God invites us to exchange the stress of life for the rest that is found in Him – relaxed living. In this week’s message, Pastor Bill focused on the idea of winding down the intensity of life. God wants to reveal Himself as the ultimate Provider to us during times of tension and increasing stress – times that leave us shaken to the core.
First, let’s read the humorous story of Chippie the Parkeet, from Max Lucado’s book IN THE EYE OF THE STORM, which Bill used as an illustration of intensity and what shaken-to-the core tension can do to life:
CHIPPIE THE PARAKEET NEVER saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said ‘hello’ when ‘sssopp!’ Chippie got sucked in.
“The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie — still alive, but stunned. Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do … she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.
“Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.
“A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. ‘Well,’ she replied, ‘Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore, he just sits and stares.’
“It’s hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over … that’s enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart.”
DOWN TIME
Message by Bill Johnston – November 12, 2017
WIND DOWN
CONCEPT 1: SUSCEPTIBILITY
CONCEPT 2: SUSTAINABILITY
This is about the intensity of life
The intensity of life often impacts you internally, in two ways: 1) Fear, 1 Kings 19:1-3, 2) Depression, 1 Kings 19:1-3,9
The main indicator is feeling completely overwhelmed
Mark 6:30-31 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
CONSEQUENCES IF YOU DON’T WIND DOWN
1. BONE WEARYING TENSION
2. PERSISTENT TIREDNESS
3. DEPLETION
4. ESCAPISM
5. ANXIETY
6. EMOTIONAL/NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
7. BURNOUT
Words of Wisdom: Wind down before you melt down
What is necessary is relaxation
Mark 6:31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
RESULTS WHEN YOU DO WIND DOWN
1. YOUR DISPOSITION BECOMES RELAXED
2. YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS RENEWED
3. YOUR SPIRIT IS REFRESHED
Proverbs 25:13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.
Jeremiah 31:25a For I have given rest to the weary…
4. YOUR FAITH IS REVIVED
TAKE-AWAY: INTENSITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT
- Determine if the intensity of your life is sustainable
- Determine the impact of the intensity of your life
- Decide the first step you need to take in order to wind down
- Begin to apply your decision today
For Sermon discussion resources click here: Nov 12 Sermon Resources
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