Title: Shake it off!
Text: Romans 13:11-12
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out-of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast-off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
PROP: WE NEED TO SHAKE OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS/ DISCOURAGEMENT THROUGH THE-HELP OF THE LORD SO THAT WE MAY BE A BETTER WITNESS FOR CHRIST.
Inter: What things do you need to shake off today as a believer? What things were troubling you when you showed up today? In PC world, when you get to the point of hopelessness and you don't know what to do to get it working again, you simply hit the control alt delete keys together simultaneously. The result: a computer that automatically reboots and starts clean and fresh as thought nothing ever happened.
Trans: In our life, when things go badly and become discouraged because of whatever reason, we need to learn to hit the control alt delete keys within our spirit so that we can shake them off.
I. WHEN YOU FALL [SPIRITUALLY]
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth-in his way.
Psalm 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD-upholdeth him with his hand.
WHEN YOU FALL OFF OF THE SADDLE, IF YOU WANT TO RIDE YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO GET-BACK ON!
IT ISN'T THE FIRST TIME YOU HAVE FAILED AND IT WONT BE THE LAST.
WE NEED TO LEARN TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LORD WHEN WE FAIL.
2 Sam 24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven-years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months-before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days'-pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him-that sent me.
2 Sam 24:14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now-into the hand of the LORD; [for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into-the hand of man.]
THE SPARROWS DON'T FALL WITH OUT THE FATHER AND NEITHER DO WE - GOD IS THERE TO-HELP US WHEN WE FAIL.
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall-not fall on the ground without your Father.
Matthew 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
HE KNOWS HOW TO LIFT US UP OUT OF THE MIRY CLAY AND ESTABLISH US AGAIN WHEN IT-IS NEEDED. [EXAMPLE DAVID]
Psalm 40:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,-and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psalm 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:-many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
WITH THE HELP OF THE LORD WE CAN SHAKE OFF THE FAILURES OF YESTERDAY OR EVEN-TODAY IF WE TURN TO HIM.
II. WHEN OTHERS REJECT YOU
Luke 9:4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
Luke 9:5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake-off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
EVERYONE IS NOT GOING TO LIKE OR ACCEPT US.
WE ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE PART OF THE IN CROWD.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because-ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the-world hateth you.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY THINGS ABOUT YOU THAT ARE NOT TRUE.
[JOHN THE BAPTIST/JESUS]
Luke 7:33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and-ye say, He hath a devil.
Luke 7:34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a-gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HATE YOU SIMPLY, BECAUSE THAT YOU ARE GOOD.
1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And-wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's-righteous.
1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
WE NEED TO LEARN TO SHAKE IT OFF AND GO ON SERVING THE LORD WITH JOY.
1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;-that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
HOW DO WE DO THAT? THE NEXT VERSE TELLS US THAT WE CAN DO IT THROUGH THE HELP-OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the-spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken-of, but on your part he is glorified.
THE APOSTLES SHOOK IT OFF AND KEPT THEIR JOY DURING HARD TIMES OF PERSECUTION.
Acts 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and-beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus,-and let them go.
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that-they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
THEY MISTREATED JESUS AND WE ARE'NT BETTER THAN OUR LORD.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater-than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if-they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for-theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and-shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in-heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
III. WHEN THINGS AREN'T GOING ARE WAY
Acts 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates-rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into-prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely:
Acts 16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner-prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:-and the prisoners heard them.
Acts 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations-of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every-one's bands were loosed.
PAUL/SILAS TAUGHT US A VALUABLE LESSON ABOUT PROBLEMS, THEY TAUGHT US TO GET-OUR MIND OFF OF OUR PROBLEM AND ONTO THE LORD.
TRUST ME YOU'RE NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE A PROBLEM.
GOD NEVER PROMISED THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM. HE ONLY PROMISED THAT HE-WOULD BE WITH YOU.
HOWEVER, PRAISE SEEMS TO DRIVE THE SHADOWS AWAY - IT SEEMS TO SHAKE OFF THE-TROUBLES PILED UPON US.
PRAISE IT OFF:
DAVID PRAISED AWAY EVIL SPIRITS.
1SAMUEL 16:23
JEHOSOPHAT APPOINTED PRAISE SINGERS WHO PRAISED OFF THE THREAT OF AN INVASION. -2CHR 20:21
ISRAEL SHOUTED / PRAISED DOWN THE WALLS OF JERICHO
Acts 16:25 [And at midnight] Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:-and the prisoners heard them.
Acts 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations-of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every-one's bands were loosed.
THERE'S FREEDOM IN WORSHIP BECAUSE THE LORD'S SPIRIT INHABITS THE PRAISE OF-GOD'S PEOPLE/ WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS THERE IS LIBERTY AND FREEDOM SO-SHAKE OFF THOSE TROUBLES AND START SINGING A SONG OF PRAISE.
IV. WHEN YOU'RE UNDER ATTACK OF THE ENEMY
Acts 28:2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they-kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and-because of the cold.
Acts 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the-fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Acts 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they-said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath-escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Acts 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Acts 28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead-suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him,-they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
THE ENEMY TRIES TO LATCH ONTO US WITH HIS POISON.
HE USES DISCOURAGEMENT, TEMPTATION, CONDEMNTATION OR WHATEVER ELSE IN HIS-POWER.
PAUL DIDN'T LET THE VIPER HANG ONTO HIM. HE SHOOK IT OFF IN THE FIRE.
THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO ...
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
SOMETIMES WE NEED TO TELL THE DEVIL TO GO BACK WHERE HE BELONGS.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because-greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
