When we stress out!

1.  We stress out when we are consumed with having more.  

Luke 15:11-12  (NLT)

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 

12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

The younger son already had it all, but he wished that he had it all without his father.  

To learn, sometimes we have to experience pain.  It teaches us not to do that again. 

You always fall into a trap when you are lured into pursuing more.  

Luke 12:15 (NLT)

15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

2. We stress out when we want everything now. 

Greed is wanting more than you need. 

Luke 15:13 (NLT)

13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.

3. We stress out when we engage in self-destructive behavior.

4. We stress out when we spend everything we have.

Luke 15:14 (NLT)

14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.

5. We stress out when we're unprepared for lack of income.  

Luke 15:17 (NLT)

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!

We must come to our senses.  Because God has more than enough, He wants you to have it, but it is not just for you.

Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

⁶ For a child (Jesus) is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Prince means Sar: Lord, Chief, General, or the one in charge.

  

Peace means Shalom: Rest, tranquility, wholeness, contentment. 

Psalm 4:8 (NLT)

⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

Psalm 29:11 (NLT)

¹¹ The Lord gives his people strength.
    The Lord blesses them with peace.

Acts 10:36 (NLT)

36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Romans 5:1 (NLT)

5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

If Jesus is in charge, there is peace. 

Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  

The Prince has principles of peace.  

Most of our stress comes from not following His principles.  

I believe that God's people are not stingy, but they are strapped.   

Here's the way out.

1. By Obedience- 

When you step outside of God's principles, you fall out of God's peace.  

On the other side of obedience to God's principles, there is peace.  

God does not curse us, but we put ourselves under a curse by not following God's principles.

   

Malachi 3:7-12  (NLT)

7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’

8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!

“But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’

“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 

9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 

11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 

12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

2.  With Contentment- 

We must be satisfied with what we have.  We can have money, but money must not have us.  

1 Timothy 6:6-10  (NLT)

6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 

7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 

8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 

10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Proverbs 30:8-9 (NLT)

8 First, help me never to tell a lie.
    Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
    Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
    And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

3. With Margin- 

It is the difference between what you have and what you need.   

If you don't like what you're getting, you need to make a change. 

Proverbs 21:20(NLT)

²⁰ The wise have wealth and luxury,
    but fools spend whatever they get.

4.  With Generosity- 

It is not an act, but a character quality. 

Proverbs 11:25  (NLT)

²⁵ The generous will prosper;
    those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

5. With Integrity- 

It is doing the right thing when no one is watching. 

Proverbs 20:23  (NLT)

²³ The Lord detests double standards;

    he is not pleased by dishonest scales. 

2 Corinthians 8:21 (NLT)

 We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.

5.  With Dependence- 

It requires some kind of action.  God is not mad at you, but he is filled with compassion for you.   You come to Him, and He'll come to you!

John 16:24 (NLT)

24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

James 4:8A (NLT)

8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. 

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/principles-of-peace1