<< Previous | Index | Next >>"FAITH IS THE VICTORY!" In Overcoming Anxiety INTRODUCTION 1. With faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, we can overcome the world! - 1Jn 5:4-5 a. As we saw in our previous study, we can overcome SIN... 1) Both the guilt of sin, and the power of sin 2) Through the blood of Jesus, and the gift of the Holy Spirit b. For such blessings are available to those who truly believe in Jesus! - cf. Ac 2:36-39 2. But in overcoming sin, we must also deal with the "aftershocks" of sin... a. Such as the lingering consequences of sinful conduct b. Or the residues of sinful thinking; i.e., attitudes and perspectives that conflict with a life of faith in Jesus -- I have mentioned some of these in previous lessons: anxiety, boredom, despair ,etc. 3. With this lesson, I would like to begin taking a look at each one of these... a. Seeking to gain a better understanding of what they are b. Hoping to provide an appreciation of how faith in Jesus can help us to overcome them! 4. Beginning with "anxiety"... a. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)... 1) More than 23 million people suffer from anxiety disorders 2) People with anxiety disorders are heavy utilizers of emergency rooms and other medical services 3) Anxiety disrupts work, family, and social lives, with some becoming housebound 4) It is the most common of all the mental disorders b. Christians certainly are not immune to the problem of "anxiety" 1) Jesus anticipated that His disciples would have it, and provided solutions to it 2) Just as anxiety disrupts work, family, etc., so it can hinder our service to the Lord [It is imperative as Christians that we overcome "anxiety" in our lives. Where do we begin? Perhaps with...] I. UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY A. ANXIETY DEFINED... 1. According to the American Heritage Dictionary: a. A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties b. A state of intense apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the anticipation of a threatening event or situation, often to a degree that the normal physical and psychological function of the affected individual is disrupted 2. According to NIMH, there are different kinds of anxiety disorders: a. Panic Disorder - Repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal distress, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying. b. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to stop or control. c. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Persistent symptoms that occur after experiencing a traumatic event such as criminal assault, war, child abuse, natural disasters or crashes. Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression and feeling angry, irritable, distracted and being easily startled are common. d. Phobias, of which there are two major types 1) Specific - In which people experience extreme, disabling, and irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger; the fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause people to limit their lives unnecessarily. 2) Social - In which people have an overwhelming and disabling fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations, which leads to avoidance of many potentially pleasurable and meaningful activities. e. Generalized Anxiety Disorder - Constant, exaggerated worrisome thoughts and tension about everyday routine life events and activities, lasting at least six months. Almost always anticipating the worst even though there is little reason to expect it; accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea. B. SOME CAUSES OF ANXIETY... 1. A perceived threat, as to one's... a. Personal safety b. Self-esteem c. Relationship with others 2. Pressures presented by conflict, for example... a. Having to decide between two desirable but incompatible goals b. Faced with a desirable goal, but concerned about undesirable consequences (such as whether to accept a good paying job, that may force you to relocate) c. Faced with having to choose between two undesirable alternatives (such as suffering pain, or an operation that may in time relieve the pain) 3. An underlying fear, such as being fearful of... a. Failure, or even achieving success b. Rejection, intimacy, conflict c. Sickness, death, loneliness d. The future, meaninglessness in life C. MODERN TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY... 1. Medication - Useful for relieving symptoms, they include antidepressants and are usually administered through trial and error to see which medications and dosage are beneficial to a particular patient 2. Psychotherapy - Two different forms have been found the most effective in treating anxiety disorders: a. Behavioral therapy - Tries to change actions through techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing, or through gradual exposure to what is frightening b. Cognitive-behavioral therapy - Teaches patients to understand their thinking patterns so they can react differently to the situations that cause them anxiety [Treating anxiety with medication can only relieve symptoms; it does not deal with the causes of anxiety. Even behavioral therapy focuses primarily on handling the symptoms. What is called "cognitive-behavioral therapy" appears to address the underlying causes of anxiety, and it is in this realm that I believe faith in Jesus can really help one to overcome!] II. OVERCOMING ANXIETY THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS A. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO OVERCOME ANXIETY... 1. Certainly because of how it affects our lives and our service 2. It is also a reflection of "little faith" on our part a. E.g., worrying about things like food and clothing - cf. Mt 6:30 b. E.g., worrying about preserving one's life - cf. Mt 8:25-26 3. "The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith; and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." (George Muller) B. REMEMBER WHAT TRUE FAITH IN JESUS ENTAILS... 1. That one has a strong conviction or trust in Who Jesus Is a. The Son of God - Mt 16:16 b. The only source for life eternal - Jn 6:68 2. That one has a strong conviction or trust in What Jesus Said a. That He speaks the words of truth, which can make one free - Jn 8:31-32 b. That whatever He says is true, for grace and truth come by Him - Jn 1:17 3. That one has a strong conviction or trust in What Jesus Did a. That He died on the cross for our sins - 1Co 15:3 b. That His death is an adequate sacrifice for our sins - 1Jn 2:2; 4:10 4. That one has a strong conviction or trust in What Jesus Is Doing a. That He is preparing a place for us - Jn 14:2 b. That He is even now interceding for us - He 7:24-25 5. That one has a strong conviction or trust in What Jesus Will Do a. That He will come again one day - Ac 1:9-11; Re 1:7 b. That He will receive us unto Himself - Jn 14:1-3 -- This kind of faith in Jesus comes from the Word of God! - Ro 10:17; Jn 20:30-31 C. JESUS HELPS US TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY THROUGH HIS TEACHINGS... 1. By reminding us of God's providential love and care - Mt 6: 25-32 a. He who provides the body and life, can surely provide food and clothing b. He who provides for the birds and flowers, can surely provide for His children c. If worry (anxiety) can't make us grow taller, how can it affect the future? d. God is mindful of our true needs, and is able to provide 2. By teaching us where to place our priorities - Mt 6:33 a. The kingdom (rule) of God in our life is the most important thing b. Put Him first, and He will provide for our true needs c. As Jesus said to worried Martha, "one thing is needed" - cf. Lk 10:38-42 3. By revealing our own limitations - Mt 6:34 a. Don't worry about the future, we can only handle what we face today b. In keeping with what Jesus said, here are some thoughts from others: 1) "Your ship is equal to the load of today; but when you are carrying yesterday's worry and tomorrow's anxiety, lighten up or you will sink." (Unknown) 2) "God never built a Christian strong enough to carry today's duties and tomorrow's anxieties piled on top of them." (Theodore Ledyard Cuyler) 3) "Man, like the bridge, was designed to carry the load of the moment, not the combined weight of a year at once." (William Arthur Ward) -- When we truly accept what Jesus taught, many of the causes of anxiety are gone! D. JESUS HELPS US TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY THROUGH HIS ACTIONS... 1. His actions in the past a. By dying on the cross, He has paid the full price for our sins 1) Any anxiety about our guilt, past actions, can be relieved through forgiveness! 2) A forgiveness that cleans even the conscience! - He 9:14 3) Such forgiveness comes to those who believe on Him - Ac 10:43; 2:36-38 b. By rising from the dead, He has demonstrated power over death 1) Ensuring our own resurrection, of which He spoke - Jn 5:28-29; 11:25-27 2) Freeing us from the bondage of the fear of death - He 2:14-15 2. His actions in the present a. Interceding as our High Priest 1) Making it possible to find mercy and grace when needed - He 4:14-16 2) Providing an avenue of peace to dispel our anxiety through prayer - Php 4:6-7 b. Reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords 1) He is truly the "ruler over the kings of the earth" - Re 1:5 2) He is the One who holds "the keys of Hades and of Death" - Re 1:18 -- He is in ultimate control, and we are in His hands! 3. His actions in the future a. He has promised to never forsake us - Mt 28:20; cf. He 13: 5-7 b. He has promised to take us one day to be with Him - Jn 14: 1-2 CONCLUSION 1. When one has faith in Jesus... a. Willing to change their thinking patterns and conduct to reflect His teachings b. Believing in what He has done, is doing, and will do ...they will be attacking the underlying causes of anxiety! 2. Jesus certainly desires that we not let such concerns control us... a. By rendering us unfruitful - cf. Lk 8:14 b. By making us unprepared for the Judgment to come - cf. Lk 21: 34-36 3. But He has made it possible to overcome anxiety... a. Through faith in Him, which comes through the Word of God - Ro 10:17 b. By the peace of God, which comes through Jesus Himself in prayer - Php 4:6-7 Are we willing to believe and heed Jesus? If so, then "Faith Is The Victory!", even in overcoming anxiety...<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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