Lesson for April 17, 2024
Mental Attitude Sins
Worry
Matthew 6:25-27, 33, “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they?And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.”
Worry causes all kinds of problems: spiritual, emotional, and physical. Worry keeps believers from experiencing all that God has designed for them to enjoy. God did not place us on this earth to be miserable and worry about every detail of life. The Word of God in John 10:10 says that God has given us life and given it more abundantly. God wants us to be free of worry and anxiety by having a relaxed mental attitude.
A relaxed mental attitude is possible only when we are fulfilling God’s plan for our lives under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. This means staying it fellowship with God a maximum amount of time. It also means using the Faith-Rest Technique on a consistent basis. When we realize who we are and what we have as a result of our relationship with Jesus Christ, it should cause us to relax and stop worrying about things over which we have no control, about what others think of us, and about the future. God’s Word commands us to stop worrying and start trusting (that’s faith).
Philippians 4:6-9, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Worry is a result of fear. Everyone is susceptible to fear, even spiritually mature believers. Fear is a mental sin that shuts down thinking and makes application of Bible doctrine impossible. When fear catches us off guard, it is important to know the correct recovery procedure to avoid worry. This procedure is the Faith-Rest Technique. Since fear and worry are sins, the first step to recovery is the Rebound Technique based on I John 1:9. By naming our sin, we are forgiven, in fellowship with God, which results in the filling of the Holy Spirit. Only then are we able to use the Faith-Rest Technique.
By now, we should all have a clear understanding of the Faith-Rest Technique. Romans 8:28-32 accurately illustrates this technique, 28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
We can easily follow the progression from claiming a promise, to application, to reaching a conclusion. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (a predetermined plan).” This is the Biblical promise to those that are maturing in their faith (living God’s plan for their life). When a believer claims this promise, it can reduce a very complicated situation into a very simple one.
When we claim the promise that God is working all things together for our good, fear and worry are brought under control because we are now thinking, not emoting. Once thinking is resumed, we can move on to step two, application. A doctrinal rationale can be any doctrinal truth that you have learned and stored in your memory.
In our passage, the doctrinal rationale is a series of five related doctrines:
- Foreknowledge – God’s awareness of all the assets that He prepared for believers in eternity-past. This assures us that God was thinking about each of us in eternity past.
- Predestination – God predesigned a plan for us in eternity-past. That plan calls for us to be set apart unto God’s service in time and eternity.
- Election – God chose each Church Age believer to be spiritual royalty. Since Jesus Christ was elected, we share in His election since we are in union with Him.
- Justification – God declares believers to be righteous. God actually credits His righteousness to each believer, setting up the potential for divine blessing in time and eternity.
- Glorification – God gives believers glorified bodies and eternal rewards based on the fulfilling of His plan.
These five doctrines in Romans 8:29-30 outline God’s plan for every believer. By recalling these doctrines, a believer can remember their place in God’s overall plan, which is another step in driving out fear and worry.
Finally, in Romans 8:31-32, a believer is able to reach a doctrinal conclusion, 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
Reaching the doctrinal conclusion “that God is for us,” allows us to retake control of our situation and restores confidence in God, and in our ability to make good decisions. If the problem is too overwhelming or beyond our ability to solve, we are still able to cope by placing ourselves in “the mighty hand of God” and trusting Him for the solution. (Exodus 14:13) Using this technique restores the most important ability God has given us: thinking. This technique does not need to be a mechanical, “step one, two, three,” but can be if the situation demands it.