Summary: Full text, transparency, and student notes, all in one. This sermon is about letting go of trying to be good and allowing God to take control.

Total Trust

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Ill. Keith swimming…enjoying every moment, not aware of any danger, not a hint of fear.

I. Finding God

I John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Remember what it was like when you were first saved?

Remember the freedom? It all started when you realized that you could do nothing to overcome the sin in your life. You recognized that you had to put your faith your trust in Gods grace. And when you did, do you remember the closeness that you experience, the intamacy with the creator of the universe that you experienced? WOW!

II. Forgetting Freedom

II Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Then we came across scriptures, that should have been even more freeing, yet for some reason we took them on ourselves. "I can’t do this, I can’t do that, I have to be a better spouse, I need to do better at my job." A long list of do’s and don’ts seemed to come between you and God. We feel like "If only I could stop thinking these things, IF only I could overcome. Then I would be close to God again." Closeness to God seems so far away.

III. Forming an Opinion

a. The way it is supposed to be

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

We read in the Bible how things are supposed to be. But it doesn’t jive with our life. Why?

b. The way it is

Then we form an opinion. "I must be the worst Christian in the world!" We walk into church thinking, "If they knew the attitudes I have had, if they knew even a few of the sins I am struggling with, if they were aware of the thoughts that have passed through my mind they would set me on fire and kick me out of this church forever."

This results in anxiety.

Q. What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?

A. A nervous wreck.

Trying sooooo hard to get it right. I aM not going to do such and such, I AM going to do..

Hiding, faking a smile, hoping God doesn’t see that I didn’t get it right again!

An average person’s anxiety is focused on :

40% -- things that will never happen

30% -- things about the past that can’t be changed

12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue

10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress

8% -- about real problems that will be faced

Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all others thoughts are drained.

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.

IV. Finding Trust

How do I fix it?

TRUST

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I’ll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can’t see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that’s all that matters."

I Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Total Trust

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

I. Finding God

I John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

II. Forgetting Freedom

II Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

III. Forming an Opinion

a. The way it is supposed to be

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

b. The way it is

An average person’s anxiety is focused on :

40% -- things that will never happen

30% -- things about the past that can’t be changed

12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue

10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress

8% -- about real problems that will be faced

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.

IV. Finding Trust

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

I Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Total Trust

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

I. Finding ______________________

I John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

II. Forgetting ____________________

II Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

III. Forming an ___________________

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all others thoughts are drained.

IV. Finding ______________________

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

I Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.