Performance Anxiety
Church it is wonderful to be here with you this morning. If you have your Bibles invite you to turn with me to the Book of Romans chapter 7 Romans chapter 7 will begin reading your few minutes at first one. He didn't have a Bible and you want to bring and you want to use one of our cue Bible that are in front of the you can turn the page 771 so you can follow along so several months ago. I was getting bad and I looked at my phone and I had a Facebook message now Facebook Messenger is interesting. It's it's where people call you that you don't contact you that you don't know really well cuz I don't know your phone number right? And so I'm always a little bit weary whenever I get a Facebook message because I'm like, oh boy what now, but this one was actually it was a message from a friend of mine permission to tell this story and Beth wanted to know if she can meet me at my office.
Now one of the things that I always Mark about Beth whenever I see her is that she is one of the most outgoing happiest people that I have ever met. She will talk your ear off and she is just glad to be in people's presents. But when I I saw her this on her shoulder, so what's wrong what it what do you want to talk to me about?
She began to cry.
she began to say I just I feel like I am failing. and being a Christian
That's what's not always patient. Like she knew she should be with her husband and her kids.
Impatient with them and she would get angry. She would even cuss a little she told me. and after she would do it. among other things that she struggled with cuz I know I'm supposed to be a Christian. I'm supposed to be loving and supposed to be kind be patient. But after I do that, I'll just go into my room and I'll just cry because I just feel like I have let God down and I please completely disappointed with me. I don't even know if he's still accept.
Beth was struggling from a condition of those drug commercials. I would say the condition is called Christian performance anxiety or CPA.
Christian performance anxiety that comes into your mind when you're taking that final exam does it most of us have been there? Even if we're not there at this moment that tells you if you don't perform well enough if you don't score high enough on this test, then you were going to be a failure and you will not be able to graduate. It's the same fear that comes into your mind when you're at that job interview and it tells you if you don't say the right words and if you don't do the right thing and you are not going to get this job, in fact you perform Lily nothing there probably fire you from the job that you do have. It's the same fear that you feel on the sports field. Whenever you take the batter's box and you're down by one run in the ninth inning two outs a runner on third and you say if I do not get this. if I mess this up and we lose.
best performance anxiety performance it sometimes it it it's even worse because That's was fearful that she was messing up the most important test of all. The test of life that determines where we spend eternity either in heaven or hell and she wasn't sure because of the way that she lived where she was going to go.
As I said I listen to Beth can I tell you that I really understood where she was coming from? I've never been in that position.
I find that most days.
My life doesn't measure up to God standard and God's law in the Bible.
most days
let's just say this way there are days. When I know that I should be kind and patient my wife and kids but I must complete and total jerk and I'm hard to live with. There are days when I look out at certain situations in my life, and I don't just resign with faith and know God's got this even though I see story after story after Story in scripture where God has got this.
There are days. When I don't feel like rejoicing in the Lord, even though the Bible tells me to rejoice in the lord always.
God has laws and he has standards of right and wrong in his book. But there's a paradox about the Christian Life and then about say the religious liked it when we read God's word and we try really hard to be faithful to it. Those are the times when we see just how far short we fall. From God standard how short we fall. We are not like Jesus as much as we would like to be. And it's a question. That's at the heart of best struggle the heart of mine at the heart of yours if you struggle with CPA.
and the question is this
Do Christian have to keep God's law perfectly? in order for him to accept us
I want you to think about.
Last time we were together we talked about how soon is still a No-No for Christians? And yet we all struggle with sin the question. Do we have to keep God's law in order for him to accept this and that is where the gospel. In the words of Paul in the Book of Romans so much today. Because the answer to that question do we have to keep the law perfectly? No, no.
And I say that loud because some of you need to hear it. Because some of you are like Beth and some of you are with guilt because of what you did this weekend because of what you did this morning because of the things that you said because of the way that you acted because of all of these things. The gospel is going to help us understand. That even though send is a big deal. our performance
our performance is not What our relationship with God? Is based on? If we think that's the case we miss understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And Paul is going to tell us today as we dig into his worse as we dig into the words of God in Romans that if we are going to be free from CPA from performance anxiety. We have to let go of our old identity. And we have to embrace God's new identity that is given to us by his grace. So let's jump in Romans chapter 7 verses 1 through 3.
Call Wright's do you not know brothers and sisters for I'm speaking to those who know the law? That the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives now therefore second if you die. Do you have to worry about being put in prison for breaking a law? No, you do not. And that works in many different areas of life. It works in marriage as well. Paul says this verse to he says for example by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive. If her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to burst through. So then she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive. She is called an adulteress the law comes down on her and condemns her in that moment. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adult is she married another man now, what is Paul's point?
That when someone dies. That death releases that person from the obligation of the law. They are no longer obligated to obey the law in the sense that if they don't go bad. They are going to be punished by that law also died through the body of Christ. How does that work?
How does it work? Last time we were together we talked about. And we talked about how baptism when we are immersed under the waters of baptism that we are united with Jesus Christ in his death. And that when we are raised from the Waters of baptism, we are united with him in a new life. That baptism is so much more than just a picture of life change, but that when we go under the old person dies and a new person comes out of that water. And we believe.
Because of this because we were United with Christ death.
Then we no longer have the same relation to God's laws that we had before. You see we don't belong to a la keeping religious body.
Once you are baptized and you become a Christian you don't be long to the law of God belong to another.
He says that you might belong to another to him who was raised from the dead in order that we might bear fruit forgot. in other words the way that we relate to God is completely different. When we become a Christian, look at what he says in verse 6, but now I dying to what once we have been released from the law so that we sir we still serve God we serve in the new way of the spirit and not in the old way of the written.
What policy?
That your relationship with God is no longer based on your ability to keep the law of God now. How can we listen? There are different types of relationships.
Not every relationship is the same. You don't relate to your mother. The same way that you were late to your boss at work. Do you? Those relationships are on completely different relationship completely different transactions. If you mess up. at work and it's a bad mistake. There's a good chance that because you perform poorly your boss is going to get rid of you fire you hire somebody else because the relationship with the boss is based on what it's based on your performance. You're awarded are out of here. Is your relationship with your mother is based on something different?
Because if you screw up in your relationship with your mom.
She going to get rid of you or you no longer a child.
The relationship is based on something different and if you want to fill in the blank of the gospel, and you are no longer slaves. Under the law Christians are no longer slaves under the law. You see if our relationship with God is based on obedience kind of like the the boss in the employee relationship. Then when we mess up. We're kind of like slaves we can stick around if we perform well, but if we don't the master will do away with us and that's a big deal when it comes to our relationship. Where do we go? If God gets rid of us if he does away with us. We are going to hell it is not where we want to go to stay in this relationship our relationship with and no wonder we have the good news of the Gospel is that we are not anymore. Is this me? Not being under the law that we just reject everything that Jesus says in his word that we reject the Bible that it has no use in our lives. Absolutely not I'll say this again.
If we're not under the law.
I tried to love her. If we're not that we don't have to.
Know why I'll tell us because the problem is not the law. It's cell.
the problem Is us look at Romans chapter 7 versus 7.
What shall we say then is the sinful? Certainly, not nevertheless. I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the laws or say. For what? I for I would not have known if the law said You shall not have it but seizing the opportunity afforded by The Commandments produced in me everytime of coveted.
The law is good. It's a good rule to say that we should not commit. In other words. We should not desire so much things that other people have we should be satisfied with the things that we do have. because coveting produces all sorts of awful things in the life of person we can all agree with that is a good but here's the problem any of us actually follow that perfectly we know we shouldn't have it. But we still want what they have. We know we shouldn't cut it but we still want that truck instead of the one that I've got. I still want what so-and-so has I want that kind of relationship. I don't want that kind of relationship that I have always think the grass is always greener in somebody else's Pastor that is just who we are whether we agree that I rule is good or not. We always obey it why Paul says because even God who gives us a perfect law. In that law is no provision power who we are on the Inside Story. My mother was watching her five-year-old daughter and home. Her daughter was really rambunctious. It was doing things that got her in trouble. So her mother told her that she needed to sit in time out with a little girl. Finally the mother came and grabbed her hand and she said her in timeout and said you sit here and you think about what you've done, you know, how little girls can get if you don't just come to my house would stay for any amount of time they can stare bullets at you. I mean, it's just like, you know, you'll this kind of look and she was sitting there and she said her mom mom. I am sitting down on the outside. But I'm standing up on the inside.
And you see that's exactly how we are.
On the outside we can present this right on the outside. We can try to follow the law as much as we can but the law has no power deal with what's going on inside of us.
We're all bad to a certain extent and bad people will not follow rules even good rules. I remember when I was talking to Beth. She asked a question. I thought it was such an important question. He said there's something wrong with me.
Yes.
There's something wrong with you making sure you're awake. Yes. There's something wrong with you. The same thing is wrong with you is the same thing that's wrong with me. And it's the same thing that's wrong with all of you. We are all broken and sinful on the inside and just what the same problem that we have is the same problem the Apostle Paul wrote about all of these years ago. He's the guy who wrote much of the New Testament first 15. He says this not understand what I do. For what I want to do. I do not do but what I hate. I do.
This is Who We Are.
And no amount of rules that God gives all the rules are going to do point the finger at us and tell us you messed up here. You are guilty you are condemned because you could not follow the rules. That's why Paul writes this in verse 21 through 24 at work. Now, he's not talking about God's law he kind of confusing. So let me clarify what he says law in these next few words, unless you specifically says, although I want to do good evil is right there with me for in my inner being I don't like we should be fine. We should be loving you should not steal. We should not murder. We agree that it's good, but he continues But I see another principal at work in and it's Waging War against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin. That's at work within me. And he said system verse 24. What a Wretched Man. I am who will rescue me from this body that is subject describing here. Is describing Christian performance anxiety? What a wretched person I am who will Rescue Me? Is it a problem is not that the law is wrong?
That we are so broken that what we need is not more law.
We need something else.
And this is why the gospel is such good news.
Paul says we are no longer slaves under God's law. Because in Jesus Christ, we have a new relationship and a new way to relate to our Heavenly Father. That's why Paul write this in Romans chapter 8 verses 1 & 2 therefore I Love This Bar therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. So let me ask you something who struggle with CPA. I'm not talking about financial problems. Remember those of you who struggle with performance anxiety?
those of you who feel constantly guilty and condemned those of you who think there's no way that God could love me after the things that I keep doing even after I have been say Do you believe the word god? Because when God says is there is now no condemnation. For those who are in Christ Jesus why because through Christ Jesus. There's a new principal the law of the spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death because of Jesus Christ. There is a new sheriff in town a new law. He comes in wearing a shiny new boss is going to clean house and get rid of everything that doesn't belong and it's not it's not our performance in verses 3 and 4 pieces this for what the law was powerless to do. What was the law of powerless to do the deal with what's going on with the law was powerless to do because it was his own son in the likeness of sinful play be a sin offering and so she can send in Flash verse 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully mess and I do not live according to the flesh but according to the spirit. We begin to relate God in this new way and I'll tell you what this in this way.
Paul says that the righteous requirement of the law is fully meth.
Maybe you've heard somebody say something like this before but when God looks at you Christian. As in perfect as you are, who does he see? Macy's Jesus
He doesn't point the finger at you and say guilty.
He doesn't point the finger at you and say you are not mine because of the way you have been acting. He does not do any of those things when you live by the spirit of God.
Is the old way? The new way is in the spirit. See we can't live according to the flesh. What does Paul mean when he says flashy you might think that he means sinful nature that's part of it. Appalled is basically saying when we talk about / this is trying to get to God or get anything on our own effort without trusting in Him. You see when we walk by the spirit. God gives us a new mindset any begins to change Us From the Inside Out verses 5 through 8 positive. He says those who live according to the flash have their mind set on what the flesh desires that those who live in accordance with the spirit have their mind set on what the spirit desire next for the Mind governed by the flesh is death, but the governed by the spirit is life in peace the Mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law cell forsake us, but those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
When you become a Christian God puts his holy spirit inside of you.
And the spirit inside of you. Not your effort, but the spirit inside of you begins to change you from the inside.
It begins to what the Bible calls renew your mind. To begin to have you stink more like God. To change your heart and to change your desire so that you know that it's not your own efforts that are accomplishing these things for you, but it is God and God Alone. And the result of this is amazing. The result of this is not a Christian who is sending says I've already said many times not a one of us even after we've been safe for years and years is able still perfectly carry out the law. But When our hearts and our minds are aligned with Jesus. We do send less we're not sinless, but we do send less.
The gospel begins to change us to give us a new Focus. And to give us a new identity John. Can you skip Down 2 verses 14 through 16? UC
If we no longer relate to God I slay. How do we relate to? Paul says we are his children. In verse 14 is for those who are led by the spirit of God are the children. I've got restricting the spirit you received when you became a Christian does not make you play so that you live in fear again, rather the spirit you receive brought about your adoption to sonship and by him we cry Abba Father. God is no longer master and slave driver. He is your father in the spirit inside of us 460 the spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
What is our new identity? Phone number to if your filling in the blank is this that Christians are God's children?
Paul says that when you become a Christian You're not only given a new opted into God's family. I mentioned this earlier when I talk about a relationship between a mother and child, but it's true father and child as well. My kids are not perfect. I love them all dearly. I will do anything for them. I will give my life for them. But there are days when they drive me absolutely crazy. But even on those days. Even on those days when they're fighting when their bickering when they're arguing when they're doing all of these things that just drive me nuts. I have never had a thought. And I'm going to stick these kids out of the house. Man, I'm going to just get rid of that. I'm not sending to Grandma's for a little bit. But I never cease becoming my kids. Now I'm not happy about it when they do mess up and there are times when I will work with them to correct their behavior. I will discipline them and I will show them that the things that they do have consequences.
They are always no matter how they perform they are. Always my kids you said. Yeah, that's true of your kids. I've never adopted anyone, but I heard from several people who have And there's always a question that people love to ask adopted parents that just drives adoptive parents crazy. I heard this from David Platt.
and Isis question
It's me, and and my wife.
No, no, I mean biologically who are there real parents?
And of course the reason it drives him crazy because that question really matter. Because it's not as if when people adopt a child that they treat that adopted child as some kind of second-rate child who isn't on par with their other children because they are not biological. They give that child the same rights the same privileges the same amount of food the same amount of clothing. They give that child just as much love and that child is just as much a part of the family as their natural born children. What does that mean for you and me that means when we are adopted into God's family. There's only one who is but when we are adopted into God's family, we are given the same rights the same privileges the same everything as Christ himself is given in the eyes of Jesus is the way that he looks at you. What's an adoption has taken place? There is no return policy. If you don't get to call the orphanage in Honduras and say I'm sorry this one is defective. Can I have another you don't get to do that and go with us either you see when you are Christian. God is not giving up.
I don't care how broken your life Maybe. When we become a Christian, we are adopted into a new family and this knowledge disgrace This Love This is what motivates us to change from another creature.
My father brought home a 12 year old boy named Rodger whose parents have died from a drug overdose. There was no one to care for Rodger. So my folks decided they would raise him as their own at first. It was difficult for Rodger to adjust to his new home several times a day. I heard my parents Saints Rodger. No. No, that's not how we behave in this family. No. No, you don't have to scream or fight or hurt people to get what you want. No, no rush. I show respect in this family.
It wasn't easy at first in time Rodger begin.
Now did he have to make those changes to become part of the family?
He was part of the family by the grace of my father, but did he have to work hard because he was
it was tough for Rodger to change and he had to work at it. But the reason he did change is because he was motivated by gratitude for the amazing love that he had receipt.
I need addresses these words to all of us as do you have our work to do now the spirit is adopted you into God's pit.
Paul says this it by the spirit we put to death play we should try to be loving we should try to give generously we should try to forget we should try all of these things and when we fail and when we mess up we should keep trying but he says this You have to work hard certainly but not in order to become a son or daughter of the heavenly father know you make those changes because you are a son or daughter and every time you start to revert back to the old addictions to send the holy spirit will say to you. No, no, that's not how we act in this family.
So, who are you? Are you a Slave? Or are you God's child? Do you struggle with performance anxiety? I can tell you this confidently guilt will not change you. If you're here, I want to invite you to come 9:45 to our our Sunday school class at I thought I was smiling the whole time.
It's been talking to me all week. I hope he's talking all of you. The guilt will not change you guilt will make you look at yourself guilt will make you feel about this guilt will make you want to give up and just throw in the towel.
But you know what will change you? Grace because when you believe and when you get a picture of God's grace when you let the gospel remind you who you are.
How great God's love is for you.
your chain
many of you are plagued with voices inside of your head telling you constantly that you are not good enough. Let me just encourage you.
If the voice in your head is not saying the same thing to God's word is spoken to you today than that's not God's voice of speaking.
And God does not. See your sin as too big of an obstacle his grace and his love is far greater. And so if
you have been carrying this weight on your shoulders deal with it give it to him. You don't have to carry it any more.
We don't have to have. CPA
Because we are no longer got slaves live and God's family live in his freedom live in his love. And you will circum. And here's the key difference between a slave and a child. a slave serves God because they feel like they have to
how do you wake up on Sunday morning? It's time to go to church. I'm going to go because I have to Because if I don't God's not going to love me.
I better get down and pray because if I don't say my prayers God is not going to love me. He's not going to accept.
I better read my Bible for an hour because that's the right amount and if I don't do it for that amount of me or accept me.
When you do things for God, do you do them begrudgingly because you feel like you have to or like a child. It was learning the ways of a new family.
you want to
that is what it means to be a child of God. That is what it means to live by the spirit. So let him change you today. Let him inspire you let him draw you near.
Father God I thank you so much for the time that you've given us this morning. I pray that you will help us all to recognize the great grace that you've given help us. to believe Who We Are
God help us to process our failures Through Your Eyes of grace and mercy. Not Through The Eyes of condemnation and guilt. And help us to continue to walk. No matter where we are. And no matter what we've done we can get up and we can turn your eyes back to you. We can begin walking with you again. I pray that you would Inspire us to do that by your grace. We love you Lord, and we thank you in Jesus name. I pray amen. Would you stand with me Church?