Worry is a sin. It is a lack of faith and trust in God. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to worry is to feel or experience concern or anxiety. Worry is characterized as a struggle, fear or torment. It is a state of agitation where a person is afraid of the unknown in light of present circumstances. How is a child of God suppose to deal with the trials and difficulties of life? Simply put, they are to have faith in God.
To trust God is to know that He is able and willing to deal with all of our difficulties and that He uses them to develop a greater faith in our hearts. The Lord requires a child-like faith, one that is totally dependent upon Him in all areas of our lives. He has promised to never leave or forsake us; we must believe this in order to allay worry and fear. Turning to God for all of our needs is faith in action. And if faith is truly operating in our lives, we will experience peace and joy during even the most trying of times. In times of uncertainty, one thing is certain, God will not forsake His children.
How is this type of faith, one that is completely dependent upon God, developed in our hearts and lives?
First, we learn faith by hearing the Word of God, for "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." So the true preaching of the Gospel, which develops our proper understanding of the Word of God, is indispensable to the Christian's growth in faith. When the Gospel is preached in its fullness, the focus of the preaching is on "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," as the Apostle Paul stated in I Corinthians 2:2. He also said, "For the preaching of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the Power of God." (I Corinthian 1:17). With a focus on the true meaning of the Gospel, that by faith in Jesus Christ as the Source of Life and the Cross as the means of obtaining that Life, the believer can be fully assured that deliverance from sin, Satan and even the most difficult circumstances of life can be a constant experience.
Secondly, we must change our priorities and focus to God's will, not our own. Jesus said, "Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put o.n" (Matthew 6:25). When our focus is on these things and not on God's promise to provide for us as we live for Him, "taking thought" or worrying is the natural result. Our focus should be on His will, which is to "seek first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33). When we seek to know and to serve the Lord with all of our hearts, the Lord will always meet our needs. This is His promise to us.
Lastly, we are to submit to God in any and all of the circumstances that He allows to occur in our lives. No matter the trial or tribulation, we must believe that the Lord is causing or allowing certain events to occur for reasons we may not understand. What we should understand, though, is that "all things [good and bad] work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28). The Lord causes or allows trials to test and build our faith, for as Peter wrote, "though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 1:6-7).
How we react in times of testing acts as a barometer to measure the strength or weakness of our faith. When trouble comes, do we worry or are we at peace, trusting in God. If our reaction is less than acceptable to God, we can simply repent and ask Him to build our faith as we seek Him, His Word and His Will.
When worry is defeated in our lives by our faith in God, then we can claim, as the Saints of old, that "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
So you're telling me that being grounded in the word of God will keep me from worrying?
ReplyDeleteThat is essentially correct, except it is more than just knowing the Word of God. We must believe the Word of God as well. In the book of Hebrews, Paul wrote that the Gospel was preached to some people, but the it "did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them who heard." (Hebrews 4:2). Many who heard simply refused to believe the Word. Therefore, we must believe what the Lord says when we hear it.
ReplyDeleteWe also must rightly divide the Word that we study or hear. This means we must come to a right understanding of the Word. Paul told Timothy to "study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." (II Timothy 2:15). So it is possible that many people may not have the right understanding of the Word of God. This will, of course, adversely affect one's faith. So understanding what God means by what God says is a critical factor when it pertains to proper faith.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Under the conditions mentioned above, studying and hearing the Word of God produces faith in our lives. As our faith grows, worry dissipates. The Bible teaches us to trust in the Lord in all things. In fact, Paul told the church in Rome that "all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." All things includes good and bad things. So as long as Christians live in the will of God, there should be no reason to worry or fear any circumstances of life, knowing that the Lord is in control of their lives.
The Word of God also transforms us by the renewing of our minds and into the image of Christ Himself. As faith is developed through the study of the Word, the Christian will experience peace in the times of trouble. The storms of life will not disturb this peace any more than it did Jesus when He faced the winds and waves on the Sea of Galilee; that is, if the faith of the Christian is mature.
So as the Christian seeks to know the Word of God and to do the will of God out of love for God, then faith will be present to calm all fears and worries.
hmmmm... that is a thinker. I was searching for an online outlet to hear the word and came across your blog. So far I have found it interesting. I have not listened to any of your sermons as of yet but I expect to find them equally fascinating. I was wondering where I could find more information on you as a pastor. Where did you go to school and seminary? What made you decide to become a pastor? How long have you been a pastor? What community outreach programs has your ministry started or participated in? I read your mission but want to know more about where your faith is based and what influences you.
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