Isolation is Deadly

Recap

Over the past few weeks we’ve looked at ways that the Bible speaks to Anxiety and Depression, and how we are to combat these terrible mental conditions.

In week one we looked into the Psalms and saw how Hezekiah was vulnerable and transparent as He acknowledged and confessed His sorrow to the Lord.

In Week 2 we saw How Jesus invites us into a relationship not just so that we can go to Heaven, but so that we can find rest in Him while here on Earth.

Tonight, We’re going to be in Philippians 1. We’re going to be looking at one of the Ways that Paul received encouragement.

- but before we dive into the passage, i want to give you something to think about.

As image bearers of God, we represent him both as individuals and as a community. We each reflect a part of God’s multifaceted nature. Consider this example: a photographer might spend weeks snapping pictures of small bits of the Grand Canyon. Thousands of different pictures could be taken, never repeating the same part of the canyon. The Grand Canyon is so expansive that is includes multiple biomes, landscapes, habitats, weather systems, climates, and geological features. God is even more expansive. No single person could reflect all of God, but each of us can represent a part of him, and when put together in a community, we can better represent more of God to our world. Just like we would could use all of the thousands of pictures to see the Grand Canyon.

Each one of us is Intricate, Beautiful, and Image Bearers of God, but are we able to see the full picture that God wants us and others to see by being alone?

Philippians 1:3–8 ESV

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Do you ever feel isolated? Do you ever feel alone?

As we saw last week, Fear and Shame are two of the causes of Anxiety and depression. And these are two things that rarely push us towards opening up, right? No, by nature Fear and Shame cause us to Shut Down, Close off, to push people away!

It’s important for us to understand that it is natural for us to do that. It’s instinctual for us to go into “survival mode”. What we have to do is reprogram our instincts back to their original, default “pre-sin” settings.

How do we do that? Well, We’ve talked about Acknowledgement, We’ve talked about Vulnerability and intimacy with Jesus through Prayer and the Scriptures. Let’s talk now about Biblical Community.

Tonight we’re gonna see 3 characteristics of Sound Biblical Community that Paul highlights in our Passage:

#1 is Biblical Community is made up of people who’ve:

Got Your Back

Philippians 1:3–4 ESV

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

Paul says that He is “always” in Prayer for the church at Philippi. The word Prayer here could also be translated as making a petition. Paul is saying that he is always going to God on our behalf asking for Him to aid us in whatever struggles that we are going through. We often say that we will “Pray” for someone, but do we passionately go to the Lord on those peoples behalf?

In order to overcome the struggles that we face we need people who will fight to protect us!

Then we see that Paul is:

In it for the Long Haul

Philippians 1:5–6 ESV

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

People will come and go from our lives. When we look around us, ask this question.

Are these people “Friends” or are they “Acquaintances”? There’s a big difference.

Friends are the ones who are willing to put in the time, even when it’s inconvenient for them. They care about you more than themselves.

Paul also highlights the follow through that Jesus has. That he finishes what he starts, and we should as well!

Do Life with You

Philippians 1:7–8 ESV

7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

These are people that Paul has a close relationship with!

Vs. 7 shows us that these the people of the Church at Philippi have the same goals and motivations. He says that they are all Partakers with him.

You need to surround yourself with people who love Jesus and are on the path of Christ!

Vs. 8 says that He Yearns for them!

To Yearn is to “Long for!”

Paul wants to be around these people.

Give Permission to Accountability Partner

Have you shut everyone out of your life?

We are designed for Community

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 ESV

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.