6:25-34 | Anxiety
Introduction
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We all have dealt with anxiety
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The feeling of not having control and worrying about the future
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Sometimes that anxiety is warranted, other times not at all
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Why Jesus brings up anxiety
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He has just told us to reject the things of this world
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Constant worry is another form of materialism
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We are devoted to them | 6:24
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We must reject the earthly treasures in both action and thought
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At the heart of this lessons is an appeal to put God above everything
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Life is more than survival | 6:25
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We are told to seek him first and then all these things will be added to us | 6:33
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Structure of the lesson
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Lessons from nature
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The utility of anxiety
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The proper mindset - Seeking the Kingdom
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Lessons From Nature
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Study the birds
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They don't have our advantages
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God provides for them every day
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The flowers
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They literally do nothing and God decks them out
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They have no purpose but to be burned in the oven
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God made them more magnificent than Solomon in all his riches
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God provides for his creation | Psalm 104:10-15
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God did not abandon his creation to starvation and decay
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Mankind is included in his provision
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How much more will he provide for us?
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As the height of God's creation we should expect him to take care of us
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So much of our anxiety is just irrational
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God knows we need these things | 32
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We don't need to throw a tantrum to get his attention
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He knows what we need before we ask him | 6:8
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Utility of Anxiety
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Anxiety does not provide for us | 27
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Some people get mad when you're not anxious
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God's the one in charge of your life span. Your worrying has no effect on it
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Anxiety has never fixed a problem or put food on the table
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Israel lacked faith in gathering manna | Exodus 16:19-28
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They gathered more than a day at a time and on the Sabbath
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They didn't trust that God would provide for them again
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Instead of seeking God's will to not gather, they were led astray by their anxiety
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Anxiety demonstrates our lack of faith in God's providence
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"Worry is practical atheism" - Robert Mounce
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We aren't denying Gods existence, we are denying his love and care for us
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Poem
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Remember that he is our father
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We need to cast our cares on him | Hebrews 13:5
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He knows what you need, and is happy to give it
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A father who cares enough to feed the dog will feed his children
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Seek First the Kingdom of God
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Finding the kingdom of God is winning life
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Take away all the comforts of life, but keep God, and you've won
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Everything else is a distraction taking us away from the goal
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All these things will be added to you
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One of the lessons of Haggai
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We aren't guaranteed many of the luxuries of life
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He provides through his church
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By joining ourselves to his kingdom we have a support network
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Charity in the early church
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This must be our priority
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We have rejected the things of this world. Why are we so concerned about no longer having them?
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Constantly worrying about losing our possessions is just as materialistic as constantly accumulating them
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Conclusion
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Take life's anxieties one day at a time
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The bird is only focused on today. We should worry about tomorrow problems tomorrow
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The plant can't do anything to stop from being thrown into the fire. We need to accept that there is much in life that we will never control
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Troubles are sure to come tomorrow
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Let's take care of that tomorrow
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Any trouble that comes our way will be met by God
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