(Genesis 3.6-13) When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 

 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”  And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 

(Genesis 3.16-19) To the woman God said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”  To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’  Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.  By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” 

HOW OUR FEARS RUIN RELATIONSHIPS  

* The fear of exposure creates distance. 

(Genesis 3:9-10)  But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked;  so I hid.” 

(Genesis 3.7-8 NLT) At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves… 

So they hid from the  Lord God among the trees. 

* The fear of disapproval leads to defensiveness. 

(Genesis 3.11-12) [God asked] “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”  The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” 

(Genesis 3:13) “The serpent deceived me,” she replied.  “That’s why I ate it.” 

* The fear of losing control leads to domination. 

(Genesis 3.16)  “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 

àThe antidote to living in fear is living in God’s love. 

(1 John 4:18 NCV) Wherever God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear.  It is punishment that makes a person fear…   

LIVING IN GOD’S LOVE 

* Everyday remember the way God loves me. 

* I’m completely accepted.  

(Romans 15:7) Accept one another, then,

(Mark 12:29-30 ESV)  Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 

PERSPECTIVE ON EMOTION 

* God has emotions. 

* My ability to feel is a gift from God. 

* Avoid the extremes of emotionalism and stoicism. 

WHY SHOULD I MANAGE MY EMOTIONS? 

* Because my emotions are unreliable. 

(Proverbs 14:12) There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. 

* Because otherwise, I will be vulnerable to manipulation. 

(Proverbs 25:28 NASB) Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a  man who has no control over his spirit. 

* Because it’s necessary for pleasing God. 

(Titus 2:11-12) For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age… 

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR UNWANTED FEELINGS 

* Name it.  (Psalm 55:2b) My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught… 

* Challenge it.  (Psalm 26:2) Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 

* Tame it.  (Philippians 2:5 NLT) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 

(Zechariah 4:6b) ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. 

(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….  

(Proverbs 13:3 TLB) Self-control means controlling the tongue! A quick retort can ruin everything. 

(Psalm 119:11) I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 

(Psalm 19:14) May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight… 

(Romans 12:2 NLT) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  

WHY I MUST MANAGE MY MIND?  

àBecause my thoughts control my life  

(Proverbs 4:23 GNT) Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. 

àBecause the mind is the battleground for sin.  

(Romans 7:22-23) For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 

àBecause it’s the key to peace and happiness.  

(Romans 8:6 NLT) So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 

3 DAILY CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY MIND 

1.  FEED MY MIND WITH TRUTH.  

(John 8:32) “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” 

(Matthew 4:4 MSG) Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” 

(Psalm 119:95) The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. 

2.  FREE MY MIND FROM DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS.   

(1 John 2:16) For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 

3.  FOCUS MY MIND ON THE RIGHT THINGS.    

(Hebrews 12:3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

(Philippians 2:4 ESV) Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

(Colossians 3:2)  Set your minds on things that are above, not on earthly things. 

(1 Corinthians 2:9) However, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human heart has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him— 

7 SOURCES OF STRESS  

1.  Worry 

2.  Hurry 

3.  Crowds 

4.  Multiple choices 

5.  Loss of privacy  

6.  Pluralism 

7.  Fear of the future 

(PSALM 23) The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

(Proverbs 14:30 GNT) “Peace of mind makes the body healthy…” 

(Proverbs 14:30 NLT) “A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life.”   

7 SPIRITUAL HABITS THAT REDUCE STRESS  

1.  LOOK TO GOD TO MEET MY NEEDS  

(Romans 8:32) He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

 2.  I NEED TO OBEY GOD’S INSTRUCTION ABOUT REST.  

(Psalm 23:2) “He makes me lie down.”  

(Exodus 34:21) Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. 

3. RECHARGE MY SOUL WITH BEAUTY  

(Philippians 4:8) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

4.  GO TO GOD FOR GUIDANCE.  

(James 1:5) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 

5. TRUST GOD IN THE DARK VALLEYS  

(Psalm 142:3a) When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. 

6.  LET GOD BE MY DEFENDER   

(Psalm 18:2 NLT) The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. 

7. EXPECT GOD TO FINISH WHAT HE STARTS IN ME  

(Romans 12:2) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

(Luke 15:11-24) Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 

4 THINGS ON THE PATH CLOSER TO GOD 

1.   VEXATION WITH MY OWN WAY  

(Jeremiah 29:13) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

2.  OWN MY SIN 

(Isaiah 59:2) But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you… 

(Psalm 51:1-3 GNT) Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love.  Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins!  Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin!  I recognize my faults; I am always conscious of my sins.  

(Psalm 139:23-24) Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

3.   OFFER UP MYSELF   

(2 Corinthians 3:18) And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

(Romans 12:1) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 

4. LIFT UP MY PRAISE  

(Psalms 68:4) Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. 

What kind of transformation comes from being in community with other believers? 

(Acts 2:42) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  

1) By prioritizing community in your life, you expose yourself to potential life-change. 

(Acts 2:43) Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  

2) Supernatural outcomes arise from faith-filled community. 

(Acts 2:44-45) All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  

3)  Generosity and common needs are met in community. 

(Acts 2:46-47) Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

4) Christian community ends up transforming the wider community. 

–>  Change is fundamental to the gospel. 

(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

–>  Profound transformation requires an inside-out change. 

(Matthew 7:17) Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 

–>  God is the source of transformation. 

(Revelation 21:5) He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 

–>  If you don’t ever change, you may not know God. 

(1 John 1:6-10 NIV) If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 

(1 John 2:4-6) Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 

STEPS TO TRANSFORMATION 

* Stop focusing on what you were and seize who God would have you become. 

(Philippians 3:13-14) Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

* Grant God full rights to your life. 

(Psalm 37:4-6 ESV) Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.  

(Philippians 2:13 NLT) For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.  

* Now is the time to change. 

(2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  

(Luke 1:76-80) “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

–> Grace is God giving you a blessing that you don’t deserve.

–> Mercy is God withholding a consequence that you do deserve.

1. Mercy isn’t something that God gives. Mercy is who God is!

(Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT) The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

2. One reason we struggle to RECEIVE mercy is because we struggle to EXTEND mercy.

(Matthew 9:10-13 NLT) Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

3. This Christmas, God invites us home to experience his mercy and grace.

(Hebrews 4:16) Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

(Luke 4:40 NASB) While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.

–> Jesus is a healer who expresses love to the most despised sick ones.

(Mark 5:2-5) When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

(Mark 5:15a) When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind…

–> The Jesus community requires that we do not discount those suffering with mental health issues.

(1 Corinthians 12:26) If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

STEPS AHEAD

–> Change your expectations.

(John 16:33) I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

–> Let the doctors and the counselors do their job.

(Proverbs 11:14 NKJV) Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

(Proverbs 12:15) The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

–> A diagnosis is not the end.

(Mark 5:20) So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

–> Presence is powerful.

(Romans 12:15 ESV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who wee