Sunday Words of Encouragement October 8, 2017

Our Sunday School teacher summarized his message from last week so I didn’t miss anything. 😊
Pastor’s Tension sermon today was Tension in Life. (I missed last week’s message on Family. I should be able to get it on tape.)

Pastor used water skiing as a good example today. That is a sport that requires tension (and also needs a technique). When the line goes slack, you will have trouble.

Most of us live with tension; some people bring it with them. We were not designed to live with tension. God designed Eden to be perfect; all was in harmony. Tension is a punishment for sin. Genesis 3:16-19. Tension rose up between man and God and between man and woman. Tension rose up between man and the ground.
Sin ALWAYS leads to tension. Between life and death there is tension.We live in constant tension though not by design. God created a way out by putting our sin (and the tension it brings) on Jesus at the cross.

Point: Tension indicates a difference between God's plan and my plan. I can surrender or try to live with tension.

We become used to life with tension. But it means our plan is not the same as God's. I have to align my life with God's plan. Holy Spirit tension brings us back into alignment. The Holy Spirit works on your behalf to bring you back into alignment with God.

In Ecclesiastes 2 King Solomon, the richest and once most blessed king, notes that men are continually seeking pleasure from things, but find it meaningless. Even riches are meaningless. Ecclesiastes 5.

Perfect peace is only found in God; when our hearts desire to glorify God. Isaiah 26:1-9.
When there is tension, we either surrender or try to live with the tension.

God wants to be the answer to all problems and all your tension. Will you seek to realign your life? Will you surrender to His plan?

I found this song that fits very well!

Verses for Today:
Isaiah 26:3-4
3You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Lord, Thank You that You care to keep us from tension. Please help me surrender to Your plan for my life!