#1: Give Up - Worry
Luke 12:22-31 Victory Fellowship
March 9, 2025 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
I. INTRODUCTION:
a. Somethin’ FISHY ‘bout LENT. (Wendys, Arbys, Dairy Queen, McDonalds, Burger King, etc.)
b. Collectively, giving up meat on Fridays in Lent has been good for non-Christians (and, of course, animals). The McDonalds Filet-O-Fish owes its existence to pious Catholics. Lou Groen, the Montfort Heights, Ohio, store owner who invented the sandwich, came up with the idea because the local population was 87% Catholic. While executives were initially skeptical of the idea, a competition held on Good Friday of 1962 proved that the market was hungry for fish. Those who like it have Lent to thank.
c. What is LENT? Should Churches or Christians observe it or not?
d. Pagan roots can be traced to the Tower of Babel. (Pagan practices observed in most holidays)
e. Much spiritual growth can occur when done to honor and reflect upon the price that Jesus paid for our sin.
f. I personally have had many times of spiritual renewal during Lent.
g. Lent Series – What to Give Up?
i. Social media?
ii. Sweets or favorite beverages?
iii. TV or movies?
h. Usually we fare better if we give up things like these for a time. But what about giving up things that really aren’t good for us anytime?
II. Give it Up Series
a. My sermon focus in these six weeks before Resurrection Sunday will suggest attitudes or conditions that, with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can and should give up. Not just for 40 days.
We need to cultivate a habit of not doing these things:
Worrying Over Things We Cannot Control
Lying
Enduring Sickness w/o Prayer & Anointing
Holding a Grudge (Unforgiveness)
Prideful Arrogance
This week the focus is on giving up
Worrying Over Things We Cannot Control
For several years a woman had been having trouble getting to sleep at night because she feared burglars. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went downstairs to investigate. When he got there, he did find a burglar. "Good evening," said the man of the house. "I am pleased to see you. Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you."
Scripture Text: Red letter Bible-these are all Jesus’ words
i. He wants us to trust God and not be anxious for anything
ii. Jesus tells us we can’t have faith in God and faith in our money or worldly possessions.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
Jesus teaches that our lives should be free from anxiety – worry. He talks about ravens, lilies, and field grass and reminds us that we are more important to God than these things.
In verse 28 Jesus says that if we can’t trust God for all of our needs (food, shelter, clothing) then we are people of little faith. He tells us that God KNOWS we need these things.
Jesus’ focus is on vs. 31 “seek first His Kingdom…
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
Jesus wants us to make Kingdom seeking a priority in our lives. *Hudson Taylor, missionary to China: "Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into [God's] hand; and then, when we have given all over to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about."
We can’t bear fruit if we have anxiety over anything. We can’t love God and neighbor if we approach situation with fear and worry. Anxiety and worry become our idol.
An average person's anxiety is focused on: 40% things that will never happen, 30% things about the past that can't be changed, 12% things about criticism by others, mostly untrue, 10% about health, which gets worse with stress, and 8% about real problems that will be faced.
God called us and will help us (collectively and corporately) but He requires our participation.
Learning to trust God over our anxiety takes practice. It takes faith.
There are specific exercises we can do to build up our faith and trust…
Read the Bible
Pray (Phil. 4:6-7) 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Pay attention to our circumstances and don’t quench the Holy Spirit
Consider the wise council and example of Godly and God fearing Church leaders.
Give frequent Testimony
Anxiety over the circumstances or fear of a lack of resources should not govern our decisions…instead we should see if there is a Biblical precedence, we should pray over the situation, we should see what doors God opens up as we go forward, and we should consider the wise counsel of the spiritual leaders in our congregation.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
GIVE IT TO GOD. HE CAN HANDLE IT!
PRAYER
SONG: Red Letters
Luke 12:22-31 (NLT)
22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? 27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
