1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:02,960 Welcome to the Illuminate Church podcast. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,520 We hope today's message is encouraging to you. 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:12,880 We are in a series called Weeds in My Garden where we're being 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,320 honest about mental health, a subject the church has been 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,320 silent on for too long and left people in this Gray area of what 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,320 do I do? How do I go forward? 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,720 And the Lord God loves us enough to say, OK, it's time to deal 8 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,960 with this now. And it shouldn't be surprising 9 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,520 to you, but it's kind of amazing to think about what we're 10 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,240 addressing today in light of what's going on in our nation. 11 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,400 Because God intended this message over a year ago. 12 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:39,320 He said, hey, you're going to be preaching this message. 13 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:40,600 And here's when you're going to be preaching it. 14 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,520 And this is the subject. And the subject today is worry 15 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,800 and anxiety. And our nation is worried and 16 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,080 anxious. Even within the church, we are 17 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,320 worried and anxious. And the Lord loved us so much 18 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,960 that sovereignly appointed this time to be this message. 19 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,360 The 2 came together. I love when God does that. 20 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,040 We took a survey in the church before this series began to kind 21 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,520 of see where people were in regards to mental health. 22 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,040 And we had all these different mental health issues and people 23 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,000 said, yeah, I have this, I don't have this, I have this. 24 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:16,880 And this one, worry and anxiety, was by far the one that most 25 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,720 people checked. I'm dealing with worry and 26 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,280 anxiety. In fact, 69%, almost 70% of 27 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:25,600 people who call Illuminate home wrestle with worry and anxiety. 28 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:27,920 If you look down your road to the four people next to you, 5 29 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:32,920 people next to you, nearly four of them are wrestling with 30 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:37,120 warrior anxiety. That's a lot. 31 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,080 And also on Tuesday night, we did a question and answer during 32 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,680 that time where people could anonymously submit questions. 33 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:44,880 And it shouldn't have shocked me. 34 00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:49,240 I should have expected it, but so many questions were submitted 35 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,880 related to fear, being shook up, traumatized. 36 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,760 What do we do? Can we be bold again? 37 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,000 Can we Are we led to preach without fear of being harmed? 38 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,120 How do we move forward? I mean it makes total sense now, 39 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,520 but I just wasn't expecting it. In fact, I couldn't get those 40 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,639 questions off my mind Tuesday night into Wednesday morning 41 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,280 when I'm writing the message and I'm thinking wow, we need to 42 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:12,880 deal with more than worry and anxiety. 43 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,760 We need to include it's near cousin, which is fear and the 44 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,640 three of them kind of go together today. 45 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,480 So let's lay some groundwork. If you want to, you can take out 46 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:25,880 your Bibles. We're going to be in Matthew 47 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:28,760 chapter 6 in just a moment. If you need a Bible, raise your 48 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,400 hand. We almost ran out of Bibles in 49 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,920 the first service that felt like we were handing out so many 50 00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:35,200 Bibles in Jesus name. And we're bringing you a Bible 51 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:36,240 right down here. Yes, Sir. 52 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,680 Is that you Edward? Hey, my neighbor. 53 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:40,400 Anyone else need a Bible mezzanine? 54 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:41,600 Here we go. We got them. 55 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,760 We're coming to you. We're coming to you right here 56 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,080 down the aisle from you as well. Raise your hand again. 57 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:48,160 It went down. There it is. 58 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:56,680 Hey, Bibles for free. So let's lay some groundwork. 59 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:58,280 We'll get to Matthew 6 in just a moment. 60 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,840 We tend to use worry and anxiety as words interchangeably. 61 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:06,120 What we're talking about is this general feel, this sense of 62 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,560 nervousness or unease and even all the way to dread. 63 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,880 Everyone say dread. Yeah, we're in anxiety, or the 64 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,680 suspension between hope and fear. 65 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:18,720 We're in the middle. How is this going to go? 66 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:20,600 Is it going to go well? Is it not going to go well? 67 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,600 I'm fretting that it's not going to go well. 68 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,240 And you don't know if you're supposed to be excited or 69 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,000 afraid. Your body is responding. 70 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:28,520 There's chemical things happening. 71 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,360 You feel this, this sense of these emotions arising. 72 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,480 Is this excitement? Is this fear? 73 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,120 I don't feel like I have a solid foundation for what's about to 74 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:38,960 happen. I don't know how to proceed. 75 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,920 And so we use these words, and we use them for incredibly 76 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,760 different things. For instance, we may say I feel 77 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,320 anxious or nervous about asking a date for prom. 78 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,320 Got these jitteries. And then we'll use the same 79 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,760 words to say I'm not sure I feel anxious or worried that I can't 80 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,840 pay the hospital bill or pay for food. 81 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,200 I would say we're worried and anxious about going to Islands 82 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,280 of Adventure, Universal Studios. Can I say that? 83 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:13,360 Am I allowed to use those words? Nobody's going to Disney. 84 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,480 Crucify me. OK, Yeah, when you're in line 85 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,360 for Velocicoaster. Anyone done this? 86 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,000 Yep. And you're in line thinking I'm 87 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,560 an idiot. Like I'm willfully about to do 88 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,960 this. And the whole line, 17 hours of 89 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,400 line, you're just worried and anxious at least. 90 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,960 And then they shoot you out 70 miles an hour times 10, and then 91 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:42,000 you're up in a hot top hat and upside down and puking. 92 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,320 And then we use the same words when we say, hey, I'm afraid 93 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:50,720 about the diagnosis. I'm anxious about end of life. 94 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,480 And we use these words and what do they mean and what power do 95 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:57,240 they have for us? From a physiological 96 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:01,080 perspective, we can start to see the divergent of the word worry 97 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,880 and the worry and the word anxiety. 98 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:09,640 Worry is an automatic response. It might be more called concern 99 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,880 in this case that your body has naturally. 100 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:18,840 It's a natural mechanism that is a purpose for helping us from 101 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:21,640 danger. This is where flight, flight, 102 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:25,400 flight, fight or freeze, it's hard to say, emerges. 103 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:29,600 It's the heightened awareness of like when you're walking to your 104 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:34,840 car alone at night in the middle of the city, you're just alert. 105 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:40,160 Your, your body is telling you be alert, stay vigilant, be 106 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,400 safe. It's when you have a test coming 107 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,200 on Friday and it's Tuesday and your body is saying you better 108 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,360 prepare for that so that it goes well. 109 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,440 It's informing you to change your behavior so that there are 110 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,960 better outcomes in the future. It can be helpful. 111 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,280 Anxiety though, is different physiologically because what 112 00:06:01,280 --> 00:06:05,760 happens is we have this persistent period of worry that 113 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,920 brings us deeper roots in our Physiology. 114 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,520 It can be caused by situational challenges, it can be caused by 115 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,520 past trauma. But whatever it is, your brain 116 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:21,160 literally physically changes and it hard wires differently in 117 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:26,080 your brain so that you live in a constant state of this unease 118 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:28,920 worry. It comes and goes. 119 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,320 Anxiety. It's a constant state of this 120 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:39,800 unease, this nervousness, this dread and fear creeps in, tries 121 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,040 to snuff our life out from us. Think of worry and anxiety on a 122 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:47,200 spectrum. Worry can motivate, while 123 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:53,080 anxiety can incapacitate. Somebody say, Yep, too much 124 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,640 worrying becomes anxiety. So you can see that the spectrum 125 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:01,360 can tilt towards incapacitation. Doesn't have to go that way, but 126 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,440 it can go that way. It's a slippery slope. 127 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,880 The best way that I can talk about this is to describe how I 128 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,080 feel about heights. I ain't never sitting up in the 129 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:14,040 mezzanine. Me and heights, we're not 130 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:15,600 friends. High places are not. 131 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:20,080 Nope, don't like it. There's only one wedding that 132 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,320 I've ever said no to that wasn't a schedule conflict. 133 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:25,800 I've had to say no to some scheduling conflicts, but 134 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:27,720 there's only one other wedding that I said no to. 135 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,520 And it's because the people getting married said we want to 136 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:37,800 step into a Wicker basket that's tied to a gigantic flaming 137 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:43,920 cannon that's shooting at flammable fabric and go up in 138 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:45,720 the air and you marry us. These people wanted to get 139 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:48,200 married in a hot air balloon while it was hot airing. 140 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,320 You know what I said? See you at the reception. 141 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,040 I did not do it. Another pastor in the church, 142 00:07:58,080 --> 00:07:59,760 they went up in the balloon and it was guys. 143 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:01,320 It was a terrible experience for them. 144 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,640 There was no wind. It was so hot. 145 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,360 They barely went out anywhere in the they just went up a little 146 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,880 bit and they stayed there. They didn't move anywhere. 147 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:11,040 They got married and they came back down. 148 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:16,720 They got to the reception all sweaty and like told y'all we 149 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,840 could have done this on the ground in the air conditioning. 150 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:23,360 But our family went to Paris 2 summers ago. 151 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:28,160 You know what's in Paris? Eiffel Tower. 152 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:33,919 They're like, it's iconic. I'm like Nope it's historic. 153 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:38,360 Nope Nope. You'll see. 154 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,480 So Many thanks from up there. Nope. 155 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,320 So a bunch of people went up to the top of the tower. 156 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:46,800 I rented an E bike and went around the tower. 157 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,520 True story. Yep, glad you're laughing at me. 158 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:53,800 Some of you find this funny because you have No Fear of 159 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,560 heights because some of you are wired differently. 160 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:03,200 God made you in an unfortunate way, your brain says. 161 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,640 Put me in an airplane with a backpack full of fabric and when 162 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,720 it gets up to 5000 feet, let me jump out of a perfectly good 163 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:13,080 airplane, which is the backpack and some fabric. 164 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:20,400 It's called skydive. Yep. 165 00:09:23,680 --> 00:09:26,800 Now for me, situationally being afraid of heights is not a big 166 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,920 deal because I don't interact with heights all that often. 167 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:39,360 God loves me and he made me short 5 foot 9 on a good day. 168 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,440 Imagine if I was Bob Spraker. Tall Bob? 169 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:43,480 How tall are you? 6 what? 170 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,240 6-8? He was almost 6/7. 171 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,920 If I was 6-8 Can you imagine every day I'd be like I'm so 172 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:00,440 high up here get me down right? The Lord loves me so he put me 173 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:05,560 in Florida. Flat boring next to sea level 174 00:10:05,560 --> 00:10:08,640 Florida. Our mountains are called space 175 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:15,960 splash and Thunder. Yep, he loves me. 176 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:18,440 I don't have to deal with it very often. 177 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,560 Now imagine if the church decided that we wanted to honor 178 00:10:22,560 --> 00:10:25,080 the Lord and build a big tower out front like this glorious 179 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,640 thing, and they put my office at the top of the tower. 180 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:33,680 Now what I barely interacted with suddenly situationally 181 00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:39,440 becomes regular to me and I have to deal with this terrifying 182 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,880 thing in my life every single day. 183 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,880 Situationally, I've gone from barely having to deal with it to 184 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,840 always having to deal with it, and it goes from worry to 185 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:54,080 anxiety and incapacitation as a result. 186 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:55,640 Now, for you, it may not be heights. 187 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:58,800 For you, it could be speaking from a platform like this in 188 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,320 front of 1000 people. Anybody have a fear of public 189 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,400 speaking? Yeah, yeah, yeah. 190 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,200 Makes sense. What seems like nothing to me is 191 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,120 everything to someone else. But what about actual important 192 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,920 things? Not heights or speaking on a 193 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,920 platform. What if we're concerned about 194 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,280 things that really matter? Things like being separated from 195 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,760 your family when somebody goes off to college or somebody gets 196 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,240 married and starts a new household, Whatever. 197 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:29,080 Concerned about losing our marriages? 198 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:32,840 Or maybe you're concerned about being in large rooms with large 199 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:34,640 groups of people. You're struggling right now. 200 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:35,960 Maybe you have a fear of failure. 201 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,320 Maybe you're worried concerned about an upcoming test, be it 202 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,880 medical or academic. Maybe you're worried about 203 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:46,120 performance reviews, losing your job, financial pressure, social 204 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,760 rejection. Or maybe you're concerned that 205 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,880 somebody's going to find out your secret sin. 206 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:59,000 And so you have this constant situational right in your face 207 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:00,920 anxiety. Here's the point. 208 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:06,840 Unchecked worry can lead to anxiety, and unchecked anxiety 209 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:08,960 can lead us into a debilitated state. 210 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,320 Believe it. It can drive us into isolation. 211 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,720 It can rob from us our passions. It can cause us to miss out on 212 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,160 making so many memories, and it can make us feel like we are 213 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,400 disqualified from participating in the mission of Jesus Christ. 214 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,440 Remember last week we said the devil comes to steal, kill and 215 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,160 destroy. Anxiety is the stealing part. 216 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:40,200 Worrying is the stealing part. Now, Jesus knew that we would 217 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,960 wrestle with it. This is not on the screens. 218 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,240 But you know, John chapter 16 says that Jesus says in this 219 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:51,080 world you will have trouble. And then he says, take heart, I 220 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:52,560 have overcome the world. How do you do that? 221 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:54,400 We're going to find that out today together. 222 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,760 The truth is we live in a fallen world, and because of the 223 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,920 fallenness of the world, there are things that injure us and 224 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:05,840 erode our belief and trust in the Lord our God. 225 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,560 But Jesus has given us an advantage. 226 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,920 Jesus has given us a way to overcome and hear me fear, 227 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,360 anxiety and worry. All of these things are trying 228 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:21,800 to get you to ignore the advantage that it doesn't exist. 229 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:27,240 Satan tries to get you to a nor ignore the advantage. 230 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:30,920 We're going to see this all unfold in Matthew chapter 6. 231 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:36,400 If you're there, we're in verse 25, verse 25, Jesus is speaking 232 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,080 and he says therefore I tell you do not worry about your life, 233 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:40,960 what you will eat or drink or about your body. 234 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,840 What you will wear is not life more than food and the body more 235 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,680 than clothes. First, if you ever read in the 236 00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:49,680 Scripture and you see a therefore, you got to ask the 237 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:53,920 question, what's the therefore, therefore it's a contextual 238 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:57,160 question. What is, what am I reading and 239 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,040 why does it matter? Just before this, in Matthew 240 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:03,600 chapter 6, Jesus says do not store up for yourself treasures 241 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,800 on earth. They're just going to fade away. 242 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:12,040 They're going to be eaten up, but instead store it for 243 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:16,800 yourself, treasures in heaven, things which are eternal, things 244 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,960 that matter. Jesus is saying to us right 245 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,280 before we read Matthew chapter 6, verse 25. 246 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,600 I think you're caring about the wrong things. 247 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,960 I, I think you have the world's economy ahead of the Kingdom 248 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:35,600 economy and for your benefit, I'm telling you, store it for 249 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,920 yourself treasures in heaven. Therefore, because you have 250 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,920 treasures in heaven, because you have a Kingdom focus, because 251 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:45,280 you have a king, therefore do not worry. 252 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:52,240 Exactly. That was so perfect. 253 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,400 If you couldn't hear the baby laughing up here, she ain't 254 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:01,160 worried. I think she just preached way 255 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:04,680 better than I did. That wasn't funny. 256 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:10,800 Jesus says do not worry. How do you receive those words? 257 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:15,280 What do you hear? Is Jesus making an invitation to 258 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,040 you? Is Jesus saying, hey, maybe you 259 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,760 shouldn't worry. The right way to receive these 260 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:25,200 words is as command. Jesus is commanding his church 261 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,760 not to worry. He's commanding you not to 262 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:30,880 worry. Just like do not commit 263 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:37,080 adultery, do not use the Lord's name in vain, do not murder. 264 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:45,240 Jesus says do not worry. Whoa, think about that for a 265 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,000 second. Now, when you read that, would 266 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,360 Jesus give us a command that is not possible for us to follow? 267 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,440 Yes or no? Would Jesus give us a command 268 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,120 that is not possible for us to follow? 269 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:58,360 No, of course not. Why? 270 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:03,040 He is a good God and he's given us a command so that you and I 271 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:04,760 could leave here today saying, you know what? 272 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,920 It is possible for me not to worry. 273 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:14,080 It is possible for me not to be anxious because He is good. 274 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:16,840 Matthew 2626. Look at the birds of the air. 275 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,240 They do not sow or reap or Stow away in barns, and yet your 276 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,520 heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable 277 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:27,760 than they? Have you ever seen a bird pacing 278 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:32,040 on a branch trying to sort out life? 279 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:37,040 Birds are so chill and relaxed they land on electrical wires. 280 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:44,760 What's up? And God says we are much more 281 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,520 valuable than they. No worries. 282 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,640 Why? Because God is good. 283 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:53,680 We need to be convinced of this today, of the goodness of God. 284 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,920 He sees us, He values us, He cares about our needs. 285 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,240 And here's what happens if you don't think that God is good. 286 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:03,800 You end up trying to control things for yourselves. 287 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:08,200 I don't know if God can do it, so I better do it for myself. 288 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:11,839 Case in point, verse 27. Can any one of you, by worrying, 289 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:17,880 control your life, Add a single hour to your life. 290 00:17:19,079 --> 00:17:21,440 You can see that by worrying, we're trying to exert our 291 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:23,119 control. We are trying to do the 292 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,560 impossible. We're trying to add to our 293 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:30,240 lives. Well, listen, worry does not 294 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:35,200 stop time and worry does not stop death. 295 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:40,320 What worry stops is life, and you're living of it. 296 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,960 Worrying does not make tomorrow's troubles go away. 297 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:49,480 It makes today's peace go away. When we worry, try to wrest 298 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,040 control. I can do this. 299 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,280 Matthew, chapter 6, verse 28. And why do you worry about 300 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:57,440 clothes? See how the flowers of the field 301 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:58,960 grow? They do not labor or spend. 302 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:01,920 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon and all of his splendor 303 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,440 was dressed like one of these. If that is how God closed the 304 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,520 grass of the field which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown 305 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,480 into the fire, will he not much more clothe you? 306 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:14,080 Addendum. Hear from Jesus, you of little 307 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:18,360 faith. Again, the question is, do we 308 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:22,920 believe that God is good? You of little faith? 309 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:29,120 Do you think that God can supply? 310 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,200 Do you think that God will supply? 311 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:35,560 Jesus says you have little faith. 312 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:40,680 Remember the song we sang his kids? 313 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,160 Will you sing it with me now? Come on, nice and loud. 314 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:45,080 Don't leave me alone up here all by myself. 315 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,600 He's got the whole world in his hands. 316 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:55,240 What? In his hands He's got the whole 317 00:18:55,240 --> 00:19:09,520 world. OK, Yeah, Let me explain this 318 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:11,520 song to you in terms of a family. 319 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,720 My children don't worry if the mortgage is going to be paid. 320 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,480 My children, two of them are adults. 321 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:21,640 So it's we're calling them children. 322 00:19:24,360 --> 00:19:27,320 They don't worry about car payments. 323 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:31,960 They don't worry about saving up for vacation. 324 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:36,280 They don't worry about whether or not there's going to be food 325 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:43,880 or Christmas presents because they trust mom and Dad and they 326 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:49,360 know that we're good. And mom and dad are imperfect 327 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:56,480 humans. Mom and dad are limited humans 328 00:19:57,120 --> 00:20:03,200 in terms of resource. So when we say that God is good. 329 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:08,440 And that he can provide, if even here's we learn at a young age 330 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,720 to trust our parents or, or maybe you had a difficult 331 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:14,560 upbringing and I'm, I'm not trying to wound you in this, but 332 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,080 we learn from a young age that we can trust God. 333 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:22,520 And then it's like through time we stop feeling that way and 334 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:27,080 believing that way that He will provide, that He'll take care of 335 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,760 it, that He is able. Let's move on here. 336 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,520 Matthew chapter 6, verse 31. So do not worry, There's the 337 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,360 command again, not a suggestion, not an invitation, a command 338 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:39,840 saying what shall we eat? What shall we drink? 339 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,720 What shall we wear? For the pagans, You know what a 340 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,640 Pagan is, one who does not have a good God. 341 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:51,160 They run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows 342 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:55,840 that you need all these things. Follow me along here. 343 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:02,680 Let's say that you have a friend who knows that you have a 344 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:07,880 medical condition that can only be cured by cupcakes. 345 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:19,560 And let's say that your friend who knows that you have a 346 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:23,600 disease that can only be cured by cupcakes happens to own a 347 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:28,080 cupcake bakery. And let's say that your friend 348 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,280 who knows that you have an illness, a disease that can only 349 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:36,280 be cured by cupcakes, who owns a cupcake bakery, happens to be 350 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:41,200 your #1 fan. They love you like crazy. 351 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,600 They're always around the highs and the lows, the faithfulness 352 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:48,200 of this friend. And so when the doctor comes to 353 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,520 you and says, hey, you have a disease that can only be cured 354 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:58,840 by cupcakes, you go perfect, I have a friend, you won't believe 355 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:03,280 this. They love me like crazy and they 356 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:06,560 own a cupcake factory. I'm good. 357 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,680 I'm assured I'm not going to worry about this disease for one 358 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:14,160 single moment. Y'all know where I'm going with 359 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:16,440 this? Do you know where I'm going with 360 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:20,560 this? God knows what you need, and God 361 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,760 is the endless supply of what you need. 362 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:29,480 And he loves you, he's wild about you. 363 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:35,200 And so when the disease has come, they seek to devour us. 364 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:41,440 We say, wait a second, I've got a God who has an endless supply 365 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:44,240 of what I need. I'm going to be good. 366 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,040 How so? Why doesn't it feel this way? 367 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,440 Where's the disconnect between what we're experiencing and what 368 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,880 God is promising here? In Matthew chapter 6, it's in 369 00:22:54,880 --> 00:23:00,400 the next verse, verse 33. But seek first His Kingdom and 370 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:05,160 His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as 371 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:07,600 well. Therefore, do not worry. 372 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:09,200 There it is again about tomorrow. 373 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,280 For tomorrow we'll worry about itself. 374 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:14,240 Each day has enough trouble of its own. 375 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:20,520 This is the key to all of this, to freeing us from worry and 376 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:24,960 anxiety, is to seek first. This sounds strange, but seeking 377 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:28,880 first is the advantage that God has given us that the devil 378 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:30,840 tries to get us to ignore. What do I mean? 379 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:35,880 When worry creeps up, you are not left helpless. 380 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:39,360 The devil wants you to think you're helpless, but you can say 381 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:41,960 in the back of your head, no devil, I'm going to seek the 382 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,480 Kingdom of God and his righteousness. 383 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,680 And as I seek him and his righteousness, everything that I 384 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:49,880 need, that I'm worried about it that you're trying to get me to 385 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,640 be worried about and anxious about, the Lord my God will 386 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,920 provide His peace, His love, His provision. 387 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:59,920 They're all coming from Him. With an open hand to me, you can 388 00:23:59,920 --> 00:24:02,080 seek the Kingdom who happens to have a king. 389 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,680 This is our advantage as believers. 390 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:09,440 If we don't have a king with a Kingdom, there is no hope. 391 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:13,320 There's nowhere to turn. What you're facing is all you 392 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:17,840 got and all that you have in your hand, all that you have in 393 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,000 your brain. That's it. 394 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:22,880 It's the end of the that's all you got. 395 00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:27,560 But we have an advantage that in each and every situation and say 396 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:34,160 hold up a minute, quit lying to me devil and stealing what God 397 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:38,960 has given me the ability to know without a shadow of a doubt my 398 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:42,120 king is on his throne and I will not be shaken. 399 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,440 This is my advantage. This is what it looks like. 400 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,680 How do you live it out? How do you seek God's Kingdom 401 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:50,200 first? Well, you may say get up early 402 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:51,440 in the morning to read the Bible. 403 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,320 I would say yes, absolutely, but let me give it to you in another 404 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:56,600 biblical way. First, Peter chapter 5, verse 405 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:58,640 six and seven says humble yourselves. 406 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:05,160 Therefore, under God's mighty hand, you go from being up here 407 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,840 where you're the boss and you said, no, I'm going to submit 408 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:11,520 myself instead to God's mighty and I'm going under the 409 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:16,280 authority and the leadership of the Lord that he may lift you up 410 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:20,080 in due time. Verse 7, cast all your anxiety 411 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,040 on to him because he cares for you. 412 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:28,440 There's something beautiful here in the original text that we 413 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:32,520 don't get in our English. These look like 2 separate 414 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,360 sentences. 1 is about humbling yourself. 415 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,840 Another one's about dealing with anxiety, but the two are 416 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:40,440 actually together. Humbling yourself is 417 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,680 surrendering control, acknowledging God's sovereignty 418 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:47,360 and His superiority so that He can add His time and in His way, 419 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:49,720 lift us up out of every miry pit. 420 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:55,640 The word cast, which comes in verse 7, is not a command, it's 421 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:58,400 not a verb. It's not the beginning of a new 422 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,320 sentence, though it looks like that in English. 423 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,880 In the original text, it's a subordinate clause. 424 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:06,400 How many all came today? Ready for a grammar lesson? 425 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:14,160 Some of you are sweating. This Is your fear a subordinate 426 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,400 clause? It's only job is to add more 427 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:21,640 information to the main clause. The main clause is verse 6, to 428 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,720 humble yourself. Verse 7, the subordinate clause 429 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:28,080 says how to do it. How do you humble yourself? 430 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:34,680 You get to this point and say I cannot handle this, I'm giving 431 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,200 it to you. This is a picture of humility. 432 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:40,400 I have been the king over this situation and it's not going 433 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,200 well for me. I'm going to allow you to be 434 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:47,520 king and I'm going to give this care to you because not only do 435 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:49,920 you care for me, but you can care about this a lot better. 436 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:51,760 I'm giving this to you. I don't have it. 437 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:56,080 You have it over and over. Now here's the key. 438 00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,520 Don't walk back over to the pile and pick it up again. 439 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:03,320 Leave it under the care of Jesus. 440 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:07,520 Seek first his Kingdom. You guys know that we often seek 441 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:11,040 our own Kingdom first, our own ways. 442 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:15,040 The world will tell you ways this way is better. 443 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:18,600 Do this secular humanism, Marxism, these are better. 444 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:24,280 Instead, we're going to submit everything under the care of 445 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:25,760 God. And be careful here. 446 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:30,160 It says seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, which 447 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:33,560 means don't you seek the person but seek his ways. 448 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:37,480 So when I worship you God, that's one thing. 449 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:41,280 When I obey you, that's a whole nother kind of worship and the 450 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,920 2GO together. So we can't come to church and 451 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,360 say God you are great and then go out there and say devil you 452 00:27:46,360 --> 00:27:50,480 are better and then expect us not to be worried and anxious. 453 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:54,120 Instead, God says worship me and follow me and you will see worry 454 00:27:54,120 --> 00:28:00,560 and anxiety dried up in your life, much if not all of it 455 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:03,560 completely gone because of who He is. 456 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:07,480 This is our advantage that we have as believers in Jesus, 457 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:10,840 according to His Word and according to His Kingdom 458 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,400 culture. Anxiety and worry attempt to get 459 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:16,960 us to forget what we already have in Christ Jesus. 460 00:28:18,120 --> 00:28:21,280 When you start an intimate personal relationship with Jesus 461 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,600 Christ, you were placed in Him, in His body, in the body of 462 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:26,840 Christ. The advantage that Satan tries 463 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:30,800 to get us to ignore is that you are in Christ eternally in 464 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,280 relationship. And if we could let that fully 465 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:39,080 dwell within our hearts, it would castaway fear and anxiety. 466 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:42,400 So today I want to close by reminding you of the 467 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:46,200 immeasurable riches that you have in Christ Jesus our Lord. 468 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:49,560 Were you ready to? Are you ready to receive these? 469 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,680 Say yes. These are things that you have 470 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:57,000 and things that you are because of your relationship with Jesus 471 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,560 Christ. And only through a relationship 472 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:03,280 with Jesus Christ, you have freedom, innocence, grace upon 473 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:07,320 grace, redemption, and the righteousness of God in Christ. 474 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,560 You have a Heavenly Father, the selfless Son, a Holy Spirit, and 475 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:16,360 billions of brothers and sisters in the faith in Jesus Christ. 476 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,640 There's no condemnation. There's new birth, new life, new 477 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:23,520 creation, new clothes, new mind, new heart, new nature, new 478 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,320 covenant, new spirit that rose Christ from the dead, then 479 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:29,720 placed you in a new family and sealed you with a new destiny 480 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:33,440 and a new identity. In Christ you are chosen, you 481 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,560 are saved, you are accepted and you are adopted. 482 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,520 In Christ you have been consecrated, liberated, 483 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:44,080 initiated, supplied, anointed, purified, sanctified and 484 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:45,800 justified. In Christ Jesus. 485 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:50,800 Are you here at church? You have love, joy, peace, 486 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:55,000 patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and 487 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,920 self-control in Christ. You have wisdom and knowledge, 488 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:02,400 vision, imagination, creativity, focus and purpose In Christ. 489 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:05,480 You have the mission of God. You have the meaning of life and 490 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:09,800 the mystery of the gospel. In Christ, the veil has been 491 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:14,480 lifted and torn. The distance has been erased. 492 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:18,200 The ransom has been paid. The trespasses have been 493 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,200 cancelled. Woo, the chains have been 494 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:23,520 broken. Praise God in Christ, you have 495 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:26,960 been made alive, made new, made steadfast, made one, and made 496 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:29,080 grateful. You have been given power, 497 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:33,080 victory, triumph, strength, every spiritual blessing in the 498 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:36,400 heavenly realm, immeasurable riches in Christ. 499 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,360 Are you hearing what I'm saying? You have been given a promise 500 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:42,440 that one day you will be consummated. 501 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:47,600 One day you will be vindicated. One day you will be resurrected, 502 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:53,240 rewarded, crowned and perfected. In Christ you have an identity, 503 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:56,040 You have a story. You have eternal value and 504 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:57,840 worth. You have the image of God. 505 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:01,360 You have the cross shaped heart of love of Jesus. 506 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:03,520 You have a realistic assessment of your evil. 507 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:07,120 But even greater than that, you have a way out of evil. 508 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:11,600 In Christ you have a transfusion of life, an epic mission, an 509 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:15,240 epic purpose, an epic ending filled with life giving, hair 510 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:18,480 raising, breathtaking lovemaking meaning. 511 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:21,400 In Christ alone, Christ is enough. 512 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:26,320 You have all that you need. You have too much going for you 513 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:31,480 to worry and be anxious in Jesus Christ. 514 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:36,840 To close it, I'm going to ask you to do something a little 515 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:39,840 different, and you may be here by yourself. 516 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:42,160 You may not know the person sitting next to you. 517 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:44,200 I'm asking you just for a little bit of boldness. 518 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:47,280 Get over the awkward. This is the House of the Lord. 519 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:50,440 I'm going to ask you just to join hands with somebody next to 520 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:52,040 you. If you're by yourself, you want 521 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:53,880 to slide over. If you want to come up here and 522 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:55,480 hold my hand, I'm just kidding. Don't do that. 523 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:00,880 Come on, everyone, come to you at home. 524 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:05,240 Hope you got somebody holding your hand with the reason that 525 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:08,360 we're doing this is because I want you to know that you're not 526 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:15,160 alone, that there are others who are struggling, But in the body 527 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:18,600 of Christ we're binding together to remind ourselves that God is 528 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:22,320 near, that he is enough, and that he is able. 529 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:24,960 So let the person sitting next to you be a physical 530 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:27,200 representation of what is guaranteed to us in the 531 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:32,000 heavenlies by the Lord our God. And if you continue, hold on 532 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:34,000 that hand as we pray, would you bow your heads and close your 533 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:37,360 eyes? Thank you, Father, for your 534 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:41,680 word. It gives us hope that a life 535 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,240 without worry and anxiety, debilitating fear, overwhelming 536 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:48,640 dread, it is possible. Why? 537 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:52,400 Because you are good God, and all you do is good. 538 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:55,680 Root it in our hearts so that no lie can remain. 539 00:32:56,720 --> 00:33:01,640 Reframe, restructure, rebuild the synapses in our brain so 540 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:06,920 that those hardwired traumas are replaced by the glory and the 541 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:12,440 beauty and the power and love of who you are. 542 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:18,280 God in church, just as we're praying, I want to say this to 543 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:22,840 you clearly, there is no hope with fear and worry and anxiety 544 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:25,280 outside of a relationship with Jesus. 545 00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:30,320 All you have is you against the fear, and you cannot win on your 546 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:32,680 own. And I believe you know that to 547 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:37,600 be true, based on the pain and the seasons of fear and anxiety 548 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:39,680 you've walked through, you need a helper. 549 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:41,640 And that helper's name is Jesus. We all do. 550 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:47,960 He is the only one, the only one to defeat Satan. 551 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,560 And so today you have an opportunity to cross the line of 552 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:56,280 faith and believe in Jesus for the first time, to receive him 553 00:33:56,280 --> 00:34:00,400 as the power over sin and death, as the victory over fear and 554 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:05,800 anxiety, by simply believing in your heart and confessing with 555 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:07,840 your mouth. So the whole church is going to 556 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:09,960 pray this prayer together. Would you repeat after me 557 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:13,280 everyone saying, Father, in the name of Jesus? 558 00:34:14,159 --> 00:34:20,880 I recognize that I am a Sinner in need of a Savior to overcome 559 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:25,800 my fears, to overcome my doubts, to give me salvation. 560 00:34:26,679 --> 00:34:31,679 So I believe and I confess that Jesus is Lord. 561 00:34:32,679 --> 00:34:36,080 I receive him as my Savior into my heart. 562 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:43,400 Live your life through me all the days of my life in Jesus 563 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:44,360 name. Wow. 564 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:46,080 Praise God, keep your heads bowed. 565 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:49,480 Make that personal. If you're praying that for the 566 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:51,960 first time, believe it in your heart. 567 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:56,880 You've just been saved by the grace of God through the blood 568 00:34:56,880 --> 00:34:59,840 of Jesus. He stepped into your place and 569 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:03,480 sacrificed his life for you. Thanks be to God. 570 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:05,560 If you prayed that prayer for the first time, I'm going to ask 571 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:08,920 you in just one moment to raise your hand when I count to 3. 572 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:11,840 And the reason you're doing that is just a bold expression. 573 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:14,680 God, I'm in. But it's also a chance for us to 574 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:16,720 give you something that's crucial and important to your 575 00:35:16,720 --> 00:35:19,440 brand new journey of faith. So if you're believing for the 576 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:24,160 first time on the count of three, raise your hand 123 nice 577 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:25,680 and high. Just hold it there for a second. 578 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,280 Come on, we see you. Congratulations. 579 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:30,080 Well done. The Lord bless you. 580 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:32,600 He sees you. You're making a good decision. 581 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:36,040 He's making all things new. He saved you. 582 00:35:36,720 --> 00:35:40,160 He's redeemed you from the pit. He's brought you newness of 583 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:41,120 life. We see you. 584 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:50,880 Did we miss anybody? If we miss you, did we miss 585 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:52,720 anybody? This is important part. 586 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:56,880 Pastor Dave is going to come in just a moment and tell you what 587 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:00,200 to do with the stuff you got in your hands and to dismiss you. 588 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:03,640 But I say to you, the Lord blesses you and he loves you, 589 00:36:03,640 --> 00:36:08,560 and so do I Thank you for sitting closely with one another 590 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:11,240 in this very sacred space of mental health. 591 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:13,600 God is doing a good thing. Amen. 592 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:15,360 Amen. Let's give him praise. 593 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:19,400 Thanks for joining us today. We hope God is speaking to your 594 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:22,000 heart through this message. If you'd like to connect with 595 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:29,640 us, you can text Connect to 4:07 588-0115 or visit Illuminate dot 596 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:31,800 Church. Have a great week.