6/21/2010

REFILLING YOUR TANK

We arrived last Sunday morning from attending a conference in New Jersey; then preaching at a convention in Trenton, New Jersey; then I preached in Willow Creek - Chicago, South Barrington; and we also attended the leadership summit there THANKS BE TO GOD FOR PROTECTING US AND FOR GIVING US AN OPEN DOOR THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS There are several places we go to, not only for preaching; but.. FILL OUR TANKS 2

REFILLING YOUR TANK

Eg. Lighthouse, Covenant Fell, Rhema, UMCC, Kingdom Life, CRC, USA, Korea

REFILLING YOUR TANK

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REFILLING YOUR TANK

WHY FILL UP OUR TANKS? Because life causes empties our tanks
Fill your tank

Tank needs refilling

Use whats is in tank

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THEOLOGY OF REFILLING

Psa 92:10 LITV But You will lift up my horn as the wild ox, and I will be anointed with fresh oil. Eph 5:18 CEV Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life.
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Isa 40:29 CEV The LORD gives strength to those who are weary. v.30 Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. v.31 But those who trust the LORD will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.
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The empty tank phenomenon will affect us on all levels of our being: SPIRIT SOUL BODY We are tripartite beings: 1Th 5:23 CEV I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

REFILLING YOUR TANK

A full throttle pace will lead to a depleted tank, and ultimately result in total meltdown spiritual, physical etc. NON OF US IS IMMUNE Eg. The mighty prophet Elijah oFed by ravens, outruns kings horses oRaises widows son from the dead o Calls fire from heaven and kills 450

REFILLING YOUR TANK

prophets of Baal o Ultimate meltdown 1 Kin 19: 3,4

REFILLING YOUR TANK

1Ki 19:3 CEV Elijah was afraid when he got her message, and he ran to the town of Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there, v.4 then walked another whole day into the desert. Finally, he came to a large bush and sat down in its shade. He begged the LORD, "I've had enough. Just let me die! I'm no better off than my ancestors. Can u pick up the sings of meltdown? Afraid; he ran; sat down; enough; die

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About five years ago, an American news paper featured an article that described how a Christian leader disqualified himself from ministry. He has experienced a melt down: This is how it read

(He) sank like a rock, beat up, burned out, angry & depressed, no good to himself and no good to the people he loved

When this leader finally wrote publicly about his experience, he said: eventually I couldnt even sleep at night. Another wave of broken lives would come to shore at the church, and I found I didnt have enough compassion for them any more. Inside I became angry, angry, angry! Many people still wonder what happened to me. They think I had a crisis of faith. The fact is I simply collapsed on the inside

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If we could make life to order, then we could evenly space seasons of getting depleted or seasons of trouble BUT LIFE CANNOT BE SCRIPTED

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Mat 18:7a KJV Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come;

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REFILLING YOUR TANK

YLT `Woe to the world from the stumblingblocks! for there is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to come, BBE A curse is on the earth because of trouble! for it is necessary for trouble to come; GNB How terrible for the world that there are things that make people lose their faith! Such things will always happen

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HOW OUR TANKS GET DELTED AND HOW TO REFILL THEM We will focus on the three areas of our being: spirit, soul and body SPIRIT DEPLETING o unforgiveness/bitterness/disobedience o irregular spiritual disciplines o ministering to others o wilderness seasons o legalism

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REFILL SPIRIT o be a doer of Gods word Jas 1:22 forgive, let go of bitterness, .. o receive Gods grace Rom 5:17b o discipline yourself to spend regular time in prayer, bible study , contemplation on Gods word o commit yourself to a good, bible based local church . Be intentional and unapologetic about it. Pr 18:14

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SOUL DEPLETING The soul : mans inanimate nature Speaks of: mind, will and emotions What can deplete us in our souls? o cant reach goals: Num 21:4 o crisis in relationships o loss of or illness of loved one 2 Sam 18:33 o loss of resources: Job o worry/anxiety: Lk 21:34

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REFILL SOUL o set goals and commit. Have someone to hold you accountable o if relations have broken... move on, but deal with your bitterness and desire to revenge o loss of resources Acts 2 church? o if suffered loss avail yourself to a healing process eg. Bishop Sakkie little material on dealing with grief

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Ref to Focus on family good grief article year 2000 Grieving painful but necessary process 1. Accept reality of loss 2. Work through the pain 3. Accept your world with the loss 4. Have a place for mourningbut move on with life cf. Josh 1:2 5. Go for professional help

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Article continued. HOW CAN I GRIEVE? 1. Identify what you have lost 2. Touch your pain eg. Revisit memories of the person (album) 3. When ready tell your story 4. Deal with your regrets 5. Dont bury your resentment 6. Take a break 7. Look forward to life

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PHYSICALLY DEPLETING o Overworking oneself which leads to insufficient rest/sleep o Unhealthy body no exercise, unhealthy diet cf. First thing Gods did to the depleted prophet was rest him and feed him (1 King 19:5-7) o Absence of distressing activity

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REFILLING PHYSICALLY o good diet o be active - exercise o take sufficient rest/breaks Bill Hybels have a planned negligence strategy o identify activity that helps distress and commit to it o decide to be joyful - Gal 5:22

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Neh 8:10 GNB Now go home and have a feast. Share your food and wine with those who don't have enough. Today is holy to our Lord, so don't be sad. The joy that the LORD gives you will make you strong. Pro 17:22 GNB Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time. v.22 CEV If you are cheerful, you feel good; if you are sad, you hurt all over.

When life seems to be squeezing the life out of us when we feel depleted JESUS CALLS US TO HIMSELF

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Mat 11:28 KJV Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. v.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. v.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.