{"id":1031,"date":"2016-06-15T11:32:06","date_gmt":"2016-06-15T15:32:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=1031"},"modified":"2016-06-15T11:32:21","modified_gmt":"2016-06-15T15:32:21","slug":"be-careful-for-nothing-february-7-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=1031","title":{"rendered":"Be Careful for Nothing, February 7, 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tumblr_nt6o05bdOQ1rrkeblo1_500\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Be Careful for Nothing<\/h1>\n

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Central Thought: The LORD cares: cast your cares on Him.<\/h3>\n

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Hymn: What a friend we have in Jesus<\/h3>\n

Text: Philippians 4:6-7; Matthew 6:25-34, Proverbs 3:5-8<\/h3>\n

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Worry, feeling uneasy or troubled, plagues multitudes of people in our world today. It\u2019s human nature to be concerned about the bad situations in our world and in our personal lives, but if we\u2019re not on the watch, the devil will cause us to worry beyond what\u2019s reasonable.\u00a0 When we feel that things are out of our control and we are worrying, we need to know that we have the GOD that cares.<\/p>\n

We should understand that worrying never helps a situation get better. Worrying sends a message to ourselves and those around us that we are helpless and have nowhere to turn.\u00a0 However, as a Christian, we believe that God has everything under His control.\u00a0 Since He does, and we really believe that, when we have nothing to worry about.\u00a0 We only need to trust that God will take care of everything according to His plan.<\/p>\n

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Lesson Objectives:<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. To understand what it means to \u2018be careful for nothing\u2019.<\/li>\n
  2. To know what the natural man troubles himself about and why God enjoins us to \u2018be careful for nothing\u2019.<\/li>\n
  3. To learn the consequences of anxiety and what it does to believers in Christ Jesus.<\/li>\n
  4. To proffer some solutions from a biblical view on how to overcome anxiety.<\/li>\n
  5. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. \n
      What do you understand by the expression \u2018be careful for nothing?<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      It means not to be anxious for anything. Or rephrasing this according to the text is not to be troubled with cares.\u00a0 When we are born into God\u2019s kingdom, we have the assurance that God cares for our needs and God has a plan for us.\u00a0 The Bible says that God fashioned the days for me before I was born, Jeremiah 1:5.\u00a0 When I surrender to Christ, that surrender includes giving God the control of my life and letting Him lead me into the life He has fashioned for me.\u00a0 Therefore, I should not trouble myself over the cares of this world.<\/p>\n

      It also means not to worry about anything in life or be disturbed or troubled with life\u2019s challenges. Worrying or anxiety, tears the individual apart. The result is that the individual lives with tension; cannot sleep and cannot enjoy the present moment.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n
        What is the attitude of the natural man to the issues of life? Matthew 6:25-34<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        The natural man troubles himself\/herself about life\u2019s issues: what to eat, what to drink, what to wear, because he does not trust in God\u2019s care. Worry is a refusal of God\u2019s love to man, it is refusing Him and carrying the burden we do not need to bear.\u00a0 So don\u2019t worry, be hopeful and trust in Him.<\/p>\n

        Rather than worry about thins, let us commit everything to God in prayer.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n
          Why are we enjoined not to worry?<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          When speaking to His disciples, the Lord Jesus gave us three reasons form Matthew 6:25-32, to why we should not worry.<\/p>\n

          First, He says that we should not worry because of who we are. \u201cLook at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.\u00a0 Are you not much more valuable than they?\u201d, Matthew 6:26.\u00a0 If He takes care of the birds, will He not take care of us? When we worry, we diminish our value.<\/p>\n

          Second, we should not worry because it is unnecessary. \u201cWho of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?\u201d, v. 27.\u00a0 Worry is like putting on the brakes of an automobile and stepping on the throttle simultaneously.\u00a0 It would be worth it if it added to the length of our life; but in fact, it diminishes it.<\/p>\n

          Third, we should not worry because of our testimony. \u201cFor pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.\u201d, v. 32.\u00a0 When we worry we act like the pagans or unbelievers who do not trust in the Heavenly Father\u2019s ability to care for us.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

            \n
          1. \n
            What are some of the consequences of anxiety or worry?<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              \n
            • Anxiety or worrying can damage our health. Proverbs 12:25 (NAS) says, \u201cAnxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Medical experts tell us that prolonged worrying or anxiety can lead to physical problems, such as ulcers, headaches, backaches, change of blood pressure, heart attacks, and depression. Worrying can become crippling if it is not controlled.<\/li>\n
            • Anxiety or worrying can disrupt our spiritual productivity.\u00a0 When worries consume our thoughts, we tend to focus only on those worries. By doing this, we tend to leave the Lord and His will out of our lives. We find little time for prayer; less time for Bible study; and less interest in church worship services. By worrying the individual becomes less productive generally.<\/li>\n
            • Worrying affects the way we treat others.We get so wrapped up in our worries that we lash out at those we love the most.\u00a0 You see, worrying doesn\u2019t accomplish much. It is said, \u201cWorrying is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but won\u2019t get you anywhere.\u201d\u00a0 When we worry a lot, we tend to be harsh towards our family, friends, and co-workers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

               <\/p>\n

                \n
              1. \n
                What are some of the remedies for anxiety? Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                  \n
                • We must learn to Pray: Our worries are intensified by the neglect of constant prayer. In the popular song, \u201cWhat A Friend We Have In Jesus,\u201d Joseph Scriven wrote:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  What a friend we have in Jesus,<\/p>\n

                  All our sins and grief to bear,<\/p>\n

                  What a privilege to carry<\/p>\n

                  Everything to God in prayer.<\/p>\n

                  O, what peace we often forfeit;<\/p>\n

                  O, what needless pain we bear;<\/p>\n

                  All because we do not carry<\/p>\n

                  Everything to God in prayer.<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • We must learn to live a life of Thanksgiving: Our requests should be accompanied with thanksgiving. Paul emphasized that prayer should be made with thanksgiving. The Lord Jesus taught on gratitude when he healed the ten lepers and only one returned to express thanks, Luke 17:12-19.There is another aspect of thanksgiving which recognizes and accepts one\u2019s circumstances in life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, \u201cIn everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.\u201d<\/li>\n
                  • We must learn to live one day at a time: Matthew 6:34 (NIV) says, \u201cDo not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.\u201d Jesus tells us to live one day at a time, because each day has enough problems to face.<\/li>\n
                  • We must also learn to put our worries or burdens on the Lord and trust Him to help us: 1 Peter 5:7 says, \u201cCast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” But after we give our worries to God, we must leave it in His hands. We should not start worrying about it again as God will take care of it.<\/li>\n
                  • We must also learn to think on good things. Philippians 4:8, Just after Paul\u2019s comments about worry he says that we should think on good, Godly things.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                    Daily Living Application:<\/h3>\n

                    Anxiety cannot add a single inch to our stature; neither will it supply our needs. God knows all that we need.\u00a0 He is able and willing to provide them all.\u00a0 What we need do is seek first His kingdom and its righteousness and all other things shall be added to us.<\/p>\n

                     <\/p>\n

                    Memory Verse:<\/h3>\n

                    Philippians 4:6 \u2013 \u201cBe careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    Be Careful for Nothing     Central Thought: The LORD cares: cast your cares on Him.   Hymn: What a friend we have in Jesus Text: Philippians 4:6-7; Matthew 6:25-34, Proverbs 3:5-8     Worry, feeling uneasy or troubled, plagues multitudes of people in our world today. It\u2019s human nature to be concerned about the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/tumblr_nt6o05bdOQ1rrkeblo1_500.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1031"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1031\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1036,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1031\/revisions\/1036"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}