Freedom from Anxiety

Introduction:

Google and Oxford define anxiety as "a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome."

If you would allow me, I would like to read you a narrative I wrote about our state of anxiety.

Humanity has the knack of taking the simplicity of life and making it so complex. I often wonder what it was like at the creation Mankind. Before God even created Adam, He created a world that cleans and replenishes itself. He then makes a garden with plants that have seeds in themselves for reproduction with rivers and streams for water. And then God places Adam in this garden of Eden with a commission to keep it, subdue it, and multiply it. It was Adam and Eve's paradise; no worries, no anxiety, no stress. There was no buying or selling, no need for money. God had provided all the necessities of life.

But when sin entered the picture, life became hard. Paradise was lost. It took sweat and toil to work the cursed ground and produce the necessities of life. Eventually, The selfishness of society created money systems. We no longer wanted to share God's creation but hoard it for ourselves. Each family staking their claim on God's creation as if they could own it and possess it, leading to fighting and wars among people.

In all our technological advancements, we still don't understand the wonder of the world we live in, the beauty of the human brain, or who placed the seeds in an apple. So we worry about tomorrow.

Will we have enough?

Will there be enough?

Will someone take what I have claimed?

Have I claimed enough?

Amid all this worry, fighting, and anxiety, John the baptist comes on the scene wearing sackcloth living off the land. And everyone says, "He's odd!" He came preaching a message of forgiveness and living a life of simplicity. John pointed to Jesus, the lamb of God, that never had an address or a place to lay his head to my knowledge. He lived off the land and the kindness of others as he invited people to come back to the Creator God that had made all things to take care of us.

Humanity had become so entrenched in the money system they believed it was the supplier of everything. Now it was "money that made the world go round," not God. People no longer trusted in God but this idol of money and commerce. And so we find ourselves today, still worrying, still fighting, still consuming, and staking our claim on God's creation; one big ball of anxiety.

We can't change the system that humanity has created, but we can change our attitude toward it. When Jesus returns, He will set all things back into its original order as He stakes His claim as King of kings and Lord of lords. If we listen to the message of John, If we receive the gospel of Jesus and come back into a relationship with the Creator God, he removes all these worries, fears, and anxiety. We live in the truth that God is the giver of everything and has provided and will provide all our needs. We will no longer stake claims to what is God's, and learn to live in his blessing and provision.

So How do we apply the gospel truth to our lives that will change our hearts and minds? How do we learn to trust God more than money?

Biblical Truth:

Trade Anxiety for Faith. (The Problem)

God is the Creator and Provider of all things. Anxiety is a lack of faith and understanding of the character and nature of God.

Matthew 6:25–32 ESV

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.

Money is humanity's attempt to provide for itself.

Matthew 6:24 ESV

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

We become anxious when we can't produce enough money for what we want or need in life. Money then becomes the means and answer to survival.

I'll bet we are all guilty of praying that God would provide us the money we need instead of simply asking God to supply our needs.

We ask God to use another god to provide for our needs.

Our very existence is so steeped in the mighty dollar that it is so foreign to think of life without it. Money doesn't make the world "go round!" God does.

Biblical Example: The first parable that Jesus tells is the four types of soils that receive the word of the kingdom. The thorny ground is most interesting to us on this topic.

Matthew 13:22 ESV

22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Physical Example: In Jim Cymbala's book "Fresh Wind Fresh Fire," he shares a story of a Tuesday night prayer meeting in which he invited people to come down front if they wanted prayer or needed anything. During this time, a man began to walk down the aisle. His clothes were old and torn. Anyone could tell he had been living on the streets and hadn't had a bath in forever. His smell was so strong that Jim took out his handkerchief and began to breathe through it as he approached. As the man got closer, Jim reached in his pocket and pulled out some money, and the man said, "I didn't come for your money. I came to meet this Jesus you keep preaching about."

How quick we are to fall back on money as the solution instead of God.

Faith and trust in God's provision is the correct posture for a child of God.

Turn Anxiety into Purpose. (The Reality)

Once you establish who God is and begin to put your faith in him and not money, you are ready to join God in his work and give your life purpose and meaning.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Answer Your Calling

Personal Example: When I started Reliant, everyone said one thing to me, "Raise money! Raise Money! When you get tired of raising money raise more money." I had a church planting agency turn me down because I was walking by faith, knowing that the Lord had called me to plant this church. Others would tell me, “faith will only take you so far. At some point you will need food and provide for your family.”

When I join God on His mission, He is responsible for success. I don't have to be anxious or worry about God's ability to provide. I am simply a participant in God's mission.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Seek the Kingdom

Transform Anxiety through Prayer. (The Solution)

Positive prayer focuses your heart on God's promises.

Philippians 4:6 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Every Child of God should be an optimist.

Petition God from a posture of victory and never defeat.

Prayer guards your heart with the peace of God.

Philippians 4:7 ESV

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Steps to Relieve Anxiety:

Take your focus off of money and place your faith in God.

Determine what God is doing and follow His Lead.

When you start to panic, pray with expectation.