[Music] this is why you are lonely without friends and relationships your character or you are in a season of isolation Seasons of Loneliness and isolation can be a challenging and confusing time for Christians we're called to be in unity relating with everyone in purity of heart to love and serve one another and yet sometimes we find ourselves lonely have you ever felt like the Prophet Elijah sitting under a broom tree wondering if you're the only one left who cares about God or perhaps you're like the Apostle Paul Shipwrecked and alone on a deserted island relying
on God's promise to be with those he loved even in isolation but what if this season is not a punishment but a pruning what if God is using this time to refine your character test your faith and prepare you for the relationships and friendships that are to come in psalm 25: 16 and 17 David writes turn to me and be gracious to me for I am lonely and Afflicted the Troubles of my heart are enlarged bring me out of my distresses that was his season of isolation despite his kingly position and all he had acquired
for himself this points to the fact that no one can avoid this experience in this video we'll shed light on the issue of loneliness tracing its cause outlining the next step to take and then trust God for help through prayers let's get to it God never created anyone to be lonely and there are many truths to prove that firstly in the case of Adam it is not good for man to be alone and that prompted him to create Eve secondly God created every other person and brought them to Earth through a family this suggests that
everyone has a family and loved ones who are meant to be around you till you depart this world thirdly at every point in one's life God brings people who you create viable relationships with this is in the bid to achieve a feat no one worked alone as God's servants and fulfilled Destiny on Earth because Ecclesiastes 4:12 says a person standing alone can be attacked and defeated but two can stand back to back and Conquer three are even better for a triple braided cord is not easily broken all these show the power of Association and unity
but then what happens when you're lonely after all God has planned for you what has ushered you into a season of isolation is God involved in whatever you are going through are you certain it's a season of isolation by God or a consequence of your character these are questions that come to mind when you experience loneliness as a Believer to critically shed light on these questions we're not going to stand on the fence rather we'll explore the two sides first loneliness as a result of one's character and secondly loneliness as a means of God's isolation
firstly is it possible to be lonely as a result of one's character yes it is certain behaviors Chase not only people from your life but also make God stay away from you the Bible records some negative attributes that can lead to loneliness and also some Biblical characters that were victims of that one such characteristic is pride this is foremost because it was first manifested by the devil he thought so highly of himself he saw God as nothing nothing and he desired to Dethrone God and Rule all that God has created despite all he said God
sent him out of his presence throwing him down into Hades a place of utter darkness and nashing of teeth and certainly a place of loneliness if you're proud you will struggle to have a great relationship with God for the Bible says in James 4:6 but he gives more grace therefore he says God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble resistance from God will always lead you to a state of loneliness the scent of pride is what God dislikes and when God keeps you far from him he expects that you acknowledge your weakness and
trust him for help beyond the fact that Pride affects your relationship with God it also deters people from associating with you it makes you become a Lone Ranger in life no one wants to associate with a proud person someone who sees himself yourself as the best and all knowing for your eyes to be open to the attribute of Pride God will have to bring you to a place of loneliness in that state you easily reflect on your actions and your eyes become open to your life and the mistakes you've made aside from Pride another characteristic
that leads to loneliness is a lack of love and compassion for people in your association with God and those around you the attributes of love and comp passion must be noticeable love is a profound fruit of God's spirit because the Bible informs us that God is love and anyone who loves is born of God and knows God how then can you have a relationship with God when hatred has replaced Love in Your Heart Is it possible to have people around you when all you manifest is hatred and dislike certainly not everyone is attracted to love
and compassion Jesus was able to minister to The Afflicted because he had comp passion on them 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3 says if I could speak in any language in heaven or on Earth but didn't love others I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging symbol if I had the gift of Prophecy and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything but didn't love others what good would I be and if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain
and make it move without love I would be no good to anybody if I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body I could boast about it but if I didn't love others I would be of no value whatsoever in all we do and live for love must be present and if it's not everyone will have to give way allowing you to stay alone the world is already plagued with so much evil and darkness that anyone who cannot Proclaim light through love will be avoided like a plague reading the story of
Cain you discover that when your heart is filled with hatred you have no place in the community of people everything and everyone becomes torn in your flesh and on the flip side your character will not attract anyone this same experience led to the death of Judas es scariot after he betrayed Jesus the guilt and shame ushered him to a season of loneliness he couldn't associate with his Brethren sadly while in that state the devil influenced him to take his life you need to look within and reflect on your character do you project love is your
state of loneliness a result of your hatred in your heart look deep and be sincere with yourself God has allowed you to come into a season of loneliness because he desires that you prune your life take out the negativities and ask for his help to overcome every weakness that seems to keep you in a a state of loneliness without any positive impact never allow the devil to take advantage of loneliness in your life he will never project anything good into your heart rather trust God to forgive your ignorance and declare the prayer of David in
Psalms 51 veres 10 to2 which says create in me a clean heart oh God renew a right Spirit Within Me Do not banish me from your presence and don't take your Holy Spirit from me restore to me again the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you having established this truth let's delve into the aspect of loneliness as a result of God's isolation dear friend God can choose to bring you into a season of isolation this is not a point where you are exposed to the negativities of life but a season where
you're enrolled in the school of training for every believer there are stages of growth that must play out in your walk with God no one remains at a stage for too long because God desires that your mind be transformed daily it is expected that you come to the stage and declare like Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:1 which reads when I was a child I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does but when I grew up I put away childish things you may ask why does God isolate the chosen ones here are some
reasons firstly he does that to refine your faith and trust in him 1 Peter 1:7 says these trials are only to test your faith to show that it is strong and pure it is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold so if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials it will bring you much praise Glory and Honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world in isol a trials will come your way to test your the
strength of your faith in God when you overcome those trials you come to a season of a deeper relationship with God after Jesus overcame the Temptation Of The Devil it was said that God's angels came down to minister to him God desires your faith and trust in him grows like that of Abraham with every trial and test that comes your way you're unwavering secondly when God isolates you he seeks to reveal his plans to you there is something special about isolation it keeps you in a state of deep concentration you're not distracted by the pleasures
of this world and all you desire is just a steady communion with God in that state the Holy Spirit comes to reveal the plans of God to you and your ears and heart become open to what God has to say Elijah had such an experience while in the wilderness the Bible informs us that he fled for safety after receiving a threat from Jezebel for killing the false prophets Elijah while in the wilderness asked God to take his life he felt like a failure but he never knew God had a better plan for him and in
that state God spoke to him about the future of Israel Elijah would have been ignorant of what God planned for Israel Not For That season of isolation for you it may be that God seeks to reveal R deep and hidden things about your life career marriage or even your nation the best way to communicate his purposes to you is by bringing you into a season of isolation with this in mind it is important not to trivialize such a season rather make the most out of it such Seasons don't come often another tangible reason why God
brings you into a season of isolation is for empowerment God certainly has a plan for everyone he has a purpose for bringing into the world and in fulfilling that purpose you need to be empowered with all you need for Success when the season for your empowerment comes God isolates you he does that because he wants you to build your faith strength knowledge and authority to face the world without empowerment No One Can Do Anything worthwhile Matthew chapter 19: 26 says with man this is impossible but With God all things are possible you cannot do God's
work without God's power hence the season of isolation enables you to access the power of God and get filled with it for the task ahead we find this Truth exemplified by the disciples after Jesus ascended to Heaven he instructed them to T in Jerusalem until they were filled with power and the Bible informs that the disciples went to the upper room and stayed there praying and expecting the baptism of the Holy Spirit what happened next Acts 2: 3 and 4 says then what looked like Flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of
them and everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability after this experience it was said that the disciples were never the same again they went out to the streets preaching the gospel with boldness Healing The Sick and casting out demons from The Afflicted that is what empowerment can do but never forget it comes with isolation you can isolate yourself in fasting and prayer like the disciples did you can take time off your work and seek the face of God for a new
level but in all you never trivialize the season of isolation from God while you do this it is important to note that the season of isolation is not an easy one it takes discipline determination OB obedience and trust in God to make the most of that season therefore it is on that note that I'd like you to join me in this heartfelt prayer as we make our needs known to god let's pray Our Father in heaven we come before you today acknowledging that some of us are struggling with loneliness and isolation we recognize that our
character issues and seasons of isolation have contributed to our current state Lord we ask for your mercy and Grace to cover us forgive us for our pride fear and Disobedience that have led to our loneliness help us to see ourselves as you see us and to address the areas of Our Lives that need Improvement we pray for the strength to overcome our character flaws and to cultivate qualities like humility love and forgiveness May our relationships with others be built on mutual respect trust and open communication Lord we ask for your comfort and presence in our
lives be our friend and companion in times of loneliness help us to see that we are not alone but that you are always with us we pray for the courage to reach out to others and to build meaningful relationships May Our Lives be a reflection of your love and grace Lord we also ask for wisdom to discern the seasons of isolation that you have ordained for our lives help us to use these times for self-reflection growth and intimacy with you may our congregation be a place of belonging support and encouragement may we be the friends
and family that others need in times of loneliness in Jesus name we pray amen shalom [Music]
