Overcoming Overcoming WorryWorry

Matthew 6:24-34Matthew 6:24-34

Phil. 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

“Be anxious for nothing” NKJV

“Do not worry about anything” Montgomery N.T.

“Have no anxiety about anything” McCord’s translation

I. Different Kinds of WorryI. Different Kinds of Worry

Things that have already happened

Phil. 3:13 - forget things behind

Things that will inevitably happen

Heb. 9:27 – death [old age]

Things that will never happen

II. Remedy for OvercomingII. Remedy for OvercomingWorry – Matt. 6:24-34Worry – Matt. 6:24-34

1) UnnecessaryUnnecessary “Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things.” v. 32

ChildrenChildren

Why Worry ??Why Worry ??

II. Remedy for OvercomingII. Remedy for OvercomingWorry – Matt. 6:24-34Worry – Matt. 6:24-34

2) CruelCruel

“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” v. 26

II. Remedy for OvercomingII. Remedy for OvercomingWorry – Matt. 6:24-34Worry – Matt. 6:24-34

3) ProhibitedProhibited

“Do not worry about your life” v. 25

“Therefore do not worry,” v. 31

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,...” v. 34

II. Remedy for OvercomingII. Remedy for OvercomingWorry – Matt. 6:24-34Worry – Matt. 6:24-34

4) UselessUseless

“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” v. 27

Mark 16:3-4

II. Remedy for OvercomingII. Remedy for OvercomingWorry – Matt. 6:24-34Worry – Matt. 6:24-34

5) HeathenishHeathenish

“For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:” v. 32

Worry is a characteristicOf the heathen, the lost.

II. Remedy for OvercomingII. Remedy for OvercomingWorry – Matt. 6:24-34Worry – Matt. 6:24-34

6) FaithlessnessFaithlessness

“O you of little faith” v. 30

Mt.6:30 = WorryMatt.8:26 = FearMatt.14:31 = DoubtMatt. 16:8 = Human reasoning

Rom.10:17

II. Remedy for OvercomingII. Remedy for OvercomingWorry – Matt. 6:24-34Worry – Matt. 6:24-34

7) The SolutionThe Solution

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” v.33

S + R = Added

III. Why is Worry a Sin ?III. Why is Worry a Sin ?

1) Disregard for Commandments of Godisregard for Commandments of God

“6. Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil.4:6-7 NKJV

DON’T WORRY BE DON’T WORRY BE HAPPYHAPPY

Matthew 6:25-34Matthew 6:25-34

III. Why is Worry a Sin ?III. Why is Worry a Sin ?

2) It is a Waste of TimeIt is a Waste of Time

40 % never happen30 % past that cannot be changed22 % petty things8 % legitimate

III. Why is Worry a Sin ?III. Why is Worry a Sin ?

3) It Impairs our HealthIt Impairs our Health

Can worry yourself sickCan worry yourself to death

UlcersUlcers = stock market

Mental disorders

III. Why is Worry a Sin ?III. Why is Worry a Sin ?

4) It robs us of joy and happinessIt robs us of joy and happiness

“Worry” = means to strangle

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Phi. 4:4

III. Why is Worry a Sin ?III. Why is Worry a Sin ?

5) Prohibits prayers to be answeredProhibits prayers to be answered

We must ask in faith – James 1:6Worry is distrust in God

Man prayed to God for protectionthroughout the night. Stayed up allnight to see if he would do it.

1 Peter 5:7 “...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

Overcoming Overcoming WorryWorry

Matthew 6:24-34Matthew 6:24-34

IV. How can we OvercomeIV. How can we OvercomeWorry ?Worry ?

1) Make up your mind you are going to conquer it.

2) Form the right relationship with God and man

3) Develop the Right attitude of mind

IV. How can we OvercomeIV. How can we OvercomeWorry ?Worry ?

4) Do what you can and turn the rest over to God

5) Live one day at a Time

6) Cultivate a faith and realistic trust in God and His promises

Faith is the great antidote to worry

“I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me.” Acts 27:25

God will always keep his word !!

7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Jer.17:7-8

IV. How can we OvercomeIV. How can we OvercomeWorry ?Worry ?

7) Engage in purposeful work

8) Transfer your care to more worthy objects

9) Live your life free from a sense of guilt and shame.

10) Take it to the Lord in Prayer

V. Read and Study yourV. Read and Study yourBibleBible

“Behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest” Gen. 28:15

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass....Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him” - Ps. 37:5 and 7

“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me” Ps. 50:15

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee” Ps. 55:22

“Be strong, fear not; Behold your God!” Isaiah 35:4

“Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” Isaiah 43:1

“There are 365 ‘Fear not’s’ in the Bible, one for every day in the year.

How dare we then fear !

“Christ commanded: “Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed?...For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” - Matt. 6:31, 32

“Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Matt. 11:28

“If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you” - John 15:7

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Overcoming Overcoming WorryWorry

Matthew 6:24-34Matthew 6:24-34

Paul said: “Be anxious for nothing”

Take all matters, small or great, before the Lord in prayer.

The peace of God shall keep our hearts.

Give Jesus First Place in Give Jesus First Place in your Lifeyour Life

• ““But seek ye first the But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto things shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6:33you.” Matt. 6:33

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,"

Worrying is a sign that something else besides God is first place in your life.

Put God First

Live one day at a time

Trust God

Pray – Don’t Panic !

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

evanscoc@bellsouth.netevanscoc@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Morning and Evening Sept. 9, 2007