Overwhelmed

Introduction:

TIM DOREMUS

I have a question for everyone this morning: Do you ever feel overwhelmed? More than you can handle?

New Dad/Mom- crazy, sleep deprived, first time dad eyes- how do people have more than 1 of these?!

Maybe its:

Time- single parent, doing 2 people’s jobs, dinner for family, 1 kid to karate other, projects around the house how fast you run the treadmill speeds up

Financially- there is more month than money, dread visit to mailbox, car broke down $300

Marriage- given up on love, desperately trying to keep the peace/

Sickness- helplessness of watching an aging parent or friend struggle

Comparisons- GF meal looks like Pinterest, hair straight from People, physique of exercise video star, married to Ken doll, your husband has a dad bod, you haven’t showered in 2 days, eating day old donut, can’t remember last time you went to bathroom alone, kid spits up on only clean shirt you have

If you didn’t feel overwhelmed before, you do now! Aren’t you glad you came to church this morning? LOL

Let’s take a look at a story about 10 guys who understood what it was like to feel overwhelmed. And it has something to say to us when we feel overwhelmed:

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

1.

Luke 17:11–13 NLT

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

NLT

These ten men knew what it was like to feel overwhelmed in ever aspect of life- physically (Symptoms don’t appear in leprosy for five-ten years after infect and when it does manafest, infections set in your extremities and they fall off), relationally (lived outside of society), financially (couldn’t work), spiritually (was not allowed in the temple).

Luke 1. The Healing of the Lepers (11–14)

The came to Jesus together and they prayed together, even though they were a mixed group of Jews and Samaritans (Luke 17:15–16). Bonded by their misery, their national and other prejudices vanished as they came together in prayer.

Luke 1. The Healing of the Lepers (11–14)

“A common misfortune had broken down the racial and national barriers. In the common tragedy of their leprosy they had forgotten they were Jews and Samaritans and remembered only they were men in need.” (Barclay)

So much was wrong, but 1 thing was right: The 10 men were at the best place.

- elaborate on each one

So much was wrong, but 1 thing was right: The 10 men were at the best place.

So much was wrong, but 1 thing was right: The 10 men were at the best place.

They came to Jesus together and they prayed together, even though they were a mixed group of Jews and Samaritans (). Bonded by their misery, their national and other prejudices vanished as they came together in prayer.

“A common misfortune had broken down the racial and national barriers. In the common tragedy of their leprosy they had forgotten they were Jews and Samaritans and remembered only they were men in need.” (Barclay)

So much was wrong, but 1 thing was right: The 10 men were at the best place.

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE FEEL OVERWHELMED? IT’S ALL ABOUT CHOICES.

IT’S ALL ABOUT CHOICES.

I. CHOOSE THE BEST PLACE.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE LIFE RIGHT, WHEN YOU ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE.

Participate in church regularly. It is not passive but active. Don’t wait until church is the last option you have.

When you feel like staying home instead of going to church, then it is church you should be!

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Luke 17:14–19 NLT

14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

Luke 1. The Healing of the Lepers (11–14)

It was remarkable that Jesus asked them to go to the priests while they were still lepers. This was truly stepping out in faith, as in putting on the new man even when we still look and feel like the old man.

It was remarkable that Jesus asked them to go to the priests (go to church) while they were still lepers. This was truly stepping out in faith, as in putting on the new man even when we still look and feel like the old man.

Luke 2. Only One out of Ten of the Lepers Return to Give Thanks (15–19)

All ten were willing to do a religious ceremony; that is go to the priest. Only one was filled with true praise and thanksgiving. “External religious exercises are easy enough, and common enough; but the internal matter, the drawing out of the heart in thankful love, how scarce a thing it is! Nine obey ritual where only one praises the Lord.” (Spurgeon)

All ten were willing to do a religious ceremony; that is go to the priest. Only one was filled with true praise and thanksgiving and the one who returned was the least likely to return; a foreigner!

“External religious exercises are easy enough, and common enough; but the internal matter, the drawing out of the heart in thankful love, how scarce a thing it is! Nine obey ritual where only one praises the Lord.” (Spurgeon)

Jesus brings healing not only through the extraordinary but also through the ordinary. As I walk in faith and live out my faith one day at a time, my healing will be done.

Jesus brings healing not only through the extraordinary but also through the ordinary. As I walk in faith and live out my faith one day at a time, my healing will be done.

II. CHOOSE THE BEST PERSPECTIVE.

· WHERE WE SIT DETERMINES WHAT WE WILL SEE.

They all had the identical experience. They all had leprosy. They were all outside of town. They all cried out to Jesus for mercy. They were all sent to the priests. They were all healed as they went. They all had the exact same experience, but only one, only one out of 10 returned to Jesus. Why? Because apparently, two people can look at the same thing and see something completely different. Right? Two people could look at the same thing and see something completely different. It's a matter of perspective. You see because when the nine looked and saw that they were healed when they looked, here's what they saw. They saw that our cries for mercy have been heard, and yet when the one looked what he saw was this. That Jesus, Jesus heard my cries for mercy. What the nine saw was this. They saw that we've been healed. What the one saw was this. That Jesus has healed me. What the nine saw was this. They saw that Jesus had given them exactly what they asked for, but the one saw this. That Jesus had given him more than he could ever even deserve because what the nine saw was this. We've been restored to our old life, but the one saw was this. He saw that Jesus has given me a new life which is so much better than my old life. How can two people look at the same thing and see something completely different. It's a matter of perspective, isn't it? Because where you sit determines what you see and when you sit at the foot of the cross, you can't help but see Jesus at work in your world. Where you sit determines what you see. What would we do when we feel overwhelmed? We choose the best perspective.

We've been restored to our old life, but the one saw was this. He saw that

Overwhelmed_1_Message 4

We choose the best perspective which is the perspective that has Jesus Christ at the center of our world. Here's what that perspective looks like .

Jesus has given me a new life which is so much better than my old life. How can two people look at the same thing and see something completely different. It's a matter of perspective, isn't it? Because where you sit determines what you see and when you sit at the foot of the cross, you can't help but see Jesus at work in your world. Where you sit determines what you see. What would we do when we feel overwhelmed? We choose the best perspective.

Isaiah 55:8–9 NLT

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

What'll we do when we're feeling overwhelmed? We choose the best place, and we choose the best perspective. Third, we're gonna choose the best priorities. We choose the best place. We choose the best perspective, then we're gonna choose the best priorities. Because where you sit may determine what you see, but what you see will determine who you will be. Your perspective will determine the priorities that you'll live out in your life.

What'll we do when we're feeling overwhelmed? We choose the best place, and we choose the best perspective. Third, we're gonna choose the best priorities. We choose the best place. We choose the best perspective, then we're gonna choose the best priorities. Because where you sit may determine what you see, but what you see will determine who you will be. Your perspective will determine the priorities that you'll live out in your life.

III. CHOOSE THE BEST PRIORITIES.

· WHAT WE SEE DETERMINES WHO WE WILL BE.

· WE DON’T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY PROBLEM; WE HAVE A PRIORITY PROBLEM.

Luke 2. Only One out of Ten of the Lepers Return to Give Thanks (15–19)

There was an extra healing for this tenth leper. When Jesus said this, He likely meant God’s work within the man’s heart. The other lepers had whole bodies, but sick hearts.

Conclusion:

As a follower of Christ, I understand pretty clearly what my priorities are called to be. That I'm gonna love and serve God first and foremost in my life. After that, I'm going to love and serve my wife like Christ served the church. After that, I'm gonna love and serve the gift that God has given me in my children, Olivia and Jack. After that, I'm gonna love and serve the people he's put around me, others. And Last, I'm gonna love myself because he loves me.

And far too often as a pastor, I hear these kind of thoughts.

We say well if I had more time, right? If I had more time then I would start my day in God's Word. Then I would start my day praying.

If I had more time, but life is crazy, right?

Or if my schedule wasn't so crazy then I would be in church every single week. But little Johnny loves baseball. I mean, his eyes just light up. He loves baseball. Maybe when baseball season's over then we'll be in church.

Or if I had more money then maybe I would put God first in my financial life.

Growing up, I had a great mom. And she would do something only moms could do every now and then. She'd have me sit down at the kitchen table, and she would look across at me, and she would say this phrase. She would say Tim I love you, but. And some of you are chuckling because you had somebody in your life who'd say something similar. Son, I love you but and whenever I heard that phrase, I knew what was about to happen. She was about to drop a truth bomb in my life.

Growing up, I had great parents. And they would do something only great parents could do every now and then. They would either singly or together sit down with me and would say this phrase, “Jason I love you, but...” And some of you are chuckling because you had somebody in your life who'd say something similar. Son, I love you but and whenever I heard that phrase, I knew what was about to happen. They were about to drop a truth bomb in my life.

Maybe not what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to hear. When we start thinking those things. Well when life's not so crazy or when I have more, we need a little bit of a truth bomb. So church, as your pastor I love you, but... When we say those things what we have is not a time problem, what we have is not a financial problem, what we have is not a opportunity problem, what we have is a priority problem.

There was an extra healing for this tenth leper. When Jesus said this, He likely meant God’s work within the man’s heart. The other lepers had whole bodies, but sick hearts.

Joshua 24:15 NLT

15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

There was an extra healing for this tenth leper. When Jesus said this, He likely meant God’s work within the man’s heart. The other lepers had whole bodies, but sick hearts.

Conclusion:

My prayer is that this message does not keep you from feeling overwhelmed. My prayer for you is that it would not keep you from feeling overwhelmed, but that you might feel even more overwhelmed. Not overwhelmed like the nine who saw their circumstances around them, but overwhelmed like the one who saw God at work in his life and returned to thank God. Not overwhelmed by the things of this world but overwhelmed by the goodness of God at work in your life. Not overwhelmed, not over the whelmed realized that God has given us what we asked for, but overwhelmed realizing that God has given every single one of us more than we could ever deserve.

- [ Congregation Member] That's right.

My prayer for you is this. That you might feel overwhelmed because the reality is every single one of us is like those lepers. At some point, we are separated from God not by disease we carry, but by the sin that we've committed. And we are separated from God, and we cried out Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And at some point, Jesus looked to you. He heard your cries, and he's brought healing and mercy and forgiveness far more than we could ever deserve. And here's what I know. That when we choose to start in the best place, when we choose the best place, when we choose the best perspective and put Jesus at the center of our world, and when we choose the best priorities and make God first where he deserves to be. That you will begin to wake up every single day feeling overwhelmed. There's more than you think you could even handle. But you're being overwhelmed by his goodness. You're being overwhelmed by his grace. You're being overwhelmed by his power. You're being overwhelmed by his mercy. You're being overwhelmed by his unconditional love. And that as a follower of Christ is the only way I want to live.

Overwhelmed_1_Message 7

grace. You're being overwhelmed by his power. You're being overwhelmed by his mercy. You're being overwhelmed by his unconditional love. And that as a follower of Christ is the only way I want to live.

About what percentage of your life do you feel overwhelmed? What specifically feels overwhelming?

Pastor Tim said, “What we see determines who we will be.” In which part of your life could changing your perspective change everything?

“What we see determines who we will be.” In which part of your life could changing your perspective change everything?

What priority change would bring more of God’s peace to your life?