Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Session #7 Paul J. Bucknell/Babinu Uthup Overcome Anxiety with Peace

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 Foundations for Overcoming “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14). Believe what you choose Never be a victim Hope brings inspiration Never need to give up Strength from God’s Word Never fight alone Light overpowers Darkness Never have to lose Knowledge must become experience Worry into Peace!

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 Recap : Anxiety is a sin ! ✦ Just as lying and lusting, being anxious/worried is a sin. ✦ The Bible tells us not to be anxious (Matthew 6:34) and that whoever who fails in one area has broken the entire law (James 2:10-11)

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 Conclusion (of recap) ✦ Anxiety is a sin. ✦ Excuses such as ‘This is an extremely important matter. Hence it is alright to be anxious’ and ‘I am anxious only about spiritual matters. Hence it is fine’ do not justify the same. ✦ Let us see how we can overcome the same !

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 A. Identify what you are worrying about ✦ Most of the times, if we search our hearts, we are able to find causes of anxiety without much difficulty. ✦ Being frantic about something, always talking about the same, delving on that subject always possibly indicate anxiety in the same.

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 A. Identify what you are worrying about(cont.) ✦ Examples include anxiety with respect to finding a job, with respect to future of children and so on ! ✦ Sometimes, the cause of anxiety may not be clear to us. In those cases, we need to ask the LORD to search our hearts and reveal to us the same (Ps 139:23-24)

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 B. Identify why you worry ✦ Anxiety generally results from either a lack of commitment of some area to the LORD or unbelief in HIS provision (possibly both) ✦ Examples like anxiety with respect to finding job, or with respect to future of children.`

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 B. Identify why you worry(cont) ✦ Even in the case when we are not able to find tangible cause for anxiety immediately, mostly it is caused by an underlying unbelief or lack of commitment to the LORD. ✦ Whatever maybe the case, let us learn to overcome the same with the word of GOD and the power of the Holy Spirit !

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD ! ✦ “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ The verse broadly speaks about humbling ourselves before the LORD so that he may lift us up in HIS time (since HE resists the proud 1 Pet 5:5, Prov 18:12) ✦ Coupled with humbling ourselves, it talks about casting all our anxieties on HIM because HE cares for us !

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ Example of applying this truth would involve humbling ourselves to HIM, and casting our anxieties by faith to HIM since HE cares for us deeply.

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ The verse (with the context) tells us how much the LORD understands our needs (better than us). Hence instead of being anxious, we should focus on living a life for the LORD (rather replace anxiety with focus of fulfilling will of the LORD ) ✦ Once we do that, the LORD promises to meet our needs !

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ Example of applying this truth would involve committing our anxieties to HIM, trusting in HIS provision, and confession of a choice to replace anxiety with focus on living life for HIM and asking for HIS grace.

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6,7)

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ The verse tells us not to be anxious about anything but rather replace anxiety with supplications to the LORD by faith. ✦ Once we do that, the LORD promises HIS peach which is beyond human understanding to guard our hearts !

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ Example of applying this truth would involve continually replacing anxieties [small,big etc] with corresponding supplications to the LORD,thus experiencing HIS peace more and more !

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9).

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ From this verse, we learn to replace our anxiety about sin/guilt with loving forgiveness of our LORD !

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 C. Overcome anxiety by the word of GOD !(cont) ✦ Example of applying this truth would be not to encourage thoughts of guilt in our minds, but rather apply the truths regarding forgiveness immediately !

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 NOTE : Cast Anxiety, not responsibility ! ✦ The Bible never condones irresponsibility, but rather encourages us to do things as for the LORD ! (Col 3:23) ✦ Overcoming anxiety would enhance our relationship with the LORD, thus enabling us to do things better for HIS glory !(1 Cro 10:31)

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 Conclusions ✦ Anxiety is a sin, like any other. ✦ Overcoming anxiety would include understanding the cause for the same and replacing it with the truths of GOD’s word by the power of HIS spirit.

D2 Reaching Beyond Mediocrity Overcome Anxiety with Peace #7 Exercises and Life Sharing ! ✦ ‘Worry is a sin’. How has this truth transformed your view ? ✦ What do you think is the biggest obstacle for you to overcome worry ? How has the current teaching helped you here ? ✦ 3.Home assignments: Do exercise #3,#4 in the section #7 (Overcoming anxiety) in ics/Disciple/Intermediate/rbm-st.html ics/Disciple/Intermediate/rbm-st.html