CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE

LUKE 10:38-42

Pastor Rick Jackson

Pressure is something we all understand. Few people have no pressures. Pressure, like trouble, is almost a universal constant. If you are living you probably have certain pressures you face every day. it's how you handle the pressures of life that makes the difference!

I. PRESSURE IS OFTEN SELF-INFLICTED

Isn't that strange? Strange but true, pressure is ofttimes self-inflicted. Martha is a good example of self-inflicted pressure.

1. Her Possession [v. 38]

2. Her Expectation [v. 39-40]

This was HER expectation not the Lord's. She put this pressure on herself and then blamed Mary for not helping HER with HER expectation. Then she practically snapped at the Lord Jesus for not helping HER reach HER expectation! She could have given an aspirin a headache!

3. Her Mess [v. 41]

Jesus told her she was worried about many things that she herself had stirred up! Her type personality, like almost any other type, can be focused and channeled properly and can be very productive. But, unchecked, it can be very destructive. Gasoline. properly funneled can power an engine and enable you to drive a car. It can also explode and cause much damage.

II. SELF-INFLICTED PRESSURE CAN THAN PRODUCE SINS OF COMMISSION

1. Sins of the Tongue [v. 40, Jn. 11:20-27]

2. Sins of the Temper [v. 40]

3. Sins of the Thoughts [v. 40] "Lord, dost thou not care"

III. SELF-INFLICTED PRESSURE CAN BE CAUSED BY SINS OF OMISSION

1. Lack of Preparation

1 Samuel 7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Amos 4:12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

2. Lack of Prayer [Matthew 26:41]

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

3. Lack of Participation [Hebrews 10:25]

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

IV. HOW CAN WE SURVIVE THE SELF-INFLICTED PRESSURES OF LIFE?

1. Make the Word of God a Priority [Colossians 3:16]

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Lk. 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus feet, and heard his word.

2. Make the Peace of God a Reality [Colossians 3:15]

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

John 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

Sometimes, you just have to let God BE GOD!

3. Keep the Relationship With God Personal!

We all know that relationships don't have to be personal. They can be very businesslike. Polite but impersonal. God wants us to have a different kind of relationship with us. He has made those of us who have trusted Christ part of His family.

He tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him... but why? Why should we do this?

"for he careth for you."