Sunday Sermons

Stress and anxiety come from things that happen in our life that are unplanned or things that we are unprepared for.

5 WAYS TO WALK THROUGH AND OVERCOME STRESS AND ANXIETY

Our circumstances will never alter his character.

12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” 13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Daniel 3:12-15

The enemy will always try to control you through fear, intimidation and manipulation

We cannot be so focused on our circumstances that we cannot focus on Jesus

Make a choice to either be focused on the size of your problem on the size of your God!

Who or what you listen to will ultimately determine what you do.

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Daniel 3:16-23

If you’re focused on the voice of the enemy you’re controlled by fear, and if you’re focused on the voice of God you’re controlled by faith… there is no middle ground.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:24-25

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t see Jesus until they got in the fire.

When you’re in the middle of stress, and fear, and anxiety, you need to stop praying “Jesus get me out of this,” and start praying “Jesus let me see you.”

When we see Jesus clearly, we will follow Him closely

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Daniel 3:26-27

Everybody watches how you walk through the fire

What God wants to remove from you in the furnace is what the enemy tried to stick to you before you went in the fire.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3:28-30

If you’re going through the fire God’s not trying to punish you he’s trying to promote you.

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Isaiah 43:1-3

The one who is in you is greater than what you're going through

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. Matthew 14:22

Jesus is not limited by time

23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.   25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  Matthew 14:23-25

Storms usually cause us to doubt God

Jesus always sees us in our storm

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  Matthew 14:26

You can’t fit Jesus into a system

Oftentimes, when Jesus shows up, it's in ways we did not expect to see Him

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:27

Jesus always speaks during the storm

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  Matthew 14:28-29

We always have an opportunity to follow Jesus close in the storm

A storm is our opportunity to really put into faith what we said we believe in the first place.

29 “Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”    Matthew 14:29-30

The storm is an opportunity for you and I to realize that we can't make it through this life all by ourselves

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”  32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.  Matthew 14:31-34

 

God give me the faith to put you first, so I’ll get your best and not the world’s worse

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” 5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 1 Kings 17:1-6

We don't experience the supernatural through the super spiritual, but through simple steps of faith

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 1 Kings 17:7-8

God doesn’t work in systems, He works in steps

Sometimes God will let us go through a dry season to get our attention, so that we'll know what to do next

“Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 1 Kings 17:9-13

God wants greater things for us than we want for ourselves

Freedom is not found in the power of suggestion, the freedom really is found in the power of surrender

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 1 Kings 17:13-14

There are two main areas that we wrestle with on a consistent basis when it comes to putting God first.

1) Our Treasure    2) Our Time

She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. 1 Kings 17:15-16

We find spiritual success when we say “yes” to Jesus

Success may not come immediately… but it always comes eventually

We need Church because we will never become the greatest version of ourselves apart from one another

So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:14-25 (NLT)

Jesus does not bring the clean into our life to punish us, but to prepare us for what He has next for us. 

When we say “yes" to Jesus, we step into His mercy 

When we say “yes” to Jesus, it goes further than our own lives 

Church isn’t supposed to be a castle of condemnation, but rather a basement of grace

 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. Mark 4:36

Jesus has great plans for our lives, but it always starts with a small step

Asking for help is incredibly uncomfortable

The storm is not evidence of our sinfulness

One of the biggest mistakes we can make in spiritual warfare is underestimating our enemy.

Don’t let the enemy’s storm cause doubt and discouragement in your life

 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39

The Word of God is what calmed the storm

Sometimes the biggest miracle is not when God changes our circumstances, but when He changes our perspective in those circumstances.

We need to acknowledge that Satan wants us to lose and does everything in his power to make that happen.

Jesus changes who we are - if we’ll let him. 

As you saw in the cardboard testimonies video, your fellow Jesus followers here at Central showed us how Jesus changed their identity - AND how Jesus sees them. They are allowing Him to work in and through them to experience true life change! 

~Ephesians 6:13-18 (NLT)

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting, you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. ~Ephesians 6:13-18 (The Message)

Temptation is one of the devil’s primary fiery arrows.

We need to remember that a step following Satan is a step away from Jesus.

We must understand that we’re incapable of defending ourselves against the enemies’ schemes on our own.

Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. -Ephesians 6:18 (The Message)

We must remember that we can’t take this faith journey alone. 

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. -Ecclesiastes 4:12

We’re elected by God to be part of His family, we’re connected as a body of believers and we’re protected from the enemy by God’s power.

"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” -C.S. Lewis

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41

Sometimes it takes a storm for us to see Jesus more clearly

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.  Mark 5:1-3

Religious activity never works when it comes to spiritual warfare

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. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.  Mark 5:4-5

One of the things the enemy wants us to do is to get ourselves into a pattern where we harm ourselves, physically or emotionally

 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”  Mark 5:6-9

As long as we identify with our dysfunction, we will always walk in defeat

And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.  14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 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; and they were afraid.  Mark 5:10-15

When Jesus changes people, Jesus changes people.

Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 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.  Mark 5:16-20

We live in a world at war.

Rather than being dominated by fear and uncertainty, we can live by faith

Those who are in Christ are equipped to win

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.  - Matthew 23:1-3

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.  - Luke 5:27-28

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”  At once they left their nets and followed him.  - Matthew 4:18-20

Jesus knows that the more we follow Him, the more we’ll become like Him

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO FOLLOW JESUS?

You have to see Him to Follow Him

What is it that you do that helps you see Jesus more clearly?

If we see Jesus clearly we’ll follow Him closely... but we’ll never follow somebody that we can't see.

When we figure out what it is that helps us see Jesus clearly, we have to be intentional about doing it.

Nobody has ever accidentally followed Jesus

You have to fully surrender to Jesus

We’ll never surrender to someone that we don’t trust

Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.  - Matthew 5:29

When we follow Jesus, He's leads us towards joy

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”  - Matthew 5:30

When you're following Jesus, don't ever expect that you'll be understood or approved of

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  - Matthew 5:31-32

If you're really going to follow Jesus, then we you have to surround yourself with people that are following Jesus.

Jesus called Matthew into a community

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  John 13:34-35

 

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. - Luke 5:17

Do we come to church for evaluation or participation?

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,  for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.  - John 12:9-11

Religious people always seek to kill a miracle.

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.  Luke 5:18

We all need friends who will walk with us no matter what

Jesus said that the world would be able to tell that we belong to Him by the way we love each other

When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.  Luke 5:19

The bigger the obstacle, the greater the miracle that can eventually take place.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”  Luke 5:20

God can always do more than what we're asking Him to do

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Luke 5:21-25

If we don’t take Jesus at His word, we'll lay paralyzed for the rest of our lives.

Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”  Luke 5:26

"Don't put a period where God has put a comma because that's not the end of your story."

The leper could not go to the temple, but he could come to Jesus

The leper didn't call out for anything superficial, he called out for the supernatural

In order to get well, you have to want to get well

People don't get well until they want to get well and say "I don't want to live like this anymore."

Jesus is not afraid of our mess; He's willing to step into it, if we're just willing to call out and ask Him to.