The Lord says:
"The enemy has been causing My people to worry a lot recently. Worry about the future. Worry about finance. Worry about income. Worry about career. Worry about ministry. Worry about health. Worry about what is to come. Even worry for family members. Take authority and bind whatever causes you to worry. Cast all your cares and concerns to Me, for I am the Lord who cares for you. I see the end from the beginning. I hold your future in My hands. Look to Me and trust in Me therefore, and everything's going to be alright."
What is the definition of 'worry'?
It can be defined as 'to feel (or cause to feel) anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems'.
But I have a good news for you. You can live a life that is worry-free. If you have the Lord with you, nothing is impossible to Him. You can believe for that.
So, what is the 'antidote' to 'worry'?
You use 'the sword of the Spirit', i.e. the Word of God! You use this 'sword' to 'slay' any worry and every form of worry.
How do you do that? You meditate on God's Word. You think about God's Word. You fill your mind with God's Word. You speak out God's Word, so your ears can hear. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
So, learn to say 'no' to anything or anyone who speaks otherwise to you. This is not about denying reality. But rather, this is about surrendering your situation to the Lord and let His Spirit lead you and guide you. There will be a way. There will be a way out for you. God will see to it that this will happen, somehow, someway, even beyond what you can imagine or think of.
Let's go to John 14:27 now. No matter what you are facing at the moment, even if no one understands what you are facing, Jesus is saying this to you: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Interestingly, just one verse before that, in John 14:26, Jesus says: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."
Because the Holy Spirit is here to help you, you need not fear or be troubled, whatever your situation may be at the moment.
Now look here in Mark 4:35-38. 'On the same day, when evening had come, He (Jesus) said to them (the disciples), "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"'
In Mark 4:39-41, 'Then Jesus arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"'
Who say Jesus doesn't care about your situation? Jesus cares. So, don't let anyone speak you out of it. And if He can calm the storm (which no human can), is there anything impossible for Him?
You see, nothing technical about today's message. Today's message is simple. It's about faith. Simple faith. What is faith? Faith simply means 'a believing heart'. A heart that trusts in the Lord.
Let's go on to 1 Peter 5:6-7 now. This same Peter was in the storm, and he witnessed Jesus calming the storm right before his eyes. No wonder he could write these words in 1 Peter 5:6-7. 'Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him (Jesus), for He cares for you.'
To cast your care upon the Lord involves you humbling yourself under His mighty hand. In other words, not to be too proud to think that you can do it on your own.
In fact, to worry means the person is not believing that God can take over and take care of the situation.
So, worry is a form of pride. Why? Because when a believer feels anxious, he is convinced that he must solve the problem (or the situation) with his own strength (or ability), instead of trusting the Lord.
Let's look at Matthew 14:25-27 now. 'Now in the fourth watch of the night (about 3 am in the morning), Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!". And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I. Do not be afraid."'
In Matthew 14:28-31, 'And Peter answered Jesus and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So Jesus said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when Peter saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught Peter, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.'
Here, you see the same Peter again. You and I know that it's impossible in the natural and physical realm for humans to walk on water. But here, Peter did it. However, Peter was soon affected by the wind that was boisterous. Peter began to feel anxious and afraid. Instead of looking straight unto Jesus, he looked at his left and right. And that's how he began to sink.
So beloved, it is the same with your situation. Do not look to the left or to the right. Rather, look at the Word of God! Look at who He is in your life. Look at what He says to you in your life. Amen!
Your God is a supernatural God! In other words, He is above the natural and physical realm. We humans may think logically from the physical realm. But your God is above this realm. He is a supernatural God. In other words, He can make things happen to you supernaturally. He is your miracle-working God.
That's why, no matter what situation or problem you may be facing at the moment, there's nothing that's impossible to Him. If you look to Him and put all your trust in Him, He will know how to make a way for you, even where there seems to be no way.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
What's the background of this verse? You can read from Matthew 6:25 all the way to Matthew 6:33.
Here, Jesus was talking about not to worry about tomorrow; not to worry about this or about that; not to worry about what to eat, what to drink, what to wear, etc. He was saying that we should not be like those in the world, as if God doesn't exist. But rather, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things that we ever need shall be added unto us.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you are to run away from your responsibilities. I'm not saying you cannot plan. By all means, you can plan ahead - the next 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, even 10 years or beyond. But what I'm saying here is not to worry. Instead, let God be God. Let God's hand guide you and bring you, as He wills. Not your will, but His will be done. He has your best interest in His mind. He will never lead you into dead-end road or into trouble. He will always lead you into something that is of hope and of future. Amen!
Let us pray:
"O Lord God, we let go of all our worries and anxieties to You. We cast all our cares and concerns to You, for You are the Lord who truly cares for us. Indeed, You see the end from the beginning, and You hold our future in Your hands. Your plans for us are always good, that gives us a hope and a future. We therefore look to You and put all our trust in You. We declare by faith that everything's going to be alright, as You have spoken today. Amen."
