SERMON:
8% Real (worry)
by Chris Cumming
The other
day, I received a Bible question which was composed of just 4 words. The
question
was, “Is
worry a sin?”
I was
immediately intrigued. Clearly the person had touched on a subject which
impacts just about every member of the Church at some time or another.
As I studied
into the subject, I found that worry has a number of elements.
Today,
our purpose will be to explore these elements as I encourage all of us to rid
our lives of this unreasonable, unnatural, unhelpful, unhealthy and unnecessary
state-of-disturbance called Worry.
We will
discuss how we live in the Age of Worry and Anxiety. We will define just what
the word, “worry” means. I believe that you will be astounded at its
meaning. I will show what worry does to our physical health. From the Bible
we will see what God says about worry. We will see its effect upon our mental
and Spiritual lives and just how worry can lead to sin. Finally, we will look
at practical ways to rid our lives of worry.
I. We Live
in the Age of Worry—Worry Exists
You can see
worry in people’s faces—they are taut, constricted, intense.
You can see
worry in people’s attitudes—They are disquieted, apprehensive and vexed. More
often than not, they tell you, up front, that they are worried about something.
You can see
the physical signs of worry—people with ulcers, on the verge of a nervous
breakdown and those with certain heart diseases.
And what is
it that we worry about? The short answer is that we worry about EVERYTHING!!
We worry
about:
·
our daily provisions
·
our employment
·
the future
·
the unknown
·
personal relationships—marriage, kids, family
·
life and death
·
health
·
pleasing people
·
prophecy and the end time
·
our salvation and entering into the Kingdom
The fact is
most of our worrying is unnecessary as witnessed by the following figures which
have been around for a very long time:
“An average
person’s anxiety is focused on:”
40%--on
things that will not happen
30%--on
things about the past that cannot be changed.
12%--on
things about criticism by other, mostly untrue.
10% --about
health, which get worse with the stress of worry.
And
8%--about real problems that will be faced head-on anyway.
Some people
worry about one specific thing for years and years. Reminds me of the story of
the lady, who for years had trouble getting to sleep each night because she
feared burglars. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went
downstairs to investigate. Sure enough, he found a burglar!! “Good evening”
said the man of the house. “I am pleased to see you. Come upstairs and meet my
wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you.”
Worry can
definitely have that type of an effect on a person!!
II The
Meaning of the Word, “Worry”
You know,
it’s a funny thing about most words we use everyday. We learn them as young
children and we are given a child’s simple definition of the word. Sometimes we
carry these simple definitions all our lives and never look into the deep
meanings and implications of the words we use.
Such is the
case with the word “Worry”. You are about to see why the subject of worry has
such an impact on Spiritual matters and why we must rid ourselves of it.
1) To feel
or express undue care and anxiety; to manifest disquietude or pain. To be
fretful.
2) A state
of disturbance.
3) from the
German word, “wurgen” meaning “to strangle”. In the British dialect the meaning
is “to Choke” or “to Strangle”. Notice how this meaning ties directly to
scripture. Turn to Mark 4 and the Parable of the Sower:
Mark
4:18-19 (breaking into the middle of the parable)
18 And these
are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the
cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other
things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Worries can
actually choke the Word of God right out of our minds. Our focus is on the
problem or fear for which we worry.
Back to the
dictionary for another definition or two:
4) to harass
by pursuit and barking; to attack repeatedly; also, to tear or mangle with the
teeth.
Do you see
the Spiritual implications of that definition? Worry tears down the mind. It
“mangles” our thinking.
5) from the
Greek word “merimnao” which is derived from the word “merizo” meaning to “Divide
the mind”
Worry
divides the mind….and who is it who wants to divide our mind? Clearly, we can
see the need to rid ourselves of this very negative element from our lives.
III What
Worry does to our Physical Health
I found a
couple of sources on this. The first from the National Mental Health Committee:
“They
reported just a few years ago that Half of all the people in America’s hospitals
beds are constant worriers. Mental distress can lead to migraine headaches,
arthritis, heart problems, colitis, backaches, ulcers, depression, digestive
disorders and yes, even death. (Still quoting) Add to that list the mental
fatigue of nights without sleep and days without peace, then we get a glimpse of
the havoc worry plays in destroying the quality and quantity of life.”
From another
source I found on the Internet:
(and I
quote) “Medical research has proved that worry breaks down the immune system and
renders the body incapable of resisting disease. Worry damages the nervous
system—particularly that of the digestive organs and of the heart” (end quote).
To show you
the power of worry, I submit the following story…
Death was
walking toward a city one morning and a man asked, “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going
to take 100 people.” Death replied.
The man
hurried to warn everyone he could about Death’s plan.
As evening
fell, he met Death again. “You told me you were going to take 100 people, “ the
man said. “Why did 1,000 die?”
“I kept my
word, “Death responded. “I only took 100 people. Worry took the others.”
Worry DOES have power!
IV. What
Does the Bible Say About Worry?
1] People in
the Bible had moments of worry.
Psalm 34:4
(David)
I sought
the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 56:3
(David)
What time
I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
2 Corinthians 7:5
(Paul)
For, when
we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on
every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
2 Timothy 1:6-7
(Timothy)
6 Wherefore
I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by
the putting on of my hands.
7 For God
hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound
mind.
Luke 10:41
(Martha)
And Jesus
answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about
many things:
2] God
shows Worry to be a negative element:
Proverbs 12:25
Heaviness
in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
Psalm 38:6-8
(David again)
6 I am
troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
7 For my
loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my
flesh.
8 I am
feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
Proverbs 15:13
(Solomon)
A merry
heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is
broken.
Proverbs 17:22
A merry
heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 18:14
The
spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Mark
14:33-34 (Jesus Christ)
33 And he
taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be
very heavy;
34 And saith
unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
So, we see
that even from the Word of God that “Worry” is not a good thing. The Good News
is that God gives us promise and encouragement regarding Worry:
3]
Encouragement from God
Psalm 145:18
The LORD
is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Isaiah 26:3-4
3 Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in
thee.
4 Trust ye
in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be careful
for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the
peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:25-31
25 Therefore
I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye
shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more
than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold
the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into
barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of
you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why
take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I
say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these.
30
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to
morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little
faith?
31 Therefore
take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
John 14:27
Peace I
leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Romans 8:28
And we
know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who
are the called according to his purpose.
4] Action
steps from the Bible
Psalm 127:2
It is vain
for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he
giveth his beloved sleep.
2 Timothy 2:1-4
2:1 Thou
therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the
things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to
faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou
therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man
that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may
please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Isaiah 35:3-4
3 Strengthen
ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to
them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will
come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
James 1:2-6
2 My
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing
this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let
patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting
nothing.
5 If any of
you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let
him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the
sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Faith is key
here for Worry wars against faith. It gets between you and Faith and if it gets
between you and Faith, it gets between you and God.
Therefore,
if one is always steeped in worry and getting further and further from God,
WORRY BECOMES SIN. Worry must be stopped before it becomes a sin. Remember
Romans 14..
Romans 14:23
(last 8 words)
23 … for
whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
At this
point and as the final portion of this sermon, I want to give you four (4)
practical steps for ridding your life of worry.
1) Go to God
in Prayer.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need.
1 Peter 5:7
Casting
all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Jude 20-21
20 But ye,
beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Ghost,
21 Keep
yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life.
Ephesians 6:18
Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Proverbs 3:5-6
(Trust in God)
5 Trust in
the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy
ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Psalm 86:1
Bow
down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
Psalm 86:3-5
(He even shows us how to pray)
3 Be
merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
4 Rejoice
the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For thou,
Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that
call upon thee.
2) Immerse
Yourself in God’s Word
Romans 10:17
So then
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Psalm
119:114-117
114 Thou art
my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
115 Depart
from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold
me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my
hope.
117 Hold
thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes
continually.
Psalm
119:147-149
147 I
prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
148 Mine
eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
149 Hear my
voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy
judgment.
3) Stop
Worry at your Gates
Remember my
sermon on City Gates?
Cast away
each worry as it hits your gate. Interrogate each worry and see which kind it
is:
40%--will
never happen
30%--things
of the past that can’t be changed
12%--criticism of others, mostly untrue
10%--health
problems
8%--real
problems……and what do we do with those?
Psalm 55:22
Cast thy
burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the
righteous to be moved.
1 Peter
5:6-10
6 Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due
time:
7 Casting
all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober,
be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom
resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished
in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the
God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen,
settle you.
4) Exchange
Worry for Bold Concern.
Some have
asked the difference between “worry” and “concern”. It is rather easy to tell
these two elements apart:
Worry has no
plans, only pain. Concern has a plan of action and the added elements of
boldness and energy. Worry has no inherent energy; it saps energy. Concern
redeems the time; worry saps your time. Worry is defeat. Concern is a path
toward triumph and success.
So cast away
your worries and exchange them for Godly concern and you will know peace and
joy.
Remember the
words of William Marshall…
Worry is
faith in the negative, trust in the unpleasant, assurance of disaster and belief
in defeat…worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities
with yesterday’s troubles.
A dense fog
that covers a seven-city-block area 100 feet deep is composed of less than one
glass of water divided into 60,000 million drops. Not much there, but it can
cripple an entire city.
Don’t let
Worry “fog” you in. Come out into the bright light where God is.
---END---
See WorldNetDaily story, "Losing Your Worry Reflex"
here
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