God’s Answer to Fear, Anxiety & Worry: Love That Provides

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No guide this at our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org is what I worry really going on today. Pastor Greg will report show. Worry is not only a waste of emotional energy is actually a step backward in our walk with the Lord's worry God is sort of emotional regulation to harm your life will you fill your trust in the God words, don't worry about anything. It also tells us pastor cares on the board. What is heavy on your heart Pastor Greg Laurie brings good encouragement will rely in the final message with reports or God's answer to anxiety and her long is coming your way. No, I love bird I've always been interested in them ever since I was a little kid. I've had quite a few different birds over the years amid parakeets and got good deals and parrots and lovebirds and all these different birds and other soapbox. Maybe that would love the thing about birds when he watched them as they do get up every morning. They always seem to be collectively a pretty darn good mood all day. I may they start their days singing a little song I've never seen stressed-out birds I've never seen birds in therapy. I've never seen a bird popping a volume. Have you, you know. So actually we can learn something from the birds and what were talking about major we can also learn something from the flowers. This is what Jesus said in the sermon on the Mount. This is where he takes us here as he gives us a very clear words about how to deal with our worry and our anxiety to share with you in this message.

10 tips to utilize when worry comes knocking. But let's read a few verses together.

Matthew chapter 6 starting in verse 25 of Matthew six, Jesus says, I tell you not to worry about everyday life. Whether you have enough food and drink were enough close to where his life more than food in your body more than clothing. Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you far more valuable to him than they are all of your worries cannot add a single moment to your life so why do you worry about clothing.

Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow, they don't work or make their clothing. Yet Solomon in all of his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are, and of God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow he will certainly care for you, so why do you have so little faith. So don't worry about these things, what shall we eat or what shall we drink, what shall we wear these things dominate the thoughts of nonbelievers, but your heavenly father already knows all of your needs now very familiar verse.

Matthew 633 but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

Well how practical are those words given to us by Christ 2000 years ago, yet they resonate in the culture we live in today a culture that is gripped with worry filled with fair and crippled by anxiety. So here now are 10 tips gin biblical truth on how to fight anxiety, fear and worry in your life. Point number one very obvious very simple.

The believer that is a follower of Jesus Christ. The man of the woman he was asked the Lord to come into their life should not worry the believers should not worry know know Jesus was not saying the Christian should not think about or be concerned with the things of life such as what you're going to eat or what you're going to where were you going to live or what career you to pursue those are things we should think about. But the Bible tells us we should plan for the future.

The Bible tells us that we should work hard, that we should save our money so the Bible is a very practical book. But what Jesus is saying was don't worry about these things. Don't let these things become something that distract you from what really matters in life. So here's something to consider.

You know, if you let worry get a hold of you.

It can actually cause deep depression in your life. It can cause a lot of problems all talk about a few moments.

Proverbs 1225 says anxiety in the heart of man causes depression. I find that interesting hundreds of years ago before scientists figured it out before psychologist figured it out before the so-called experts figured out. The Bible says anxiety can lead to depression. So how do we overcome it will. One way is to stop thinking so much about yourself and put your eyes on the needs of others. You might recall that I pointed out to you in the last message that I have a 10 step solution to depression. Point number one do something for someone who is greater needs and you and point number two is repeat point number 19 more times. Try it for a day, you might be surprised by the outcome. Experts have actually found that when you volunteer your services are your time to help others. It actually elevates your mood. It's been done by Edward says that helpers hi, now it's a funny thing.

I just talked about this in my last message and someone commented on my Instagram, Pete sent me this little message and I'll read it to you. It's a young lady she says hi pastor Greg I'm not sure if you will see this message, I saw your message and I do read my comments.

By the way, but I wanted to comment on what you been speaking on lately regarding the pricing and anxiety. I struggled with really bad depression and suicidal thoughts for years, and at one point I was determined in my life, but in the last six months of getting involved in the harvest giving of my time to serve others in the church and making so many new Christian friends.

I can honestly say my anxiety has gone away is that great. I don't feel depressed anymore. I haven't had a suicidal thought for a long time now. I just wanted to thank you for your encouraging sermons for this amazing church that is truly impacted my life for the best is help me to grow in my faith and become closer to God. God bless you that I love her insights. There and in the here's a couple of things. She points out she was having these thoughts when she got involved in serving others and this is why we need one another. This is why we cannot do life by ourselves. God is given this is great group of fellow brothers and sisters to support us in the church. So what does Jesus say verse 25. Don't worry about your life.

Another way to translate this is don't have anxiety about the issues of life. Look, I can't control problems. I cannot control what's going to happen to me externally, but I can control my reaction to it. That's what Jesus is talking about. Don't let your life be filled with worry and anxiety in the Greek it needs to stop doing what is already been done. In other words, stop worrying now. I think that we justified. Worry sometimes we might even think it's a virtue. The worry but it is said, I think you can actually be a sin to worry, and if worrying is a sin I don't like to admit this but as I said I'd committed a more than one occasion.

And really, what is worry. That's a lot of trust in God affect every word worry comes from an old German word meaning to choke the other day I was choking on of vitamin C are those supposed to make you feel better.

It almost killed me know when I take vitamins I get a little handful of them and I like to dig them all in one goal. Okay, so out from my mouth and get a little bit of water and one gulp of this one dog on vitamin C pill got turned sideways in my throat and I in my house with two of my grandchildren and and I'm choking choking there's pop. Are you okay and I like okay it sounded like I was dying. Honestly and and I couldn't swallow what I drink a whole bottle of bottled water.

It would not turn and I don't want to get graphic, but I couldn't get it to go the other way.

Either it was just stuck there for the longest time and that that's frustrated that's joking that's a worry can do to you as well. Greg Lord will have the second half of his message just a moment hearing from listeners who been impacted by pastor Greg's teaching God's word is encouraging. Listen to these comments from one of her listeners, Esther, Greg wanted to reach out and let you know how much I appreciate your teaching and how the Lord uses you to give hope and understand.

I'm a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan right after 9/11. I've really been struggling with how the situation Afghanistan by anxiety and PTSD has been really aggravated recently say this to thank you for helping me this extremely difficult time your teaching from God's word God is giving you an amazing gift to be able to explain and teach his word way I can understand it. Thank you for pointing us to the cross and helping me personally to stay focused on the blessed hope that Christ is coming back and all things will be righted. How have these studies in God's word help to if you have a story Collison share with us: 866-871-1144 866-871-1144 now more good encouragement from pastor Greg's message called God's answer to fear, anxiety and worry. Part three.

Worry is sort of a mental and emotional strangulation that can harm your life because it's really a failure to trust in the providence of God. What is the providence of God.

It's a simple belief that I believe is a Christian that God is in control of my life that God is in control of everything that comes into my life in either he doesn't or he allows it, therefore I don't believe in accidents. I believe in providence and when I worrying I'm really doubting God, the prophet Daniel at this great trust in God. Danny was such a faithful follower of the Lord. He was captured by Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonians and taken into captivity along with his three friends, Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo because of their gifts and talents. They were brought into the palace and made advisors to the King.

Well, Nebuchadnezzar was ultimately replaced by Belshazzar and he was conquered by the Medo Persian forces and along comes Darius but Daniel was a faithful representative of the Lord to three of those King well he a lot of people didn't like him. He a lot of enemies follow advisors to the King.

They wanted him out and they could not find any skeletons in his closet. The problem is for them. He prayed in his closet so they said the only way were going to get Daniel out of commission and not influencing the king as if we do something with this faith in the God of the new Daniel had a habit. Every day he would go to his house open as Windows up, get down to Disney's face Jerusalem and pray to God. They said let's get the king to sign a degree that no man can pray to any God for 30 days except the king, the king cited and it was a law in it when in the position and what it Daniel do. He went and prayed as he always had and now he's thrown into a lion's den, facing a certain death. And here's the point I want to make that night who slept better. Daniel in the lion's den, or the King and the power actually Daniel slept better. You know better to be in a lion's den with God than anywhere else. Without him, the king was up all night worrying despite the fact that he was in the very lap of luxury.

Daniel P slept like a baby because he had complete trust and confidence in God. Psalm 127 verse two says he gives his beloved sleep and Daniel had that sleep in that rest, so Jesus gives us some illustrations as to why we should not worry bird should not worry, why should we. Verse 26 look at the prayer or another way to translate this is look at what is in front of your eyes.

Jesus did a lot of his teaching outdoors. Just we walked along with the guys point things out and so it went out of doing field is so see some seed fell on good ground.

Other seed fell on rocky ground and he probably was gesturing to a store in the distant entity since a little of the birds they don't toil there. They don't worry. Didn't get stressed out, and yet no bird is ever been given the hope of heaven yet to get up every morning singing the birds gather their food every day. They do their diligence. Some birds get their food from the sea. Others jutted from the ground.

The rest and got a McDonald's away for the price to get the ground so the birds get out there. They get their food. So Jesus is not.

They don't think about these things. If they don't get stressed about it. Birds on stress. Why should you be if you heard this poem about birds said the Robin to the sparrow.

I should really like to know why these anxious human beings rush about the worry so said the sparrow to the Robin friend. I think that it must be that they have no heavenly father such as, cares for you and me while actually we do have that heavenly father whose promise to take care of us, and if he takes care of little words will he not also take care of you for second illustration is about flowers. Verse 28.

Why do you worry about clothing.

Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow, they don't work. They don't make their clothing. Yet Solomon in all of his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. Jesus is saying even King Solomon dressed in royal robes and Islamic scholars with pieces of furniture overlaid with gold did not have the beauty of the wildflowers of Galilee and he say look, why do you stress so much about the way that you look why do you get so concerned about your wardrobe. You know will think so much about an outfit and putting the right outfit together and looking a certain way or we Photoshop ourselves and we want to look a certain way in and here's what Jesus is saying don't be obsessed with those things. Now, having said that, you can go too far the other way. Some people need to think more about the way they look. I'm looking at you right now I'm actually not done, but give a little more thought to it. Jesus is not saying don't think about the way that you love what he is saying is don't be obsessed with these things, especially at the expense of spiritual things. Point number four worry does not make life longer.

It just makes it more miserable worry does not make lifelong riches makes it more miserable and I would add this worry does not resolve problems. It simply creates new ones.

Look at verse 2710 all your worries at a single moment to your life.

How many of you through worry and anxiety can extend the length of your life answer.

No one in fact worry, may actually shorten your life.

Some people are trying to extend their lives using the latest technology read an article in the newsfeed the other day about a number of billionaires were trying to find a cure for aging. One well-known billionaire once they have a computer chip strapped to his brain so little artificial intelligence.

There other billionaires were having blood transfusions from healthy young people between ages 16 and 25 they felt by getting this transfusion of blood from young people could reverse aging.

Instead, what happened to them as they wanted to move back into their parents house play video games, and some wanted more avocado toe so I don't know you explain these things to me, but I think that's can actually reverse aging. Actually we know also that one Silicon Valley billionaire is investing in the start of the promises to upload your brain into computer and thus he thinks it will grant eternal life to your consciousness. Crazy stuff, these things are not going to extend your life God determines the date of your birth and the date of your death. You do not determine that, but you have everything to say about the � that your part, the rest is God's heart helpful biblical insight from Pastor Greg Laurie and his practical message God's answer to fear, anxiety and worry.

Part three.

Glad you joined us today here on a new beginning and Pastor Greg has an important closing thought from this message in just a moment yesterday were excited about making available a new book called the Jesus music yes you live through the start of Jesus music as I did, but for someone younger. What makes this history so important and so interesting. This is the roots of the music that we have all come to love. I love history. I've always loved to know about just referred to think rock 'n' roll is an example. You know rock 'n' roll music really started with with a group of individuals in what was called Sun Studios in Memphis Tennessee producer name Sam Phillips discovered a young singer named Elvis Pressley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and so that music turn into what we call rock 'n' roll and sonatas go back to the origins of Jesus music. It was a bunch of bands that were forming during the Jesus movement. Names like Larry Norman bands like love song mustard seed faith Andre Crouch of the disciples, and many others were innovating and creating music that was different than anything people and heard before. It was current with culture, but it was music that honor God. Fast forward to today. Artists like Chris Tomlin, Mercy me Jeremy Camp Phil Wickham for King and country. You know the list just goes on these amazing artists or produces great music at all started a long time ago in the late 60s with these bands that would record these records literally sell them out of the trunks of their cars go on the road and perform these songs. Little did they know that this is going to be the tip of the spear of a whole industry that was to follow. So if you've ever wondered about how this music got started. If you want to know some behind-the-scenes stories of some of your favorite artist you want to know more about what you may have missed. It's all here in this brand-new book called the Jesus music written by my friend Marshall Terrell by the way have written three books of Marshall Terrell, as you may know, Steve McQueen, the salvation of an American icon, Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon, and Billy Graham. The men I knew. I'm working on 1/4 book with Marshall right now but this is a book he wrote in his own but I have the opportunity to write the forward for it because this is a book that you're gonna love. I will send it to you for your gift of any size.

By the way for a high-quality book hardcover glossy pages.

Lots of photographs lots of information stories in the history of the music that's a part of our life today. It's called the Jesus music and will send you a copy of this book for your gift of any size whatever you can send will send this copy to you and I would encourage some of you to be generous because when you are generous with your finances. We will put that money to work in expanding this ministry to reach more people with the teaching of the word of God and the message of the gospel so order your copy of this brand-new book the Jesus music from us right here at harvest ministries. That's right, your donation is an investment in changing hearts and lives. It's an investment in keeping Pastor Greg's teaching coming to you each day. So with your investment today.

Be sure to ask for the new book called the Jesus music.

You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300 reach us any time 24 seven again at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org when next time.

Join us for the finale of Pastor Greg series God's answer to fear, anxiety and worry. But before we go. A pastor that closes our time together this way. I like what Corrie 10 boom, one said, quote life is not measured by restoration but by its donation.

Don't worry so much about how long you will live think instead about how you are living and what you're doing with this precious commodity called time that God gives to each and every one of us every day, every single morning. God deposits into your bank of time 86,400 seconds or 1440 minutes, which equal 24 hours you choose to spend those minute nothing will be carried over to the next and credit you want to spend it. What you don't spend is forfeited. Everybody thinks her list. Beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner.

Just go to harvest.org