Philippians 4:5b-7 (Tree of Life translation), “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything–but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made-known to God. And the shalom(peace) of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Messiah Yeshua.”
Are you feeling worried, anxious, or stressed out?
Have you asked yourself why?
Are you a Christian?
What is your spiritual foundation?
Can it weather a severe storm?
Have you built wisely or foolishly?
If we are honest with ourselves, I am sure everyone of us can identify something that we are uneasy about whether we are a believer or a non-believer.
How many times in God’s Word are we told, encouraged,or reminded, not to be worried, anxious, or stressed out?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explicitly teaches in Matthew 6:25-34 not to concern ourselves ‘about the economy’.
(I recommend that you read Matthew 6: 25-34 from your own Bible.)
I also know I am taking a great liberty here; but I ask you, does the text ‘fit’ the time in which we are living?
I am sharing from the TLV, Tree of Life Version, Matthew 6:25-34.
“So I say to you, do not worry about your life–what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin(they don’t get anxious or stressed out!). Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these(I take this to mean that Solomon was not as relaxed as the lilies of the field in spite of all he possessed). Now if in this way God clothes the grass–which is here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow–will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith. (I do not believe this is a demeaning comment by Jesus. Our faith may only be the size of a mustard seed; but Jesus said it could move a mountain.) Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans(non-believers) eagerly pursue all these things! But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you(believers in Christ). Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (emphasis mine, inserts mine)
Worry creates(visualizes) its own drama! Our words can animate and escalate that drama with anxiety which leads to stress; or our words can quiet that drama and bring peace, calm, and stillness.
What is your habit pattern?
Sounds daunting, but in the Lord there is hope.
There is HOPE because of the CROSS.
(H.O.P.E. : Hope Offers Peace Everyday; (and) Hope Offers Peace Eternally)
Do you remember singing these words, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…” (if you do, then sing them…)
Let’s consider the word for worry. Using the Word Wealth found in the Spirit Filled Life Bible (pg 1415) {6:25 worry, merimnao (mer-im-nah-oh); Strong’s #3309: From Merizo, “to divide into parts.” The word suggests a distraction, a preoccupation with things causing anxiety, stress, and pressure. Jesus speaks against worry and anxiety because of the watchful care of a heavenly Father who is ever mindful of our daily needs.”}
How many of us have cried out to God, “don’t you see what’s going on?”,”don’t you care?”, “do you even realize what I am facing?” or some such plea!
In the hour in which we are living, there are certainly enough reasons to be distracted, preoccupied, anxious and stressed over the economy.
But, can we be at rest in this ‘uncertain economic’ condition? Yes!
In the commentary, on the same page as mentioned above (pg 1415) , it comments about Matthew 6:25-34: “Jesus assumes the theme of single-hearted devotion to God and deals with the related attitude of freedom from anxiety over daily needs. He illustrates the worthlessness of worry by showing that it is unnecessary (vv. 26,28-30), unfruitful (vs. 27), and unbecoming to a Christian (vv. 31,32).
Yeah, right; that is easy for someone to write; but how about living it out.
That is another thing.
But the truth is, Jesus said it.
It is important to note that this admonition, teaching, encouragement comes immediately after He has just said in Matthew 6:24(TLV) “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will stick by one and look down on the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (emphasis mine)
Are we as a nation serving ‘money’ (mammon)?
Money and the economy are complements; they feed each other or they starve each other; but they do go hand in hand.
Question: What is my, your, our heart’s relationship to money?
If the economy fails?; if the stock market crashes?; if the housing market bottoms out?; if I lost my job? (actually I am retired, so if social security stopped?); How will I, you, we respond?
Will we be worried, anxious, and/or stressed out?
Probably, but this does not have to be; there is an alternative.
Where is my trust focused?
I may not be in the same circumstances as you; but the questions are still relevant to me too. We, Christians, are not immune to an economic downturn. I am not saying the economy is going to crash (it might); but the nation is struggling with inflation. (insert mine)
Jesus, after His teaching in Matthew 6:25-32, makes this statement in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (what things? what you shall eat, drink, and wear) shall be added unto you.” (insert mine)
The question again is, what are you focused on? Am I, are you, are we so focused on the economy that it causes us to worry, be anxious, and stress out? The economy is a ‘what’. We should be focused on the Lord; the Lord is a ‘Who’, a Person.
What does Jesus tell us to focus on? vv.33–“to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” I submit to you that that is relationship with the Lord.
Paul, in his letter to the Romans makes this statement. Romans 14:17, 18 (TLV), “…for the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness and shalom(peace) and joy in the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit). For the one who serves Messiah in this manner is pleasing to God and approved by men.”(inserts mine)
What did Paul tell the Romans to focus on? The kingdom of God and its righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
How are we going to accomplish that? by “serving” the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.
If you have read my previous posts about the ‘unprecedented unrest’, we, like Noah and his family, are in God’s A.R.K.(Adonai’s Righteous Kingdom); and our A.R.K. is a Person, Jesus Christ, Who is Adonai’s Righteous King. Now you can understand why we must ‘seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness’. We are to keep our focus upon Christ.
The storm clouds have gathered. The clouds are emptying a deluge of rain(chaos, confusion, lawlessness, turmoil, see 2 Timothy 3:1-17) upon the earth.
The flood waters are rising, the nations are in unrest, and the ARK is being tossed about. The irony is that Hebrews 12:25-29 tells us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken; but in Christ we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Why?
Because our God Reigns!
Our helmsman is Christ.
What will be shaken?
Everything that is “earthly and temporal” (Spirit Filled Life Bible, Hebrews 12:25-29 commentary, NKJV)
Will this happen in the church?
Absolutely.
How much in the church today is worldly, temporal, or even unrighteous?
Your reaction to these words may be that I have overstepped my bounds making such a statement; but I ask you to reflect upon the ‘state of the church’ in our nation, and in the world.
Is the church fulfilling its mission?
The one the Lord purposed for it to do.
If not, then why not?
Have you ever asked yourself which one of the letters written to the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus might send to His church today?
Or, if Jesus were to write a new letter to His church today, what would He say?
Note: There are many who teach that the letter to the Laodicean church (Revelation 3:14-22) represents the church in the last days; therefore, this letter or type of letter would be sent to the churches today. (insert mine)
I am personally confident such a letter would end with these words, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach (Spirit) is saying to Messiah’s communities.” (TLV)
These words are included at the end of each of the seven letters to the churches found in Revelation 2:1-3:22
The Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:17-19, (TLV), “For the time has come for judgment to begin with the house of God (who is the house of God? believers). If judgment begins with us first, what will be the end for those who disobey the Good News of God? Now if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what shall become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will–let them trust their souls to a faithful Creator while continuing to do good.” (insert mine)
I am so thankful for the grace and mercy of God. Thank you Father for the ARK. Thank you Father for Jesus Christ, Who is our ARK in the time of the storm. The ride may be rough but ‘in Christ’ we are safe and secure in the midst of the ‘shaking'(See Psalm 46). Being tossed ‘to and fro’ is anything but peaceful and calm. Jesus said, in the Upper Room, to His disciples, prior to His arrest, “These things I have spoken unto you, so that in Me you may have shalom(peace),[for what purpose?] In the world you will have trouble (tribulation:in the midst of which, Jesus is promising His peace; which means that we do not have to have worry, anxiety, or stress in the midst of the tribulation, the storm, the unprecedented unrest, the turmoil, etc. PTL), but take heart! I have overcome the world!” (Matthew 16:33 TLV) (emphasis, inserts mine)
Such may be our experience during the ‘unprecedented unrest’ that is mounting and will shake our nation and the nations of this world.
The Church will experience an unsettling due to the storm; but all that are ‘in Christ’ are safe and secure. (Read Psalm 91)
At the outset of this post, I highlighted the issue of the economy. There are many other issues that our nation is facing that have and are causing worry, anxiety, and stress among believers (and non-believers). (insert mine)
What stands out in your mind? What brings you worry, anxiety, stress?
Before we go forward, let me ask, how should we be praying in the midst of the ‘unprecedented unrest’?
How do we rest?
I suggest the following to quiet the unsettling around us..
Philippians 4:4-7 Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible), “Rejoice in the Lord always: Again I will say– Rejoice! Let your considerateness (forbearance,friendliness, kindness, mercy, etc.) be known unto all men, The Lord is near (at hand):–For nothing be anxious, But in everything by your prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, Let your petitions be made known unto God; And the peace of God, which riseth above every mind shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” (insert, emphasis mine)
Selah.
As a nation, we are witnessing the systematic destruction and decay of the very institutions that have been the foundation of our nation and the stability of our society.
What pillars are fundamental to all stabilized nations? I suggest that they are their government, their businesses, their educational system, their justice system , their economics, their culture, their media, and the strength of their family units.
What have I not mentioned?
The Church.
Are the above mentioned pillars undergoing deterioration in our nation? in the world?
I am not suggesting that these pillars have not been without sin throughout their existence in our nation or any other nation.
What I am saying is that our Judeo-Christian foundation, that was a major influence in the founding of this nation under God is being maligned, assaulted, questioned, and marginalized.
Our foundation is on a ‘slippery slope’. People suggest and strongly argue that our Judeo-Christian roots have no place in our government. The problem then is that you have to ignore what is written in our Constitution; and that is exactly what they are doing and refuse to acknowledge that God, Himself, was instrumental and influential in establishing this nation.
Our Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This is very straight forward and simple to read and understand unless you have an agenda to disprove these words.
The scripture says in Psalms 33:12, (TLV), “Blessed is the nation whose God is Adonai…” (I recommend that you read Psalm 33 for the context of this verse))
I would like to share an analogy.
Our nation was established on a foundational rock of Biblical principles and belief in a Sovereign God.
There are many in our nation today that do not share that belief.
That foundation is being ignored, not taught, re-written, and removed deliberately from our mental and moral consciousness.
Our nation that was founded upon a ‘rock’ is being ‘re-constructed’ upon a foundation that is ‘sand’.
Jesus told a parable about building on a foundation of ‘rock’ or on a foundation of ‘sand’.
His parable was spoken at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 7:24-29, please take time to read the parable).
Prior to telling this parable, Jesus sternly warned His listeners (Matthew 7:15-23, TLV) that began with “Watch out for false prophets“, and ended with “…get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness.” (emphasis mine)
“False prophets” and “lawlessness”, two significant thoughts found in Matthew 24,25. (emphasis mine)
After a major confrontation with the Pharisees at the Temple, Jesus and His disciples left the Temple area. Jesus’s disciples for some reason decided to point out “the buildings of the temple” (Matthew 24:1 NKJV). Jesus responded with information about the destruction of the Temple. This prompted the disciples to ask Jesus three questions which Jesus answered in Matthew 24,25. (insert mine)
In previous posts, I have shared about Jesus answering His disciples questions.
What needs to be emphasized at this time?
Are we personally prepared to walk with the Lord through the ‘shaking’ and the ‘unprecedented unrest’ that has and is coming to our nation. Remember, we are safe and secure in the ARK; we are in Christ, Who is our ARK.
Remember, ‘shaking’ will affect His church also. He will remove what is not of ‘His Church’, not of ‘His Word’, and not of ‘Holy Spirit’.
In conclusion, recalling, Jesus’ instructions (from Matthew 24/25) , He told us to watch, (be) ready, (be) alert, and pray. He warned us not to be deceived by false prophets (Matthew 24: 4,11) and said that lawlessness (Matthew 24:12)would be rampant; but those who endured to the end(Matthew 24:13) (when He returns) would be saved. There will be troubled times (count on it); but there is work to be done (this Gospel will be preached(Matthew 24:14) throughout the whole world, to all nations, and then the end will come). (inserts and emphasis mine)
He exhorted us to be like the wise virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) who were prepared for the bridegroom’s coming, and not to be like the unwise virgins who were unprepared, complacent, and not ready for the coming of the bridegroom. He also instructed us to be responsible servants/stewards (Matthew 25:14-30) doing, fulfilling, and carrying out the tasks and using the gifts that have been given to us, as we wait for His return.
Our foundation for accomplishing this means that we need to be watchful, be ready, be alert, and be praying. These disciplines will keep us prepared to respond like the wise virgins, and be responsible like faithful servants of the Lord. (emphasis mine)
Being obedient to His Word builds a living, vibrant relationship and life, walking with the Lord, establishing our foundation on a solid ‘rock’ and that ROCK is Christ Jesus our Lord. (emphasis mine)
Closing the parable, Jesus tells us how to build on a solid foundation.
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and yet it did not fall, for its foundation had been built on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and winds blew and beat against that house; and it fell–and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27 TLV)(emphasis mine)
Question: Are you going to build on rock or sand? Are you going to live as wise or foolish? I submit that your answer and lifestyle regarding these two questions will determine the worry, anxiety, and stress you face in your daily life.
Christians are not immune to these two questions; in fact, these thoughts are directed to His disciples.
Remember singing these words, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.” *
These words are to be our testimony.
Selah.
Blessings, a brother in Christ, deo
*My Hope is Build on Nothing Less, written by Edward Mote (1797-1874), music by William Batchelder Bradbury (1816-1868)
Living Words of Encouragement 