HoHum:
Casting Crowns- If We’ve Ever Needed You
Hear our cry, Lord we pray, Our faces down, our hands are raised, You called us out, we turned away, we’ve turned away. With ship wrecked faith, idols rise, we do what is right, in our own eyes, our children now will pay the price, we need your light, Lord, shine your light.
Chorus: If we’ve ever needed you, Lord, it’s now, Lord, it’s now, We are desperate for your hand, we’re reaching out, we’re reaching out.
Uncertainty- the impeachment of the President, then we get more personal to divorce, cancer, aging parents, the Middle East, a guilty conscience, an IRS audit, rebellious children, car trouble, need new roof for the house, unexpected expenses, changes at church. If there ever was a time when we need the peace of God that passes understanding, it is now.
WBTU:
Paul began this section with “I had no peace of mind.” That’s surprising because we think of inner peace as a result of being a Christian- peace with God and then peace with others. Even so, Paul admitted that during this period, he did not have peace. Read 2 Cor. 2:12-13. Paul had expected his co worker Titus to bring news about the Corinthians church. Paul had sent a stern letter to them, and now he wondered what their reaction would be.
However, Paul anxiety was temporary. He quickly recovered his peace of mind because of his faith in God. Christians experience pressure and anxiety like everybody else, but our faith in Christ should help us to handle that stress and live lives that are marked with peace.
Thesis: How to have peace of mind
For instances:
A Grateful Heart
After he talked about his stress, Paul changed the pace of his thoughts, and his key word is thanks: 2 Corinthians 2:14. Reminded of his words to the Philippians-“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7, NIV. When we complain about our problems, we increase our anxiety. When we praise God for his goodness, we increase our peace. “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, count your many blessings- name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”
Most of us aren’t good at that. Many are constant complainers. No group of people have ever had it better, yet we gripe continuously. We think it’s a mark of sophistication to be critical or complaining, but it really is an indication of spiritual immaturity. We think it’s harmless, but in reality it destroys our peace and arouses the wrath of God.“Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused.” Numbers 11:1, NIV.
Some children decided to play a trick on Grandpa. When he was asleep, they sprayed his mustache with bug spray. When he woke up, he sniffed and said, “Something stinks in this room.” He went into the kitchen and said, “The kitchen stinks.” He went outside and said, “The whole world stinks!” It wasn’t the world- Grandpa need to clean up under his nose. There’s something wrong with us that we complain that the whole world stinks.
2 elderly women went to an orchestra concert. On the way home, one asked the other, “How did you like it?” The other woman said, “The way that first violinist blew his nose after the first selection just ruined the entire evening for me.” Some people miss the entire concert of life and focus in on the blowing of a nose.
Philippians 2:14- do everything without complaining. As soon as we catch ourselves griping, stop it. Don’t excuse ourselves and say, “That’s just my nature. I don’t mean anything by it. It’s just harmless.” It’s not harmless, it is spoiling our peace of mind. Start praising! find scores of things to thank God for. Make a little rule: “Every time I catch myself complaining, I’m going to say, out loud, 5 things for which I’m grateful.” Peace of God will take place.
A Sense of Significance
2 Corinthians 2:14-16: God always leads us- We need to have the feeling that our lives count for something. Victor Frankl wrote, “There’s nothing in the world which helps a person surmount difficulties, survive disappointments, keep healthy and happy, as the knowledge of a life task worthy of his dedication.” People do not fail because they lack talent, people fail because they lack a sense of purpose, meaning and significance. Newly retired people sometimes discover that their retirement doesn’t bring peace, but turmoil, because they no longer have a sense of importance.
“I just want to die”- “Why?” “Because there is nothing left for me to live for.” “What can I do with the rest of my life?” “Live it to the glory of God”
Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory- rise and shine and give God the glory, glory
Know of a man who was disabled and took up painting- at first not that good but kept at it because he had time. With practice he had art shows and gave his paintings away, and this man is not even a Christian.
We should have a winsome attitude. “Winsome,” according to Webster, means “generally pleasing and engaging.” Winsome people are the kind of people who make us what to be like them. Love the illustration of a missionary doctor in India who was questioning a potential candidate to be baptized. The candidate began safely enough by saying, “I believe in God Almighty, and in the Lord Jesus,” but then he stopped and turning to the doctor he burst out, “and, sahib, I believe in you.”
That winsome attitude will spread like a fragrance. We may never know how far our influence is spreading. It’s an awesome thing that our influence could determine somebody’s eternal destiny. But that’s what gives life meaning and purpose. When we have a sense of meaning, we realize that life really counts for God. That gives us a sense of meaning and a sense of peace.
Pure motives
2 Corinthians 2:17
That word peddle carries a dishonest connotation. It was used of a wine merchant who diluted his product then sold it as pure. There were all kinds of hucksters of the gospel in Paul’s day and they are still with us. One time a man called a church and said, “I want to talk with head hog”
What about our motives? Why do we say the things we say? Why do we sing the songs we sing? Why do we come to church?- to increase sales, or to boost our ego? No peace if constant deception within us. If we are always pretending, our conscience is going to bother us and there will be no peace. Be honest, refuse to be fake, be up front, be transparent, be real.
“The Guy in the Glass,” source unknown.
When you get what you want in your struggle for self and the world makes you king for a day,
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself and see what that guy has to say.
For it isn’t your father, mother or wife whose judgement upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life, is the guy standing back from the glass.
He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, for he’s with you clear up to the end.
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test if the guy in the glass if your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum and think you’re a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum if you can’t look him straight in the eye.
You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years and get pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears if you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.
A Sure Destiny
Ever watched a tape delayed broadcast of a ball game that we already knew our team had won? Might be doing that with tonight’s game. So happy about the victory, we decide to stay up until 1 am to watch the game. Whole attitude is different. The team might get 10 points behind, but we don’t mind. We know in the end we are going to win- it’s just a matter of how.
The great thing about being a Christian is that Christ has already won the victory. He won it at the cross. Read the back of the book and we win. As Christians we have eternal life. We know the outcome. We don’t always know why here are detours or why there are problems, but we shouldn’t be biting our nails and getting all uptight because we know in the end we are going to have the victory. “Christ leads in triumph, we are being saved, and we are the fragrance of life.”
Lowell Paxton made millions of dollars with his idea for the Home Shopping Network on tv. But Bud Paxton’s life was not at peace. There was a troubled marriage and a multitude of frustrations in his life. Then Bud became a Christian, and his whole value system was realigned. People now mattered more than things, eternity more than time.
On October 19, 1987, Paxton was scheduled to address the International Convention of Stockbrokers in Washington DC, a gathering of 1800 stockbrokers or representatives of brokerage firms. But when he entered the room at 1:30, only about 20 people were there. Earlier in the day the stock market had started to plunge- a plunge that would go 508 points. The people in the room had panicked. Everybody left, Paxton said that, as he walked down the hallway of his Washington hotel, he soon quit counting the number of businessmen in expensive 3 piece suits who were crying their eyes out because their lives were crumbling and their security was threatened. Paxton himself lost over 100 million dollars on the stock market that day. His preacher asked him, “Aren’t you really ruffled? How do you feel?” Paxton said, “I’m just thankful that my trust isn’t in the things of this world.” End by reading 1 Timothy 6:17-19, NIV.
