Worry And Anxiety Series

The Great Commission

Part 16 – Sermon on the Mount – Worry and Anxiety

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org

WELCOME

INTRODUCTION TO SERMON

† The Sermon on the Mount – The Beatitudes

† We are the Salt, staying pure with God’s Holy Word

† We are the Light, showing that Word to the World

† Hate is same as murder

† Lust the same as adultery

† Divorce, Oaths

† The Law of Love, Giving

† How to Pray

† Fasting

† Treasures in Heaven

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 6:25 – 34 Worry and Anxiety

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 So do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I. CHRIST COMMANDS

a. Therefore (LIT. Because of this)

Jesus begins talking about worry and anxiety by telling us why we should not worry and be anxious.

The literal says in verse 25, NOT therefore, but;

{Because of this} I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

Because of what? Because of verses 19-24 we read last week, treasures in heaven and the light within us!

If your eye (devotion – direction of movement – are you moving in a direction to glorify God?) If your eye is good, the whole body will be full of light.

If you are committed to Christ, (not just believing) then you are trying to glorify God in your life in the way you talk, think and live and the things you do.

You will be full of light, that is the Holy Spirit which is the light of God.

Remember last week Jesus said no man can serve two masters…

No man can serve God and money, or material things of this world.

So, BECAUSE you are committed to Christ and glorifying the Father in heaven, you are full of light of the Holy Spirit, and if you are full of God, because of this, you have no need to worry, because you belong to the Father in heaven.

b. Do not be anxious

Jesus doesn’t say “try not to worry so much”, He actually says here “DO NOT WORRY”.

This is a command. We are to obey all that Christ commands, and this is a command. He says “DO NOT WORRY”.

Not about your life (health/situation/surroundings), what you should eat or drink (where is it coming from), nor for your body (looks/modifications), nor for your clothing (where is it coming from).

c. Life is more important than food & clothing

Life is MORE than things…

Our life means more than just stuff…

We are to live a life that glorifies God, how do we show we have faith in God to save us from eternal damnation, but not have faith He will ensure we have food?

Our salvation is by faith, yet how much faith does one have if He does not trust the Father to provide?

We say He can perform miracles, yet can’t feed His children?

We say that we have salvation which comes by faith, yet we don’t have enough faith that God will provide for us.

II. EXAMPLE I

a. Look at the birds

Jesus knew the listeners would have a problem understanding this, so as He always does, He gives us an illustration that a child could understand.

But just in case you don’t, He explains it.

Look at the birds…

They do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into storehouses.