Part 1 – Overcoming the storms in your life
Philippians 4:6 (NIV) 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Worries of Life
- Coronavirus
- Being overweight
- Getting old
- Lack of savings/ financial future
- Overall fitness
- Overdrafts and loans
- Low energy levels
- Credit card debt
- Paying rent/mortgage
- Job security
How does the Bible define worry?
The Greek word Merimnao “ to worry’, to be careful, to take thought’
It also fuses to two other words – merizo, meaning to divide and nous, meaning “mind”
In the New Testament worry implies “a divided mind”. When you worry, you express a conflict of purpose. You become unstable. You become unstable in your decisions. Unstable in your judgements
Worries divides your feelings, your understanding, your perception, your judgment, and your will.
Worry causes heartbreak, failure, misunderstanding and much unhappiness.
Jas 1:8 For there is a division in his mind, and he is uncertain in all his ways.
Worry is sin
1. Worry is sin because it distrusts God.
Rom 8:28 We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Heb 11:6 And without faith it is not possible to be well-pleasing to him, for it is necessary for anyone who comes to God to have the belief that God is, and that he is a rewarder of all those who make a serious search for him.
Heb 3:16 Wie was dit dan wat gehoor het en Hom verbitter het? Was dit nie almal wat onder leiding van Moses uit Egipte gegaan het nie? Heb 3:17 En op wie was Hy veertig jaar lank vertoornd? Was dit nie op die wat gesondig het, wie se lyke in die woestyn geval het nie? Heb 3:18 En aan wie het Hy gesweer dat hulle in sy rus nie sal ingaan nie, behalwe aan die ongehoorsames? Heb 3:19 En ons sien dat hulle deur ongeloof nie kon ingaan nie.
Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Heb 13:5 For God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”
Mat 6:25 “This is why I tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. After all, isn’t life worth more than food? And isn’t the body worth more than clothes?
Mat 6:32 (These are the things the pagans are always concerned about.) Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. Mat 6:33 Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. Mat 6:34 So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.
If you are a Christian, remember that worry damages and even destroys the temple of God, which is your body.
2. Worry is sin because it damages the temple of God
1Co 3:16 Surely you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you!
1Co 6:19 Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves but to God;
1Co 6:20 he bought you for a price. So use your bodies for God’s glory.
1Pe 2:5 Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.
3. Worry is sin because it damages relationship
When you worry, it infects and degrades your ability to relate to others.
- Worry damages your relationship with God
Isa 26:3 You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.
Isa 26:4 Trust in the LORD forever; he will always protect us.
Worry is sin
b. Worry damages your relationship with family
c. Worry damages your relationship with unbelievers
Mat 5:16 In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
How does the Bible deal with worry?
Php 4:4 May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! Php 4:5 Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Php 4:6 Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. Php 4:7 And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus. Php 4:8 In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.
How does the Bible deal with worry?
Phil 4:4-8 (JB Phillips) 4-5 Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in him at all times. Have a reputation for gentleness, and never forget the nearness of your Lord. 6-7 Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus. 8-9 Here is a last piece of advice. If you believe in goodness and if you value the approval of God, fix your minds on the things which are holy and right and pure and beautiful and good. Model your conduct on what you have learned from me, on what I have told you and shown you, and you will find the God of peace will be with you.
Matthew 6:25-34 Amplified Bible (AMP) The Cure for Anxiety 25 “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of] his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labour nor do they spin [wool to make clothing], 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Conclusion
Praise – Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Poise (Stability)- Php 4:5 (AMP) 5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.
Prayer – Php 4:6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
Praise + Poise + Prayer = Peace