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.