The Stress of Success

Before the days of national training for the Olympics, a Sottish man aspired to become a champion discus thrower. Not having access to a real discus, he made his own from the description he read in a book. Instead of using wood, however, he made the discus out of solid metal that weighed three or four times as much as those being used by those he would be challenging in the Olympics. For a whole year he labored, training himself to throw. But he worked hard and, by the time of his first competition, he could throw his discus the record distance, maybe farther. He was ready.

He traveled down to England for his first competition. When he arrived, he was handed the official wooden discus, which he promptly threw like a tea saucer. He set a new record, a distance so far beyond those of his competitors that no one could touch him. For many years he remained the uncontested champion. How did he do it? He trained under a great burden.

I’m sure the work and the schedule this athlete trained with was grueling, especially given the fact that he was throwing an unbelievably heavy discus, but his hard work paid off. And that just leads me to this truth:

The stress you hate creates the success you love.

BACKGROUND

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So, we’ve been in this series titled: On the Move: Overcoming the obstacles to Growth. We talked about the power we receive to take the initiative and make disciples, when we focus our lives on the Word, prayer, worship, and community. We saw how our apathy for God’s work is cured when we are filled with the Spirit and how praying correctly will bring a great boldness to tell others about God’s word. We talked about how confronting sin and clarifying values can keep the church on track and how even the temptation of distraction can be avoided when we embrace the strategic plan we’ve been given in the Scripture. Last week we discussed how we must make sure to keep the gospel clear and this week we turn our attention to an inevitable reality that arises when you are involved in this kind of intentional disciple making. That reality is stress. There are some very common stresses that enter into our lives when we go all in to reach this world for Christ.

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to these stresses. In fact, part of our text today reads like this:

Acts 16:22–24 NKJV

Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Now, you’ll have to admit that, had this happened to you, you’d have been stressed. So would I! And yet, I believe you see the truth I just stated in this passage: The stress you hate creates the success you love.

Now, you’ll have to admit that, had this happened to you, you’d have been stressed. So would I! And yet, I believe you see the truth I just stated in this passage: The stress you hate creates the success you love.

NEED

You see, I know that there are some of you right now who are confused about what God is doing in your life. You thought you knew what God wanted in your life, but now nothing is working out. You thought you knew the career he had for you or the place He wanted you, but nothing is working out. You’ve prayed and prayed, but it seems that, when you ask Him if you’re supposed to go here or there or do this or that, the only answer you’re getting is no. Listen because I believe these verses can lift the fog of indecision.

Others of you are under attack. You’ve tried to live right and be a witness, but it seems like all you’ve reaped has been satanic or even personal attack. We used to joke at this church about there being a curse on those who took courses we offered on how to share your faith. It seemed that whenever someone really decided to make a difference, the attacks began and everything started to go wrong. Maybe that’s you. You decided to really plug into your Christian walk or intentionally serve God and your world fell apart. Listen! You can find the courage to keep going.

Others of you are discouraged. The grind of living under the pressure of ministry makes you want to quit. Listen! You don’t have to stay in your prison of despair. These stresses can be relieved! They can be overcome.

TRANS

Yes, while it is true that there are some stresses you must overcome to serve the Lord, the good news is you can overcome them. First, you can overcome the stress of

You can overcome the stress of uncertainty.

UNCERTAINTY.

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There is a truth that quickly becomes apparent when you really begin to serve the Lord and minister to others. It is this: Making disciples is a ministry that is filled with uncertainty. Sometimes you can’t tell what God is doing in the heart of that person you are trying to reach. Sometimes you aren’t sure exactly what God would have you to do to reach them. Sometimes you are not sure exactly whom God would have you try to reach or where God would have you go to reach them. Sometimes you just don’t know what God is up to.

That was true for Paul and Silas. They head out on their second missionary journey and watch what happens. Look at chapter 16 verse 6:

Acts 16:6 NKJV

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

Did you catch it? Paul and Silas wanted to turn east into Asia (show map) but the Bible says that the Spirit “forbids” them. In other words, God said “No!” So they sought to go north into Bithynia which would be what we know today as northern Turkey, but, again, the Spirit would not permit them. God said “No!” again. Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to be told “No,” especially when I’m trying to serve the Lord and give sacrificially to Him. To be told “no” in that situation can be very discouraging.

Pic - map 1

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Pic - Blue Ridge Parkway

It was sometime during the summer of 1993. I had been a Pharmaceutical rep for 3.5 years, but I knew that God was calling me to ministry. So I told the Lord that I would obey if He opened a door. I received a phone call almost immediately from a church over in Greenville, NC. I remember that I was so conflicted that I took a day off and drove up on the Blue Ridge Parkway just to pray. I spent the morning in prayer and surrendered to the Lord to obey, no matter what. I came back and called the church back and told them I would be willing to come.

Then, God said “No.” The church ended up hiring someone else. I was a little confused. I knew God had spoken to me, but now He was saying no. I learned this from that experience: How you react in those moments of uncertainty is critical. When you hear “no” about a specific situation, you must keep saying “yes” to God’s call on your life. When you are certain about the call, but uncertain about the place, that is when it is time to pray and wait on the Lord.

EXP

Which is what Paul and Silas did. Then it happened. Look at v 9:

Acts 16:9–10 NKJV

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

And here’s the point: Uncertainty does not contradict validity. Uncertainty about the place or the method says nothing about the validity of the calling. Uncertainty is not a call to quit, it is a call to pray and to wait.

After two “no’s” from God Paul gets a powerful “yes.” And here’s the point: Uncertainty does not contradict validity. Uncertainty about the place or the method says nothing about the validity of the calling. Uncertainty is not a call to quit, it is a call to pray and to wait.

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So are you suffering through the stress of uncertainty right now? Have you surrendered to some calling of God on your life only to face a “no” from Him about the specifics of what He wants you to do? How should you handle that? Let me suggest some practical things you can do when you find yourself in that situation. First:

When you face uncertainty, don’t doubt, believe!

Don’t doubt, believe! Believe that God is still at work in your heart even if you have no idea where He wants you to go, what, exactly, He wants you to do, or how, exactly, He wants you to do it. Continue to pray for clarity and simply take the next step He shows you. Don’t doubt, believe . . .

When you face uncertainty, don’t assume, pray!

Then, don’t assume, pray! Bombard Heaven for direction. Don’t assume that you’ve got to “make it happen” and run ahead of God just because you see the need. Ask for God’s guidance and wait for God’s answer. Don’t doubt, believe; don’t assume, pray and . . .

When you face uncertainty, don’t hibernate, engage!

Don’t hibernate, engage! Often, when we are discouraged by a “No,” we tend to hibernate from relationships with other believers and lick our wounds. The truth is, we may even be a little angry or resentful at God because we believe that He should have said “yes” when He said “no.” But if you look in this passage, you see that Paul and Silas talk about this vision in v10 and use their reason and their spiritual leading to see what God is up to. Finally, they conclude that the Lord called us to preach the gospel to the Macedonians. Here’s the point: When you are uncertain, it is good to talk to mature believers and get their input on what God might want. Don’t hibernate, engage.

When you face uncertainty, don’t rush, wait!

Last of all, don’t rush, wait. The best running backs in the NFL have the patience to let the hole open up before they try to run through it. It’s the same in ministry. Sometimes God is having us wait because something has to develop before we can step in and make a difference. Wait on God.

TRANS

Yes, If you are involved in outreach and seeking to make disciples and serve God strategically, there will be stresses that must be overcome. The first is the stress of uncertainty. Here’s the second. It is the stress of:

You can overcome the stress of resistance.

RESISTANCE

EXP

Paul heads to Macedonia as he believed the Spirit had led him. He arrives at Philippi and look what he does. V 13:

Acts 16:13And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

Acts 16:13–15 NKJV

And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

Perhaps they thought, “Thank you Lord! This is great! It is so obvious that You led us here. We have found the “woman of peace” who is going to help us connect with this city and she’s even giving us a place to live while we are here.” But then, “she,” shows up.

Acts 16:16–18 NKJV

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

Look at v 16:

What kind of resistance did Paul face?

Look at v 16: Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.

Paul faced spiritual resistance.

Woh! Didn’t see THAT coming! Paul encounters very obvious SPIRITUAL RESISTANCE. It’s so bizarre, it is demonic. This girl begins to follow them around. The Bible says that she is “possessed with a spirit of divination.” In the Greek, it literally says that she had a “pythonic” spirit. The Roman god, Apollo, was worshiped as the “Pythian” god. Yes! You are hearing that correctly! The “Pythian” reference is actually to a python—a snake. It was the python which guarded the temple of Apollo. The god Apollo, himself, was thought to be embodied in the snake and to inspire phythonesses, those women devoted to him, through clairvoyance. The connection was so close that some thought the women devoted to Apollo acted as ventriloquists for his voice. So, to hear from this slave girl, was to hear the actual voice of Apollo, himself.

And hearing from Apollo was a great desire of many people. That’s why some merchants cashed in on this girl’s misery. They made a lot of money off of her prophecies. Luke merely sees her as being demon possessed. That is proven, I think, by the reaction she has to Paul. She begins to follow him around hollering at the top of her lungs, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And she didn’t just do it one time, she did it day after day after day.

So Paul is faced with a decision. He knows that her proclaiming him as God’s servant will cause the gospel to be associated with the occult. He also knows that, if he exorcises the demon, people are going to be angry and he could be kicked out of Philippi, but he also knows that he has to act because God’s name is being profaned, so he obeys the Spirit. He commands the demon to come out and immediately this girl is released from this spirit’s hold on her. The spiritual resistance is overcome, but this just leads to . . .

Paul faced social resistance.

SOCIAL RESISTANCE: v19 says:

Acts 16:19–21 NKJV

But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”

But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities and say, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” They are careful to couch their charges in the good of the Empire, not the good of their own greedy pockets. The complaint they lodge was probably something like this:

They are careful to couch their charges in the good of the Empire, not the good of their own greedy pockets. The complaint they lodge was probably something like this:

since Christians do not worship the emperor as Roman law instructs they fear that if this religion is adopted, with acts similar to the one Paul performed, anyone could be at risk of losing their livelihood, not to mention the effect on commerce involving the gods. Thus the charge may also be that Paul and Silas practice an “unsanctioned” religion or threaten the stability of the colony by promoting revolution.

The city erupts. V22 says

Acts 16:22–24 NKJV

22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Now, that’s resistance! But Paul is up to the challenge by God’s Spirit. At every point, Paul obeys the leading of the Spirit. He obeys the leading to cast out the demon and he obeys the leading of the Spirit. And his example can guide you and me when we face resistance. We have to overcome them just like Paul did. We must face resistance with obedience. We cannot afford to cave in to spiritual pressure. We must pray and do the hard work of spiritual warfare. Resistance must be met with courage and obedience.

ILL

Now, I don’t know how many prisons and beatings you may face for your faith. Chances are that, in this country, you won’t face very much of that kind of resistance, but you may face resistance that looks more like this:

Pic - Walter Tutka

Meet Walter Tutka, a substitute teacher in Phillipsburg, PA. In October of 2012, he was holding the door for the class as they left and commented to a student, “The first shall be last, but the last shall be first.” The student asked him where he got that from. Over the next few days the student asked him that question repeatedly. Finally, Tutka showed the student that verse in his own personal Bible. When the student said that he didn’t have his own Bible at home, Tutka gave him his. When the administration heard about it, they suspended and eventually fired him saying that the courts have ruled that Tutka had no right to “distribute Bibles to students.”

I love his example. He obeyed God rather than man. Yes, he paid a price, but when we meet resistance, our answer is not to cave, it is to stand firm!

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And I know that it is a whole lot easier to say that than to do it. “Just obey God” rolls off the tongue a lot easier than it flows out of your life when you’re encountering resistance. So how is it possible for you and I to withstand the resistance and do something that really counts for God?

How do we obey in spite of resistance?

Remember who we serve.

Well, we can follow through on obedience in the face of resistance when we remember WHO WE SERVE. Our leader is the God of they universe who made the earth and the heavens. He is the all powerful, all knowing, all wise, all loving, all controlling, all engaging God. He always was, ever is, and forever will be. He spoke the word and this whole universe sprang to life. He isn’t intimidated when one of HIS creatures tries to question His authority. He is always in control, so I can be confident, even when I encounter resistance, because He’s never lost a battle and He’s not going to start losing now! I can overcome resistance when I remember whom I serve.

Remember who we are.

And we can overcome resistance when we remember WHO we are. We are His children. If I am a son, I am an heir—a joint heir with Jesus Himself. If I suffer with Him, I will reign with Him. So let the resistance come, it will just make the victory sweeter. I overcome resistance when I remember Who He is and remember who I am.

Remember what life’s about.

And I can overcome resistance when I remember WHAT LIFE’S ABOUT. This life is not about this life! It’s truly about the next one. Paul said it like this in :

Philippians 1:20–21 NKJV

according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

TRANS

So, yes, there is stress in ministry, but that stress doesn’t keep me from fulfilling God’s calling on my life. Yes, ministry does bring stress. It brings the stress of uncertainty and the stress of resistance, but it can also bring the stress of:

You can overcome the stress of discouragement.

DISCOURAGEMENT.

EXP

15-16

Acts 16:25–26 NKJV

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

V25 says: But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Do you think that as they sat there in that dark prison, Paul may have asked himself, “How in the world did I get here?” Maybe he thought back on the last few days. First, there was the struggle to know where to go and then the vision that led them here—at least they thought it had led them here—to Philippi. Then, when they got to Philippi they were encouraged by Lydia’s conversion and her offer to let them stay, but as they began their ministry that obnoxious slave girl who was made a piece of merchandise by her masters had openly mocked them. Paul had fought the urge to call out the spirit, perhaps knowing that some bad things could happen.

Finally, he just could not keep going like this, so he exorcised the demon. Maybe he thought God would deliver him from the negative consequences of this action but it actually turned out even worse than he thought it would. Instead of a trial that recognized his Roman citizenship, he is railroaded in a kangaroo court. Now he sits with Silas in a dungeon, flies swarming around his open sores, feet bound in stocks, perhaps afraid that, if he leans against the wall, he will get some kind of infection through his open wounds.

Hot, dejected, unfairly treated he faces a crossroads. Will he give into the discouragement that had to be in his heart? What would he do? Perhaps the heat was stifling and the silence deafening until a strange sound emerged from that prison, perhaps a sound that had never been heard there. O the guards had heard groans; They’d heard claims of innocence; They’d heard curses, but they’d never heard this sound. Someone was singing!

In prisoners' chains with bleeding stripes

Paul and Silas prayed that night

And in their pain began to sing

Their chains were loosed and they were free

I bless Your name, I bless Your name

I give You honor, give You praise

You are the Life, the Truth, the Way

I bless Your name, I bless Your name

What an amazing response! Those beaten, tired, by the world’s standard defeated apostles began to sing. Instead of giving into their discouragement, they praised God. And there’s the point: When you aggressively begin to seek to live on mission and make disciples, there will be resistance that will tempt you to discouragement. But this passage teaches us this truth: Discouragement can be overcome by praise. In fact, discouragement and praise cannot coexist! One will drive the other out. Either discouragement will drive out praise or praise will drive out discouragement.

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PIc - Man writing a letter

One missionary I read about went to New Guinea and found the going to be rough. Instead of a discouraged complaint, however, listen to the letter he wrote home. He wrote:

"Man," he said, "it's great to be in the thick of the fight, to draw the old Devil's heaviest guns, to have him at you with depression and discouragement, slander, disease! He doesn't waste time. He hits good and hard when a fellow is hitting him. You can always measure the weight of your blow by the one you get back. When you're on your back with fever and at your last ounce of strength, when some of your converts backslide, when you learn that your most promising inquirers are only fooling, when your mail gets held up and some don't bother to answer your letters, is that the time to put on your mourning suit?

"No Sir! That's the time to pull out the stops and shout hallelujah! The old fellow's getting it in the neck and he's giving it back. And all of heaven is watching over the battlements: 'Will he stick it out?' And as they see who is with us, as they see around us the unlimited reserves, the boundless resources, as they see the impossibility of failure with God, how disgusted and sad they must be when we run away. Glory to God! We're not going to run away. We're going to stand."

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Listen Church, we need to hear this! We need to hear this because discouragement is so common.

Pic - Yard sale

The devil, according to legend, once advertised his tools for sale at public auction. When the prospective buyers assembled, there was one oddly-shaped tool which was labeled “Not for sale.” Asked to explain why this was, the devil answered, “I can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. It is the most useful implement that I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts otherwise inaccessible. When I get this tool into a man’s heart, the way is open to plant anything there I may desire.”

Maybe he’s been using that tool on you. You’ve been listening to his lies and you feel completely defeated. We need to hear this because discouragement is so common. And we need to hear this message because discouragement is so unnecessary.

ILL

In John Bunyan’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian is taken prisoner in the dungeon of doubt. He is harassed and placed in chains. Everyday he is threatened by a terrible, cruel giant named Doubt. He is giving up hope until he remembers that he holds a key called “Promise.” He tries the key in the dungeon door and he is able to escape. Listen, discouraged believer, you have a key called praise which is simply a focus and a giving of glory to God for His precious promises. It is inevitable that stress will come which can tempt us to discouragement. That will always happen, but you never have to stay locked in the prison of doubt. It is the praise of God as you remember His promises that will save you! It will pull you out of your discouragement and give you the strength to go on.

TRANS

O yes, Growth will always bring stresses that must be overcome. It will bring the stress of uncertainty and the stress of resistance and the stress of discouragement. But the ultimate stress growth brings is the stress of:

You can overcome the stress of validation.

VALIDATION

EXP

Perhaps the ultimate question that anyone in ministry asks themselves might be this one: Is the sacrifice worth it? Is it worth it to give up my time and clean up my house so that I can host my life group? Is it worth it to get up at 5:00 a.m. so that I can get to my D-group meeting by 6:00 a.m? Is it worth it so get the family up and go through all the hassle of getting the kids ready so that we can get here and I can serve in the Children’s ministry. Is it worth it?

I think that Paul may have asked that question at times, especially in situations like this. That’s why I am so glad that this night that starts with such discouraging circumstances ends so powerfully. V27 says:

Acts 16:27–34 NKJV

And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

That’s awesome! Paul sees an immediate impact of his witness. This jailer and his whole family gets saved. And it doesn’t stop there. This church at Philippi that starts with a prison guard, a clothes merchant, and demon-possessed fortune teller becomes a refuge for Paul. In fact, when you read his letter to the Philippians you see a group of people there who bring him much joy.

When all was said and done, I believe Paul would have said that it was worth it.

APP

And you might be asking that question: Is it worth it? Is all the stress of making disciples worth it? The answer is ABSOLUTELY! It is worth because of two words: Life Change. When you watch the Holy Spirit change the heart of someone right before your very eyes, if you really know Jesus, there will be such joy in your heart that all the pain will vanish and only joy will remain. It is life change that validates the cost of making disciples.

VIS

Pic - J. D. Greear baptizing

J. D. Greear tells the story of Antwain. He was the first black man he ever baptized in the church he had recently come to pastor. J. D. Had gotten to know him through a basketball ministry he had started. Antwain was 6’4” tall and an incredible player. His friends called him “Air” because he could jump so well. (J. D. Said that everyone on the court had nicknames such as “Money,” “Butter,” etc. J. D.s nickname was “No, don’t shoot!”) J. D. Began to study the Bible with Antwain. Now Antwain had a rough past: gang activity, violence, crime. After several months of Bible study, Antwain came to Chriist. He started bringing his friends to Christ. Sometime later he led his girlfriend to Christ and they were married.

As Antwain stood before the church to be baptized, he gave this testimony: “Some of my friends ask me why I go over to ‘that white church.’ [At this point, we were still an almost all-white congregation.] But I tell them, ‘It’s not a white church. The bricks are red and the interior is mauve, in fact. This church is where I met Jesus, and he’s the Savior of whatever color.” Then I baptized him. After the service an older gentleman in our church came up to me and said, “Son, you know I don’t like some of these changes that you are making in our church. . . .” Then he got choked up and said, “But if that right there is what we’re getting [referring to Antwain’s baptism], you can count me in for every single one.”

APP

So what is your stress this morning? Are you uncertain? You know that God has called you, you just don’t know when, where, or how. Maybe you’re pretty clear on the what you’re supposed to do, but you don’t know how it is ever going to happen. Perhaps you need clear direction and you’re willing to humble yourself and ask God for it.

What is your stress this morning? Perhaps it’s resistance. You are in the eye of the storm. You are being criticized or attacked for your faith or your stand for Christ. Maybe you need to be strengthened so that you can keep on obeying even when it is hard.

What is your stress today? Maybe it’s discouragement. You feel like nothing’s working out. You’ve sold out to God and you really thought things would go differently. You may even want to quit. Maybe you need to just come, be reminded of Who Jesus is and humbly worship Him.

I don’t know what stress you’re going through, but I do know that there is an answer. God Himself is here. He is waiting to bring guidance to your uncertainty; He is here to bring strength to obey in the middle of your resistance; and He is here to bring overcome your discouragement. You see, when you seek Him, He is able to bring relief. The stress you hate can bring the success you love.

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The Stress of Success

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Series: On the Move: Overcoming the Obstacles of Growth

Title: The Stress of Success

You can overcome the stress of uncertainty.

When you face uncertainty, don’t doubt, believe!

When you face uncertainty, don’t assume, pray!

When you face uncertainty, don’t hibernate, engage!

When you face uncertainty, don’t rush, wait!

You can overcome the stress of resistance.

What kind of resistance did Paul face?

Paul faced spiritual resistance.

Paul faced social resistance.

How do we obey in spite of resistance?

Remember who we serve.

Remember who we are.

Remember what life’s about.

You can overcome the stress of discouragement.

You can overcome the stress of validation.