WE WERE UNABLE TO SUPPLY A RECORDING THIS WEEK BUT HERE IS THE PUBLIC FACING POST ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=2328347910632186&ref=watch_permalink
Sometimes we call it the “blahs” or the “blues”
Sometimes we simply wonder isn’t there more?
Sometimes we reach our goals, we have the family we want, we have the job we have been striving for, our man or woman gets in office, we have more than enough on the table, in the fridge, in the driveway….you are blessed in every way
There is no reason to feel “blah” or “blue”
But we do….
Or maybe you are just the opposite
Maybe you are stuck in a job you hate or is simply not enough of a challenge, maybe your family is struggling or estranged from you. Maybe your political outlook is a nightmare.
Maybe you are struggling with bills, keeping your car running and house safe
You feel hopeless in every way and feel you have the right to feel “blah” or have the “blues”
I understand both of these feelings and so did the Apostle Paul
Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Are you tired of everything…every battle?
I believe what people want is great contentment, to be at peace to know what you are doing means something and counts for something….that life will have meaning rather than hoping that it has meaning
Things we achieve can always leave us feeling, “that was nice but isn’t there more?”
Daily struggling to “eek” out a living and barely getting by, or even having it all, can also leave us thinking, “There has got to be more!”
We were all created for more but the mindset in both of these cases needs redirected…God created us for a clear purpose….as a reminder two of my favorite verses
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Daniel 11:32b “but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits”
We are meant for more…
Keep the main thing the main thing
My hope would be that no one here is battling this but I know better, I hear the conversations, see the posts…but I also know that a great majority of the people in the world, friends, family, co-workers feel this way….so how do we solve this problem?
Keep the main thing the main thing
But what is the main thing
It isn’t having the perfect family….
It isn’t having more than enough money
It isn’t having the perfect job
Does God want to bless you with these things? Yes, but He can’t unless we keep the main thing the main thing…
Jesus told us this story… Matthew 7:24-27
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
So much hope and thoughts for our future are built on sand, they are built on self-help, self-talk, philosophies that are not the rock
Are you ready to hear what will bring you the success…the hope that overcomes the “blah’ and the “blues”
Focus on what God wants…
The enemy wants to always take our focus off of God and get us focused on other things because he knows how important we are to changing this world, how important you really are to your family and friends and if you settle you will never see the changes or feel the real love success joy and so much more he has for you
- Remembering God, first
Jesus spoke a very clear directive for a fulfilled life just a few verses before the housing foundation story…
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33
How does this beat the “blues” and the “blahs”?
You were designed by God to fulfill a purpose…the problem is all the stuff gets in the way, the pursuit of things “I” want above what God wants…It is not that God doesn’t want you to be blessed to have a great family, job, home, cars, dreams…but he wants to do it His way
When we are daily cognoscente of what God wants, we are more at peace and more blessed…
Yes, the politics of our nation is a nightmare
Yes, there is plenty of injustice to go around
Yes, the economy is becoming a challenge
Yes, our schools are going crazy in some ways
…but honestly what can you do about it?
Let me tell you what you can do about it
As we put God first…start by simply starting out your day praying, putting your day and life in His hands, and reading some of His love letter (the Bible) he promises to lead and guide us…as you learn to put him first you learn his ways, his heart, and his action concerning anyone or thing, then rather than throwing your hands in the air He will give you points of action
Today it may simply be to listen to someone and pray with them…you make their day
Today it may be, you speak truth into someone’s life and you set them free
Today, you could speak wisdom and get the promotion
Today, you can see God working all around you
Today, you could hear the Holy Spirit tell you someone is ready to come to Christ and you lead them to Him
Today you could pray for the sick, broken, hurting, wounded and the Lord will heal.
If we believe the Holy Spirit to be true, real and that He lives in us Jesus promises that we will
Walk in the knowledge of all truth…John 14:17 Holy Spirit lead us into all truth
Have peace of mind and heart…John 14:27
You will know what to say and how to talk to anyone – John 15:26 because we have the Advocate speaking through you
Through you the world will be convinced of who God is, that they can become righteous or right with God and have a sense of God’s judgment coming – John 16 8-11
You can know the Father’s heart and what He is going to do John 16:12-15
It is merely by putting him first that these blessings on so many more come our way…would this be a major blessing if all of this was working in your life? Then on top of that….
If you seek him first he will…”add all of these things to your life” what things the fulfillment of the dreams, the hope, the joy, the peace and the love but we must learn what it means to really love
There is such joy in seeing someone impacted by your life, as you volunteer in children’s church, VBS, camps, connection groups, worship team, ushering, any of the outreaches…your obedience to the Lord, and your love which leads me to my next point