Living Beyond the “Down and Out” II
(Advice adapted from Rick Warren’s
“God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions”)
{DVD – Laughter is Contagious}
[ILLUS: “Laughter Really is the Best medicine” states Sue Casiglia – Lets look at some highlights from her study:
> The affect of laughter on the body is immediate. Laughing actually lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones and increases muscle flexion.
> It also increases your resistance level to infections.
> Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.
> Laughter is used as a pain management technique for terminally ill cancer patients. Patients who regularly employ laughter therapy are found to be more tolerant of pain than those who don’t.
> Down at the Miller Center in the Pallative Care unit there is the laughing doctor. Who spreads cheer and laughter in the midst of the most difficult times – losing a loved one.]
[ILLUS: Most of us are familiar with this song – it’s the theme from the television show Friends. But have you ever caught the lyrics to the song? They read, in part:
So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A.
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear
When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year.
You know, some of us can relate to that first verse a little more than others. We all have bad days, but for some of us those bad days have stretched into bad weeks, months or even years. It is not uncommon to get down.
We find ourselves talking like Eeyore “whatever can go wrong will go wrong.” We have a pessimistic, browbeaten, downcast view of life. We suddenly find that we can’t sleep, we’ve lost (or gained) weight, some days we just don’t want to get out of bed. If you can relate to what I’m talking about, then you might just want to pay a little more attention.]
LIFE is no respecter of persons...
> Financial stress, Employment problems,
> Family situations, Health concerns,
> Mental, physical, emotional and spiritual issues.
However the Bible does offer great advice and instruction on how to deal with many of life’s everyday challenges. By applying these instructions to your life, you will be empowered and enabled to live beyond you circumstance. What do we need to do??????
The first issue I would like to address is…
1. Focus on the Truth – Not the Feelings:
WHY? Feelings are not always true. Feelings are not facts. Typically they are highly unreliable. You cannot reason with emotions.
John 8:32 “…know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
[ILLUS: I get up in the morning and say…
> I feel like playing the piano this morning…
> I feel like a millionaire…
> I feel like the strongest man in the world…
Truth is…
> I can’t play the piano for beans.
> I am not a millionaire.
> Although I have an incredible shape and physique, I am not the strongest man in the world.]
[ILLUS: Or we may get up in the morning and say…
> I don’t feel like a Christian (Believer) any more…
> I don’t feel like God cares about my situation…
> I feel like a total failure…
Truth is…
> The Bible says if I commit my life to Jesus Christ then I am one.
> God’s love and concern for you has never changed.
> You have made mistakes just like everybody else. The only people who don’t make mistakes are people who don’t do anything.]
Psychologists will probably say it’s important to give a voice to your feelings – it can be extremely therapeutic. There’s nothing wrong with getting your feelings out in the open, become aware of them; vent them.
BUT never to give a life to those feelings. Don’t live your life according to your feelings.
If you desire to live beyond being down and out, focus on the Truth, not your feelings because is the truth that will set you free.
2. Leave the ‘JONES’ alone.
[ILLUS: Relevant illustration about keeping up with the Jones]
Keeping up with the Jones will prove to be more and more challenging and demanding.
Have you ever fallen into the trap?
“If I could be just like __________, I’d be happy!”
2 Corinthians 10:12 “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.”
There are people who paid a very high price for comparing themselves with the Jones. People have …
> Lost their respect,
> Lost their families,
> Lost their livelihood,
> Went bankrupt, etc
All because they keep comparing themselves with the Jones and trying to keep up with them.
There is nothing wrong with looking at some accomplishments of others and admiring them. The problem with looking at the lives of others is that eventually one starts to compare ourselves to them…
> We compare our weaknesses to their strengths. We forget there are probably weak in an areas where we are strong.
> We start to exaggerate and criticize the negative in our own life.
> It is like comparing apples and oranges.
> We start playing the ‘Shoulda game!” I shoulda did this; I shoulda did that; I shouldn’ta did this; I shouldn’ta did that.
If you desire to live beyond being down and out, remember: The Jones are the Jones and you are you and God made it exactly that way.
3. Don’t Play the Blame Game.
I am not referring to sometimes making a wrong choice and dealing with the consequences. (Ex. If you go outdoors at -30C with only a T-Shirt on and get suffer from hypothermia, that’s the result from a bad decision.) I am referring to issuing self-blame for something beyond your control.
There is an old saying “God help me to change the things I can and accept the things I cannot and have the wisdom to know the difference.”
[ILLUS: I remember an elderly couple who just seemed to have the perfect relationship. They were both fine church-going, God-fearing Christians. Good people! Eventually the gentleman’s wife got severely sick and passed away. The gentleman was trying to determine what he had done wrong; why was God punishing him in this way. It was a tough unwinable, mental battle.]
1 John 1:9 “If we admit our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all wrongdoing.”
Psalm 103 “He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins.”
If you are in the habit of… {PPT-picture of stop sign}
> Being hard on yourself by blaming yourself for everything that goes wrong – STOP.
> Blaming yourself for what others do – STOP.
> Torturing yourself for mistakes in the past – STOP.
> Being tormented about something that may happen in the future – STOP.
In the name of God Almighty-STOP.
If you desire to live beyond being down and out, don’t play the blame game.
If you desire to live beyond being down and out, here’s some quick tid-bits of advice…
1. Partner with God.
It’s important to remember you have to put first things first. I don’t want this sermon or any other to sound like positive thinking (nothing wrong with positive thinking) but it goes far beyond that. There is a lot of hype about some new (re-modeled) positive thinking techniques and schemes. There are some positive thinking schemes that will teach you that you are your own God; you’re the master of your own destiny. I’ll tell you what people often discover: These teachings more often that not lead people down roads that end with frustration and despair because they are not the full-meal deal. All you’re getting are a few fries – no burger, no drink. If someone ever invites you to go on one of these positive thinking journeys, let me save you a lot of time and hassle…
For those who desire to live beyond being down and out and their circumstances: It can only start with a relationship with God – partnering with God. That’s the full-meal deal! Nothing else!!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
That which was in your life can be gone. If it is going to be gone, it has to be replaced with something. It is replaced with Christ who brings with Him newness of life – “old is gone and new is come.”
When you partner with Christ by inviting Him in your life – you will have the power to change. Christ comes into your life: you release your control and ask Christ to take control. Once Christ is in your life (by invitation) He is able to give you a new meaning and purpose in life.
2. Take care of You.
How foolish is that thought? You’re supposed to take care of everyone else first, right!! NO. The fact is when you don’t take care of yourself, you will be of little value to yourself, God and others.
Ephesians 5:15 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity...”
There are references in the Bible that emphasize that you need to such things as…
> Eat an drink right,
> Engage in good sleep patterns,
> Exercise on a regular basis,
> Watch your diet,
> Schedule your calendar better for you.
3. Give your Frustrations to God.
Don’t delay one more minute. It is crime to carry any burden one second more than you need to. Whatever you’re dealing with this morning, you don’t need to carry it any longer.
Jesus says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
If you desire to live beyond being down and out – give your BURDENS, anxieties, concerns, frustrations, headaches, stresses to Jesus this morning. Give it all to Him. Let Him carry them for you.
Conclusion:
[ILLUS: {PPT – Mattress}
Circumstances are like a MATTRESS! If you are "under the circumstances", it is like being under a mattress...you suffocate! Being on top of the circumstances is like being on top of a mattress...you find rest!
Entering into a relationship with God is like buying the Serta Perfect Sleeper. You will experience rest for your soul like you never dreamed possible.
