Four Seasons of Life - Loneliness
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· 1,177 viewsOver the years, Pastor Anthony realized two very important things in life. First, that we will only live two lives in a lifetime. One is with the world, and the better one is with God. Secondly, we will have to go through many and different seasons of our lives. He gave voice to what the Bible teaches us when it comes to handling these different seasons in our lives.
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Opening
Opening
Many times in my life I ask myself. How many lives will I live in a life time?
Over some decades, I wore different hats.
I’ve been a Janitor
a Recycling Agent
a Bartender
an Airplane & Helicopter Pilot
a Disc Jockey (spinning records)
a Business Owner (Dance Club, Computer & Cellphone Store, Restaurant, Construction Firm)
a Teacher (computer instructor @ STI)
a Community Organizer
a Public Servant
and then I became a Politician
until the Lord had called me and became a Pastor (a servant leader of Christ)
Only after the Lord reeled me back to Him that I realized two very important things:
That we will only live 2 lives in a lifetime,
one is with the world
and the better one is with God
If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!
If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!
That we will go through many and different seasons in our lives
If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!
That we will go through many and different seasons in our lives
There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season.
Before we proceed to explore together The 4 Seasons of Life, let us first go over with...
The 5 Facts of the Seasons of Life
The 5 Facts of the Seasons of Life
Beyond Our Control
He controls the times and the seasons; he makes and unmakes kings; it is he who gives wisdom and understanding.
Grief
Loss
Waiting
Often Confusing
God has given them a desire to know the future. He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing.
Do people really gain anything from their work?
God has given them a desire to know the future. He does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing.
What is happening to me?
We understand after they are over
Looking back gives you perspective
In our recent trip to the City of Niagara Falls, we had a free tour of NYPA
In one of their video presentation, they said that the building of Niagara Power Project (Dam) started during the “ice age”
They suggested that it was thousands of years in the making
That thought made me look back in the timeline of creation
Although the Bible did not clearly mentioned “ice age” (related to Pleistocene Epoch), Bible Scholars has all the reasons enough for us to believe that “ice age” occured sometime after the “great flood” around 6,000 - 7,000 B.C.
One clarifying fact that I’ve found out was, during the ice age, the entire earth is NOT totally covered with ice, in fact not more than a third of earth was covered with ice, only Northeastern Canada which eventually swept down to North America which are now known as Wisconsin and New York
That means that there are human civilizations down the lower latitudes of the earth, such as in Egypt and Babylonia
We all know that God scattered the people when they started to build the tower in Babylon
Their language were confused by the Lord and they were scattered all over the earth
Because of climate changes and many other factors, some animals were extinct after the great flood, and animal extinction are still true today.
Now, here are two very interesting points for you to look at:
According to archaeologist, Stone tools called “Acheulean” are found in Europe, Asia and Africa that dates back 2.5 million years ago, then on the latter part of the “ice age” they found lots of similar tools called “Mousterian”. If the evolutionists are correct on their suggestion that “ice age” lasted for about 2.5 million of years ago, suggesting that humans evolved from monkeys, that scenario is equivalent to 50,000 human generations before us. This scenario is not fitting the ingenuity of human beings that God created after His very own image (cellphone technology)
Acheulean are found in Europe, Asia and Africa. If the evolutionist is correct on their suggestion that “ice age” was 2.5 million of years ago suggesting that humans evolved from monkeys, that scenario is equivalent to 50,000 human generations before us.
The biggest dinosaur discovered in 2014 is 65 feet tall, they fit in Noah’s Ark which is 75 feet in height. Contrary to what evolutionists are saying that Dinosaurs are million years in the past, based on biblical evidences, they are actually just some thousands of years ago after the great flood. Go visit the “Creation & Earth History Museum” in Santee
Does God owe us explanation?
No, God does not owe us explanation
We live by faith, not by explanation
If you understand all, then you’ll be God
God has a Purpose
We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called, because that was his plan.
This is not a promise to everybody
Everything that happens in the lives of those who are called are filtered by the Father
God is not the author of evil
He does not plan the bad things for your life, it’s your bad decisions that leads to you to bad things
Includes both Good and Bad Times
2 There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to plant and a time to pull up plants. 3 There is a time to kill and a time to heal. There is a time to destroy and a time to build. 4 There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. There is a time to be sad and a time to dance. 5 There is a time to throw away stones and a time to gather them. There is a time to hug and a time not to hug. 6 There is a time to look for something and a time to stop looking for it. There is a time to keep things and a time to throw things away. 7 There is a time to tear apart and a time to sew together. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 There is a time to love and a time to hate. There is a time for war and a time for peace.
You’ll have your winnings and loses
Hills and valleys
There’s a time to wait, and a time to let go
You lose some friends, you win more friends
Story from the our Niagara Falls trip with James & Shelly, Ric & Luisa, Paul & Patricia and Rita
Text Message from Pastor Ric: Thanks for the memories. Much love and blessings. What are the odds that four ministers from different parts of the country would plan the same trip & end up on the same tour of the Falls? I believe the spirit of the Lord was with us. I thank Him for his love and favor. May he continue to grant you traveling mercies on your way home. Rick Obuma
You will reap in Season, what you sow in another
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Plant in spring and harvest in fall
You don’t harvest from your tithing instantaneously
My typewriting lessons story with my father
Remember these facts about the seasons of our lives:
Beyond our Control
Often Confusing
God has a Purpose
Includes both Good & Bad times
You will reap in season, what you sow in another
Remember the Discipline we Learned from every Season
Remember the Discipline we Learned from every Season
Remember today the discipline you learned from the Lord your God. (⌊I’m not talking⌋ to your children. They didn’t see or experience any of this.) You saw and experienced his great power—his mighty hand and powerful arm.
The problem with the Israelites is that, they forget. So the couple of weeks journey through the wilderness dragged to 40 years
I highly recommend for everybody to use a journal where you can log the things that you need to remember
3 Things that We must Remember from every Season:
What you learned from it
What you enjoyed about it
How can you use the lessons your learned going forward
In the month of September, we will look into four seasons of our lives:
In the month of September, we will look into four seasons of our lives:
The Season of Loneliness
The Season of Insecurity
The Season of Financial Stress
And the Season of Enjoyment
Text
Text
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.
Let us look at the life of apostle Paul and how he handled his loneliness
Let us look at the life of apostle Paul and how he handled his loneliness
Paul was born somewhere between 9-14 AD
A student Gamaliel () and became a member of the Sanhedrin (Highest Jewish Council presided over by the High Priest)
He persecuted christians prior to his conversion when he was on his way to Damascus
After his conversion, he wrote half of the New Testament. 13 Epistles or 14 if we are to include Hebrews
He did 3 missionary journeys substantiated by the records in the Bible. 4 if we are to include Spain
He was the greatest christian that has ever lived next to Jesus
And he was “lonely”...
9 Come to see me as soon as you can. 10 Demas loves the things of this world so much that he left me and went to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke has stayed with me. Mark can be very helpful to me, so please find him and bring him with you. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the coat I left at Troas with Carpus. Don’t forget to bring the scrolls, especially the ones made of leather. 14 Alexander, the metalworker, has hurt me in many ways. But the Lord will pay him back for what he has done. 15 Alexander opposes what we preach. You had better watch out for him. 16 When I was first put on trial, no one helped me. In fact, everyone deserted me. I hope it won’t be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood beside me. He gave me the strength to tell his full message, so that all Gentiles would hear it. And I was kept safe from hungry lions. 18 The Lord will always keep me from being harmed by evil, and he will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. Praise him forever and ever! Amen.
2 Timothy 4:9-18
Causes of Loneliness:
Transition
Separation (v.10)
Opposition (v.15)
Rejection (v. 16)
26% of Americans move every year
As they transition, they are separated from the families and friends
Being “independent” became and American Tradition
But the price tag of “independence” is “loneliness”
People have the strong tendencies to fight “loneliness” in defeating manner
Materialism
Workaholism
Sexual escape
Fantasy
These are proven not effective, but instead, led a lot of people to state of depression
What do you do in your season of loneliness?
Let’s learn from Apostle Paul
Let’s learn from Apostle Paul
Utilize My Time
Utilize My Time
13 When you come, bring the coat I left at Troas with Carpus. Don’t forget to bring the scrolls, especially the ones made of leather.
He tried to make himself comfortable
He utilized his time writing epistles
Minimize My Hurt
Minimize My Hurt
16 When I was first put on trial, no one helped me. In fact, everyone deserted me. I hope it won’t be held against them.
Despite of his loneliness caused by his hurting, he still hoped that it will not be held against those who hurt him
Recognize God’s Presence
Recognize God’s Presence
17 But the Lord stood beside me. He gave me the strength to tell his full message, so that all Gentiles would hear it. And I was kept safe from hungry lions.
In every season of Paul’s life, he never failed to recognize God’s presence
Even in his most lonely seasons
Emphasize Other’s Needs
Emphasize Other’s Needs
2 Timothy 4:15
15 Alexander opposes what we preach. You had better watch out for him.
He always had other’s needs, concerns and welfare in his mind
Join a ministry
Or maybe you can start a “care calling” ministry
Socialize with My Life Group
Socialize with My Life Group
10 Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.
15 Be happy with those who are happy, and be sad with those who are sad.
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Prayer
Prayer
Church, shall we pray for each other today?… Lay your right hand to the person on your right and either loudly by your lips, or quietly in the privacy of your hearts, let’s say these prayers.. shall we?
Oh most heavenly comforting Father
You are our compassionate God
You bring joy to those who are lonely
You bring happiness to those are in grief
You bring cheers to those who feel so lowly
You bring togetherness to those who feel loneliness
Forgive us our sins Father
And make us worthy of our prayers
Let Your Spirit of Comfort be upon those who are lonely
Let the fruits of Your Spirit be upon us
So that we may bring comfort to those who are hurting
In times of our loneliness, teach us to utilize our time
Help us to minimize our hurt
Manifest in us, to recognize Your presence
Guide us to emphasize other’s needs
Inspire us to socialize with our Life Group
Lord Jesus, hear our prayers… Amen!