How to turn worry and anxiousness into true peace

This morning I wanted to break from our Sermon on the Mount sermon series to bring a Mother’s day message. I went back and forth on what to bring on this special occasion and landed on How To Turn Worry And Anxiousness Into True Peace.

I landed here in part due to conversation in Sunday School last week and then seeking where to go this week I felt like God led me here.

Let’s Pray

START OBS

I want to start by saying again everything must start and end in the Word of God.

Christianity, especially Western Christianity has moved away from this truth, everything beginning and ending with the Word of God.

Today’s Christians want everything to begin and end with the Word of God for somethings, usually bad things, lying, cheating, stealing etc. And especially when those things are happening to them because of someone else’s sin

But on the hard hitting subjects, abortion, same-sex marriage, homosexual lifestyles, addiction, pride, lust, adultery being not just physical but in our hearts and minds etc

they shy away because for everything to begin and end with the Word of God a Christian then must take a stance and stand on the Word and that means going against society and the main stream and our own sinful nature.

That means being called hateful, a bigot, racist and whatever else the enemy uses as talking points to try and silence the Word of God.

That also means you have to apologize to spouses and significant others for your sins against them

Worry and Anxiety are no different.

God is clear in His Word how we are to handle these things and that is what I want to look at here this morning.

Philippians 4:6-9

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“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Remember last week I talked about yeah but.

This is for sure one of those passages that so many Christians see and read and say yeah but.

Yeah but I am wired different

Yeah but my grandma was a worrier, my mom was a worrier, I am a worrier by nature

Yeah but this person says this and this other person says that

Yeah but I read a book about this

Yeah but.........no yeah buts.....be even if Christians when it comes to the Word of God.

Even if its hard.

Even if I am wired different, God created you perfectly so instead of fight it learn to love it and the one who created you!

Even if i have a family history of worrying and being anxious I will stand on God’s Word

Even if someone gives me counsel....or should I say advice. You see counsel is based on the Word of God so if the person giving you “counsel” is not a Christian it is just worldly advice. If the “counsel” is not based on the Word of God it is nothing more than personal advice.

I don’t care what anyone says or writes in a book, the Bible speaks and that is the only counsel we are to seek! Godly council based upon the Word of God delivered by God’s Children

Even if......no matter what we say or think or feel we are called to be even if Christians.

God I don’t understand fully how this works but I will do what you tell me to do in your Word

God this is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever done but I am going to rely upon you.

God the world says all of these things that are opposite of your Truth but I am going to stand and believe and act on your Truth!

Don’t Worry About Anything

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The KJV says be careful for nothing. In looking to the Greek the word translated worry and be careful means anxious. Anxious means be troubled with cares.

God just said that as His Child you are not to worry, be anxious, troubled with cares about ANYTHING.

The word translated anything here (nothing in KJV) means not even on men or women, any, none, nothing

So literally don’t be troubled with cares about anyone or anything.

That is a big ask from God in fact an ask that humans are unable to carry out.

This morning is Mother’s day and I know from conversations with my beautiful bride that.....

Mothers are troubled with cares about their children, grandchildren, friends, family.

You may watch the news and be troubled with cares about what you see and hear there.

Mothers are troubled with cares about their work and marriage at times....they live with knuckle headed men.....i am enough to cause anyone to be troubled at times!!!!

Many mothers are troubled with cares from the past,

did I do enough,

are my mistakes going to ruin my child,

if I had only known back then what I know now

There is a difference between concern and worry/anxiety.

Dr. Winfred Neely a professor at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and a pastor says this

“We should care, we should be concerned. If we are having financial struggles, we don’t have to worry about that, but we should be concerned. If our children are not well, we don’t have to worry, but we should be concerned. As God’s people, we are to be deeply concerned. Healthy care and concern is one of the hallmarks of healthy church life.”

He goes on to say:

“Worry is concern that is separated from the grace, power, love, and wisdom of God. It’s concern that we address in our own strength. It’s concern that we handle by thinking that we are facing life alone and we have to deal with our problems alone without God’s help.”

That really gets to the heart of the matter doesn’t it. A heart relationship with God through Jesus Christ!!!!!

Worry and anxiety are sins not because you care.....as a Christian you should care about people. You should be concerned with situations and circumstances and ideologies and pain and suffering and persecution the list goes on and on and on

Worry and anxiety are sins because YOU are doing it.

YOU are worrying about it.

YOU are anxious.

YOU not GOD.

Worry and Anxiety are sins because you refuse to give those things to God. You are turning to something or someone other than God

Many may say now pastor whoa…wait just a minute here worry and anxiety are not sins....

really God just said in Philippians DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING!!!!!!

If God says don’t do it and you do it it is a sin.

You can call it whatever you want but God says it is a sin.

James 4:13-17

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“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.”

Look at this scripture. you who say today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city......

They are making the plans…turning to their own wisdom their own knowledge

God shot that down just as he shoots down being anxious for the same reason......you are making it all about you when it must be all about God.

God said be anxious for nothing so when you choose to be anxious and worry you are in fact choosing sin. Not my words God’s Words.

Church it is time we return to calling things what God calls them and standing on God’s Truth no matter what!

God has a lot to say about being anxious. Let’s get into God’s Word shall we?

I want to start by making sure we understand where God stands on anxiety and worry.

Matthew 6:34

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“Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Jesus just told you not to worry about tomorrow.

How many of us do that. How many of us lose sleep at night worrying about something that may or may not take place tomorrow?

Isaiah 41:10

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“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.”

Fear is much like anxiety in fact the feel and look and sound the same so much of the time.

One could say that fear leads to anxiety and anxiety leads to fear.

Most do not worry about things that they are not fearful over.

I don’t have much anxiety about teddy bears. I don’t fear teddy bears. In fact most of us had some sort of stuffed animal that made us feel safe and secure not filled with worry and anxiety and fear.

God did not create you and fill you with His Holy Spirit after you were saved for you to be fearful and full of worry and anxiety.

2 Timothy 1:7

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“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”

God has give us a Spirit of power.....His power.....Love....His love....sound judgement....His sound judgement when we stand on the Word of God.

We have seen both God and Jesus tell us not to worry or be anxious. If you are a Christian here today those are not suggestions but directions, commands and you are obligated to follow them

Since that is the case it is a great thing that God tells us how to go through every minute of every day with 0 worry and 0 anxiety.

Before we look at the how we must realize this is a heart issue.

If you are marked by worry and anxiety.

If people say about you boy they are a great person but they sure are a worrier

Then please listen to what God has to say and check your heart,

ask God to check your heart so you can respond by confessing and leaving here righteous this morning.

Church this is serious stuff so let’s see what God tells us to do instead of worry and be anxious.

Philippians 4:6-7

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In everything through prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God.

God is bigger than your worry and anxiety.

In fact God through Jesus on the cross has already defeated your worry and anxiety all you have to do is give it to Him.

The first thing you must do to live out Philippians 4:6-7 is to:

Humble Yourself

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I Peter 5:6-7

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“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.”

Here is step one to truly giving God your worry and anxiety.

Humble yourself.

This is the first step to most things with God. Humble yourself

When you worry and are anxious instead of being prayerful and grateful you are telling God you know better than He does.

You are telling God that you have got it.

You can fix it.

You can handle it.

You are telling God you are the boss and He is not.

That is why the first step is humble yourself.

When you humble yourself

You are telling God that you give it to Him

You are telling God you can’t fix it but you know He can.

You are telling God you can’t handle it but you know he can.

You are telling God you are not the boss and He is.

After you humble yourself cast your cares on Him.

Casting here comes from a Greek verb meaning to throw upon or cast away.

Think about a throw net or a cast net.

You have to really throw those things to get them in the water correctly.

Think about a spider on your arm.

You don’t just lightly push them away, or at least I don’t. No way you cast them away. You get them as far away from you as possible.

Same with your cares....cast them as far away from you as possible....that is at the foot of the cross when you give them to God.

Pastor I do that but they come back....cast them again.

Proverbs 12:25

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“Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.”

If you struggle with worry and anxiety I would bet that you are seeking an answer.

You are seeking a way to rid yourself of these things because you realize what God says in His Word about anxiety and worry are true

Worry and anxiety do nothing but harm you.

Name me one problem you solved by worrying about it?

This is much like forgiveness. Unforgiveness destroys you from the inside out.

Worry and anxiety weigh down your heart, they can lead to depression and other mental health issues as well as physical issues.

What does truly giving God your worry and anxiety look like?

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

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“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Rejoice always. Pray Constantly. Give thanks in everything.

This should be a Christian’s lifestyle.

I promise you when you are rejoicing, praying and giving thanks in everything all day everyday you have no room for worry and anxiety!

I get it. That is easier said than done and as I said before if you try to do it on your own you will fail.

You have to have the right perspective and truly believe who God says He is in His Word

Jeremiah 29:11

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“For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

This is truth.

God has plans for you.

Stop and think about that for a minute.

God has plans for you.

The creator of the universe.

God almighty. He has plans for YOU!!!!!!!

Not plans to destroy you but for your well-being and to give you a future and a hope.

That future and hope has a name.....JESUS!!!!!

When you truly believe scriptures such as this and truly humble yourself before God then you receive peace

John 14:27

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“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.”

Jesus never lies.

Jesus just said Peace I leave with you. My peace.

In Philippians we are told not to worry about anything and when we give it to God in prayer and petition and thanksgiving we receive Peace.

What is that peace?

It is not the absence of conflict because conflict and chaos will always be a part of our daily lives as Christians here on this earth.

No this peace is the fact you are calm and confident in the midst of that conflict and chaos because you know God and belong to God because you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Look at what Jesus tells us in Matthew

Matthew 11:28-30

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“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

Jesus not only can take your burdens, worry and anxiety but wants them.

Come to me.

Jesus will exchange your worry and anxiety for His yoke that is easy and His burden that is light.

Not only will you have peace but rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 17:8

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“He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.”

This is the result of that peace. Because you are plugged into God you have no need to fear the heat. You have no need to worry about the year of drought…season of stress…the storms of life because you will never cease producing fruit because you are living from Jesus!!!!!

Now again this doesn’t mean that situations and circumstances will change. Most of the time they will not and in fact may even get worse.

The peace we have in Jesus that passes all understanding is this.

God is with you.

God has plans for you.

God is working for you.

God has already won the fight.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are going to go to heaven.

If you are here this morning and struggle with worry and anxiety I want you to make Matthew 11:28-30 one of your front sight verses.

Let me explain front sight verses.

I got this from Soulcon when I went through it and it makes so much sense and it works.

Front sight verses are verses you memorize to use to defeat the tempter when he comes to tempt you.

You use these verse to win the battle of your mind.

On a gun there is a front sight. If you are using a gun and do not put the front sight on what you are shooting at you will miss it. You must concentrate on the front sight not the target.

Front site verses then are verses, that change depending on your struggle at the time,

They are verses that you memorize because they speak truth into the lies of the enemy.

You take your eyes off of the enemy and put them on God the front sight.

Any of the verses we used today would be great for front site verses but I want you to pray about which verses God wants you to memorize and then study and memorize those verses so you can use them against temptation and the enemy

Romans 8:37-39

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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This is a huge truth to help you defeat worry and anxiety in your life.

NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can separate you from the love of Christ.

Not death,

not life,

not angels,

not rulers,

not things that happened in the past

not things happening now,

not things that will happen in the future,

not powers,

not height,

not depth

Not ANY CREATED THING.

Christian, there is nothing left.

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST

What do you have to worry about again?!?!?!?!?!

If you are here this morning and have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior today is the day.

I want you to understand something.

Jesus is the start.

None of the promises we talked about today....overcoming worry and anxiety......receiving the peace of Jesus none of those things are in play until you accept Jesus.

If you died today where would you go?

The Bible says you will go to heaven if you have accepted Jesus if you have not yow will go to hell.

If you don’t know beyond a shadow of a doubt where you will go when you die come. Get with God and respond to what He is putting on your heart right now.

If you are here and struggle with anxiety and worry you don’t have to for one more second.

Give it to God…CAST it on Him but that requires you to humble yourself and that starts at the cross. That starts at the altar. that starts by confessing and applying forgiveness to this issue.

It will be a battle and a process but if you will keep your eyes focused on God NOTHING can keep you from the love of Christ. Won’t you come if you battle with worry and anxiety?