Topical Sermon Preparation | Stress VS. Rest

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AM I LIVING THE DOUBLE LIFE?

INTRODUCTION

The Story

After taking a great deal of time off from social media and withdrawing from society, it came to me with no surprise that I would experience some warfare. Spiritually, physically, mentally, and even emotionally. I know this may sound like a lot and trust me I know, because it was.

After vacillating for days between my mind vs my spirit I couldn’t seem to come to peace on which area needed the most focus. I mean it all did. And then suddenly I experienced chronic pain, unlike any other time before, to the point I was bedridden for three months and could not walk.

While spending time ing prayer with God I began to study how to detox my body. He led me to study the Autonomic Nervous System which is a resource allocator that has two branches called the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. These systems are responsible for the defense and the repair of the human body. Our sympathetic system is our stress response which puts our body in a defense state. When this happens it causes your sympathetic to be dominant at the expense of your parasympathetic, which repairs and heals the body.

Astonishing to me, I didn’t know that you can be in defense or you can be in repair, but you can’t do both. One other fascinating revelation I got from study this is that your nervous system has been programed and conditioned to respond either by defense or repair by the age of 5 years old. Mind blowing right. I was thinking the same thing, which made me ask the question that I ask you today which is the title of the sermon, Am I living a double life?

Transition: If you’re on the defense by my last question, then you’re already stressed. But it’s ok, you’re coming out today. Now, let’s discuss stress.

I. Stress has you on the defense

A. The word Stress is defined as

Feeling physical or mental pressure; worry. Also: Anxiety; Burnout; Busyness; Distress; Pressure; Tension

Transition: Let’s get into the word and reveal what it shares concerning stress in the mind, heart, and body

B. Stress in the mind, heart, & body

Psalms 94:19 [NLT] 19 When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Proverbs 12:25 [AMP] 25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.

Luke 22:39-46 [NLT] 39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. 45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Transition: As Jesus is the greatest example of maturity in the entire bible, I’d like to discuss with you how we mature to restore.

II. Mature to restore

A. The word Mature is defined as

full-grown, growth (increase), growth (plan), ripe fruit, to be ripe, to cause to develop, to cause to grow, to develop, to dry out (ripen), to fruit (mature), to grow, to grow (develop), to grow (natural), to grow (something), to ripen, to ripen (process)

Transition: As we further examine the text together, we’ll find that rest that God promised to you and I both.

B. The ‘REST’ of the process

James 1:2-8 [NLT] 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

1 Corinthians 2:6-9 [NLT] 6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Conclusion

Make the decision which ‘SYSTEM’ (world vs God’s word) you're going to live

The 5-year Commitment

Strength and balance will come from your relaxation in Jesus and prayer under the anointing.