We have watched the news coverage this week and shook our heads in disbelief. To see so many people displaced…so much destruction…it caused me to stop and thank God for His grace and His mercy. I also read this week of a family that lost every material possession, not to a hurricane, but to a complete burnout. How tragic these and other circumstances are for those who must face them.
A visit to nearly every busy airport will reveal that they are centers of activity, but much of the activity is behind the scenes. Each plane is carefully inspected by men who are trained to look for evidence of metal fatigue. This may be a result of the stress of flight, but more often than not it is just the result of normal continual use. In other words, the airplane just begins to breakdown because it has flown flight after flight.
Stress and burnout are not limited to homes or airplanes. It can often happen to Christians in their service to the Lord. Paul encouraged the believers in the churches of Galatia to 'be not weary in well-doing'. There is a reason that our service to the Lord is called 'work'! Jesus reminded us of the priority of doing the 'work' of God.
(John 9:4) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
So this morning I want to talk to you about how to avoid spiritual burnout and how to work for the Lord without growing weary of the Lord's work.
I. Indicators of Spiritual Burnout
A. Lack of Enthusiasm
1. Anytime we become very familiar with something, there is a danger of losing interest.
2. Consider various ministries we have seen come and go here at GBT
3. New things are exciting…new clothes…new cars…and even new ministries
4. But we can all grow complacent about them…
5. When we grow complacent about reaching people with the Gospel message…then there are eternal consequences!
B. Lack of Activity
1. I am talking about the temptation of quitting…
2. Ask yourself, "Am I doing less for the Lord than I used to do?"
3. If so, why is that?
a. For some it might be physical limitation
b. But for others…it may be that you are just growing weary…
c. Perhaps you need to refocus and take a look at what needs to be done.
d. Remember the priority of God's work!
4. Lack of enthusiasm results in a lack of activity…then it is but a short time before there is the…
C. Presence of Stagnation
1. What am I talking about?
2. A beautiful mountain stream or the stagnate sludge pit across my road; both are water, h2-0, but there is a vast difference!
3. This can happen to a believer…so excited about their new life in Christ…but that enthusiasm begins to wane.
4. Next they quit witnessing…quit reading their Bible…quit praying…quit coming to church!
5. Did they lose their salvation? NO…they simply allowed themselves to burnout spiritually!
II. Partnership to Avoid Burnout
Read: Luke 5:1-11
The word 'partners' is found twice in this passage. This word speaks of fellowship. It also speaks of being fellow laborers. Being a partner means being associated one with the other, a partaker, and companion one with the other. These men were partners in fishing, and now God is going to cause them to be partners in ministry as well.
A. Partners in Prayer
(Matthew 18:19) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
1. God desires for us to be people of prayer.
2. We need to be attentive to our personal prayer life, but we also need to pray with one another!
3. We find the examples in the N.T. of the early church spending time with one another in prayer.
a. They would pray with one another in times of trouble.
(Acts 4:23-24) And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
(Acts 12:5) Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
(Acts 12:12) And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
(Acts 16:25) And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
b. They would pray with one another in times of transition.
(Acts 20:36) And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
(Acts 21:5) And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
c. There is a sense of fellowship and strength when we pray together!
B. Partners in Burdens. (Galatians 6:2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
1. We need to be sharing our burdens with others…
2. And we need to share other's burdens.
3. Burdens can be anything that is difficult for us to bear, that which weighs us down.
4. By application, when we are struggling with a burden; we do not become prideful and refuse to ask for help.
5. And when we are aware of a brother who is burdened; we don't sit back and selfishly refuse to help!
6. We need to be partners in this area of burden bearing!
C. Partners in Stewardship.
1. The Bible says that as believers, we are not our own any longer.
(1 Corinthians 6:20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
2. Our purchase price was paid at Calvary with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
3. Now everything about us, every possession we have, every ability that we have, every talent that we possess no longer belongs to us...it belongs to God.
4. As a result, Paul says that we are 'laborers together with God:' cf 1Co. 3:9
5. The work of the local church here and around the world moves forward as we are partners in stewardship.
6. Partners not hitchhikers!
D. Partners in Ministry.
(Luke 5:10) And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
1. We must work together to reach our community and this world for Christ.
2. Everyone having a part ... that is the key.
3. In our text we find men who were partners in the fishing business.
4. When they needed help, they called or beckoned to their partners to get involved in accomplishing the task at hand.
5. The task is too great for one…but together we can accomplish so much more!
How can we avoid spiritual burnout? Realize that we are not in this alone. We need each other. We need to partner with one another in our service to God. Do you see the signs of burnout in your spiritual life this morning? Lack of enthusiasm, lack of activity, or presence of stagnation? Come to the Lord today and renew your commitment to Him and receive a fresh vision for what God can do through us! Do you know the Lord today? Come place your faith in Him right now! Be saved today!