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Sunday, April 30, 2006
Let Go and Let God
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Matthew 11: 28-30
Do you have a hurt hang up habit with any of the following:
Overworking Overspending Fear Worry Alcohol/Drug/Sexual Addictions
Perfectionism Overeating Undereating Grief Divorce Adultery
Codependency Lying Guilt Nagging Anger Rage
Insecurity Hurtful relationships Pride Doubt
The story is told of the couple who lived near a large river whose banks were known to overflow during spring thaws. One spring it happened, and the rescue patrol dispatched a boat to check on them. They arrived to find the wife sitting on the tip of the roof that was protruding above the water watching things float by. The officer climbed onto the roof and the first thing he saw was the chicken coop float by. Then he saw a horse go by, followed by a VW bug. After a few minutes he spotted a Braves baseball cap float by. But after the cap floated about 20 feet past the house it turned and floated back upstream. It floated 20 feet, turned again and floated back downstream again; he watched this seven or eight times and finally he said to the wife “do you have any idea what that cap is?” And she answered “That’s just my crazy husband. When the river started to rise yesterday he said he was going to mow the lawn come hell or high water.”
We start with a story about denial because most of us will have truthfully answered yes to at least one of the questions I started out with but by the middle of the sermon we will be working on reasons why this message doesn’t apply to us. We are so predisposed to deny the reality of our circumstances; we don’t want to think that we are in need of recovery because that is something only alcoholics and addicts need. We tell ourselves things like: My problems aren’t that bad; I’m not a candidate for a 12 step program; I’m in control; I only self indulge when I’m really under stress; I can stop whenever I want to.
Compounded with our predisposition to denial is a strong universal tendency toward procrastination. A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of hay in the road. The farmer who lived nearby came to investigate and found the boy crying. "Hey, son," he called out, "forget your troubles for a while and come in and have lunch with us. Then I'll help you get the wagon up."
"That's awfully nice of you," the boy answered, "But I don't think my father would like it." "Aw, come on, son!" the farmer insisted.
"Well, I really shouldn’t," the boy said. "Dad won't like it."
But the farmer insisted and so the boy went in and ate. After a hearty lunch, the farmer walked the boy back to the overturned wagon. "There now, don’t you feel better?" The boy responded “Yes, sir, lunch was real good, but I still think my father will be upset.” "Nonsense!" exclaimed the farmer. "By the way, where is he?"
And the boy replied "Under the wagon”.
Be honest with yourself; how many of you are leaving your Hurt, habit or hang up under they hay, putting off doing something and convincing yourself there’s plenty of time to fix the wagon tomorrow?
My friend Chuck Hodges recently did some research on the subject of procrastination. He discovered that in a recent survey of Americans only ten percent confessed they struggle with procrastination. Of course ninety percent never got around to filling out the survey. . .
Actually there are several varieties of procrastination. There is re-crastination, which is putting off a task over and over and over again. There is bi-crastination which is putting off two tasks at the same time. And there is con-crastination which is pretending to accomplish a task when in reality you’re putting it off.
There’s actually a Procrastinators Club of America that’s been around for 43 years. They have 16,000 registered members. They claim that 20 million more haven’t got around to joining yet. They hold a 4th of July party every January 6th. Their motto is “We’re behind you all the way!”
But denying our circumstances and resisting the change necessary to get out of our bad habits and addictions never gets us anywhere…and the longer we put recovery off, the worse our problem becomes. Instead things build up until they reach an inevitable boiling point. It reminds me of my mother’s pressure cooker. She had this enormous steel pressure cooker that weighed a ton. She would make the world’s best vegetable soup in it. Now in case you’re too young to know what a pressure cooker is, let me explain that it was basically a huge pot with a sealable lid that clamped on. You cooked things at a high temperature and the lid would keep the steam built up inside making it cook faster…like a prehistoric microwave. About every 20 minutes you had to take a fork and toggle a release valve that was on the top; you’d let off a small measure of the built up steam and the cooking would continue.
Well one day Mom was making the world’s best vegetable soup and a friend called to say she had sprained her ankle and would my mother take her to the hospital. So Mom gave my Dad the pressure release instructions and headed out to care for her friend. Unfortunately the Steelers were playing the Eagles that afternoon and sure enough, about three hours after my mom left, the unreleased pressure in the pot built up to the point where the lid couldn’t hold it in anymore; and the pot literally exploded, spewing gallons and of vegetable soup all throughout the kitchen that we cleaned up for years to come.
That’s what happens when we let our problems build up. When we deny that we need help, we become potential pressure cookers…and basically you flip your lid.
God uses three things to bust your denial:
Crisis Illness, stress, loss of job
Confrontation somebody cares enough to say “You’re blowing it!” You’re about to loose your family/health/job” (old saying in Texas horses patoot) confrontation is like a fire alarm going off; do you throw a rock or run out of the house?
Catastrophe Rock bottom…loose everything; God just steps back and lets us feel the full impact of our own stupid decisions. You want to be God? He just might let you.
When you finally admit you are totally helpless, you’ll learn that the only thing left is hope that comes from beyond yourself.
Here is the word of hope in the face of your hopelessness; if you haven’t completely turned your problem over to our Go to God, then you haven’t even been up to bat yet. It’s not too late to start your recovery today.
1. God’s character is to care; God knows what you’re going thru
(Ps 103) 3He forgives your sins--every one. He heals your diseases--every one. 4He redeems you from hell--saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy--a paradise crown. 5He wraps you in goodness--beauty eternal. 6GOD makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. 7He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel. 8GOD is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love.
God’s love is not based on our performance but on HIS character. When you know God, you can trust Him. We do not trust what we do not know.
Our God is a go-to God who is merciful, forgiving, healing, redeeming, grace giving, loving…he has the POWER to change you. Here’s the good news for everyone who answered yes to at least one of the things on our quiz.
Your will power is not enough your good intentions are not enough
Godpower and godintentions are needed
2. God has the power to transform you and he will fill you with that same power
Phil 2:13 That power is God's energy, a power deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
God’s spirit brings power love and self control… he’s waiting for us to plug into the power.
In the 11th Chapter of John we read the amazing story of a time when Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to come and heal their brother Lazarus, who has fallen ill. They are friends and followers of Jesus; they live Hebrews 11:6…they believe God exists; they know he cares for their brother; and they seek him, trusting in his power. And so they send for him to come and heal. One day passes; two days pass; and finally four days pass before Jesus travels the two miles from Jerusalem to Bethany. Upon his arrival Martha rushes out to greet Him with the news that Lazarus has died; Oh Lord, she cries, if only you had come you could have healed him. Mary has remained at the house, overcome with grief. Jesus sends for her to come to the tomb and when she gets there her cry is the same: Oh Lord if only you had come, you could have healed him. Jesus, the God who exists, the God who cares that we’ve been talking about, feels so much compassion for their sorrow that he weeps. And then the unthinkable happens; he calls Lazarus out of the tomb, and the power of the resurrection is revealed. You see if he had come sooner, they never would have experienced him for who he is; I am the resurrection and the life; I have the power to raise you from the dead.
If God can raise Lazurus from the dead he can raise your dead relationship. He can raise a person back to health. He can set you free from your hurts, habits and hang ups. He has the power to overcome your worry, your anger, your guilt, your pride, your doubt…. can help you close the door on the past…if you trust him.
Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden. Why delay one more day?
Stop your denial
Don’t put off recovery any longer
Say Help to a God who exists
Seek out the God who cares
Get Hope and plug into HIS power
What is God saying to me?
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Matthew 11: 28-30
Do you have a hurt hang up habit with any of the following:
Overworking Overspending Fear Worry Alcohol/Drug/Sexual Addictions
Perfectionism Overeating Undereating Grief Divorce Adultery
Codependency Lying Guilt Nagging Anger Rage
Insecurity Hurtful relationships Pride Doubt
The story is told of the couple who lived near a large river whose banks were known to overflow during spring thaws. One spring it happened, and the rescue patrol dispatched a boat to check on them. They arrived to find the wife sitting on the tip of the roof that was protruding above the water watching things float by. The officer climbed onto the roof and the first thing he saw was the chicken coop float by. Then he saw a horse go by, followed by a VW bug. After a few minutes he spotted a Braves baseball cap float by. But after the cap floated about 20 feet past the house it turned and floated back upstream. It floated 20 feet, turned again and floated back downstream again; he watched this seven or eight times and finally he said to the wife “do you have any idea what that cap is?” And she answered “That’s just my crazy husband. When the river started to rise yesterday he said he was going to mow the lawn come hell or high water.”
We start with a story about denial because most of us will have truthfully answered yes to at least one of the questions I started out with but by the middle of the sermon we will be working on reasons why this message doesn’t apply to us. We are so predisposed to deny the reality of our circumstances; we don’t want to think that we are in need of recovery because that is something only alcoholics and addicts need. We tell ourselves things like: My problems aren’t that bad; I’m not a candidate for a 12 step program; I’m in control; I only self indulge when I’m really under stress; I can stop whenever I want to.
Compounded with our predisposition to denial is a strong universal tendency toward procrastination. A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of hay in the road. The farmer who lived nearby came to investigate and found the boy crying. "Hey, son," he called out, "forget your troubles for a while and come in and have lunch with us. Then I'll help you get the wagon up."
"That's awfully nice of you," the boy answered, "But I don't think my father would like it." "Aw, come on, son!" the farmer insisted.
"Well, I really shouldn’t," the boy said. "Dad won't like it."
But the farmer insisted and so the boy went in and ate. After a hearty lunch, the farmer walked the boy back to the overturned wagon. "There now, don’t you feel better?" The boy responded “Yes, sir, lunch was real good, but I still think my father will be upset.” "Nonsense!" exclaimed the farmer. "By the way, where is he?"
And the boy replied "Under the wagon”.
Be honest with yourself; how many of you are leaving your Hurt, habit or hang up under they hay, putting off doing something and convincing yourself there’s plenty of time to fix the wagon tomorrow?
My friend Chuck Hodges recently did some research on the subject of procrastination. He discovered that in a recent survey of Americans only ten percent confessed they struggle with procrastination. Of course ninety percent never got around to filling out the survey. . .
Actually there are several varieties of procrastination. There is re-crastination, which is putting off a task over and over and over again. There is bi-crastination which is putting off two tasks at the same time. And there is con-crastination which is pretending to accomplish a task when in reality you’re putting it off.
There’s actually a Procrastinators Club of America that’s been around for 43 years. They have 16,000 registered members. They claim that 20 million more haven’t got around to joining yet. They hold a 4th of July party every January 6th. Their motto is “We’re behind you all the way!”
But denying our circumstances and resisting the change necessary to get out of our bad habits and addictions never gets us anywhere…and the longer we put recovery off, the worse our problem becomes. Instead things build up until they reach an inevitable boiling point. It reminds me of my mother’s pressure cooker. She had this enormous steel pressure cooker that weighed a ton. She would make the world’s best vegetable soup in it. Now in case you’re too young to know what a pressure cooker is, let me explain that it was basically a huge pot with a sealable lid that clamped on. You cooked things at a high temperature and the lid would keep the steam built up inside making it cook faster…like a prehistoric microwave. About every 20 minutes you had to take a fork and toggle a release valve that was on the top; you’d let off a small measure of the built up steam and the cooking would continue.
Well one day Mom was making the world’s best vegetable soup and a friend called to say she had sprained her ankle and would my mother take her to the hospital. So Mom gave my Dad the pressure release instructions and headed out to care for her friend. Unfortunately the Steelers were playing the Eagles that afternoon and sure enough, about three hours after my mom left, the unreleased pressure in the pot built up to the point where the lid couldn’t hold it in anymore; and the pot literally exploded, spewing gallons and of vegetable soup all throughout the kitchen that we cleaned up for years to come.
That’s what happens when we let our problems build up. When we deny that we need help, we become potential pressure cookers…and basically you flip your lid.
God uses three things to bust your denial:
Crisis Illness, stress, loss of job
Confrontation somebody cares enough to say “You’re blowing it!” You’re about to loose your family/health/job” (old saying in Texas horses patoot) confrontation is like a fire alarm going off; do you throw a rock or run out of the house?
Catastrophe Rock bottom…loose everything; God just steps back and lets us feel the full impact of our own stupid decisions. You want to be God? He just might let you.
When you finally admit you are totally helpless, you’ll learn that the only thing left is hope that comes from beyond yourself.
Here is the word of hope in the face of your hopelessness; if you haven’t completely turned your problem over to our Go to God, then you haven’t even been up to bat yet. It’s not too late to start your recovery today.
1. God’s character is to care; God knows what you’re going thru
(Ps 103) 3He forgives your sins--every one. He heals your diseases--every one. 4He redeems you from hell--saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy--a paradise crown. 5He wraps you in goodness--beauty eternal. 6GOD makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. 7He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel. 8GOD is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love.
God’s love is not based on our performance but on HIS character. When you know God, you can trust Him. We do not trust what we do not know.
Our God is a go-to God who is merciful, forgiving, healing, redeeming, grace giving, loving…he has the POWER to change you. Here’s the good news for everyone who answered yes to at least one of the things on our quiz.
Your will power is not enough your good intentions are not enough
Godpower and godintentions are needed
2. God has the power to transform you and he will fill you with that same power
Phil 2:13 That power is God's energy, a power deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
God’s spirit brings power love and self control… he’s waiting for us to plug into the power.
In the 11th Chapter of John we read the amazing story of a time when Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to come and heal their brother Lazarus, who has fallen ill. They are friends and followers of Jesus; they live Hebrews 11:6…they believe God exists; they know he cares for their brother; and they seek him, trusting in his power. And so they send for him to come and heal. One day passes; two days pass; and finally four days pass before Jesus travels the two miles from Jerusalem to Bethany. Upon his arrival Martha rushes out to greet Him with the news that Lazarus has died; Oh Lord, she cries, if only you had come you could have healed him. Mary has remained at the house, overcome with grief. Jesus sends for her to come to the tomb and when she gets there her cry is the same: Oh Lord if only you had come, you could have healed him. Jesus, the God who exists, the God who cares that we’ve been talking about, feels so much compassion for their sorrow that he weeps. And then the unthinkable happens; he calls Lazarus out of the tomb, and the power of the resurrection is revealed. You see if he had come sooner, they never would have experienced him for who he is; I am the resurrection and the life; I have the power to raise you from the dead.
If God can raise Lazurus from the dead he can raise your dead relationship. He can raise a person back to health. He can set you free from your hurts, habits and hang ups. He has the power to overcome your worry, your anger, your guilt, your pride, your doubt…. can help you close the door on the past…if you trust him.
Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden. Why delay one more day?
Stop your denial
Don’t put off recovery any longer
Say Help to a God who exists
Seek out the God who cares
Get Hope and plug into HIS power
What is God saying to me?