No Pressure No Problem
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· 6 viewsTackling peer pressure in accordance to God's Standards
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Introduction
Introduction
St. Lucian man named hot chocolate.
Tonight, I want to talk about peer pressure.
Not necessarily the pressure to do what is good, but the pressure to discuss what is not good.
All of you face the pressure to conform to this world on a daily basis.
I want to help you navigate this battle by answering three major questions...
What is peer pressure?
How do I respond to peer pressure?
How can I avoid peer pressure?
*Prayer
What is Peer Pressure?
What is Peer Pressure?
For the sake of our lesson tonight, let’s define peer pressure, or how we are addressing it per say...
Peer Pressure: outside pressure to do something ungodly.
Peer Pressure: outside pressure to do something ungodly.
Obviously, there can be positive peer pressure. For the sake of limited time, we want to discuss the negative peer pressure, one that removes you from the will of God and leads you towards sinful behavior...
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
What does this passage mean when it talks a bout being blessed?
The word “Blessed” is referring to complete happiness or total contentment found in being in right standing with God.
When we find ourselves listening to peer pressure and confronting the decision to carry out the given advice, it is because we are usually after something.
Whether it is a status, product, experience, or destination, we are pursuing a desire. The pressure given is to fulfill that particular need.
I will drink because it earns me credibility in a popular crowd.
I will get a hit because I want to escape this pain or discomfort.
I will spread this rumor and gossip about this person so my name is avoided and theirs is belittled.
A life full of contentment and complete satisfaction is a life that is no longer chasing these things in hope for that fulfillment.
This is the life that Psalm 1 is referring to!
This passage uses the individual who deals with the ungodly as an example of one who is pursuing such things...
The ungodly is a common source. Peer pressure can be placed upon us by multiple sources such as our own hearts...
18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
It can also come from the noise of the world...
Many of you have to settle on political stances and opinions because your social media and classrooms enforce this line of thinking… Unfortunately, culture is swayed one way and most of it is not of God!
Lastly, it can come from relationships in your life.
Look at Psalm1 again...
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
We have identified the ungodly sources… so where does the advice and ways of God come from?
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
His word!
How do we avoid falling into peer pressure?
How do we avoid falling into peer pressure?
Positive pressure points to Biblical truth.
If the pressure you are receiving convicts your spirit and fundamentally leads you to reject what God expects of you, than it is negative peer pressure.
The only way we are able to discern between these things is if we know and are in God’s word consistently.
So how do we avoid falling into peer pressure? Staying rooted in His word.
“His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law, he meditates day and night.”
Here is an example of this!
Solomon was given the opportunity to ask for anything from the Lord… this was Solomon’s request.
10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” 11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king,
Secondly, we surround ourselves with Biblical Community.
Solomon sought wisdom from the Lord. In contrast, his son did not.
Rehoboam was following Solomon’s footsteps. The people came to him asking to consider stopping the taxation and forced service. In their eyes, Solomon took a lot from them.
God warns the nation of Israel this would happen in 1 Sam. 8
Look what Rehoboam does...
8 But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. 9 And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” 10 And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,’ thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. 11 And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’ ”
These friends of Rehoboam pressured him to take a route that indirectly led him to make decisions that would further destroy himself and his opportunity.
My man had to flee before the people would kill him!
At the end of the day, who you choose to seek counsel from will help you avoid walking in the way of the ungodly...
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
We must be around people that have your best interest in mind according to the ways of the Lord- for this is where His blessing lies!
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Who are your friends?
“Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.” - Jay Mike Johnson
Listen, some of you in the room need to stop justifying friendships that are toxic to you simply because “I have grown up with them” or you’ve been friends with them for so long...
That didn’t work well for Rehoboam, and it won’t keep you from negative peer pressure.
The direct problem is less about their attempt to persuade you in the things of this world, it is more about your unwillingness to be unashamed of the gospel.
We can attempt to protect ourselves from bad company. At the end of the day, we will always be confronting a world that will throw everything at you to see you fall.
This leads us to our last question...
How do you respond to peer pressure?
How do you respond to peer pressure?
Peer pressure has a way of presenting a fork in the road...
You have two options...
Go left and follow the way of the world...
It looks right. It looks smooth. It makes more sense. It is easier.
But what you don’t see is the cliff that lies immediately on the other side of the horizon that will lead to destruction.
2. Now the right side of the road looks difficult.
It’s narrow. It’s difficult. There is a cost.
It will cause pain. Exhaustion. Frustration.
But the what is up top is rewarding. There is a a view like none-other. A pool that is refreshing to the soul. A never-ending celebration of accomplishment.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Which path will you choose?
You want to know why many of us decide to go left?
Because we count the cost, we listen to the world, and we are ashamed of the truth that we know...
You fall into peer pressure because you aren’t bold about the truth and freedom in the life God has graciously given you...
(Greg Motte’s message on Romans 1:16)
Why might you be ashamed??
Why might you be ashamed??
There could be a deficit (Too small of amount)
In other words, you have inadequate information.
We need to consider how much of your time you are giving to seeking wisdom from the Lord and place you around Biblical community immediately.
There could be deception
You have obtained inaccurate information
Someone has told you Christianity isn’t for all.
Or maybe that there are some things that are acceptable and won’t hurt you that bad.
Or that the gospel isn’t sufficient for my complete contentment.
There could be doubt
You have an incomplete amount of information.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
You want to know how to respond to peer pressure?
You be unashamed of the gospel.
The gospel is good news that respects people, loves people, presents freedom and salvation, it serves people, it meets them where they are at, and it presents you with an identity and purpose that is found in the truths of God’s word.
His word is best because Jesus is better.
But what about the partaking of things that aren’t forbidden in scripture but carry weighted opinions?
First of all, God doesn’t want us to be stupid.
He is our Father.
My Dad sent me to college with the expectation that I would attend classes and earn an education.
He loved what I did to earn a paycheck. You can’t argue with ministry.
But if I would have failed classes because I was spending “too much time working,” you think he would have been pleased?
Use your brain. If you don’t have one, find it.
But secondly, here are two statements that are helpful evaluative tools concerning those things...
What is permissible is not always beneficial.
What is considered good thing is not always a God thing.
When you turn 21, it’s legal to drink.
You are able to purchase tobacco at 18.
You can spend your money on any experience or any form of entertainment.
But at the end of the day, you must compare your heart with God’s truth...
You must compare the pressure placed upon you to God’s truth and trust that Jesus is better...
Why is Jesus better?
*Gospel Presentation.
Nothing will give you something better than what God has already offered- Jesus.
Close and pray.