Be Not Anxious

TEXT:  Mat. 6:34

INTRODUCTION:

A.        "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION."

B.         A SOCIETY OF WORRIERS.

            1.         More $ spent on psychologists than religion.

            2.         More psychoanalysts than you can shake a stick at.

            3.         Not satisfied with peace - must worry.

C.        JESUS TELLS US NOT TO WORRY.  WHY?

I.        ANXIETY INDICATES A LACK OF TRUST IN GOD.

A.        THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE ARE PROVIDED( Mat. 6:25-30 ).

B.         GOD CARES( Mat. 10:29-31;  1 Pet. 5:7 ).

C.        Phil. 4:6-7.  "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD"( Psa. 23 ).

II.       ANXIETY CAN SHORTEN LIFE ON EARTH.

A.        ACUTE WORRY EFFECTS MIND AND BODY.

            1.         Body:  heart, ulcers, digestion, hair, loss.

            2.         Mind:  breakdowns, loss of concentration and initiative.

B.         IT HINDERS WORKING FOR JESUS TODAY( Luke 9:57-62 ).

III.      ANXIETY IS A MARK OF WORLDLY PEOPLE( Mat. 6:31-32 ).

A.        MATERIAL GOODS ARE TRANSITORY( Mat. 6:19-20 ).

B.         WE MUST LOOK BEYOND THIS LIFE.  EXAMPLES:

            1.         Abraham( Heb. 11:9-10 ).

            2.         Moses( 11:24-27 ).

            3.         Paul( 2 Cor. 4:16-18 ).

C.        A NOBLER PLAIN( Col. 2:1-2 ).

D.        LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME( Mat. 6:34 ).

VI.     "ALL THESE THINGS( Mat. 6:33 ).  IF WE SEEK FIRST..."

A.        PHYSICAL NEEDS( Mat. 6:25f. ).

B.         SPIRITUAL PEACE( Phil. 4:6-7 ).

            1.         God is the source of that peace( 1 Cor. 14:33 ).

            2.         Rom. 8:6.

            3.         Peace is the result of confidence we can have as Christians

                        ( Rom. 8:32-39;  2 Tim. 1:12 ).

CONCLUSIONS:

A.        OUTSIDE CHRIST THERE IS REASON TO WORRY( Rom. 6:23 ).

B.         IN CHRIST WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS.