Romans 14:13 “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.”

Big Dig Ceiling Collapse Boston

Big Dig Ceiling Collapse

 Inferior epoxy  Bolts failed to hold

“from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Eph. 4:16 ESV

“strain or straining force exerted upon a body that tends to strain or deform its shape”  Anglo - Saxon word = “To strangle or choke”  Matt. 6: do not worry  Anxiety is a failure of faith

“Give us this day our daily bread” Matt.6:11 Christians depend upon God “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” Phil. 4:6 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7

How to build Stress: 1.Put off everything until the last minute 2.Set unreasonable goals 3.Never let others know how you feel 4.Never trust anyone 5.Never take a vacation break 6.Never seek help 7.Do not pray

“ Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. 30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.” Mt.11:28-30

“Physical or mental exhaustion; weariness.” “…in time of temptation fall away” - Luke 8:13 Demas loved this present world - 2 Tim. 4:10 Ephesus left their first love - Rev. 2:4 Repeated applications of stress 85%

Prophet Elijah  Victory at Mt. Carmel  Afraid and “arose and ran for his life” 1 Kings 19:3  God provides food - “I alone am left”  7,000 had not bowed their knees to Baal

“But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing” 2 Thes.3:13 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal. 6:9 “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:” Heb. 10:36

“To gnaw to pieces” - “to eat into or wear away gradually, as by rusting or the action of chemicals” Corrosion can happen to us spiritually 2 Tim. 2:14-17 “gangrene” ASV “to gnaw” “an ulcer” “cancer” 1 Cor. 15:33 “evil companionships corrupt good morals” Luke 8:14 “cares and riches and pleasures of this life”

Becomes brittle due to the stress of the load, the chemicals within the bolt and the processes it has been subjected to. Spiritually - embrittlement occurs when certain conditions and attitudes exist that makes us easily offended Webster defines “brittle” = “easily disrupted, overthrown, or damaged…easily hurt or offended.”

As the “chosen of God” we are to be patient with one another Col. 3:12-13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Eph. 4:2 “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.”

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8

“ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” 2 Cor. 13:5  Trust God - do not be anxious  Persevere - do not grow weary in well-doing  Keep pure - do not be like the world  Be mature - do not fail from within

Heb. 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21. make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Morning May 29, 2011