Don’t Go Alone

The Journey Series

Texts: 1 Kings 19:11-18, Matthew 26:36-46

It was back in days of yore… .
A gentleman from the city got his Model T hopelessly stuck in a ditch.
All of his efforts to extract it failed.
Then came along a kindly farmer. “I have an old, blind mule named Elmo that can get you out, sir,” he told the city gent.

“I’d be much obliged,” replied the sir.
The farmer went home and got Elmo, hitched him to the Ford, and hollered, “Pull, Elmo, pull!” Nothing happened.
Then he bellowed, “Pull, Bessie, pull!” Still nothing happened.
Again: “Pull, Jackson, pull!” No results.
Finally, he shouted, “Pull, Elmo, pull!” and the old mule yanked the mired vehicle right out of the mud hole.
The gentleman was confused. “I don’t understand,” he said.
“Why did you call all those different names?”
“Because,” said the farmer, “if Elmo didn’t think he had any help, he wouldn’t even try.”

—Harvey Mackay, syndicated columnist for the Tulsa World and author of Swim with the Sharks without Being Eaten Alive, a New York Times number one bestseller

1 Kings 19:11-18

11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. —1 Kings 19:11-18 (KJV - King James Version)

Elijah sent a text to God.

“I’m ALONE,
Trying to pull Israel out of the ditch.
Wicked queen wants me dead,
she’s after my head.
Let me die.
Love, Elijah.”

God text-messaged back.

“NT!
FYI
No Cap - RN Have 7000 Left,”
Pull, Elijah, pull!

Let’s take a minute and talk about a serious—even deadly—threat.

Something that many of you are probably ashamed to even admit.

In the very recent past, the surgeon general of the United States of America issued an 80-page advisory naming
THIS one of the biggest threats to both mental AND physical health in the United States.

It’s more dangerous to your health than diabetes, obesity, or smoking 14 cigarettes a day …

. - The psychological state that arises when we lack the intimate and authentic relationships we need to thrive.

Nearly

out of three people in America would say they are lonely.

If you feel alone, you are not

in feeling alone!

Your loneliness is not an accusation of your unworthiness; it is a

.

It’s your mind and body trying to tell you that you have an unmet need for

.

Let’s move loneliness from a “you” problem to an “us” problem.

In 2010, adults were spending on average about 6.5 hours a week with their friends. In just over a decade, that’s decreased by 59% to less than 2 hours a week.

In a world full of lonely, isolated people there is no greater

than to be a people who live, increasingly counter-culturally, in way that prioritizes connection and community and radically caring for one another.

78% of young Americans would say they are lonely, compared to only 10-15% of young people in the Netherlands, Ghana, Austria, and Indonesia.

We can be a LIGHT in a world of comparison and social isolation and competition and LONELINESS and we can fulfill the new commandment.

“Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” John 13:34-35

BY THE WAY WE

ONE ANOTHER.

You’re probably never going to just “find” community. But you can

it.

You’re probably going to have to

first.

Do you know how to

a community of people who can be trusted with their faults and their weaknesses?

Reveal Answer

actually have to go first.

36 Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37 And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed.
38 Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
40 And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and He *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?
41 “Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.”
43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.
45 Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 “Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!” —Matthew 26:36-46 (NASB - New American Standard Bible)

And he said to them, “My heart is overwhelmed and crushed with grief. It feels as though I’m dying. Stay here and keep watch with me.” —Matthew 26:38

Has anyone ever had a “dark night?”

The wild thing about travel and time zones that I have learned:
When I am in the middle of the darkest of night, my

across the globe are right in the middle of their

Reveal Answer

.

We were created to do life

.

You have hope that I can borrow until sunrise.

At the end of the day the PEOPLE OF GOD are

dealers!

This is not a FLAW.
This is a

of how God designed us.

Paul Mccartney, and John Lennon tried to capture it in a song back in 1967 when they wrote the words…
What would you think if I sang out of tune?
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
(“A Little Help From My Friends”)

Russ Taff, James Hollihan, and Victoria Taff wrote…“We Will Stand”
You’re my brother, you’re my sisterSo take me by the handTogether we will work until He comesThere’s no foe that can defeat usWe’re walking side by sideAs long as there is love we will stand

Songs like “Brother” by NEEDTOBREATHE,
“By Our Love” - For King and Country…

Song that was written by David Frazier but made popular by Gospel Singer Hezekiah Walker…

“I Need You to Survive”

I need you
You need me
We’re all a part of God’s body
Stand with me
Agree with me
We’re all a part of God’s body
It is his will that every need be supplied
You are important to me
I need you to survive

This is a JOURNEY..

DON’T GO ALONE!
WE need Jesus, and we need EACH OTHER!