• IF YOU ARE A BOSS, AN EMPLOYEE, A PARENT, A STUDENT, A CITIZEN, A VOTER OR A SPOUSE, IF YOU KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS, IT MAY BE HARD FOR YOU TO RELAX. FROM MSN NEWS THIS WEEK…
• A DRIVE BY SHOOTING OCCURRED IN HATTIESBURG MISSISSIPPI OUTSIDE A MILITARY FACILITY.
• 8 PEOPLE IN NYC DIED FROM LEGIONARIES DISEASE.
• THE CDC REPORTS A POSSIBLE OUTBREAK OF THE EBOLA VIRUS IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.
• A GUNMAN FIRED SHOTS AT THE WASHINGTON MALL.
• EGGS COULD REACH $6 A DOZEN BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
• NOT TO MENTION ISIS IS STILL AROUND.
• AND NORTH KOREA AND IRAN ARE STILL IN PURSUIT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
• ALL THE CRIME, CHAOS AND CONFLICT IN OUR WORLD TODAY AND THE BIBLE STILL SAYS IN PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD; AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RELAX?
• MY IDEA OF RELAXATION IS SITTING DOWN TO READ A GOOD BOOK.
• SOME OF US LIKE TO RELAX ON THE LAKE.
• SOME WITH THEIR GRANDKIDS. OTHERS RELAX BY TAKING A DRIVE OR A VACATION. SOME GO FOR A WALK ON THE BEACH.
• RELAXING DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU DON’T CARE OR THAT YOU’VE BECOME COMPLACENT.
• RELAXING MEANS YOU TRY TO BECOME LESS TENSE AND ANXIOUS.
• BECAUSE IF YOU’RE NOT ANXIOUS, YOU’RE NOT FEARFUL.
• IF YOU’RE NOT FEARFUL, YOU WORRY LESS.
• ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO RELAX IS TO JUST TURN OFF THE NEWS.
• IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 100,000 COUNSELING TECHNIQUES IN USE TODAY TO HELP PEOPLE DEAL WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY.
• MILLIONS OF WORDS WRITTEN AND DEVOTED TO HELP PEOPLE COPE WITH THE STRESSES OF LIFE.
• THERE ARE COUNTLESS SELF HELP BOOKS THAT CAN ACTUALLY HELP A PERSON TO RELAX.
• GOD HIMSELF HAS DESIGNED SEVERAL WAYS TO MAKE US LESS TENSE. TO HELP US TO RELAX.
• HE HAS GIVEN US REST AND RECREATION. “DOWN TIME.”
• THERE ARE HYMNS THAT HE HAS HELPED MEN TO CREATE THAT REMIND US TO BE LESS TENSE.
• “IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL”, OR “COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS” FOR EXAMPLE.
• BUT TRULY, THERE IS NOTHING MORE HELPFUL TO MAN’S RELAXATION THAN THE WORD OF GOD.
• THE APOSTLE PETER TELLS US THAT THROUGH THIS WORD WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN EVERYTHING FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS, THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM WHO CALLED US BY HIS OWN GLORY AND VIRTUE. 2 PETER 1:3
• IF THIS IS TRUE, AND IT IS, THEN GOD HAS ALSO GIVEN US INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO RELAX.
• SO, TODAY, LETS LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES TO SEE GOD’S SUGGESTIONS FOR RELAXING IN THIS CRAZY WORLD WE LIVE IN.
• BUT, BEFORE WE START THAT PART OF THE LESSON, LET’S PRAY.
• PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLES TO PSALM 46.
PSALM 46:1 – GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.
• ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF A LACK OF RELAXATION IS THE FEELING OF INSECURITY. THAT’S WHAT TROUBLE IS.
• THINK ABOUT SECURITY FOR A MOMENT. WE DON’T IMAGINE GUARDS WITH UNIFORMS OR EVEN GUNS. THOSE ARE FOR OUR PROTECTION.
• SECURITY IS A QUIET SAFE AND RESTFUL PLACE. THE STATE OF BEING FREE FROM DANGER OR THREAT.
• THAT SAFE PLACE IS IN GOD. THE SECURE PLACE IS IN GOD. THE PSALMIST DECLARES THAT “GOD IS OUR REFUGE.”
• THE HEBREW WORD FOR REFUGE IS DEFINED AS A PLACE OF SAFETY.
ISAIAH 4:6 THERE WILL BE A SHELTER TO GIVE SHADE FROM THE HEAT BY DAY, AND REFUGE AND PROTECTION FROM THE STORM AND THE RAIN.
• ALL THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES WE SEE THAT GOD IS THE DIVINE PROTECTOR.
• HE IS A GOD OF BATTLES. A MAN OF WAR. A SURE DEFENSE.
PSALM 71:1 – LORD IN YOU I HAVE TAKE REFUGE. LET ME NEVER BE ASHAMED.
• GOD IS A HIDING PLACE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS.
• HE IS A SURE PROTECTION FOR THE WEAK WHO WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE.
• HE IS A SHIELD. HE WAS WITH US IN THE BEGINNING OF LIFE. WHEN WE WERE PURE AND INNOCENT AND HE WILL BE WITH US ALL THROUGH LIFE IF WE ALLOW HIM TO BE.
• SATAN’S MISSION IS TO DISTRACT US FROM THAT TRUTH TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN LOSE SIGHT OF A ND FAITH IN GOD.
• THE WORLD, THE TIME, THE PLACE THAT WE LIVE IN CAN CAUSE US TO BE DISTRACTED AS WELL F WE ARE NOT FOCUSED ON THE LORD.
• BUT THROUGH ALL OF THE STRESS, PRESSURE AND ANXIETY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO RELAX IF WE FULLY RECOGNIZE THAT GOD IS OUR SECURITY.
ROMANS 8:31 - WHAT THEN SHALL WE SAY TO THESE THINGS? IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO IS AGAINST US?
• GOD IS OUR SECURITY AND SAFETY AGAINST ENEMIES.
MATTHEW 10:28 - DO NOT FEAR THOSE WHO KILL THE BODY BUT ARE UNABLE TO KILL THE SOUL; BUT RATHER FEAR HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN HELL.
• HE IS OUR SECURITY AGAINST POVERTY AND FAMINE.
PSALM 37:25 – I HAVE BEEN YOUNG AND NOW I AM OLD, YET I HAVE NOT SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN OR THEIR CHILDREN BEGGING BREAD.
• GOD IS OUR SPIRITUAL PROTECTOR AND THE GUARDIAN OF OUR SOULS.
• NOT THE LOCKS ON THE DOOR. NOT A CONSERVATIVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE. NOT A STANDING ARMY. NOT THE GUN IN OUR HOLSTER. NOT OUR MONEY IN THE BANK.
• THOSE THINGS MAY MAKE LIFE EASIER. BUT IT IS GOD WHO MAKES LIFE LIVABLE AND WORTH LIVING, SO WE CAN RELAX.
• GOD IS OUR SECURITY. GOD IS OUR SHIELD. HE IS OUR DIVINE PROTECTOR. GOD IS OUR REFUGE FROM ALL THE STORMS OF LIFE.
• AND HE HAS PROMISED TO BE FAITHFUL, EVEN WHEN WE ARE NOT.
ISAIAH 54:10 - "FOR THE MOUNTAINS MAY BE REMOVED AND THE HILLS MAY SHAKE, BUT MY LOVINGKINDNESS WILL NOT BE REMOVED FROM YOU, AND MY COVENANT OF PEACE WILL NOT BE SHAKEN," SAYS THE LORD WHO HAS COMPASSION ON YOU.
• THINK ABOUT IT; HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY RELAX BY PUTTING OUR HOPE AND TRUST IN OURSELVES?
• EVEN IF WE CONSIDER OURSELVES COMPLETELY RELIABLE THE IS ALWAYS THE UNSEEN CIRCUMSTANCE. THE INTANGIBLE FACTOR.
• WHEN WE PUT HOPE IN OURSELVES WE BECOME PRIDEFUL.
• THE EDOMITE’S WERE LIKE THAT. THEY THOUGHT THEIR POSITION WAS IMPREGNABLE. SCRIPTURE SAYS OF THEM…
OBADIAH 3:9 - “THE ARROGANCE OF YOUR HEART HAS DECEIVED YOU, YOU WHO LIVE IN THE CLEFTS OF THE ROCK, IN THE LOFTINESS OF YOUR DWELLING PLACE, WHO SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL BRING ME DOWN TO EARTH?’
• THEY WERE THE DESCENDANTS OF ISRAEL’S BROTHER ESAU BUT THEY WE INHOSPITABLE TO THEIR FELLOW HEBREWS WHEN THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO PASS THROUGH THE LAND.
• THE RESULT – GOD WAS AGAINST THEM. JEREMIAH, EZEKIEL, MALACHI, ISAIAH AND OBADIAH ALL PROPHESY THE DOOM OF EDOM.
• BECAUSE OF THEIR STRATEGIC POSITION HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS NORTH OF THE GULF OF AQABA, THE EDOMITE’S THOUGHT THEY WERE INVINCIBLE.
• BUT LATER THEY WERE DOMINATED BY ASSYRIA AND ARABIA.
• THEY BECAME THE IDUMEANS, KING HEROD CAME FROM THEM.
• AFTER JERUSALEM WAS DESTROYED IN 70AD THEY DISAPPEARED FROM HISTORY.
• HOW COULD THEY POSSIBLY RELAX WITH THE HAND OF GOD AGAINST THEM?
• WHEN WE PLACE OUR TRUST IN GOD AS OUR SECURITY WE WILL BE ABLE TO FINALLY RELAX.
• NOT ONLY IS GOD OUR SECURITY AND REFUGE, GOD IS OUR STRENGTH AND OUR SAVIOR.
• WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE CAN’T LIVE THIS LIFE ALONE.
• WE CAN’T LIVE LIFE THE WAY WE “WANT” TO LIVE.
• IN THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL THOUGHT THEY COULD LIVE LIFE THE WAY THEY WANTED.
JUDGES 17:6 AND 21:25 - IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS NO KING IN ISRAEL; EVERY MAN DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES.
• YOU’VE SEEN THE DYSTOPIAN FILMS WHERE LIFE IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WITH CHAOS AND ANARCHY REIGNING? THIS IS IT IN REAL LIFE!
• A LAWLESS, FEARFUL, UNJUST, RABIDLY VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS SOCIETY.
• PEOPLE LIVING LIKE THIS CAN NEVER RELAX!
• SOUND FAMILIAR? TODAY WE LIVE IN THE ULTIMATE TIME OF MORAL AND SPIRITUAL ANARCHY.
• THE BIBLE IS RIGHT!
JEREMIAH 10:23 - I KNOW, O LORD, THAT A MAN’S WAY IS NOT IN HIMSELF, NOR IS IT IN A MAN WHO WALKS TO DIRECT HIS STEPS
PROVERBS 16:25 – THERE IS A WAY WHICH SEEMS RIGHT TO A MAN, BUT ITS END IS THE WAY OF DEATH.
• THE FRUIT OF A LACK OF GODLINESS, THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE AND THE INDULGENCE OF SELF IS THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY.
• WE NEED GOD TO PROTECT US FROM THIS WORLD.
• WE NEED GOD TO TEACH AND TO REMIND US HOW TO THINK AND TO ACT. THEN WE CAN RELAX ABOUT THE THINGS WE DO AND SAY.
• WE MUST RELY ON GOD TO BE OUR STRENGTH BECAUSE HE IS OUR SAVIOR. THEN WE CAN RELAX OVER THE STRESSES IN OUR LIVES.
• THE SCRIPTURE IS REPLETE WITH ADMONITIONS TO BE BRAVE AND COURAGEOUS BECAUSE GOD IS WITH US.
• THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS LIVED IN DARK, DESPERATE AND TRYING TIMES, YET THEY FOUND GREAT STRENGTH IN THE LORD.
HABAKKUK 3:19 - THE LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH, AND HE HAS MADE MY FEET LIKE HINDS’ FEET, AND MAKES ME WALK ON MY HIGH PLACES.
• IN THE DAYS OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY THE MEN OF ISRAEL HAD MARRIED FOREIGN WOMEN, AGAINST THE COMMAND OF GOD.
• THEY NEEDED TO MAKE IT RIGHT BEFORE THE LORD AND THEY DID WHEN THEY FOUND THEIR STRENGTH IN HIM.
NEHEMIAH 8:10 – IT WAS DIFFICULT AND THE PEOPLE MOURNED BUT NEHEMIAH REMINDED THE PEOPLE “DO NOT SORROW FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH.”
• EARLIER IN PSALM 46 WE SAW GOD AS A PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE.
• OF COURSE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT LIVING IN THIS WORLD OF WICKEDNESS THERE ARE GOING TO BE PROBLEMS.
PSALM 46:2-9 – THEREFORE WE WILL NOT FEAR, THOUGH THE EARTH SHOULD CHANGE AND THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS SLIP INTO THE HEART OF THE SEA; THOUGH ITS WATERS ROAR AND FOAM, THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS QUAKE AT ITS SWELLING PRIDE. SELAH. THERE IS A RIVER WHOSE STREAMS MAKE GLAD THE CITY OF GOD, THE HOLY DWELLING PLACES OF THE MOST HIGH. GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF HER, SHE WILL NOT BE MOVED; GOD WILL HELP HER WHEN MORNING DAWNS. THE NATIONS MADE AN UPROAR, THE KINGDOMS TOTTERED; HE RAISED HIS VOICE, THE EARTH MELTED. THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR STRONGHOLD. SELAH. COME, BEHOLD THE WORKS OF THE LORD, WHO HAS WROUGHT DESOLATIONS IN THE EARTH. HE MAKES WARS TO CEASE TO THE END OF THE EARTH; HE BREAKS THE BOW AND CUTS THE SPEAR IN TWO; HE BURNS THE CHARIOTS WITH FIRE.
• THE PSALMIST SAYS THERE WILL BE EARTHQUAKE, WARS, FAMINES, DEATHS AND DISEASES.
• BUT WE ARE REMINDED THAT IN ALL THOSE CALAMITOUS SITUATIONS.
• IN SPITE OF ALL THOSE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE AND NATURAL THINGS THERE IS ONE CITY THAT WILL NOT AND CANNOT BE MOVED.
• ONE CITY THAT WE NEED TO PITCH OUR TENT IN.
• REMEMBER GOD AND HIS HOLY CITY AND HIS HOLY PEOPLE.
• REMEMBER GOD. HE IS OUR SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND HOPE.
• WE ARE REMINDED BY THE MOST MERCURIAL MAN IN ALL OF SCRIPTURE AFTER HE HAD FOUND HIS STRENGTH AND HOPE IN CHRIST…
1 PETER 5:7 – CAST ALL YOUR CARES ON HIM BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU.
• LIKE PETER WE CAN RELAX KNOWING THAT IN SPITE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS OF AND IN THE WORLD, THE CHRISTIAN CAN TRUST GOD TO BE OUR HOPE, STRENGTH, SAFETY, SECURITY AND SAVIOR.
• IN HIS CARING FOR AND LOVING US GOD HAS GIVEN THE WHOLE WORLD ACCESS TO THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
• AND TO BE A CHILD OF GOD IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST MEANS TO BE A CITIZEN OF A BETTER COUNTRY, HEAVEN.
• A SECURE AND SAFE COUNTRY. GOD’S KINGDOM.
• A KINGDOM THAT IS NOT IN THE HABIT OF TAKING IT EASY OR BEING COMPLACENT,
• BUT A KINGDOM AND A PEOPLE WHO ARE CALM AND RELAXED DAILY, NOT JUST AT REC TIMES AND VACATIONS AND DOWN TIMES,
• A PEOPLE TRUSTING IN GOD AS OUR SECURITY, STRENGTH AND SAVIOR AS WE RELAX, JUST A LITTLE, WAITING FOR JESUS TO RETURN.
PSALM 46:10-11 - “CEASE STRIVING AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD; I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE NATIONS, I WILL BE EXALTED IN THE EARTH.” THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR STRONGHOLD
• ACCORDING TO A GREEK LEGEND, IN ANCIENT ATHENS A MAN NOTICED THE GREAT STORYTELLER AESOP PLAYING CHILDISH GAMES WITH SOME LITTLE BOYS.
• HE LAUGHED AND MOCKED AESOP, ASKING HIM WHY HE WASTED HIS TIME IN SUCH FRIVOLOUS ACTIVITY.
• AESOP PICKED UP A BOW, LOOSENED THE STRING, AND SET IT ON THE GROUND.
• THEN HE SAID TO THE ATHENIAN, "NOW, ANSWER THE RIDDLE, IF YOU CAN. TELL US WHAT THE UNSTRUNG BOWS MEANS."
• THE MAN LOOKED AT IT FOR A BIT BUT HAD NO IDEA WHAT POINT AESOP WAS TRYING TO MAKE.
• AESOP EXPLAINED, "IF YOU KEEP A BOW ALWAYS BENT, IT WILL BREAK EVENTUALLY; BUT IF YOU LET IT GO SLACK, IT WILL BE FIT FOR USE WHEN YOU WANT IT."
• PEOPLE ARE LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHY WE ALL NEED TO TAKE TIME TO RELAX.
• JESUS PRESCRIBED TIME OFF FOR HIS TIRED DISCIPLES AFTER THEY HAD RETURNED FROM A PROLONGED PERIOD OF MINISTRY.
• IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD SET A PATTERN FOR US WHEN HE "RESTED FROM ALL HIS WORK" (GEN.2:3).
• SHOULDN'T WE TAKE HIS EXAMPLE SERIOUSLY? START BY SETTING ASIDE SOME SPECIAL TIME TO RELAX PHYSICALLY AND RENEW YOURSELF EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.
• YOU WILL BE AT YOUR BEST FOR THE LORD IF YOU HAVE TAKEN TIME TO LOOSEN YOUR STRING.
