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August 18-19, 2001 CONTENTS
UNDER PRESSURE! Psalm 23 THE PRESSURE OF WORRY! ! WALK
IN FAITH NOT IN FEAR! PROBLEMS WITH WORRY: ·
IT IS UNHELPFUL! ·
IT IS UNREASONABLE! ! TO WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING YOU CAN’T CHANGE IS USELESS! TO WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING YOU CAN CHANGE IS STUPID! ·
IT IS UNHEALTHY! HOW CAN I OVERCOME THE LIFE-PRESSURE OF WORRY? 1. BY BELIEVING
THAT THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD! *** Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I
have everything I need.” [New Century Version] ! WHAT DOES A SHEPHERD DO? ·
HE PROVIDES! ·
HE PROTECTS! ·
HE DIRECTS! ·
HE CORRECTS! *** Isaiah 40:11 “He takes care of his people
like a shepherd. He gathers them like
lambs in his arms and carries them close to him. He gently leads the…lambs.” [NCV] *** Philip. 4:19 “And my God will meet all
your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” [New International Version] ! GOD WILL MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS, NOT ALL
YOUR GREEDS! *** Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I
have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” [NIV] ! Not
only is worrying unhelpful…unreasonable…unhealthy… IT IS UNNECCESSARY! 2. BY ALLOWING
THE LORD TO BE MY SHEPHERD! *** 1 Peter 2:25 “For you were like sheep going
astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” [NIV] HOW CAN WE ALLOW THE
LORD TO BE MY SHEPHERD? A. BY
ACCEPTING JESUS AS MY LORD! *** Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd…..”
[New Century Version] ! THE
LORD CAN’T BE YOUR SHEPHERD UNTIL THE SHEPHERD IS YOUR LORD! *** John 10:14, 27 “Jesus said, “I am the good
shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…My sheep listen to my voice; I
know them, and they follow me.” [NIV] ! WORRY
IS ALWAYS A CONTROL ISSUE! ! GOD
DOESN’T WANT TO BE YOUR CO-PILOT, HE WANTS TO BE YOUR COMMANDER! B. BY
BEGINNING TO PRAY ABOUT EVERTHING! ! IF YOU HAVE TIME TO WORRY, YOU HAVE TIME TO PRAY! *** Phil. 4:6-7 “Don't worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all
he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more
wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your
hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
[New Living Translation] ! IF IT’S BIG ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT,
IT’S BIG ENOUGH TO PRAY ABOUT! *** 1 Peter 5:6-7 “So humble yourselves under
the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your
worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.” [NLT] C. BY
CONSIDERING ONLY ONE DAY AT A TIME! *** Matthew 6:34 “So don't be anxious about
tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.” [Living Bible] *** Matthew 6:11 “Give us today our daily
bread.” [NIV] ! LET
GO OF THE PAST, LET GOD HANDLE TOMORROW AND DO YOUR BEST TODAY! Matthew
6:31-33 “So don't worry at all…your heavenly Father already knows perfectly
well that you need…and he will give them to you if you give him first place in
your life and live as he wants you to.”
[Living] |