Pastor Jon Burgess
October 21, 2018 - W1842

Today, we continue our Breaking Ground series and look into the third type of soil—the soil filled with weeds. Luke 8:4-7 NLT says,“⁴ One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: ⁵ ‘A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. ⁶ Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants.’”

Jesus is teaching here about the seeds that fell on different types of soil; this soil is filled with weeds (worries of life). Most of life is filled with stress and worry that are constantly choking out the dream that God has given us. I want us to actually look at every worry as a doorway, an opportunity to invite God to do a new thing to worship; and every pressure point as an opportunity to pray and praise God so—What Are We Worried About?

1. Every New Worry Is A New Place To Step Out From The Crowd And Yield Control To Jesus.

Jesus explains in Luke 8:14 NLT,"The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.” 

The word for crowded out literally means a throng of people pressing into you on every side so that you are being suffocated. The message of the gospel of hope is being choked out by the cares—distractions, riches (our possessions possessing us), and pleasures of life. Our pursuits of things (except for Jesus) leave us more worried and anxious—needing more medication to find some peace. Jesus said, “They never grow to maturity.”

Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV) says, “²⁵Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ 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? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

The tense situations of stress and worry try to choke out the dream that God has given; but Jesus says, “Look at the birds of the air, the flowers of the fields, I take care of them.” Meaning, “I want you to understand that there's someone in control here—it's not you!”

Wherever you are in your faith journey—you may be wracked by worry, suffocated by the cares of this world, feeling insignificant, and thinking that suicide is a solution to your loneliness. It is not! Depression comes when the enemy convinces us that no one cares and has no time for us; so why keep on going—just end your time here on earth!

Every worry can be traced back to a place that we did not let God have control, such as, in our relationships (physical, mental, or emotional). These are places we must yield control to Christ.

My heart's desire is that you will grow up into the men and women of Christ: mature in faith, taking down every worry,looking at every new worry as an opportunity to yield control over to God. Worry reveals that our hearts are in the wrong place—that's that idea for yielding control to the Lord!

American psychology did a recent survey, pertaining to health, safety, finances, relationships, and politics. They found a massive uptick/increase in the anxiety levels today than even a year ago—across the board—from the retired to the children (who should be enjoying a carefree life, not worrying about a thing). Every age group is more anxious or stressed this year than they were last year!  

As Christians, we can pretend that worry doesn't affect us because we're people of faith, but I believe that we should be leading the way in addressing the reality of worry. The crowd mentality is like lemmings—rushing towards the cliff about to jump off! But, I believe, that Jesus in this part of the parable of the sower is saying, “Hold on! Be patient! There's a different way to live!”

Henri Nouwen described it this way: “Today, worrying means to be occupied and preoccupied with many things, while at the same time, being bored, resentful, depressed, and very lonely.”

Jesus didn't tell this parable to condemn Christians who are being choked out. He came to bring hope and life so that we could actually be set free, stepping into the correction and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. What We Are Worried About:

Time – The enemy will literally choke you, convincing you that no one cares or has time for you; so why keep going? Stop. Cry out to God and pray! Put your trust back in the Lord; you will realize you are here for a reason and God will redeem your time! 

Talent - Realize that Jesus has gifted and called you for such as time as this. When God said to Alan Kim and his wife, “Take care of my house and I'll take care of your house.” This was the place where they started the Flame Marriage Ministry, helping young couples work through the very things that they had worked through in their relationship.

Treasure - Sometimes we pray for God to help us with our finances. But, many times, He actually asks us to give, when we're asking him to give to us! When we obey, He opens the windows of heaven in our places of worry and anxiety. Let's yield them back to the Lord, and He will give us a fresh perspective saying, “It's not about our comfort; it's about the kingdom of God.”  

Our time, talent and treasure are derived from the fact that Jesus has gifted and called us for such a time as this!

Give God control: Pray over the places you're worried that you don't measure up; where you feel you’re being torn apart—God will turn that around, and have you help others through their difficult time.

If every source of worry is caused because we haven't given up control to God, then the cure is to bring all our worries to the God who is more than enough!

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT says, “⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

When Paul says, “Pray about everything,” he literally meant everything—every big or little stressor. Tell God what you need; then, thank Him for all He has done! That combo is how we step out of the crowd and yield control to Jesus Christ.

2. Every New Worry Is A New Place To Step Into Community, And Yield To The Comfort/Correction Of The Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit brings comfort to the places that need healing from trouble and stress. He also brings correction to the places where sin has led us into worry, choking us out! Understand that every place of worry is a place where we are not trusting God and giving Him control; we're sinning and we couldn’t stop it by ourselves!  

Therefore, confide in trustworthy men and women of God, who care, are concerned, patient, and dedicated. Over time, they will walk you through the worries that were literally choking the life out of you and, also, keep you accountable. You will see the bloom that the enemy was trying to choke out of you as these trustworthy friends pull away one layer after another of worry; and you grow into the maturity of Jesus Christ—where God is calling you to be.  

When in a place of humility and community of faith, we submit to the Lord first; then step into the community and admit, “I cannot get rid of this anxiety and fear. I’m awake at night, even in peaceful places—I cannot get free!” This is the best possible place to be because there, the Holy Spirit is moving with care; He doesn't condemn you.   

Here’s a key to breakthrough for many in this season: James 5:13-16 NLT says, “¹³Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. ¹⁴Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess your sins to each other [let others know] and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Remember the crucifixion story: Jesus Christ our Savior had a crown of thorns that weren't just placed gently upon His head—they were pounded into His skull, so that the blood poured down! The Lord revealed to me that He bore the crown of thorns to remove the crown of sin that was on our heads; to remove the crown of worries that has constricted our ability to dream anymore, that has stolen our joy and has caused us to no longer want to get up in the morning. Jesus had these thorns pounded into His skull; so that what's pounding inside of your head can be lifted, that you can be free!

STUDY QUESTIONS:

1. What is prayer designed to accomplish?

2. When is worry counterproductive to faith in what God is able to do?

3. How can you rid yourself of the greatest source of worry in your life?

4. List three trusted men or women of God you are able to confide in.

5. Who does Philippians 4 address?