The Antidote to Anxiety
Notes
Transcript
Illustration: Crippling Worry- Airplane (I know worry)
22 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. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 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! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 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. 28 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! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 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. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The theme of these verses will resonate with many of us:
Anxiety-Free living is part of what the Lord offers.
It's part of the gospel message.
Remember the setting and the context of what is happening here;
Jesus is teaching to thousands upon thousands of people; and he has just finished giving them two incredibly serious warnings.
The last two sermons have been… difficult.
A lot of folks have joked with me, that I need to stop stomping on their toes so hard.
But I want to admit to you that I am preaching to me, and I have needed both of these warnings in my life.
Jesus first gave the warning against hypocrisy:
“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
I think the longer you spend in religious activity the easier it is get caught up on the outside and disregard the inside.
It becomes easier to see our spiritual life as a performance, but I need the reminder in my life that my faith must be rooted in authenticity. It’s not a game and it’s not a religious performance that we take part in every week.
Then Jesus gives a warning against greed:
15 “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Man, that hits me hard.
In a world that finds value in money, and possessions I need to be reminded that life is more than the junk of the world.
I do not want to waste my life, I don’t want my life to consist of being rich in this world but being poor in the eyes of God.
We come to today's message; and I have been telling myself that this one will finally be easier; this one will make us feel better..
But again it comes and it strikes me hard.
In the text before us Jesus warns us against worry.
I have told you before, and I want to be upfront with you again: I have had seasons in my life to where I was over-whelmed with worry.
I've spent countless nights staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with 'what ifs' and worst-case scenarios. Even when I finally drift off, my sleep is restless and broken, leaving me feeling more exhausted than when I went to bed.
I have had seasons where I have become hyper-focused on my own internal world, imagining all the possible negative outcomes.
I have had times in my life where I wanted isolation from others because it’s hard to engage with others when my mind is consumed by these thoughts."
Isolation is not always an option, so I may be there, but I'm going through the motions, my heart and mind are elsewhere, trapped in the cycle of worry."
Worry makes it hard to concentrate on even simple tasks. I find myself forgetting things, making mistakes, and struggling to stay focused at work or in my personal life.
I feel constantly on edge, irritable, and quick to snap. I'm overwhelmed by a sense of dread, like something bad is about to happen, even when there's no logical reason to think so.
Worry has stolen my joy. Things that used to bring me pleasure now feel muted, overshadowed by my constant anxiety.
Some of you in this room can relate to each of these, because you have been there and you have lived that reality.
Barna Research says that 60% of adults in the US struggle with worry and stress daily.
Statistically about half in this room may be there right now, and you would be the first to say that you want to badly to break away from the grip of worry.
You may find yourself struggling to focus on this message because there is some weight, some burden, some concern, somebody you love, something you want to change and it is front of mind or always present.
And we just live in a state of worry.
In Luke 12: Jesus looks out in the crowd and he sees so many folks, and many are living in tremendous worry.
As they live in this worry they are missing out on the abundant life and so Jesus begins to urge them not to be anxious and not to worry.
It is amazing, we are the most indulged, the most lavished society ever to exist, this is the most comfortable society that has the most technology and convenience; but at the same time it is the most anxious, stressed out, and panicked culture ever.
We have a massive medical world that exists to do nothing but help people with stress.
No worry goes unnamed, undefined, undiagnosed. And unmedicated.
The term in our society is "to manage it."
You take a course, listen to a lecture, buy a cd on stress management, or take a medication.
A hundred million people are estimated worldwide to have panic attacks, just out of nowhere to feel a terrible, terrifying panic. This is huge.
Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent every year on anxiety treatments.
Imagine "A dense fog covering seven city blocks...are you with me?...a dense fog covering seven city blocks, a hundred-feet deep is composed of less than one glass of water divided into 60 thousand drops.
Not much there... but it cripples the whole community."
Well that's what can happen in worry.
In Luke 12, Jesus isn’t giving us a self-help seminar or a step-by-step guide to managing stress.
He’s offering us a way to eliminate it altogether.
The GOAL of the day is to take a group of stressed out worrisome people this morning, and let us leave this place fully trusting in God.
Worry is a Sin
Worry is a Sin
Well we have already established that we live in a world where worry abounds.
Worry is accepted as a normal part of life: just like breathing or eating there are going to be numerous times in life that we will be filled with worry.
It is common, and it’s natural: It’s not a big deal.
There’s really not much we can do about it.
I have joked with my wife (who isn’t a worrier) and I have told her: “Brittany the reason that you don’t worry is because you don’t love as deeply as I do.”
I said that jokingly, but deep down maybe I think there is some truth to it.?.?
I justify my anxiety, and it can become a badge of honor: I just love my kids so much; and that’s why I worry.
but Jesus says:
22 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. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Verse 22 is a command directed at His followers: “Do not be anxious about your life.”
This is not a suggestion, it’s not a life-tip, it is a direct statement
Follow the logic for a moment: If Jesus tells us not to do something; and then we do it anyway what does that make it? A sin!
We often treat worry like a minor character flaw, a quirky habit we can't quite shake.
But scripture paints a different picture. Worry isn't just a nuisance; it's a sin.
Now this may make you uncomfortable; follow with me for a second.
When the Bible speaks of worry; it’s not talking about a concern, and it’s not talking about distress.
In life we will have times that we are concerned or distressed
I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!
Or consider
And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
There are times that we should be concerned, there are times that we should be distressed, there are times that we should see the the danger that’s coming and that should be a warning that is shouting at us.
What exactly is the sin:
The word "worry" actually comes from an old German word, which means to choke, or strangle.
It's talking about mental strangulation, the idea is living in fear and anxiety and stress and worry.
Worry: A cognitive process involving repetitive and intrusive thoughts about possible negative future events, their consequences, and the inability to cope with them. It often involves mental rehearsal of negative scenarios.
Worry in the Bible is not referring to reality, but it is focusing on negative possibilities and what ifs.
We know what it’s like to worry, we worry about our finances, about our jobs, about our family, about our loved ones, about our health, and it goes on and on and on and on.
Worry in the Bible is a focus on the things that we have no control over.
I am not telling you that concern is sin, being distressed is sin, I believe the Bible is speaking of worry at the point that it comes in and distracts us and chokes us, and takes our eyes off of Jesus.
Today, we need to recognize worry for what it truly is: a tool of the enemy.
It's not just a feeling; it's a strategy.
Satan understands that worry can paralyze us, distract us from God's purpose, and ultimately destroy our faith.
He knows that a worried mind is a battlefield, where doubt and fear reign supreme, drowning out the voice of God's peace.
The effects of worry are catastrophic.
Think about it; what has worry done for you?
How has worry impacted your life?
Has it strained your relationships?
Has it robbed you of joy and peace?
Has it caused physical ailments?
How has worry affected you spiritually?
If satan can trap us in worry, then we will be ineffective to towards the Kingdom of God.
You want another verse that is equally as direct:
6 do not be anxious about anything
There are no exemptions listed here.
Go back to Luke 12: 22
22 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.
Jesus is speaking to his disciples.
That is significant because if you are not a disciple of Jesus, then this certainly does not apply to you.
You being a “Follower” of Jesus Christ makes a big difference to the way that you handle the World around you!
Without that foundation of hope, without the belief that there's a greater purpose at work, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the uncertainties of life.
But if you are a believer, then we are called to more.
Jesus goes on in verse 22 to give us some examples of what we are not to worry about:
Don’t worry about your: Life, Food, Body, or Clothing...
Worry is a sin that blinds us from the eternal by keeping us focused on the physical.
Now, some of you are worrying about worrying and that’s counter productive, so stick with me!
Worry is a Waste
Worry is a Waste
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Jesus challenges our very way of thinking.
He confronts the insidious nature of worry, exposing its futility.
Worry is a sin, but think about it strictly from a logical mindsets.
It’s a very good question, and I will pose it to you: What good has worry ever done for your life?
This question cuts to the heart of our anxiety.
It forces us to confront the illusion of control that worry tries to maintain.
We worry as if our fretting somehow holds the power to change outcomes, to manipulate circumstances, to add even a single hour to our lives.
The truth is we know that worry changes nothing.
It simply steals our peace and robs us of the present moment.
Think about it: how many hours, days, even years have you lost to worry?
How many sleepless nights, how many tense moments, how many missed opportunities have we experienced due to worry.
Worry is a thief.
It steals our joy, it clouds our judgment, and it paralyzes our progress.
It keeps us trapped in a cycle of fear and negativity, preventing us from experiencing the fullness of life that God intends for us.
And what does worry give us in return? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
It doesn't solve problems.
It doesn't heal sickness.
It doesn't add a single day to our lives.
In fact, it often does the opposite, it robs us of the our peace and our joy.
Worry is a sin that offers nothing back to the offender.
Worry contributes nothing to the problems we’re facing.
Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere.
Anonymous
It’s not just that worry doesn’t fix any problems; but the very thing that you are worried about it likely to never happen.
There was a study where researchers had folks document what they were worried about; and they kept a log of their worries. They went on to find that 91% of the things that they were worried about never happened!
Don’t tell me worry doesn’t help. I know better. There have been a multitude of things that I have worried about that never happened
26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
Jesus asks a very important question: If worry doesn’t help; then why are you wasting your life with it?
The Root of Worry
The Root of Worry
Jesus doesn't simply tell us not to worry; He reveals the root cause of our anxiety: a lack of faith.
27 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. 28 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!
At the heart of every worry and every anxiety there lies a lack of faith – a lack of trust in God's provision, His sovereignty, and His goodness.
Worry is like a weed that flourishes in the soil of unbelief.
When our faith is weak, worry takes root and begins to choke out the peace and joy that God intends for us.
It whispers doubts and fears, magnifying our problems and minimizing God's power.
Worry whispers lies: "God doesn't care." "You're all alone." "Nothing good will ever happen."
Worry twists our perceptions, turning molehills into mountains and casting shadows over God's promises.
It makes us focus on the "what ifs" and the “worst-case scenarios” blinding us to the present blessings and the unwavering love of our Savior.
But Jesus calls us to a different way of life – a life of faith.
Throughout Scripture, we see examples of how worry and faith are intertwined.
Think about Abraham, who, despite God's promise of a son, struggled with doubt and fear.
He worried about how and when God would fulfill His promise, and this worry led him to take matters into his own hands.
He slept with Hagar, Sarah's maidservant, resulting in the birth of Ishmael.
This act of unbelief had far-reaching consequences, creating division and conflict that continue to this day.
Worry shouts in the face of God: I don’t trust you!
Worry shouts in the face of God: “I don’t think that you can handle this!”
Worry shouts that our problems are bigger than our God!
Peter is a prime example of this.
When Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on water, he began to sink as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the wind and waves (Matthew 14:29-30).
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Or what about the disciples, they were in the boat and all of a sudden they get really worried about the storm around them.
And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Worry is a faith problem.
Anxious Christians are bad advertisements for the God of all comfort.
Worry makes us Hypocrites
Preaching about the faithfulness of God and living a life of worry.
It's a sign that we're not fully trusting in God's goodness, His power, or His plan.
Worry is a choice made in distrust. And it never helps.
When you worry you are saying in effect, “God, I just don’t think I can trust You.” Worry strikes a blow at the person and character of God.
John F. MacArthur
The Antidote to Worry- Realizing How Much God Cares
The Antidote to Worry- Realizing How Much God Cares
We’ve talked about how worry is a sin, how it stems from a lack of faith, and how it can rob us of joy.
But here’s the good news: Jesus doesn’t just tell us to stop worrying—He gives us a powerful reason why we can stop worrying.
He shows us the heart of our Heavenly Father.
24 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!
Jesus is pointing to some of the most common, insignificant birds—ravens.
They don’t plant, harvest, or store food.
They don’t strategize about the future.
And yet, day by day, God provides for them.
If He takes care of them, how much more will He take care of you, His child, made in His image?
This truth should radically transform how we view worry.
27 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. 28 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,
If He clothes the lilies, He will clothe you.
If He gave up His own Son for you, what makes you think He will withhold what you truly need?
The truth is that God can handle our problems.
Is there anyone here who can testify to the faithfulness of God in your life?
God is bigger than any problem we face, stronger than any fear that grips us, and more loving than we can ever imagine.
He invites us to cast our anxieties on Him, to trust in His promises, and to rest in His peace.
29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
The Father's Heart for His Children
As a father, I know what it means to provide for my children.
I don’t wait for them to come begging for food before I decide whether or not to feed them.
I don’t expect them to lose sleep at night wondering if I’ll be able to keep the lights on next month.
No, as their father, I anticipate their needs.
I make sure they’re clothed, fed, and protected.
Not because they’ve earned it, but because I love them.
I take joy in providing for them.
Now, if I—a flawed, earthly father—care for my kids this way, how much more does our perfect, all-knowing, all-powerful Father in heaven care for us?
Jesus is inviting us to step into that reality.
He’s telling us: You have a Father who already knows what you need. A Father who has never failed. A Father who treasures you far more than the birds, and He has never let one of them go hungry without His permission.
When You Know You’re Loved by the almighty God, Worry Loses Its Power
Worry thrives in uncertainty.
It whispers, What if God doesn’t come through? What if He forgets about me? But when we realize just how much God cares for us, those fears lose their grip.
God cares about you and he cares about what you are going through right now… Realize that.
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.
The Choice is Yours: Worry or the Kingdom…
The Choice is Yours: Worry or the Kingdom…
31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
At first glance it seems like this statement comes out of left field with little connection to theme of worry.
But the reality is that Jesus calls us to a different priority: seeking first the kingdom of God.
Anxiety prevents one from being focused entirely on God.
Jesus assures us that when we surrender all that we are to him, all our needs will be met.
This isn't a guarantee of wealth or luxury, but a promise that our Heavenly Father will provide for us, just as He provides for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.
Instead of worrying about your life, and what you will eat, and what you will wear, and your retirement account balance, and your job security, and the political climate, and the stock market, and your health, and you family...Seek his Kingdom!
Seeking God's kingdom means aligning our lives with His will and His purposes.
It means putting Him first in everything we do, making His glory our ultimate goal.
It means living a life of obedience, surrender, and trust.
This is the antidote to anxiety.
When we focus on God's kingdom, our worries begin to fade.
We realize that our security doesn't lie in our circumstances, but in our relationship with the King of kings.
And if that’s not encouraging enough; let us continue:
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 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. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
This isn't just a comforting platitude; it's the foundation upon which we can build a life free from anxiety.
If we truly believe that our Father delights in giving us the kingdom, why should we worry about the things of this world?
We fear loss, we fear scarcity, we fear that we won't have enough, we fear disease and death.
But when we loosen our grip on earthly wealth, we begin to experience a freedom from these anxieties.
We recognize that our true security doesn't lie in what we have, but in who we know – our loving Father.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
This verse is the crux of the matter.
If we treasure earthly possessions, our hearts will be consumed with worry about losing them. But if we treasure the kingdom of God, our hearts will be at rest, knowing that our true inheritance is secure.
He calls us to a radical reorientation of our values.
What is keeping you from being the man/woman God has called you to be? Often times it’s worry.
We will experience the peace that surpasses all understanding, the joy that comes from knowing that we are loved and provided for by our Heavenly Father.
The choice is yours today. Will you continue to live under the weight of worry, or will you cast your anxieties on Him and step into the freedom of a child of the King?
