Sermon Central
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God's Answer To Worry Series
Contributed by Vernon L Caruthers on Sep 17, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: This is sermon 1 from the 23rd psalm. It is God’s answer to worry.
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Sermons for September 20, 2009
Sermon Series: Sermons from Psalm 23
Sermon #1: God’s Answer to Worry
Scripture Ref: Psalm 23:1-6
Introduction:
The 23rd Psalm is the MOST BELOVED PSALM of the BIBLE. It is by far the MOST POPULAR READING at FUNERALS. However, this PSALM is not just a SOURCE of COMFORT to those who GRIEVE for the DEAD. This PSALM is COMFORT for those of us who STRUGGLE with the CARES & the TOILS & the STRESSES of EVERY DAY LIFE.
In PSALM 23 we find REVEALED 7 CAUSES of DAILY STRESS & GOD’S ANSWERS to them.
This morning we look at the 1st CAUSE of STRESS --- WORRY.
WORRY: We all WORRY to some extent. We WORRY about our FINANCES, our MARRIAGES, our CHILDREN, our HEALTH, & our FUTURE.
However there are 3 PROBLEMS with WORRY:
1: WORRY is UNHELPFUL:
WORRY never ACCOMPLISHES ANYTHING GOOD.
WORRY never SOLVES ANYTHING.
WORRY is like RACING our CAR ENGINE. We create a lot of smoke & NOISE but we don’t go anywhere.
WORRY CANNOT CHANGE the PAST.
WORRY CANNOT CHANGE the FUTURE.
The ONLY THING that WORRY can do is make TODAY MISERABLE.
WORRY is UNHELPFUL, it does not work.
2: WORRY is UNREASONABLE:
WORRY EXAGGERATES OUR PROBLEMS. Never MINIMIZIES
WORRY makes MOUNTAINS out of MOLEHILLS.
WORRY takes our PROBLEMS & BLOWS THEM OUT of PURPORTION in the IMAGINATIONS of our MINDS.
The MORE we WORRY about SOMETHING the MORE it LOOKS INSURMOUNTABLE & IMPOSSIBLE to OVERCOME.
But no matter HOW MUCH we WORRY it NEVER CHANGES THINGS for the BETTERMENT.
WORRY only makes us GROW WEAKER & WEARIER.
WORRY is TOTALLY USELESS.
3: WORRY is UNHEALTHY:
Our BODIES were NOT MADE to WORRY.
WORRY causes ULCERS – BACKACHES – INSOMNIA – HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE HEART ATTACKS – STROKES – DIABETES – MISCARRIAGES -- STRESS & LORD knows what else.
ANIMALS & PLANTS don’t WORRY.
The ONLY THING that WORRIES about SOMETHING in all of GOD’S CREATION is PEOPLE.
We WORRY when we were NOT MADE to WORRY.
The OLD ENGLISH WORD for WORRY is the word “TO STRUGGLE” or “TO CHOKE”
That is WHAT WORRY DOES to us; it CHOKES the LIFE out of us.
We were NOT BORN WORRYING. We have to LEARN to WORRY.
But the GOOD NEWS is that IF we LEARNED to WORRY then we can UNLEARN to WORRY.
WHAT is the ANSWER to WORRY?
#1: BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF US:
That is EXACTLY WHAT DAVID is saying in this 23rd PSALM.
Psalm 23:1 ‘The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
Another version of the Scripture says it this way:
‘The LORD is my shepherd, I have everything I need.’
DAVID once served as a SHEPHERD as he TENDED his father’s SHEEP on the JUDEAN HILLSIDES. He knew the RESPONSIBILITY & the OBLIGATION & the DUTIES of the SHEPHERD.
If we could BELIEVE that GOD is OUR SHEPHERD; that HE is going to TAKE CARE of us, then we would have NO NEED to WORRY about ANYTHING.
We just simply BE the SHEEP & allow GOD to be the SHEPHERD.
WHEN we MAKE the LORD OUR SHEPHERD HOW is THAT the ANSWER to our WORRIES?
The TRUST comes WHEN we REALIZE WHAT a SHEPHERD IS:
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#1: A SHEPHERD PROVIDES.
He provides FOOD, SHELTER, & the BASIC NECESSITIES for the SHEEP.
#2: A SHEPHERD PROTECTS:
He defends the SHEEP against the ENEMIES that are LURKING ABOUT.
#3: A SHEPHERD GUIDES:
HE LEADS the SHEEP when they become CONFUSED & don’t know WHICH WAY to go.
#4: A SHEPHERD CORRECTS:
Any PROBLEM that comes along he CORRECTS IT.
The AMAZING THING is this:
GOD has PROMISED to DO these FOUR THINGS in our lives if we will TRUST HIM, if we will ALLOW HIM to be OUR SHEPHERD.
GOD declares:
I will PROVIDE for you. All of your NEEDS will be met.
I will PROTECT you. NOTHING will HARM you
I will GUIDE you. I will LEAD YOU to WHERE you need to be.
I will CORRECT the PROBLEMS that are in your lives. THINGS you CANNOT do.
If you will LET ME BE YOUR SHEPHERD
Isaiah 40:11 ‘GOD takes care of HIS people like a SHEPHERD.’
GOD even gets more specific in
Philippians 4:19 “My GOD shall supply all your needs according to HIS riches in glory through CHRIST JESUS.’
There is NO RECESSION when it comes to GOD’S RICHES.
Now that doesn’t say GOD will meet all OUR GREED.
There is a DIFFERENCE between WANTS & NEEDS.
If GOD met all of OUR WANTS we’d be the MOST SPOILED BRATS in the universe.
When GOD says “I WILL” then that puts HIS CHARACTER at RISK. If HE doesn’t do that HE becomes a LIAR.
& basically that is what WORRY does. It says to GOD we DO NOT BELIEVE HIM.
