Being Victorious in the Fight Against Doubt & Worry

By:  Matt Allen

Text:  Mt. 6:25-34

 

FILING INFORMATION:

96040

08/04/96 - Cyclone, KY

 

I.  Introduction

A.  Listen to any national/world newscast - filled with bad news on top of bad news.  Lately:

1.  Atlanta bombing...

2.  TWA bombing...

3.  3 children kidnapped within a 100 mile radius right here where we live.

B.  Living in the 1990’s, it seems that people have more to worry about than ever.

1.  An age where people must worry about things that were not even imagined a few short years ago.

2.  An age where both husband & wife have to work, just to make ends meet.

3.  An age where our children are subjected to problems that not only effect them mentally, but physically too.

C.  Many worry about different things, For example:

1.  If we don’t have a job, we worry about that; if we have a job, we worry.

2.  If we don’t have any money, we worry about that, if we have money, we worry about that too.

3.  If we have no car, we worry about that, if we do, we worry about it breaking down.

4.  If we are sick, we worry.  If we aren’t sick, we worry about getting sick.

D.  Joke:  One worrier to another, I have so many troubles, if anything else happens to me today, it will be two weeks before I can get around to worrying about it.

E.  Worry is a problem most, if not all, of us need to work on.

F.  There is a difference between what is worry and what is concern.

1.  Worry is defined as:  “ to torment, trouble, plague, to bother or annoy, fret, to feel or express great care or anxiety and incessant attacking with the intention or effect of driving one to desperation.  2)  undue vexation or anxiety.

2.  Concern is defined as:  to effect the interest of, interest in, or care for any person or thing.  2)  Regard, caution, to have a wish or inclination to or affection for.

3.  One thing to be concerned about something, but to worry about it is another.

a.  For example, concern about the weather, will cause me to dress appropriately for it.

b.  concern about illness, will cause me to practice the good rules of health.

4.  But, overconcern, (when we say “over” something we mean above the bounds of.  Over-concern leads to worry.

G.  Interesting study from the University of Wisconsin:

1.  40% of worries are about things that never happen.

2.  30% of worries are about past things or things that cannot be changed.

3.  22% of worries are over petty, needless things.

4.  8% of worries were over legitimate concerns.

H.  In our lesson this morning, we want to examine the following question:

1.  What does the Bible say about worry?

2.  Why are worry & doubt sinful?

3.  How do I overcome worry?

4.  What are some things which I need to be concerned about?

 

II.  What Does The Bible Say About Worry?

A.  Matthew 6:25-34 - The words of the Master Teacher.

1.  From this passage, we read that we are not to worry.  Jesus said this 3 times in 11 verses.

a.  v. 25, 31, 34 - do not worry.

2. Instead of worrying, Jesus said to v. 33  This implies that if one is seeking the kingdom first, then he will not worry.

a.  v. 33-34 are linked together in the same context.  Because, Jesus says, you are seeking first the kingdom, you shouldn’t have to worry about tomorrow.

B.  Paul echoed this teaching in Philippians 4:6-7

1.  Anxious was in the definition of worry.

2.  Yes, the Philippians had much to be concerned with.  They lived in times of great persecution:

a.  they were basically isolated from other Christians.

b.  People were out to get them at each opportunity.

3.  Paul says be not anxious, but put your trust in the Lord by:

a.  praying & asking the Lord to help us with everything.

4.  v. 7 - Trust in the Lord, brings forth peace.

C.  Clearly, from these passages, one can see that worry is something which a Christian should not engage himself in.

 

III.  Why Are Doubt & Worry Sinful?

A.  We have just examined from the Scriptures, about how we are commanded not to worry.  As one carefully examines the subject, he can see exactly why the Lord commanded us not to worry.

B.  Worry keeps us from our duties - Eph. 5:15-17

1.  Notice the sense of urgency here in the words of the Holy Spirit through Paul, redeeming the time.

a.  What does it mean to redeem the time?

1.  taking advantage of each & every opportunity.

2.  for ex., today, retailers take advantage of every opp. to help their business grow.

b.  Christians need to redeem the time because the days are evil.  The days are full of those who wish for our defeat.

2.  Satan will use any tool necessary to keep us from redeeming the time.  one of these tools is worry & doubt.

a.  some spend their time worried about things to the point where it is prohibiting them from fulfilling their spiritual duties.

b.  spend time worrying over material things which will pass away - Mt. 6:19-21

3.  Even though many of us don’t realize it, we are loading up our minds with worry.  The Scriptures exhort Christians to be sober minded.

a.  When our minds are filled up with other things, we can’t devote it to:

1.  study & prayer.

2.  concern for & helping others.

C.  Worry Impairs Our Health - Psa 32:3-5.

1.  In this passage, David explains how the worry over unforgiven sin made him feel.

a.  bones grow old,   groaned all day long,  vitality turned into the drought of summer.

2.  Some today experience the same thing over things they could simply turn to the Lord.

a.  ever hear of someone who worried themselves sick? 

b.  For ex., when one goes in the hospital with the attitude that they’re not going to do good - they don’t.

3.  There was a book published by a Dr named S.S. McMillian recently which showed how:

a.  hives, asthma, ulcers & high blood pressure can be directly related to worry.

b.  One interesting note from his book, in his studies he found that incidents of stomach ulcers go up & down with the stock market.

D. It robs us of joy, happiness & peace. - Phil 4:4-7

1.  As Christians, we should be a happy people.  We should be a people who are energetic, on fire for the Lord & zealous to promote His cause.

a.  Why?  Why does Paul exhort the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord?

1.  Why should they rejoice when people could be put in prison for being Christians,  when people could be killed,  worship was in secret.  Yet he tells them to rejoice in the Lord!!!!

2.  They were to rejoice because they had something the Roman oppressors & the world did not have - the hope of eternal salvation!  This also should give us cause to rejoice.

a.  we have the protection of the Father - v. 6-7 - the Father protects His children.

b.  We have the association with people who genuinely care for us!

c.  But, there are some who go around looking as if they have lost their best friend!.

3.  Some are caught up in worrying about:

a.  What others in the world think of them.

1.  In our personal lives - w.a.o.g.t. think about me if I don’t go to this party, and what if I make a stand for Christ on this issue?

2.  In our spiritual lives about the church.  w.a.o.g.t. think about our congregation because it doesn’t look and act like 1st Bapt, 1st Methodist, or the Presbyterians, ect.

a.  This worry has produced major problems among the institutional churches of Christ.

b.  Think about popular thinking in denom. churches today:  all like spokes in a wheel.  all going to the same place, there are good people in all the churches......

c.  this thinking has crept in among the institutional churches of Christ, and is causing great problems.

3.  Grandbury, TX example....

b.  some are caught up in worrying about what goes on in the pers. lives of brothers & sisters.

1. became a problem in Thessalonica - 2 Thess 3:8-12

2. Gossip destroys relationships between people.  It isn’t the way of a Christian.

c.  Some spend their time worrying with worldly affairs so they: 

1.  don’t attend services.

2.  don’t give as they should.

3.  don’t study as they should.

4.  Worry is a derivative of a Mid. Eng. word - worowen which means “to strangle.”

a.  a death by stangeling is one of the most horrible deaths a person could die.  a slow agonizing death, where the person knows exactly what is happening to them the whole time.

b.  worry can strangle us now.  It strangles many christians today.

1.  Many Christians are “grasping for air” spiritually, because they are too worried about these things we have just talked about.

2.  Worry has strangled institutional churches - seeds sown back in 50’s & 60’s are taking root:

c.  Does worry have a strangle hold on your life?

5.  Prov. 17:22

E.  Worry hinders Our Prayers - James 1:5-6

1.  Prayer is how we communicate with the Father.

a.  We communicate with those around us all the time.  Sometimes have problems communicating with others because:

1.  phone lines down; weather bad; different languages

b.  The most important communication we can have is with the Father.

1.  We should make great efforts to communicate with Him.

2.  Do we realize worry & doubt can hinder comm. with the Lord?

2.  If we go to the Lord, doubting we will receive then we can be assured we won’t receive it.

a.  those who doubt like waves drawn & tossed by the sea.

b.  James 5:15,17-18 - when Elijah prayed, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind.

F.  Finally,  worry chokes the word of God - Luke 8:11-15

1.  In this passage, Jesus is talking about the parable of the sower.

a.  read v. 15 says those who receive the word of God & keep it will bear fruit through patience or endurance.

b.  v. 14 - heard what?  The word of God.  Jesus defined it back in v. 11.  They go out and are what?  choked.  Remember the word for worry?  strangle?

c.  choked with what?  cares, riches, and pleasures of life.

1.  result of worry & doubt - brings no fruit to maturity.

2.  What did Jesus say about those who bear no fruit?

a.  John 15:1-6

3.  It should be obvious now just how important this subject is to our lives as Christians.

 

IV.  How To Overcome Worry & Doubt.

A.  We must make up our minds to conquer it.  As with most things, it begins with “Me.”  It begins with our want to.

1.  Many make up their minds to do many things:

a.  lose weight

b.  stop smoking

c.  make money.

2.  Can be the same way with worry!

3.  Abe Lincoln - “I have been as happy as I’ve made up my mind to be.”

4.  Paul taught us to bring every though “into captivity to the obedience of Christ “  2 Cor. 10:5

a.  As with anything else, takes desire and hardwork, but we can do it.

B.  Form a right relationship with God.

1.  Back to Phil. 4:6

a.  we need to get our lives in tune with the Lord.  We need to put our trust in the Lord.

1.  When one goes to the Lord in prayer, He is putting his faith and trust in the Lord.

2.  When we are in a right relationship w/Him, we will be thankful for the blessings we have.

a.  not only for the spiritual blessings we have in Christ:

b.  He also blesses us while here upon the earth.  We can be assured that anything we NEED, He will supply.

C.  Put Your Trust in the Lord.

1.  Living in a relationship will move us to stand fast in the Lord.  Phil. 3:17-4:1

a.  to stand fast demands trust on our part.

2.  Pull out a quarter, or dollar.  In God We Trust..  phrase lost it’s meaning.

3.  Look at Paul’s trust in the Lord - Acts 27:25

a.  do we believe God just as He told us?

b.  do we believe such Scriptures as:

1.  Prob. 3:5-6

2.  Psa. 37:3 - Trust in the Lord and do good.

3.  The words of Jesus in John 14:2-4?

D.  Move Concerns to More Worthy Things.

1.  Luke 10:38-42

2.  What are we concerned with?  The frivolous things here on earth or growing spiritually?

E.  Take worries to the Lord in Prayer.

1.  Psa. 28:6-7, Psa 55:22

F.  Live one day at a time.

1.  back to text in Matt. 6:25-34

a.  Jesus Himself offers a remedy for worry. - v. 33-34

 

V.  Conclusion.

A.  Are you caught up in a world of worry?

1.  Why not start putting your trust in the Lord today?

B.  We mentioned earlier about some things we all need to be concerned about.  Are you concerned about the fate of your soul?

1.  Are you prepared to meet the Lord your God?  Too many concentrate on earthly things and neglect their spiritual responsibilities. 

2.  If everyone was genuinely concerned about their spiritual welfare, this bldg. would be full today.

C.  You have the opportunity to come forward.

D.  Why not today?