Maturing in Christ - "How to handle stress"

The Great Commission
MATURING IN CHRIST
Part 4: HOW-TO Handle Stress
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org


ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:00PM Evening Service at the church –
“Seminary Students will be preaching”

December 7th – Walker Spriggs
December 14th – Deacon Kurt Ulman
December 21st – Lori Ulman
December 28th – Lynnette Higgins
January 4th – Grace Steadman



WHERE WE ARE AT

† Growing in the Lord : OVERCOMING The Carnal Mind
† Growing in the Lord : OVERCOMING Satan
† Growing in the Lord : OVERCOMING Worldliness
† Growing in the Lord : OVERCOMING Pride
† Growing in the Lord : OVERCOMING Your Mouth

† Growing in the Lord : HOW-TO Be Christ Centered
† Growing in the Lord : HOW-TO Praise the Lord
† Growing in the Lord : HOW-TO Have the Joy of the Lord

† Maturing in Christ: Spiritual Trials
† Maturing in Christ: Facing Serious Illness
† Maturing in Christ: Facing Financial Problems
† Maturing in Christ: HOW-TO Handle Stress








INTRODUCTION

Medical News Today (www.medicalnewstoday.com)
“Nearly 5% of the US population suffers from persistent depression or anxiety…”

Population in the US - 305,820,894

This is just the “reported cases”, which equal approximately 15,291,045 people!

If you add other mental disorders such as mood, substance abuse/dependency, and impulse control…that 5% jumps to 26.4% … ¼ of our population.

That’s 76,455,224 people who are stressed out.

† National Stress-Out Week November 11-17



#1 USA 26.4%
#2 Ukraine 20.5%
#3 France 18.4%

These are just the reported cases…

Stress and anxiety is the absence of Peace and trust…

In a lot of cases, stress stems from fear, and anxiety from lack of faith.

I. THE LORD GIVES US PEACE AND IN HIM WE CAN TRUST

† John 14:27

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus leaves us peace through the Holy Spirit.

The world gives false hopes, lies and deceit…But you can Trust in the Lord.

Jesus tells us directly, do not let your hearts be troubled…and do not be afraid.


† Mark 4:37-41

37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

The storms come…and they can strike fear into us in our lives.

But the Lord is in control.

We need to call on Him and have faith and trust in Him.

Jesus tells us that the disciples had fear because they did not have faith.

Fear is the absence of something…faith.

Jesus wants to give you peace, but you have to develop your faith and trust in Him.

And that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Romans 10:17

II. HOW TO RECEIVE PEACE FROM THE LORD

† Philippians 4:4-9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.


† 1 Peter 5:7-11

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.



III. FEAR IS THE OPPOSITE OF PEACE

† Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.


† Psalms 23:2-4

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.


† Psalms 46:1-3

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.




† Matthew 6:31-34

31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


CLOSING

† Matthew 11:28-30

28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."