02 Near To The Heart Of God Series

1 Sa 30

Dr. Cleland Boyd McAfee (1899-1944) was serving as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Chicago, Dr. McAfee was stunned to hear the shocking news that his two beloved nieces had just died within 24 hours of each other from diphtheria. Turning to God and the Scriptures, McAfee soon felt the lines and the tune of this hymn flow from his grieving heart. On the day of the double funeral he stood outside the quarantined home of his brother Howard singing these words as he choked back the tears. The following Sunday the hymn was repeated by the choir of McAfee’s church

- Stress Overload

- American Psychological Association, American Institute of Stress, NY - 7/8/14

- 77% regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress

- Three Main Symptoms of Stress

- Fatigue

- Headache

- Upset stomach

Root Cause of Stress

1 Job Pressure - Co-Worker Tension, Bosses, Work Overload

2 Money - Loss of Job, Reduced Retirement, Medical Expenses

3 Health - Health Crisis, Terminal or Chronic Illness

4 Relationships - Divorce, Death of Spouse, Arguments with Friends, Loneliness

5 Poor Nutrition - Inadequate Nutrition, Caffeine, Processed Foods, Refined Sugars

6 Media Overload - Television, Radio, Internet, E-Mail, Social Networking

7 Sleep Deprivation - Inability to release adrenaline and other stress hormones

Results of Stress

- Impedes our joy

- Invades our peace

- Intensifies our difficulties

David Under Stress – 1 Sa 27

- Fearful & Afraid

- Saul had attacked David at least 20x

- He had to be tired out

- His nerves were frayed

- Given up to the Philistines

- 1 Samuel 27:1 (AV)

— 1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

- 1 Sa 17 Goliath was a Philistine

David's Stress Escalated

- 1 Sa 30:1 – Amalekites burnt his home

- 1 Sa 30:2 – Took his family

- 1 Sa 30:4 – Exhausting brokenness

- 1 Sa 30:6 – His friends considered death

- 1 Sa 30:6 – People felt completely abandon

1 Samuel 30:6 (AV) — 6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters:

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David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

A Place of Quiet Rest

- Encourage Yourself

- Example - Ps 37:1-6, Ps. 42:8, 11, 43:5

(Chorus) Through Jesus

- Remember His Provision

- Recognize His Power

- Reflect on His Promises

- Respond to Him in Prayer

- Realize His Protection