MONDAY BIBLE STUDY 30/06/2014 FAITH THAT BANISHES WORRY AND ANXIETY Matthew 6:28-30 “Consider the lilies ... O ye of little faith.” Lack of faith or little faith is the main cause of our worry and anxiety. Our failure to consider the acts of God - His care for creatures of time, things that exist today, and are forgotten tomorrow - is the major cause of our worry and anxiety. We have both earthly dignity and eternal destiny; we have an existence beyond this life which the lilies of the field do not have. And “... if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? ” Each time our Lord rebuked His disciples for lack of faith or for little faith, it was because they refused to consider and think logically (Matthew 8:23-26; Mark 4:35-40; Matthew 14:28-31; 16:6-11). The cause of worry and anxiety is littleness of faith and the reason for the littleness of faith is the absence of proper consideration or logical thinking. If God has done the seemingly insignificant thing, will He not do the supremely important thing? If God cares for creatures of no value, will He not care for new creatures of eternal value? If God protects and provides for unclean creatures (Matthew 6:26; 10:29-31; Job 38:41; Deuteronomy 14:12,14,19), will He not protect and provide for new clean creatures who are cleansed by the blood of His only begotten Son? Consider the acts of God and think logically on the actions and kindness of God; then, you will have faith in God. Faith will banish fear, worry and anxiety. 1. UNNECESSARY ANXIETY OF SONS WITH LITTLE FAITH Matthew 6:28,30; Luke 12:28; Deuteronomy 8:3,4; Nehemiah 9:21; Luke 22:35; Matthew 16:7-11; Luke 8:25; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Luke 24:17,25; John 3:12. “And why take ye thought for raiment? ” Our Lord asks, why are you worried and anxious for clothing? Is not the body more than raiment? If God has given us our body and is feeding the body, keeping it in good health, will He not also clothe the body? If He has appointed our diet and responsibility which can only be done in a body that is appropriately clothed or dressed, will He not provide adequate and appropriate clothes for us? Dressing is not an end by itself; it is to clothe us so we can fulfil the purpose of living. God has ordained that purpose of living. The purpose for each life on earth is important to God. That purpose must be our central concern. Dressing is not our only or main purpose of living. We are not living for the purpose of dressing; we are dressing to fulfil the purpose of living. And He who has ordained the purpose of living will supply all that is needed to fulfil the purpose. Only unbelief or little faith can doubt that but “Consider.” When we consider what God considers, little faith will give way to lively faith in our hearts and we will know and believe that He will supply all our needs to fulfil the divinely appointed purpose. 2. UNNOTICED APPAREL OF SOLOMON AND LILIES’ FRAILTY Matthew 6:28-30; 1 Kings 4:29-31,34; 10:4-9; 2 Chronicles 9:22-24; James 1:10,11: Luke 12:27,28; Acts 12:20-23; Proverbs 4:5-9; Deuteronomy 22:5; Zephaniah 1:8; 1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3,4. In the Scriptural account and record concerning Solomon, his apparel or clothing was not noticed as much as his wisdom and riches (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31). Physical appearance and adornment were not his consuming passion. He did not have inordinate desire or carnal concern for clothing. Adequate and proper clothing is necessary but clothing without wisdom would not have helped to fulfil his calling as a king. Solomon’s mind was not set on fashion or dressing. His great request was for wisdom. “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great ” (2 Chronicles 1:10). Physical beauty is but skin-deep and the most adorned body soon loses its appeal in a few short years. The fulfilment of life’s great purpose should be our highest desire. We are also to “consider the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven.” When we behold the beauty of lilies, flowers and the grass, we often forget that their loveliness quickly vanishes. Consider the frailty of the grass and remember that its destiny is the oven. Instead of being so worried and anxious about transient beauty and loveliness that soon vanish away and are forgotten, let’s follow and desire “the beauty of holiness”, the beauty that fadeth not away (1 Peter 1:24; 1 Chronicles 16:29). 3. UNFAILING ASSURANCE OF SAINTS WITH LIVELY FAITH Matthew 6:30; Luke 12:28,29; Isaiah 44:21; 49:15,16; Luke 12:6,7; Psalms 37:3-11,16-19,25-31; 84:11,12; Philippians 4:6,19; Matthew 6:8,32,33; Romans 8:32. “O ye of little faith.” Little faith creates anxiety, lively faith conquers anxiety. Little faith breeds worry, lively faith banishes worry. Little faith produces fear, lively faith prevents fear. Little faith makes us panic, lively faith makes us peaceful. Little faith fills us with cares; lively faith fills us with calm. With little faith comes anxiety and vexation of spirit, with lively faith comes assurance and victory in our soul. “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? ” He will clothe us. He will not clothe us with strange apparel or forbidden dresses, He will clothe us appropriately. Will He not feed us? He will feed us. He will not feed us with “unclean” meat or “meats offered to idols” (Acts 15:29), but He will feed us with proper and appropriate food. Will He not heal our body and make us strong? He will heal us. He will not heal us with traditional and satanic powers of darkness. He will heal us in His own appointed way. Lively faith does not doubt God. We always draw near unto God “with a true heart in full assurance of faith”, knowing that “He is faithful that promised” (Hebrews 10:22,23). * * * * * * * Congregational Song: ALL YOUR ANXIETY 1. Is there a heart o’er-bound by sorrow? Is there a life weighed down by care? Come to the cross, each burden bearing, All your anxiety - leave it there. All your anxiety, all your care, Bring to the Mercy seat, leave it there; Never a burden He cannot bear, Never a Friend like Jesus. 2. No other Friend so keen to help you; No other Friend so quick to hear; No other place to leave your burden; No other one to hear your prayer. 3. Come then, at once, delay no longer; Heed His entreaty, kind and sweet; You need not fear a disappointment; You shall find peace at the mercy seat.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 10:55:35 +0000
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