Anxiety is putting Faith in yourself

The journey to get this sermon

What is Christian Faith?

Content: the information

Belief: admitting the information is true

Action: Acting like you believe the information is true

Faith in God

Christ came, lived, died, and rose on the third day. I am His slave and He is my Lord and Savior.

I believe that.

Because I believe that I live my life like this… and I have confident hope and assurance in tomorrow

Faith in Man, work it backwards

How do you act? Do you act like Christ is Lord? Do you plan your life with a willingness to do whatever Christ calls you to, no matter the cost?

Your hope, do you have confidence in tomorrow? Or are you wracked with anxiety? If you believe Christ is Lord of all how could you possibly be afraid of tomorrow?

He’s already there! He’s been there for an eternity! He’s not going to be surprised by what tomorrow brings and it’s not going to be out of His control.

Anxiety is faith in Man.

The content: Anxiety tells you that the future is under your control. Anxiety tells you the future is uncertain because it depends on Man, it depends on you.

Action: You know you believe it when the thought of the future paralyzes you with fear. If the future paralyzes you with fear you are not acting like you have faith in the power God, you are acting like you have faith in the weakness of yourself.

Jeremiah 17:5–9 (NIV)

“Cursed (Punished)”

“It does not fear (ESV it is not anxious)”

(A silly example: Luann, “You’re so Christian even when you’re high God is inspiring you”)

“The heart is deceitful (A liar, betrayer) above all things

and beyond cure. (ESV disastrously sick)”

(That doesn’t mean it can’t be cured, it means you can’t cure it!)

God is pronouncing judgement on the people because of their sin. Because they put their faith in idols instead of in God. So He takes their inheritance.

One commentary put it like this, “People who trust in themselves instead of God will endure a living death”

Connects with Luke 12 because Jesus addresses their anxiety by reminding them you cannot add a single hour to your life.

Luke 12:13–34 (NIV)

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

“you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor.”

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Sell it. Get rid of it. Give it up. It’s better to lose every worldly possession than to be anxious.

If you’re anxious about how you spend your time. Give more time to God.

If you’re anxious about your finances. Be more generous.

If you’re anxious about your health, use your body to serve God.

If you’re anxious about having food, maybe you need to fast. Maybe you don’t need to eat.

If you’re anxious about your marriage, be more worried about whether you are honoring God in your marriage than whether your partner is doing their fair share.

Anxiety is your heart lying to you about your circumstance and your needs. Seek the kingdom. Whatever your anxiety. Seek the kingdom. Your heart is lying to you about what you need. God is the one who knows.

Why is it that I can’t read God’s word. Nothing sticks. I’m not getting anything from it. Because anxiety chokes the word in your life.

Mark 4:18–21 (NIV)

“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Conclusion:

DO NOT EXCUSE YOUR ANXIETY. It’s not ok. Fight it. Name it, it’s faith in man. Faith in yourself, faith in the government, faith in your pastor, faith in your spouse. If you stopped putting your faith in human beings there wouldn’t be a drop of anxiety left in your entire body. I’m telling you from experience. I used to have faith in myself and I was cursed, just like it says in Jeremiah. I was a bush in the wastelands. Prosperity came, but never to me. I dwelt in a place of salt where nothing could live. I was dead, but alive.

But now I have assurance and confidence in God. That gives me a blessed hope. And now even in years of drought I have no fear. I am like a tree planted by a stream of water.

Here’s the great news, that’s available to you and everyone you come in contact with. If something is crippling you with anxiety sell it. If you can’t sell it give it up. Leave it in the hands of God. And if you can’t, don’t be surprised when your life feels cursed like mine did.

Jeremiah 17:10–14 (NIV) Heal me oh Lord