Lord, we come before you and we ask that you would equip us. and
to help us see, beyond just Our emotional stability.
But Lord, we want to see how we can be more effective and
fruitful for your kingdom. And so Lord.
We just ask that the spirit of God would resting upon the
ministry of the word in this moment.
We are specifically that as a church as a family, you would
offer peace and comfort to our hearts.
Lord help us with this. We need you desperately or else.
These familiar verses can skim over us, and not penetrate and
destroy that, which seeks to destroy us.
We humble ourselves, and we ask you to please be in our midst.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Someone wants beautifully, said that anxiety, is a crisis of
Faith anxiety, is a crisis of faith that crippling worry.
That mercilessly keeps you up at night and momentarily can even
paralyze your frame in the middle of the day, is more than
just a feeling. It's more than just a rush of
emotion. If you see it through the lens
of the word of God, what you sense in that moment, whether it
is for a few seconds or it keeps you an estate.
A paralysis for weeks. It's an all-out assault on your
trust and your perception on the loving and caring God that you
you love and you profess to believe in.
See when Christ died for you and me, the inheritance.
There is far greater than eternal life.
The piece that we have is not just a peace with God
positionally if you if you nurture that faith in Christ, if
you protect it, rightly, there is something that can be
secured. That will help you sail through
this life in such a way that it can lullaby you to sleep. even
in the midst of vicious storms, but for many Believers, the
tension that is caused by anxiety.
Is a far more familiar companion than this piece that you've
heard most of your Christian Life.
Only in sermons. It's Theory, it's coffee mug
versus it's what you get from the Christian Store and you put
on your living room wall. That's all it is, but it doesn't
really penetrate. It's not tangible.
It's not experiential. Peace is just theology, but it's
not it's not something that you can testify about.
And Believers, I'm telling you, that they range on the spectrum
of the level of anxiety that they fear.
You have some who are generally courageous and faith-filled.
Just like David, David could stand before a giant.
He can stand before. A sea of armies.
By yet for years. He had one haunting concern and
I was this man Saul. And then you have those who are
like Martha. The sister of Mary and Jesus
came over Martha's house, and she was, she was preparing and
running back and forth, and she ends up complaining about her
sister, who's just sitting there to receive the word of the Lord.
And and Jesus looks her says Martha.
You are anxious and troubled about many things, many things.
And so, you have believers who are easily shaken or for the,
for the smallest of things. Small is events, smallest of
needs. I mean, anything between, what
am I going to wear for my friend's wedding?
To, how am I going to buy a house in this inflated Market?
And then you have others who can say brother.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
I don't have an anxious bone in my body, and you have some of
those Christians. That they don't deal with that
Temptation. They don't deal with that
burden. How true it is?
That that is not the case for the majority.
And so we have to believe something regardless of the
severity of that anxiety, regardless of the severity of
that worry or fear and it is this, that the inheritance that
we have received in the Holy Spirit is not just so that we
can have the power to overcome gross, sexual immorality, or to
deal with murderous Rage or to tame relationship destroying
greed. The spirit of God wants to even
allow you to soar above. Of concerns in this life of all
kinds of various degrees. And the Lord wants his children
to be invited into a piece into a Tranquility into a contentment
genuine. Joy that shuts down the things
that try to paralyze us. And one way you, and I can even
begin to move into that direction.
Even even listen, even if you're a person and you're like, I know
what you're about to say, maybe not, but I'm not a person who
deals with this. Would you be equipped so that
you can help your wife? Maybe?
Or you're nervous college student, son or daughter?
Has trying to pay off mountainous debt?
Just be equipped today. So, this is for you, whether you
struggle with it or not, understand that if we want to
even begin to be motivated to go to war, with anxiety, to wage
war against anxiety. Then we have to, we have to
understand it the way you, and I would with any other sin that is
threatening us. And that is to understand just
how dangerous it is if we tolerate it.
The reason why many people don't fight against in, at least one
reason is because they don't see just how powerful it is and how
destroying it can be to so many things and just like any other
sin anxiety. If not Ward against, if not
battled against, if not dealt with, by the power of God's word
can be deadly. Proof many students feel the the
pull of this from even going into the mission field and how
much more dangerous can it be than that, but it could be
dangerous to your fruitfulness. It can be dangerous to your
testimony. It could be deadly to your
perception of the Beauty and the faithfulness of God.
You have to understand that it is the root of many behaviors.
It is the encouragement of many other things that would taint
our character. Here's proof.
Meet me in Isaiah 57. Very briefly in verse 11.
This is just one example in the scriptures.
God speaks through his Prophet to a people who were who were in
sin and he highlights one of the sins and he highlights the
reason for this Nationwide flaw. And Isaiah, 57 11.
What do we see? God speaking whom did you dread
and fear so that you lied? And did not remember me, did not
lay it to heart, have I not held my peace even for a long time
and you do not fear me. You heard it last week.
The fear of the Lord is the great conqueror overall fears,
but that was last week. Notice with me what God says.
I'm indicting my people because they are lying.
There are habitual dishonesty and instead of just pointing out
the sin. He goes to the motive for the
sin. The reason for the sin and it is
in the first part, whom did you dread and fear?
What, what caused you to do this?
What caused you to be, to be short in this area of your life
fear, your fear, encourage you to lie?
And when you zoom out in this chapter and you realize what's
actually going on, this fear that in, just lead the people
into lying this fear, let him into idolatry.
To put their trust in something else.
Other than God to medicate their anxiety by a means in which God
condemns. And so we have to understand
here, that there is on a macro level and a micro level, a great
threat. When we allow anxiety to live in
our hearts. I mean, think about David for
those who were there on Fridays, think about David.
This man. Again, who can stand before a
goliaths. Well, Nations around.
Here, you are in a valley by yourself and yet with faith in
God, you overcame and that same man.
When he left Israel, because Saul was after him comes into
the land of the Is he realizes? He's on the radar?
And what does he do? Because of his fear?
He collapses to the floor. Let's saliva down his beard and
acts like he lost his mind. That's the same guy who stood
before Goliath. And here he is, acting like a
crazy man because he is fearful and he did not have a trust in
God. And so before an unbelieving
world. This is the guy that spoke in
the name of God. This is the guy that writes
songs about God. This is the guy who in the name
of God, overcame our Greatest Warrior.
And fear can lead you, and I to crazy behavior.
Crazy decisions. Even ones that would dishonor.
God, we're not careful, but I don't want us to spend all our
time together to dissect, the woes that our worries can
create. I want us to instead, look at
how we can equip ourselves to wage war against anxiety.
To subdue it because it seeks my brother and my sister to abuse
you to arrest you. And so we have to do what we
need to do. According to God's word to equip
ourselves and others. You're still an Isaiah, right?
So Mimi in Isaiah 26, to get an idea of it and verse 3, Isaiah
26:3, you keep him in. Perfect.
Peace. Not just peace.
Perfect. Peace.
Do you think God means it or is he being poetic here?
He means it and perfect. Peace, whose mind is stayed on
you because he trusts in you. What is what is being said?
Here? Here's the Insight.
Perfect piece is acquired. It is attained.
It is trained in the arena of your mind.
That is where we experience it. That is where we secure it.
But it is also the same place in which Havoc ensues, and chaos is
created and confusion cripples us.
It's in the mind. That's where we need to be
focused. That's what we need to turn our
attention. That's where God tells us to be
equipped and trained. If we want to know how we can
run this race in such a way in which anxiety, and it's arrows,
just bounce off of us if we really want to be Bulletproof.
Go to the mind. Meaning, the way we equip
ourselves, as with truth. That's how we pull down
strongholds. That's how we detect things.
That are not true. It's in the mind.
What do you let into the mind? What do you entertain in the
mind? What do you rehearse in the
mind? What do you meditate in your
mind? How do you calculate in your
mind? How do you filter things with
your mind? It's the mind.
And so, truth is our weapon.
This is what needs to be actively engaged with and so I
present to you for weapons. For Thought processes, throw
fourth mental exercises, that will help us overcome this.
And the first one is found in the Book of Matthew chapter 6.
And what I'm afraid is a familiar verse.
So familiar that we don't understand the implications of
it, but let's meditate today and see how we can be helped by the
words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33 to 34.
Hear the words of Jesus Christ. But seek first, the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be added
to you. Therefore, do not be anxious
about tomorrow. For tomorrow will be anxious for
itself sufficient for the day, is its own trouble?
Number one. Remind yourself.
That you are carrying a burden that is not yours to carry.
For Jesus to command his people do not be anxious about
tomorrow. Implies that you spending time
and energy trying to understand the unknown, trying to see how
your Provisions can be met is not your responsibility.
It's not your job. It's not something that he's
called you to do Galatians, 6 tells us that each believer has
its own burdens to Bear. You have your own load, every
single one of us has been given a set of assignments and
giftings and his assignments to know what we need to do on a
daily basis with faithfulness and wholeheartedness, we all
have responsibilities and they're clearly laid out in the
word of God, but at the same time with ambitious, believers
who really want to obey God, I'm talking about good-hearted
Christians, they Are often tempted to lay more burden, on
themselves than God asked you to do.
And one of those worries, one of those worries is again, trying
to today figure out understand calculate plan.
How you can determine the unknown now for tomorrow?
That's not your job. It's not your responsibility.
You're wasting your time. Jesus, at the same time.
Is that advocating for loose? Let's eat and drink for
tomorrow. We die.
He's not saying, don't pray for Lea plan.
He's not saying do not be wise and consider your future.
He's not saying that. What are you saying is you need
to be extremely careful because there's a fine line between that
and being. So consumed with things that you
are not in control of that. It can be detrimental to your
purpose on Earth. Why is Jesus saying this here?
Is Jesus saying this so that we can have a better night's sleep.
That's a very small fraction. The reason why Jesus is saying
this here is because of what he said in verse 33, but seek
first, the kingdom of God. You know what?
He's trying to say you my child need a reserve that strength
that limited energy that you have the mindfulness for what
you're really on Earth for. And that is to be a servant of
mine that is to make disciples that is to spread the gospel.
That is to help people spread the gospel.
That's where I need. All your energy to be.
And what's What's So Scary About This is that he is teaching that
even the very small concerns in life can actually affect the
very purpose in which you've been placed on the earth.
He wants to protect what you have to offer for his kingdom.
And so he wants to assure you. That is your job, and mine is to
add these things to you, as you set yourself to pursue that
priority. Spurgeon.
Gave a wonderful illustration of a man who was helping his
friend, clear his furniture and he arrives at his friends door
with a heavy heavy backpack on his shoulders.
And as he begins to lift one couch, and one bed frame very
early on, he begins to complain. He begins to complain of just
how heavy everything is and how this is such a difficult task.
And he goes on to say, if that was your friend visiting you and
helping you would you not, would you not give him the Council of
just taking off your backpack, man?
Maybe you just let go of that. It will be much, much, lighter
much easier. And he says that to say that in
the same way. We cannot do God's work when we
are weighed down by our own burdens and worries.
He goes on to say in another place anxiety, does not empty
tomorrow of its Sorrows anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its
Sorrows. All it does is empty today of
its strength. Jesus early on says, it doesn't
add a single hour to your span of life, does it?
But it does add things nonetheless.
It adds exhaustion, it adds distraction and he can even add
disease if you love it that much.
And this unease can be so strong some of, you know, it can be so
strong that it can literally drain you of everything while
you do absolutely nothing. Just sit in your room with
anxiety and it can Pummel you. So we have to be careful these
attacks on the mind are not just about our health as important as
that is. It is an affront.
It is an obstacle to what should matter in our lives.
And that's to be a disciple of Jesus.
Is Christ and to be actively serving him?
And so, here's what I recommend that you do based on the words
of Jesus. Take this.
Doesn't apply to you put it in your Arsenal and help a brother
out in the future. When your, when your nerves are
are shaking and when your eyes are wide open when they should
be sound asleep, ask yourself the following question and your
understanding of the will of God.
Is this my responsibility or is it gods?
Have you ever asked, God, have you asked yourself?
Have you ever have you ever discerned it?
And then, once you come to a closer answer, solidify it by
the follow-up question. Is this in my control or not?
And that question being answered is so much more Liberty than you
can imagine. If we do not know how to draw
those lines, I'm telling you, you will invite unnecessary
turmoil into your life and it applies in so many ways, it even
applies in our efforts for the kingdom of God.
I can't tell you how many people that I've met that toss and turn
when it comes to serving the lord even in their service to
the Lord. And this question, this set of
questions is still applicable. For example.
Is it my responsibility to preach the gospel to my loved
ones? Answer?
Yes, is it my responsibility to see them?
Come to repentance? Answer?
No. Is it my responsibility to serve
the church that God has called me to serve with all that is
within me with persistence, and with love and with joy, answer.
Yes. Is it?
My responsibility for people to thank me.
Praise me, Pat me on the back. Appreciate me answer.
No, no Be Free by realizing. There are things that God has
called me to observe. And there are things that are
out of bounds and, and they don't involve my participation.
In fact, God says, don't go there because you will burden
yourself more. More than you need to burden
yourself. And that is so.
So, so important because rest comes from that.
Rest comes from understanding my responsibility and understanding
what belongs to God's wisdom and power alone.
May I add another thing to white people worried about the future
because that is the context worrying about tomorrow,
worrying, about what's going to happen worrying, about how
things are going to unfold. One reason why it is so
prevalent If we're honest for honest is because we seek to
have control and we can't get it when we don't know how things
are going to happen, right? It disturbs us.
This is beyond my ability. This is beyond my resources.
This is beyond my knowledge and I don't like not being in
control. It frustrates me and it's true.
Somebody said, I wish I said it but somebody figured it out.
Worry is frustration at our inability to be God.
May I say that again, worry is our frustration at our inability
to be God? We are among those who fret
about the future. I suggest that such overthinking
reveals something much more serious about ourselves because
anxiety, you know, what it is. It is a manifestation of a
fractured aspect of our belief system.
And what is that? Our perception of, who is really
Sovereign over our tomorrow's. The scriptures are absolutely
filled. I hope you know it, you've heard
this word being pounded from the pulpit for so long.
The scriptures from cover to cover are riddled with examples
and commands and promises and Psalms of God being so
providential. Being so aware being so in
control. So, in control that you can even
have a trust in his sovereignty, over over a cold, over a
sickness over a broken broken foot.
Because it's everywhere, it's everywhere.
And why I'm bringing that up in particular is because I remember
reading this verse years ago. And when I realized it was one
of my first initial Awakenings to the idea of just how in
control God is, as his children seek to give all that they have
to serving him who more surrendered in the Apostle Paul.
And at the same time who more aware, perhaps of the obvious
Sovereign working of the They're in our lives.
Can I show you one example, it's something that we often miss.
It's in Galatians in chapter 4. And look what Paul says, when he
tries to make an appeal through his brothers, guys.
You have to understand. I'm here for you.
The reason why I'm preaching this truth to you is because I
love you. Did you forget who I was Paul
says, did you forget how we met? Did you forget our history?
You think I'm writing these strong words to you?
Because I don't love, you know, I do love you.
It's so he's rehearsing. The relational history and he
goes off to share the moment, what it was that caused them to
even meet and for them to receive the Gospel to begin with
in verse 12 of Galatians. 4 Brothers.
I entreat you become as I am for.
I also have become as you are. You did me?
No wrong. Now, look at verse 13, you know,
it was because of a bodily ailment that I preach the gospel
to you at first. I love that.
Do you see it? What is he?
What is he pointing to? What is he?
What is he crediting on the human level?
He is saying if it wasn't for that sickness, that debilitated
me, that kept me in the region of galatia.
I wouldn't have been here long enough and we wouldn't have met
and the gospel wouldn't have come to you through my lips.
It was because of a bodily ailment that all of, this is
even in reality that there are churches in galatia because I
was sick. Consider that consider how
awesome that is consider that in God's wisdom.
He allowed this to happen for a greater purpose.
I don't know about you. I hate being sick, one of the
reasons because I feel extra week, and I feel like I can't
focus as much when I read and all these different things, but
I look at a verse like this and I realized that something that
even put Paul in his place. This Energizer.
I mean, you couldn't keep this guy in one place for too long
unless he was disciples. Ring or raising up a church.
He was always on the go demons. Couldn't keep up with a guy.
And yet, one at one point. He was so overcome by some
physical resistance that he had to stay in galatia, and it was,
the means by which the gospel came.
God has so much more control than you can imagine.
Even in the moment. You don't realize how why is
this happening for missionary? That could have been
frustrating. Lord.
I'm trying to get somewhere here.
Would you not heal me at this moment?
And here's God in heaven, knowing that because of this
bodily ailments some Galatians are going to hear the gospel.
Many churches will be raised up. We can stop here and rejoice.
What is it? I be concerned about what is it
to be worried about every delay. Every disappointment.
Even your own body being Afflicted.
God is sovereign. Be encouraged to know that
oftentimes our anxieties are us putting what God is only able to
do on our own shoulders. So ask God is this yours or
mine? And even if it is your
responsibility, there is a healthy way of being anxious.
Sometimes there is a healthy fear.
God has instilled that in many of us, but that's not what I'm
talking. I'm not talking about the fear
of you losing your job because you've been going to work late
every day and you're saying, I better get to work early.
That's a good fear. Keep that fear.
I'm talking about the fear of the things that you don't have
control of. Today has enough problems on its
own, but the second, the second weapon is found in 1st, Peter, 5
and verse 6 and 7. And that is to do this.
In your anxiety, with your anxiety, with your fear, be
honest before God, and behold him.
Be honest before, God and Behold Him.
Notice? What Peter says in First Peter
five six and seven, humble yourselves, therefore, under the
mighty hand of God. So that at the proper time, he
may exalt you. Casting all your anxieties on
him because he cares for you. Now.
I got to be honest for the longest time.
I read those two verses and interpreted them separate from
each other. I don't know if you fall into
that same category. But Peter intentionally by this
spirit is mentioning the need for the Christians to Humble
themselves and to cast their anxieties on the Lord.
That's the same thought. That's the same breath.
They're not two separate applications.
They're one in the same. So we might have not made the
connection between humbling ourselves and casting our
anxieties on him. But the Holy Spirit does.
And here's what it reveals that if there's anxiety living inside
of me. It is an indication that there
is humility lacking in me. Don't mean to cause more anxiety
with that thought, but it's liberating, if there is anxiety
living in me, right? That is an indication that there
is a level of humility lacking in me.
How can I be the case? Well, consider the primary
audience that Peter speaking to Christians?
Yes, suffering, Christians though, that Christians were
actually paying a price to be a Christian.
Not. Oh, I can't believe we have to
go to church this early on Sunday morning.
That's not suffering, like real suffering enough suffering for
Peter to write, and encourage them though.
Not explicit. It is suffering.
Nonetheless. They could be losing their jobs,
relational issues. They have to move places.
Who knows what it is? Are real.
Cost a real price to actually follow this Messiah and Peter.
Oh, Pastor. Peter wants to encourage this
group of Christians, and she know what Pastor Peter does to
these fretful and worried Christians who are suffering
persecution, first thing. He says here, humble yourselves.
That doesn't sound very pastoral.
Does it humble yourselves? Huh?
Are you sure? Yeah.
Humble yourselves.
How can that be the case? Well, in essence, Peter saying
that the reason for your anxiety?
Is that because you have not submitted under the revelation
of God's Mighty hand. That's what it is.
Because when he says here, humble yourselves under God's
Mighty hand, that may sound intimidating, and that may sound
a little insensitive that may sound like or else.
God is going to punish you, but it's wonderfully comforting.
When he's bringing up God's Mighty hand, he's not speaking
about his hand of discipline. He's speaking about his hand of
power, his hand to deliver his hand, to rescue his hand, to
provide his hand to protect. What he what he's saying is you
have stepped outside of the umbrella of the Revelation that
God's invisible fingers are at work in the situation.
That no matter how chaotic or how severe, how painful it is.
It didn't leave the grip of his omnipotence.
It's not Beyond his control but you have walked outside of that,
you are now under some other concept and so you've not
humbled yourself there. You have not come to the point
of relishing and being safe in that shadow of truth.
And how is it then do we humble ourselves?
Will he says it the way you humble yourself?
The evidence of your humility is that you take it and you cast it
at his feet. To cast means to literally throw
away, like something that you don't want and you throw in the
opposite direction, do that spiritually, take it all and
come before him and lay it there.
And that is that reflex is an indication.
You have an understanding that God's Mighty hand is involved
here. You'd be amazed to know how many
professing Christians are extremely anxious, but have zero
prayer life. Zero, praise life.
It's incredible. I'm being honest here.
And that's why this verse is given to us.
Now. You know, what's so incredible
about this, the motive to do this is beautiful.
It's so it's so comforting. If Peter would have said, cast
all your anxieties on him because he's able to help you.
I that's good for me, man. That's good.
You're able to help me Lord. I'm coming to you all the time,
but that's not what he says, cast.
All your anxieties on him because he cares for you.
He cares for you, not just because he has a mighty hand.
But because he genuinely cares for you, you as an individual
not you as my bride. And the corporate sense though
that it's true, but you individually.
He actually cares and somebody who cares for somebody else,
genuinely finds joy in relieving any kind of pain or burden on
somebody else's life to know that they can alleviate you
brings them true satisfaction. Action.
And God is the same. And so our anxieties though.
They may be daily. Do not overwhelm him.
They don't cause him to say, you know, I have so much other
anxieties of worry about, I might not get to your problem
right away. That doesn't happen.
He does not sci-fi when you visit them again with the same
problem that you came with last week.
He cares. He genuinely cares.
As a doctor would when somebody comes with a with a disease that
has been eating your body away for even months.
He cares. To come to your rescue and to
help and to even just listen. And so what I do when I look at
this, as I view any anxiety attack any visitation of fear as
an opportunity to declare To declare to myself, to declare to
God. And even declared two, others
of, who is really the one that is in control.
Take Goliath's sword like David did and cut the head of the
enemy with the weapon. He try to use against you.
That makes sense. Yes, David slung his Stone and
it hit Glides in the head but read on, he gets on Goliath back
and the very same sword. That Goliath threatened Israel
with was used to decapitate his own head.
And that's a picture of Satan coming to us with his weapons.
Will take his weapons and use it back against him.
You want anxiety? Come against me.
I'm going to use that as a reason to praise God.
And go before him. Someone might say, but I tried
my brother. I tried, I've tried it.
Sounds good. It's all my coffee mug.
I got something from the Christian storage.
There on my wall cast, all your anxiety on him.
Because he cares for you, and I've expressed my Fierce to him
even, and I've, I've even declared my faith that he's in
control by guess what? I still have the shortness of
breath. And I still have non-stop
thoughts that literally distract me from daily activities.
Can I help you further? Don't just come.
Don't just come to drop off your needs and then walk away.
Stay there long enough to be hold them until you understand,
who it is? That really cares for you.
Stay there long enough. To behold them and to understand
who it is that I am entrusting my worries, too.
Humble yourselves under God's Mighty hand.
Do you understand how Mighty it is?
Do you have a reservoir of Truth in you?
Do you know, from cover to cover God's ways with his servants, in
the old gods ways? And his servant with the
servants in the new? Do you have something to work
with? So that when you come before
God, you're not, just honoring a prescription with a Halo
understanding, but you really believe you're the same God,
that help David. You're the same God, that help
Josie. You're the same God that led
Paul. You're the same God, that helped
Peter. You're the same God that was
with the early church, your the same God.
Stay there rehearse. It.
Read it. Preach to your heart.
Cast your anxieties on him. Yes, but don't just press the
right buttons and hope for something they come out.
Stay there and and humble yourself under the revelation of
his might and his power. And the peace.
That you will experience will come but the piece that you will
have access to is in direct proportion.
Listen to the knowledge of his ways.
Does that make sense? And I'll tell you what?
I told those Bible college students, if your understanding
of God's word is limited to the curriculum that you've been
given in your classes. You will not make it.
You versions verse of the day is
not going to help you my brother.
It's not. It's not, you need to get in and
you need to create a revelation in your heart, a reservoir
Revelation through a daily, understanding of God's word and
a rehearsing in a meditation upon his ways or else.
You're sunk, you're sunk. You're sunk.
Be honest before God. But many times you're gonna have
to stay there a bit longer to be Hold'em.
And you'd be amazed to know that when you get God's word in you
and a certain fear comes, 10 versus will come to attack that
fear. When this worry, this threat
persecution emails phone calls. When they come five verses here,
10 stories there, two truths here.
Let's go to the third Point. Shall we?
And that is found a Proverbs 12:25.
Don't only come before God in humility.
Yes, humility is an anxiety. Killer, but not only in our
confession to God. What do I mean by that?
There is a wisdom found in mutual confession.
As we bare our souls in the presence of those that we trust.
What do I get that from? Look at the book of wisdom says
in 12:25 anxiety, in a man's heart, weighs him down, but a
good word makes him glad. Anxiety, weighs him down, you
know what that means, depression, you know, that means
coming to church like this. You know what?
That means that while you're here, listening to the sermon
you're thinking about thoughts that are worrying.
You. Anxiety ways of men down limits
him paralyzes him holds him back.
But a good word. A good word.
Not a word. A good word makes him.
Glad let me tell you what. It doesn't mean.
It doesn't mean preach to yourself.
That's good that will help preach to yourself.
That's not what it's saying. Now.
This might shock you but bear with me here.
It's not even saying come to the Bible though.
You should and you must primarily because you have some
people that would say, you know, I'm good.
I have my prayer life and I have I have my devotionals.
I have YouVersion verse of the day.
I'm good. But what the same book that we
love and we receive our primary help from the same book.
The same word tells you, you need the words of others.
You believe that because this verse is often used to exhort
people be be a source of encouragement to others.
But can we look at the other side from the other angle?
And that is this, I myself need a good word.
I myself need an external voice to pour into me at times.
And that's going to require something, doesn't it?
Humility? Humility.
Being willing to unveil your heart and to communicate your
concerns. To somebody who actually walks
with God. So that in that moment.
They can speak God's promises. God's counsel God's wisdom and
dismantled the Distortion that you are struggling with that,
maybe knowing at you. Do not underestimate the value
of this. Do not underestimate it.
I feel so bad for those who think they're so spiritual, they
can walk this walk by themselves.
That does not impress me at all. And it shouldn't you.
That's actually dangerous. It's dangerous on so many
levels. And to those who might say,
well, I can't do this by myself. Can I say to you lovingly?
You have no idea what you're up against.
You have no idea what you're up against, because as much as
there is a call to her courage ourselves in the Lord.
Can I tell you that? It can be so overwhelming at
times, that that, that there may not even be the strength to pick
yourself up. And that is why God gives us
members and God gives us brothers and God gives us
outside help. As a means to be able to pick us
up. For those who are here Friday,
this will be familiar for those who don't come Friday or listen
to the Friday Bible study. There is a turning point in
David's life that plunge them into one of the greatest
compromises in history, and it might actually ruin your Sunday
school version of what David was like, David at one point in his
life spent a year and four months among the Philistines
that was wrong because nobody, who came into the promised land
as an Israel, had the right to go out.
Unless God explicitly said, you can go out.
David. David spent a year and four
months in the world. How how do you go there?
How does that even happen? It all started with something
that he said in his heart. I'm going to read it to you and
first Samuel 27:1, just pay attention.
They'll turn their just listen, first, Samuel 27:1.
This is the turning point. This is what led this faithful
man to turn his back on the Promise Land and go and live
among the enemies of God. Then David said, in his heart.
Now I Shall Perish One Day by the hand of Saul.
There is nothing better for me than that.
I should escape to the land of the Philistines.
Then saw Will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders
of Israel and I shall Escape out of his hand.
David said in his heart. There is great wisdom and saying
things in your heart and keeping it, there may suggest that you
have some people who have nothing in their heart that just
everything comes out. Keep things in your heart, keep
things between you and the Lord like Mary contemplate things in
your own bosom. But there is also a wisdom from
time to time to take things out of your heart.
And my question is David, you songwriter.
Where is the cry before God with this concern?
Where's the psalm? Where's that?
Where's the prayer life? Where's the, where's the
outbursts of desperation? Not their secondary.
Where is you communicating this with somebody else?
What about your Godly wife, Abigail?
Yeah, I know. Jonathan is not very close and
he's helped you. But wasn't there, a revelation
of how he strengthen your hand of Lord, how somebody else can
actually redirect your thoughts. Where is that confession?
Where is that? It's not there.
And because he confined within himself, and he meditated and he
believes something long enough. It literally let him his family
and 600 others into the world. This poor soul knows what it's
like to call somebody and say this and this and that and just
receive a flood of wisdom in such a way that also floods your
heart with. Peace.
You need that. And so, the third weapon here
is, stay close to those who possess a tongue of healing and
wisdom. Stay under Elders, who walk with
God. Walk with those who don't just
make you laugh. But who actually can provide
some guidance and speak into the situation such a way that rays
of light penetrate those dark clouds in your soul.
Because if you and I isolate, not just physically, but even
internally for too long with issues like this, we can walk in
a direction that could have been dealt with from the from the
bud. If you had just unveiled, your
heart and said, I'm not just going to humble myself before
God. I'm going to humble myself
before my brother. This is eating at me, James 5,
right? Confess your sins to one
another. And what do we limit that to
you? Watch pornography last week and
your next small group? Tell everybody that you watch
pornography. That's good.
Here's the problem. Do we consider anxiety as Sin?
We don't consider that in our categories of confession Dewey.
This is killing me. This has been weeks.
It's been days of keeps me up and I can't read my Bible.
I can't pray. I'm not even, I'm not even
Desiring to be in the ministry because because this is just
consuming confess it. Let healing come.
Stay close to those. Who possess a tongue of wisdom
tongue of healing tongue of love.
Let's come to the last one. Distinguish anxiety with a
torrent of Thanksgiving. You heard this recently, but
sometimes there's benefit and repetition Philippians 4.
Verse 6. Do not be anxious about
anything. You know why?
We're ending it with this. Because I understand that fears
and worries, and concerns despair, despondency can be very
specific and sometimes with one message.
You can't cover it all. That's very, very true.
And I know it's complicated to because there's chemical
imbalances and there's this and that I'm just giving you God's
prescription on the issue, but I end with Philippians 4:6 because
I love how Paul introduces this. Do not be anxious about
anything. So no matter what, it is,
whatever the category future, you got bad news today
persecution. It doesn't matter what it is.
Do not be anxious about anything and here's the prescription
about anything that you are anxious about.
But in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God.
You were there. Weren't you not too long ago
when we talked about the power of gratitude, but let me remind
you. Oftentimes, this scripture is
pointed to as a reference when counseling, somebody or
counseling our own Souls about things that we're anxious about
go. Pray, go see God, go tell him
your problems go make your needs known great, but that's half of
it. Because the scripture here,
doesn't tell me just going. Make your demands known the
scripture. The same you tell me.
Come and just cry before. God, that that's not what its
saying. There is an attitude in which
I'm coming before the Lord and it is an attitude of praise.
Think about that. Think about how much such a
wonderful promise. Like this has not been known in
the results because we have not honored.
The entire instruction. We've come to pray, we come to
supplicate, we come to do all this and then we forgot an
integral part. And that is, did you did you
thank him though. Could you come with
Thanksgiving? Because that's what he's saying,
come with Thanksgiving. And I'm going to tell you
something. That is not going to come
automatically. There's no way.
The last thing on your mind when you are anxious and coming
before God with your needs is praise.
So you have to listen. This is where faith comes in and
Truth Trump's over feelings. You have to go in there into the
presence of God with the intentional plan to thank him
and not just with intention but with specifics.
Go specifically and begin to thank him.
You know, I've often said if you're going to pray, generally,
you're going to get general answers. if your prayer life is
General, you're going to get general answers, and I don't
want to pray in such a way where when the answer comes out
confuse it with coincidence. I want to pray in such a way
that when the answer comes. I know, it's God.
That's God. George Mueller's biography shows
how important is to pray, specifically, it just gives God
all the glory. But can I add to that?
Don't thank God, generally, thank him.
Specifically, as you begin to dissect, all the things that
you're thankful for watch. How is just one jolt after the
other. Because Thanksgiving, is the
sound that awakens the eyes of the heart to see that God is
behind everything. I thank you for.
I, thank you for today. That's a great.
That's a great prayer. But what do you mean by that?
Sometimes we can pray that and that can be enough, but
sometimes we need more than that.
And begin to list in your heart, begin to list from your lips,
the things that you're thankful for and I'm telling you that
Thanksgiving is often overlooked as a force against fear.
But it is profound when it is applied regularly.
I want to give you one final example of that.
Through Matthew Henry. You've probably read his
commentary Matthew Henry had his wallet stolen once.
Guess what? He did.
He drew on the praise. Here's what Matthew Henry said.
Lord, I Thank you. That I have never been robbed
before. That, although they took my
money, they spared my life. That although, they took
everything it wasn't very much. And that it was I who was robbed
and not, I who robbed. Even hearing how being thankful
specifically is powerful, isn't it?
And so, I charge you today to extinguish anxiety with a
torrent of Thanksgiving. And I can't think of anything
that will be quicker for the peace of God to flood your
heart, when you come with that duo of bringing your needs
before and but also leaving that place, making sure that you've
thanked him. When you bring these things
together, as you've heard among many other truths in the
scripture, but these four truths, I can guarantee you
according to the authority of the scripture.
You will have great success in your war against anxiety.
Will it be immediate? Maybe not.
But as you build these muscles, and as you put your faith in
them, and as you apply them, I hope to hear testimonies from
this. Place of how God has given much
victory over this thing. And God will indeed be bias in
with us. Let's pray.
Lord. In light of this.
We thank you. We thank you.
God. We thank you.
Thank you, that we are where we are today because of your grace.
Thank you. That we are in this church
because of your grace. Thank you, Lord, that we have
Liberty to still sing and hear the word of God without fear.
Thank you. Thank you for our families.
Thank you for our mothers. Thank you for the mothers of
this house. Thank you for the woman who have
dedicated so much for this ministry for your glory.
Lord. We thank you that we have ears
to hear this message today. We thank you that we have eyes
to see. Thank you, Lord, that we have
the ability to stand and to be able to worship you.
Thank you, that we have a voice to worship you.
Thank you, that we have the ability to just be here
together. We just ask that these truths
would be remembered help us. Lord, as we heard earlier, help
us, praise you help us pray to you.
Lord help us believe that no matter what circumstance that we
are in. We have still the ability to
say, thank you and Lord as simple as Elementary as that is
where we need the faith to believe that it has power.
It has power help us. See what belongs to us.
What belongs to you help us understand the value of of
another brother in our lives. Help us understand.
Lord, that in moments of anxiety.
That's also an indication that perhaps we have.
To see your Sovereign hand in the situation.
And so we humble ourselves before you.
And so, Lord, even now as we pray, if there's anybody in
here, father, who is tormented by this tension who is overcome
by this turmoil Lord met in this moment.
We just humble ourselves, say, you are in control, father, you
are control of my body, you're in control of my health, you're
in control of my babies and their future.
You're a control of all these things that I think I am
Sovereign over lord. I commit to you.
I do my part and I let you do yours.
May this be the Turning Point O. God may this be the moment that
they can look back on and say that's why I left my burdens
once and for all Lord, we worship you.
We give you all the glory. And thanks for your word, and we
bless it now. In Jesus name.
Amen. Stand and Worship the Lord
together. Stand and Worship the Lord
together.