Seven Deadly Sins - Worry
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Seven Deadly Sins - Worry (rough draft)
Seven Deadly Sins - Worry (rough draft)
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-34
Today we will look at the 6th of our 7 deadly sins. Today is worry.
Big Idea: When I trust God I choose to believing that His all powerful rule over my life is good, even when chaos surrounds me.
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Pray
-34
As we talk about worry today it is a subject that we all have dealt with. We all have had time in our life that we were overtaken by worry.
We worry about our health, relationships, finances, children, grandchildren, the list of things we need to do that can’t all get done, the future, our performance at work - school - ball field.
Pray
During a Winter Intensive in college I had gotten really behind on some big assignments.
I got so worried that I remember shaking in the anxiety of the situation.
A month ago I got a call at 2am from my oldest who was returning from a college football game and hit a deer and totaled her vehicle. Hard to sleep after your child could have been really hurt.
I was overtaken by anxiety and worry.
A month ago I got a call at 2am from my oldest child who was returning from an out of town college football game and hit a deer and totaled her vehicle. Hard to sleep after your child could have been really hurt.
“The thoughts of ‘What if’ begin to set in.
Transition - Worry and trust are very different aren’t they.
I was overtaken by anxiety and worry.
I. Worry versus Trust
Worry results in more worry and greater anxiety.
Trust results in peace.
Worry says - I must do something to control this situation, but I know I can’t control it.
Trust says, despite the chaos & pain God is in control and God is good.
Worry - Keeps your eyes on the horizontal - the earthly.
Trust - Moves your eyes to the eternal to the heavenly, to the power and goodness of God.
The word worry (or being anxious) a word in the greek that is also used do describes being divided into sections or being double minded.
Trust gives us a united heart in trust of God.
Worry divides our heart.
Question - What area of your life is most easy to worry about?
Question - What area of your life is most easy to worry about?
Question - What area of your life is most easy to worry about?
What area of you life are you more apt to trust God with?
Transition - And we trust in the goodness of God because
II. God cares about my needs
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
A. God commands our emotions.
“Do not be anxious.”
How do I do this?
We must take actions to think differently and act differently.
-Every Sunday we are reminded about the greatness of God. If our mind or our life has gotten off track, God redirects our eyes back to Him.
-If you are every day spending time in God’s Word and in prayer, then every day you are realigning your thoughts and actions with Him.
To not be anxious we must take action to think and act differently.
Example - Maybe you tape a bible verse on your mirror in your bathroom.
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Transition - One of the ways we think differently is to think about about what God takes care of.
How?
God gave the birds a Doctorate in Philosophy so they could be our Professor. So they could show us how to trust God.
The birds do not know where tomorrows meal will come from.
The birds don’t have a doctor to go to when they get avian flu.
The birds do not have warm houses to protect them from the cold and rain.
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Jesus gives us an argument from the lesser to the greater.
Jesus reminds us that the lesser (the bird) is so valuable that His Father takes care of their needs.
If God the Father takes care of a birds needs. How much more one of His children.
What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.
How much more
If God the Father knows each and every sparrow, how much more does God know every single detail of your life.
Transition - God the Father knows every detail of you life so well that he can meet your need personally.
III. The Father meets my needs personally, even when I fail Him.
27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
On Sunday Night in our study on Genesis we have covered being made in the image of God.
We are lesser than, but similar to God, in that we can take on some of God’s character like love, truth, mercy, compassion, righteous anger, forgiveness & serve others. We are made in His image.
If God takes care of the lilies of the field. How much more will He take care of you - who was made like Him?
vs. 28-30 give us the example of clothing. The wild lilies are clothed more beautifully that a King in all of His splendor.
Is the Queen of England, the Prince of Whales clothed in the best of the best? Yes, in fact their fashion choices determine what is the best. Many try to imitate them.
If you have ever been to Disney World and seen the characters of the prince and princesses up close - the costuming, the make up, the hair is scary perfect. So much time, energy and money has gone into making this perfect fictional character lifelike.
The lilies of the field are more beautiful then the finest of Princesses and Kings.
If God provides for the lesser Lilies, how much more will God provide for one of His made in His image.
And don’t miss the promise of grace that Jesus has given.
He promises that God will meet our needs, despite our failure in deep faith.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
God meets the needs of his children, even when your faith is small or your faith is failing.
The God we serve is not a God that is out to get you or smash you when you are struggling spiritually.
He is a God of compassion that desires to help you and meet your needs when you are at your weakest. When you are struggling.
This is why we trust God.
Transition - God meets our earthly needs, So we can focus on eternity.
We know that despite the chaos & pain God is in control and God is good.
Question - How are you doing in trusting that God is good when life feels out of control?
Transition - God meets our earthly needs, So we can focus on eternity.
Review
God cares about my needs.
God meets my needs and is faithful even when my faith fails.
Transition - God meets our earthly needs, So we can focus on eternity.
IV. Focus you passion on the eternal
IV. I must focus my passion on the eternal
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:31-
Seek first God’s Kingdom.
What is God’s Kingdom?
How God is working in your life and in the lives of others around you.
It is how you - Seek to know God. Seek to make Him known to others around you.
-Are you more concerned about your child’s math grade or how he does on the ball field or what is going on spiritually in his/her life?
-Do you speak multiple times a week about college football or the Braves, but never speak of Christ?
Seeking God’s Kingdom is:
Praying for your family and neighbors regularly?
Looking for opportunities to share spiritual things with those around you?
God meets our basic needs, so we can focus on seeking Christ.
Slow
God looks out for our needs, so we can look up to the eternal.
Transition - Did you know that Jesus also had a battle with worry and anxiousness?
V. Jesus road to The Cross included anxiety
Before Jesus was arrested, tortured and crucified Jesus knew the physical and spiritual torture He was about to receive. It was such a strain on His psyche that Luke tells us this.
44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Some Christian doctors believe that Christ experienced a medical condition known as Hematidrosis.
Despite Jesus extreme stress - He made a decision to surrender His situation to the Father.
However, Jesus made a decision to surrender His situation to the Father.
However, Jesus made a decision to surrender His situation to the Father.
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus shows us that even in the face of death and chaos that God is in control and God is good.
Believer - What anxiety what worry in your life is God asking you to surrender to Him right now?
If Christ could surrender His body to the Father, certainly you can surrender this worry that you have.
Unbeliever - There is something you should be very anxious about.
Where you spend your eternity.
It’s situation very binary. You will either spend eternity in the loving arms of Jesus in perfect forgiveness or under the wrath of God in Hell.
God provides for you needs. He sent His Son to make a payment for sin on the cross.
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Will you say yes to Jesus in full faith and have your sins forgiven today?
Pray.
_____________________________________
You can have zero worry about eternity, because Jesus has done the work for you.
The perplexing thing about worry is that it so easily overcomes those who care. Those who care about: their business, their job, their finances, their children/grandchildren, their spiritual growth, their physical health and the health of others, the one who cares about relationships and friendships.
Worry is not something the slacker deals with often, but it often overtakes the hard worker.
Worry easily overtakes the one who feels responsible. This is where the danger lies. We are susceptible to worry when we take on responsibility that is not ours to have.
-Our we responsible for our children? Yes
Can we control all of the choices they make? No
Who is in control and ultimately responsible? God
Are we responsible for our finances? Yes
Can we control all the financial demands that come our way? No
Who is ultimately in control? God
We are prone to worry when we take on a level of responsibility that is not ours.
The word worry is a word in the greek is a word that is also used do discribed being divided into section or being double minded.
The hearts belief in anxiety - I must control this situation and I can’t, or this situation is helplessly out of control, I am responsible for the outcome and I can’t control the outcome, I am a failure if this doesn’t turn out right, in this situation God cannot be trusted.
The hearts belief in anxiety - I must control this situation and I can’t, or this situation is helplessly out of control, I am responsible for the outcome and I can’t control the outcome, I am a failure if this doesn’t turn out right, in this situation God cannot be trusted.
, God cares and provides for all of our needs.
, God takes care of those who are not made in His image. How much more will He take care of His own.
, God will handle your basic needs - focus on eternal needs
Matthew argues from the lesser to the greater.
God takes care of the grass and flowers (the lesser things) how much more will He take care of you.
Worry is the opposite of faith - Worry doubts that God has life under control. If life is under control by God, worry doubts that God knows what He is doing and that God is good.
Worry is not something the slacker deals with often, but it often overtakes the hard worker.
Worry easily overtakes the one who feels responsible. This is where the danger lies. We are susceptible to worry when we take on responsibility that is not ours to have.
-Our we responsible for our children? Yes
Can we control all of the choices they make? No
Who is in control and ultimately responsible? God
Are we responsible for our finances? Yes
Can we control all the financial demands that come our way? No
Who is ultimately in control? God
We are prone to worry when we take on a level of responsibility that is not ours.
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
The bird flower illustration. The word for “consider the birds” means to take a good look at or fix your eyes on. It is a command to seriously consider this. This is not a frolicking illustration. This is a serious point. That God providentially (in His great governing of all things) takes care of the birds. The argument is from the lesser to the greater. If God takes care of the lesser bird, how much more will He take care of one who is made in the Image of God. I will add - How much more than that will He take care of a Christ follower (on of His children). God uses the sparrow as the wisest theologin to show us the greatness of God’s care.
Said the Robin to the Sparrow:
“I should really like to know
Why these anxious humans
Rush about and worry so.”
Said the Sparrow to the Robin:
“I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me.”
(Elizabeth Cheney, Streams in the Desert, October 10
Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane before He went to the Cross, fully knowing what would happen, had sweat like great drops of blood. (Hematidrosis)
Christ new the feeling of anxiety. He knew what it was like to face torture and death. How did He spend his time before he became the payment for sin? He
Pay attention in the text to “Your heavenly Father” unpack this.
When we worry it is important to check reality. Say to yourself, “I cannot extend my life by 1 day.” God gave me life and will take my life when he can. If I cannot extend my life by 1 day through worry, then I will not worry.