NO PRESSURE

In a world full of stress, worry, and unbelievable pressure, it is comforting to know that the Holy Spirit inside of us is aware of the cares and concerns of this world. Yet, in the midst of a sometimes-chaotic world, is it possible to live a pressure-free life? This was the subject Pastor Nathan shared today in his message entitled, “No Pressure.”

In Hebrews 10:23 we read these words. “ Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised.” Whether it is just the natural, everyday life that pressures us or a direct attack from the enemy, pressure is not a good thing. As we seek to hold onto what God has promised us in His Word, the devil surely will come to put pressure on us. He seeks to nullify our faith. He knows if He can discourage us and get us to change our confession and let go of the promise, we are easily defeated and will lose the promise God has given us. What we believe comes out of our heart, and what is in our heart will come out of our mouth. (Luke 6:45) In Hebrews 10:23 Paul was encouraging the church not to back up, not to give up, but to tap into God’s faithfulness.

The devil works through our mind and our flesh. He wants us to base our faith on what we feel. When we feel bad, our mouth begins to move. We begin to confess the negative. We begin to complain. We begin to exhibit those attitudes toward others. Soon we aren’t doing anything for God. Wrong feelings, emotions, and thinking will eventually derail the plan of God in your life. This shouldn’t surprise us. The enemy will always try to stop God’s work, and if the devil is not fighting you, you probably aren’t doing much for the Kingdom of God.

Mark 4:16-20 describes those who hear the Word but are offended as persecution or affliction arise, but if we determine to keep the Word of God in our heart, it will produce. It is up to us to “hold fast.” Hebrews 10:23 is a covenant scripture and our words matter. Earthly vows and covenants can be broken, but God will never break His covenant with us. (Psalm 89:34) He cannot go back on His Word. He cannot lie. God is faithful. (II Timothy 2:13) God will never change His mind! (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6)

Faith pleases God. (Hebrews 11:6) If something impossible is in your way, faith can move it! (Mark 11:22) We must lay hold of God’s faithfulness. Many of the things we pray for, God has already provided for us. We have been given the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) including love, joy, peace, and faithfulness. We don’t need to pray for what God has already given, but we do need to stir it up. God is faithful, and we can be too. The Word of God tells us to rejoice in the face of opposition. When we rely upon the Spirit, the enemy cannot crush what is on the inside of us. We respond with what the Word says, and we do not change what we are saying. One of the greatest reasons we fail to receive from God is that we change our confession. Pressure is a sign that the devil doesn’t want us to go to the next level, so be encouraged. Hold fast your profession of faith! If you feel like everything is going wrong and you are feeling pressure, echo the Words of Habakkuk 3:17-19.

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights.”