Where do you turn when times get rough?
Question: Where do you turn when times get rough?
1. We all know that we all go through hard times
a. People get sick
b. The car breaks down and you can’t afford to fix it.
c. The bills keep piling up and it making you crazy
d. The rent is due but the paycheck isn’t enough
e. You’re feeling lonely and you just don’t know if there is any relief on the horizon in this thing we call life.
Where do you turn?
2. You are burdened down with sin and its getting the best of you
a. You know it has to go!
b. Its keeping you from reaching the place you want to be spiritually
c. Its killing you inside
Where do you turn?
Many turn to different things.
3. Sometimes we turn to drugs and alcohol.
a. Sometime we turn to food.
b. Many eat lots of ice cream.
c. Sometimes we turn towards a friend if we are lucky to have one we can truly turn to.
Life can be painful at times so as we go through life trying to ease the pain we will gravitate towards things that make us feel better.
d. Some people turn towards sexual relationships.
e. Some turn towards pornography and things of the sort.
f. But turn towards something we must.
g. It’s natural in us to do so.
4. We need to ease the pain and feel better
5. We talked about life being filled with shadows
a. Soldiers are dieing
b. Families falling apart.
c. Shadows are everywhere
d. What do you do!
Where do you turn?
This isn’t a new problem
1. Its been this way ever since the fall
a. The people in Jesus day also had problems.
b. Many were the same
c. Many were different.
d. But they struggled also.
2. We hear stories in the gospels of people being blind, and cripple.
a. We read about people being poor and begging for money.
b. We hear about the man Lazarus who was a beggar sitting outside the rich mans house just hoping for some scraps.
3. So pain and heart ache isn’t a new problem.
a. Jesus saw it.
b. Not only was he aware of the problem of people having a hard time with life
4. He was aware of people having a hard time with religious burdens.
a. These people who needed help and should have been able to turn towards the church…
b. The temple and religious leaders couldn’t because they put to many burdens on them…
c. With the law and rules that the religious leaders weren’t any answer for them
d. Sometimes we might feel we can’t go to the church because they won’t understand either.
e. We need forgiveness
f. We want it but are afraid of what the church might think and its making you crazy (Learn from me confess)
So were do you turn?
Jesus gives us a good description of where to turn when life just seems too much. He not only tells us were to turn but how to turn and the effects of doing so.
Where to turn
Matthew 11:28 - 30 (NIV) 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Are you burdened in life? Jesus says come to me. Are you weary? Jesus says come to me! Are things tough? Are you burdened down with life? are you lonely…Jesus said come to me…Jesus is where we turn.
This is a wonderful picture of Jesus love and Grace for humanity. We see Jesus here with compassion for those who are weary and burdened. We see one of Jesus’ mission in life.
The problem in life is we turn to too many of the wrongs things
1. The first place we turn?
a. Friends
b. Family
c. We turn inward
2. The last place we turn is Jesus
a. But he should be first
b. He’s the only one who can help deep down inside
All can come
Matthew 11:28 - 30 (NIV) 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
God doesn’t discriminate
c. The religious leaders discriminated
i. Samaritans
ii. The sick we considered cursed by God
iii. The poor where considered low and worthless
d. We discriminate
i. Race and color
1. Blacks
Illustration: Lexies class mate discriminated against
Illustration: Hair cut talking about the ss teacher saying racist jokes
ii. Certain church cliques
1. If they aren’t in your circle
2. We go out of our way for friends
a. but not strangers
3. We go out of our way for people in church
a. While people are starving all around us
4. Marriages falling apart
5. Dieing
iii. We pray for friends that are sick
1. But why aren’t there droves of Christian at hospitals praying
Illustration: Benny Hinn. Why at a coliseum? Why isn’t he going to the sick people like Jesus did? Why isn’t he going to hospitals instead of having a big production as in having a concert? Is this just for Christians?
e. God allows all
i. It doesn’t matter
ii. He created all
iii. He loves all
iv. He saves all
v. Its sad we don’t but He does
The Stipulation
1. Now although all can turn to Him and He is the one to turn to there is a slight stipulation
29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me
Give Him Control
Explain what a yoke is: Harness for cattle. Go where ever it turns. He in control.
f. Jesus says that what you need to do.
i. Let me take control
ii. Not just in words but in actions
g. Submit to my rule
i. Most but not all of the time
ii. If we look deeply the problems we face were because of something we have done wrong
iii. Or could have done better
iv. Not all the time
v. But a whole lot
vi. Its because we aren’t truly submitted
vii. He says submitt
Learn from Him
3. How many times are we going to make the same mistakes?
a. God tells us so many things
i. Not just because they sound good but because they are good for you
4. Many children are having babies
a. They are burdened down in life
b. They miss out
c. But God said be sexual pure
5. Burdened down with anger and pride
a. But Jesus says be humble and pure in heart
6. We struggle financially
a. Jesus says give to ceaser what it ceasers and God what is Gods
b. But we don’t give God his we spend it
c. Actually we don’t give cesear his share either haha
d. We pray lord help me with my financed
7. He says sure but
a. Give and it will be given good measure pressed etc
8. We need to learn from Him
His rules guide us into the place we need to be
Illustration: Many people wonder why that at times before Jesus healed someone they had to do something first. It was a demonstration if they were willing to do what needed to be done.
The Promise
God offers eternal peace.
“You will find rest for your souls.”
Soul rest.
1. Isn’t that what we all need?
a. People cant do that for you
i. Although they can try
b. Things cant do that for you
i. Just temporary
c. Food cant do that for you
d. They are just temporary
He won’t ask too much
30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
9. Its not going to be hard at all
a. Actually its harder the other way around
b. We spin our wheels over and over
10. My yoke is easy
People will yoke you hard
a. Go to people for financial freedom
i. and we pay interest for the rest of our lives
b. Go to the hospital for healing without insurance wow and its crazy…
i. Jesus healing is free
c. Go to a therapist to help you with your problems
i. And the bills pile in
d. Try to fight sin yourself and earn you way to heaven
i. And you just die in your sin
My burden is light
e. I am not going to ask you to do anything you cant or that will make it worse
f. Sometimes we are afraid to turn to God because He might make me do all kinds o stuff
g. But its light
h. He makes it easy
i. He helps you along the way
Rest for your souls
All are invited to come, and all are promised rest. If few find rest from sin and vile affections, it is because few come to Christ to receive it.
CHRIST’S yoke means, the obligation to receive him as the MESSIAH, to believe his doctrine, and to be in all things conformed to his Word and to his Spirit.
