Apostles Church

The Passage: Luke 12:22-34.

What is causing you great anxiety right now? Fear of job loss; a job search; bills; relationships (will I ever find a spouse?) living situation; fear of the unknown; sickness; a struggling child? It is important that we tune in to Jesus about how to deal with our anxiety because we are going to attempt to deal with it and for many of us we will deal with it in destructive and unhealthy ways. A New York Post article titled "Worried Sick" was published on October 27th.  It explains how the stresses of the City caused by our economic climate are driving people toward destructive means of coping.  It walks through the increase in disrupted sleeping habits, increase of prescription drug abuse, increase of both overeating and under-eating, increased risky sexual conduct, increased traffic to strip clubs, and increased substance abuse that therapists have noticed in the last month.  It had a wise line for the New York Post: "At the end of the day, the deal is this: if you've lost your job, or are afraid you're going to lose it, nothing you drink, smoke, snort, swallow, or sleep with is going to change that. Jesus is going to help us deal with it in life-giving ways. In this passage, Jesus addressing poor peasants living in politically volatile times who are feeling anxiety over the most basic issues of life (food, drink, clothes). I love that Jesus speaks to the practicalities of our lives. He cares about the things that concern us, and he wants us to be free from the turbulence of anxiety. He shows us how we can be free from anxiety. It comes down to what you believe and what your pursue.

What you Believe. When Jesus addresses the crowd, he addresses their unbelief. Anxiety is rooted in Unbelief (v28). Jesus points to the Sovereignty of God over all of creation. He feeds the birds. He clothes the flowers of the field. This God reigns over all the cosmos, He is King over all creation. And this God, because of Jesus, has become our Heavenly Father. To all who have received Jesus he gave them the right to become children of God, sons and daughters of the kingdom. And as our perfect, heavenly father, he prizes us above birds and flowers, much like I prize my children over my plants and my cat. Could you imagine, watering and fertilizing my plants while my children starve; or caring for my cat while neglecting my children? He has created us in him image, sent his Son to reconcile us to himself and doubly bestowed dignity and value upon us that is immeasurable and infinitely surpasses that of birds or grass. He loves us, values us, and if we are in Christ, calls us his sons and daughters. And He knows us. Jesus addresses the crowd as little flock - a shepherd would know every one of his sheep - You are God's little flock. He knows our needs and is more than able and gladly willing to meet them. Jesus says the issue at the heart of anxiety is that we do not believe that because of Him, this Sovereign God has become our Gracious Father who knows our needs and has promised to meet all of them. Do you believe that? Do you believe that God Reigns, that He Cares, and that He Knows. Believing that is the biggest battle you will face in life. Jesus is wanting us to buy into that, all of that. And if you don't believe that truth, not just mental assent, but a solid and sustained assurance that directs your life, if you don't believe that God Reigns, that He Cares, and that He Knows, you will fall into anxiety. Jesus is getting at our desire to control our circumstances (you can't add an hour to your life span). We want to be in control because we fail to believe that God reigns. You may believe that God Reigns, but you are not convinced that he Cares or is mindful of your situation and you will be anxious. You may believe that He Cares, but do not believe that He Reigns, so even if God wanted to step in and provide He is impotent and at the mercy of markets and unemployment rates. Jesus is telling these hungry peasants in crisis, God Reigns over this cosmos, He Cares for you above all his creation, and He Knows everything you need, so trust him. Don't worry. Don't be anxious. Don't be idle, but don't be anxious. The battle of the Christian life is a battle against unbelief.  The greatest failures of my life have happened when I momentarily ceased to believe that God Reigns, God Cares, and God Knows. When I cross over into places that God has not approved it is because I have ceased to believe that he Knows all things and Cares for me more than anything. When I clutch on to my resources and refuse to unleash them in future shaping radical generosity, it is because I have failed to believe that God Reigns. And when I tremble before my circumstances and the unknown, it is because deep down, I do not believe that God is like Jesus has revealed him to be. Worry is rooted in unbelief. But, when I do believe that the Father is exactly how Jesus has revealed him, my feet do not easily leave the path he has carved out for me; generosity is easy, and worry is weightless.

    Let me remind you that the greatest cause for Anxiety has been dealt with decisively by Jesus. Our sins weigh heavy upon us and stand against, condemning us before the God of the Cosmos. The Psalmist says, "If you kept a record of our sins, O Lord who could stand?" There is nothing more anxiety producing that knowing you are guilty and have to answer for it. But, Jesus has borne that anxiety. Jesus was free from worry. He was free from anxiety, until that night in the Garden of Gethsemane before he went to the cross. The Scripture says that he was sorrowful and troubled, he was in agony and sorrowful even unto death. And he prayed Father, let this cup pass before me. It was the cup of God's wrath against all of our sin. Jesus was bearing our sin and in that moment bore the greatest anxiety that anyone has ever had to bear - greater than the anxiety of job loss, falling markets, piling up bills, dysfunctional relationships. He bore the anxiety of being held responsible for all the sins of those who would believe in Him and standing condemned in their place. Jesus bore unimaginable anxiety so I could be free of it. He has met my deepest need in the Gospel and that same Gospel assures me that he will meet every lesser need. He has made a way for me to have God as my Gracious Father whose every intention and design for me is my good. I can trust him. Jesus' presence and words tell us, God Reigns, God Cares, and God knows, so don't worry. Rest in your heart and trust in God. You have got reasons to worry, but you have better reasons NOT to worry.

What you Pursue. 12:22 do not be anxious...for life is more than what we eat, wear or drink. These things are essentials in life but they are not what life is about. 12:29-31 do not seek... That is what people who do not know God go hard after. They think that this is all there is in life - money, possessions, pleasures. Look around you. This is what everyone pursues. The quest for more and better is a quest that will stress you out about getting and if we get it, we stress out about paying for it or keeping it or not ruining it. We grow anxious over purchasing it, preserving it, protecting it. That is the story that the city lives for. But, not you! You live for a different story. You live for the story of God, the story of God ‘s Kingdom healing this broken world through the rule and reign of Jesus. In Matthew's account of this message, he records Jesus saying, You cannot have two masters. You will hate one and love the other. You cannot serve God and Money or possessions. In other words, you can only have one controlling story in your life and one overall ruling affection. It will be the things of this world that capture your heart and your loyalty or it will be God and his Kingdom. But you, You know and love the God of this story, who out of His pleasure, has given you a place in His unshakeable enduring Kingdom. If you live for this world's story, you will be full of anxiety. If you live for what can be taken, lost, destroyed, then you set yourself up for anxiety. Whenever whatever is precious to you, your treasure, is threatened you will be gripped with fear. If your life is made by making money, your life can be unmade by losing it. And that fills you with anxiety. But you do not live for that story. You live for a greater story of the Kingdom of God. God's Kingdom is unshakeable: "The best thing you could ever want, you can never lose." - David Powlison. And God's Kingdom if full of promises. Notice, "these things will be added." When you pursue what is ultimate, God will supply the things that are not ultimate. When you settle the big issue, you don't have to worry about the small ones. NOTE: He will supply your needs. The Ravens are scavengers that feast on trash and road kill. His provision is not always sensational but it is sufficient. So, if you are living for the unshakeable kingdom, don't fear.

Conclusion: Our City needs a community that lives this way. Notice the call to generosity. If you are confident that your security is in God and not in your possessions, you are free to give. If God Reigns in an unshakeable Kingdom and He Cares and Knows and Promises to meet your needs as you live for the greatest thing, you are free to meet the needs of others. If you believe that God will fill your hands, you are free to open your hands to others. In these times, the natural human response is self-preservation. The kingdom response is sacrificial giving as we trust our God.