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I just heard a refreshing two part sermon by Pastor/Teacher John MacArthur Jr. here are some highlights; powerful reminders to help us lay down fear and worry and every anxiety that steals our peace and wastes our precious time.
The full sermons can be listened to or read for free at www.GTY.org. choose Sermons, then by topic, then Anxiety-free Living.
The scripture text is Luke 12:22-34. This guidance Is directed to believers in Christ. If you are not sure if that includes you, check out this blog first:
www.prayerrequest.com
1. Worry is a failure to understand divine priority.
Luke 12:22-23
“And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”
You exist for a higher reason.
Your body is designed for more than food and fashion. You are more than an eating machine and a mannequin.
If God gave you life, and He did, He has a purpose for you. I am not here just to exist.
If He gave you life (and He did); if He wants you to live (and He does), and He brought you into His kingdom (which He did, if you are a believer) then he has a purpose for you to fulfill, in His kingdom, for His glory, and He will sustain you to that fulfillment.
Therefore I can say with the psalmist:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.”
We have a Life and a body for God. We should live wisely but no need to hoard. God will sustain you until it’s His time to enter you into heaven.
Our priority it about living for Gods purpose.
2. Worry fails to understand divine provision.
Luke 12:24
“Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”
Consider the birds.
Israel happens to be a place of massive bird migration. Huge issue for aircraft. So using them as an example was understandable, they were everywhere. But, just because God provides for them, doesn’t mean they don’t work. They are always at work! They are in constant motion. Ever seen a bird laying down for a nap?
Job 38:41
“Who provides for the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God for help,
and wander about for lack of food?”
... God
Psalms 104:25, 27
“Here is the sea, great and wide,
which teems with creatures innumerable,
living things both small and great.
...These all look to you,
to give them their food in due season.”
Psalms 145:15
“The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.”
Psalms 147:9
“He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.”
If he cares this much for the birds how much more does he care for you?!
Haggai 1:5-11
“Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”
Take care of God’s temple first. God is the one who provides food for his people.
Psalms 34:10
“The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.”
3. Worry is a failure to understand divine privilege
Luke 12:25
“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
You cannot add one day to your life. Not saying you shouldn’t be in good physical condition to serve God. But worry isn’t going to lengthen your life.
It is God’s privilege to determine exactly how long we are here.
4. Worry is a failure to understand Divine Preference.
Luke 12:27-28
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”
God prefers people. We are made in His image. We are not evolved apes. If God so adorns the flowers of the field, how much more does he care for you!
5. Worry is a failure to understand God’s paternity
He is our Father.
Luke 12:30-31
”For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”
The nations of the world strongly pursue the material things, for them it’s all about the physical world.
God, your Father, knows that you need these things. It’s not a question of power or resources or mercy or compassion or love. (He has all these) it’s just a question of knowledge, and HE KNOWS.
So, how do you tap into that? Verse 31. Seek His kingdom. Focus on the kingdom of God. All these things will be added to you.
Colossians 3:1-2
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
After entering the kingdom of God (Believing, humbling yourself and repenting), everything you do is for His honor and glory. Be devoted to what is eternal not what is temporal.
Stop being anxious - ”And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.“ Luke 12:22
Stop worrying - “And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.“ Luke 12:29
Stop being afraid - “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
Jesus is saying that it is possible to rise above the troubles of this life, even in 2021!
Worry is the result of ignorance or unbelief. Many Christians worry because they do not know enough about God or His promises. If you want to know God, read the book of Psalms.
Worry due to unbelief or distrust is a sin.
I hope this encourages you as it did me. I strongly recommend listening to the full sermons at GTY.org they are so rich, much more good counsel than I could capture here. And again, these promises are for the children of God, who’ve placed their trust in Christ Jesus, the only Son of God, our Savior. It’s not an exclusive club. Anyone can join. But you do need to make the choice. If you have any doubt about whether your place in heaven is secure, check out this to receive that assurance:
www.prayerrequest.com
The full sermons can be listened to or read for free at www.GTY.org. choose Sermons, then by topic, then Anxiety-free Living.
The scripture text is Luke 12:22-34. This guidance Is directed to believers in Christ. If you are not sure if that includes you, check out this blog first:
The Gospel - How To Be Saved
Our greatest desire is for people to come to know God personally. The simple truth is that there is a God who created you and loves you very much. (Genesis 1:1) He gave us life and deserves our gratitude and love. We, however, have chosen to disobey Him and sin against Him; all of us have...
1. Worry is a failure to understand divine priority.
Luke 12:22-23
“And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”
You exist for a higher reason.
Your body is designed for more than food and fashion. You are more than an eating machine and a mannequin.
If God gave you life, and He did, He has a purpose for you. I am not here just to exist.
If He gave you life (and He did); if He wants you to live (and He does), and He brought you into His kingdom (which He did, if you are a believer) then he has a purpose for you to fulfill, in His kingdom, for His glory, and He will sustain you to that fulfillment.
Therefore I can say with the psalmist:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.”
We have a Life and a body for God. We should live wisely but no need to hoard. God will sustain you until it’s His time to enter you into heaven.
Our priority it about living for Gods purpose.
2. Worry fails to understand divine provision.
Luke 12:24
“Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”
Consider the birds.
Israel happens to be a place of massive bird migration. Huge issue for aircraft. So using them as an example was understandable, they were everywhere. But, just because God provides for them, doesn’t mean they don’t work. They are always at work! They are in constant motion. Ever seen a bird laying down for a nap?
Job 38:41
“Who provides for the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God for help,
and wander about for lack of food?”
... God
Psalms 104:25, 27
“Here is the sea, great and wide,
which teems with creatures innumerable,
living things both small and great.
...These all look to you,
to give them their food in due season.”
Psalms 145:15
“The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.”
Psalms 147:9
“He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.”
If he cares this much for the birds how much more does he care for you?!
Haggai 1:5-11
“Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”
Take care of God’s temple first. God is the one who provides food for his people.
Psalms 34:10
“The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.”
3. Worry is a failure to understand divine privilege
Luke 12:25
“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
You cannot add one day to your life. Not saying you shouldn’t be in good physical condition to serve God. But worry isn’t going to lengthen your life.
It is God’s privilege to determine exactly how long we are here.
4. Worry is a failure to understand Divine Preference.
Luke 12:27-28
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”
God prefers people. We are made in His image. We are not evolved apes. If God so adorns the flowers of the field, how much more does he care for you!
5. Worry is a failure to understand God’s paternity
He is our Father.
Luke 12:30-31
”For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”
The nations of the world strongly pursue the material things, for them it’s all about the physical world.
God, your Father, knows that you need these things. It’s not a question of power or resources or mercy or compassion or love. (He has all these) it’s just a question of knowledge, and HE KNOWS.
So, how do you tap into that? Verse 31. Seek His kingdom. Focus on the kingdom of God. All these things will be added to you.
Colossians 3:1-2
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
After entering the kingdom of God (Believing, humbling yourself and repenting), everything you do is for His honor and glory. Be devoted to what is eternal not what is temporal.
Stop being anxious - ”And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.“ Luke 12:22
Stop worrying - “And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.“ Luke 12:29
Stop being afraid - “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
Jesus is saying that it is possible to rise above the troubles of this life, even in 2021!
Worry is the result of ignorance or unbelief. Many Christians worry because they do not know enough about God or His promises. If you want to know God, read the book of Psalms.
Worry due to unbelief or distrust is a sin.
I hope this encourages you as it did me. I strongly recommend listening to the full sermons at GTY.org they are so rich, much more good counsel than I could capture here. And again, these promises are for the children of God, who’ve placed their trust in Christ Jesus, the only Son of God, our Savior. It’s not an exclusive club. Anyone can join. But you do need to make the choice. If you have any doubt about whether your place in heaven is secure, check out this to receive that assurance:
The Gospel - How To Be Saved
Our greatest desire is for people to come to know God personally. The simple truth is that there is a God who created you and loves you very much. (Genesis 1:1) He gave us life and deserves our gratitude and love. We, however, have chosen to disobey Him and sin against Him; all of us have...
