00:50:06,593 and pining after, oh, I wish I had that. 977 00:50:06,593 --> 00:50:08,217 You know, here's God saying, 978 00:50:08,217 --> 00:50:09,847 "Embrace Me." 979 00:50:09,847 --> 00:50:12,230 "Sit down and fellowship." 980 00:50:12,230 --> 00:50:14,853 "Sit at My feet like Mary." 981 00:50:14,853 --> 00:50:16,763 "Come and embrace Me, 982 00:50:16,763 --> 00:50:18,397 and I will embrace you." 983 00:50:18,397 --> 00:50:22,782 "Come and know that I haven't forgotten you." 984 00:50:22,782 --> 00:50:26,338 "I love you. Come and lavish yourself in My love." 985 00:50:26,338 --> 00:50:28,351 And you're looking over His shoulder 986 00:50:28,351 --> 00:50:30,122 at some guy or at some girl 987 00:50:30,122 --> 00:50:35,311 or at some other situation. 988 00:50:35,311 --> 00:50:38,933 Let your own loneliness 989 00:50:38,933 --> 00:50:43,388 be a reminder - a healthy reminder - 990 00:50:43,388 --> 00:50:46,543 a wake up call. 991 00:50:46,543 --> 00:50:49,157 Let the pain of it actually produce 992 00:50:49,157 --> 00:50:55,777 good fruit in your life. 993 00:50:55,777 --> 00:50:57,827 You say, is that easy, when I'm hurting 994 00:50:57,827 --> 00:50:59,407 to pour out myself for others? 995 00:50:59,407 --> 00:51:03,348 Well, no, I know there's difficulty there. 996 00:51:03,348 --> 00:51:08,664 But it's very pleasing to Christ. 997 00:51:08,664 --> 00:51:10,183 That's what He did. 998 00:51:10,183 --> 00:51:16,076 He suffered on behalf of others. 999 00:51:16,076 --> 00:51:17,551 While He was suffering, 1000 00:51:17,551 --> 00:51:20,597 He gave Himself for others. 1001 00:51:20,597 --> 00:51:28,254 And just be mindful. Just be mindful. 1002 00:51:28,254 --> 00:51:30,379 What I wanted to do tonight 1003 00:51:30,379 --> 00:51:34,600 was just put loneliness on the table. 1004 00:51:34,600 --> 00:51:38,802 Just get us thinking about it as a church 1005 00:51:38,802 --> 00:51:41,689 that we really might try to help alleviate 1006 00:51:41,689 --> 00:51:44,040 that suffering in one another. 1007 00:51:44,040 --> 00:51:48,177 Father, we pray that You would give us 1008 00:51:48,177 --> 00:51:54,549 grace to be successful in this; 1009 00:51:54,549 --> 00:51:57,521 to be fruitful in this. 1010 00:51:57,521 --> 00:51:59,007 In Christ's name, we pray. 1011 00:51:59,007 --> 00:51:59,754 Amen.