Good In Tension Part One: I’m Good in Tension Micaiah Irmler Matthew 5:1-12 NKJV 1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Remember: A tension is anything that needs your attention. Key Thought: Today we have a deficit disorder. Remember: There is a tension with ourselves, a tension with God, and a tension with others. James 1:1-8 NKJV 1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Tension is Not a Trap, Tension is a Tool vs. 1-3 1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Remember: Tension is a . Tension makes you feel like you are being torn apart. Remember: Stop Relieving the Tension instead, the Tension has a purpose. It’s not that you have too much tension you actually have a tension deficit disorder. Tension helps me stay in balance. Remember: While never changes but my roles do. Remember: Learn the tension between roles and responsibility and the trick is redeeming the time. Remember: Tension is not just a great tool but tension is also a great teacher. Remember: Tension shows me what needs my attention. Tension is Tough But Trust the Tension vs. 2-3 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Remember: Trust that is using the Tension. The tension between faith and doubt is where trust is formed. Remember: God is taking your faith into the territory of doubt to build more trust in God. Without trust there can be no transformation. Tension is the Tool that Brings About Transformation vs. 3-4 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Remember: No tension; no . There is a tension between where you are and where God is calling you. God uses tension to separate those who are comfortable from those who are committed. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Malachi 3:2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap. The Point of Maximum Growth is When I can say, “I am Good in Tension” Remember: God always does a work in us before God does a work through us. Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Remember: The tension you feel is a tool to build trust and bring about your . Remember: My goal is to help you live an life. Note: I hear people say just get in rhythm find balance but my question is how do I do that with everyone pulling on me. Illustration: Tension helps with suspension. https://www.goldengate.org/exhibits/spinning-the-main-cables/ Note: We shut down or we heat up when under tension. Note: There is a tension between. Note: Every felt the tension building? Illustration: Tears of Heaven by Eric Clapton is a beautiful song. Its written after the death of his four year child. Matthew 10:16 Wise as servants harmless as doves. Duality. Note: Jesus is the lion and the lamb. Humanity but deity. Note: There is a difference between vacillating and oscillating. I Corinthians 9:22 There was a purpose to how he behaved as a person. Quote: Grace without truth is meaningless. Truth without grace is mean. Grace and truth together is medicine. ~Unknown Remember: Grace and Truth work together in harmony not in . Faith and Tension. Tension in the Tent. The Tension of Transition. The Tension of Transformation. The Tension of Trust. The Tension of Time. The Tension of Managing what I should be mastering. Where there is a tension that means it needs my . Sanctification is a group activity not a solo activity. It’s a group project. Trapped by Tension. Tricked by Tension. Note: The more I embrace Christ I embrace tension between those who have not embraced Christ. Note: There is a tension in a marriage because there is no common union in Christ. Inward tension so we have the Holy Spirit. Upward tension but we know that God loves us. Outward tension but we have Christ’s example. Tension of Annaias not wanting to Baptize Saul Romans 7 tension with himself Phil 3:8 tension with his calling 2 Corinthians 12:7 tension with unanswered prayer We can get forgiveness of sin which relieves us of the guilt but it does not reverse sins affects. Tension helps guard against extremes. Note: We should be all out for God. Note: There is a tension between running and resting. Focus and Flexible. Patient and Passive. Critical and Candid. Today we have a tension deficit disorder. We tend to pull people away from tension. The tension between faith and follow up. Praying and planning. Between working like it depends on me and believing like it depends on God. Tension between when and where. Tension between here and now. Tension between Hope and . Called by God but the Call of my is still with me. Note: People talk about a Healthy Tension we need a Tension. Question: Has busyness become your boss? Note: We’re always running struggling to rest because we don’t see resting as . Tension is not a trap its a tool. is a great teacher. Surface . James 1:1-8 NKJV 1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Note: Tension helps me stay in balance. Note: We have people tension, tension related to our problems, we have tension with the place we are in life, we got political tension, we’ve got personal tension. Tension is a Teacher. Question: What is the tension here to teach me? The . The . 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.