You may remember a couple of weeks ago, I shared on Facebook a short message looking at “FOR THIS (Fear) I HAVE JESUS” reminding you of the words of JESUS in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Since that time I’ve been led by the Lord to begin looking at other issues we are dealing with as we try to cope with all of the ‘bad news’ we hear day after day.

The one I’d like to consider today is “WORRY OR ANXIETY”.  I know that this is a problem so many people are dealing with and I hope as we consider once again Jesus’ teaching – we will say “FOR THIS (worry) I HAVE JESUS”.  You see Jesus knew we would face worry in our lives, so in the Sermon on the Mount he dedicated an entire section to this very topic.

In our Bibles – this section is actually titled “DO NOT WORRY”.  So let’s venture on and see how many times we are taught by the Lord – not to worry in Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not WORRY about your life, what you eat or drink, or about your body what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by WORRYING can add a single hour to his life.  And why do you WORRY about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not WORRY, saying, ‘What shall we eat? or ‘What shall we wear?”  For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not WORRY about tomorrow, for tomorrow will WORRY about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.  

Later on in Luke 10: 41 we hear Him reminding Martha not to worry “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”  What then is ‘better’ – it’s spending time with Jesus – sitting at His feet and listening to what He said.

So what’s the message we need to take away from these 2 Scriptures?  DO NOT WORRY – GOD’S GOT YOU COVERED.  SPEND YOUR TIME WITH JESUS – LISTENING TO HIS TEACHING.  

In Luke 12:11-12 once again we hear Jesus speaking to his followers – who may be worried about how they will deal with being challenged by authorities or even religious leaders when they have been acknowledging Jesus in the public square.  “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not WORRY about how you will defend yourselves or what you say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

Do you notice that the 3 persons of the Trinity are all involved in keeping us safe and secure – we have no need to worry about anything.  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have everything under control.  Today perhaps you’d like to listen to the wonderful Song that goes along with this message:  FOR THIS I HAVE JESUS – that I’ve added to this message.   I have found it an amazing reminder.

In closing – I leave you with a verse of Scripture that has been one of favourites – a verse that I memorized many years ago and that has blessed me many times since: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7