LIFE’S ANXIETY
LUKE 10:38-42
Introduction:
In verse 40, “But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” We see Martha FRETTING, “But Martha was cumbered about much serving,” RESENTING, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?” and DICTATING, “bid her therefore that she help me.”
In his book Overcoming Anxiety, Dr. Gary Collins says that a person’s anxiety may be…
Specific- like a barking dog…
Free floating (does not know why).
Acute (it comes quickly, at high intensity, for a short duration), or
Chronic (low intensity, longer lasting).
Normal (when there is real danger) or
Neurotic (abnormal feelings of discomfort when danger is mild or non-existent). A neurotic person is one who worries about things that never happened in the past, unlike a normal person who worries about things that never happen in the future.
I. THE CAUSES OF ANXIETY IN THE BELIEVER.
A. Lack of facts, Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
1. Worry is a lack of trust in God, which stems from a lack of knowledge of God.
a. Who God is, John 14:8-9, “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”
b. What He is like.
2. This is all linked to a deficiency of divine truth.
B. Fear.
1. “Worry is emotional distress caused by anticipating unknown adversity.”
2. “Worry is a thin stream of fear that trickles through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a wind channel that drains away all other thoughts.”
A. Lack of Faith, Romans 14:23, “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
B. Foolishness, Matthew 6:26-30.
1. The birds (regarding food), v. 26.
2. The body (no control over how long we will live), v. 27.
3. The flowers (they are well clothed), vs. 28-30.
II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANXIETY.
A. Anxiety causes EMOTIONAL damage; a person is robbed of joy and peace,
B. Anxiety causes PHYSICAL damage.
1. Butterflies in the stomach.
2. A lump in the throat.
3. Cotton in the mouth.
4. Rapid heart beat.
5. Insomnia.
6. Loss of appetite.
C. Anxiety causes SOCIAL damage.
1. A chronic worrier is not much fun to be with.
2. Friendships cannot flourish in an atmosphere of anxiety.
D. Anxiety causes SPIRITUAL damage, Matthew 13:22, “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”
III. THE CURE FOR ANXIETY.
A. Learn to trust the Lord, Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Psalm 37:3, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”
B. Delight thyself in the Lord, Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
1. With exceeding Joy, Psalm 43:4, “Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.”
2. Be glad in the Lord, Psalm 104:34, “My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.”
C. Commit you way to the Lord, Psalm 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
1. Get your head on right, Proverbs 16:3, “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”
2. Make your request known to God, Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
D. Rest in the Lord, Psalm 37:7, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”
1. Cast your burden upon Him, Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
2. He cares for you, 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
B. Learn to cast your cares on the Lord, 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
C. Learn to pray, Philippians 4:6-7, “6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
D. Learn to share and bear your burdens, James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
E. Learn to live one day at a time, Matthew 6:34, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
CONCLUSION
Don’t let things bother you as they did Martha. Sit at the feet of Jesus and learn the Word of God. This will give us what we need to cope with life without so much anxiety.
Taken from “Dispositions that Destroy” by Jerry Locke.