Abolishing Anxiety, Part 4

Good morning, church family. It's so good to have you with us today as we spend time in God's Word together. I want to thank Tim for doing music for us this morning.

Just give us a little bit more of an opportunity to minister to you and your family. And as you gather your family around with you this morning, I would ask that you would be able to join me on your knees in prayer. We want to be able to go before the throne of grace and petition our God to do great and mighty things.

And I think it'd be good for us as a church to pray about and pray with and for all those people that are involved in this pandemic. I know we're all involved in it, but I'm talking about people like nurses and doctors and first responders and health care workers and law enforcement and everybody on those front lines that are doing things with people that we need to have happen. And those people, a lot of them have even risked their lives to be used in other people's lives.

And as a church, I think it'd be so important for us to pray, praying for our president, praying for his task force, praying for Congress, praying for our governors, our mayors, asking God to do a mighty work. We are asking God to intervene. We are asking God to transform people's lives.

We're asking the Lord to to bring people to the saving knowledge of the truth. We're asking people to to protect or asking God to protect people. At the same time, we want to pray for our church family and asking God to do a mighty work in and among us.

We know that we're fractured. We're so far apart. And it looks like it's going to be a while before we get back together again.

And who knows when that's going to be? And to be in prayer one for another is very, very important. And so what I'm going to do is I'm going to ask you to kneel with me and and spend some time in prayer with your family, praying for nurses and doctors and first responders, health care workers and such, asking God to do a mighty work in and through them and looking for the opportunity for them to hear the gospel and to trust that God's going to use them in a mighty way. At the same time, begin praying for our church family, those who who are elderly among us.

They need our prayers. Those who might be sick among us. They need our prayers, praying for those who've lost their jobs, praying for those who are anticipating going back to school.

And yet school's been canceled. So many things to pray about. And so as we go to our knees this morning, we want to begin to petition our God as we go before the throne of grace.

And if you're able, I would ask you to join me on your knees. It'll be a time of silent prayer on my behalf. But you as you gather with your family around your couch, around a chair, maybe you're still in bed.

I don't know. And maybe gather them around your bed. But but to kneel together and begin to ask the Lord to do great and mighty things.

And so I'll be silent while you do that. And then I'll close our time in prayer. So if you're able, join me on your knees as we approach the throne of grace.

Our most gracious heavenly father, we are grateful. We are grateful, Lord, for all that you do. We never, ever want to cease to give praise to your name.

We are grateful, Lord, because you have allowed this pandemic in our country, in this world for a specific purpose. Ultimately, we know it's for your glory and for your honor. But we also know, Lord, that you're doing a mighty work in people's lives.

You're doing mighty work in the lives of those who are our first responders. Those people who are on the front lines ministering to the sick. Many nurses, Lord, many doctors involved in this pandemic, trying to help others weather the storm.

We pray for them. We pray for their protection. We pray, Lord, that you would provide for them in a unique and special way.

We have nurses among us, even in our own congregation, who are being used by you, even as we speak. We pray for them, Lord, that you would use them in a mighty way for your glory. That they'd have the opportunity to share Christ with those who are in need.

I want to thank you, Lord, that you have equipped people to help others who are sick. It's a unique time in our country. We're asking you to do a great and mighty work.

We know, Lord, that there are some you're going to bring to saving grace. We thank you for that. We thank you in advance for what you're going to do because we know you're at work.

And you're going to save souls. And we want to praise you for that in advance. Asking that, Lord, you'd even save family members of our church.

People that, Lord, that don't know you. That are even a part of our own assembly. That this would be a time for them to recognize their need for a Savior.

And those in our church family who have family members that don't know you. That as they wrestle with what is happening that you would bring them to an understanding of the gospel. We pray, Lord, for our president, his task force.

You give them wisdom, Lord. You do a mighty work in their lives. Cause them to see your hand moving in and among this nation and this world.

Cause them to come to a place of repentance. Where they truly, truly turn from their sin. And serve the true and living God.

We ask also, Lord, that you would work in the governor of our state. The mayor of our cities. That, Lord, you give them wisdom as they make decisions concerning people's lives.

And that, Lord, as they gather together with their own task force in this state, in this city. That, Lord, you give them real wisdom. They make wise choices.

And that, Lord, we anticipate coming back together again. We don't know when that's going to be. Only you know that.

We just wait and see. In the meantime, we want to trust you, believe in you. Asking you to do a great and mighty work.

We pray for those in our police department. Our fire department. Those, Lord, who are involved in protecting people.

Making sure that we abide by the laws of the land. We pray for wisdom for them. And direction.

And guidance. And pray, Lord, for the people of this country. That, Lord, they would truly seek your face.

And realize that they are completely out of control. But there is a God who is completely in control. We pray for the members of our church.

We pray, Lord, that you protect them. Protect them from this virus. Protect them, Lord, from harm.

And ask, Lord, that you do a mighty work in all of us. So when we gather back together, whenever that's going to be on a Lord's day. And we celebrate you and all that you've done.

There will be this tremendous longing in the hearts of men and women and children. To want to be together. To want to hear from your word.

To celebrate you. To sing praises of joy as an assembly. Lifting our voices high.

Shouting joyfully into the Lord. For the glory of your name. Lord, we are asking that your will be done.

That's what we want. More than anything else. Not our will, but your will, O Lord.

To be done in our personal lives. Our church. Our country.

And, of course, the world. We know that everything is running on course. No purpose of yours can be thwarted.

We trust you for the outcome. And anticipate, Lord, until we come together again. That, Lord, you'd protect us, provide for us.

And that we'd use every opportunity to proclaim the gospel of Christ. With those who need to hear the truth about Jesus, our Lord. We pray this in the name of our soon coming king, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen. Bow with me, would you, in a moment of prayer. Lord, we thank you for this great and glorious day.

What an incredible opportunity you give us to hear you speak through your word. Our prayer is that you would truly open our hearts and minds. To be able to receive fully those things you have for us today.

That we might embrace you as our God. And rejoice in what you're doing. We know, Lord, with the anxiousness in people's lives all around the world.

It behooves us to talk to them about the God of peace. And the God of hope. And our prayer today is that as we examine your word once again.

You'd equip us with the knowledge we need to be able to convey your truth to others. We pray this in Jesus' glorious name. Amen.

Today is part four of our series on abolishing anxiety. We tackled this issue a few weeks ago when we heard about this pandemic that's swept our world. And therefore we are engaged in looking at what the Bible says.

Concerning anxious thoughts. Concerning worry. And what it is we are to do in light of that.

What does the Bible actually say? And I truly understand people's anxious thoughts. I truly understand why people are concerned desperately over what's happening. There truly is so much uncertainty.

So much uncertainty. Uncertainty about job security. Uncertainty about when we can get back into church.

Uncertainty if there's ever going to be a vaccine that will help us with this virus, this coronavirus. Uncertainty about whether or not I'll be able to keep my job. Uncertainty about whether I'm going to be able to graduate this year if I'm in high school or college.

What that's going to look like. If I'm a student athlete trying to get a scholarship. How will I ever be able to showcase my skill set if I'm unable to meet with people.

I mean the lists go on and on concerning the uncertainties that we have. And that causes people to be anxious. It causes people to live in fear and trepidation.

So what is it we are to do and how is it we communicate to people that they don't have to be anxious about those things. They can truly trust the true and living God. But man is anxious about the uncertainties of life.

He's also anxious about his mortality. Because he's come to realize he's not going to live forever. And rightly so.

God wants us to be aware of the fact that it is a pointer that a man wants to die after that judgment. And so for man to be more aware of his mortality than ever before is a good thing. Not a bad thing.

You know sometimes we need to keep statistics in check. We need to be able to have a proper perspective on statistics when it comes to death. Because we have all these numbers.

So many hundreds. So many thousands. So many millions.

And it becomes overwhelming sometimes. And we lose perspective on death. And so I did a little bit of research this past week and came to realize that.

Did you know that there are 3,700 people who die in car crashes every single day. Every day. Over 3,700 people who die in car accidents.

And yet we hardly ever hear about them. Did you know that there are over 20,000 people that die from cancer every single day. 20,000 people.

And yet we can't name one of them unless they're in our family or a friend of ours. Do you know that over 1,200 people are murdered every day. 1,200 people.

And yet we hardly hear about those murders because of the pandemic sweeping the world. There are over 120 people that commit suicide every day. And that number is probably going to go up based on the fact that people have lost their jobs.

And there's so much uncertainty in the world. But 120 people a day take their lives. Over 1,700 people die every day from heart attacks.

Over 21,000 people die of starvation and hunger every single day. And most of them are children. Yet we don't even know their names.

Do you know that 125,000 unborn children die every single day. You need to keep things in perspective. But the wages of sin is death.

And everybody does die. And so man being more aware of his mortality is a good thing, not a bad thing. In fact, when you think about it, the worst thing that can happen to you from the human perspective is the best thing that can ever happen to you from the divine perspective.

Think about it. The worst thing that can happen to you from the human perspective is that you die. But the best thing to happen to you from the divine perspective is that you die.

Because the Bible says in Psalm 116, precious in the sight of the Lord are the death of the saints. Precious. Revelation 14, 13 says, blessed are the dead.

Blessed are those who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors and their deeds follow after them. If you know the Lord, dying is the best thing that can ever happen to you because it ushers you into the presence of the living God. But all that to say, anxiety looms in the heart of many people.

And the Bible says that anxiety, worry truly is a sin. And if it's a sin, then God wants us to understand how it is we resist that temptation and how it is we live in light of who he is so we don't become anxious ridden. So what does the Bible say concerning that? And I would hope that every pastor in our country around the world is taking the time to address the people of their church and explain to them how it is they deal with what is happening.

And to be able to take that and help others deal with what is happening. To equip the people of God on what the word of the Lord says. And I told you last week, I know there are hundreds of thousands of people you can listen to.

But you got to be so discerning about who you listen to. This past week on Fox News, they had a pastor who this past week had 41 million viewers on a Sunday service. 41 million.

I have a hard time getting 41 people to watch on Sundays. He has 41 million watching on Sundays. And through the interview, he was asked by Chris Wallace of Fox News.

He never mentioned any scripture in his answers. He mentioned God twice. But never pointed people to the word of the Lord.

Never showed them what God's word said. And so I decided to go back and listen to his sermon because it's on TV. So I did.

And I went back and realized that he picked up his Bible and he held his Bible high. And said some spiritual platitudes about the Bible. But he sat his Bible down, never once picked it up again, never opened it again, never read it again.

And throughout the course of a 25 minute sermon, no less than six times did he misquote and abuse scripture. It was horrific. And in the course of his sermon to 41 million viewers, he told them that they were in the middle of a miracle.

They were right in the middle of a miracle. And their miracle is about to happen. It's going to unfold before them.

And as he began to misquote scripture and misapply scripture. As he preached to an empty auditorium. But there were 41 million viewers.

He would tell them, he looked right in the camera and said, if you're watching this today. If you are viewing this today, you are a righteous person. He told them.

You are righteous. And God gave a promise to Isaiah the prophet, to those who are righteous. That one day their miracle would happen.

That one day the waters would flow in their lives. And there would be a great produce in their lives. Making everybody who is watching thinking they're righteous.

But they aren't. And the fact that he did not define righteousness. He did not explain to them how to become righteous in the sight of God.

And to apply a principle given to the nation of Israel. About what's going to happen in the millennial kingdom. When their Messiah sits and rules on the throne of David.

And apply it to today in their lives. Is an abuse of scripture. So he could prove his point that they were in the middle of a miracle.

So important. That you are discerning. When you listen to people at this time.

Make sure you keep your finger in the text. Make sure you're like the Bereans. And you search the scriptures to see whether or not these things are true.

Because you need to know what God's word actually does say. We have a topic. That topic is abolishing anxiety.

We have a text. That text is Proverbs 12, 25. Which says, anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down.

But a good word makes it glad. And so we're looking at what that good word is. So your heart becomes glad.

That you're not weighed down by anxious thoughts. By worrying about all the uncertainties. All the insecurities.

All the issues surrounding your life and family. But you truly understand principle number one. How to rest in God's sovereignty.

That was our first principle. We told you we had several we want to get to. And we've only really covered one and a half.

But the first one was rest in God's sovereignty. Because no purpose of God will ever be thwarted. That God actively causes or consciously allows.

Everything that's ever happened in the history of the universe. He is in complete control of everything. He is a sovereign ruler of the world.

And so as we begin to rest in that sovereignty. We told you what God is doing. If you weren't with us the last couple of weeks.

You can go back and you can view it online. Or listen to it through our website. But it's imperative for you to understand how it is.

And why it is we rest in God's sovereignty. Principle number two was to remember our responsibility. That's the flip side of resting in God's sovereignty.

You just don't sit back and do nothing. You work out your salvation with fear and trembling. As Paul says to those in Philippi.

But we live a life of responsibleness. We live a life that truly. Because we're resting in God's sovereignty.

We don't sit by and just idly let things happen. But we truly are actively involved in fulfilling our responsibility. And so we want to give you what your full responsibility is.

Not all your responsibility. But your full responsibility. Because fullness eradicates fearfulness.

If you understand what your full responsibility is. You won't live in fear and trepidation. Because you're resting in God's sovereignty.

And remembering your responsibility. And do you remember what the first five were? The first one was what? Do you remember? I can't hear you. Oh, that's right.

I'm not supposed to hear you. You're supposed to hear me. That first one is what? Be watchful.

Be watchful. 1 Peter 5.8. The adversary of the devil goes about like a roaring lion. Be on the alert.

Be watchful. Number two. Be prayerful.

Be in prayer. Be anxious for nothing. Philippians 4. But in everything by prayer and supplication.

With thanksgiving. Be thankful. That's number three.

Be watchful. Be prayerful. Be thankful.

Remember that? Number four. Be mindful. That's Philippians 4. Verse number eight.

Thinking of the things that are true. And pure. And holy.

And lovely. And praiseworthy. Thinking about the things that God wants you to think about.

Be mindful of those things. Because if you're watchful. Prayerful.

Thankful. And mindful. You won't be fearful.

And that allows you, number five. To be helpful. To be in service to others.

So let me give you principle number six. And try to move through the remaining ones that we have for you. So that we can help you understand how it is.

And what it is you need to remember when it comes to your responsibility. Number six is this. Be merciful.

Be merciful. You say, well, wait a minute. What's the difference between being merciful and being helpful? Well, there's a big difference.

And you need to understand it. Think about it this way. The Bible describes spiritual gifts.

One of the gifts is the gift of helps or service. Another gift is the gift of showing mercy. So there are two different gifts.

Telling you that they're not the same thing. And although they might look alike. There is a big difference between the two.

You can be helpful. Yet not merciful. But if you are merciful, you will be helpful.

If you're helpful. You need to understand that you are performance oriented. If you're merciful, you are people oriented.

There's a difference. If I'm helpful. And I'm performance oriented.

I'm task oriented. Then I'm going to perform whatever duty is necessary. To relieve you of any burden that you yourself are carrying.

We looked at Onesiphorus last week. Whose name means bringer of profit. We looked at Epaphroditus.

Whose name means lovely. Because every time you bring profit to somebody. You are at your loveliest.

And that's why Paul said. Make sure you hold guys like Epaphroditus in high esteem. And yet if you're merciful.

If you're merciful. Here's a unique thing about being people oriented. You see the need.

You sympathize with the person in need. You seize the moment with that person. That somehow you might be able to soothe their suffering.

That's mercy. It's compassion in action. You see it with Dorcas.

In Acts chapter 9. Or Tabitha. Same person. Just a different name.

The lady that Peter raised from the dead. She did deeds of mercy. Because she saw the needs in widows.

In orphans. In people that so desperately needed to be taken care of. That she really truly set out to meet those needs.

In fact you can look at it this way. Mercy is that which is for the miserable. Mercy is for the miserable.

And you help those who are helpless. That's the gift of helps. That's being helpful to someone.

You help those who are helpless. Those who are merciful. Relieve the misery in people's lives.

And that's what we need to do in this time. As part of our full responsibility. Not only are we helpful.

But we're merciful. We see the need. And not only do we see the need.

We sympathize with the person in need. Christ gave a beautiful illustration of that. In Luke's gospel.

The 10th chapter. When he gave the parable about the good Samaritan. When the Bible says in Luke chapter 10.

That there was a lawyer who stood up. And wanted to know what it meant to inherit eternal life. And so he had this discussion with the Lord.

And the Lord said. Well you know. You tell me.

And he said. Well you love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.

And Christ said. You're right. Do that.

Do that. And you'll have eternal life. But he couldn't.

It's impossible. But instead of throwing himself on God's mercy. What did he do? He tried to justify himself.

By asking. By the way. Who is my neighbor? Which allowed the Lord to give this parable.

Commonly known as the parable. The good Samaritan. He would use a man that the Jews despised.

The half-breed Samaritans. And the Lord said. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho.

And fell among robbers. And they stripped him and beat him. And went away leaving him half dead.

God was in big trouble. And by chance. A priest.

Was going down on that road. And when he saw him. He passed by on the other side.

Likewise the Levite also. When he came to that place. And saw him.

He passed by on the other side. Isn't it interesting? That both the priest and the Levite. Practiced social distancing.

Way before we have to do it today. They would pass by on the other side. They would see him on one side.

And they would go. Bypass him on the other side. But there was a Samaritan.

Who was on a journey. Came upon him. And when he saw him.

He saw the need. He felt compassion. He sympathized.

With the person who had a need. And he came to him. And bandaged up his wounds.

Pouring oil and wine on them. And he put him on his own beast. And brought him to an inn.

And took care of him. And on the next day. He took out two denarii.

And gave them to the innkeeper. And said take care of him. And whatever more you spend.

When I return I will repay you. Which of these three. Do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man.

Who fell into the robber's hands. He said to him. The one who showed mercy.

Toward him. You see. Even the lawyer knew.

What it meant to show mercy. The Samaritan. Once he saw the need.

He truly. Wanted to sympathize. With that person in need.

So much so. That he would do all he could. To soothe.

The one who suffered. And the unique thing about mercy. Is this.

Romans 12. Verse number eight. When you show mercy.

You do it with cheerfulness. There's a great joy. In doing this.

And that's what really separates mercy. From helps. You see you can help someone.

Because it's a task oriented service. Without ever having to feel for that person. Or even do it joyfully.

But mercy. Mercy people have a great joy. About what they're doing.

Because they are. People oriented. And they want to help people.

Who are suffering. They actually feel. With that person.

They sympathize. With that individual. They want to be a part.

Of that individual's life. That's what they do. Our God is a God of mercy.

Micah seven tells us that he delights in mercy. Micah chapter six. He tells us.

What does the Lord require of you a man. That you do justly. And that you love.

Mercy. And walk humbly with your God. Why is it we're to love mercy.

Because our God is mercy. And loving mercy means you love God. So important.

Listen to what Solomon says. Book of Proverbs. Proverbs chapter 14.

Verse number 21. He who despises the poor. Sins.

But he who has mercy. On the poor. Happy.

Is he. And then later in verse number 31 of Proverbs 14. He says.

He who oppresses the poor. Reproaches his maker. But he who honors him.

Has mercy on the needy. He wants to honor the Lord. Truly has mercy on the needy.

That's why the Lord said. In Matthew five. Verse number seven.

Blessed are the merciful. For they shall obtain mercy. It's truly the blessing.

That God gives to those who see a need. Who sympathize with that person in need. And seek to soothe the suffering of that person.

Because that's what God does. He meets us. In our misery.

And shows us mercy. That's what Paul says in the book of Titus. Remember that? Titus chapter three.

Verse number four. But when the kindness of God our Savior. And his love for mankind appeared.

He saved us. Not on the basis of deeds. Which we have done in righteousness.

But according to his mercy. By the washing of regeneration. And renewing by the Holy Spirit.

Whom he poured out upon us richly. Through Jesus Christ our Savior. James tells us.

In James chapter two. James chapter two. Verse number 13.

That judgment. Will be merciless. Upon those.

Who show no mercy. Why is that? Because the people of God. Show mercy.

That's who they are. They love the God of mercy. If you've experienced mercy.

You want to extend mercy. And in the extension of mercy. You exemplify the master who is merciful.

That's what we do. In fact. When James says.

That our Lord. Our Lord. Will judge.

Mercilessly. Those who show no mercy. He evidences that.

In the parable of the sheep and the goats. In Matthew 25. Because when he comes back.

He puts a sheep on his right. And the goats on his left. He judges them based on.

Whether they showed mercy. Or they did not show mercy. Because he says.

To the sheep. When I was hungry. You fed me.

When I was thirsty. You gave me something to drink. When I was naked.

You clothed me. When I was in prison. You visited me.

And the key aspect is this. The Lord. When did we see you in prison? When did we see you naked? When did we see you hungry? When did we see you thirsty? What does Jesus say? When you did it to the least of these.

My brethren. You did it as unto me. That's the great thing.

You see people who show mercy. Do it as an extension. Of who they are.

Without even recognizing. That they are doing it. And Christ says.

That when you did it to the least of these. My brethren. In the context of Matthew 25.

It's Israel. It's during the last days. And those people who show mercy.

To the nation itself. When you do it unto them. You do it as unto me.

And judgment. In the valley of Jehoshaphat. In the Kidron Valley.

There surrounding Jerusalem. Is where that judgment is going to take place. God wants us to be merciful.

Listen. If you're watchful. Prayerful.

Thankful. And mindful. You are freed up to be helpful.

And freed up to be merciful. So you are reaching out to others. Ministering to them.

In the midst of anxious thoughts. In the midst of our worrisome attitude. Our eyes are on ourselves.

And our eyes are on things. Surrounding us. Our circumstances.

Our eyes are not above. Our eyes are not on the Lord. And our eyes are not on people in need.

Put your eyes on the Lord. And you'll see people in need. And your anxious thoughts.

Will fade away. If you are. Fulfilling.

Your responsibility. Then those anxious thoughts. Will subside.

Let me give you our next one. The next one is to be. Dutiful.

Dutiful. Great word. Dutiful.

That is you have a duty to do. A duty that you cannot neglect. And that is to.

Cultivate the inner man. That is to. Cultivate the Christ.

In your heart and mind. This is a great. A great time.

For you. To grow. In your walk with Christ.

You have a lot of time. You have more time. Than you've ever had before.

You can't say. I have to spend an hour traveling. To work and an hour traveling home.

That's two hours. You're not traveling anymore. You're not going to work.

You have two extra hours to do what? To cultivate the inner man. To be. Dutiful.

That is. That you are disciplined. And that you are.

Diligent. Disciplined. And diligent.

Paul would say. In 1 Timothy 4. Right. Verses 7 and 8. That we're to discipline ourselves unto godliness.

Bodily exercise. Profits a little. But.

Discipline to godliness. Profits. Not just in this life.

But in the life to come. Into the future. Because it deals.

With the inner man. And we need to live a life of discipline. We need to live a life of.

That's the inner man. But the outer man is the life of diligence. And fulfilling our responsibility.

Every single day. Fulfilling our duty every single day. The opportunity to keep.

Not just our private life in order. But our public life in order. To clean.

Things that need to be cleaned. To organize things. That need to be organized.

Our god is a god of order. Not disorder. Our lives should be one of order.

Not disorder. And so we are practicing diligence. Every single day.

Proverbs 12. 27. Man's most precious possession is.

You know it. His diligence. That is man's most precious possession.

Therefore. We need to be diligent. We need to be.

Disciplined. Listen. It's so easy at this time.

To become lazy. You don't want to be. Lazy.

You don't want to become. Idle. Remember what your mother used to always say.

Idle hands are the devil's workshop. We live in a time. Unlike any other time.

Now that this pandemic. Is engulfed the world. And we have this.

Stay at home policy. That what's going to rise. Is.

Alcohol abuse. Physical abuse. Drug abuse.

Pornography. All those things are going to be. On the rise.

In fact I heard this past week. That in Florida. There were more cases reported about.

Child abuse. This past week. Than the previous weeks.

Now that. Both parents are home. And everybody's around each other.

All day. You got to be cultivating the inner man. You got to be disciplining yourself.

Under godliness. And that's not an easy thing to do. It's a discipline.

It's hard work. It's sweaty work. But it needs to happen.

That's where we need to be. And we need to be diligent. Kinds of people.

That is we need to be the kind of people. That don't neglect. Our responsibility.

Every single day. At home. With family.

With friends. Remember David? King David. Way back.

In 2 Samuel chapter 11. It says these words. In verse number one.

Then it happened in the spring. At the time when kings go out to battle. That David sent Joab and his servants with him.

And all Israel. And they destroyed the sons of Ammon. And besieged Rabbah.

But David stayed. At Jerusalem. Big problem.

Remember those budologies of scripture? They transition us. Into some of the greatest theological truths. But David.

He stayed home. Instead of being responsible. Doing the responsible thing.

Being dutiful. What did he do? Stayed home. Didn't fulfill his responsibility.

As king. When kings go out to war. But not David.

David stayed back. And David became idle. Idleness.

Always leads. To laziness. And laziness.

Always. Leads. To carelessness.

And carelessness. Always leads. To lustfulness.

And that's what happened with David. And that lustfulness for David. Would lead to.

His foolishness. Would lead to his stubbornness. Would lead to his fearlessness.

Would lead to his lawlessness. Would lead to his covetousness. Would lead to his shamelessness.

Would lead to his deceitfulness. Would lead to his brokenness. It was like a domino effect.

In his life. But it all happened. Because he didn't fulfill his responsibility.

He wasn't dutiful. Instead. He stayed home.

Became idle. Became lazy. And one thing led.

To another. We have a whole series on that. In our study of the life of David.

But listen. If you're dutiful. You won't be fearful.

You won't be anxious ridden. You'll abolish anxiety. Because your mind is active.

Doing the things that God wants you to do. Disciplining yourself. Undergodliness.

Cultivating the inner man. Being responsible. With the responsibilities that you have.

Every single day. That's the way. We need to be.

So. What is our responsibility? What is our full responsibility? Not all your responsibility. But what is your full responsibility? Be watchful.

Be prayerful. Make sure you are thankful. Mindful.

Helpful. Merciful. On top of that.

Dutiful. Number eight. Make sure.

You are truthful. You are truthful. A lot of us would say that.

We are truthful people. But are we really? What does a truthful person. Look like? A truthful person.

Always trembles. At the truth. Isaiah 66 verse number two.

To this man will I look. To him as broken and of a contrite heart. Who trembles at my word.

A truthful person. Will always tremble. At the truth.

A truthful person will always. Taste the truth. Psalm 34.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. First Peter chapter two. As newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word.

That you may grow thereby. Since you have tasted. Of the kindness of God.

Truthful people. Tremble at the truth. Taste the truth.

They treasure. The truth. Psalm 19 11.

Thy word I have treasured in my heart. That I might not sin against thee. They don't only treasure the truth.

They tend to the truth. They protect the truth. They guard the truth.

As Jude says in verse number three. Contend earnestly for the faith. That was once for all delivered to the saints.

As Paul would say in first Timothy 6 20. Oh Timothy guard the truth. If you treasure the truth.

You're going to protect it. You're going to tend to the truth. That's what a truthful person does.

You also teach the truth. Matthew 5 19. Tells us.

That the greatest person in the kingdom. Heeds the word of God. And teaches.

The word of God. The greatest person in the kingdom. Keeps what God's word says.

And teaches others. What God's word says. That is.

It doesn't mean you stand up and teach a whole bunch of people. But you're investing God's word into somebody else. We have to go into all the world.

We're to make disciples, right? And we're to teach those disciples. To observe all that God has commanded. There's a teaching responsibility.

That every one of us has. A truthful person. Teaches the truth.

They also. Translate the truth. First Timothy 4. Verse number 12.

Paul told Timothy that he was to be an example. In his speech. In his conduct.

In his love. His faith. His purity.

He's to live out the truth. He's to translate that truth. So all can see it in action.

They tell the truth. Ephesians 4. Speaking the truth in love. Paul said over in first Timothy 2. Verse number 7. I do not lie.

I tell the truth. Next, you trust the truth. Psalm 19.

Talks about the commandment of the Lord. The precepts of the Lord. The commandment of the Lord.

All that it does. You trust everything that it says. You trust the truth.

You test the truth. You test every spirit. You like the Bereans.

You examine the truth. You test the truth. You tamper not with the truth.

If you're a truthful person. You don't try to alter the truth. You don't try to rearrange the truth.

You speak what God says. And lastly, you transfer the truth. You're going to transfer it from one generation.

To the next generation. Second Timothy chapter 2. Verses 1 and 2. Paul tells Timothy. That he is to teach the faithful men.

The things that he's seen. And heard and learned. That they in turn will teach others also.

Are you a truthful person? That's your responsibility. That's your full responsibility. To be truthful.

To be dutiful. To be merciful. To be helpful.

That's our responsibility. And as we actively engage. In fulfilling our responsibility.

All of a sudden. All the anxiety in our hearts and minds. Begins to fade away.

And we're able to rise to the occasion. And be what God wants us to be. On top of that.

Number 9. We are to be faithful. Faithful people. Bible says.

In 1 Corinthians 4. Verse number 2. It's required of a steward. That he be found faithful. He be found faithful.

Proverbs 20 verse number 7. Who can find a faithful man? Who can find a trustworthy man? Are you dependable? Are you faithful? The Bible says over in Proverbs 28 20. Faithful. The faithful man abounds.

With blessing. Are you dependable in a crisis? Are you faithful? Number 1. To God. Are you faithful to your Lord? That you seek to honor Him.

And Him only. Are you faithful to grow. In your walk with God? To grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Our Lord. Are you faithful to give of your time. Your talents and treasures.

Are you faithful. To go with the gospel. Are you faithful.

To guard your heart. And mind from the enemy. Are you faithful.

To guide. Your family. That's.

Your responsibility. That's what we're to remember. To be faithful.

To be truthful. To be dutiful. To be merciful and helpful.

Mindful. Thankful. Prayerful.

Watchful. On top of that. We're to be peaceful.

We're to be peaceful. Christ says in John 14. Verse number 27.

My peace. I give unto you. Not as the world gives but my peace.

So we actually have God's peace. The kingdom of God. Is not eating and drinking.

Romans 14. But it's righteousness. Peace and joy.

In the Holy Spirit. People who are right with God. Are at peace with God.

The Bible says. In Romans 15. May the God of hope.

Fill you with all joy. And with all peace. In 2nd Thessalonians 3. Paul says.

Now may the Lord of peace himself. Continually grant you. Peace in every.

Circumstance. Wow. How does God grant us.

Peace in every circumstance. Psalm 119. Verse 165.

Great peace. Have those. Who love thy law.

And nothing causes them to stumble. Great peace. Not just any kind of peace.

But great peace. If you love the law of God. You have great peace.

If you have peace in your heart. If you don't love the law of God. You're not at peace.

Some would say. But I do love the law of God. Well.

According to Psalm 119. If you love the law of God. You have great peace.

In fact the Bible says. In Luke 2. Verse 14. Glory to God in the highest.

And peace. On earth. It says.

Peace. Among men. With whom.

He is pleased. In other words. Peace only comes.

To those. With whom God is pleased. And.

With whom is God pleased. Answer. Psalm 147.

147 verse number 11. That God. Only.

Is pleased. With those who fear him. So in other words.

Only those who fear him have peace. Those who don't fear him. Don't have peace.

Those who fear him. Have peace. Because they fear nothing else.

We are to live. Peaceful lives. On top of that.

We are to live joyful lives. That's number 10. Or number 11 I guess it is.

Joyful lives. Oh I love this. Psalm 9419.

When my anxious thoughts. Overwhelm me. Thy consolations delight my soul.

When your anxious thoughts begin to overwhelm you. You need to go to the word of God. Because God's word.

Delights the soul. We are to rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice.

Paul says. The Bible says in Nehemiah 18. The joy of the Lord is your strength.

And we are to be joyful. Kind of people. Our savior who promised joy.

Gave us salvation. That provides joy. Along with the spirit.

That pledges joy. And he gave us. The scriptures.

That always promote. Joy. We are to be a joyful kind of people.

During a time. When everyone around us. Is not experiencing joy.

We need to be able to exude joy. Because we know. Our God.

Who brought us good news. That produces. Great.

Joy. And number 12. This is the last one.

I got through it. Took me a little extra time today. But I got through it.

Be fruitful. Be fruitful. John 15.

And this is my father glorified. That you bear much fruit. Galatians 5. 22 and 23.

Talk about the fruit of the spirit. Being love and joy and peace. And gentleness and self-control.

And faithfulness. Those things, those virtues. That we need to exude every single day.

By showing the fruit of the spirit. We need to be fruitful kind of people. Bearing fruit every single day.

Matthew 13. The parable of the sower and the soil. There's only one soil that brings forth fruit.

Because there's only one soil that's saved. And when they bring forth fruit. They bring it forth some 30 fold.

Some 60 fold. Some 100 fold. Because when the spirit of God is in you.

He wants to reproduce himself. Through you. By manifesting.

The fruit of the spirit. That is your full responsibility. Like I said.

It's not all your responsibility. But it is your full responsibility. And so if you go through those.

And you understand that you're watchful. And you're prayerful. You're thankful.

You're mindful. You're helpful and merciful and dutiful. And you are truthful.

And you're the kind of person. That is faithful and peaceful. And joyful and fruitful.

Guess what? You'll be beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. You will be the kind of fruit.

That everybody wants to taste. Because God is working in and through you. As you minister to those.

Who so desperately need to see. Jesus Christ our Lord. May God give us the grace.

To remember our responsibility. As we rest in his sovereignty. Let me pray with you.

Father thank you for today. Thank you for another opportunity. To study your word.

Truly you are great. And we anticipate the day. That you are going to return.

Until that time. May we be responsible people. May we fulfill.

Our full responsibility. For the glory of your name. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen.