1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 You can have all of me 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,000 And face in the little things 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:14,000 You can have it all 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,000 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,000 To get connected or to give online, 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,000 go to hcv.church or give.htv.church. 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,000 If at any point during this message 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,000 you feel called to make a change in your life, 9 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:30,000 text change me to 970-00. 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,000 Thank you and enjoy the message. 11 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,000 Good morning everyone! 12 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,000 How's everybody doing today? 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,000 Good, good. Has it reached 80 degrees yet? 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,000 Not yet. We're getting there though, right? 15 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:46,000 We're all going to take a walk later this afternoon. 16 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,000 Get out and experience the wonderful warm weather. 17 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,000 If you're joining us from home, thank you for welcoming us into your space. 18 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,000 So I want to rewind and tell you a little story from my past. 19 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,000 I was a young pastor. 20 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,000 I'd recently moved my family to Syracuse, New York, 21 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,000 where I'd just become the kids, youth, and young adult pastor. 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:12,000 My other two job responsibilities at the church were 23 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,000 tech team oversight, which I never did in my life, 24 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,000 and building maintenance. 25 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,000 Of course, when taking the position, 26 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,000 I just assumed that I could handle it. 27 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:27,000 All of those responsibilities may have been hard, 28 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,000 but look, I learn quickly and I get things done. 29 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,000 It was late winter, early spring of 2003, 30 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,000 and if you know anything about Syracuse, New York, 31 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,000 you know winters are a winter wonderland of snow. 32 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,000 There was a record year of snowfall that year, 33 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:50,000 somewhere in the neighborhood of 160 inches or so of snow. 34 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:54,000 The building that was owned by the Syracuse Vineyard 35 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:59,000 had a flat roof, and if you know anything about flat roofs, 36 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,000 they hold a lot of snow, and after a staff meeting on Tuesday, 37 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:09,000 John and I noticed several ceiling tiles in the main auditorium that were wet. 38 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:13,000 Upon further inspection, which means I was climbing up a ladder, 39 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,000 I discovered with the warming temperatures, 40 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,000 the snow on the roof had begun to melt, 41 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,000 and apparently there were a few holes in the roof 42 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:28,000 because John took and bought the cheapest option available to repair the roof. 43 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,000 As the week went on and the temperatures went up, 44 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,000 more water began to leak from the roof to the point 45 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,000 where the drips weren't drips anymore, 46 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,000 but it was a flood that was going into the buckets 47 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,000 that I set out underneath to catch the water. 48 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,000 This was not a week of pastoring. 49 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,000 This would be a week of engineering excellence. 50 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,000 During the day, I was on the roof, 51 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:57,000 shoveling snow off of the flat roof and onto the parking lot below, 52 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:02,000 and during the evenings, I was hanging tarps from the metal drop ceiling frame 53 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:07,000 that would catch the water, angle the flow of the water into large trash cans, 54 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:15,000 where I had a pump and a hose that was pumping the water into the mop sinks. 55 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:21,000 Just to let you know, we had all of our Sunday gatherings on that Sunday morning. 56 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:25,000 John, the pastor, that's right, even used an umbrella 57 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:29,000 and sang Singing in the Rain during his sermon intro 58 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,000 because guess what? 59 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,000 All the water was still coming down into the tarps, 60 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:39,000 into the trash cans being pumped out while worship was taking place. 61 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,000 After the gatherings, I grabbed my family, threw them in the car, 62 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,000 and we left town for a week because I was exhausted. 63 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:52,000 When I got back to Syracuse, I now had two weeks' worth of work to catch up on, 64 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,000 and I noticed something strange about my left eye. 65 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,000 It daily began to twitch. 66 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,000 This was throwing off my equilibrium, 67 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,000 and being honest, it just began to freak me out. 68 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,000 I quickly scheduled a doctor's appointment. 69 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,000 Well, I actually didn't quickly do it, just made me do it, 70 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:16,000 only to discover this was my body's response to anxiety and stress, 71 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,000 meaning my mind was being overloaded, 72 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:26,000 and the physical result was an eye twitch or a signal that I needed to slow down. 73 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,000 Has anyone ever felt that way before by a show of hands? 74 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,000 Yeah. 75 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,000 I mean, let's be honest. I don't know what you're dealing with, 76 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:40,000 but I can only imagine the financial pressure of the world today. 77 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:44,000 You have bills to pay, kids to raise, and family to care for. 78 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,000 There's relational issues. There's health challenges. There's job stress. 79 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,000 There's inflation. I mean, has anyone seen the price of a dozen eggs? 80 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,000 Really? Are the chickens on strike? 81 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:02,000 I mean, is it possible not to be anxious in this world that we live in? 82 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:07,000 Right? You open up a news app and you discover that the whole world is falling apart, 83 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,000 and nobody likes each other. 84 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,000 If you ever felt like you're battling with anxiety, 85 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,000 and there's plenty to be anxious about, you're not alone. 86 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,000 Listen to these numbers. 87 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,000 In a study done in 2019, this is 2019, 88 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:26,000 two out of three Americans said they were anxious or extremely anxious. 89 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:31,000 That's two out of three in 2019 before the world got crazy. 90 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,000 Since the pandemic, those numbers have only gotten worse, 91 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,000 and the frequency and intensity of people dealing with anxiety 92 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:44,000 is hitting record levels somewhere around 75% of our population. 93 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,000 But it's challenging our younger generations. 94 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:53,000 In fact, one study shows that 91% of those of you that have high school 95 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,000 or college-age students, or you're here this morning, 96 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,000 and you're in high school or going to college, 97 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:05,000 91% of your age group report consistent and significant levels of anxiety associated with stress. 98 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:11,000 And perhaps one of the most common and prolific mental issues of the day is anxiety. 99 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,000 And if it's not stress, it's worry. 100 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:19,000 The ongoing weight, a burden, someone you love, something you care about, 101 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:23,000 something that you want to change, but you can't figure out how to change it. 102 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:28,000 This never-ending weight, something that's always present within you, 103 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,000 and according to the World Health Organization, 104 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:38,000 Americans have a bigger problem with this issue than any other people in the world. 105 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,000 If you can imagine, the most affluent society in the world 106 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,000 is actually the most worry-filled society in the world. 107 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:52,000 So for those of you that are Americans, congratulations, we win! 108 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:56,000 A category that we don't want to win at all. 109 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:01,000 So if over half, two out of three adults struggle with anxiety and worry, 110 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,000 and we here gathered are in the normal percentages, 111 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:08,000 that means that more than half of this room, look around, 112 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:12,000 more than half of this room, and watching online, 113 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,000 find yourself struggling to focus on this message. 114 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:21,000 Because your mind is being consumed with a burden, a concern, 115 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:26,000 someone you love, something you want to change, that's there, present, 116 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:31,000 and you just live in that state of anxiety and worry. 117 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:36,000 Why is it that so many of us find ourselves battling with this issue? 118 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,000 So this morning, I want to try to unpack it for you, 119 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:44,000 and I first want to tell you that at its core, it's because of our sin nature. 120 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:49,000 Because we're born as sinners, we tend to default or lean toward fear, 121 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:53,000 instead of defaulting toward faith. 122 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,000 I mean, I can prove this to you. 123 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,000 If you're awake some night at 2 a.m., I can almost promise you 124 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:04,000 you're not trying to figure out how to manage the peace and joy that's in your life. 125 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:09,000 If you're awake at 2 a.m., you're probably worried about your kids, 126 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:13,000 a health issue, or somebody you love, job stress, 127 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:17,000 or how you're going to take care of your parents in the years to come. 128 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:21,000 Or you're worried about the big things, terrorism, wars, racism. 129 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:28,000 Oh, it's a political year where we're going to vote for a new president. 130 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:34,000 I mean, we live in a culture where anxiety and worry is just a commonly accepted part of life. 131 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:41,000 And for the month of April here at HTV, we're doing a message series on mental health called Stretched Thin. 132 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:48,000 Last week, I kicked off this series discussing the mental health myths that we find within the church. 133 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:54,000 And today, we're going to be tackling anxiety and worry, and I want to encourage all of you that, listen, 134 00:08:54,000 --> 00:09:01,000 if you know someone that's struggling in their mental health, share these messages online. 135 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:07,000 Go to our YouTube channel, subscribe, find last week's message, find this week's message, share it with your friends, 136 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:12,000 because I tell you, it's life-changing for those that are struggling. 137 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:18,000 Now, some of you might be thinking, Chris, why are we talking about anxiety and worry? Aren't they the same things? 138 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,000 First, I want to say they're not. 139 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:25,000 Second, I want to say they're related, they're close, but they're not the same. 140 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:30,000 And their differences answer that question, which leads us to our first thought. 141 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:37,000 Worry is experienced in our minds while anxiety is felt in our bodies. 142 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:41,000 See, when we think about worry, we tend to experience worry in our minds. 143 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:46,000 It's something that we think about over and over and over again. 144 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:49,000 We literally rehearse the thoughts within our minds. 145 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,000 Anxiety is different. 146 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:58,000 See, we tend to experience worry in our minds, but we generally experience anxiety in our bodies. 147 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,000 Think about my eye twitch. 148 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:05,000 When my eye was twitching, it was a way for my body to tell me that, 149 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:10,000 Houston, you've got a problem. You need to fix it. 150 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:17,000 It's a little bit more holistic, where we worry, and when we worry, it's very specific. 151 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,000 Anxiety is general. 152 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:23,000 For example, we might worry that you're going to miss a flight that you have scheduled. 153 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,000 I don't want to miss that flight. Hurry, hurry, we're going to be late. 154 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,000 But we may feel anxious about traveling. 155 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,000 Are my kids going to be okay? Do I have enough stuff? Pat. 156 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:39,000 If you're a young person in high school or college, you may worry about an upcoming test. 157 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:46,000 I want to do well on this exam while you feel stress over the course load that you're currently taking this semester. 158 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,000 See, worry is more specific. 159 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:53,000 And no matter what we call it, with all the problems in the world today, 160 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,000 it feels like somebody needs to worry about them. 161 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:00,000 It seems like we have to think about them. Stress, again, is more general. 162 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:05,000 I'm overwhelmed at the rising cost of health care, food, gas. 163 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:09,000 Am I going to survive in my current income? 164 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:15,000 Paul, when writing to the church in Philippi, writes these words in Philippians 4, 4-6. 165 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:19,000 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again, rejoice. 166 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:24,000 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 167 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:29,000 Don't worry about anything. Now, some translations use the word anxious. 168 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:33,000 Don't be anxious about anything. Instead, pray about everything. 169 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,000 Tell God what you need and thank him for all he's done. 170 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:43,000 Again, an amazing verse that we read in the Bible, an amazing verse that many people memorize. 171 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:47,000 But when you hear those words, don't worry about anything. 172 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:51,000 If you're anything like me, sometimes I kind of want to have a conversation with God and be like, 173 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:56,000 is that even possible? How do I worry about nothing, God? 174 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:01,000 Have you ever felt that way? It's like, God, what do you mean worry about nothing? 175 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,000 Again, I don't know what you're facing or struggling with today, 176 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:11,000 but I do want to encourage you that the most important thing you can do is identify the issue. 177 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:17,000 Is it anxiety over the current pace of your life or the pressure that you're feeling on the job? 178 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:23,000 Are you worried about an upcoming doctor visit or a situation that your child is struggling with? 179 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:29,000 Where Paul tells us not to worry or be anxious about anything very general, 180 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:33,000 Jesus gets more specific, which leads us to our next thought. 181 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:42,000 See, Jesus says, don't worry about finances, food, fitness, fashion, and your future. 182 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:46,000 So we're going to go to Matthew chapter six, verses 24 to 25 and verse 34. 183 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:52,000 When we read, no one can serve two masters for you will hate one and love the other. 184 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,000 You will be devoted to one and despise the other. 185 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:59,000 You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. What is Jesus saying? 186 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:04,000 And he starts off these verses by saying, hey, don't worry so much about your finances. 187 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:08,000 You can't love both God and money. So don't overly focus. 188 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:14,000 Don't be obsessed about your money. Let's continue. 189 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:19,000 That is why I tell you not to worry about your everyday life, whether you have enough food and drink, 190 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:23,000 there's food or enough clothes to wear. There's fashion. 191 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:29,000 Isn't life more than food in your body? There's fitness more than clothing. 192 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,000 So notice Jesus said, don't worry about food. 193 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:37,000 And we must remember when Jesus is speaking to this crowd of people that are gathered, 194 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:41,000 they probably would have been worried about food because they were poor. 195 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:45,000 And their thought pattern was, where am I going to get my next meal? 196 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:50,000 When in reality, for many of us, we worry about food on a whole different level. 197 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:57,000 We just worry about where we're going to eat and we fight about the place that we're going to. 198 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:05,000 And then when we get there, when we do eat, we realize that we ate too much or we ate the wrong kind of food. 199 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:12,000 Jesus says what? Let's not obsess about that which is temporary. 200 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:18,000 We must learn to focus on what's eternal. And don't worry about your body, he says. Why? 201 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:23,000 Because we can obsess over our health. I believe in taking care of yourself. 202 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:27,000 Yes, you should take care of yourself. In fact, next month, the month of May, 203 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:33,000 we're going to be discussing that very topic in our series Physically Fit. 204 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:40,000 But Jesus is reminding us the body is temporary. We also have to focus on our spirit. 205 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:46,000 He focuses and challenges us as Americans. Don't worry about what you're going to wear. 206 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:52,000 Do you realize that for many people, they worry so much about what other people think 207 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:59,000 that they obsess over their image or over their social media posts, worried about what they're wearing? 208 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:03,000 Do you like this outfit or is it this outfit? What about these shoes? Do these shoes match? 209 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:07,000 Oh, does my hair look right? 210 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:13,000 What if I was to say to some of you, if you spend as much time thinking about God as you think about what you wear, 211 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:17,000 you might just change the trajectory of your life. 212 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:23,000 Jesus says, don't worry so much about those things because they do not last. 213 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:27,000 And then he says, don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. 214 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:32,000 Today, trouble is enough for today. In other words, don't obsess about the future. 215 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:36,000 Don't freak out about something you can't control, where you're going to go to school. 216 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:41,000 Are you going to find the perfect job? Is Mr. Right or Mrs. Right going to come along? 217 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:48,000 Don't worry if a loved one is going to get sick or obsess over the fact that your hair might be turning gray. 218 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,000 Jesus says, don't worry. 219 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:56,000 And then what I love about Jesus is he doesn't just tell us what to do, but he gets very practical 220 00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:01,000 and he shows us how not to worry, which leads us to our next thought. 221 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:07,000 See, what we worry about reveals where we trust God the least. 222 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:11,000 Jesus tells us, you want to know what to do? 223 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,000 Here's your plan, Matthew 6 33. 224 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:22,000 Seek the kingdom of God above all else, live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 225 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,000 See, whenever you're worried, whenever you're freaked out, whenever you're panicked, 226 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:30,000 whenever you don't know what to do, whenever there's too much to handle, what do you do? 227 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,000 You seek first God's kingdom. 228 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:39,000 You live righteously. You seek first his presence. You seek first his goodness that we were singing about. 229 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,000 And then you will be giving everything you need. 230 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:47,000 So I want to ask you a question. Is God first in your life? 231 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:51,000 Is God first in your life this morning? 232 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,000 Is he first in your day when you wake up in the morning 233 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:59,000 or does your mind drift to all the things you have to do in the day? 234 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:04,000 Does your mind drift towards the things of God as you're working 235 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:09,000 or are you focused on all of the assignments you have to get done? 236 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:14,000 When you think about financial pressures, do you tend to put him first, 237 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:21,000 whatever he blesses you with, or do you put him last, or do you even consider him at all? 238 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,000 Where does your mind go when it drifts? 239 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,000 Does it go to the worst case scenario? 240 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,000 And here's what could happen. 241 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:34,000 For example, well, I sent a text to a person I'm attracted to, I'm interested in. 242 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:41,000 We've gone out a few times. I saw the bubbles that he or she was texting back only to receive no response. 243 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:45,000 I've been ghosted. They're not interested in me. 244 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:49,000 Or is the response, oh, they must be busy at work. 245 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:53,000 I am sure he or she will respond when they have time. 246 00:17:53,000 --> 00:18:00,000 See, does your mind drift toward the goodness of God, the presence of God, his power, his love, his grace? 247 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:06,000 Do you put God first in your relationship so they centered around him in every single way 248 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,000 or do you choose to play house with your boyfriend or girlfriend? 249 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:17,000 See, some of you, you may have just come to the realization that maybe for some reason, 250 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:24,000 I'm so often burdened, worried, and full of anxiety is because I'm just not putting him first. 251 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:31,000 See, what we worry about most reveals where we trust God the least. 252 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:40,000 And this is good news because you have an incredible opportunity to simply put your cares and concerns before God. 253 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:45,000 Because Jesus gets real practical in the verses just before verse 33, 254 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,000 when we read Matthew 6, 26 to 27. 255 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:56,000 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in their barns, for your heavenly father feeds them. 256 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:59,000 And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? 257 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:02,000 Can all your worries at a single moment to your life? 258 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:07,000 So Jesus is showing us that God loves us way more than the birds. 259 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:11,000 And newsflash, birds don't worry. 260 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:16,000 Now to be clear, if a bird's hungry, the bird's going to do something about it. 261 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:21,000 True or false? 262 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,000 True or false? 263 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:27,000 And this illustrates a very important difference between concern and worry. 264 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,000 What's the difference between concern and worry? 265 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,000 Very simply. 266 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:37,000 Concern focuses on a challenge and then moves you to action. 267 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:43,000 It focuses on what might be a problem and then moves you to fix it. 268 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,000 You might think your marriage is struggling. 269 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,000 You're concerned about it. 270 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:54,000 So you think about going to your husband or your wife and saying, hey, let's get some counseling or let's join a growth group. 271 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:59,000 You may be concerned, well, I've gained 12 pounds in the last month. 272 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:04,000 I better cut out dessert or soda or change the way I'm eating. 273 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:10,000 See, concern focuses on challenges and moves you to action. 274 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:18,000 Worry focuses on what's out of your control and results in inaction. 275 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,000 Causes you to do nothing. 276 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:27,000 And that's why Jesus asked the question, can any one of you by worrying at a single hour or moment to your life? 277 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:34,000 In other words, you worry, but is anything ever gotten better because of your worry? 278 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:40,000 Has anything ever changed because you sat there and did absolutely nothing? 279 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,000 Jesus says, what? Don't do it. 280 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,000 It's not helpful. It's not worth it. 281 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,000 It changes nothing. 282 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:53,000 When you worry, nothing gets better, but your mental health gets worse. 283 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:58,000 Birds don't worry, but they don't sit around doing nothing either. 284 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:02,000 They don't wait for God to drop worms in their nests. 285 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,000 I've never seen that happen. 286 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:08,000 Like, what does a bird do if a bird's hungry? 287 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:15,000 He gets up, he flies around, he finds a nice golf course green. 288 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:19,000 He gets a worm and he eats it. 289 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:26,000 I don't know about you, but I've never heard a bird chirping at two in the morning, wide awake, 290 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:34,000 thinking that the supply chain problem is going to result in a shortage of worms. 291 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:40,000 You don't see that because the bird knows God's going to provide for that bird, 292 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,000 but God loves us more than the birds. 293 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:48,000 And if God's going to take care of the birds, how much more is he going to take care of you? 294 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:56,000 So when you're worrying, when you're stressed out, essentially we're saying, God, I just don't trust you. 295 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:02,000 I don't believe you're for me. I don't believe you're good. 296 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:08,000 And if you think I'm judging you, I might have been awake at 2 a.m. two nights ago, 297 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:12,000 and I wasn't thinking about how to manage all my blessings. 298 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:16,000 I'm just like you, and I'm just as vulnerable. 299 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:23,000 We have to realize what we worry about the most reveals where we trust God the least. 300 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:29,000 The very thing that's keeping us awake, that's weighing us down so heavily, it may never happen. 301 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,000 In fact, listen to this. 302 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:35,000 In a recent study by researchers done at Penn State University, 303 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:39,000 they asked people to document what they were worried about 304 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:44,000 and how many of their fears actually came to pass in the next 30 days. 305 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:50,000 According to their research, 91% of their worries never came true. 306 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:55,000 Friends, that's nine out of 10 things they were worried about never ever happened. 307 00:22:55,000 --> 00:23:01,000 And I want you to think about this, that very likely less than 10% of what you're worried about right now, 308 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:04,000 what you're stressed out about, it's never going to happen. 309 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:08,000 But our worry, our anxiety, you know what it does? 310 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:15,000 It robs us of God's peace 100% of the time, which leads us to our final thought. 311 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:21,000 Anxiety and worry aren't sin, they're signals. 312 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,000 Anxiety and worry aren't sin. 313 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:28,000 Now I just got sent an email this week simply asking me, 314 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:33,000 Chris, you're doing a series on mental health and you mentioned last week 315 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:39,000 that most pastors or churches very rarely speak on the topic. 316 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,000 Why is that so? 317 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:45,000 You know, I never responded to that email, but I felt it was for all of us to hear. 318 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,000 I believe, as I prayed about it this week, 319 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:52,000 that pastors and churches don't like to share about mental health 320 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:58,000 because it means that pastors actually have to work and do something. 321 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,000 I believe that when you begin speaking about mental health 322 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:05,000 and you begin challenging people to get healthy mentally and physically 323 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:10,000 and see change in their lives, that results in pastors needing to meet with, 324 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:16,000 counsel with, pray for, and encourage their congregations like we're called to do. 325 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:20,000 And there's a lot of pastors that simply don't like to do that. 326 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,000 They like to read the Bible, they like to prepare for a message, 327 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:28,000 but they don't like to get their hands dirty doing the stuff. 328 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,000 I believe in doing the stuff. 329 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,000 I believe in getting my hands dirty. 330 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:37,000 Therefore, at HCV, we're going to talk about mental health 331 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,000 and we're going to talk about physical health 332 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:42,000 and we're going to talk about being in community 333 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:45,000 and we're going to talk about becoming better people 334 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,000 because that's what God wants for us. 335 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:52,000 Anxiety and worry is not a sin. 336 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,000 How do I know that? 337 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,000 Just look at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. 338 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:01,000 Before he was going to give his life on the cross, 339 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,000 he knelt down and begged God, 340 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:06,000 is there any other way, God? 341 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,000 He knew the suffering that was coming and he said, 342 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,000 if there's any other way, may this cross of suffering, 343 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,000 may this cup of suffering be removed from me. 344 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:21,000 And he cried out, I am in agony, a deep agony. 345 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:25,000 And he literally began to sweat drops of blood 346 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:30,000 as he submitted to the will of God, not my will. 347 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,000 In other words, I don't want this. 348 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:34,000 I don't want this. 349 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:37,000 But may your will be done. 350 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,000 See, anxiety isn't a sin. 351 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:44,000 It's actually a symptom or what we might call a signal. 352 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,000 For example, if you know anything about your car, 353 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,000 you may be driving around in your car 354 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:50,000 and suddenly a little light goes off 355 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:53,000 that looks like a little engine. 356 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,000 Right, your car didn't do something wrong. 357 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:01,000 It's a signal indicating that there's something wrong in the car. 358 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:04,000 It's a symptom, it's an issue that needs to be discovered and fixed. 359 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,000 So what do you do? 360 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,000 You take your car to the junkyard, right? 361 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,000 You just trash it. 362 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:14,000 When that little light goes off, is that what you do? 363 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:17,000 No, you take your car to a mechanic 364 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,000 so the mechanic can fix the car. 365 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,000 Or some of you try to do it yourself. 366 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,000 God bless you, high five for Jesus. 367 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,000 I don't. 368 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:30,000 In the same way, if you find yourself battling with anxiety and worry, 369 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:34,000 this isn't a sin, it's a signal alerting you 370 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:37,000 to identify the issue and invite God to what? 371 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:39,000 Fix it. 372 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:42,000 That's why Paul wrote in, again, Philippians 4, 6 through 7, 373 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,000 don't worry about anything. 374 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,000 Notice what he says. 375 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:47,000 Pray about everything. 376 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,000 Tell God what you need. 377 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:49,000 Thank Him for all He's done. 378 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,000 Then you experience God's peace, 379 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,000 which exceeds anything we can understand. 380 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:58,000 His peace will guard our hearts and minds 381 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:01,000 as you live in Christ Jesus. 382 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:06,000 He invites us to come to a place of experiencing God's peace. 383 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:09,000 So this morning for our action steps, 384 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:10,000 we're going to do it a little different. 385 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:12,000 We're going to dive into the Old Testament. 386 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,000 We're going to look at 2 Chronicles chapter 20, 387 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:19,000 and we're going to look at one of the best kings of Israel. 388 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:21,000 So as you're reading through the Old Testament, 389 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,000 you'll quickly discover there were some really good kings of Israel, 390 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:27,000 and there were some really bad kings in Israel. 391 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:28,000 This was a good king. 392 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,000 His name was Jehoshaphat. 393 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,000 Everyone say Jehoshaphat. 394 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:33,000 Jehoshaphat. 395 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:34,000 Excellent. 396 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:35,000 Isn't that just fun? 397 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,000 Like there's just some names in the Bible. 398 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:38,000 They're just fun to say. 399 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,000 Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of Judah 400 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,000 in the southern kingdom of Israel. 401 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:49,000 And at this point, Judah had some enemies that were about to attack them. 402 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,000 And if you can picture this in your mind, there was a godly king. 403 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,000 He was leading a good kingdom, 404 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:57,000 and all of a sudden the Moabites are attacking. 405 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,000 But it wasn't just the Moabites, 406 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:04,000 but it was the Ammonites, the Moabites, and the Mennonites. 407 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:07,000 And they're all attacking at the same time. 408 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,000 Three different enemies joined forces 409 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,000 to attack King Jehoshaphat and the people of his kingdom. 410 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,000 And this illustrates, friends, 411 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:20,000 the very reason why many of us are battling with anxiety, worry, and stress today. 412 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:25,000 We can handle one enemy force attacking us, right? 413 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:27,000 But we can't handle several. 414 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:31,000 For example, we can handle one difficult boss at work. 415 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:35,000 But suddenly, when you add in to a difficult boss, 416 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:38,000 a car that breaks down, financial issues, 417 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,000 stress and a stressful marriage, 418 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,000 you just started a diet, 419 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:45,000 and in starting the diet, you went to work on Monday morning, 420 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:47,000 and it was Crumpies Monday. 421 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:51,000 And suddenly, you're presented with an opportunity to have donuts 422 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,000 on the day you started your diet. 423 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,000 It's just too much to handle. 424 00:28:55,000 --> 00:29:01,000 Anxiety and worry from a spiritual perspective. 425 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:03,000 Remember, I'm not a doctor. 426 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,000 I'm not a counselor. 427 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:10,000 From a spiritual perspective are simply signals alerting us to, 428 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,000 number one, it's time to pray. 429 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:15,000 It's time to pray. 430 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,000 And this is exactly what Jehoshaphat did in 2 Chronicles 20, 431 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:20,000 verse 3, 6, and 9. 432 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,000 Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news, and he begged the Lord for guidance. 433 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:28,000 He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 434 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:31,000 So notice what the king did. 435 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:32,000 He prayed. 436 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:37,000 He fasted, and then he told the entire people in the land to do the same. 437 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:38,000 You need to pray. 438 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,000 You need to fast, verse 6. 439 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,000 He prayed, O Lord, God of our ancestors, 440 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:44,000 you alone are the God who is in heaven. 441 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:46,000 You are ruler of all the kings of the earth. 442 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,000 You are powerful and mighty. 443 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,000 No one can stand against you, verse 9. 444 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:56,000 They said, whenever we are faced with any calamities such as war or plague or famine, 445 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:01,000 we can come to stand in your presence before this temple where your name is honored. 446 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:06,000 We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us. 447 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:08,000 In other words, God, we can trust you. 448 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:10,000 Our faith is in you. 449 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:11,000 We call on you, God. 450 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,000 We believe that you will save us. 451 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:17,000 And listen, friends, you can pray like that when you feel anxious, 452 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:21,000 when you feel overwhelmed, when you don't know what to do. 453 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:24,000 You can cry out like to God just like that. 454 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:26,000 You can be all fancy. 455 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:30,000 You can use Christianese, O God, Lord of our ancestors. 456 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:34,000 You can do it. 457 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,000 You can do anything. 458 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:40,000 Or you can be like Chris, and you can just say, help. 459 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:43,000 God, I need help. 460 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:47,000 You can just get brutally honest. 461 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:49,000 God, why is this happening? 462 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,000 I don't understand it. 463 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,000 I don't know how to deal with it. 464 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,000 I don't know where it's going to end. 465 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:56,000 I feel alone. 466 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:57,000 I'm desperate. 467 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,000 I am frustrated. 468 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:01,000 I can't get out, God. 469 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:04,000 Will you change this situation? 470 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:08,000 See, you can just cry out to God in honesty and have faith 471 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:11,000 that will hear the cries of your heart. 472 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:13,000 And he will save you. 473 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,000 He will free you. 474 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:17,000 He will provide for you. 475 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:21,000 Now, Dr. Carolyn Leath is a communication pathologist 476 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:24,000 and cognitive neuroscientist. 477 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:27,000 I'm not sure what that means other than she's very smart. 478 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:31,000 And she authored the book, Switch On Your Brain. 479 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:36,000 In the book, we learn that she discovered, now listen to this, 480 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:41,000 it's been found that in 12 minutes of daily focused prayer 481 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:46,000 over an eight-week period, you can change the brain 482 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:51,000 to an extent where it can be measured on a brain scan. 483 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:56,000 12 minutes of daily focused prayer over an eight-week period. 484 00:31:56,000 --> 00:32:00,000 12 minutes a day, done consistently over time, 485 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,000 can change your brain. 486 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,000 Here's the power. 487 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:08,000 Not only does prayer touch the heart of God, 488 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:13,000 invite him to act, but it changes the chemistry of your brain. 489 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:16,000 And this is incredibly exciting because remember, 490 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:20,000 we learned last week our brain is not fixed, right? 491 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:24,000 And this is good news because sometimes our brain goes to 492 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,000 all the wrong places and stays there. 493 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:32,000 We live in an era where science has now shown that the brain can change 494 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:37,000 and we can actually direct and change our brains. 495 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:40,000 The term is called neuroplasticity. 496 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:43,000 And last week we talked about, if you missed it, 497 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:46,000 the more and more you think about a thought, 498 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:51,000 the more that thought becomes easier to become a part of your life 499 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:55,000 because you're creating millions and millions of neural pathways 500 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:58,000 through your brain that God designed. 501 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:03,000 He can renew and change your brain by reading the Bible as you focus on it. 502 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:06,000 And prayer can not only touch the heart of God, 503 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:10,000 but can change the chemistry in your head. 504 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:15,000 In fact, the word in Scripture most often translated as anxiety 505 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:18,000 is the Hebrew word, marina. 506 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:24,000 And this word literally means dwelling or pondering on fearful or anxious thoughts. 507 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:29,000 It literally is an image of meditating on the negative. 508 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:33,000 In other words, some of us, we're training our brains to be anxious. 509 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:36,000 We're rehearsing what could go wrong. 510 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:38,000 There's this, there's that. 511 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:39,000 Everything's falling apart. 512 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:42,000 And we're training our neural pathways in our brain 513 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:46,000 to focus on the negative rather than the positive. 514 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:49,000 And it may be natural to think about what could go wrong, 515 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:51,000 but friends, prayer is not natural. 516 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:54,000 Prayer is supernatural. 517 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:57,000 And while we may be natural to think about what could go wrong, 518 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:01,000 prayer supernaturally breaks the cycle, right? 519 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:05,000 You're normal if you feel anxious, if you feel stressed out, but it's what? 520 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:06,000 It's a... 521 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:10,000 Thank you. 522 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:13,000 People, come on. 523 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:17,000 My bachelor's degrees in elementary education, you guys just failed. 524 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:18,000 Okay? 525 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:22,000 Class participation, you just failed miserably. 526 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:23,000 Okay? 527 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:24,000 Can I say that again? 528 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:27,000 Miserably. 529 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:29,000 Whew. 530 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,000 You're normal if you feel anxious. 531 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:32,000 It's a... 532 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:34,000 Thank you. 533 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,000 Take it to God. 534 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:37,000 Right? 535 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:38,000 Take it to God. 536 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:39,000 That's what Jehoshaphat did. 537 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:42,000 Second Chronicles, 2012. 538 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:45,000 Oh, our God, won't you stop them? 539 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,000 We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. 540 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:54,000 We do not know what to do, but we are looking for your help. 541 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,000 And for many of us, we don't know what to do. 542 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:57,000 There's too much. 543 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:58,000 I can't handle it all. 544 00:34:58,000 --> 00:34:59,000 I'm freaking out. 545 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:01,000 I can't hold it all together. 546 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,000 I don't know where to turn. 547 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:06,000 And listen, I want to encourage you, no human being can handle it. 548 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:09,000 You weren't designed to handle it on your own. 549 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:13,000 You were designed to be in relationship with your Creator. 550 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:14,000 Right? 551 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:16,000 Anxiety is not a... 552 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:21,000 Oh my gosh. 553 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:26,000 Okay. 554 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:30,000 We're going to go back to the chalkboard. 555 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:31,000 Okay? 556 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:37,000 So you can just picture that just gruesome noise of a piece of chalk. 557 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:41,000 You know, as a kid, you're just shuddering. 558 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:45,000 Man, the way we were brought up as kids. 559 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,000 Okay. 560 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:51,000 I want you to take something away from here this morning. 561 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,000 Okay? 562 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:57,000 Anxiety and worry is not a sin. 563 00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:59,000 Thank you. 564 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:00,000 It's not a sin. 565 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,000 It's not a sin. 566 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:04,000 It is a... 567 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:05,000 Sign. 568 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:06,000 There we go. 569 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,000 You got something. 570 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:11,000 Your life is forever changed. 571 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:14,000 It is April 14th, 2024. 572 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:17,000 We are at the Hub City Vineyard and you learn something new. 573 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:18,000 All right? 574 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:21,000 It's a signal that we need God. 575 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:22,000 Right? 576 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:25,000 I don't know where to turn, but we can turn to God. 577 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:30,000 That's why we read in 1 Peter 5, 6 through 7, humble yourselves under the mighty power of God. 578 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:33,000 At the right time, He will lift you up in honor. 579 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:37,000 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 580 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:45,000 Now, the NIV translation reads, cast all your anxieties on God because He cares about you. 581 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:54,000 We must remember, Peter was a fisherman, so he uses the term cast as a way to remind us in casting a line, 582 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:59,000 when you have anxiety and worry, when you identify the issue, what are we to do with that issue? 583 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:02,000 We cast it to God. 584 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:03,000 We give it to God. 585 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:04,000 God, I'm hurting. 586 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:05,000 I'm desperate. 587 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:08,000 Because of my marriage, I'm giving it to you. 588 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:10,000 I'm believing you are going to change. 589 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:11,000 I feel alone. 590 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:13,000 My heart is racing. 591 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:14,000 I'm sweating. 592 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:18,000 I'm freaking out about my kids, but God, I'm giving my kids back to you. 593 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:22,000 I'm freaking out about money, but God, I'm giving you my budget. 594 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:23,000 I'm tithing. 595 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:24,000 I'm putting you first. 596 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:27,000 I can't handle all the tension in the world, God. 597 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:32,000 I'm turning off my news app and focusing on your truth. 598 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:34,000 Does that make sense? 599 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:37,000 You cast your cares onto Him. 600 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:44,000 In other words, if it's in your mind, it's on God's heart, and it's big enough for Him to handle. 601 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:46,000 We give it to Him. 602 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:47,000 We pray about it. 603 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:48,000 Then what do we do? 604 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:55,000 Well, if you're anything like me, we pray about it, and then we listen for 32 seconds, 605 00:37:55,000 --> 00:38:02,000 and we look around for another minute, and if nothing changes, we pick it back up and take control. 606 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:07,000 Because we think we have to fix it, and we think that we can manipulate God. 607 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:09,000 But that's just not what we're called to do. 608 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:12,000 Anxiety is a signal, right? 609 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:17,000 Worry is a signal alerting us it's time to pray, leading us to our next stop. 610 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:22,000 It's time to pause. 611 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:25,000 It's time to pause. 612 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:32,000 After the prayer, Jehoshaphat did this in 2 Chronicles 20, 12 to 13. 613 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:36,000 We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help. 614 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:41,000 As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children. 615 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:44,000 Notice they stood. 616 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:47,000 And I don't want to be critical, right? 617 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:50,000 But I'm a doer. 618 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:51,000 I'm a motivator. 619 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,000 I'm an activator. 620 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:56,000 I get things done. 621 00:38:56,000 --> 00:39:00,000 And it's hard for me to pause. 622 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:06,000 Because when I feel like I'm standing here, I feel like there's something I could be doing. 623 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:09,000 But sometimes God tells us to do nothing. 624 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:11,000 To just stand there. 625 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:16,000 There are times where God will tell you to be still. 626 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:18,000 How do I know that? 627 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:20,000 Psalm 46, 10. 628 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:23,000 Be still and know that I am God. 629 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:25,000 I will be honored by every nation. 630 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:26,000 I will be honored throughout the world. 631 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,000 God, I don't know what to do. 632 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:29,000 I don't have the power. 633 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:31,000 My eyes are on you. 634 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:36,000 Be still and know that he cares about you and he loves you. 635 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:41,000 So in doing nothing, you're telling me, Chris, that God heals anxiety? 636 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:43,000 Sometimes. 637 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:44,000 Did you know why? 638 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:52,000 Sometimes we're too busy and our mind is racing and by being still, anxiety is removed. 639 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:55,000 But sometimes it's a process. 640 00:39:55,000 --> 00:40:02,000 Sometimes God directs you to read a portion of the Bible and that verse begins to renew your mind. 641 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:08,000 Sometimes God will lead you to read an article about your diet and about what you're eating 642 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:12,000 and make you realize the chemistry of your body is all in a whack 643 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:15,000 because you are eating too many processed foods. 644 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:23,000 Or maybe God will lead you to go and see a doctor and that doctor will recognize that the chemicals in your brain 645 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:28,000 are just out of whack and give you a prescription that can normalize your thoughts. 646 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:35,000 Or maybe you need to go do ministry with someone who looks at some of the trauma from your past 647 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:41,000 and your family life so that you can face it, get forgiveness and healing from it. 648 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:44,000 You take it to God. 649 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:50,000 And so while they waited, the Spirit of the Lord came over a man named Jehysiel 650 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:54,000 and he says this in 2 Chronicles 20, 15 and 17. 651 00:40:54,000 --> 00:41:00,000 He said, listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem, listen, King Jehoshaphat, this is what the Lord says. 652 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:02,000 Don't be afraid. 653 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:07,000 Don't be discouraged by this mighty army for the battle is not yours but God's. 654 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:09,000 But you will not even need to fight. 655 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:13,000 Take your positions and stand still and watch the Lord's victory. 656 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:16,000 He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. 657 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:19,000 Do not be afraid or discouraged. 658 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:23,000 Go out against them tomorrow for the Lord is with you. 659 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:25,000 And that's truth. 660 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:27,000 God is with you. 661 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:30,000 If you are in a relationship with Jesus, he's for you. 662 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:31,000 He loves you. 663 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:32,000 He cares about you. 664 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:34,000 And his power is real. 665 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:36,000 He will never leave you. 666 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:37,000 He'll never forsake you. 667 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:41,000 Anxiety is not a sin. 668 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:44,000 It's a signal alerting you it's time to pray. 669 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:46,000 It's time to pause. 670 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:50,000 And finally, leading to our final step, it's time to praise. 671 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:58,000 2 Chronicles 2, 20 to 22, early the next morning, the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tokoa 672 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:00,000 on the way to Jehoshaphat. 673 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:05,000 On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem, 674 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:12,000 believe in the Lord your God and you will be able to stand firm, believe in the prophets and you will succeed. 675 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:15,000 And then before I continue, I did something really weird. 676 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:20,000 In my limited understanding of warfare, I wouldn't have made this decision. 677 00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:22,000 Now please understand I was never in the armed forces. 678 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:23,000 Okay. 679 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:30,000 But what he does is he sends out his worship team on the front lines. 680 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:31,000 Right. 681 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:35,000 They're weapons that Jehoshaphat sends out, right. 682 00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:40,000 He sends out a lady with a tambourine, an acoustic guitar, a drummer. 683 00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:45,000 And of course, there's this big funky horn that they're just blowing on the front lines. 684 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:46,000 Right. 685 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:51,000 And you're reading this, you're reading the scripture to think, wait a minute, if that's me, 686 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:55,000 I'm sending the few, the proud, the Marines to lead the way. 687 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:56,000 Right. 688 00:42:56,000 --> 00:43:02,000 And the general is Dwayne the Rock Johnson, destroying the armies that are up front in front of him. 689 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:03,000 Right. 690 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:05,000 My man Jehoshaphat, right. 691 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:09,000 Jehoshaphat goes, hey, Brandon, Brandon Lake, get up there. 692 00:43:09,000 --> 00:43:13,000 Chris Brown, Kerry Jobe, we need you on the front lines. 693 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:20,000 Go tell the enemies that they're blessed and sing your songs of praise back to them. 694 00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:22,000 And you think I'm making it up. 695 00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:28,000 Look, after consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, 696 00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:31,000 singing to the Lord and praising him for his splendor. 697 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:32,000 This is what they sang. 698 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:35,000 Give thanks to the Lord, his faithful love endures forever. 699 00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:44,000 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord calls the armies to start fighting amongst themselves. 700 00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:51,000 And see, it takes faith in this moment when you're hurting right now, when you're full of anxiety, 701 00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:57,000 when you don't know what to do, when you're stressed out beyond belief about decisions that you need to make. 702 00:43:57,000 --> 00:44:03,000 It takes faith to praise before the blessing, before the anxiety ever leaves. 703 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:04,000 It takes faith to praise. 704 00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:13,000 And after Jehoshaphat prayed, after he paused and waited, and after he praised, before he saw anything, 705 00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:16,000 God worked and God fought the battle for him. 706 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:23,000 The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 20, when all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, 707 00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:25,000 the fear of God came over them. 708 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:31,000 So Jehoshaphat's kingdom was at peace for his God had given him rest on every side. 709 00:44:31,000 --> 00:44:37,000 God fought the battle and God gave them rest. 710 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:41,000 Earlier in my opening, I shared about my left eye twitch. 711 00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:46,000 To this day, I continue to experience that eye twitch. 712 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:53,000 Just a few weeks ago, many of you learned last week when I opened this series that Easter Sunday was coming. 713 00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:58,000 I was trying to figure out parking issues, how to find more parking, how to get a bigger building, 714 00:44:58,000 --> 00:45:04,000 how to get more chairs in this room because we need more chairs in this room, how to reach more people, how to baptize 47 people. 715 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:07,000 And guess what happened to my left eye? 716 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:12,000 It began to twitch because I was taking control. 717 00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:19,000 When I lay awake at night thinking about all the places I need to be, Thursday night I was up at 2 a.m. 718 00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:25,000 I'm in the middle of my crazy spring schedule. I'm coaching several teams. I'm pastoring a church. 719 00:45:25,000 --> 00:45:28,000 I'm a father. I'm a husband. Right? 720 00:45:28,000 --> 00:45:34,000 Oh, did I mention I'm supposed to go to Kenya? And two weeks ago, I lost my passport. 721 00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:39,000 I have no idea where it is. We've lost it. 722 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:44,000 And suddenly, I couldn't sleep. 723 00:45:44,000 --> 00:45:50,000 But friends, this is how I fight my battles. I pray. I take it to God. 724 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:56,000 I don't know what to do. The enemy's pressing in on every side, but I'm keeping my eyes on Him. 725 00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:59,000 This is how I fight my battles. 726 00:45:59,000 --> 00:46:04,000 By nature, I'm tempted to do something, to act. 727 00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:08,000 But sometimes God says, no, Chris, you've got to wait. You've got to pause. 728 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:13,000 You've got to sit in my presence and let Him do what only He can do. 729 00:46:13,000 --> 00:46:21,000 And then what do I do? I thank Him. I worship Him. I give Him praise. I pray. I pause. I praise. 730 00:46:21,000 --> 00:46:25,000 This is how I fight my battles. 731 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:31,000 Because Ephesians 6 tells us, if you don't know this, we're not fighting against flesh and blood, 732 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:37,000 but against evil rulers and authorities and the sun-seeing world, against mighty powers in the dark world, and against evil spirits. 733 00:46:37,000 --> 00:46:42,000 Don't be discouraged. The battle is not yours. God is with you. 734 00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:50,000 So what do we do? We pray. We pause. We praise. 735 00:46:50,000 --> 00:46:57,000 And then that's when Philippians 4 comes to life. You'll experience God's peace, which exceeds anything you can understand. 736 00:46:57,000 --> 00:47:01,000 His peace will guard your hearts and minds. 737 00:47:01,000 --> 00:47:06,000 And many of you right now, you say, Chris, this one hit home. 738 00:47:06,000 --> 00:47:10,000 I'm sitting here. I'm struggling. I'm feeling surrounded. I'm overwhelmed. 739 00:47:10,000 --> 00:47:20,000 And you know what we're going to do? We're going to pray, pause, and pray. 740 00:47:40,000 --> 00:47:44,000 I pray. I pause. I praise.