Isn’t it strange how a 20-dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping? Isn’t it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you’re at church, and how short they seem when you’re watching a good movie? Isn’t it strange that you can’t find a word to say when you’re praying, but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend? Isn’t it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel? Isn’t it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church? Isn’t it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute? Isn’t it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip? Isn’t it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we question the words in the Bible? Isn’t it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don’t want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?
PREVENTIVE PRAYER AND BEING FREE FROM ANXIETY OR WORRY
Matthew 6:25-34
Jesus is saying that worry is not the answer to living an abundant life in Him. We are looking at the Holy Habit that Jesus practiced of prayer. I would like us to think on worry as a block from being spiritually alive in Jesus. In this Scripture He has told us not to worry and I would like for us to look at another passage to help us understand the meaning clearly.
Paul had good reason to be anxious. His beloved friends at Philippi were disagreeing with one another. There were two ladies that could not get along. He told them they needed to settle their disagreement and bring peace to the church. He also knew of preachers in Rome who were filled with envy and strife and were out to destroy him. Now he was under house arrest, awaiting trial and it could mean his death. You thought you had problems when you came to church. Are there any to compare with these? Yet his central word is "rejoice!" We find his reason in Ph 4:6-7.
What does the word anxiety mean? Many of us will find a likeness in it means, "To be pulled in different directions." We would see this in letting our hope pull in one direction and yet let fear pull in another direction. To be anxious is to be "pulled apart"!
Bob had finally made it to the last round of the $1,000,000 Question TV Quiz Show. The night before the big question, he told the host that he wanted a question on American History. The big night arrived. Bob made his way on stage in front of the studio and TV audience. He had become the talk of the town. He was the best guest this show had ever seen. The host stepped up to the microphone. "Bob, you have chosen American History as your final question. You know that if you correctly answer this question, you will walk away one million dollars richer. Are you ready?" Bob nodded with a cocky confidence, the crowd went wild. He hadn’t missed a question all week. "Bob, yours is a two-part question. As you know, you may answer either part first. As a rule, the second half of the question is always easier. Which part would you like to take a stab at first?" Bob was becoming more noticeably nervous, so he played it safe. "I’ll try the easier part first." The host nodded approvingly. "Here we go, Bob. I will ask you the second half first, then the first half." The audience grew silent with anticipation. "Bob, here is your question: And in what year did it happen?" So often in our spiritual lives, we want the "second part" first because it’s easier without realizing that the "first part" is necessary before we can have the "second part."
The word for anxiety is like the word worry. Guess what this word comes from? It comes from a word meaning, "to strangle." Have you ever really been worried and it seems to have strangle hold on you. Did you know worry could cause us to have headaches, pain in the neck, ulcers and back pain? Anybody with these today? Worry can affect how we think, mess up our digestion system and we could loose our coordination. Therefore, Paul says “Never worry about anything.” “Don’t worry about anything.” “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray about every thing.”
From a spiritual point of view, worry comes from a Wrong THINKING and wrong FEELING about circumstances, people and things. Did not Jesus tell us not to be concerned about people and things in the Sermon on the Mount? Worry takes away our joy. Are you a joy to be around? Worry is something inside us and it takes more than just a strong will power to overcome worry. What do we find in our Scripture for today to help overcome worry?
A. THE "REMEDY" IS THE RIGHT KIND OF "PRAYING"!
1. This is the praying in which we pray about "everything"! In the song “Sweet hour of prayer we run across the words "take everything to God in prayer." Are these just words we sing or do we put them into practice? We could put it in another way, "Don’t worry about ANYTHING, but pray about EVERYTHING!" Did you need to hear that this morning? Why is it we are given to pray about the "big things", and forget to pray about the "little things" When we let the little things unattended they grow up to become big things. God wants us talk to Him about everything.
2. This is the praying in which in which we pray by prayer and supplication. Most of us do not have trouble in thinking that prayer is making our requests known to God. What comes to our minds when we think of praying with the idea of adoration, devotion, and worship? Can one worry and pray with adoration, devotion and worship? At the start of our prayer time, we need to spend time in thoughts about God whom we are praying to. Adoration for God helps us to remember the enormity and magnificence of God. He is so good and he is big enough to solve the problems we cannot. How often do I rush into His presence and hastily tell Him my needs and wants? If we want to be free from worry it only comes when we spend more time on Who He is, rather than on what our problems are! We need to ask our selves “am I problem focused or God focused?” When we spend time in adoration, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name”, we are now ready to move on to our needs. This is the supplication where we begin making our requests known to God. We need to be intense in sharing of our problems and needs. We cannot be freed from worry with feeble, artificial praying! We also need to be careful here because Jesus also spoke to us about using flowery long worded prayers in His Sermon on the Mount. Our Father wants us to be intense and determined in our asking. “Ask and it shall be given unto you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened unto you.” An example is given by Jesus in Hebrews 5:7 “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared”
3. THIS IS THE PRAYING IN WHICH IN WHICH WE PRAY "WITH THANKSGIVING." How often does the words thank you come in our daily lives? I find it often in our town when people do things for others. I have also seen in children that they just take things for granted and do not say thank you. Do you take time to thank God on a regular basis? I believe the Father delights in hearing His children say Thank you! Jesus in one time of his ministry healed 10 people and only one turned to him and said thank you. He helped 10 only one said thank you. Have you said thank you to Him today? How eager are you to say thank you for the little things that come into your life? Make a note that this "thanksgiving" is offered at the same time that our requests are given. This helps us to be reminded of all the other things God is doing in our lives. This helps us to banish worry because it does not fit with being thankful.
DOES PRAYER CHANGE THINGS? They say that prayer changes things, but does it REALLY change anything? Oh, yes! It really does! Does prayer change your present situation or sudden circumstances? No, not always, but it does change the way you look at those events. Does prayer change your financial future? No, not always, but it does change who you look to for meeting your daily needs. Does prayer change shattered hearts or broken bodies? No, not always, but it will change your source of strength and comfort. Does prayer change your wants and desires? No, not always, but it will change your wants into what God desires! Does prayer change how you view the world? No, not always, but it will change whose eyes you see the world through. Does prayer change your regrets from the past? No, not always, but it will change your hopes for the future! Does prayer change the people around you? No, not always, but it will change you - the problem isn’t always in others. Does prayer change your life in ways you can’t explain? Oh, yes, always! And it will change you from the inside out! So does prayer REALLY change ANYTHING? Yes! It REALLY does change EVERYTHING! Author Unknown
B. THE REMEDY WILL RESULT IN A FORTRESS GUARDING OUR MINDS AND HEARTS.
1. It is not always that God removes the problems that caused of our worry, but He promises a "peace which surpasses all understanding"! This is a peace that Jesus tells the world can never give to us JN 14:27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” It is a peace that protects our hearts and minds. Our hearts are protected from wrong feelings. How often this week has your feelings been hurt. God’s peace protects us and helps us overcome. Has your thinking always been right this week? Gods’ peace helps us think right because it puts our minds on Him. We may still have trials on the outside, but God gives us a quiet confidence within that goes beyond what any pill, medicine, pleasure, therapy, food, Vitamin or exercise will do for us. Then Regardless of the circumstances, the people, or the things that would steal our joy we have peace.
2. This comes because we can live in Christ Jesus.
Just Suppose-- Just suppose, when I pray, there really is someone listening who cares about me and wants to know what is on my mind. Just suppose, when I pray, it changes me and my view of how the universe operates and who is involved. Just suppose, I put my doubts aside for a minute and consider the possibility that someone who new me before I was born loves me, warts and all, without condition or reservation, no matter how badly I have behaved in the past. Just suppose, a prayer was my first response instead of my last resort when facing a new challenge or an old temptation. Just suppose, I lived each day, knowing that there is an inexhaustible supply of love for me to pass along to others, Just suppose
CONCLUSION
1. This is a wonderful peace; this is being freed from worry. It comes from letting our requests be known to God through the right kind of praying: Praying about everything. Praying with prayer and supplication. Praying with thanksgiving.
2. All this is possible THROUGH Christ Jesus. He is the only source of every spiritual blessing from God, including the peace that passes all understanding. We must be IN Christ if we desire this peace.
If you desire the "peace of God"? Then you must place your trust IN Jesus Christ.
