Sermon Notes

Breathe
Week 2
Breaking Free from Anxiety

Introduction:

• Focus on where your peace and purpose come from, not just on stewardship and hard work.
• Key Scriptures: 

Psalms 131 — time to grow up to go up.
Matthew 6:25-34
Main Theme:

• God’s presence and peace are our responses to anxiety.
• Anxiety is often rooted in our focus—past, present, future.

Study on Worries (2011):

• Past (40-60%): Unchangeable, events already occurred.

What can you do about the past? Forgive yourself, forgive others, entrust it to Jesus, and acknowledge that you cannot change it. 

• Present (25-35%): Some controllable (reactions, decisions), some not.

What to do? Obey God, worship, pray, give thanks, do your part.
What not to do? Trying to change others or control everything.

• Future (10-20%):

In your power: Sow good seed.
Not in your power: Worry about what you cannot change.
Encouragements:

• Isaiah 43:1-2 — Trust God through waters, fire; He is with us.
• Colossians 3:1-3 — Set your mind on things above, where Christ is.

Thoughts & Mindset:

• Direction of your thoughts influences your perspective.
• “Where you think from will determine what you think of.” - Are you thinking from the valley or the throne?
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 — Take captive your thoughts, make them obedient to Christ.
• Isaiah 26:3 — Steadfast trust brings peace.

Strategies Against the Enemy:

• The devil aims to shift our focus from Christ’s love.
• Romans 8:35-39 — Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
• Philippians 4:4-9:

Rejoice always.
Present requests with thanksgiving.
Focus on positive, noble, lovely thoughts.
God’s peace will guard your heart and mind.
Perspective & Focus:

• The bigger Jesus gets in your vision, the smaller problems look. 
• Perspective is about where you are standing in relation to the object of your focus.
• “God is bigger than your need, bigger than your enemy, and bigger than you.”

Psalm 1 & Maturity:

• Deliberate about who influences you.
• Roots in God represent maturity and stability.
• The importance of being planted, trusting, standing tall in faith.

Application:

• We need trees planted at Calvary for Orlando—symbolizing stability and trust.
• We need to move from the anxious to the faithful.
• Be a filter—positively influence your environment.

Altar Call:
1. For salvation.
2. Help me see Jesus more. Be bigger in my eyes, Lord Jesus.