We are living in one of the most opportunity-filled times in history. Opportunity - to share the Gospel with people who are stressed out. You know, Gospel simply means - good news. There are a lot of people in need of good news. What good news? - that God can strengthen you through stress. That is good news!
God created you to handle stress. In fact, your bodies react very well to stressful conditions, when you allow it to rest as well. Through this teaching series on stress, I believe God wants to prepare you for effective living and ministry in the coming months. There are several stressful pressures that will try to distract you from good, loving ministry. God is revealing the season to you. Like a good sailor predicting the condition of the winds or a farmer predicting the weather, the Lord wants you to understand how to live successfully with stress, through stress, and around stress. I like what one Pastor said about living through storms, "the key to surviving a storm is to outlast it."
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
The emphasis of the first teaching by Pastor Greg is on changing the way we look at stress. Far from being negative, stress is often the means by which we break new ground spiritually. The key is in viewing God, rather than the devil, as active in our stress. Our point of view on stress will change when we connect with God through worship in the midst of our stress. In this way we can gain God’s perspective, which will then enable us to see God’s purpose and activity in our stress. In short, to be strengthened by stress we must acknowledge God and worship Him in the midst of our stress.
Remember, God is not stressed and He can lead us to experience His confidence and peace.
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