TEACHING ON: ANXIETY, WORRY & STRESS

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please do not use without permission from the author.

TEACHING ON: ANXIETY, WORRY & STRESS
(copyrighted, Theresa Q. Pavone,A.TH, B.TH)I. INTRODUCTION

There seems to be a great amount of anxiety, worry and stress in the
world today. The potential for STRESS in today's world is greater
than it has ever been before.

II. WORRY AND ANXIETY

One major symptom of not actively believing the love which God has
for us is worry and anxiety. I believe, based on an intense research
of Scripture, that anxiety, worry, stress and fear need have no
place in the life of a believer.

Let me repeat that: Anxiety, Worry, Stress and Fear have no place
in the life of a believer.

I believe that with all my heart. We should never have our minds
troubled by anxiety and worry if we live in the consciousness of the
love God has for us and He is living at the center of our lives.

From the beginning to the end of the Bible the Spirit tells us
plainly, "Do not worry." In the Old Testament He gives us case
history after case history of persons who were placed in situations
that caused them to worry. Then He shows us how they came out of it,
living in the love of God. The New Testament is full of similar
commands.

What do we mean by "anxious?" It would be better if we substituted
the word "worry" or "fretting." I think anxiety is associated in our
minds with something almost clinical like a "panic attack." This is
talking about the daily stuff that worries us. Stuff that we fret
over. Stuff that makes your stomach go into knots and gives you a
headache and a pain in the back of your neck.

A. EXAMPLES OF ANXIETY, STRESS AND WORRY

1. Marriages are under attack like never before.
2. Children are in rebellion and not wanting to listen to
parents.
3. The cost of living is soaring high.
4. The unemployment is high.
5. Lack of finances biggest worry for all mankind.

No wonder people are under so much stress, worrying and being
anxious.. Pressures and difficulties abound. It seems that every
time you turn around there is another crisis. People are spending
more for medical treatments and psychological counseling than ever
before in our history. How does one cope with the stresses of this
life? Where does one turn? Let's find out.

But as born-again Christian believers... ...should we worry?
Is not worry the opposit of not having faith in God?

III. WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE SAY ABOUT ANXIETY & WORRY

Conventional theraphy is not working.
Married or single, family or individual, we all need counseling at
one time or another, whether professional or just from family member
of friend. Sometimes you just need someone to talk with, to share
with, who will not only listen, but offer spiritual, scriptural
words of comfort and direction that bears witness with our spirit.

A. THE BIBLE TELLS US

Philippians 4:6 tell us "Be careful for nothing but in every thing
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving of your requests be
made known unto God".

Let's look at this. What is Paul saying here?
Paul is saying:
1. Paul is saying: "don't be anxious".
2. Paul is saying: "anxiety is "a distraction"

Paul is NOT saying:
1. don't be aware of your difficulties
2. don't give thought to your problems
3. don't neglect your concerns

B. ANXIETY DESTRUCTIVE

Anxiety is destructive, not creative. Anxiety is fear, not faith.
Anxiety has a lot of negative things about it. You have to come to
a place where you recognize that God is greater than all your
problems, situations, trials, and circumstances.
Paul is telling us to stop worrying. The way to do that is to
totally trust in God.

In the second part of this verse it says: "…but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known
to God…"
Here we see that Paul is saying, tell God about your situation, your
problem, whatever it is that is bothering you. Pray about it. Give
thanks always.
Transition: Paul says, "Don't worry! Instead, pray! Peace
follows!" It seems to all hinge on prayer.

The Scriptures give Christians the answers to dealing with STRESS,
WORRY, and ANXIETY. That is why it is so necessary to read your
Bible.

Well then, is being a Christian enough?
No, you need to have a RELATIONSHIP with the heavenly Father through Christ His Son. The greater part of the New Testament filled with instructions on how to live. So why are Christians having the same problems with worry and anxiety as non-Christians? When we, as God's people, are influenced to think and imagine as the world thinks and imagines, we are going to have the same kind of stress and worry that they have.
We might have the same kinds of problems of them, but we also have
the answer.
THE ANSWER IS JESUS CHRIST. Make no mistake about it, Jesus Christ is the answer to all our questions.

Let's look at scripture at Matthew 6:25-34 for a moment.
Jesus continues expounding upon "the righteousness of the kingdom"
with respect to man's relation to God. Now if we follow Jesus'
teachings concerning material things, what about the physical
necessities of life, such things as food, clothing, job, car, health?
Give it to Jesus and let Him handle it. Put your life in His Hands.
Beginning in verse 25, Jesus gives several reasons why we should not
worry about such things.

IV. "IS NOT LIFE MORE THAN FOOD AND THE BODY MORE THAN CLOTHING?"

You would think so, wouldn't you? So why worry?

A. DO NOT "WORRY"

1. The word in the original means "distracted" .
2. Don't let anxiety about food and clothing distract you
from more important things in life (like Martha did - Luke 10:38-42)

B. IS NOT LIFE AND BODY MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOOD AND CLOTHING?

1. Who provides our lives and our bodies? God!
a. If He is powerful enough to create life.
b. Isn't He also able to provide food & clothing to
sustain that life?
2. "He who has displayed so great goodness as to form the
body and breathe into it the breath of life, will surely follow
up the blessing, and confer the smaller favor of providing
that the body be clothed, and that life preserved."

V. LOOK AT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR (Matthew 6:26)

The Birds of the air are a prime example of how God cares for all creatures.

A. CONFIDENCE IN THE PROVIDENTIAL CARE OF GOD

1. The birds are an example of God's ability to provide
2. Through His providential workings in nature, God provides
for their needs

a. This does not mean they do not work for their
needs (indeed, they are often very busy, gathering insects and worms,
preparing nests, caring for their young)
b. But they are not guilty of overdoing a good thing
(as the rich fool was in the parable of Luke 12:16-21)

B. "HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW" how much more us?

I love that old hymn: "His Eye Is On The Sparrow"

1) Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
2) "Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
3) Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

C. ARE YOU NOT OF MORE VALUE THAN THEY? (Sparrow)

1. This is an argument from the LESSER to the GREATER
(contrast verse 25)

a. If God through His providence provides for their
needs, would He not for you?
b. A similar argument is found in Matthew 10:29-31
2. Are you not more valuable than birds?

LET ME REPEAT THAT: ARE YOU NOT MORE VALUABLE THAN BIRDS?
Then if God worries about the sparrow, how much more does He care
about you and your situation??? ??
a. You who are created in the image of God?
b. You who were redeemed by the blood of His Son?
3. Why, then, let concern over physical needs distract you
from what is really important in life?

Worrying about food and clothing cannot guarantee that you will
have them tomorrow as victims of "Hurricane Andrew" and "911",
other hurricanes/storms (survivors) have come to realize.

VI. "CONSIDER THE LILIES OF THE FIELD" (Matthew 6:28-30)

Have you walked through a beautiful garden and seen all the
beautiful flowers in Spring?
What a lovely sight to see.

A. CONSIDER THE LILLIES

Think about the beautiful Lillies of the field and how they grow.

1. Without any "toil" whatsoever on their part, nor
any "care" bestowed on them by any human agency
2. Yet their glory surpasses Solomon in all his glory.
3. How?
a. Through God's providential care.
b. By so ordering the affairs of this life to ensure
that they accomplish what they were designed to accomplish.

B. WILL HE NOT MUCH MORE CLOTHE YOU?

1. If God is able to so clothe the grass of the field:
a. which is here today
b. and gone tomorrow
2. Is He not ABLE to do so for you?
3. Is He not WILLING to do so for you?
a. You are created in the image of God.
b. You are designed to spend eternity with God.

C. O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH

1. If we WORRY about food and clothing, then we are of "little
faith"
2. We have "little faith" in God's:
a. Promise to care for us.
b. Power to deliver that promise.

VII. JESUS' SUMMARY CONCERNING ANXIETY OVER MATERIAL THINGS
(Matthew 6:31-34)

A. DON'T WORRY ABOUT FOOD AND CLOTHING (Vs 31-32)

1. People without God naturally worry about these things.
2. But we have God as our Heavenly Father Who is aware of our
needs, and is able to provide them.

B. SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (v33)

1. Make the rule of God and His Will for us the number one
priority in our lives.
2. We can do this by:
a. Serving God instead of "mammon"
b. Letting the "lamp" of our body be a "good eye"
focused clearly on that which which is good, true and righteous.
c. Laying up treasure in heaven (by using our earthly
treasure to help others. (Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33-34;
1 Timothy 6:17-19)
3. Do this, and God will provide for your physical needs,
for he is able and willing.

C. DON'T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW (v34)

1. Today has enough trouble with which to concern yourself
2. Let tomorrow take care of itself (trust in God to work
things out in your life.)

VIII. CONCLUSION

The motto today seems to be "Don't worry, be happy", while Jesus
qualifies that motto by saying: "Don't worry, seek God's will
first, and you will be happy."

We go to learn something new, like programming a VCR, or sending a
picture of ourselves to our children through the E-Mail, and
immediately we tell ourselves it can't be done. Our boss presents
us with a project he needs done by noon, while our desk is already
filled with projects that need attending. Take a deep breath.
Don't stress, don't worry.

Romans 8:28 tells us that we can do all things through Christ.

When you get stressed, or you are concerned about a financial
obligation you can't meet, a loss of a friend, a spouse, job, car,
whatever, tell it to Jesus. Don't stress, worry or fret.
Tell it to Jesus. If you are being abused either physically or
emotionally, tell it to Jesus.
Rest in Jesus. Turn your eyes upon Him and let all anxiety,
helplessness, stress, worry and fear disappear. Give it all to Him.
Copyright©1993 Theresa Quinto Pavone,A.TH, B.TH
Do not use without permission.
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All Rights Reserved.