“Secrets To Use To Escape The Worry Trap”

Matthew 6:25–34 (NLT)

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,

29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’

32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

INTRODUCTION:

· What is it that you were worried about?

· Worry is a common problem.

· Worry is a serious problem.

· How can we escape the worry trap?

· Note 4 secrets...

I. RECOGNIZE THAT LIFE GOES BEYOND THE ISSUE YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT. (Matthew 6: 25-26 ).

Matthew 6:25–26 (NLT)

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

A. The issues to be concerned about are those of eternal consequence. (Matthew 6: 25 ).

Matthew 6:25 (NLT)

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

1. Your personal relationship with Christ.

2. Your personal walk with Christ.

3. You're evangelistic responsibility. (Ezekiel 3: 17-19 ).

Ezekiel 3:17–19 (NLT)

17 “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.

18 If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.

19 If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.

B. God will provide for the temporal needs you have. (Matthew 6: 26 ).

Matthew 6:26 (NLT)

26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

1. God has promised to do so. (Philippians 4: 19; Psalm 37:23).

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 37:23 (NLT)

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

*Personal Experience

2. God has promised his presence. (Hebrews 13: 5; Matthew 28: 20 ).

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Matthew 28:20 (NLT)

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

3. God has promised grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4: 16; James 1: 5.; Jeremiah 33: 3 ).

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

James 1:5 (NLT)

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT)

3 Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

Horatio Spafford - “It is Well With My Soul”

II. RECOGNIZE THAT WORRY WILL NOT SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM. (Matthew 6: 27).

Matthew 6:27 (NLT)

27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

A. It is impossible for us to solve the problems we face on our own.

1. We see things from a physical perspective; when in reality, they are taking place on the spiritual plane. (Ephesians 6: 12; 1 Peter 5: 8 ).

Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

B. If we cannot solve our problems, it is futile to worry over them.

1. Worry is a waste of energy, it destroys instead of helping.

Worry can cause medical problems.

Worry can cause emotional and psychiatric problems.

III. REMEMBER WHO YOUR FATHER IS. (Matthew 6:28-30)

Matthew 6:28–30 (NLT)

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,

29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

A. He is the one who clothes the lilies and the animals.

1. He is not only the creator, but also the sustainer. (Colossians 1:16-17)

Colossians 1:16–17 (NLT)

16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

a) He holds the planets and stars in place, maintains the seasons, etc.

B. He is the one who owns everything by right of creation.

1. He distributes everything as He desires. (Psalm 24:1; Psalm 50:12)

Psalm 24:1 (NLT)

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

Psalm 50:12 (NLT)

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it.

§ George Mueller knew this.

IV. REMEMBER THAT GOD PROVIDES FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM. (Matthew 6:31-34)

Matthew 6:31–34 (NLT)

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’

32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

A. He has promised to provide all of the needs of those who obey him.

1. Obedience is the key. (Psalm 66:18)

Psalm 66:18 (NLT)

18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

B. We are to simply rest in Him for our provision.

1. Our responsibility is to recognize His wisdom. (Matthew 6:31-32)

Matthew 6:31–32 (NLT)

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’

32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

2. Our response is to sell-out to Him. (Matthew 6:33-34)

Matthew 6:33–34 (NLT)

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

· Quote by J. Hudson Taylor

o “Let us give-up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into His hands. And then when we have given all over to him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about or to make trouble about.”

CONCLUSION:

How do I escape the worry trap?

I. RECOGNIZE THAT LIFE GOES BEYOND THE ISSUE YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT.

II. RECOGNIZE THAT WORRY WILL NOT SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM.

III. REMEMBER WHO YOUR FATHER IS.

IV. REMEMBER THAT GOD PROVIDES FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM.