Overcoming Worry The Sermon on the Mount Series

Overcoming Worry The Sermon on the Mount Series [25] Matthew 6: 25 -34 © July 10, 2016 Pastor Paul K. Kim

RECAP: JESUS’ CALL FOR RADICAL DIFFERENCE “Do not be like them. ” – Matthew 6: 8 • In Relation to CHARACTER [5: 3 -12] • In Relation to THE WORLD [5: 13 -16] • In Relation to MORAL RIGHTEOUSNESS [5: 17 -48] • In Relation to SPIIRTUAL PRACTICES [6: 1 -18] • In Relation to MONEY & POSSESSIONS [6: 19 -24] • In Relation to PREOCCUPATION/WORRY [6: 25 -34]

WHY SHOULD WE NOT WORRY? • Worry is UNNECESSARY (vs. 25 -26). 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? ” Ø Here, Jesus is using a fortiori (“all the more”) to show that worry is unnecessary. Ø Look at the fact that God gave you life—is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Ø Look at the birds in the air—are you not of more value than they?

WHY SHOULD WE NOT WORRY? • Worry is USELESS (vs. 27 -29). 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. ” Ø Another a fortiori: If God clothes lilies, will he not for you all the more? Ø Worry can’t add/change anything—i. e. , it is a waste of time & energy. ü 40% – things that will never happen ü 30% – things about the past that can’t be changed ü 12% – things about criticism by others, mostly untrue ü 10% – about health, which gets worse with stress ü 8% – about real problems that will be faced [Even with the 8%, worry is still useless because it can’t change anything. ]

WHY SHOULD WE NOT WORRY? • Worry is A FAILURE TO TRUST GOD at its very core being (v. 30). 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? ” Ø “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. ” – George Mueller Ø Worry is a sin. Why? When we worry, we forget that our FAITH [ongoing relational trust] is the most important thing in our relationship with God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11: 6

HOW CAN WE OVERCOME WORRY, FOLLOWING JESUS’ TEACHING? 1) We are to trust and acknowledge WHO GOD IS TO US in our lives (v. 32). 32 “For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ” Ø Realize that God is your ABBA (dearest Father) who loves you and cares for your needs. Ø Trust in God and release your “anxiety grip” to your heavenly Father. Ø Follow Jesus’ example of his daily posture: * Dallas Willard – What one adjective best describes Jesus’ lifestyle? “Relaxed” [Why? Jesus worried about NOTHING because of his full trust in his Father. ]

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Proverbs 3: 5 -7 [MSG]

HOW CAN WE OVERCOME WORRY, FOLLOWING JESUS’ TEACHING? 2) We are to say NO to ANXIOUS THOUGHTS by faith (vs. 25, 31, 34). 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life… 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat? ’ or ‘What shall we drink? ’ or ‘What shall we wear? ’… 34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow. . . ” Ø Jesus repeats the same command three times. Why? So we hear it and really STOP worrying by faith! Ø Reject anxious thoughts/double-mindedness in your thought life. Ø As you say NO to anxious thoughts, replace them by the confession of your trust in heavenly Father’s love and care for you.

That is faith, and it is particularly true with regard to the future. When the devil comes with his insinuations, injecting them into you—all the fiery darts of the evil one—say, “No, I am not interested. The God whom I am trusting today, I will trust for tomorrow. I refuse to listen; I will not think your thoughts. ” Faith is refusing to be burdened because we have cast our burden upon the Lord. May He, in His infinite grace, give us wisdom and grace to implement these simple principles and thereby rejoice in Him day by day. D. Martin Lloyd-Jones

HOW CAN WE OVERCOME WORRY, FOLLOWING JESUS’ TEACHING? 3) We are to replace our WORRY WITH PRAYER (Matt. 6: 11; 1 Pet. 5: 7; Phil. 4: 6 -7). “Give us this day our daily bread. . . Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. . . 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. ” Ø Turn your worries into childlike prayers for your ABBA’s provision. Ø Cast all your anxieties on God, trusting that he cares for you. Ø Live one day at a time, surrendering your tomorrow’s concerns to God.

HOW CAN WE OVERCOME WORRY, FOLLOWING JESUS’ TEACHING? 4) We are to seek GOD’S RULE & GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS as our ultimate passion & priority in life (v. 33). 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ” Ø God’s kingdom = God’s kingly rule; God’s righteousness = God’s will/desire — i. e. , we seek God’s rule to increase and God’s righteous will to be done.

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am. ’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. 11 And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58: 9 -11

HOW CAN WE OVERCOME WORRY, FOLLOWING JESUS’ TEACHING? 4) We are to seek GOD’S RULE & GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS as our ultimate passion & priority in life (v. 33). 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ” Ø God’s kingdom = God’s kingly rule; God’s righteousness = God’s will/desire — i. e. , we seek God’s rule to increase and God’s righteous will to be done. Ø Make God’s rule and righteousness your preeminent pursuit in life—rather than being obsessed with worries about yourself. Ø In so doing, trust and watch how all your daily necessities are added to you by God’s provision.

Once again our Lord simplifies the issue for us by reducing the alternatives possible life-goals to only two. He puts them over against each other in this section, urging his followers not to be preoccupied with their own security (food, drink, and clothing), for that is the obsession of “the Gentiles” who do not know him, but rather with God's rule and God's righteousness, and with their spread and triumph in the world. John R. W. Stott

I MUST TELL JESUS by Elisha A. Hoffman, 1893 I must tell Jesus All of my trials I cannot bear these burdens alone In my distress He kindly will help me He ever cares and loves His own I must tell Jesus I cannot bear these burdens alone I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus can help me, Jesus alone

I MUST TELL JESUS by Elisha A. Hoffman, 1893 I must tell Jesus All of my troubles He’s a kind and compassionate friend If I but ask Him He will deliver Make of my troubles Quickly an end I must tell Jesus I cannot bear these burdens alone I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus can help me, Jesus alone

I MUST TELL JESUS by Elisha A. Hoffman, 1893 Tempted and tried I need a great savior One who can help my burdens to bear I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus He all my cares and sorrows will share I must tell Jesus I cannot bear these burdens alone I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus can help me, Jesus alone

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1. What one insight hit home for you from Jesus’ teaching on overcoming worry? What will you do about it? 2. What is your first step toward overcoming worry by faith—i. e. , refusing to be burdened by anxious thoughts by trusting in your heavenly Father? 3. What must be changed in you today in order for you to make God’s rule & God’s righteousness your ultimate passion & priority in life?