Catch Your Breath

(Deuteronomy 30:19) This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life.


HANDWRITING ON THE WALL 


Daniel 5:26-27) This is what these words mean: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. 



The risk of sinful choices increases. 



(Luke 21:34) Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 



My emotions are inconsistent. 



(Job 9:25 NCV) My days go by faster than a runner; they fly away without my seeing any joy. 



I am less productive. 



(Proverbs 21:5 Message) Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind. 



(Proverbs 19:2 GW) …a person in a hurry makes mistakes. 



I end up empty inside. 



(Psalm 39:6 NLT) We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. 



I can’t hear God. 




(Psalm 46:10) Be still, and know that I am God. 



CATCH YOUR BREATH 



(Mark 6:31) Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 




1. Stop the constant push for more. 



(Ecclesiastes 4:6 GN) It is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time… 



(Proverbs 14:30) A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. 


(Proverbs 20:25) It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows. 



2. Keep the Sabbath day holy.



(Exodus 20:9-10 GN) You have six days in which to do your work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to Me. 



(Proverbs 10:27 LB) Reverence for God adds hours to each day… 



3. Stay close to Jesus. 




(Psalm 23:1-3) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.



(Matthew 11:28-30) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 


Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 




FRESH AIR PRINCIPLE #3 



(Isaiah 63:14) They were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name. 



Slow down.  


Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands


https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/catch-your-breath1

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/09-23-12.pdf

How to Eliminate Stress

Hebrews 4:9-11 New International Version (NIV)

9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

1. I will rest my body.

Psalm 127:2 New International Version (NIV)

2 In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to those he loves.

2. I will replenish my soul.

A. With Quiet reflection.

Psalm 23:2-3 A New International Version (NIV)

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.

B. By enjoying what's fun for you. 

Proverbs 17:22 New International Version (NIV)

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,

    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

C. With people.

Hebrews 10:25 New International Version (NIV)

25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

3. I will refocus my spirit upon God. 

Psalm 92

A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.

1 It is good to praise the Lord
    and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 proclaiming your love in the morning

    and your faithfulness at night,

14 They will still bear fruit in old age,

    they will stay fresh and green, 

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

Pressing the Pause Button

The Sabbath means to rest or to pause.  We can pause for a moment, or reflect upon God all day long.  

In fact, we should take pauses throughout the day as well as Sundays.

Let's talk about the importance of the Sabbath, which we will discuss in three areas.

1. The purpose of the Sabbath. 

2. The practice of the Sabbath.

3. The person of the Sabbath.

I'd like to use a Hammock as an illustration of the Sabbath. 

The purpose of the hammock is to rest and shutdown. 

When we lay in a hammock, we look up. 

We should routinely focus on God, and what He has done. 

When we reflect upon God, we forget about everything else.  

These are the moments to step back and think about God. 

If we don't routinely pull back to reflect upon God's greatness as compared to our problems, we're overwhelmed.  

1. The purpose of the Sabbath. 

Genesis 2:1-3 (NIRV)

2 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing. 

So on that day he rested from all his work. 

3 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. 

He blessed it because on that day he rested from all the work he had done.

God doesn't get tired, so why did God rest?  

He stepped back to take a breath, and  reflect upon what He had done.  

2. The practice of the Sabbath.

Exodus 20:8-11 NIRV)

8 “Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy.

9 Do all your work in six days. 

10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to honor the Lord your God. 

Do not do any work on that day. 

The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and your animals.

It also applies to any outsiders who live in your towns.

11 In six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea and everything in them. 

But he rested on the seventh day. 

So The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

In the middle of the ten commandments, God stops to mentioned the Sabbath along with committing murder and adultery.  

Stopping to Sabbath and reflect upon God's presence keeps us from committing all the other stuff. 

We can study about hammocks, but it is of no value unless we use it. 


If we don't practice the Sabbath, we'll never know the benefits of it. 

God has not wired us to go through life alone without Him. 

The Sabbath causes us to disengage from the world, and re-engage with Him. 

Ephesians 2:4-7 (NIRV)

4 But God loves us deeply. 

He is full of mercy. 

5 So he gave us new life because of what Christ has done. 

He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God’s grace has saved you. 

6 God raised us up with Christ. 

He has seated us (to Sabbath) with him in his heavenly kingdom. 

That’s because we belong to Christ Jesus. 

7 He has done it to show the riches of his grace for all time to come. 

His grace can’t be compared with anything else. 

He has shown it by being kind to us. 

He was kind to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.
  

3. The person of the Sabbath.

We can rest because our God is faithful and can be depended upon to take care of us while we rest. 

If God created the world and keeps it going, He can keep our world going too while we rest!

Hebrews 4:9-11 (NIRV)

9 So there is still a Sabbath rest for God’s people. 

10 God rested from his work. 

Those who enjoy God’s rest also rest from their works. 

11 So let us make every effort to enjoy that rest (right now right here). 

Then no one will die by disobeying as they did.

When God finished creation, He rested because there was nothing left for Him to do. 

When Jesus died on the cross, He said that "it is finished!"  

We can rest in Him because Jesus has saved us, and we rest in His finished work on the cross. 

Matthew 11:28 (NIRV)

28  (Jesus speaking) “Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. 

I will give you rest. 

29 Become my servants and learn from me. 

I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. 

30 Serving me is easy, and my load is light.”

Jesus is inviting you into His rest if you haven't done so. 

Tell Jesus I give to you myself with all of my burdens.  

I ask for you to save me.  

Thank you for being my Lord and Savior. 

Notes taken from Timothy Straight, Healing Place Church

The Spirit Powered Life

Are you enjoying your life or is it a burden?  Jesus talks about a joyful life that can be lived out right now.  

John 3:3-8 ESV

3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 

5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

If you find the wind of the Holy Spirit, He does all the work like the wind in the sails of a sail boat.  It is a relaxed life. 

Are you rowing in your own strength or sailing with Holy Spirit?  

Jesus created us to be like a sail boat and not a row boat.  It's about positioning ourselves in the wind of His Spirit.  

Matthew 11:29 (NLT)

Jesus said... 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

1. Is your relationship with God centered on shame and condemnation?

Satan tries to get us to think that our relationship is based upon performance.   

Romans 8:1-2 NLT

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

2. Is your life marked by worry?

In our society, worry is talked about like a good thing. God wants us to be focused upon Him and not our problems. 

Matthew 6:31-34 NLT

Jesus taught... 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 

32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 

33 Seek the Kingdom of God#6:33 Some manuscripts do not include of God. above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Satan tries to get us to be worried about tomorrow.  God only gives us the grace for today.  

3. Are you intimidated by fear?

Fear is not an attribute, but a demonic spirit. Do not look on the things of fear, but keep them on Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Keys to Sailing with Holy Spirit:

1. Talk to Him—regularly!

2. Pray in the Spirit.

3. Make decisions in faith.

4. Keep your head up. Relax.

Ask the Holy Spirit. What are you saying to me through this message?

Jimmy Witcher, Gateway Church

http://gatewaypeople.com/ministries/life/events/individual-messages-2018/session/2018/11/24/the-spirit-powered-life-living