Serenity Or Desperation Series

Living in the 21st Century: Serenity or Desperation

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. Eph. 3:14-16 (NLT)

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Thoreau

I. Reenergize your faith: regain your spiritual strength.

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. Heb. 11:1 (NLT)

A. Why is faith is important? It is how we please God.

So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Heb. 11:6 (NLT)

B. How do I reenergize my faith? Mediate on the good

News.

Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news—the Good News about Christ. Rom. 10:17 (NLT)

II. Reinforce your hope: Fortify your future.

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises. Rom. 15:4 (NLT)

A. Why is hope important? It promotes happiness.

But happy are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,

whose hope is in the LORD their God. Psa. 146:5 (NLT)

B. How do I reinforce hope? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you.

So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom. 15:13 (NLT)

III. Reactivate your love: Set in motion your ministry.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. 6It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8Love will last forever, 1 Cor. 13:4-8a (NLT)

A. Why is love important? It helps us treat others properly

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 (NLT)

B. How do I reactivate my love? Let God teach you what

real love is.

But I don’t need to write to you about the Christian love that should be shown among God’s people. For God himself has taught you to love one another. 1 Thess. 4:9 (NLT)

IV. Redevelop your joy: Rejuvenate your life.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 1 Pet. 1:8 (NLT)

B. Why is joy important? It draws others to you.

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God. And other people will approve of you, too. Rom. 14:17-19 (NLT)

C. How do I redevelop my joy? Sell out to Jesus.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:9-11 (NLT)

Stop leading lives of quiet desperation