Stamina
In Stressful Situations
Steve W. Reeves
INTRODUCTION:
A. I It
has been reported that 89% of Americans suffer from stress. Many Americans are physically exhausted, emotionally defeated and mentally worn out. Do you ever feel
like the chief rat in the rat race? Are you familiar with these three words? Stress?
Fatigue? Weariness? I believe I know the answer.
1. We live in a culture of constant activity. Even our leisure time is packed with
activity. We have Netflix, Direct TV, U-Verse, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter,
Pinterest, and I-Tunes. The only thing we do not have is “I-rest.”
2. Even at church we are tired. I recently heard about the longest sermon ever
preached according to the Guinness Book of World Records. A 31 year old
preacher named Zach Zehnder of a Mount Dora, Fla., set the longest speech
record in 2015 It lasted 53-hour, 18-minutes. He had 200 pages of notes and more
than 600 PowerPoint slides. He began on Friday, November 7, and ended at 12:18
p.m. on Sunday, November 9. In order to qualify for the Guinness record book there
had to be at least ten people in the audience at all times and two independent
observers. Most of the audience rotated but one man by the last name of Douglas
listened for over 50 hours. Following the sermon he said, “I’m exhausted. I just
want to sleep.”
B. In the days when Jesus lived on earth people were weary. They were weary of the
hard labor that accompanied daily living. They were weary of the political turmoil that
surrounded them. They were weary from taxation. They were especially weary of
religion. There were many burdens and traditions that had been imposed on them
by their religious leaders. Their relationship with God was based on a system of rules
and works. It was wearisome.
1. The New Testament begins with the book of Matthew. Matthew was a Jewish
writer who was very familiar with the legalism of his day. In his gospel he
presented an alternative to the weary, burdensome, stress-filled lifestyle of his
readers.
2. He is the only writer to record these words from Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke pon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for our souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
3. In these words of Jesus there are four
keys for developing stamina in stressful
situations.
I. AN ANCHOR TO HOLD ON TO
A. The USS George H.W. Bush is the last of 10 Nimitz Class Nuclear powered
aircraft carriers. The size of this vessel is staggering. It stands 20 stories above the
waterline with a 4.5-acre flight deck. It is 1,092 feet long: nearly as long as the
Empire State Building is tall. There are four bronze propellers, each 21 feet across
and weighing more than 30 tons. Steering is accomplished by two rudders, each 29
feet by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons. Each of the two anchors weighs 60,000
pounds. Each link of anchor chain weighs 365 pounds. Each anchor and chain
weighs a total of 735,000 pounds. A large ship needs substantial anchors.
B. What is your anchor in life during stormy seas? Who can you depend upon when
everything else in your life seems uncertain?
1. Notice Jesus’ words, “Come unto Me.”
a. There is no doubt Jesus lived on this earth. A search of historical records will
provide more evidence for the existence of Jesus than any other person in
history. Secular historians of his day and even those opposed to Christianity
are in agreement that Jesus of Nazareth was a real person.
b. Jesus was more than another human being. He referred to Himself as:
1.) The bread of life – John 6:35.
2.) The light of the world – John 8:12.
3.) The gate for the sheep – John 10:9.
4.) The good shepherd – John 10:11.
5.) The resurrection and the life – John. 11:.25-26
6.) The way, the truth and the life – John 14:6.
7.) The true vine – John 15:5.
c. Paul wrote to the Colossians, “He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the
heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
d. When you are dealing with stress in your life there is no substitute for a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not enough to merely know facts
about Jesus. You must know Him.
2. Who needs this anchor? Notice who Jesus invites?
a. Jesus invites, “all who are weary and burdened.”
b. I am thankful Jesus did not say, “Come to me all of you who are perfect and
have your lives together.”
1.) Consider the people Jesus called to be His followers.
a.) Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen who thought Jesus
was going to lead a revolt against the Romans.
b.) Matthew was a tax-collector despised by everyone.
c.) Some of the women who followed Jesus were known as “sinful” women
(Luke 7:36-39).
2.) Jesus called all of them just as they were. Beginning where they were He
began to mold them and shape them.
II. AFFIRMATION BY GOD
A. Everyone like to receive compliments. There is no compliment that can come from
a human being that can equal the affirmation that comes from God.
1. When you are weary and burdened you need affirmation. Both “weary” and
“burdened” imply heavy labor.
a. Exodus 1:14 describes the burden placed on the Israelites by Pharaoh, who
“made their lives bitter with hard labor.” Do you know anyone who has become
bitter because of the burdens they have had to carry?
b. After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam, imposed heavy burdens on the
people (1 Kings 12:10-11).
c. Jesus did not come to add burdens to people but to remove them.
B. The only way we find stamina in stressful situations is through Christ.
1. You will never find affirmation through law and works.
2. The best day of your life, apart from Christ, will not be enough to earn your
salvation. Our righteousness is as filthy rags in God’s sight (Isaiah 64:6).
3. Because Jesus has fulfilled the law and has become the once and for all sacrifice
for our sins we can find our affirmation from God in Him.
C. What stress are you carrying in your life? Guilt? Regret? Failure? Bitterness?
1. An old man was walking along a country road carrying a fifty pound bag of
potatoes. Another man in a pick-up truck offered him a ride. The old man climbed
up in the cab and set the potatoes in his lap. “Why not put them in the back of the
truck,” said the driver. “No thanks,” said the man. I’ll just carry them myself.”
2. We need the rest that can only be found through Jesus.
III. APPLICATION
A. Do you have keys in your pocket or purse? They are worthless until they are
applied to proper lock. We love to hear about keys to happiness and freedom from
stress but the truth is there are no keys that will work until we apply them to life.
B. We love verse 28. We are not so crazy about verse 29. Why is this so?
1. “Yoke” implies responsibility. .
2. In the Roman world the yoke was a symbol of rule and lordship.
3. Jesus says, “if you want me to anchor and affirm you, you must be willing to take
my yoke. You must make application of my teachings in your life.
IV. APPRECIATION
A. Notice what Jesus said about His yoke? “Take my yoke upon you and learn from
me for I am gentle and humble in heart.” In verse 30 He said, “for my yoke is easy
and my burden is light.” Are you thankful for this promise?
1. Jesus did not come to lay heavy burdens upon people.
2. He did not come to make your life miserable but to give you abundant life (John
10:10).
B. Jesus says when we take His yoke we will find rest.
1. The Bible says that “the way of the transgressor is hard” (Proverbs 13:15),
2. One of the great blessings of being a Christian is that, “godliness is profitable for
all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
3. Everyone faces suffering whether or not you are a Christian. All of us will have
battles to fight. Some of them we will lose. The joy of following Christ will make
all of them bearable.
4. In his book, The Be Happy Attitudes, Robert Schuller told the childhood story of
his family losing nearly everything they had to a tornado during the Great
Depression. Rather than moaning, they were thankful their lives had been
spared. They were thankful they could work. Together, the rebuilt the farm.
Regardless of the stress you are facing in your life there are many things for
which you can be thankful.
CONCLUSION:
A. Where does steel find its strength? Where is gold or silver purified? The answer to
both questions is, “in the fire.” Whatever stress, difficulty, heartache or struggle you
are experiencing can be used by God to bring you closer to Him.
B. May we assist you today in a spirit of love, care and support?
