Boiling Point

At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And steam can power a locomotive. -212 Degrees, the Extra Degree.

When something reaches its boiling point, it has the power to explode! The explosion can have terrible effects or amazing effects. It’s not about avoiding the boiling point, its about using that reaction to change things for the better!

This message was actually birthed out of a hard time in my life awhile back. I had been battling negative thoughts, discouragement and internal stress for couple weeks. I didn’t have the joy that I knew God promised me and I couldn’t shake the heaviness. It felt like a wet blanket that was there when I woke up until I went to sleep. I would cry at the drop of a hat. I had reached my boiling point. Something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Thankfully, instead of throwing in the towel, I chose to press in. I met with a Christian friend and was very transparent about what I was going through. We prayed and cried out to God! I dug into God’s Word and His promises. I began to speak life over myself and my situation, instead of negativity. As a result, I gained insight and freedom that I had not experienced in a long time.

I don’t believe that I am the only one who has faced a situation where you feel like the heat is rising and something is about to boil over. Whether it’s in our church, our homes or an internal battle, as Christians we will face several boiling point situations throughout life.

As the body of Christ, we need to be equipped to address these areas and understand that God has not called us to be afraid of situations that raise our blood pressure. Rather, He has called us higher, to be agents of change and He has given us His Spirit to confront things that need to be made right through His power and not our flesh!

When we go with our gut reaction in our flesh, we cause more damage than good. But when we handle conflicts, stress and harmful situations through Biblical principles, we disarm the enemy and bring growth and health to ourselves and those we are connected to.

Before we get started, I want you to all take a minute to identify what gets you to your boiling point. What is your trigger? We all have one or two things that get us upset or stressed.

How many of you would be honest and say that you may have reached a boiling point this morning on your way to church? Maybe while you were trying to get out the door on time or when you got behind that slow driver on the way here.

I’ve found that I reach my boiling point faster when there are few triggers present. First, I have taken on too many things. I’ve said yes to too many people. This then leads to me thinking I’m a superhero and the lone ranger. I forget that God intends for me to lean on Him and I get overwhelmed. This usually leads to me allowing my thoughts to get out of control and spiral downward. My daughter has a friend who calls this “Getting in her head too much”. I can definitely “get in my head too much”. When all these things are present, I am almost always due to reach my boiling point.

That’s the path to my boiling point. Chances are, if I asked you what the path to your boiling point looks like, each of you would have a different scenario.

The first step to handling our boiling points better, is identifying the triggers!

Paul told the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 13:5 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

As Christians we should regularly examine our hearts and attitudes. When we look inwardly, we should see the character of Jesus. If we don’t then it’s time to make a change.

Examination was a common theme in the early church. Even in communion Paul told the church in 1 Corinthians 11:28, prior to participating in the Lord’s supper, “Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”

The word used here in the original Greek is peira, which is translated as test or make proof.

Examination means putting something to the test. To look past the symptoms, such as our feelings being hurt, our anger, experiencing anxiety or heaviness and really identify what causes those symptoms.

We have to look deep within ourselves and test our motives, our attitudes and our short-comings.