• 109- Higher Ground109- Higher Ground

• 402- Leaning on the Everlasting Arms402- Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

• 166- He Loved Me So166- He Loved Me So

• 465- Jesus Knows and Cares465- Jesus Knows and Cares

• 276- There is Power in the Blood276- There is Power in the Blood

• 462- God Will Take Care of You 462- God Will Take Care of You

IntroductionMany people are worried about the future. Many people are worried about the future.

Americans are either losing their job, Americans are either losing their job, getting laid off, or fear that they might getting laid off, or fear that they might

get the next pink slip.get the next pink slip.

So how will I pay my bills? Where will I So how will I pay my bills? Where will I live? How will I provide for my children? live? How will I provide for my children?

But Jesus commanded that we are not to But Jesus commanded that we are not to worry! worry!

IntroductionBut we have likely failed to keep this But we have likely failed to keep this

command. command.

Jesus would not give us a command that Jesus would not give us a command that we did not have the ability to keep. we did not have the ability to keep.

Jesus gives us several reasons why we Jesus gives us several reasons why we should not worry in should not worry in Matthew 6:25-34Matthew 6:25-34. .

Let us learn from our Lord how we can Let us learn from our Lord how we can overcome this problem which easily overcome this problem which easily

besets us so that we can be more useful besets us so that we can be more useful in the Lord’s service. in the Lord’s service.

Don’t Worry- You are Very Precious to GodSince God has given us our very lives, we Since God has given us our very lives, we

can trust Him to give us what we need can trust Him to give us what we need for our bodies for our bodies (Matt. 6:25; 2 Peter 1:3; (Matt. 6:25; 2 Peter 1:3;

Acts 17:25).Acts 17:25).

God feeds the birds and you are of greater God feeds the birds and you are of greater value to Him than them value to Him than them (Matt. 6:26; (Matt. 6:26;

Luke 12:6-7). Luke 12:6-7).

If God does not forget one single sparrow If God does not forget one single sparrow (which is worth less than a penny) do (which is worth less than a penny) do you think that He will forget about you you think that He will forget about you

and the fears that you are facing?and the fears that you are facing?

Don’t Worry- You are Very Precious to GodBr. A. W. Dicus wrote these words to music, Br. A. W. Dicus wrote these words to music,

“"Lord, I believe, yes, I believe, I cannot “"Lord, I believe, yes, I believe, I cannot doubt or be deceived; The eye that sees doubt or be deceived; The eye that sees each sparrow fall, His unseen hand is in each sparrow fall, His unseen hand is in

it all.“it all.“

God wove us in our mother’s womb and God wove us in our mother’s womb and knows our most intimate thoughts knows our most intimate thoughts (Ps. (Ps.

139: 13).139: 13).

While we were still ungodly, God sent His While we were still ungodly, God sent His son to redeem us from our sins and from son to redeem us from our sins and from

the wrath to come the wrath to come (Romans 5:8-11). (Romans 5:8-11).

Don’t Worry- It is Useless and Harmful

Worrying about your height or the length Worrying about your height or the length of life will not help you of life will not help you (Matthew 6:27).(Matthew 6:27).

Many worry themselves to an early grave Many worry themselves to an early grave over things they cannot control.over things they cannot control.

The wife is worried because her husband is The wife is worried because her husband is late and wonders if he is cheating on late and wonders if he is cheating on

her.her.

The husband worries about his wife The husband worries about his wife spending too much money at the mall.spending too much money at the mall.

Don’t Worry- It is Useless and Harmful

Parents are concerned about the Parents are concerned about the faithfulness of their children or faithfulness of their children or

grandchildren living away from home in grandchildren living away from home in a wicked world. a wicked world.

A mother worries because her teenager has A mother worries because her teenager has not come home and begins to imagine not come home and begins to imagine

they have been in an accident, they are they have been in an accident, they are injured, or may have died. injured, or may have died.

Is all of that worry going to help in any of Is all of that worry going to help in any of those situations or will it be harmful? those situations or will it be harmful?

Don’t Worry- It is Useless and Harmful Dr. Charles Mayo, of the famed Mayo Dr. Charles Mayo, of the famed Mayo

Clinic, once saidClinic, once said, "Worry affects the , "Worry affects the circulation -- the heart, the glands, the circulation -- the heart, the glands, the

whole nervous system. I have never whole nervous system. I have never known a man who died from overwork, known a man who died from overwork,

but many who died from doubt."but many who died from doubt."

If you are always worried about something If you are always worried about something and sharing it with your spouse, and sharing it with your spouse,

children, friend or brethren, it is not only children, friend or brethren, it is not only useless but will likely be harmful to useless but will likely be harmful to

them unless they tell you to quit them unless they tell you to quit worrying about it.worrying about it.

Don’t Worry- It Demonstrates a Lack of Faith in God

If God can clothe the lilies and grass of the If God can clothe the lilies and grass of the field will he not be able to provide field will he not be able to provide

clothing for you? clothing for you?

Jesus rebukes them for their lack of faith. Jesus rebukes them for their lack of faith. (Matthew 6:28-30) (Matthew 6:28-30)

Do we not have the faith that God will be Do we not have the faith that God will be with us and our loved ones that we are with us and our loved ones that we are

concerned about? concerned about? (Romans 8:31ff)(Romans 8:31ff)

Don’t Worry- It Demonstrates a Lack of Faith in God

Our Heavenly Father knows what we need Our Heavenly Father knows what we need and has promised to provide all the and has promised to provide all the

necessities of life if we will put Him first necessities of life if we will put Him first in our lives. in our lives. (Matthew 6:31-33)(Matthew 6:31-33)

If we are worrying, can we truly be putting If we are worrying, can we truly be putting the kingdom of God first in our lives? the kingdom of God first in our lives?

Are you walking by faith or by sight? Are you walking by faith or by sight? (2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:1)(2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:1)

How Do You Overcome Worry?

Be content to live one day at a time for the Be content to live one day at a time for the Lord. Lord. (Matthew 6:34; Philippians 3:13-(Matthew 6:34; Philippians 3:13-

14) 14)

Pray without doubting and God has Pray without doubting and God has promised you that you will have the promised you that you will have the peace that passes all understanding peace that passes all understanding

(Phil. 4:6-7; James 1:5-8).(Phil. 4:6-7; James 1:5-8).

Focus on the positive instead of the Focus on the positive instead of the negative. negative. (Philippians 4:8)(Philippians 4:8)

““Cast all your care upon Him because He Cast all your care upon Him because He cares for you” cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).(1 Peter 5:7).

ConclusionAre you worrying about things you can’t Are you worrying about things you can’t

control? control?

Don’t worry- You need to realize that you Don’t worry- You need to realize that you are precious to God, it is useless and are precious to God, it is useless and

harmful, and it demonstrates a lack of harmful, and it demonstrates a lack of faith in God. faith in God.

Examine yourself by the Scriptures and be Examine yourself by the Scriptures and be honest. Are you truly seeking the honest. Are you truly seeking the

kingdom of God first? kingdom of God first? (2 Cor. 13:5; Matt. (2 Cor. 13:5; Matt. 6:33) 6:33)

You can be free from the burden of sin by You can be free from the burden of sin by obeying the gospel or being restored!obeying the gospel or being restored!