Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Sept 10, 2006
“Impact your World”
Personal Pressures Daniel 6:11-17
Part 2 of 4
· This morning we’re going to look at a subject that affects each of us... personal pressures.
· Notice in the word pressures you see the two letters U-R. Pressures affect everyone – you’re not exempt
· When we’re under pressure – that’s when the REAL you surfaces. The world is watching you in seeing how you handle pressures – are people seeing Jesus Christ or temper/anger/impatience/moodiness...??
· When water is boiled the temperature is at 212 degrees and then begins to turn to steam remaining at 212
· If you seal it with a cover the pressure and temperature both rises till it reaches the pressure release valve
· It’s either explode or learn to handle the pressures... People today are under extreme stress & anxiety
· Running on empty – no time – no money – no peace – poor decision making – depressed... leading to road rage, suicidal, nervous breakdowns, headaches, busted relationships, tranquilizers, job problems, church problems, family problems, leading to various addictions... we’re at the point of explosion! (PP)
· When we learn to handle personal pressures, it’ll help you impact your world for Christ.
· Continuing our story about Daniel – we can almost feel the pressure building within his life... (Review)
Daniel 6:11-12 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "The decree stands--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."
Personal Pressures...
1. Allowed through God’s Filtering Hands. Jn 10:28-30
· The 122 or so went as a group and “caught” Daniel red-handed praying which was now forbidden by law
· Can you see the reaction of God’s man Daniel in the face of opposition from the enemy?
· All personal pressures comes through the filtering hands of God. We rest in the Father’s hand!
John 10:29-30 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."
Difficulties and Pressures...
· Tests our Faith – Little pressure = little faith growth... The #1 question – Are you saved? If you are, is your walk worthy of the Lord? Are you taking personal responsibility seriously? Pressures will always prove your faith either genuine or fake and if it’s genuine it will grow you spiritually...
Luke 8:22-25 22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
· Confronts us with choices – Every time we are in the cooker and the pressure is on the rise we are faced with decisions... depending upon our choice we will either grow better or bitter. Chuck Swindoll says life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you respond... choices...
Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
· Opens Opportunities for Ministry – In Acts we see Stephen standing up for Christ... pressures mounted to the point that he was martyred for Christ... great persecution broke out, Christians fled and in doing so spread the gospel everywhere! Often pressures allows us to analyze our lives before the Lord... the pressures have a way of getting our attention... God speaks to us – we say YES!
Acts 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
· Encourages us to look upward in prayer – When our world is collapsing around us, when we “feel” like we have no friends, When it “seems” like everything is going wrong, when we lie awake in restless nights, When my job overwhelms me, when my family seems to be falling apart then your dog gets out and runs away, when you have no money to pay your bills, when your husband looses his job, when someone in church hurts you, when you dread to get up and face a new day, when you just found out you have cancer or your spouse tells you the marriage is over or your child says I hate you...
· When you’re at the very end of your rope... let go and let God
Daniel 6:11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
Daniel 6:13-14 13 Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day." 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
2. Sometimes spiral “out-of-control”. Acts 27-28 (summarize the story)
· Have you ever noticed how one thing leads to another and sometimes become totally out of our control?
· Daniel’s accusers went before the king and belittled Daniel – an exile from Judah, a despicable people.
· Daniel broke the law, Daniel defies you oh king, Daniel places himself above your law & even you.
· Daniel with an unblemished reputation... now subjected to lies & ridicule... Like Jesus Christ.
· Sometimes our response to a given matter is wrong and we exasperate the pressures in our lives.
· The more you tried to “fix” things the more “out-of-control” they became? In this case the king tried to fix
· The king was greatly distressed and did everything in his power to rescue Daniel but failed.
· Daniel was getting closer to becoming lion food... pressure cooker steam was rising...
· What are some mistakes we make in trying to handle pressures in our lives?
Mistakes to Avoid...
· We fail to patiently wait upon the Lord – Run ahead of God, push the issue, attempt to fix in our own strength, We don’t see Daniel franticly running around...
Psalms 40:1-3 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
· We play the blame game – Pressures often bring out the worst in us... we become de-masked and often blame others for the pressure you’re under... the Pastor, co-worker, the boss, not my fault...
Genesis 3:12-13 12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
· We evade or attempt to run away – I’ve seen this numerous times... we come under pressure and we begin to “check-out”... drift from relationships, friends, church family, begin sitting as far back in church as you can, miss services... instead of facing yourself, & the real issues... Jonah
Jonah 1:3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.
· We question God’s purposes – Why did God allow this in my life? If God is so awesome why do I have all these problems? I thought God was a God of love? We actually become angry with God...
Job 2:9-10 9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" 10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Feel like you’re in a “Rat Race” and you’re the “Rat”?
Dr. Joseph Buckley is a scientist who has been studying rats for eleven years and who has found that the present-day “rat race” is a term too close for comfort.
According to an Associated Press report, Dr. Buckley has been subjecting thousands of rats to a stress chamber that simulates many of the conditions of modern city life: bright flashing lights, every kind of noise from buzzers to the roar of jet planes, and even a shaking, jostling motion similar to what you feel when you are riding to work in a car or train.
After a week of this, the rats develop permanent high blood pressure and become easily irritated and dangerous. Furthermore: “Exposed to the same stresses as the rats, the doctor and a graduate student began to notice a rise in their own blood pressures, accompanied by increasing irritability.”
Daniel 6:15-17 15 Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed." 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed.
3. Melt in the Presence of God.
Psalms 89:15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
· There was no way out for the king... Daniel sought the Lord in prayer as he faithfully has done prior
· Personal pressures melt when we bow in the presence of the Lord. When overwhelmed get down!
· Daniel was thrown into the lions den with a stone laid and a clay seal installed... Daniels fate was fixed
· Notice the glimmer of hope from the king... “may your God, who you serve continually – rescue you!”
· Daniel was not a fair weather Christian... he faithfully served the Lord... good times or hard pressure...
Our Proper Response...
· Realize trials are designed for our good!
James 1:2-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
· Trust God for the Solution!
Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
· Rest in God’s Sovereign Purpose!
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
· In Faith see Him who is Invisible!
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
“Focus on the Solution not the Problem”
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
· Allow God into your life... allow Him to bring peace & comfort... allow Him to restore your sanity
· Handling personal pressures not alone but with the Lord plugged into every formula of life!
· What response will you make today? Continue to live in a collapsing world of pressures or will you give your problems to the Lord...
Let’s Pray