Isolation

Introduction

What would happen pinky toe, foot, leg, head, got severed from my body…how would it operate on its own?

What would you think of someone who thought that a leg would benefit from being separate from the body?

The exact same thing applies to us spiritually, as the body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1 Corinthians 12:21–22 ESV

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

The point is we need each other!!!!

Isolation

One of the scariest and most dangerous places we can ever be in our life, especially as a Christians, is in isolation.

Isolation - the state of being alone, or apart from others

I’m not talking about being alone once in a while, or getting some space…I mean a consistent pattern of isolating ourselves from others emotionally, spiritually, physically, and mentally.

4. 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.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

11. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Pencil Object Lesson

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Does anyone know some of the tactics that a lion uses when he hunts?

They are very sneaky

They prey on the weak, or the prey that is most isolated from the group

They use darkness to hide

We become targets of the enemy when we try to hide behind our problems, and emotions.

I’m not saying you just tell everyone all your business, but talk with a friend, or parent, or pastor about things

Without others, we begin to collapse upon ourselves. As our world becomes smaller, our issues grow bigger.

Without others, we begin to collapse upon ourselves. As our world becomes smaller, our issues grow bigger.

Fish bowl example

Don’t isolate yourself from God

Genesis 3:6–10 ESV

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

“Where are you?”

They were afraid and shameful

Announcement of Laser Tag

They prey on weakness and in darkness

ESV / 6 helpful votes

Get your waivers in

Give story leading up to Eve eating the fruit

Genesis 3:6-10

We will meet here at the school and leave at 5:30.

Give an example of a fish in the ocean vs a fish bowl.

Satan - Adversary…in the NT it carries with it a liturgical sense. It means accuser

Devil - Slanderer…meaning to give a false, defaming report

Roaring Lion - Loud and intimidating

Still small voice of God speaks louder

Satan is just a mouth

Satan is not the opposite of God