The Christian Lifestyle… And… Lesson 3 “The Consequences Of Stress”

1.A person’s stress level tends to rise or fall in direct proportion to the number of personal battlefronts that must be manned.

2.A person’s stress level tends to rise or fall in direct proportion to the significance of the battlefronts at which one is fighting.

3.A person’s stress level tends to rise or fall in direct proportion to his/her Christ-related faith, hope, and love.

4.A person’s age has very little to do with the way battlefronts are viewed and manned.

5.A person’s physical condition is usually not a significant factor in determining how we view and man the battlefronts of our lives.

6.It is always easy to relate to and identify with the battlefronts with which other people are having to deal.

7.Jesus teaches a way of life that enables us to eliminate all the battlefronts of life.

8.The principles of successful living as modeled and taught by Jesus provide us with practical and effective “life skills” for managing the battlefronts of life.

PLAN OF STUDY Lesson 1: The “Condition” Of Stress Lesson 2: The “Cause” Of Stress Lesson 3: The “Consequences” of Stress Lesson 4: The “Cure” For Stress

The Christian Lifestyle… And… Lesson 3 “The Consequences Of Stress”

STRAINSSTRUGGLESSTRESSORSSUFFERINGSIN There Will Always Be… In This World { { Tonight’s Study The Consequences Of Dis-stress

WHATISTHEMESSAGE?WHATISTHEMESSAGE?

DISTRESS BODYBODYBODYBODY BODYBODYBODYBODY MINDMIND SPIRITSPIRITSPIRITSPIRIT SPIRITSPIRITSPIRITSPIRIT RELATIONSHIPSRELATIONSHIPS DISEASEDISTRESSDISEASEDISTRESSDISEASEDISTRESS

BODY Distress Causes (Dis)ease In:

THEPHYSIOLOGYOFSTRESS 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

GENESIS 4:2-8

[2]Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. [2] …Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. [3] In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. [2]Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. [2] …Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. [3] In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.

GENESIS 4:2-8 [4] But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, [5] but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. [4] But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, [5] but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

GENESIS 4:2-8 [6] Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? [6] Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?

GENESIS 4:2-8 [7] If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." [8] Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. [7] If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." [8] Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

PSALM 38:1-7

[1] O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. [2] For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me. [1] O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. [2] For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.

PSALM 38:1-7 [3] Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin. [4] My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. [3] Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin. [4] My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

PSALM 38:1-7 [5] My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. [6] I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. [7] My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. [5] My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. [6] I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. [7] My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.

IS THE PHYSICAL BODY AFFECTED WHEN THERE ARE HEAVY STRESSORS?

When There Is “Distress”… THE PHYSICAL BODY goes through CRUCIAL PHASES

ALARM STAGE BODY PREPARES FOR: 1.Flight 2.Fight 3.Freeze

ALARM 1.Hypothalamus 2.Central Nervous System—body! 3.Pituitary— ACTH 4.Adrenal Glands 5.Oxygen-rich blood to entire body 6.Sugar for quick energy 7.Muscles coil 8.Perspiration 9.Senses quicken 10. Chemicals to clot the blood 11. Functions not essential for FFF are shut down 12. Adrenalin is pouring into the system

BODY PREPARES TO: 1.Relax 2.Repair 3.Return to normal baseline RESOLUTION STAGE

ALARM RELAX ALARM RELAXALARMRELAXALARMRELAX AS LONG AS… OKAY

ALARM DANGER!!! NOT OKAY! ALARMBRIEF ALARM

THERE IS A THIRD STAGE THERE IS A THIRD STAGE

ALARMDAMAGE RELAX A TOTALLE D PERSON

LEARN TO COPE WITH STRESS SUCCESSFULLY OR THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS MAY BECOME PAINFULLY “REAL.”

THESE COULD BECOME… REAL 1. He/She is a “pain in the neck.” 2. I am “sick with worry.” 3. That accident “took ten years off my life.” 4. This job “is killing me.” 5. This situation is “taking its toll on me.” 6. This is “breaking my heart.”

THE SAME EXPERIENCE COULD BE A DIFFERENT FLAG FOR THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE

A “DESIRED EXPERIENCE” COULD RAISE ANY ONE OF THESE FLAGS --EVEN A RED ONE

NORMAL & HEALTHY ABNORMAL & UNHEALTHY

BODY SYMPTOMS *Flushing *Sweating *Dry Mouth *Shallow Breathing *Chest Pain *Heart Palpitation *Increased Blood Pressure *Headache (Migraines) *Headache (Tension) *Back Pain *Feeling Of Weakness *Intestinal Distress *Vomiting *Diarrhea *Constipation *Fatigue *Loss Of Appetite *Skin Problems *Sleep Problems *Breathlessness *Muscle Aches *Increased Appetite *Stomach Cramping *Irritable Colon *Dizziness *Faintness *Immune System Affected

HOW IS “DISTRESS” AFFECTING YOUR BODY?

MIND Distress Causes (Dis)ease In:

2 CORINTHIANS 2:12-13

[12] Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, [13] I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia. [12] Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, [13] I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.

PAUL… …on a different and better day!

ACTS 16:22-25 [22] The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. [23] After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. [22] The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. [23] After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

ACTS 16:22-25 [24] Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. [24] Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

ACTS 16:22-25 [25] About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, the other prisoners were listening to them. the other prisoners were listening to them. [25] About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, the other prisoners were listening to them. the other prisoners were listening to them.

SPIRIT Distress Causes (Dis)ease In:

LUKE 22:39-46

[39] Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. [40] On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." [41] He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, [39] Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. [40] On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." [41] He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

LUKE 22:39-46 [42] "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." [43] An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. [42] "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." [43] An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

LUKE 22:39-46 [44] And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. [44] And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

LUKE 22:39-46 [45] When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. [46] "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." [45] When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. [46] "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

RELATIONSHIPS Distress Causes (Dis)ease In:

ACTS 15:36-41

[36] Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." [36] Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."

ACTS 15:36-41 [37] Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, [38] but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. [37] Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, [38] but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.

ACTS 15:36-41 [39] They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, [40] but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. [41] He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. [39] They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, [40] but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. [41] He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

BE AWARE! READ THE WARNING SIGNS!