Finding Freedom From Your Worries

Life.Church Messages
28 Apr 202423:57

Summary

TLDRThe speaker addresses the universal issue of worry and anxiety, highlighting common concerns such as children's safety, financial stability, and health. Through the lens of faith, the speaker encourages the audience to find solace in God's promises and to refrain from worry, as it is unproductive. Drawing from Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6, the speaker outlines practical reasons to avoid worry and instead trust in God's faithfulness, goodness, and provision. The message concludes with a call to action for individuals to surrender their worries to God and to trust in His control over their futures, emphasizing that faith conquers fear and God is always in control.

Takeaways

  • 😟 Many people have various worries, including safety, mental health, and financial concerns.
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents often worry about their children's well-being and future.
  • 📰 Current events like elections, economic instability, and inflation can cause anxiety.
  • 🏠 The high cost of living and homeownership is a source of stress for many.
  • 🤖 There are fears that advancements in AI could lead to negative consequences for humanity.
  • 🤒 Health concerns can escalate when people search symptoms online, leading to unnecessary worry.
  • 🙏 The message series 'He Promises' focuses on Jesus' teachings about not worrying and trusting in God's provision.
  • 📖 In Matthew 6, Jesus advises not to worry and assures that God will provide for our needs.
  • 🕊️ Jesus uses the example of birds to show that God provides for all of creation, and we should trust in His care.
  • 🌱 Faith can overcome fear and worry, as God's kingdom and righteousness are more important than our worries.
  • 🔮 Looking to the future with hope involves trusting God's control and goodness, despite life's uncertainties.

Q & A

  • What is the main theme of the speaker's message?

    -The main theme of the speaker's message is the encouragement to not worry and to trust in God's faithfulness and provision.

  • Why does the speaker mention children as a source of worry for parents?

    -The speaker mentions children as a source of worry to illustrate the natural concerns parents have regarding their children's safety, mental health, friendships, and influences, which are common anxieties in today's world.

  • What does the speaker suggest is the effect of worry on a person's life?

    -The speaker suggests that worry poisons peace, kills joy, stunts spiritual growth, and has no useful purpose, comparing it to rocking in a rocking chair which gives the illusion of progress without actually going anywhere.

  • How does the speaker relate the concept of worry to physical health?

    -The speaker relates worry to physical health by humorously pointing out that when people Google their symptoms, it often leads to increased anxiety and a sense of impending doom, highlighting the negative impact of worry on well-being.

  • What does the speaker say about the ability of worry to solve problems?

    -The speaker asserts that worry has never solved a problem, paid a bill, improved health, or protected anyone from harm, emphasizing the futility of worry in addressing life's challenges.

  • What practical reasons does the speaker give for not worrying?

    -The speaker gives practical reasons such as worry's inability to change anything for the better, its negative impact on peace, joy, and spiritual growth, and the fact that it does not align with God's promises of provision and care.

  • What are the three things the speaker suggests looking to in order to overcome worry?

    -The three things the speaker suggests looking to are: looking to one's Father (God) for faithfulness, looking to one's faith to conquer fears, and looking to one's future with the understanding that God is in control.

  • How does the speaker use the example of birds to illustrate trust in God?

    -The speaker uses the example of birds to show that they do not worry about their sustenance despite not sowing or reaping, indicating their trust in provision. This is meant to mirror the trust Christians should have in God's care and provision.

  • What does the speaker mean when he says 'worry is like rocking in a rocking chair'?

    -The speaker means that worry, like rocking in a chair, gives a sense of activity but does not lead to any progress or solution. It is an idle and unproductive activity that does not address the issues causing the worry.

  • What is the speaker's view on seeking God's kingdom and righteousness in relation to worry?

    -The speaker views seeking God's kingdom and righteousness as a way to alleviate worry. By focusing on God's priorities and His word, one can experience peace and trust that God will provide for their needs, thus conquering fears.

  • How does the speaker differentiate between worry and concern?

    -The speaker differentiates between worry and concern by stating that a worried person sees a problem and does nothing, while a concerned person sees a problem and takes action to address it, such as seeking help or making changes.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Burden of Worry

The speaker begins by acknowledging the presence of worry in the audience's lives, drawing attention to common concerns such as children's safety, mental health, and the influence of negative news. The script highlights the pervasive nature of worry, extending to financial stress, housing affordability, and even the existential threat posed by AI. The speaker then introduces a contrast, suggesting that despite these worries, there is good news to be found in the teachings of Jesus, particularly in Matthew 6, where Jesus advises against worry and promises provision and care.

05:01

🕊️ Looking to God's Faithfulness

The second paragraph delves into the practical reasons behind Jesus' advice to avoid worry, emphasizing that worry is unproductive and detrimental to peace, joy, and spiritual growth. The speaker uses the analogy of a rocking chair to illustrate the futility of worry. Turning to faith, the audience is encouraged to consider God as their provider, likening the care for birds to the care God has for humans. A personal story involving the speaker's daughter, Katie, is shared to discuss the challenge of trusting in an invisible God, concluding with the reminder of God's omnipotence and care for the details of human lives.

10:03

🙏 Faith Over Fear

In this section, the speaker discusses the role of faith in overcoming fear and worry. Jesus' teachings are cited to encourage prioritizing God's kingdom and righteousness, which will lead to the alleviation of worries. The speaker suggests that faith is a powerful tool that can conquer fears and should be sought before worry takes hold. The narrative includes a discussion on the nature of fear and its origins, contrasting it with the peace that comes from faith. The speaker also touches on the importance of seeking God's word and trusting in His provision rather than succumbing to anxiety.

15:05

🔮 Trusting in God's Control

The fourth paragraph focuses on surrendering control to God, recognizing that even the most controlling individuals cannot dictate the future. The speaker humorously addresses 'control freaks' and encourages the audience to release their worries to God, accepting that worry does not prevent future problems but instead steals present peace. The speaker advises taking actionable steps where possible and leaving the rest to God, drawing a clear line between worry and concern, and advocating for proactive faith over passive worry.

20:05

🙌 Surrendering to God's Plan

The final paragraph reinforces the message of surrendering to God by identifying actions one can take in response to worry and emphasizing the importance of prayer and faith. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about his daughter to illustrate the point that worry can bring one closer to God. The narrative concludes with a call to prayer, inviting the audience to voice their worries and trust in God's goodness and control. The speaker also extends an invitation to those who may be uncertain of their spiritual standing to trust in Jesus, promising forgiveness, transformation, and a new life.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Worry

Worry refers to the state of being anxious or troubled about something with an uncertain outcome. In the video, worry is presented as a common human experience that Jesus advises against, emphasizing that faith and trust in God can alleviate these feelings. The speaker uses examples from daily life, such as financial stress and health concerns, to illustrate how pervasive worry can be.

💡Jesus

Jesus is central to the video's message, as the speaker discusses Jesus' teachings from the Bible, particularly in Matthew 6, where he advises against worry. Jesus' promises are highlighted as a source of comfort and reassurance, contrasting worry with faith in God's provision and care.

💡Faith

Faith, in the context of the video, is the belief and trust in God's goodness and provision. It is portrayed as a powerful force that can overcome worry and fear. The speaker encourages viewers to 'seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness' as an act of faith that can lead to a worry-free life.

💡Father

The term 'Father' is used to refer to God in a personal and affectionate way, emphasizing the close relationship believers can have with God. The speaker uses the metaphor of a caring earthly father to illustrate how God, as a heavenly Father, provides for and cares for His children, which is a central theme in alleviating worry.

💡Provision

Provision in the video refers to the act of supplying what is needed, often used in the context of God's care for His creation. The speaker mentions how God provides for the birds, implying that as God's children, humans do not need to worry since provision is guaranteed.

💡Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome or something that is expected to be negative. The video discusses how anxiety can be alleviated by faith and trust in God's promises, as opposed to worry, which is unproductive.

💡Control

Control, in the video, is discussed in terms of the illusion of humans controlling their future and circumstances. The speaker argues that even 'control freaks' cannot control everything and must learn to surrender to God's will, which is a key aspect of releasing worry.

💡Trust

Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. In the video, trust in God is presented as a way to combat worry. The speaker encourages viewers to trust in God's goodness and faithfulness, even when facing uncertainties.

💡Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth refers to the development of one's spiritual or religious life. The video suggests that worry can stunt this growth, as it distracts from focusing on God and spiritual matters. Overcoming worry allows for spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God.

💡Sin

Sin is mentioned in the context of separation from God due to human wrongdoing. The video discusses how faith in Jesus can lead to forgiveness of sins and a new life, which is a transformative concept that can free individuals from worry about their spiritual state.

💡Peace

Peace, in the video, is portrayed as a state of harmony or balance that is achieved by letting go of worry and placing trust in God. It is contrasted with the turmoil that worry brings, and is presented as a natural outcome of living a life of faith and trust in God's provision.

Highlights

The speaker begins by acknowledging the audience's worries and emphasizes that it's natural to worry given the state of the world.

The speaker asks parents in the audience to raise their hands, highlighting the specific worries related to children's safety and mental health.

The impact of news and current events on anxiety is discussed, mentioning the election year, economic instability, and inflation.

AI is mentioned as a source of worry, with a humorous touch about it potentially 'wiping us out'.

The speaker humorously points out the tendency to self-diagnose severe illnesses from minor symptoms after googling them.

The message series 'He Promises' is introduced, focusing on Jesus' promises to alleviate worry.

Jesus' directive from Matthew 6:25 is quoted, advising against worry and highlighting the provision of basic needs.

A practical reason for not worrying is presented: worry has never changed anything for the better.

The damaging effects of worry on peace, joy, and spiritual growth are discussed.

A metaphor comparing worry to rocking in a rocking chair is used to illustrate its fruitlessness.

The assurance of God's faithfulness, goodness, and provision is emphasized as a reason not to worry.

Three things to focus on to overcome worry are introduced: Father, faith, and future.

The importance of looking to God as a Father who provides for all needs is discussed, referencing Matthew 6:26.

A personal anecdote about the speaker's daughter Katie is shared to illustrate the concept of trusting in a heavenly Father.

The concept of 'godness' of God is introduced to remind the audience of God's nature and care.

The second point about overcoming worry through faith is presented, referencing Matthew 6:33.

The idea that faith conquers fear and is greater than what we fear is emphasized.

The final point about looking to the future and trusting in God's control is discussed.

The difference between worry and concern is clarified, with an encouragement to act on concerns.

A call to action for the audience to pray and surrender their worries to God is made.

An invitation to trust Jesus as savior and surrender one's life to him is extended to the audience.

The speaker leads the audience in a prayer of surrender and trust in Jesus.

Transcripts

play00:00

Well, I'm curious, how many of you right now

play00:04

might have something that you're a little bit worried about?

play00:07

Raise your hand, again.

play00:08

Some of you go, "I got a lot that I'm worried about."

play00:10

I don't blame you,

play00:11

because there's a lot to worry about in this world.

play00:14

For example, do any of you have kids?

play00:17

Raise your hands.

play00:18

Online, you can type in the comment section, "I have kids."

play00:21

You can type in, "I have three kids."

play00:22

You can type in, "I have kids, pray for me."

play00:24

'Cause if you have kids,

play00:25

there's a lot to worry about, right?

play00:27

I mean, you worry about their safety nowadays.

play00:29

When I was growing up,

play00:30

you didn't really worry about that much, but you do today.

play00:32

You worry about their mental health.

play00:34

You worry about their friends.

play00:36

You worry about, are they getting into the wrong stuff?

play00:39

Then how about, does anybody ever read or watch the news?

play00:42

That'll give you anxiety, right?

play00:44

I mean, you look around, and here we are

play00:46

in an election year, which is complicated

play00:49

and divisive for a lot of people.

play00:51

The economy feels like shaky.

play00:54

Inflation seems to be out of control.

play00:56

Interest won't seem to settle down.

play00:58

A lot of people I talk to are freaked out

play01:00

and worried financially, just how are they gonna make it?

play01:04

Not only how am I gonna pay the bills,

play01:05

but could I ever even afford a house?

play01:09

Doesn't seem like it's possible.

play01:10

And if that's not enough to worry about,

play01:13

then you factor in AI.

play01:16

It's gonna wipe us out.

play01:17

I mean, we're all gone anyway.

play01:18

It's just gonna feel like it's gonna take over the world.

play01:21

And the worst of all, though, probably,

play01:24

is anytime there's something wrong with you physically,

play01:27

let's say you have a headache, or you feel dizzy.

play01:31

And so you Google your symptoms.

play01:34

Have you done this?

play01:35

No matter what you have, you're gonna die

play01:38

three days from now, that's what happens

play01:40

whenever you Google your symptoms.

play01:42

It's hard not to worry with all that's going on in the world

play01:46

but there's some really good news.

play01:48

We're in a message series called He Promises.

play01:52

We're looking at the promises of Jesus

play01:55

and Jesus promises us because he's good

play01:59

and because he will provide, you don't have to worry.

play02:06

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us five different times

play02:11

in 10 verses, do not worry.

play02:14

Look what he said, Matthew 6, 25, Jesus said this.

play02:17

He said, "Therefore, I tell you."

play02:19

Help me out, somebody.

play02:19

He said,

play02:20

"Do not worry about your life,

play02:23

"what you'll eat or drink or about your body,

play02:25

"what you'll wear.

play02:26

"It's not life more than food

play02:28

"and the body more than clothes."

play02:32

Jesus tells us, don't worry.

play02:35

How?

play02:37

Why?

play02:39

Well, let's start with a practical reason.

play02:41

Why did Jesus tell us not to worry?

play02:44

Perhaps because worry has never changed anything for good.

play02:50

Right? (crowd exclaims)

play02:51

Never ever.

play02:51

In fact, it's quite the opposite.

play02:54

What does worry do to you?

play02:55

When you worry, when you stew,

play02:56

when you're anxious, worry is poisoning our peace.

play03:01

Worry is killing our joy

play03:04

and worry is stunting our spiritual growth.

play03:07

When you think about it,

play03:08

worry doesn't have a single useful purpose.

play03:13

Someone said it's like this.

play03:14

Someone said, "Worry is like rocking in a rocking chair

play03:20

"it gives you something to do

play03:22

"but you're not going anywhere."

play03:24

Right?

play03:25

And that's what it is.

play03:26

When you're sitting there worrying,

play03:27

you're stewing and you're wringing your hands

play03:30

and you're not going anywhere.

play03:32

It doesn't do a single positive thing.

play03:35

When you think about it, worry never solved a problem.

play03:38

Right?

play03:39

If you're worried about your money,

play03:40

worry never paid a bill.

play03:43

If you're worried about your health,

play03:44

worry never made you healthier.

play03:46

Worry never protected your child from harm.

play03:51

Worrying never helped you pass a test.

play03:54

Worrying never healed a broken relationship.

play03:57

Worry has only increased your anxiety,

play04:01

it's never increased your peace.

play04:03

And Jesus promised us because God is faithful,

play04:07

because God is good, because God always provides,

play04:11

you don't have to worry.

play04:13

In fact, in this text, he gives us three things to look to

play04:18

in order to overcome your worry.

play04:21

What are we gonna do?

play04:22

We're gonna look to three things.

play04:23

We're gonna look to your Father,

play04:25

we're gonna look to your faith,

play04:27

and we're gonna look to your future.

play04:29

Let's say it aloud. What are we gonna look to?

play04:31

We're gonna look to

play04:31

our Father, Father.

play04:33

we're gonna look to

play04:33

our faith, Faith.

play04:35

and we're gonna look to

play04:35

our future. Future.

play04:37

Let's talk about it.

play04:38

Number one, we're gonna look to your Father.

play04:41

Why?

play04:42

because he is always faithful.

play04:46

We're gonna look to the goodness of God

play04:48

because he's always faithful.

play04:50

In fact, this is what Jesus said in Matthew 6:26.

play04:53

He said, "Look at the birds of the air.

play04:55

"They don't sow or reap or store away in barns,

play04:59

"and yet," who does it?

play05:00

Your heavenly Father.

play05:01

He feeds them, he provides for them.

play05:05

And then Jesus says, "Hey, aren't you way more valuable

play05:09

"to God than the birds?"

play05:11

Jesus shows us that God cares for Tweety.

play05:15

If God cares for Tweety,

play05:17

how much more will God care for you?

play05:20

And then I like kind of the image.

play05:22

He says, "Hey, look at the birds.

play05:24

"They don't worry."

play05:26

You never see a bird awake at two in the morning,

play05:30

pacing its nest, rubbing its wings together,

play05:37

asking himself, "Do you think the supply chain problem

play05:40

"are gonna result in a shortage of worms?"

play05:42

You never see that, right?

play05:43

You don't.

play05:45

Because they trust that there will be food.

play05:48

The same is true for you.

play05:49

You don't have to worry

play05:51

because your heavenly Father cares for you

play05:55

and your Father is always faithful.

play05:58

Now, that raises the question,

play06:00

how do you trust in a heavenly Father that you can't see?

play06:05

It's a fair question.

play06:06

We have six children.

play06:08

My oldest daughter is Katie.

play06:10

When she was young, she was a bundle of energy.

play06:15

And one night there was a storm

play06:18

and Katie came running into our bedroom.

play06:20

"Mommy, Dad, Mom, Mom, Dad, Mom, I'm scared.

play06:21

"I'm scared. "Can I sleep with you? "Can I sleep with you?

play06:23

"Can I sleep with you?"

play06:25

And I'm the softy, believe it or not.

play06:28

And Amy's one like, "Go back to bed, Katie."

play06:30

"No, I'm afraid.

play06:31

"No, I'm afraid."

play06:32

And Amy said, "God is with you.

play06:35

"God is in your room.

play06:36

"God will protect you.

play06:38

"Go back to your room with God."

play06:40

And Katie said, "I've got an idea.

play06:43

"Mom, you go sleep with God.

play06:45

"I'm staying here with Daddy."

play06:47

Right?

play06:50

Kind of makes sense because it can be difficult

play06:53

to trust in a God that you can't see.

play06:57

And anytime I find myself worried,

play06:59

is God going to come through?

play07:01

Does God care?

play07:03

I try to remind myself of what I call the godness of God.

play07:07

The godness of God.

play07:09

Who is God?

play07:10

We have to remember, God is the supreme creator,

play07:14

ruler, and sustainer of the entire universe.

play07:18

God is big enough to overcome all the forces of darkness.

play07:24

And God is loving enough to care

play07:26

about the details of your life.

play07:29

That's right.

play07:30

I wanna remind you, God cares about what you care about.

play07:35

When you're worried, look to your heavenly father

play07:40

because he is always faithful.

play07:44

The second thing we learn from the teaching of Jesus

play07:47

is to look to your faith because your faith conquers fears.

play07:53

Look to your faith because your faith

play07:55

is greater than what you fear.

play07:57

Jesus said this in Matthew 6:33, he said,

play08:00

"But seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness.

play08:05

"And in all those things that you're worried about,

play08:08

"all these things will be given to you as well."

play08:12

What do we do?

play08:13

We seek first God's kingdom.

play08:16

We seek first God's righteousness.

play08:19

We seek first the things that matter to him.

play08:22

We seek him first in his word.

play08:24

We turn our mind toward him.

play08:27

We think about things that are

play08:29

pure and lovely and admirable.

play08:31

We let him renew our minds.

play08:33

We seek first the kingdom of God.

play08:35

And when we do, he will take care

play08:37

of what you're worried about.

play08:39

Whenever you're tempted to worry, tell yourself,

play08:42

before I panic, first, I'm gonna pray

play08:46

to the God of heaven who declares

play08:49

that all things are possible with him.

play08:53

Before you worry, first open God's word,

play08:57

his living word, which comforts you and directs you

play09:01

and corrects you, his word for you.

play09:04

Before you turn to your substance to cope,

play09:08

turn to your savior because whoever

play09:11

Jesus sets free is free indeed

play09:12

every single time. (crowd applauds)

play09:18

So what do we do?

play09:19

We seek first the kingdom of God.

play09:22

And whenever I start to look toward Jesus,

play09:25

the son of God who gave his life for me,

play09:28

God raised him from the dead,

play09:30

whenever I look to Jesus,

play09:31

my faith starts to conquer my fears.

play09:34

Remember, it was Paul who said,

play09:35

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

play09:38

"but instead he's given us a spirit of," what?

play09:41

"Of power Power.

play09:42

And of love Love.

play09:43

and of a sound mind." Sound mind.

play09:45

If you find yourself afraid, that did not come from God.

play09:48

We're not gonna listen to what doesn't come from God.

play09:51

We're gonna tell that voice, "Get out of my mind,

play09:52

"get out of my head, get out of my life,

play09:54

"get behind me, Satan, I'm not listening to you,

play09:55

"I'm listening to my father.

play09:56

"My father says he's good, my father says he's with me,

play09:58

"my father says he'll never leave me,

play10:00

"he'll never forsake me, he'll always provide for me,

play10:02

"he is working in all things to bring about good,

play10:05

"I'm not listening to the lies of the devil."

play10:08

Worry has never done anything good.

play10:11

Worry makes you anxious, faith gives you peace.

play10:16

Worry drags you away from God,

play10:18

trying to depend on your own resources.

play10:21

Faith teaches you to depend on God.

play10:24

Worry doesn't change a dang thing.

play10:26

That's right. And worry will take you

play10:29

away and rob you of faith.

play10:31

Faith can change everything.

play10:34

So when you're worried, worried about what I'm gonna say,

play10:37

I'm worried about my presentation,

play10:38

I'm worried about my 401(k) went down,

play10:41

I'm worried about this health issue,

play10:42

I'm worried about my marriage,

play10:44

I'm worried about am I gonna get into the right school,

play10:47

I'm worried about am I gonna get the right job,

play10:49

am I ever gonna be provided for my family,

play10:51

am I gonna have what it takes, can I ever be faithful,

play10:54

will my child, whatever.

play10:55

When you're worried, look to your father.

play10:58

Look to your faith and look to your future

play11:02

because our God is in control.

play11:05

He is in control.

play11:08

Jesus said this, he said, "Don't worry about tomorrow,

play11:11

"for tomorrow will bring his own worries."

play11:14

Today's trouble is enough for today.

play11:18

Look to your future because God is in control.

play11:25

Now, raise your hand if you're a control freak.

play11:29

Okay, just stop for a minute.

play11:31

If you find yourself trying to raise the hand

play11:33

of the person sitting next to you,

play11:34

(audience laughing)

play11:36

you're a control freak.

play11:37

Those of you online, if you're a control freak,

play11:39

just type it in online, I'm a control freak.

play11:41

Okay, I wanna remind you this,

play11:45

that even control freaks can't control the future.

play11:49

You can try to manipulate all you can and all you want,

play11:53

but no matter how hard you try,

play11:54

you cannot control everything.

play11:57

So, if it's out of your hands, get it out of your mind.

play12:02

Give it to God, trust God with it, trust God with it.

play12:05

(audience applauding)

play12:07

Because worry doesn't protect us from tomorrow's problems,

play12:11

worry robs us of today's peace.

play12:14

And that's where some of you are right now.

play12:16

You are surrendering and giving in

play12:19

to the lies of your spiritual enemy.

play12:21

Any time that we're worrying,

play12:22

we're essentially saying, God, I don't trust you.

play12:24

I don't trust you're with me, I don't trust you're for me,

play12:26

I don't trust that you're gonna do

play12:27

what you say you're gonna do.

play12:30

And so, just take a moment, sit in that.

play12:33

Jesus says over and over again,

play12:35

let me tell you how good my Father is.

play12:38

Let me tell you about how much he cares for you.

play12:39

He is completely in control.

play12:44

He is a good God.

play12:45

His purposes for you are good.

play12:47

He wants to bless you.

play12:48

Doesn't mean you're not gonna have a hard time,

play12:49

but in the middle of a hard time, he'll be enough.

play12:52

In the middle of something painful, he'll be your peace.

play12:55

In the middle of what you feel like you lack,

play12:56

he is your provision.

play12:58

When you're weak, he is your strength.

play13:01

He is what you need.

play13:03

So you can say, okay, good preaching, Craig.

play13:05

You can say that if you want to, it won't hurt my feeling.

play13:07

You can type it in the comment section, good preaching.

play13:10

Some of you won't, but you can if you want to.

play13:12

And so you're gonna say, okay, okay, that's good,

play13:14

but I just sit there and I do nothing.

play13:18

I just sit around and I don't

play13:21

worry and everything works out.

play13:25

Let's go back to the birds.

play13:27

Jesus said, see how I care for the birds.

play13:30

What I like about birds is birds don't worry, right?

play13:36

But birds don't sit around doing nothing either.

play13:40

(crowd exclaims) When you think about birds,

play13:42

they don't wait for God to drop food in their laps.

play13:47

Partially because they don't have laps.

play13:51

But work with me here.

play13:52

I'll say it this way.

play13:54

Birds don't worry, but they do hunt for worms.

play13:58

Yes There's a difference.

play13:59

There's a difference between doing nothing

play14:01

and doing what you know you're called to do or can do.

play14:05

And birds kind of really help illustrate

play14:06

the difference between worry and concern.

play14:09

And there's a big difference.

play14:10

A worried person sees a problem

play14:12

and doesn't do anything about it.

play14:14

A concerned person though sees a problem

play14:16

and does something about it.

play14:18

In other words, the way I like to look at it is this.

play14:20

If you can do something about the problem, you do it.

play14:24

If you think your marriage is not in a great place right now

play14:28

and is struggling, what do you do?

play14:29

You're concerned, you pray about it and you call a counselor

play14:33

or you join a life group or you talk to your pastor

play14:37

and you do something about it.

play14:39

If you have caffeine crashes at the end of every day,

play14:43

you may say, you know what?

play14:44

I'm gonna stop drinking all the energy drinks.

play14:47

Instead of four, I'm cutting back to three.

play14:49

I'm just joking.

play14:50

Don't drink four and don't drink three.

play14:52

I'm cutting those out of my life.

play14:54

If you are battling with depression

play14:57

every time you get on social media,

play14:59

you might just get off social media.

play15:01

You're gonna do something about it.

play15:02

And so whenever you're tempted to worry,

play15:04

tell yourself this, I will do what I can do

play15:08

and I will surrender to God what only he can do.

play15:12

I will do what only I can do

play15:15

and I will surrender to God what only he can do.

play15:19

I will do what I know I can do.

play15:23

If there's something I can do about it,

play15:24

I'm gonna do something about it.

play15:25

If I can love my child who's struggling,

play15:29

I'm gonna love my child.

play15:30

If I can coach my child without being annoying,

play15:33

I'm gonna coach my child without being annoying.

play15:36

If I can pray for my spouse,

play15:38

if I can love my spouse when my spouse isn't acting lovable.

play15:43

If I can study for the exam that's coming up,

play15:47

if I can prepare for the presentation,

play15:49

if I can do something about it,

play15:50

I'm gonna do something about it.

play15:52

I will do what I can do

play15:55

and I will surrender to God what only he can do.

play15:58

Let's just say that together.

play16:00

I will do what only I can do.

play16:03

I will do what only I can do.

play16:06

I will surrender to God what only he can do.

play16:09

Let's say it together.

play16:10

I will do what only I can do.

play16:13

I will surrender to God what only he can do.

play16:16

Let's say it again.

play16:17

I will do what I can do.

play16:19

I will surrender to God what only he can do.

play16:23

I will do whatever it is I know that I can do

play16:26

and whatever is out of my control, I put in God's hands.

play16:31

Anybody anxious, what do we do?

play16:33

We cast our anxiety on him, why?

play16:38

Because he cares for you.

play16:40

He cares for you, God loves you

play16:42

as if there were only one of you.

play16:44

And so you tell him about it, God, I'm nervous about this.

play16:46

God, I don't even know what to do.

play16:48

God, I'm trying to trust you, but I tend to take it back.

play16:51

We cast it on him, we give it to him.

play16:54

I think about Katie, my daughter,

play16:57

when she came in and she's all afraid.

play17:00

Amy said, "Go sleep with God."

play17:02

I said, "Go ahead and sleep with us."

play17:05

Told you I'm a softy.

play17:07

People, if you got to know us, you'd be like,

play17:09

you know, Craig's all tough.

play17:11

Actually, I'm a mushpot.

play17:13

Amy's pretty, but she carries a big stick.

play17:16

(audience laughing)

play17:17

It was no joke.

play17:19

And when Katie slept with us,

play17:21

let me tell you what I did not do.

play17:24

I did not shame her.

play17:27

Why are you worried?

play17:29

You should have more, I didn't shame her.

play17:32

I let her sleep with us because when she was worried,

play17:35

she turned to her father, her earthly father.

play17:38

Her worry didn't take her away from her father,

play17:42

it drew her close to her father.

play17:45

And so whenever you find yourself a little bit worried,

play17:49

the devil wants to use that to draw you away from God,

play17:52

but God wants to use whatever is on your mind

play17:56

and on your heart and weighing you down

play17:58

to draw you to depend on him.

play18:02

God wants to take whatever you're worried about

play18:06

and use it to draw you close

play18:09

and recognize that you need him.

play18:12

When you're worried and when you're anxious,

play18:14

this shows you just how much you need your heavenly father.

play18:20

And when you realize that you need him,

play18:22

you realize he's drawing you close.

play18:26

So chances are there are some of you today

play18:29

who you need an extra dose of his grace,

play18:32

an extra measure of his provision.

play18:37

He's with you, he's for you, he'll never leave you,

play18:42

he'll never forsake you.

play18:44

Our God is good, his word is true,

play18:48

he's always faithful, he will never leave you,

play18:52

he will never forsake you.

play18:55

Look to your father, he's good.

play18:58

Look to your faith, it conquers your fears.

play19:02

Look to your future because our God is always in control.

play19:07

And scripture tells us about the goodness of God

play19:09

that the Lord is close to those who call on him.

play19:13

Yes, to all who call on him in truth, the Lord is close.

play19:19

If you're hurting today, if you're anxious today,

play19:21

if you're worried today, that might be evidence

play19:24

of just how much you need your father.

play19:27

And the good news is when you draw close to him,

play19:30

he draws near to you.

play19:32

So let's do that now.

play19:33

Father, we pray in the name of Jesus

play19:35

that the power of your Holy Spirit would do a work

play19:39

because we all need you.

play19:43

Today at all of our churches as you're praying,

play19:46

those of you who have something

play19:47

that would be a real concern,

play19:49

a weight, a burden, a worry,

play19:51

something that's making you anxious,

play19:52

would you lift up your hands right now, just lift it up.

play19:55

Online, you can type in the comment section,

play19:57

I'm worried about something.

play19:58

If you wanna share it for prayer,

play20:00

you can say I'm worried about whatever

play20:01

and just put I'm worried about my child

play20:03

or I'm worried about my job

play20:04

or I'm worried about my finance, whatever it would be.

play20:08

And what we're gonna do right now

play20:09

is we're just gonna take what you're worried about

play20:10

and just by faith, just imagine handing that to God.

play20:16

Just say, God, take my marriage.

play20:19

God, I trust you with my finances.

play20:23

God, I trust you with my health.

play20:25

I trust you with the health of someone that I love.

play20:27

I trust you with my children.

play20:29

God, I trust you with my mental health.

play20:32

I trust you with my career.

play20:33

God, I trust you with my future.

play20:36

God, I don't know, I can't figure it all out.

play20:38

I trust you.

play20:40

God, I will do whatever I can do

play20:44

and I will surrender to you what only you can do.

play20:48

So God, help us to be faithful

play20:52

and full of faith to always trust you.

play20:56

As you keep praying today at all of our churches,

play20:58

there are some of you that you're gonna take a step of faith

play21:00

bigger than you've ever taken before.

play21:02

We talked about Jesus and he said,

play21:04

you don't have to worry because of the goodness of God.

play21:09

Some of you, if you stopped long enough

play21:10

to think about where you stand with God,

play21:13

what would happen to you after this life?

play21:16

Some of you say, well,

play21:17

I might be a little bit concerned about that.

play21:20

Let me tell you how much God loves you, how good he is.

play21:23

God loves you so much

play21:25

that he sent his only son Jesus for you,

play21:29

the perfect sinless son of God

play21:32

who died on a cross in your place, in my place

play21:36

and God raised him from the dead,

play21:39

defeating death, hell, sin, and the grave.

play21:42

Now, anyone, and this includes you,

play21:44

who calls on the name of the Lord,

play21:45

the name that is above every name,

play21:47

when you call on the name of Jesus,

play21:50

scripture says all of your sins are forgiven.

play21:53

You become brand new.

play21:54

The old, all the old stuff is gone

play21:56

and everything becomes new.

play21:58

Some of you, you might be a little worried, a little uneasy.

play22:00

It may come and go, but when you recognize,

play22:02

when you think about it,

play22:03

I don't really know where I stand with God today,

play22:04

you can settle the issue.

play22:06

In fact, you're not watching this by accident.

play22:08

I believe with all my heart

play22:09

that you are here by the divine will of God

play22:12

to meet the power of his risen son,

play22:16

wherever you're watching from today.

play22:17

Those who say, yes, today,

play22:19

I don't know where I stand with God,

play22:20

I am gonna step away from my sin.

play22:22

I'm gonna step into trusting Jesus.

play22:24

I'm gonna call on his name.

play22:25

When you call on the name of Jesus, he hears your prayers.

play22:28

He forgives your sins and he makes you brand new today

play22:30

at all of our churches and all of the world online.

play22:33

Those who say, yes, I am ready.

play22:34

By faith, I give my life to Jesus.

play22:37

That's your prayer.

play22:38

Put your hands high right now.

play22:39

All over the place, lift them up.

play22:40

Somebody give God some praise for those today

play22:42

saying yes to Jesus, yes to Jesus, yes to Jesus.

play22:46

We thank you, God, for those coming to you online.

play22:49

Just type in the comment section,

play22:51

I am surrendering my life to Jesus.

play22:54

I am trusting Jesus as my savior.

play22:58

Today, wherever you are, would

play22:59

you pray with those around you?

play23:01

Nobody prays alone.

play23:02

Everybody, let's just pray this aloud.

play23:04

Pray, heavenly Father.

play23:05

Heavenly father.

play23:06

I'm trusting Jesus. I'm trusting Jesus.

play23:08

To save me. To save me.

play23:10

From my sins. From my sins.

play23:12

To be the Lord of my life. To be the Lord of my life.

play23:14

I put you first. I put you first.

play23:17

Forgive me. Forgive me.

play23:18

Transform me. Transform me.

play23:20

Fill me with your spirit. Fill me with your spirit.

play23:22

So I could know you personally.

play23:24

So I could know you personally.

play23:26

And share you faithfully. And share you faithfully.

play23:28

Thank you for new life. Thank you for new life.

play23:31

I give you all of mine. I give you all of mine.

play23:33

In Jesus' name I pray. In Jesus' name I pray.

play23:35

Could somebody celebrate big?

play23:37

Welcome those born into God's family.

play23:39

(crowd applauds)

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الوسوم ذات الصلة
Worry OvercomeFaith MessageJesus TeachingsAnxiety ReliefSpiritual GrowthParental ConcernFinancial StressHealth AnxietyTrust in GodFuture Hope
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