SUNDAY CELEBRATION SERVICE
SPEAKER – PS. JOSEPH KWESI KAI
MAINT TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 4:6,7 SUPPORTING TEXT: JEREMIAH 29:11; MATTHEW 6:25-34
INTRODUCTION
Today, we are looking at the forth killer of Hope. And todays discussion is going to be the end of our sermon series on “Killers of Hope”. In our previous discussions, we have looked at unbelief, doubt, fear which can kill our hope in the Lord. We did define “Hope” as a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. Bible says that the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut off (Proverbs 23:18, Proverb 10:24). What is your expectation this year, or what do you hope to see in this year and the years ahead of you? Bible says that hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). Therefore, do not allow anything to kill your hope, and do not defer your hope either.
My brothers and sister in the Lord, the fourth Killer of Hope is “Worry”.
Let us read our foundational text for today: Philippians 4:6 (TPT, CEV, AMP)
WHAT IS WORRY?
Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary:
To think about problems or unpleasant things that might happen in a way that makes you feel unhappy or afraid.
BIBLE DICTIONARY DEFINITION
Worry is a sense of uneasiness and anxiety about the future. Scripture indicates that such anxiety is ultimately grounded in a lack of trust in God and His purposes.
Read Jeremiah 29:11
CAUSES OF WORRY
- Lack of confidence in God, and His word. John 14: 1; Matthew 6:25-32; Matthew 8:25; Matthew 14:31
- Abandoning God and His word: Ezekiel 4:16-17; Lamentation 1:3
- Being worldly centered. Luke 12:22
- When the promises of God delay. 1Samuel 13:8-14; 1Peter 3:9; Luke 18:7; Habakkuk 2:3;
EFFECTS OF WORRY
- Making of wrong decisions in life. Going against what God has said to you. Example is Abraham (Genesis 16 – listened to his wife Sarai to go in unto Hagar their slave to have a child with her. This was not what God promised. They became worried when their child bearing delayed. As a result, Abraham heed to the voice of his wife.
- Loss of the peace of God. Philippians 4:6-7
- Complaining and murmuring. Luke 10:38-42 (story about Martha and Mary)
- Distraction
- Worrying also brings about bitterness (bitterness is a feeling of anger and unhappiness)
- Worrying chokes the word of God. Matthew 13:22
- Worrying cripples our faith. Matthew 6:30
- We become loveless. Worrying makes us self-centered. We focus on our needs only, rather than others. 1Corinthians 13:5
- Worrying brings about sicknesses – stress, depression, high blood pressure, headaches, inability to concentrate, heart attack, fatigue, dizziness, etc.
HOW TO OVERCOME/OR REMEDY FOR WORRY
- Being God centered – Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 6:33; Jeremiah 17:7-8; 1Peter 5:6-11
- Prayer. Psalm 55:22; Psalm 94:18-19
- Depend on the word of God. Numbers 23:19
- Godliness with contentment. 1Timothy 6:6
Not forsaking the assembly of the saints. Proverbs 27:17
