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Jesus continues about having a healthy mind…      (Pg.1)

In His ‘Sermon on the Mount’, Jesus teaches about how to acquire healthy thinking…

Referring back to what Jesus said in: Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Q1. First I want to ask… How can misplaced ‘treasures’ affect our mental health?

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Q2. So, to gain ‘peace of mind’, what do you think our heart’s desires should be in this life?

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— Today we move on to learn from Christ’s further commands about mental well being…

Jesus speaks to the crowd about serious life anxieties in Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV) “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (26) Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (27) And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (28) And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, (29) yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (31) Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (32) For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  

— (33-34) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (34) “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Q3. What thoughts do verses (25-32) bring into your mind about our needs, and our supply?

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Q4. What actions does Jesus call for in dealing with life’s anxiety in verses (33-34)?

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Over page we look at how God helps us defeat anxiety…

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Jesus continues about having a healthy mind…         (Pg.2)

Jesus’ command to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” leads us to…

(a) 2nd Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1/ Do you know who wants you to live in a spirit of fear? ______________________________

2/ Whose power do we need to overcome a spirit of fear? _____________________________

3/ How can God’s spirit of love give us a sound mind? _________________________________

(b) Romans 10:17 So then, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

Since the ‘faith’ mentioned here is about faith in God, how does hearing about the word of God help deliver from our fears and worries? ________________________________________

(c) Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (14) Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (16) In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; (17) and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (18) praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…

How can the belt of truth defeat fear? _____________________________________________

How can the breastplate of righteousness defeat fear? ________________________________

How can the gospel of peace defeat fear? ___________________________________________

How can the shield of faith defeat fear? ____________________________________________

How can the helmet of salvation defeat fear? ________________________________________

How can the word of God defeat fear? _____________________________________________

And how can praying at all times in the Spirit, help to defeat fear, worry, and anxiety? _____________________________________________________________________________

One final question to discuss: Is the ‘whole armor’ needed, and if so, Why?
— We keep all this in mind as we turn to a time of prayer… (KRK)