Mind Games
Arresting Anxiousness • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
EARLIER IN THE TEXT HE TALKS ABOUT THE PEACE OF GOD...
HERE IN THE TEXT HE TALKS ABOUT THE GOD OF PEACE
THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU
THIS MORNING I WANT TO TALK TO YOU FROM THIS SUBJECT...
MIND GAMES....
TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR......MIND GAMES
THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE IN PHIL 4 EXPOSES US TO A SIGNIFICANT AND SOBERING TRUTH REGARDING....
THE REALITY OF ANXIOUSNESS...
AND THIS TRUTH CAN BE CAPTURED IN THE FOLLOWING PHRASE...
ANXIOUSNESS IS NOT ALWAYS THE SICKNESS, SOMETIMES IT’S THE SYMPTOM OF AN UNDISCIPLINED IMAGINATION.
OH COME ON SOMEBODY...
WHEREVER THERE IS A LACK OF DISCIPLINE...
THERE WILL BE A PRESENCE OF PROBLEMS
AND WE LIVE IN A CULTURAL CONTEXT WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT DISCIPLINE REGARDING.....
OUR BODIES AND OUR BUDGETS
AND DISCIPLINE REGARDING OUR BOUNDARIES BUT..
IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND IMPERATIVE TO HAVE DISCIPLINE REGARDING...
OUR IMAGINATION.....
BECAUSE AN UNDISCIPLINED IMAGINATION LEADS TO ANXIOUSNESS
PASTOR CHRIS.....WHAT IS AN UNDISCIPLINED IMAGINATION..
I AM SO GLAD YOU ASKED
AN UNDISCIPLINED IMAGINATION REFERS TO THE UNCONTROLLED TENDENCY OF THE MIND TO CREATE SCENARIOS, FEARS, OR “WHAT-IFS” THAT AMPLIFY WORRY AND ANXIOUSNESS
IT INVOLVES ALLOWING THOUGHTS TO SPIRAL WITHOUT INTENTIONAL GUIDANCE OR BOUNDARIES, OFTEN LEADING TO EXAGGERATED OR CATASTROPHIC THINKING
THIS IS AN UNDISCIPLINED IMAGINATION
AND IF MY MIND DOES NOT HAVE DISCIPLINE THEN EVENTUALLY ANXIOUSNESS WILL HAVE MY MIND
OH COME ON....
THIS IS WHY THE APOSTLE PAUL SEEMS TO...
NOT JUST IN PHILLIPI BUT...
THROUGHOUT ALL OF HIS WRITINGS HE SEEMS TO BE...
ARTICULATING THIS CONSISTENT THEME BETWEEN...
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AND MIND MANAGEMENT
OH COME ON....
MY SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AFFECTS MY MIND MANAGEMENT...
AND MY MIND MANAGEMENT AFFECTS MY SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
MY SPIRITUALITY DOES NOT JUST AFFECT MY MORALS BUT...
IT ALSO AFFECTS MY MIND...
HE DOESN’T JUST SAY IT TO BELIEVERS IN PHILLIPI...
HE SAID IT TO THE BELIEVERS IN ROME...
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
HE DIDN’T JUST SAY IT TO THE BELIEVERS IN ROME....
HE SAYS IT TO THE BELIEVERS IN CORINTH
IN 2 CORINTHIANS 10 THE CONTEXT OF THIS CONVERSATION IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE
LITERALLY IN THIS PART OF THE LETTER HE IS TALKING TO THEM ABOUT BIBLICAL SPIRITUAL WARFARE
NOT CHURCH SPIRITUAL WARFARE WHICH IS...
A DEMON IN EVERY CHAIR
HE IS TALKING ABOUT BIBLICAL SPIRITUAL WARFARE....
WHEN HE SAYS....
THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD FOR THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONGHOLDS, THE CASTING DOWN OF IMAGINATIONS
WATCH WHAT IT SAYS....
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
ARGUMENTS....WE DEMOLISH WHAT????
BECAUSE ANXIOUSNESS COMES FROM ARGUMENTS
NOT ARGUMENTS FROM PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM
NOT ARGUMENTS AGAINST EACH OTHER
NOT ARGUMENTS WITH PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
HE IS TALKING ABOUT ARGUMENTS ON THE INSIDE.....(OUR MIND)
“YOUR NOT GOING TO MAKE IT”,
THIS IS NOT GONNA WORK
THIS IS GOING TO END BADLY
YOUR ABOUT TO BE EMBARRASSED
YOUR NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND YOU NEVER WILL BE
OH COME ON...
THE PERSON YOU ARGUE WITH THE MOST....
IS YOU....
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
NOW LISTEN TO THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE WORK OF WARFARE.....
and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
SO....THE WORK IS...
NOT ALLOWING THE THOUGHTS TO ACCUMULATE
BECAUSE THOUGHTS ARE LIKE BRICKS
AND WHAT STARTED AS A BRICK...
WILL QUICKLY BECOME A WALL
AND THE WORD THAT THE BIBLE USES TO DESCRIBE WALLS IN YOUR MIND.....
IS STRONGHOLDS
OH I WISH SOMEONE WAS GETTING THIS....
SO THE WAY THAT I STOP A THOUGHT FORM BECOMING A STRONGHOLD IS...
NOT ALLOWING THE THOUGHTS TO ACCUMULATE
BECAUSE IT IS EASIER TO REMOVE A BRICK THAT TO KNOCK DOWN A WALL
HE DIDN’T JUST TALK ABOUT THE MIND TO THE BELIEVERS IN ROME...
HE DIDN’T JUST TALK ABOUT IT TO THE BELIEVERS IN CORINTH
HE TALKED ABOUT THE MIND TO THE BELIEVERS IN COLLOSAI...
HE SAID...
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
SET YOUR MINDS.....WHERE???
ANXIOUSNESS FLIES AT LOW ALTITUDES
OH COME ON....
AXIOUSNESS FLIES AT LOW ALTITUDES SO...
IF I KEEP RUNNING INTO ANXIOUSNESS..
THEN MY THINKING IS TOO LOW
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TODAY THAT WOULD SAY...
I AM DONE THINKING THOUGHTS THAT ARE NOT SERVING GODS INTENTION FOR MY LIFE
THERE IS THIS THING WITH PAUL BETWEEN...
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AND MIND MANAGEMENT
IF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD OF THE TERM....”SANCTIFICATION” JUST RAISE YOUR HAND
DID YOU KNOW THAT IN SANCTIFICATION THAT
THE OBJECT OF THE SPIRIT......IS THE MIND
SO WHAT ACTUALLY GETS SANCTIFIED IS...YOUR MIND
YOU CAN NOT SANCTIFY YOUR BODY WITHOUT SANCTIFYING YOUR MIND
BECAUSE THE BODY ONLY OBEYS THE MIND
THE BODY HAS IMPULSES BUT...
THE BODY CAN NOT ACT WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE MIND
OH MY LORD...HELP ME
THE BODY CAN’T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THE MIND ALLOWS IT!!!
SOME OF THE REASONS THE BODY DESIRES CERTAIN THINGS IS BECAUSE OF THE MEMORIES IN THE MIND
SO PAUL IS SAYING....
YOU CAN NOT CHANGE YOUR LIFE JUST BY CHANGING YOUR LIFE
THE ONLY WAY YOUR LIFE BEGINS TO CHANGE IS BY CHANGING YOUR MIND
YOU CAN NOT ADDRESS BY SIMPLY ADDRESSING ANXIOUSNESS
YOU CAN ONLY ADDRESS ANXIOUSNESS BY ADDRESSING THE MIND
AND THIS IS THE WAY PAUL IS ADDRESSING BELIEVERS IN PHILLIPI REGARDING THEIR ANXIOUSNESS
LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS IN THE CONCLUDING EXHORTATION OF THIS TEXT
VERSE 8....PUT IT ON THE SCREEN BECAUSE YALL NEED TO SEE THE FIRST WORD...
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
PAUL IS TELLING THEM....
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO ARREST ANXIOUSNESS
AND I HAVE TAUGHT YOU THAT...
IF YOU ARE GOING TO ARREST ANXIOUSNESS
YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS YOU INTERPRETATION OF EVENTS
YOU HAVE TO EXPRESS INTENTIONAL APPRECIATION
HE SAID THAT THEY HAD TO ENGAGE IN STRATEGIC SUPPLICATION
BUT HERE IN VERSE 8 HE IS ABOUT TO OFFER THE FINAL INGREDIENTS IN THIS SPIRITUAL RECIPE
IT IS LIKE HE’S SAYING...
YOU CAN PRAY AND YOU CAN PRAISE...
BUT IF YOU DON’T ADD THE FINAL INGREDIENT...YOU WON’T ARREST ANXIOUSNESS
HE IS SAYING...AFTER..
WE GET THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE
AFTER WE PRAISE
AFTER WE PRAY
ANXIOUSNESS CAN STILL RUN RAMPANT IF WE LET OUR THOUGHTS RUN WILD
SO HE IS GIVING THEM DIRECTION ON HOW TO ADDRESS THEIR THOUGHTS.
HE IS GIVING THEM DIRECTION TO GIVE DIRECTION TO THEIR THOUGHTS
HE IS TELLING WHAT TO THINK ABOUT...AND
BY TELLING THEM WHAT TO THINK ABOUT...
HE IS TEACHING THEM WHAT NOT TO THINK ABOUT
HE SAID....
YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO THINK RIGHT
AND JUST SO YOUR NOT CONFUSED ON WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT....
LET ME GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES
ARE YOU READY....HERE IT IS...
WHATEVER IS TRUE
PAUL USES THE WORD TRUE
THE GREEK WORD THAT CORESPONDS WITH THIS WORD MEANS.....DIVINE TRUTH
PAUL IS SAYING....WHATEVER CORRESPONDS WITH WHAT GOD SAYS IS TRUE
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT IS TRUE...
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
PAUL IS SAYING WHATEVER IS TRUE...
HE IS SAYING WHATEVER ALIGNS WITH GODS WORD
HE IS TEACHING THEM HOW TO...
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN FACTS AND TRUTH
BECAUSE ANXIOUSNESS COMES WHEN YOU ARE OBSESSED WITH FACTS...
BUT WE GET FREE FROM ANXIOUSNESS WHEN WE GET OBSESSED WITH TRUTH
OH MY LORD....I HOPE YOUR GETTING THIS...’
FACTS DO NOT CHANGE TRUTH
BUT TRUTH CAN ABSOLUTELY CHANGE THE FACTS
WHAT ARE FACTS......
FACTS ARE TEMPORARY OBSERVABLE REALITIES THAT MAY DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATE OF THINGS
BUT......
TRUTH IS...
ETERNAL REALITIES THAT ARE BASED ON GOD’S WORD AND PROMISES
PASTOR PROVE IT....
THE FACT IS....LAZARUS WAS IN A GRAVE FOR FOUR DAYS
BUT THE TRUTH IS....
JESUS SAID I AM THE RESURRECTION
THE FACT IS....HE’S BEEN IN A GRAVE FOR FOUR DAYS
BUT THE TRUTH IS....WHENEVER JESUS GETS THERE....
WHATEVER IS DEAD....HAS TO COME BACK TO LIFE
OH COME ON SOMEBODY...
THE FACT IS....
THERE MAY BE AN AREA IN YOUR LIFE...
WHERE YOU ARE IN NEED...
WHERE YOU BEEN WRESTLING WITH SOME LACK
BUT THE TRUTH IS....
MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL OF YOUR NEEDS
THE FACT IS.....
THERE MAY BE SOME WEAPONS THAT ARE FORMED AGAINST YOU
BUT THE TRUTH IS...
NO WEAPON.....FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER
THE FACT IS....
YOU MAY BE GROWING WEARY AND TIRED
YOU MAY BE EXHAUSTED FROM WAITING ON GOD TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED HIM TO DO
BUT THE TRUTH IS...
THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD....THEIR STRENGTH SHALL BE RENEWED
OH COME SOMEBODY....GIVE HIM A SHOUT IF YOU BELIEVE IT
FACTS DON’T CHANGE TRUTH BUT...
TRUTH WILL CHANGE THE FACTS
SO PAUL SAYS....THINK ABOUT WHATEVER IS TRUE...
NOT JUST FACTS..... BUT TRUTH
HE SAYS...
2. WHATEVER IS NOBLE
THE GREEK WORD FOR NOBLE MEANS...
THINGS OR PEOPLE THAT ARE HONORABLE, SERIOUS, OR WORTHY OF REVERENCE.
WHICH MEANS....
IF THEY ARE NOT HONORABLE, SERIOUS, OR WORTHY OF REVERENCE
I SHOULD NOT BE THINKING ABOUT THEM
BECAUSE THE ENEMY DOESN’T JUST USE THINGS TO STEAL YOUR JOY
HE USES PEOPLE TO STEAL YOUR JOY
AND IF THEY ARE NOT HONORABLE, SERIOUS, OR WORTHY OF REVERENCE....
DON’T THINK ABOUT THEM
OH COME ON....
IT’S NOT RUDE
IT’S NOT MEAN
IT’S NOT HATEFUL....
IT’S BIBLICAL!!!
3. WHATEVER IS RIGHT
RIGHT (DIKAIOS)
FOCUS ON WHAT ALIGNS WITH GOD’S JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF INJUSTICE
WE SHOULD PUSH BACK AGAINST INJUSTICE
WE SHOULD SPEAK UP FOR THOSE PROVERBS SAYS....
THAT CAN NOT SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES
PSALMS SAYS....
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGEMENT IS HIS THRONE
IT’S NOT ONE OR THE OTHER...IT’S BOTH
RIGHTNESS WITH GOD LEADS TO RIGHTNESS WITH PEOPLE
IT IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
OH COME ONE SOMEBODY...
GOD SAYS THROUGH JOHN...
IF YOU CLAIM TO LOVE GOD... WHO YOU HAVE NOT SEEN
AND YOU DON’T LOVE YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER....
JOHN SAYS....YOU ARE A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN YOU
SO WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHAT IS RIGHT..
BUT IF YOU BECOME OBSESSED WITH IT..
IT WILL STEAL YOUR PEACE
4. WHATEVER IS PURE
COME ON....DON’T GET QUIET ON ME...
WE SAY AMEN TO WHATEVER IS TRUE
NOT WHAT IS COMFORTABLE
IF IT’S TRUE....WE SAY AMEN.....
PURE (HAGNOS)
THINK ON THINGS THAT ARE MORALLY AND SPIRITUALLY CLEAN
HERE IS WHAT PAUL IS SAYING....
IMMORALITY CREATES ANXIOUSNESS
COME ON....
YOU SEE SOMETIMES...THE CONSEQUENCE OF IMMORALITY IS NOT GETTING CAUGHT...
IT IS THE FEAR OF GETTING CAUGHT
SOMETIMES IT’S NOT THE FEAR OF WHAT HAS COME OUT
IT IS THE FEAR OF WHAT COULD...
WHATEVER IS TRUE
WHATEVER IS NOBLE
WHATEVER IS RIGHT
WHATEVER IS PURE
5. WHATEVER IS LOVELY
LOVELY (PROSPHILES)
DWELL ON WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL AND FOSTERS LOVE
WE WILL ALL FIND OURSELVES IN UGLY SEASONS AND UGLY SITUATIONS...
WE MUST INTENTIONALLY LOOK FOR THE BEAUTY IN THE MIDST OF THE UGLY
OH COME ON....
LOSING LOVED ONES...IS UGLY
BUT YOU CAN FIND BEAUTY IN THE UGLY
IT SHOULD NOT TAKE GRIEF TO BRING US THIS CLOSE TO GOD
LETS FIND SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL IN THE UGLINESS OF OUR LIFE
LETS BE MORE INTENTIONAL IN CELEBRATING LIFE....NOT JUST ACKNOWLEDGING PASSING
WE HAVE GOT TO FIND THE BEAUTY
IN JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS....
MY WIFE AND I WILL BE EMPTY NESTERS
NOW IF ALL I THINK ABOUT IS...
MY BABY BOY RUNNING THE BASES IN A TBALL GAME IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION
OR IF I ONLY THINK ABOUT MY GIRLS SITTING ON MY LAP AND PLAYING WITH MY FACE TRYING TO GET ME TO LOOK AT THEM WHEN THEY ARE TALKING
OR JUMPING INTO THE DEEP END OF THE POOL TRUSTING THAT DADDY HAS GOT THEM
IF ALL I THINK ABOUT IS THAT...
I CAN’T HANDLE THAT
SO I HAVE TO FIND SOME BEAUTY IN THE UGLY
6. WHATEVER IS EXCELLENT AND PRAISEWORTHY (EXPAINOS)
DWELL ON WHAT IS ADMIRABLE, COMMENDABLE, AND BRINGS GLORY TO GOD
I HAVE TO THINK ON THESE THINGS...
SO IF IT’S NOT THAT....IT’S GOING TO CREATE
ANXIOUSNESS
IS THIS MAKING SINCE...
SO PAUL IS TELLING US AND SHOWING US...
HOW TO ARREST UNDISCIPLINED IMAGINATIONS BY...
TELLING US WHAT TO THINK ABOUT
BY CHOOSING WHAT I THINK ABOUT
I AM CHOOSING WHAT NOT TO THINK ABOUT
SO INSTEAD OF RUNNING AWAY FROM THOUGHTS THAT ARE NEGATIVE
I AM JUST RUNNING TO THOUGHTS THAT ARE GODLY
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
SOMETIMES DELIVERANCE COMES BY PURSUIT
SOMETIMES YOU GET DELIVERED FROM THE WRONG THING....
BY PURSUING THE RIGHT THING
OH MY LORD HELP ME
SOMETIMES YOU DON’T GET FREE FROM ...IT
BY RUNNING FROM...IT
YOU GET FREE FROM...IT....BY CHASING AFTER HIM
IN ORDER FOR YOU TO CHANGE....TO BE TRANSFORMED....
THERE HAS TO BE 3 THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO SPIRITUAL TRUTH
THEOLOGY.....EDUCATION
YOU NEED TO BE TAUGHT ABOUT ANXIOUSNESS
YOU NEED TO BE TAUGHT FROM THE SCRIPTURES.....THAT I CAN ARREST ANXIOUSNESS
BUT IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THAT INTO MY LIFE....I NEED MORE THAN EDUCATION
I NEED EXAMPLES IN THE SCRIPTURES
THEN I NEED......PRACTICE IN MY LIFE
SO I NEED...
EDUCATION
EXAMPLES
AND THEN I NEED PRACTICE IT
BECAUSE I AM NOT GOING TO GO FROM HEARING ONE SERMON ON ANXIOUSNESS....
TO KNOWING HOW TO ARREST ANXIOUSNESS..
I HAVE GOT TO PRACTICE....TAKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE LETTING MY THOUGHTS RUN RAMPANT
OH MY LORD.....HELP US
WE NEED EDUCATION FROM THE SCRIPTURES....BUT
WE NEED EXAMPLES FROM THE SCRIPTURES OF SOMEONE WHO MODELED ARRESTING ANXIOUSNESS
SO HERE IT IS.....
THERE WAS A MAN NAMED.....ELIJAH
HE WAS A PROPHET THAT GOT ARRESTED WITH ANXIOUSNESS
I SAID A PROPHET.......
WHICH MEANS.....YOUR SPIRITUAL STATUS DOES NOT EXEMPT YOU FROM WRESTLING WITH ANXIOUSNESS
4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.
I DON’T HAVE TIME TO STAY HERE BUT....
WILDERNESS IN THE BIBLE REPRESENTS A SEASON OF TRANSITION
THE WILDERNESS EXACERBATES ANXIOUSNESS
BECAUSE WILDERNESS REPRESENTS A SEASON THAT IS UNFAMILIAR THAT YOU DID NOT PREDICT
AND WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A SEASON THAT YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOURSELF IN....
IT CAN CREATE ANXIOUSNESS
CAN ANYBODY AGREE WITH THAT????
SO LISTEN WHAT THIS PROPHET SAYS....
He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.
THIS IS A PROPHET OF GOD THAT SEE DEATH AS THE ONLY OPTION....
HE IS IN SUCH ANGUISH AND TURMOIL THAT...
HE PRAYS TO DIES
SO IF YOU ARE LISTENING TO THIS AND YOU ARE WRESTLING WITH THIS...
LET THIS BE YOUR SIGN.....TO LIVE
OH COME ON....
THIS IS YOUR IMAGINATION MAKING ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE NOT TRUE...
THAT IS A SATANIC THOUGHT
THE BIBLE SAID THAT SATAN PUT IT IN THE HEART OF JUDAS TO BETRAY JESUS
AND IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING DEATH AS YOUR ONLY OPTION TO FEELING BETTER
THAT IS A SATANIC THOUGHT
AND WE REBUKE IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS
IT IS NOT FROM GOD AND IT IS NOT TRUE
ELIJAH SAYS....
“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
HE IS ON THE RUN FOR HIS LIFE...WHY???
BECAUSE QUEEN JEZEBEL VOWS TO KILL HIM IN 24 HOURS
GOD JUST ANSWERED HIS PRAYER FOR FIRE AND DESTROYED THE PROPHETS OF BAAL
AND DESPITE THIS TRIUMPH....THERE IS A SHIFT THAT HAPPENS WHEN...
JEZEBEL THREATENS HIM
HE IS ARRESTED WITH ANXIOUSNESS OVER A THREAT
BUT THANK GOD THAT THIS IS NOT WHERE THE STORY ENDS
AND SOMETIMES PEOPLES GREATEST MISTAKE IN THEIR EVALUATION OF YOU IS...
THAT THEY STOP READING BEFORE GOD STOPS WRITING
OH COME ON SOMEBODY...
YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD IS NOT FINISHED WRITING YOUR STORY...
AND IF YOU STOP READING RIGHT HERE...
YOU ARE GOING TO MISS WHAT GOD IS GETTING READY TO DO IN MY LIFE
ELIJAH GOES FROM BEING ARRESTED BY ANXIOUSNESS TO THE END...
ARRESTING HIS ANXIOUSNESS
.....WORSHIP TEAM COME........
3 THINGS HE NEEDED THAT WE NEED
SABBATH
5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
AFTER ALL THAT WORRYING AND TALK...
HE JUST NEEDED TO LAY DOWN
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
SOME OF YOU NEED TO FIND A PLACE TO LAY DOWN...
SOME OF YOU ANXIOUSNESS IS A RESULT OF YOUR EXHAUSTION
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REQUIRES TO TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE....
IS ENERGY
AND SOME OF YOUR ISSUE IS...
YOUR TOO EXHAUSTED TO FIGHT
YOU DON’T HAVE THE MENTAL ENERGY TO PUSH BACK AGAINST DARKNESS
SO WHEN THE ENEMY IS BUILDING THIS WALL IN YOUR LIFE..
YOU DON’T HAVE THE FIGHT TO KNOCK THEM DOWN
THIS IS WHY WE NEED SHABOT
THIS SPEAKS TO REST
IT IS A COMMITMENT TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE
AND ESTABLISH WORK REST RHYTHMS
THE ONE WHO CREATED THE WORLD IN 6 DAYS AND....
ON THE 7TH DAY HE RESTED......WHY
NOT BECAUSE OF FATIGUE...
BUT BECAUSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
GOD DIDN’T NEED TO REST
HE DID IT TO SET AN EXAMPLE
HE WANTED TO SHOW US THAT ANYTHING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IF YOU DO IT GOD’S WAY
OUR CULTURE DEMANDS RELENTLESS PRODUCTION AND EXPLOITATION OF LABOR
MODERN CULTURE ENSLAVES PEOPLE TO ENDLESS CYCLES OF WORK AND PRODUCTION WHEN....
GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE MORE THAN WHAT YOU PRODUCE
SOUNDS A LOT LIKE PHARAOH AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
WE CALL IT GRINDING
THE BIBLE CALLS IT PHARAOH
SABBATH IS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO ON THE ONE DAY....
IT’S ABOUT WHAT YOU DO ON THE OTHER SIX
SOME PEOPLE CAN’T HAVE ONE DAY...
BECAUSE THEY MISMANAGE THE OTHER SIX
SABBATH IS NOT A DAY...
IT’S A PRINCIPLE
NO PASTOR....THE SABBATH IS SATURDAY
NO, THAT WAS OLD COVENANT....
LOOK AT WHAT PAUL SAYS IN THE NEW COVENANT...
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
HE SAID DON’T LET ANYONE JUDGE YOU WITH THAT...
17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
SO I DON’T HAVE TO CELEBRATE PASSOVER BECAUSE THIS IS A SHADOW OF CHRIST
I DONT HAVE TO PUT THE BLOOD OF A LAMB EVERY YEAR OVER MY DOOR POST
BECAUSE CHRIST IS THE PASSOVER LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN ONCE AND FOR ALL
2. SCRIPTURE
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
HE TOLD HIM GET UP AND EAT..
YOU CAN NOT FIGHT SATANIC THOUGHTS WITH POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS OF THE UNIVERSE
“ I AM STRONG”
THE DEVIL IS PUTTING THOUGHT IN YOUR HEAD
I NEED THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
THE WORD OF GOD
3. STILLNESS
THE BIBLE SAYS HE WENT INTO A CAVE AND STAYED THERE
GOD ASKED HIM....WHY ARE YOU HERE?
NOT WHY ARE YOU IN THE CAVE....BUT
WHY ARE YOU IN THIS EMOTIONAL CONDITION?
GOD HAD TO CORRECT SOME EMOTIONAL ASSUMPTIONS
SOMETIMES GOD CAN’T SHOW YOU....YOU
UNTIL YOU SIT WITH....YOU
“BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD”
LORD HELP US.....
....STAND TO YOUR FEET......
LORD WE NEED YOU....
WE NEED YOUR PEACE
WE NEED YOUR STRENGTH
LORD FOR SOME OF US WE ARE SO BUSY AND WE NEED REST.....
LORD MAKE US LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES
LEAD US BESIDE STILL WATER
HELP US TO DO LIFE BY FOLLOWING YOUR EXAMPLE
HELP US FIND A WAY OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF LIFE
HELP US TO ABIDE IN YOU SO THAT YOU CAN ABIDE IN US.....
THESE ALTARS ARE OPEN.....
