Connections Pt. 2 - Solitary
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The Plot Against You
The Plot Against You
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
We cannot allow ourself to get isolated
Isolation is the plan and strategy of the Devil against you to make you a soft target
9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Eccl
This is very similar to the lesson and the picture of the Sequoia Redwoods.
Having deep connections causes us to be resilient to the attacks of the enemy
It is very hard to stand alone.
Remember, Jesus was ALONE when He was tempted of the devil!!!
Offense & Isolation
Offense & Isolation
One of the major reasons for becoming isolated is offense.
Offense is one of the TOP strategies the devil will use against you - don’t be ignorant about that strategy.
1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
One of the major reasons for becoming isolated is offense.
Offense - It’s going to happen!!!
Offence = SKANDALON = “trapstick”
The most important thing is how we handle those offenses
Some people choose to withdraw and isolate:
-If we simply aren’t around people, we won’t have to deal with being offended.
-If we never let people close enough to hurt us, we will never be hurt
What if we could simply be healed every time we are wounded? - Like Wolverine
Is that impossible?
Or does it take ACTUAL forgiveness and ACTUAL faith for God’s healing power to come in?
1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
luke17:
(KJV Strong's) 1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences (skandalon) will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Faith for what?
Faith for what?
- Faith cometh by hearing the word of God ()
-Faith that vengeance belongs to God & He will repay ()
-Faith that God is working on both of us - Sometimes we TAKE OFENCE unnecessarily…no one can MAKE YOU BE OFFENDED ()
-Faith that God will heal your hurting heart & take your heart of stone and turn it to flesh ( & ,)
Expectation is the breeding ground for Offense
Expectations for how we should be treated
Expectations about how our ideas should be accepted
If someone challenges our thoughts, ideas, or actions it can be a source of offense.
We all think we are right, sometimes even more right than God
Sometimes people say, if I were God…this assumes we know better than God!
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
Pro
3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”
(KJV Strong's) 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
We cannot sharpen ourself!
We NEED others
Just One Thing:
Just One Thing:
Fight isolationism with connection & grace.
Let’s change for the better - TOGETHER!!!
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Questions:
Questions:
How many times have you moved residences?
Knowing that offences will continue to come your way, how do you feel that God is challenging you to respond (perhaps differently than you have in the past) to the offences that come?
Read and share why you think anyone (including yourself) might possibly be offended by Jesus.
What is your biggest personal struggle with staying connected?