Mark 14

  • Today’s emotion...anxiety
  • I want you to know something about me, I know Jesus (amen) Love Jesus (amen) Follow Jesus (amen)… and also have felt overwhelming anxiety
  • Anyone else?
  • According to the National Center for Health
    • July 2019—8.2% of adults showed signs of anxiety disorder.
    • July 2020—36% of adults showed signs of anxiety disorder.
    • Hmmm….something happened in 2020
  • Anxiety...
    • How would you define this emotion?
    • “feeling of worry, nervousness, about real or perceived threats leading to avoidance of behaviors and often to physical symptoms (ex. increased heart rate, muscle tension, sweating)
    • Anxiety is...complicated
    • It can be Physiological, emotional, situational, spiritual, even medical
    • YES anxiety disorder is a medical condition that must be treated with MEDICINE and if you constantly struggle with anxiety (even while doing the things we talk about today) I would encourage you to seek medical help and counseling
    • I take medication and receive counseling for my anxiety disorder and still face anxiety, sometimes in ways that feel overwhelming…
    • It is important to note that anxiety IS NOT SIN...you have not failed God
    • However OUR ACTIONS that derive from our anxiety can be...Staying away from church (social) stepping into new thing (unknown) not using gifts God gave (being judged), not witnessing (ridicule/rejection) etc.
    • So...how?How do we feel anxiety and not sin?

Well...itmight be helpful to know. Someone else went through terribleoverwhelming anxiety...let’s read about it

Mark 14:32-3332They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to hisdisciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James andJohn along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed andtroubled.

“Heplunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony.” Mark 14:33 MSG

  • Jesus was….ANXIOUS
    • deeply distressed and troubled
    • dreadful agony.
    • Further proof that FEELING anxious is not sin...because we know Jesus was without sin and yet here in this passage...the author seems to be describing and ANXIETY ATTACK...that JESUS is experiencing
    • Remember that definition? feeling of worry, nervousness, about real or perceived threats
    • Jesus is facing a very REAL threat and is feeling worry, distressed, troubled, in agony over this

Therewere times early on in the Stay home order that I would become inphysical pain from my anxiety over the church. Would funds come in topay our mortgage, would people remain connected, would the technologywork. It would get hard to breathe and I would sometimes even findmyself crying from just this overwhelming feeling of anxiety overpotential issues that might or might not happen.

    • Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen…
    • He would be arrested, abandoned, tortured, falsely accuse and...Die
    • So anxiety...seems an appropriate emotion for Jesus to have in this moment doesn’t it?
  • God created ANXIETY in humans…Jesus being human felt it
    • Does this surprise you? It was kind of a light bulb moment for me
    • But anxiety is important...anxiety is a SIGNAL
    • It is important to have as it triggers our Flight, Fight or Freeze reflex
    • Decisions can be made quickly because of the anxiety bringing adrenaline into our system and giving us motivation to do what we need to do in that moment
    • The first SIN that happens in anxiety...is lack of doing anything…

Sothen...what do we do? (ask me) Well what did Jesus do?

Read Mark 14:34 “Mysoul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said tothem. “Stay here and keep watch.”

  • Jesus talked about what he was going through
    • Jesus did not put on a mask
    • Peter ask “hey how your doing Jesus” and Jesus goes “Oh I’m fine”
    • Jesus didn’t do this...he said…I am OVERWHELMED WITH SORROW...I feel like just this feeling might kill me
    • Yep...that’s an anxiety attack
    • In anxiety or panic attacks people often feel like they are going to DIE
    • And Jesus...talks about it with Peter James and John
    • Jesus has an inner three he goes to and is HONEST with them about what he is feeling
    • He says… “I NEED YOU”
  • Feeling anxious and don’t want to fall into sin because of it? TALK
    • One of the biggest reasons you might feeling anxious is because you are lacking community
    • People have studied and learned it is not good to be ALONE
    • The pandemic in 2020 proved this...suicide rates skyrocketed as people lacked community...they lacked connecting
    • God proclaimed after Adam was made...NOT GOOD TO BE ALONE
    • When you feel anxious...WHO DO YOU TELL?
    • If you tell no one and just hope it will go away...guess what? IT WON’T
    • You need to tell someone (I’m someone...maybe not your someone, fine)
    • Your partner, your friend, friend...someone
    • Speak honestly “I am overwhelmed, distressed, troubled, out of control, feel like this could kill me”
    • Like Jesus said to Peter James and John...say these words I NEED YOU (practice that with me)

Whooo...that’sjust step 1 Talk to Friends

Mark 14:35-36Goinga little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possiblethe hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said,“everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me.

  • Jesus talked to the Father

Whenthe check engine light comes on in your car, you don’t just put asticker over the light...you take it in to get checked out!

    • Anxiety is your signal to 1. Talk to friend, and 2. Pray to the father
    • Paul says “Be anxious about...NOTHING...by Praying in every situation”
    • Do not think...oh that’s just a little thing I shouldn’t even feel anxious about it, don’t need to bother God with it...STOP THAT
    • If it’s, dishes in the sink, bump in the dark – pray
    • If it’s the crashing economy or big life decision – pray
    • If it’s big enough to worry about...it’s big enough to pray about (repeat that)
    • And Jesus prays HONESTLY pouring out his heat to God the Father
    • When your feel anxious...1. talk to friends, 2. talk to God

Mark 14:36“Abba,Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cupfrom me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

  • Jesus told himself the TRUTH
    • Abba – loving and compassionate God
    • Jesus spoke these words reminding him of the love and compassion that was leading him to face what he was about to face
    • Everything is possible – Jesus spoke this reminding himself that God is mighty and powerful
    • What you will – Jesus speaks these words in surrender to God’s plan
  • When you feel anxious 1. Talk to friends, 2. Talk to God, Talk to YOUR ANXIETY
    • Weird thing about feelings...often do not live in reality
    • Ever worried about something that never actually happened?
    • Your feelings DO NOT CONTROL YOU (repeat)
    • Jesus did not “feel” like going to the cross...but he did
    • DO not let ANXIETY stop you from Doing God’s will
    • Tell your anxiety the truth!
      • God Loves you
      • God is mighty and powerful
      • God has a plan for your life

Conclusion

Jesusfelt anxious. Talked to Friends, God His Feelings AND IT WORKED...Hedid God’s Will

6Donot be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer andpetition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And thepeace of God (not your peace orthe worlds peace...GODS), which transcends allunderstanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Phil 4:6-7

Donot allow anxiety to control you and cause you to sin...TALK(friends, God, feelings) and step forward in the Will of God...