"Do Not Be Anxious"

How many of us spend a lot of time worrying? How many of us know people who spend a lot of time worrying?

How many of you spend a lot of time worrying? How many of you know people who spend a lot of time worrying?

An average person's anxiety is focused on:

40% -- things that will never happen 30% -- things about the past that can't be changed 12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue 10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress 8% -- about real problems that will be faced

Matthew 6:25–34 NLT

“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? 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? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “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, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 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? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

I. Do Not Be Anxious

- First of all it is a command.

A. Therefore – Connecting the prior section

1. Since treasures on earth will be destroyed and the treasures in heaven will never be destroyed

2. And since focusing on the things of this world will actually imprison us to the world

3. And since focusing on these things will cloud our vision and keep us from seeing the difference between right and wrong

4. And since it is impossible to serve both God and money

B. Do not be anxious about your life

1. This is a command … imperative.

2. Arthur Pink - This is something, which is highly dishonoring to God, a sin that we need to make conscience of, confessing it with shame and seeking grace to avoid any further repetitions thereof.

3. We can be sinful even in our cares as well as our coveting or our materialism

C. We are to rely on God and not our moneymaking abilities

1. When I was rebuked for being out of work and worrying

2. The rhetorical question asked by Jesus - it discourages the wealthy and the comfortable from concentrating on their own success and the poor and uncomfortable from concentrating on their own misery

D. This past winter (2017), Sarah Fader, a 37-year-old social media consultant in Brooklyn who has generalized anxiety disorder, texted a friend in Oregon about an impending visit, and when a quick response failed to materialize, she posted on Twitter to her 16,000-plus followers. "I don't hear from my friend for a day—my thought, they don't want to be my friend anymore," she wrote, appending the hashtag #ThisIsWhatAnxietyFeelsLike.

Thousands of people were soon offering up their own examples under the hashtag; some were retweeted more than 1,000 times. You might say Ms. Fader struck a nerve. "If you're a human being living in 2017 and you're not anxious," she said on the telephone, "there's something wrong with you."

II. Look at Why

- Do not worry about food and clothing.

A. The Birds – Our worry concerning food

1. In opposition to a farmer – The birds do not sow nor reap nor gather up into barns… yet your God feeds them

2. This is not an excuse for you to sit at home and do nothing

3. The birds are busy … but they are not storing like the farmer and yet your heavenly father takes care of them

4. Discovery Channel … Birds store up nuts and seeds for the winter… Ok Mr. Wizard – but they do it out of instinct not worry

5. The KEY WORD here is “Your” Heavenly Father – This helps to punctuate the rhetorical question

6. You cannot worry more time into your life

B. The Lilies – Clothing

1. In opposition to the seamstress – They neither toil nor spin and not even Solomon (the richest man ever, who had the finest) looked as good as they do

2. The lesser to greater comparison – If God will care for the grass which does not last long … how much more will he care for his children who will live forever

C. O Ye of Little Faith

1. Did he not just hit the nail on the head?

2. This is a continued statement…

Matthew 8:26 NLT

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

Matthew 14:31 NLT

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

Matthew 16:8 NLT

Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread?

III. Why So Little?

- Are we confusing life with lifestyle?

A. Why is there always a failure in believing that God will take care of us?

B. There was a girl who was gonna marry this guy… good guy Christian guy. But did not want him cause he would not be able to care for her like she felt she wanted to be cared for.

C. Is it because he doesn’t care for us the way we want him too?

1. He does not give me the things I need

-the issue is the definition of need

2. He doesn’t take away all of my problems

- This issue is that he doesn’t take the problem away they way we want Him to

- They way the Nuggets tried to get all of the points back

- In 480 B.C. the outmanned army of Sparta's King Leonidas held off the Persian troops of Xerxes by fighting them one at a time as they came through a narrow mountain pass. Commenting on this strategy, C.H. Sprugeon said, "Suppose Leonidas and his handful of men had gone out into the wide- open plain and attacked the Persians--why, they would have died at once, even though they might have fought like lions." Spurgeon continued by saying that Christians stand in the narrow pass of today. If they choose to battle every difficulty at once, they're sure to suffer defeat. But if they trust God and take their troubles one by one, they will find that their strength is sufficient.

D. We read this scripture and substitute lifestyle for life

1. We in our culture consistently confuse life and life style

2. We see it working in politics … Health Care

3. What is a benefit and what is a right?

4. May of us get upset with what is happening with government… too much government control, democracy is dying, Big government, trying to get more control.

5. The success of democracy depends on people who are able to self-govern

6. Many people have their hearts in earthly treasure and are blinded because of it… how are they supposed to govern their lives in darkness

E. It is because there is severe distractions from God’s word; brings faith.

Luke 10:

Luke 10:38–42 NLT

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

2. This is not a straw man… I actually know people who will disagree with Jesus on this issue… actually say that Jesus was wrong to say it to Martha

F. Or its just plain Rebellion… I want this lifestyle Period whether He likes it or not … Sin

IV. The Gospel

- The Father cares for us and watches over us

A. It is foolish for us to worry and unreasonable

B. Jesus said it… YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER

C. He is our Father because of the wonderful work of Christ… and now have received the Spirit of Adoption.

D. Yet in all of our sin, in all of our rebellion, in all of our cares, and in all of our idolatry… while we were yet sinner Christ died for us

E. He came and rescued us from ourselves, lost and in darkness

F. Even while you were his enemy he loved you how much more now that his spirit lives in you

G. If you call the suicide prevention hotline and they put you on hold… don’t worry… If your birthday cake collapses because of the weight of your candles… don’t worry… If your twin sister forgets to call you on your birthday… don’t worry… If the bird singing outside of your window is a buzzard… don’t worry… If you income tax check bounces… don’t worry… and if your wife says good morning Bob when your name is George… don’t worry … Your Heavenly Father cares for you

H. Jesus cares for you… what does that mean to you?