In the late summer and early fall of 2014 the adult bible study group did a study titled "The Overwhelmed Challenge". It was the prelude to a much longer study, "Overwhelmed: Winning the War Against Worry". This is the first of the five lessons to that study. If you liked the first study they you will enjoy this one because it was the reason that we did the more detailed study. I recommend that you get the book that prompted me to do these two studies, Overwhelmed: Winning the War Against Worry by Noble Perry. You can get it at Amazon by clicking this Link or the image of the book at the end of this post.
Introduction
Key Scripture Romans 8:28 (HCSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
Stress, anxiety and worry are something we all struggle with at some point in our lives. But what about when it gets to a point where you feel completely overwhelmed? In a devotional series Perry Noble, senior pastor of NewSpring Church, explains five ways that we can begin to win the war against worry. founding and senior pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina. The church averages more than 32,000 people during weekend services at multiple campuses across the state. In Overwhelmed: Winning the War Against Worry, Perry Noble talks about his own struggle with depression and what he learned in overcoming the battle against stress and anxiety.
Between financial struggles, marital issues, health scares, and the run-of-the-mill problems of everyday life, it’s easy to feel weighed down and trapped by your circumstances. In times like these, it’s tempting to just throw in the towel and quit. With all the bad thing that are happening and will happen like the storms that have ravaged the southeast and midwest where people have died and property destroyed, how about when a police officer on duty or a young girl or boy is killed by a drunk driver, or in a fit of rage and man kills his whole family or someone goes on a military base and just starts shooting or to make it more personal when we lose a loved one or lose a job or lose our home and all these things happen in succession, how can Paul say and encourage his readers and eventually us to say what he did in Romans 8:28.
These words from Paul are not from a person who has had it good all his life but from a guy who was often "under great pressure" and "despaired even of life"
2 Corinthians 1:8 (HCSB) 8 For we don’t want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia: we were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength—so that we even despaired of life.
He was "hard pressed on every side" and "perplexed," "persecuted" and "struck down"
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (HCSB) 8 We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9 we are persecute but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.
He experienced "beatings," "imprisonments," "riots" and "hunger".
2 Corinthians 6:4-5 (HCSB) 4
But as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything: by great endurance, by afflictions, by
hardship, by difficulties, 5 by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by labors, by sleepless
nights, by times of hunger,
To be free from the realities of sin and death does not mean that we can live our lives unaffected by the continuing presence of sin and death in this world. So what’s the good? Doesn’t make sense does it? Here’s what it means. It is the destiny of those who love the Lord to be like Jesus. God is committed to produce in us all the love, all the joy, all the patience, all the long-suffering, all the goodness, and all the gentleness of Jesus. But until that happens we are still subject to the realities of sin and death. It is God's love in Christ that sustains us and empowers us—even in the midst of our experiences of sin and death—"to be conformed to the likeness of his Son"
Romans 8:29 (HCSB) For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
God works in all things toward that good purpose, to conform us to the image of Jesus. But He only does it for "those who love him".
Romans 5:8 (HCSB) But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Instead of the word for let’s replace it with "for the benefit of," "on behalf of," and "instead of." then the full significance of Christ's death "for" us hits home.
Isaiah 43:1-3 (HCSB) 1 Now this is what the LORD says— the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who formed you, Israel— “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. 2 I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and ⌊when you pass⌋ through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you. 3 For I Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior, give Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place.
This passage is the beginning of Isaiah’s prophecy about the nation being redeemed from captivity God is saying that after the period of captivity, which was 70 years, that Israel would be restored to its place; he would claim their rights and fulfill their obligations for them. The ground for these promises was not on merit but on God's unmerited favor and grace, and his self-commitment as Father to his covenant people. We are now his covenant people through Christ.
Philippians 1:6 (HCSB) I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Before we get into what Paul means by this statement let's look at why he was writing to the church at Philippi.
Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter and he wasn't sure of the result of a trial. He wanted to thank them for the gifts they had sent him. He wanted to tell them about his current circumstances. He wanted to appeal for unity in the church. He wanted to warn them about false doctrine especially that of the Jewish Christians who were insisting on circumcision for the Gentiles. He wanted to urge them to stay loyal to their faith.
He was confident that their partnership, with him, in the Gospel would continue and that it rested upon the faithfulness of God who, having begun a good work, would most certainly bring it to completion.
And that completion is, as we talked about when discussing Romans 8:28, our being conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
Our reliance is on God and we are positive that God will keep us because;
So at the most stressful moments in your life, at the times when you feel most overwhelmed stop and focus on God. Here's what Pastor Nobel says he does and I think it is great advice. He looks at who God is. He made a list that helps him and it can help us and keep us from freaking out. Here's the list:
• SOVEREIGN — He reigns over everyone and everything and has never been stressed out.
• UNSTOPPABLE and so are those who follow Him.
• HOLY— God is perfect, which means everything He wants/desires for my life is far greater than anything I could have thought of. • CONSISTENT — I don’t have to worry about Him being in a bad mood.
• GREATER than any temptation the enemy throws my way.
• BETTER than anything the world has to offer.
• BIGGER than any sin or failure in my life.
• GRACIOUS — He knows every stupid, foolish, sinful thing I’ve ever done (or will do), and yet He loves me anyway!
• ALWAYS here with me — God has NEVER walked away from me. He doesn’t always deliver me from the fire, but He has ALWAYS walked with me through it!
• FAITHFUL — If I fail to see His faithfulness in my past, I will probably not recognize the fruitfulness of my future.
• THE ONE WHO PURSUES ME — He pursues me even on the days I tend to walk away from Him.
• RELENTLESS — He has NEVER given up on me!
• PASSIONATE — His passion and zeal that the scriptures reveal cause me to be in AWE. I could go on and on, but what I want you to see is that when stress comes into our lives it is an awesome opportunity to KNOW GOD. So, if you are stressed out, freaked out and feel like you are about to give out, then “check out” for 10 minutes from your busy life, sit down with a piece of paper, make a list of who the scriptures say GOD IS, and focus on that rather than your circumstances.
To be free from the realities of sin and death does not mean that we can live our lives unaffected by the continuing presence of sin and death in this world. So what’s the good? Doesn’t make sense does it? Here’s what it means. It is the destiny of those who love the Lord to be like Jesus. God is committed to produce in us all the love, all the joy, all the patience, all the long-suffering, all the goodness, and all the gentleness of Jesus. But until that happens we are still subject to the realities of sin and death. It is God's love in Christ that sustains us and empowers us—even in the midst of our experiences of sin and death—"to be conformed to the likeness of his Son"
Romans 8:29 (HCSB) For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
God works in all things toward that good purpose, to conform us to the image of Jesus. But He only does it for "those who love him".
So with that let’s start our study.
Don’t look at what is wrong, look at who God is and his character!
Romans 5:8 (HCSB) But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Instead of the word for let’s replace it with "for the benefit of," "on behalf of," and "instead of." then the full significance of Christ's death "for" us hits home.
Isaiah 43:1-3 (HCSB) 1 Now this is what the LORD says— the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who formed you, Israel— “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. 2 I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and ⌊when you pass⌋ through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you. 3 For I Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior, give Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place.
This passage is the beginning of Isaiah’s prophecy about the nation being redeemed from captivity God is saying that after the period of captivity, which was 70 years, that Israel would be restored to its place; he would claim their rights and fulfill their obligations for them. The ground for these promises was not on merit but on God's unmerited favor and grace, and his self-commitment as Father to his covenant people. We are now his covenant people through Christ.
Philippians 1:6 (HCSB) I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Before we get into what Paul means by this statement let's look at why he was writing to the church at Philippi.
Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter and he wasn't sure of the result of a trial. He wanted to thank them for the gifts they had sent him. He wanted to tell them about his current circumstances. He wanted to appeal for unity in the church. He wanted to warn them about false doctrine especially that of the Jewish Christians who were insisting on circumcision for the Gentiles. He wanted to urge them to stay loyal to their faith.
He was confident that their partnership, with him, in the Gospel would continue and that it rested upon the faithfulness of God who, having begun a good work, would most certainly bring it to completion.
And that completion is, as we talked about when discussing Romans 8:28, our being conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
Our reliance is on God and we are positive that God will keep us because;
- God started the work of grace
- . It was deliberate, and intentional. It was not by chance.
- There is no reason why he would start such a work and then abandon it. He has no power to complete it.
- God doesn't abandon anything that He starts. There are no unfinished worlds or systems; no half-made and forsaken works of His hands. There is no evidence in His works of creation of change of plan, or of having forsaken what He started from disgust, or disappointment, or lack of power to complete them.
- He has promised to keep the renewed soul to eternal life
So at the most stressful moments in your life, at the times when you feel most overwhelmed stop and focus on God. Here's what Pastor Nobel says he does and I think it is great advice. He looks at who God is. He made a list that helps him and it can help us and keep us from freaking out. Here's the list:
GOD IS
• SOVEREIGN — He reigns over everyone and everything and has never been stressed out.
• UNSTOPPABLE and so are those who follow Him.
• HOLY— God is perfect, which means everything He wants/desires for my life is far greater than anything I could have thought of. • CONSISTENT — I don’t have to worry about Him being in a bad mood.
• GREATER than any temptation the enemy throws my way.
• BETTER than anything the world has to offer.
• BIGGER than any sin or failure in my life.
• GRACIOUS — He knows every stupid, foolish, sinful thing I’ve ever done (or will do), and yet He loves me anyway!
• ALWAYS here with me — God has NEVER walked away from me. He doesn’t always deliver me from the fire, but He has ALWAYS walked with me through it!
• FAITHFUL — If I fail to see His faithfulness in my past, I will probably not recognize the fruitfulness of my future.
• THE ONE WHO PURSUES ME — He pursues me even on the days I tend to walk away from Him.
• RELENTLESS — He has NEVER given up on me!
• PASSIONATE — His passion and zeal that the scriptures reveal cause me to be in AWE. I could go on and on, but what I want you to see is that when stress comes into our lives it is an awesome opportunity to KNOW GOD. So, if you are stressed out, freaked out and feel like you are about to give out, then “check out” for 10 minutes from your busy life, sit down with a piece of paper, make a list of who the scriptures say GOD IS, and focus on that rather than your circumstances.
No comments:
Post a Comment