8/19/2023 0 Comments Luke 11 1 13 sermon writer![]() The phrase “left by ourselves” was used of a person who has died…it expresses a sense of desolation. This seems simple enough but the wording he uses indicates that this was a difficult and costly choice. *He sent Timothy to encourage them (right column) *He was worried about their faith (left column) Third, Paul was most certainly taking his concerns to God but he also made the legitimate proactive choices that he could make to deal with the cause of his anxiety. *More severe anxiety, which is a terrible thing to suffer from… will need more help certainly not less…it will need prayer, community, God’s word, and trusting God…plus all the other resources God puts at our disposal…medical help, counseling, etc. *Although, having said that…the same principles have application whether it is “normal” anxiety…or more severe in nature. *My assumption is that this is about the regular anxiety we all struggle with at various levels. *I doubt he is referring to the kind of anxiety that is a mental health/medical issue. Instead we are to take that anxiety, over and over to God…and learn to live in his peace. We are not to allow it dictate the course of our lives. Second, never “being anxious” is a noble goal, but it is probably not going to happen…we are, however, not to remain in our anxiety…we are not to passively let it control us Why would Paul consistently address this if it were not so common a struggle? Life can be scary…we can’t control all the outcomes…especially some that are most important to us…health, safety, well-being of our loved ones. We are often prone to become anxious, we are to tempted to become anxious at least…because there are many things in life to be anxious about. Is Paul inconsistent or do we misunderstand what it means to “trust God” with the things that we can become anxious about?įirst, when Paul said “Don’t be anxious” clearly he is speaking to a common struggle. ![]() He could no longer endure waiting to hear how they were doing. This phrase he uses means that his anxiety about them had become intolerable. Wrote here that “when he could stand it no longer” he sent Timothy to check on them. Paul, the guy who wrote “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything pray, and God’s peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. You know quite well that we were destined for them. ![]() 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.
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