Life of Strength | Pastor Johnny Mitcham
Johnny Mitcham   -   May 29, 2022

Life of Strength 

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 

Soul Tattoo: A life of strength and rest must be yoked to Jesus.

“The greatest enemy of spiritual life to day is hurry…ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life” Dallas Willard 

  • 2 factors that are pulling at us and taking away our strength: Hurry & Distractions 
    • Hurry is incompatible with:
      • Love 
        • A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34
      • Joy 
        • Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice  Philippians 4:4
      • Peace 
        • And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
    • The price you pay for distractions (noise): 
      • Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17
      • The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
    • The opportunity cost of the unknown 
      • The lack of traction caused by distraction 
      • The failure to live your best life

Soul Tattoo: A life of strength and rest must be yoked to Jesus.

  • Practices and Habits  for unhurrying your life and canceling out the noise and distractions  
    • Silence and Solitude / Getting quiet   
      • And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed Mark 1:35 
    • Practicing Sabbath. 
      • “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11  
    • Finding Simplicity  
      • “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:19-21
    • Slowing down /  Pressing Pause 
      • I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
    • Speak to yourself 
      • Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalms 42:11

Soul Tattoo: A life of strength and rest must be yoked to Jesus.