Luke 12:22-34
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“Anxious for Nothing”
“Anxious for Nothing”
welcome
recap
talk about time of anxiety
read scripture
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
talk and preach on passage
talk about the message being a little different
not wanting to be a broken record for everyone = wanting to focus on anxiety…
read scripture backing anxiety
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
talk about facts of anxiety
anxiety is the most common mental health disorder
40 million adults suffer from anxiety
91% of HS and college age students suffer
32% of children suffer from anxiety
stress is a response to a threat in a situation. Anxiety is a reaction to stress
so we look at Jesus words he is basically telling us not to be anxious and then we look at Pauls words and he tells us not to be anxious…
WAIT = is that possible?
talk about Pauls situation during this verse
talk about passage
lets look at an example from the bible of someone who was a mighty man of God yet who had a big battle with anxiety
talk about Elijah a prophet of God
Prophet from OT—Struggled Anxiety. Elijah—Confronted Evil King Ahab Sin of his sin and prophesied about a drought that would come and significantly impact his kingdom
because of this King Ahab Pursed Elijah and Elijah went into hiding for 3 years…
Hiding—Fed (Bread/Meat) Ravens—Raised Dead
Stood down 850 false prophets he called Fire down from Heaven…
Elijah experienced nonstop—Protection, Provision, Presence, Power of God! One really grumpy woman makes a threat—Falls apart!
Yup, that one tiny woman, (idk if she was tiny) Jezebel makes a threat and he falls into deep depression and anxiety…
talk about Jezebel…
read passage
1 kings 19.3-5
Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”
talk about Elijah having enough
how many of us have had enough
maybe its home life, i work and work only to come home and have to work cook and clean…stress is a response to a threat in a situation. Anxiety is a reaction to stress.
finances, i work so hard only to seem to be able to barely stay afloat still…
maybe its marriage
maybe its schedule…
talk about own anxiety
Elijah made same common mistakes that we make...
1.We run ourselves into the ground. (Afraid, Ran for life...)
Elijah ran about 100 miles he couldn't any more, not just mentally but physically …
we do the same…
preach
2.We shut people out. (Left his servant—Most loyal companion)
talk about this…
Internalized problem—Carry this alone—No one understand
3.We focus on the negative. (Had enough—No better than my fathers)
Life isn’t going to get better! Never going to change! Never get into right college, Terrible Mom, Struggle financially.
4.We forget God.
Every step of the way—Every moment—Every situation
God had been Present for Elijah —God had Provided for him—Had Protected him— yet he Forgets…
even in Elijahs name he can see God
Elijah El (Elohim—God) I—(I/mine) Jah—Yahweh
My God is Yahweh—Breath! (YHW)
My God is my breath!
When you are anxious—Can’t catch breath—Shortness of breath.
Facing your fears while forgetting your God!
stop!! and Breath and remember My God is My Breath…
Elijah falling apart God doesn’t rebuke him
God meets Elijah in his need.
Preach on this…
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
preach on this, come one somebody
God wasn’t in the remarkable! In Ordinary! God-was-in-the-whisper.
When we are overwhelmed by stress—Overcome by anxiety? Why does God’s voice seem so quiet?
Why doesn’t he speak to us in spectacular and powerful ways? If he wants me to know him? Experience him? Trust him???
Why does he whisper? He whispers because... He is (always) close.
Phil 4.4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
talk about running or some extreme exercise as an example of hearing Gods voice opposed to the devils…
connection of why listening is important and prayer is important…
Spoiler alert! Think about this! Don’t know end of Elijah’s story? !
2 Kings 2—Elijah and his Protégé (Elisha) walking along Chariot Fire/Horses—Swept Elijah from Earth to Heaven whirlwind.
The thing Elijah feared—(I’m going to die)—Never happened!
He was ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING What he feared never came to pass!
three possible outcomes of our situations
1. Never happens
2. Does and not as bad
3. Worst case—Carries you through!
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
preach
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
preach
God is always close…
No storm God won’t bring you through! No obstacle God won’t help you overcome!
No enemy that God won’t defeat! No heartache God won’t heal!
he is always close
so be anxious for nothing but in everything rejoice for our heavenly father is mighty, able, and he already has the victory!!!
HOLY SPIRIT TAKE OVER…
