Tongues

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-29-2026

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

 

Introduction:

A. To properly explain spiritual gifts, both passing and permanent, one must understand that the New Testament began as transitional, from the Old Testament Covenant of Atonement as they awaited the coming of the Messiah, to the New Testament Covenant of the finished Gospel through the Messiah who had come.

 

1. The Jewish nation rejected their Messiah.

 

John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 

2. But individuals (both Jew and Gentile) did receive Him.

 

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 

B. During this transitional time, we see the giving of spiritual gifts to the Church, the body of Christ, along with the local church, the assembling of the body of Christ. Both sign gifts that were temporary until the completion of the Scriptures and service gifts that would remain for the duration of the Church Age were available to the churches until the completion of “that which is perfect,” after which the completed canon of Scriptures was made available to replace them.

 

C. The Bible speaks of spiritual gifts in three doctrinal books, along with one of the Gospels, the Book of Mark:

 

1. Mark 16:17-18, the Apostolic Gifts. Notice that they are referred to as “signs.” Though these signs were mentioned here were a rebuke to these unbelieving apostles. Thus, meant for the unbelieving Jews. None of these sign gifts were permanent.

 

Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

 

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 

Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

 

2. Romans 12:6-8 (ministry gifts, which were permanent)

 

Romans 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy (forth telling) according to the proportion of faith; (7) Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; (8) Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

3. Ephesians (both passing gifts of administration, apostles, and prophets, along with permanent administration gifts, the evangelist or missionary, and the pastor/teacher).

 

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 

4. 1 Corinthians 12:28-31 (service gifts, which are permanent, and sign gifts, which were passing).

 

1 Corinthians 12:28-31 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? (30) Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? (31) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

 

D. 1 Corinthians 13:8 speaks of three of the passing gifts.

 

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. (10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 

E. Why just these three? Because these three would be a source of confusion long after the sign gifts were ended!

 

1. Prophecies, they shall fail. Προφητεία prophēteia prof-ay-ti'-ah From G4396 (“prophecy”); prediction (scriptural or other): - prophecy, prophesying.

 

James 4:13-14 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

 

2. Tongues, they shall cease. γλῶσσα glōssa gloce'-sah the tongue; by implication a language (specifically one naturally unacquired): - tongue.

 

I will deal with “tongues” later in chapters 12-14.

 

3. Knowledge, it shall vanish away. γνῶσις gnōsis gno'-sis From G1097; knowing (the act), that is, (by implication) knowledge: - knowledge, science. From a root work meaning to be aware (of), feel, (have) known (-ledge), perceive, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.

 

Though knowledge or learning in general is still viable, the knowledge that births the inspiration and writing of Scriptures is no longer given by God, i.e., dreams, visions, and inspiration. We need no extra-biblical revelation outside the Bible. The Bible is both completed and perfect, needing no present of future revelations added.

 

F. The main problem the Corinthian church dealt with was the sign gift of tongues.

 

1. Let me say this by way of introduction to the gift of tongues that the following problems were not mentioned in any other epistles written to the churches of Jerusalem, Rome, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Philadelphia, or Laodicea.

 

2. Why only Corinth? Because they were a carnal, divided, ignorant church that misused this sign gift!

 

G. Biblical Tongues. What biblical tongues are, what they are not, and how they are used.

 

1. The biblical mentions of “tongue” or “tongues.”

 

a. The physical tongue is mentioned 15 times in your Bible.

 

b. “Tongue” or “tongues” are mentioned 151 times in your Bible.

 

c. 4,000 BC. First Mention: Genesis 3:8-10 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (9) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

 

Voice: qôl   qôl kole, kole To speak and communicate.

 

1) For approximately 1,656 plus years, the world spoke this one language. In Genesis chapter 6, Noah’s Day, it is biblically simple to calculate the time from the beginning because of Genesis chapter 5. It was now app. 2344 B.C., 1,656 years after creation. The world had one language until Genesis chapter 11, when we find the confounding of that language as the world began building a tower up to heaven.

 

Genesis 11:7-9 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. (8) So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. (9) Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

 

Here, language and speech come from the same Hebrew word: śâphâh    śepheth saw-faw', sef-eth' manner of talk, words, communication.

 

2) The First Mention of “tongue.” Genesis 10:5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

 

d. The First Mention and the Last Mention are always consistent with each and all mentions between are in agreement: Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

 

e. The tongues found in Acts chapter 2 and 1 Corinthians chapter 12 speak of various languages, not some heavenly or angelic language.

 

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

 

f. Not one mention is found in the Bible of an ecstatic, unintelligible tongue being spoken. In every instance, tongues were used for communication in a specific language spoken by the hearer.

 

2. The sign gift of tongues was meant for the Jewish nation to hear because of their unbelief and rejection of their Messiah.

 

a. God used “tongues” and “miracles" to show the approval and power of God upon the message, not the tongues. “Will he speak?” is a direct reference to God speaking to the Jewish Nation.

 

Isaiah 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

 

1 Corinthians 14:21-22 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. (22) Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

 

b. This was fulfilled in Acts chapter 2.

 

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

c. Every tongue spoken was a language understood (interpreted) by the individual hearer.

 

Acts 2:6-11 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. (7) And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? (8) And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (9) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, (10) Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

 

d. The only recorded “other tongues” used in the Bible are found in the Book of Acts, chapters 2, 10, and 19. Each time tongues were spoken, they were in the presence of unbelieving Jews.

 

1) Acts chapter 2. The Feast of Pentecost, one of the Jewish High Days or Sabbaths, where all males were to be present, both Jews and Jewish Proselytes.

 

Acts 2:6-11 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. (7) And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? (8) And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

 

Acts 2:11-13 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (12) And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? (13) Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

 

2) Acts chapter 10. When God sent Peter to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, with the Gospel message. The tongues were spoken as a sign to the Jewish Nation that the Gentiles were saved and filled with the Holy Ghost just as the Jews were.

 

Acts 10:43-48 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

 

3) Acts chapter 19. John’s disciples had received his baptism, looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. When they heard that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, they believed and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then these 7 men spoke in tongues, giving evidence that both Old and New Testament Jews were saved through the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

 

Acts 19:1-7 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, (2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. (3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. (4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (7) And all the men were about twelve.

 

4) All three instances were a sign to the Jews concerning salvation. There are no other records of speaking in tongues referenced in God’s Word.

David: A Man of War

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-26-2026

Psalms 144

 

Introduction:

A.  In our day, many denominations teach pacifism, and many of god’s people have developed that same thinking.  God’s people are not and never have been pacifists, and war (spiritual or physical) is a way of life. 

 

B.  The bible is clear on both killing and war as being, at times, a necessity.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:3  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 

Ecclesiastes 3:8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

C.  Psalm is both contemporary as well as prophetic, both in David’s time and our time.  The Psalms are relevant!

 

1 Corinthians 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

 

It is also prophetic concerning the Second Coming of Christ in Revelation chapter 19.

 

Revelation 19:11-16  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 

D.  Verse 1.  King David was a man of war!  Psalms 144:1  A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

 

1.  King David was a man after God’s own heart!  Acts 13:22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

 

2.  King David was a man of war from his youth.  1 Samuel 16:18  Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

 

3.  King David, as a Warrior, was feared by his enemies.  1 Samuel 18:6-7  And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.  (7)  And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

 

E.  To fully understand the concept of war, we need to remember that God is a Man of War!

 

Exodus 15:2-6  The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.  (3)  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.  (4)  Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.  (5)  The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.  (6)  Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

 

Psalms 24:8  Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

 

Revelation 19:11-14  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

 

F.  Verses 1-2.  “Blessed be the LORD!  Who is “My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.”

 

1.  The Lord is our Goodness.  In both times of peace and times of war.  Ecclesiastes 3:11  He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

2.  The Lord is our Fortress.  Psalms 94:22  But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

3.  The Lord is our High Tower.  Isaiah 40:29-31  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  (30)  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  (31)  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

4.  The Lord is our Deliverer.  Psalms 37:39-40  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.  (40)  And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

5.  The Lord is our Shield.  Psalms 28:7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

6.  The Lord is our Confidence.  Proverbs 3:25-26  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  (26)  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

7.  The Lord is our Might.  Deuteronomy 7:21  Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.

G.  Look at verse 1.  Psalms 144:1  A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

1.  It was the LORD who taught David how to fight and wage war.  From a shepherd boy to a soldier, from a shepherd to a general, and from a general to a warrior king.

 

2.  Our military uses Basic Training to teach the basics of combat and to teach soldiers to follow orders without question.  AIT (Advanced Infantry Training) teaches specialized weaponry and tactics for warfare. 

 

3.  We parents are to teach our children to fight for the things we cherish and that are right!  Today’s children, for the most part, are soft and non-confrontational.

 

H.  Now, let us look at King David as our example of warring a good warfare.

 

1.  King David knew how to fight! 

 

a.  He Fought With Courage - 1 Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.  (He was fearless in his attack upon the giant!)

 

b.  He Fought With Conviction - 1 Samuel 17:26, 29 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?  (He fought with the knowledge that he was on the right side!)

 

c.  He Fought With Confidence - 1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  (He fought in the name and power of the Lord!)

 

2.  King David knew who to fight.  1 Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

 

David always fought the right enemy.  A man once said, “The church is the only army in the world that shoots its own soldiers in the back.”  How sad, but how true.  So many good men are divided by things that do not matter and united by things they should be divided over.  We are not here this morning to fight with one another; we are not here to fight with other churches; we have a common enemy.  In both WWI and WWII, nations that were different came together to fight a common enemy and defeated it in both cases. 

 

a.  David Never Fought God’s Man.  1 Samuel 24:10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed.

 

b.  David Never Fought God’s People - 1 Samuel 28:1  And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

 

c.  David fought the enemies of God.  Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

3.  King David knew when to fight.  3.  David Knew When To Fight – 1 Samuel 16:29  And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?    

 

God’s men do not just fight for the sake of fighting.  I do not want to leave you with the impression that David went around killing people just for the fun of it.  A man after God’s own heart fights when his cause is just.  He fought when no one else would!  This had been going on for forty days!  The “cause” was right, making the fight right.

 

4.  He Knew Where To Fight - 1 Samuel 17:40  And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

 

David did not take a defensive position; he took the offensive one.  Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

 

I still do not care for the message in the song “Hold The Fort!”  We are not holding ground!  The best defense is still a good offense.  You do not win wars in a defensive position.  The church is to be the aggressor, not the defender.

 

Conclusion:  We are in a battle in our day!

 

1.  A battle for our Children.

 

2.  A battle for our Convictions.  Our Homes.  

 

3.  A battle for our Church.

 

4.  A battle for our Country.

Be Careful For Nothing

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-26-2026

Philippians 4:6-7

 

Introduction:  This morning, I want to look at verses that we are so familiar with.  Every Wednesday, we quote verse 6 before we read our prayer list and take requests.  Then, why preach on the verse?  Because we quote it concerning prayer and supplication without giving thought to the first part of the verse. 

A.  Our verse for this morning deals with worry.  Someone once said, “Worry is like paying interest on a load that you may never have to take out.”  Here is a cute little poem concerning worry.

 

Worry never climbed a hill,
Worry never paid a bill.
Worry never dried a tear,
Worry never calmed a fear.
Worry never fixed a heel,
Worry never cooked a meal.
Worry never composed a song to sing,
Actually, worry never did a worthwhile thing.

 

B.  “Be” means to make something happen that probably would not happen naturally. “Careful” comes from two words, “care” and “full,” which mean full of care.  Something that occupies our hearts and minds in a negative way.  “Nothing” covers every aspect of our past, present, and future.  “Nothing” means nothing!

 

Luke 10:41-42  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  (42)  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 

C.  When we worry, we allow our future fears of either something known or not yet known to overcome our faith in our ever-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful Lord.

 

D.  The opposite of “careful” is confidence or trust.

 

1.  The Lord cares about what we care about.  1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

2.  The Lord  is affected by what affects us.  Hebrews 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

3.  The Lord  has promised to be there with us and there for us.  If God be for us, who can be against us?  1 John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

4.  The Lord  has guaranteed perfect peace to those who trust Him. (verse 7)  Isaiah 26:3-4  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  (4)  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

 

E.  Worry causes stress, and stress is possibly the greatest killer in America.  People today are stressed out by the economy and rising prices, the wickedness that has permeated our Land, the uncertainty about the future of our children and grandchildren, and the list could go on and on.

 

1.  Worry will damage both your physical and mental health.  Look at the people on medication for mental health.  The Mayo Clinic states that statistically, 80-85 % of their case load of ill people was either directly or indirectly related to stress.  “Seventy percent of all patients who come to physicians could cure themselves if they only got rid of their fears, worries, and bad eating habits.”

 

2.  Worry will cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts.  The Bible says that we are to think upon good things.  (Philippians 4:8)  Most social, family, and church problems are stress-related.

 

3.  Worry will disrupt your productivity and purposes.  You cannot give yourself over to worry and do what needs to be done diligently.  Job performance across our land is caused by apathy and stress.  People who do not care or are consumed by their problems.

 

4.  Worry will negatively affect the way you treat and interact with others.  You will be self-centered because of the load of your cares.  You will seek your own good instead of the good of others.

 

5.  Worry will adversely affect your emotions.  Your “fuse will be short,” and your outward demeanor will not glorify the Lord.

 

6.  Worry will cause you to say things that you would not ordinarily say. 

 

a)  Out of the heart are the issues of life.

b)  As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

c)  Out of the abundance of the heart, a man speaketh.

 

7.  Worry will reduce your faith and trust in the Lord.  You cannot trust and worry at the same time.  These two are like oil and water, they cannot mix!

 

8.  Worry is more harmful than helpful!  It is a total waste of time and effort.  Some confuse worry and concern. Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern: Worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action. We should be concerned and not neglect matters of importance. We shouldn't worry about them and do nothing about it.

F.  Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, told the country during the Great Depression that the greatest fear was fear itself.  Here are some good quotes concerning worry.

 

“A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work.”

 

“Work won't kill, but worry will.”

 

“Don't tell me that worry doesn't do any good. I know better. The things I worry about don't happen.”

 

“Tain't worthwhile to wear a day all out before it comes.”

 

“It ain't no use putting up your umbrella till it rains.”

 

“Happy is the man who is too busy to worry by day, and too sleepy to worry at night.”

 

G.  George McDonald wrote the following about worry. "No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourselves so. If you find yourselves so loaded, at least remember this: It is your doing, not God’s. He begs you to leave the future to Him and mind the present."

 

Psalms 56:3  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

John 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

1.  Christians Are Not Immune To Worry!

 

a.  Though We Know That God Is In Control – He is in control of all that exists and that includes our circumstances!

 

b.  Though We Know That All Will End Well – Our life story has already been recorded in Heaven.  The final chapter of our life has been written, and it is alright!

 

c.  Though We Know That Worry Is Sin And Distrust – It is one thing to have concerns and another to worry.  We are concerned because we do not know the end of a thing, but worry is a “horse of another color!”  Worry is our failure to trust our lives, families, finances, protection, and provision to the One who holds it all in His hand.

 

d.  And Yet, We Still Have A Tendency To Worry

 

1)  We worry because we are affected by the world.

 

2)  We worry because we are robed in frail flesh.

 

3)  We worry because we are still imperfect in our faith.

 

2. And, Most Of The Time:

 

a.  We worry about things that either never occur or do not meet our expectations.

 

b.  We worry about things that we cannot change.

 

c.  We worry often times about things that really do not matter.

 

3.  How To Handle Worry:

 

a.  We Should Not Worry Because We Are Children Of God - Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

 

Romans 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 

b.  We Should not worry because, as Christians, we are people of faith - Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

c.  We should not worry because our focus is to be on the kingdom of God, on the spiritual, not the material - Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

          Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

d.  We Need To Realize That God Cares - 1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

Said the Robin to the Sparrow,

 

"I should really like to know

 

Why these anxious human beings

 

Rush about and hurry so."

 

Said the Sparrow to the Robin,

 

"Friend, I think that it must be

 

That they have no Heavenly Father

 

Such as cares for you and me."

 

-- Elizabeth Cheney

 

5.  God’s Prescription For Peace – You do your job, verse 6, and God will do His, verse 7!

 

a.  The Requirement of Prayer.  Prayer is our worship.  Too often, when we get into a crisis or valley, we rely upon worldly means for the solution to our problems. 

 

1)  The Bible says not to put our confidence in either man or things.  Our confidence is to be the Lord: maker of heaven and earth: He who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. 

 

2)  We belong to Him and He belongs to us.  His love, compassion, and pity belong to us and His thoughts toward us are more than can be numbered.  He truly “thinketh” upon us.  He loves us enough that He gave His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for our sins.

 

3)  He holds our future just as He held our past and present.  God can handle all of our problems, take down all of our enemies, and supply all of our needs.

 

b.  The Requirement of Supplication. 

 

1)  We are to pray for God’s will in our lives.  1 John 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  (15)  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

2)  We are to pray in specifics.  Luke 11:9-13  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  (10)  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  (11)  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?  (12)  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  (13)  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

 

3)  We are to pray in faith.  James 1:5-8  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  (6)  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  (7)  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  (8)  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

 

c.  The Requirement of Thanksgiving.

 

1)  Thankful to God for who He is.  Job 1:20-22  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,  (21)  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.  (22)  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

 

2)  Thankful to God for what He has done.  1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

3)  Thankful to God for what He will do.  Genesis 18:14  Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

 

Conclusion:  Here is the outcome of verse 6:  The Requirement of Trust. Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.