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August
25-26, 2001 CONTENTS UNDER
PRESSURE! Psalm 23 THE PRESSURE OF
BUSYNESS! ‡LEARN
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PRESSURE BEFORE WE’RE DESTROYED BY THE PRESSURE! *** Psalm 23:1-2 “The Lord is my shepherd, I
shall not be in want. He makes me lie
down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters….” [New
International Version] *** Psalm 127:2 “It's useless to rise early
and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those
he loves?” [The Message] ‡ THESE
IMAGES REPRESENT: REST AND REFRESHMENT! “IF YOU BURN THE CANDLE
AT BOTH ENDS, YOU’RE NOT AS BRIGHT AS
YOU THINK YOU ARE!” WHAT IS GOD’S ANSWER TO MY BUSYNESS? 1. REALIZE
MY WORTH! ‡HOW MUCH GOD SAYS WE ARE WORTH! *** James 1:18 “God decided to give us life
through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things
he made.” [New Century Version] *** Luke 12:24 “Look at the ravens. They don't
need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because God feeds them. And you
are far more valuable to him than any birds!” [New Living Translation] *** Romans 5:8 “But God has shown us how much
he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!”
[Today’s English Version] ‡ GOD’S
LOVE ISN’T BASED ON YOUR CONDUCT BUT HIS CHARACTER! 2. ENJOY
THE PEACE OF CONTENTMENT! *** Eccles. 5:18 “Here is what I have found
out: the best thing we can do is eat and drink and enjoy what we have worked
for during the short life that God has given us….” [TEV] *** Eccles. 4:6 “I say it is better to be
content with what little you have.
Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like
chasing the wind.” [New Century
Version] *** Hebrews 13:5 “Don't be obsessed with
getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have " [Msg] 3. LIMIT
MY LABOR! ‡
SCHEDULE THE THREE “L’s” ·
LABOR! ·
THE LORD! ·
MY LOVED
ONES! *** Eccles. 10:15 “Only someone too stupid to
find his way home would wear himself out with work.” [TEV] ‡ TO DO
OUR BEST REQUIRES REST! *** Exodus 20:9-10 “Six days a week are set
apart for your daily duties and regular work, but the seventh day is a day of
rest dedicated to the Lord your God.” [NLT] *** Mark 2:27 “Then Jesus said to them,
"The Sabbath was made to benefit people, and not people to benefit the
Sabbath.” [NLT] 4. ADJUST
MY VALUES! *** Eccles. 4:4 “I have also learned why
people work so hard to succeed: it is because they envy the things their
neighbors have. But it is useless. It is like chasing the wind.” [TEV] *** Mark 8:36 “And how do you benefit if you
gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?” [NLT] ‡ TWO
QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELVES: ·
IS IT REALLY WORTH
IT IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY? ·
WILL IT MAKE
A DIFFERENCE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? 5. EXCHANGE
MY PRESSURE FOR GOD’S PEACE! ‡ THREE
KINDS OF FATIGUE: ·
PHYSICAL FATIGUE! ·
EMOTIONAL FATIGUE! ·
SPIRITUAL FATIGUE! ‡
RESISTANCE TO REST IS A MARK OF IMMATURITY! *** Psalm 23:2 “He makes me lie down in green
pastures….” [NIV] *** Matthew 11:28-29 “Are you tired? Worn out?
Burned out…? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll
show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do
it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
[Msg] WHAT IS GOD’S ANSWER TO MY BUSYNESS? R E L A X
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