F. C. P. ASSEMBLY

SERMON: X-HAIL

INTRODUCTION: S.A.D. is a, now more common, sickness, that effects people mostly during winter. S.A.D. stands for 'Seasonal Affective Disorder' - Which results from a lack of sunlight and somewhat from simply lousy wheather of winter. This brings the symptoms of apathy, weariness and depression on a person. EXAMPLE - Dark=cry! Light=Laugh! Snow=TemperTantrum! Sunny=Chipper/Manic! Well I want to talk about a spiritual version of this. We as Christians, as a church, etc, go through seasons or chapters or fazes in our lives. Most are repetitive and predictable if we will take note, as our text warns we MUST take note! Some of the common seasons or fazes are called: the mountain tops, the desserts, the wilderness, the river, the valleys etc. We've all been there or will be. What we want to look at is the S.A.D. for Christians. I Call it Spiritual Apex Disorder. Often when things are great or finished or calm Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. The Post Climactic Blues! Want to know when to look for it? When you do this: (exhale)

TRANSITIONAL-STATEMENT: We're going to look at three heroe and learn that we don't need to fall into these blues.As we go on, practice the self evaluation on yourself and see if S.A.D. is creeping up on you. We must be careful when you exhale! Your sigh of completion could be trouble!
1.DAVID:STRUGGLE-OF-PEACE?
Apex, according to Webster’s, means: highest point, summit - culmination or climax. What we Christians do is have a grand experience from God. and then fall, by responding wrong in the long term - we exhale. Lets go to an example in the O.T.: Turn to 2Sam 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. What is odd in this passage? David is the King! but he is not going to battle. He had conquered his foes, he was at peace, and he exhaled. Sin? No. Just too relaxed. We are allowed to exhale, we’re even to rest.
Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
But the context of this verse even shows that amidst daily life turmoil, we may find His peace/rest. But we are to have an attenae always wary and tuned in to the Holy Spirit.
1Pe 1:13 ¶ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
The trick is to do this when you least expect you need it!! Lets go back to David, just days later . . !
2Sam 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.
David,in his quiet rest time found some new past times.! Hows it go? Idle hands are the devil’s playground! Apathy comes in midst of peace and comfort, watch for it, it is very sneaky! S.A.D.!! Unfortunately David only digs the pit deeper and winds up in a mess that will cost Him his child and eventually and unified kingdom! We don’t want to get their...right?! Solution? When their is peace, when the devil is quiet...1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Careful when Exhale! That much more should you gird up the loins of your mind! When apathy comes near, call it for what it is, admit your getting comfy or lazy and iniate a little fight! Initiate War! Get the devil on the run!
TURN: Mt 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
That the clearer knowledge we have of the worth and excellency of heaven the more will our zeal be inflamed in the pursuit of heaven! How’s your zeal? Pastor, its summer, and we just finished the Revelation, give us a break, we want to hear soothing sermons, sabbath sermons”. I know, I want to hear the same!! Which is exactly why I preach this! Already I’m feel myself gearing down, and starting to exhale, when we’re in those lower gears, we are geared for this kind of thing.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Are you sober? Are you preparing a contingocy plan, for the surpris attacks? Are you keeping your spiritual excerices away from apathy?
2.ELIJAH:TROUBLE-W/VICTORY?
TURN: 1Ki 18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that [was] in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw [it], they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he [is] the God; the LORD, he [is] the God. 40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. 500 Baal Prophets slain by Elijah! - A personal wiping out of the enemy, wow what a high! Victory!!! Few Days Later . . !
TURN:1Ki 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 3 And when he saw [that], he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which [belongeth] to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I [am] not better than my fathers.
WHAT!!? Elijah, my favorite prophet was caught up in that dangerous Exhale and wanted to die! S.A.D.!! When your brain is telling you that after such a victory in your life/ministry/whatever, that the devil should be mending his wounds, 1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Understand the devil is a wounded enemy, he has always been mending his wounds, he has since the rebellion, and all the more since the cross! He can work just fine with wounds.
1Pe 5:8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Who may He devour? The unexpecting! Depression can come surprisingly easy in midst of victory and our expectation. What are your expectations? After the Revelation do you expect it over? Watch for Depression, guilt, sudden blues - the Post Climactic Blues! Even when God is in the victory, His plans may go on, different from yours. Solution:
Wary Tenacity.
 2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
There is not to be a holiday from sharing God’s Word. We are not to just look for opportunity - in season, but according to this, we are to make opportunity - out of season! That Word you keep ready will also spell doom for the depression and guilt that want to come near, it will call you to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness! When it doesn’t make sense, minister, when you’ve just had great victory, like Elijah - minister. When no one is listening - minister! Christian don’t retire, our work is not done until we pass the pearly gates! If your like me, that statement I just said, tires you out just thinking about it! Do not fret, His grace will give you rest, and He will bless your vacation this summer. He will not lay a guilt trip on you, and that is not what I am doing. I am going on vacation too! But I pray, that I am just as sensitive, just as willing to minister on holidays or in the summer or after victory - during peacetime - in season and out of season - as I am now! Don’t get caught up in that dangerous Exhale! S.A.D.!! Spiritual Apex Disorder. We are servants/laborers/works in progress untill heaven! say I can’t do it! Thats the point, right? His grace is sufficient for me! Amen!!?
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Is your reasoning saying “the devil is recooping”? Are you aware how hungry the lion is? Are you as hungry for God’s purposes?
3.PETER:PRIDE’S-REASON-FOR-TRUOBLE?
Mt 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. A Few Minutes Later . . !
Mt 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Peter’s triumph came when He was tuned into the Spirit, His down fall came when He was tuned into His own reasoning!
TURN: Mt 21:6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set [him] thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed [them] in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. Hey. look we’re with the King! We’re gonna win! A Week Later . . !
TURN:Mt 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
That dangerous Exhale! S.A.D.!! Sometimes We are just caught off gaurd by God Himself! Your faith’s biggest tests!
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Amidst God's Blessing can easily come self-reliance and pride. We so easily walk in after God has done marvelous things and start to think we’re hot shots, we got something, we’re invincible, with God on our leash. It happens!, even to Peter! Pride comes before a fall. . .! Also, it rarly ever makes sense to us how God moves! Ask David, Elijah, ask Peter! You can here them, and US “Your the Messiah, your the Son of God, why do are you stuck on a cross like some weak thief?! We were just at the mountain top, how didn we get to this valley? We were winning, why give up now? I knew how to proceed, I was sure, how did it fail? The church was growing? The worship seemed perfect? Illogical. "Don't put a question mark, where God puts a Period!" Bonhoeffer: Pages 72-73. Says "our first thing to gain in the fall was the ability to reason, which equals rebellion - to question God. That was what we exchanged for our obedince & trust of God."
TURN:Ge 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
But since the bite of that forbidden fruit in the garden - We have reasoned our way out of God's commands. The Devil became a snake - good analogy of squirming around obedience! We should use our minds but too often we use our brains to form doubt, second guessing over pure obedince, and reasoning over trusting! No longer like children with the Father, simply saying YES. We try to be: His equal / important / selfish, and question into doubt and fear! But we're never like Adam or Peter! Right? I mean we should have learned from them! Peter put his faith in God through the filter of his reasoning! His faith in God was GREAT! His filter, was AWFUL and misplaced, we're not supposed to have a filter! = Doubt. Now we need to be tuned into the Spirit as our filter Like Peter did do. Solution:
Leap of Faith / Obedience. Sometimes we just need to get our feet wet!! Peter wouldn’t have walked on water without this! Will you get uncomfortable? Probaly. Will you face fears? most likely. Will you look silly? Sometimes. Will you survive the mistakes? ( and there will be) Yes. Will you grow? Yes. Will you please your Father? Yes! As the Child you were meant to be!
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
 Is your mind second guessing God’s direction? Do you see your self taking credit for things? Evaluate yourself soberly? Watch your exhales!
CONCLUSION:
We’re not to be paranoid, just wary, and always close to the Father. Do not fear Service, or loving others, and the risks involved, do not fret about witnessing, or your schedule, energy. These with Church and our Bible reading, prayer and worship, keep us from that unexpected ledge of S.A.D. We will with these disciplines find when it is safe to Exhale! Notice I expect these disciplines to be yours, if their not - commit to church, to service, to Bible study, and prayer and witnessing. These are neccesary. Than we can continue our proper X -Hail of God! X = first letter of Christ in greek, so we Hail Christ as the One with the grace that is sufficient to keep us from falling!! We don't need to fall into these blues.As we go on, practice the self evaluation on yourself and see if S.A.D. is creeping up on you. Spiritual Apex Disorder can be overcome, and we can carefully enjoy the apex of the mountain holding our fathers hand! We must be careful when we exhale!
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Are you watching for unlikely attacks? For suprising depression and apathy? Are you ever evaluating your motive and disciplines? Are you trusting God to give the grace to serve Him and others? Are you second guessing? Let truly X-Hail to our Lord and praise Him for His keeping Grace!!
TURN: Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

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