I . Introduction: Separation from the Lord has consequences.

A. We cannot spend time away from Christ and expect to end right side up!

1. Where would we be without our strength (Philippians 4:13)?
2. How can we be upright when we are outside of the light (I John 1:5-7; cf. Ephesians 5:14-16)?
3. How can we expect eternal life without Christ (I Peter 5:10 and I John 5:20)?

B. We need to have the Father in our lives for the blessings we have from Him through Christ:

1. We need to spend time with the Father daily (Psalms 86:3; cf. Psalms 68:19).
2. Our time with the Father is through the Son (Colossians 3:17 and I Timothy 2:5).
3. We need to know that we cannot be separated from the Lord by anyone (Romans 8:35-39).
4. There is one exception, we can separate ourselves from the Lord (Isaiah 59:1-2).

A. Time spent without Christ allows fear to set in as hope is removed (such as was for Gentiles before the cross: Ephesians 2:12).

1. Christ is our hope (I Timothy 1:1, Titus 2:13, and I Peter 1:3).
2. Notice the presence of fear in the absence of Christ (Mark 16:1-8 and John 20:19-20).

a. Fearing God is pleasing to Him (Psalms 2:11 and Luke 1:50).
b. Godly fear brings hope for mercy from the Father (Psalms 33:18).
c. Godly fear brings works of obedience rooted in faith (Hebrews 11:7).

3. The fear of the Jews the disciples displayed was because of the absence of faith in Christ (Matthew 10:28 and Hebrews 13:5-6).
4. The fear the disciples faced, as their hope was removed [a false hope to begin with: Acts 1:6], is not fear God wants His children to have (Romans 8:15, II Timothy 1:7, and I John 4:18).

B. Time spent without Christ allows our faith to be damaged and doubt sets in (Romans 5:1-2).

1. The disciples doubted and lost faith through Christ’s absence (Matthew 28:16-17, Mark 16:9-14, and Luke 24:9-11).
2. Setting your eyes off Christ will cause you to lose faith (Matthew 14:23-32).
3. Faithless people cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6 and James 1:5-8).

C. Time spent without Christ allows ignorance of the Word to set in, as He is the word (John 1:1; 14; cf. Psalms 119:15-16).

1. They had three days apart from Christ and so easily forgot (Luke 24:1-8 and John 20:1-9).
2. They failed to recall what He had told them when present (Mark 8:27-31).
3. We need not forget to spend time with the Word (John 8:31; 47, John 15:7, Hebrews 12:25, II Peter 2:20, and II Peter 3:18; cf. Joshua 1:8).
4. We need to realize how excellent the knowledge of Christ is (Philippians 3:8).

D. Time spent without Christ will stop us from working in His vineyard and cause us to return to our own (Matthew 24:45-51).

1. Failing to continue to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:17-23), some returned to the attempt of catching fish in the absence of the Savior (John 21:2-19).
2. We will stop working if Christ is not in our lives (Colossians 1:28-2:4).
3. We often need reminded that faith, without works, is dead (James 2:19-26).

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