Overview: Nobody likes feeling alone. I am not talking about the feeling of serenity you experience when you take the time to “get-away” from the hustle and bustle of a busy life. If we are honest, we all need a timeout sometimes. Nonetheless, the kind of loneliness that I am talking about is when a person feels like the whole world has abandoned them. At times, they may even feel as though God has jumped ship.

Directions: Today, we will examine the guarantee we have as Christians in knowing that we are not alone. In other words, no matter how isolated we feel from God, or from each other, we can rest in the reality that God is with us, through the Holy Spirit.

We will explore four key truths from Paul’s letter to the church of Rome that will help us not only see the guarantee of the Lord’s presence, but also the work of God within the hearts and lives of all believers.

Apart from the Holy Spirit:

1. Our minds are limited.
2. Our desires are misguided.
3. Our pursuits are empty.

Through the Holy Spirit:

1. Our minds are conformed.
2. Our desires are redirected.
3. Our pursuits are in step.

What predestination is not:

1. It does not negate personal responsibility.
2. It is not manipulation, but transformation.
3. It is not about fairness.
4. It does not make void the Great Commission.

Destination: As followers of Jesus Christ, we live not for ourselves, but we live for Him. Apart from the Holy Spirit, it is not possible to live up to our God-given expectation. However, we are not alone. As Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells within us. We can live for God because God is working in us.

Reflection: Use the private notes section below or your personal journal to put the message of these verses into your own words so you can communicate them with others.

Your voice matters! (see Mark 16:15)