The book of Lamentations opens with, “How lonely sits the city that was full of people!” America is quickly becoming a lonely nation. We are living in an age when friendliness seems suspicious; many people don’t know their neighbors; and technology creates a false sense of community. Loneliness can be occasional, chronic, or acute. It can be genetic or environmental. No matter the type or cause, God provides a solution to loneliness in Acts 2 — The Holy Spirit.

[Nehemiah 5] Nearly a quarter of Jesus’ teachings were on money, finance, and stewardship; yet as Christians we tend to shy away from the subject. Nehemiah 5 reflects the times we are living in — many losing jobs, pay cuts, mortgaging property just to get money to eat, and people so upside down that they can’t do anything to get out of it. Hard times often bring about fear and anxiety, but the Bible tells us not to worry or be anxious. God will provide. He will not forsake you. Like Nehemiah, we should examine our own lives and how we are spending our money.

Do you love Jesus? Are you willing to break away from those familiar things that you thought would give you purpose, provision and joy? What about your old life and your friends that are not willing to follow Jesus? Are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit to search out your heart so you can break away and follow Jesus? Jesus is asking you are you willing to take the journey with Him so we can make a difference in this generation. Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me more than these?". What are your "these"?

This message is for those who are in an intense unseen battle. You know that God has called you and loves you but you find yourself for a season in an extremely lonely and vulnerable place. Like King David you are sent to "lion and bear country". When you put your life in God's hands it draws the attack of the lion and the bear. Except the Lord show up we will be devoured. In this solitary unseen place there is evidence that God is with us because when the lion and the bear show up so does He!

God the Father wants to heal us from our fears, worries, and anxieties. There are 365 fear not's in scripture. In Isaiah 41:10 God tells us not to be anxious or fearful because He is with us; He is our God; He will strengthen us; He will help us; and He will uphold us — the five pillars of fearlessness. In Philippians 4, God provides an antidote to fear. We must seek and rejoice in Him. We are to stand strong in a new revelation of Him. We are to surrender and release our heart and life to Him.