Gateway Baptist Church
10/13/2024 Real Life: Anxiety/Worry
  • 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus (Trust In Jesus)
  • Seek Ye First
  • God Will Take Care Of You
  • Great Is Thy Faithfulness
  • Way Maker

  • Matthew 6:25-34

    What is anxiety? Anxiety is an emotion produced by feelings that can turn into a state (condition). This feeling is the most common emotion experienced by humans. One can easily postulate that both Adam and Eve experienced anxiety when they became aware of their nakedness and themselves from God. There are three types of anxiety: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and phobias.
    Jenefer had two uncles who have since passed on. They were both brothers. One of the brothers drank and ate horribly, never really worked out, and lived a life that was not healthy by any measures. The other watched what he ate, worked out constantly, and lived a healthy lifestyle. They both died from lung cancer. Mark said on his deathbed; I would not have worried so much about what I did if I knew I was going to die the same death as my brother.
    It is anxiety that robs us of our joy. And what is anxiety but fear? Fear is the enemy of joy. It is hard to be joyful when we are afraid.
    How many of you have faced worry, anxiousness, or anxiety? All of us should have raised our hands. At some point in your life, you will face anxiety head-on. The enemy lures us away with worries about this world and has us concentrate on things that have zero eternal impact. Jesus understood that if our attitude were toward luxury, it would captivate us. It would consume us. Most of our anxiety or worries entail worldly possessions.
    Anxiety is one element of the full range that extends from intent, thought, and interest through concern, care, worry, and dread to grief and inward pain. The biblical writers often treat anxiety as a natural part of man’s existence. Still, anxiety also appears in its factual theological context as heathenish, sinful, and a denial of God’s providence and Care. The opposite of anxiety is seen as the quiet, trustful mind in the enjoyment of the peace of God.
    Jesus gives us four reasons why being anxious is wrong:
    1. It is unfaithful because of our Master.
    2. It is unnecessary because of our Father.
    3. It is unreasonable because of our faith.
    4. It is unwise because of our future.
    ​

    It is unfaithful because of our Master.

    “Therefore” refers to the previous verse, in which Jesus declares that Christians can only have One Master. In essence, what Jesus conveys here would be, “Because of God being your Master, do not be anxious about anything.”
    The word Christ uses is “μἐρμνα,” which means “a feeling of apprehension or distress given a possible danger or misfortune.” This word is used twenty-five times in the NT. This word used here is an imperative verb, a command. It indicates that what is already being done is being stopped. “For your life” makes it an all-inclusive command.
    A French soldier in WWI used to carry something with him to help him overcome worry. It was a little card with the following words, “Of two things, one is certain. Either you are at the front, or you are behind the lines. If you are at the front of two things, one is certain. Either you are exposed to danger or in a safe place. If you are exposed to the danger of two things. Either you are wounded, or you are not. If you are wounded, of two things, one is certain. Either you recover, or you will die. If you recover, there is no need to worry. If you die, you cannot worry. So why worry?”
    For us who are called by His Name, we know who we belong to, and He is the One who owns everything, including our lives. There is no better place to have my security than in His arms. The English term for worry comes from the old German word meaning strangle or choke. Is that not what our anxiety and worry do to our lives and those around us?

    It is unnecessary because of our Father (26-30).

    In these verses, Christ tells His followers and us not to worry about what we eat, drink, or wear. We see how our Father tends to His creation when we read these. The birds who are not created in His image or the lilies of the field are taken care of; how much more are we to Him than these things? Job 38:41
    Job 38:41 ESV
    Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?
    ​
    God does not look at the birds and says to them, “I have done my part; from now on, you’re on your own.” Neither does He say this to us! I struggle with the image of our Father at times. When I do everything correctly and spread His Word, I approach boldly. But I hide from Him the moment I slip or get into my feelings. Our Father wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. We need not run from Him but run to Him.
    Jesus is essential, telling them, “Children, your Dad knows what you need before you need it. He has already made the provision for you; you need to open your eyes to receive it.”

    It is unreasonable because of our faith (31-33).

    Worrying or having anxiety is inconsistent with our faith in God and, therefore, is unreasonable as well as sinful. Gentiles seek after these things, but we are told that our heavenly Father will provide all these things to us. Philippians 4:19
    Philippians 4:19 ESV
    And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
    ​
    Those with no hope in God naturally put their hope and expectations in things they can enjoy now. They have nothing to live for, but the present and their materialism is perfectly consistent with their religion.
    But those called by His Name seek Him and His Kingdom; everything we need will be added to us.
    I remember going through Washington on the outskirts of Seattle. You come down the Cascades Mountain range into Seattle. It never fails, and you will run into fog. I have seen fog so dense that it shut down the city. This fog was made up of over sixty million droplets. These droplets compacted together would only be a few gallons, but in the correct form, it crippled the city. Most of our anxiety is produced by droplets that we allow to cripple our lives because we forget who we belong to. Psalm 55:22
    Psalm 55:22 ESV
    Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
    ​

    It is unwise because of our future (34).

    Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow—only today of its strength.
    Charles Spurgeon
    ​
    Making reasonable provision for tomorrow is sensible, but to be anxious for tomorrow is foolish and unfaithful. Today has enough troubles that I cannot add tomorrow’s sorrows to it. It is not because of a careless philosophy but because I know who already has tomorrow in their hands. Philippians 4:6-7 Isaiah 26:3-4
    Philippians 4:6–7 ESV
    do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
    ​
    Isaiah 26:3–4 ESV
    You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
    ​

    APPLICATION:

    1. Anxiety/Worry robs us of the joy we share with our Master.
    2. Your faith can bring you through anything and everything.
    3. Our future is secure because of Christ’s atonement.

      • Job 38:41NASB95

      • Philippians 4:19NASB95

      • Psalm 55:22NASB95

      • Philippians 4:6–7NASB95

      • Isaiah 26:3–4NASB95

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Gateway Baptist Church
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