Finding Peace and Freedom in Christ Amidst Anxiety

Devotional

Day 1: Freedom in Christ

Christ has set us free to live a life of freedom, not to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. This freedom allows us to live by the Spirit and produce the fruit of the Spirit. We must stand firm in this freedom and not return to old habits and mindsets. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5 that our freedom in Christ is not just a concept but a transformative reality. This freedom is not a license to indulge in sinful desires but an invitation to live a life led by the Spirit, characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

When we embrace this freedom, we break free from the chains of anxiety, fear, and other burdens that weigh us down. Instead, we are empowered to live a life that reflects the character of Christ. This freedom is a gift, but it also requires us to stand firm and resist the temptation to return to our old ways. By doing so, we honor the sacrifice of Jesus and live out the abundant life He has promised us. [44:33]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: What old habits or mindsets are you tempted to return to? How can you stand firm in the freedom Christ has given you today?

Day 2: Remaining in Christ

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit if it is disconnected from the vine, we cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit unless we remain in Jesus. This involves prioritizing our relationship with Him through prayer, scripture, and other spiritual disciplines. Jesus teaches us in John 15:4 that our ability to bear fruit is directly tied to our connection with Him. Without this connection, our efforts are in vain, and we cannot experience the fullness of life He offers.

Remaining in Christ means making Him the center of our lives. It means dedicating time to prayer, immersing ourselves in His Word, and engaging in practices that draw us closer to Him. This intentional focus on our relationship with Jesus allows us to grow spiritually and bear fruit that glorifies God. By staying connected to the vine, we are nourished and empowered to live out our faith in meaningful ways. [49:28]

John 15:4 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to prioritize your relationship with Jesus and remain in Him?

Day 3: Choosing What is Better

The story of Mary and Martha teaches us the importance of choosing intimacy with Jesus over the distractions of life. Martha's anxiety was rooted in misplaced priorities, but Jesus offered her a path to peace through connection with Him. In Luke 10, we see Martha busy with preparations while Mary sits at Jesus' feet, listening to His teaching. Jesus gently reminds Martha that Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.

This story challenges us to evaluate our own priorities. Are we so consumed with the busyness of life that we neglect our relationship with Jesus? Like Martha, we may find ourselves anxious and troubled by many things, but Jesus invites us to choose what is better—intimacy with Him. By focusing on our relationship with Jesus, we can experience His peace and presence, even in the midst of life's demands. [01:04:12]

Luke 10:41-42 (ESV): "But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'"

Reflection: What distractions in your life are keeping you from choosing intimacy with Jesus? How can you refocus your priorities today?

Day 4: Peace Amidst Trials

Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Jesus in our lives. Through personal trials, we can experience profound peace by choosing to remain in Christ and trusting in His promises. The peace that Jesus offers transcends our circumstances and guards our hearts and minds. This peace is a byproduct of our relationship with Him, not our external situations.

In times of trial, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and anxious. However, by remaining in Christ and leaning on His promises, we can find a peace that surpasses all understanding. This peace is not dependent on the resolution of our problems but on the assurance of Jesus' presence with us. By trusting in Him, we can navigate life's challenges with a sense of calm and confidence, knowing that He is in control. [01:20:49]

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Reflection: What trials are you currently facing? How can you choose to remain in Christ and trust in His promises to experience His peace?

Day 5: Practical Steps to Remain

To remain in Christ, we must engage in spiritual disciplines that nurture our relationship with Him. This includes prayer, scripture study, and other practices that keep us connected to Jesus. By doing so, we can bear the fruit of the Spirit, including peace that surpasses all understanding. These spiritual disciplines are not just religious activities but vital practices that deepen our intimacy with God.

Engaging in these disciplines requires intentionality and commitment. It means setting aside time each day to connect with God, whether through prayer, reading the Bible, or other spiritual practices. As we cultivate these habits, we create space for God to work in our lives and transform us from the inside out. By remaining in Christ, we position ourselves to receive His peace and bear fruit that reflects His character. [01:24:42]

Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Reflection: What spiritual disciplines can you incorporate into your daily routine to remain in Christ? How can these practices help you experience His peace and bear fruit in your life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, church. Today, we began by lifting up our sister Courtney in prayer, asking for God's healing and peace in her stressful situation. This led us into a discussion on anxiety, a pervasive issue in our culture today. We acknowledged that anxiety can be overwhelming, but there is a remedy: Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul teaches us in Galatians 5 that Christ has set us free to live a life of freedom, not to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. This freedom allows us to live by the Spirit, producing the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

We explored the importance of remaining in Christ, as Jesus instructs in John 15:4. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit if it is disconnected from the vine, we cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit unless we remain in Jesus. This involves prioritizing our relationship with Him through prayer, scripture, and other spiritual disciplines.

We also looked at the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10, where Jesus highlights the importance of choosing what is better—intimacy with Him over the distractions of life. Martha's anxiety was rooted in misplaced priorities, but Jesus offered her a path to peace through connection with Him. This peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Jesus in our lives.

I shared a personal testimony about my wife Lana's health struggles, including a cancer diagnosis and other medical issues. Through it all, we chose to remain in Christ, and we experienced His peace and presence in profound ways. This journey reinforced the truth that peace is a byproduct of our relationship with Jesus, not our circumstances.

Finally, we were reminded of the promise in Philippians 4:6-7, that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We are called to remain in Him, to think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, and to trust that the God of peace will be with us.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Freedom in Christ: Christ has set us free to live a life of freedom, not to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. This freedom allows us to live by the Spirit and produce the fruit of the Spirit. We must stand firm in this freedom and not return to old habits and mindsets. [44:33]
2. Remaining in Christ: Just as a branch cannot bear fruit if it is disconnected from the vine, we cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit unless we remain in Jesus. This involves prioritizing our relationship with Him through prayer, scripture, and other spiritual disciplines. [49:28]
3. Choosing What is Better: The story of Mary and Martha teaches us the importance of choosing intimacy with Jesus over the distractions of life. Martha's anxiety was rooted in misplaced priorities, but Jesus offered her a path to peace through connection with Him. [64:12]
4. Peace Amidst Trials: Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Jesus in our lives. Through personal trials, we can experience profound peace by choosing to remain in Christ and trusting in His promises. [80:49]
5. Practical Steps to Remain: To remain in Christ, we must engage in spiritual disciplines that nurture our relationship with Him. This includes prayer, scripture study, and other practices that keep us connected to Jesus. By doing so, we can bear the fruit of the Spirit, including peace that surpasses all understanding. [01:24:42]
### [84:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[40:47] - Introduction to Anxiety
[42:38] - Freedom in Christ
[44:33] - Stand Firm in Freedom
[46:12] - Living by the Spirit
[47:25] - Fruit of the Spirit
[48:22] - Remaining in Christ
[49:28] - Connection to the Vine
[50:38] - Practical Steps to Remain
[51:27] - Importance of Spiritual Disciplines
[52:13] - Personal Testimony
[54:36] - Peace Amidst Trials
[56:29] - Peace as a Byproduct of Identity in Christ
[57:30] - Redefining Peace
[58:28] - Jesus' Presence in Our Trials
[62:29] - Mary and Martha: Choosing What is Better
[64:12] - Breaking the Hold of Anxiety
[66:22] - Promises of Jesus
[67:11] - Deep Relationship with Jesus
[69:38] - Visual Representation of Remaining
[70:42] - Overcoming Despair
[71:43] - Personal Testimony Continued
[80:49] - No Fear in Trials
[82:19] - Ongoing Process of Remaining
[83:03] - Encouraging Scriptures
[84:42] - Intimacy with God
[85:39] - Peace in Jesus
[86:21] - Called to Be Free
[87:06] - Closing Prayer
[93:59] - Final Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Galatians 5:1 say about the freedom we have in Christ? How does Paul describe the yoke of slavery? [42:38]
According to John 15:4, what is necessary for a branch to bear fruit? How does this relate to our relationship with Jesus? [49:28]
In Philippians 4:6-7, what are we instructed to do instead of being anxious? What is the promised result of following this instruction? [01:33:59]
How did Jesus respond to Martha's anxiety in Luke 10:38-42, and what did He say Mary had chosen? [01:03:22]

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to "stand firm" in the freedom that Christ has given us, and why is it important not to return to old habits and mindsets? [44:33]
How can remaining in Christ, as described in John 15:4, practically impact our daily lives and our ability to produce the fruit of the Spirit? [50:38]
How does the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard our hearts and minds according to Philippians 4:6-7? What does this look like in real-life situations? [01:33:59]
In the story of Mary and Martha, what does Jesus' response to Martha teach us about priorities and dealing with anxiety? [01:04:12]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt burdened by old habits or mindsets. How can you stand firm in the freedom Christ has given you to avoid returning to those patterns? [44:33]
What specific spiritual disciplines (e.g., prayer, scripture study, worship) help you remain in Christ? How can you prioritize these practices in your daily routine? [50:38]
Think about a current situation causing you anxiety. How can you apply Philippians 4:6-7 to this situation, and what steps will you take to present your requests to God with thanksgiving? [01:33:59]
Identify a distraction in your life that pulls you away from intimacy with Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to choose "what is better," as Mary did? [01:04:12]
How can you cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, particularly peace, in your life amidst trials and challenges? Share a specific example of how you might do this. [01:20:49]
Reflect on the personal testimony shared in the sermon about facing trials with peace. How can you draw strength from this example in your own life? [01:11:43]
What are some ways you can remind yourself of God's promises, such as those in Philippians 4:6-7 and John 15:4, when you face anxiety or fear? [01:33:59]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "There is a remedy to these all-consuming thoughts and emotions. There is. And his name is Jesus. And now before you dismiss me, before you dismiss this as a typical Christian response lacking any substance, I'm just going to ask you to hang in there with me and let me at least do my best to explain myself." [42:38] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Remain in me as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. Now I don't know if anybody's a gardener here, but if you have an apple tree in your backyard and you rip a branch off that apple tree and throw it on the ground, it's not going to bear fruit." [49:28] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If you are not as close to God as you used to be, who moved? Who moved? The answer to that question is in this text. We're instructed to remain. Why? Why is it? Why is it so important to remain? Because we can choose to not remain. We can choose." [50:38] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Peace is not about the absence of unwanted circumstances. It's the presence of Jesus. Through all of that, Lana and I walked, through all that we walked through over the last two years, I have claimed John 16, 33. And you've heard me refer to this verse time and time again, but at least now you know why. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace." [01:25:39] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you're a follower of Jesus, then draw near to him and you will discover a peace that surpasses all understanding. And if you're not a follower of Jesus, then today's the day to make him your Lord and your Savior. I'm going to hang around down here this morning when we're done. If you want to talk further about anything I said this morning, I'll be here for that." [01:27:06] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "We were set free to remain free. We're told to stand firm. Firm in that position and to be yoked or tied to the Spirit of God. That's in the background of Paul's introduction. And so the crux of the matter, if you remember nothing else from this morning's message, is John 15, 4. Remain in me. This is Jesus speaking now. Remain in me as I also remain in you." [48:22] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "When Paul says that peace ought to be evident in the life of the believer, what's he getting at? What exactly is that? What does that look like? We have to be careful with this word. It's often understood to mean that, you know, it's something that we have in the absence of something undesirable. Right? Peace is only possible when everything's going really well in my life. When I'm not dealing with any challenges or difficulties or obstacles." [57:30] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Mary has chosen what is better. Mary chose Jesus. It begs the question, what exactly did she choose to do? Was she just being lazy? Well, no. No, Mary understood who was in the home and she chose intimacy with Christ. She chose to set aside the secondary things of the moment and to focus her attention on Jesus. And we can learn from that." [01:04:51] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "If you remain, and you have to be intentional about remaining. Remember, we have a choice to remain or disconnect. If you remain, if you look for Jesus in the middle of your circumstances, and I don't care what the circumstance is, you're going to find him. You're going to find him. And God just kept showing up time and time. And this is a story of God's grace, the love of our church, friends and family." [01:19:17] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "When we connect through prayer, scripture study, solitude, teaching, we'll find our minds full of right thought, and peace will come as a result. We remain in Jesus through those disciplines. They're important. So like I said earlier, find out how you're wired, and remain. Use how God has designed you to remain in Christ. And when we remain connected to the vine, connected to Jesus, we have the ability to bear fruit. Even peace, where peace doesn't make sense." [01:24:42] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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