Dharius Daniels - I'm Putting Anxiousness Under Arrest - Part 1

It’s a series called «Arresting Anxiousness.» Wow! I want to read a few verses of Scripture found in the book of Philippians, chapter four, beginning at verse four. We’re going to read a few verses from the New International Version of the Scriptures. It says, «Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.» What happens when I do that? «And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.» Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. We’re going to use this for the topic of today’s teaching. It’s going to take me two weeks just to finish this text; I’m telling you that right now. So, part one this week, part two next week, and then we’ll go to another message after that. But I want to talk to you from this subject: «I’m Putting Anxiousness Under Arrest.» Love, clap your hands! 11:45, I’m putting anxiousness under arrest. I want to start this time of teaching with a question. It’s a question for your reflection. The question is simply this: What is the most common command that God gives to humans throughout Scripture? In other words, if you were to barricade yourself in a room with the Bible and examine all of the instruction that God offers from Genesis to Revelation, what would you see that God says more than anything else? If you are unfamiliar with the answer to this question, the answer is revealed in two very simple yet significant words. What God says more than anything else from Genesis to Revelation is simply this: «Fear not.» I love it! Some iteration or variation of this instruction and exhortation is found over 300 times in the Bible. Jesus, in some way, says this over 300 times. God says to His people, «Fear not! Don’t be afraid! Calm down! Hold your peace! Chill out! Breathe! Relax! Sit down! Drink some water!» In some way, over 300 times, God consistently communicates to His people to arrest their anxiousness. The fact that God says this so frequently and regularly isn’t just an indication or revelation about God. God doesn’t say this so often because He’s showing us something about Him; He says this frequently because He’s showing us something about us. He is only saying what needs to be said. He is revealing to us that there is an inclination, a leaning, an orientation of the soul toward worry and anxiousness. Ladies and gentlemen, anxiousness is often confused with anxiety. Although there may be some similarities, there is some distinction. I am not qualified or called to deal with anxiety. God’s grace and gifts anoint and train others to aid and assist us in that. However, the book speaks about anxiousness. Anxiety can be a mental health reality that results from various sources like brain chemistry, genetics, circumstances, life seasons, and hormones. Anxiousness, on the other hand, is an orientation of the soul toward fear. Anxiousness is a feeling of inner unrest and worry fueled by the fear of outcomes we may never experience. Jesus, did you hear what I just said? It is a feeling of inner unrest, which lets us know it is a weapon wielded by the enemy. I can say that with confidence because it erodes and undermines something that Jesus clearly claims He came to give. In Matthew, Jesus says to those who follow Him or who need to follow Him, «Come unto me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.» Then He says something else to clarify the kind of rest He’s talking about, because what He says is, «If you come to me, I’m not just going to give you rest for your body. That’s sleep. I’m going to give you rest for your soul.» Am I talking to anybody at 11:45 who knows there’s a difference between rest in your body and rest for your soul? Yeah. Because if your soul is restless, you can go to sleep and wake up tired. Come on! If your soul is restless—has anybody ever been there? —you can go on vacation and stay at the nicest resort by the prettiest water, but if your soul is not experiencing rest, you’ll take a vacation and need a vacation after you take your vacation. But Jesus said, «What I give you is rest for your soul.» He says, «If you want rest for your body, go to bed! But if you want rest for your soul, come to me. That turmoil inside of you? I’ll put it to rest. That angst inside of you? I’ll put it to rest. That despair inside of you? I’ll put it to rest.» But anxiousness is an attack against my rest. It is a feeling of inner unrest and worry fueled by the fear of outcomes we may never experience. Wow! I’m stressed about something that nine times out of ten doesn’t even happen. Who’s going to talk back to me today? Come on! I’m wasting good days anticipating a bad day that never becomes my today. I’m going to say that one more time.