The Enemy Of Your Success - Outline

Written by Harold Herring on .

Here is the teaching outline for SUNDAY NITE LIVE.  Join us at 6 PM (EST).

Here are seven keys to overcoming worry.

1.  Spend time with God on a regular basis.

Matthew 6:33 AMP

“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”

Matthew 6:6 NLT

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

2.  Believe that what God's Word says is true.

2 Timothy 2:15 AMP

“Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP

“All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 

3. Pray.

John 15:7 AMP

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.”

 

4. Practice the peace of God.

Philippians 4:6 AMP

“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.”

 

5.  Draw strength from others.

John 14:27 AMP

“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]”

Proverbs 11:14 AMP

“Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm], But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory.”

 

6.  What were you worrying about last year?

Mark Twain once said:

“I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”

 

7.  Plan to change. . .not worry.

Matthew 6:25-34 AMP

““That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today..”

God gives us permission to worry under four specific circumstances.

 

First, you can worry when it has permission to feed and clothe you.

Second, Jesus gives us permission worry when it will make us live longer and grow taller.

Third, you have the Lord’s permission to worry when you know how a pagan feels.

Fourth, we have God’s permission to worry when we want tomorrow to be worse than it’s already going to be.

Matthew 6:34 MSG

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Peter Marshall, the Scottish Pastor and Chaplain of the Senate, once said:

“God help us to do our very best this day and be content with today’s troubles, so that we shall not borrow the troubles of tomorrow.”

“Worry is hazardous to your health and will prove fatal to your health by its continued presence in your life.”

Fifteen things to do instead of worry.

  1.       Read your Bible.

  2.       Enter into His presence through prayer.

  3.       Read books that motivate you to trust Him more.

  4.       Listen to audio teachings that inspire you.

  5.       Get plenty of rest (relative to what your body requires).

  6.       Plan your day. . .and work your plan.

  7.       Avoid the tyranny of the urgent. . .like doing everything at the last minute when time is running out.

 8.         Allow extra travel time and pretend you’re on vacation and not in a hurry.  This will minimize your aggravation with other drivers who delay you.

  9.       Learn to say “no” to things that won’t help you achieve your goals and thus fulfill your destiny.

10.       Always carry a book with you to read while waiting in longer lines.  In short lines check your Facebook posts, or sports scores on my phone.

11.       Eliminate clutter . . . it’s amazing how rearranging your office or home library will stir something fresh in you.

12.       Purpose in your heart to spread God’s love wherever you go and to whomever you talk with every day.  You can say a kind word or make people smile . . .truthfully, I like doing both.

13.       Get your financial house in order.  Worrying will not put a penny back in your bank account, nor get your job back or pay the mortgage.  Begin taking the necessary steps to gain control of your financial destiny.

 

14.       If you’re having a bad day. . .look out the window. . .if you don’t see God’s throne, He’s still on it and everything is going to be okay.

15.      Create some “me” and “thee” time.  Create time where you can decompress.  I realized some of my Christian brothers and sisters may put a judge on me because of what I’m about say. . .but the truth is the truth.  I like movies and television shows where the good guys win and the bad guys lose.  For me, that’s a  mental distraction serving a purpose and not a waste of time.

 

“'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.”

Here are seven keys to overcoming worry.

1.  Spend time with God on a regular basis.

Matthew 6:33 AMP

“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”

Matthew 6:6 NLT

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

2.  Believe that what God's Word says is true.

2 Timothy 2:15 AMP

“Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP

“All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

3. Pray.

John 15:7 AMP

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.”

4. Practice the peace of God.

Philippians 4:6 AMP

“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.”

5.  Draw strength from others.

John 14:27 AMP

“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]”

Proverbs 11:14 AMP

“Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm], But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory.”

6.  What were you worrying about last year?

Mark Twain once said:

“I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”

7.  Plan to change. . .not worry.

Matthew 6:25-34 AMP

““That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today..”

God gives us permission to worry under four specific circumstances.

First, you can worry when it has permission to feed and clothe you.

Second, Jesus gives us permission worry when it will make us live longer and grow taller.

Third, you have the Lord’s permission to worry when you know how a pagan feels.

Fourth, we have God’s permission to worry when we want tomorrow to be worse than it’s already going to be.

Matthew 6:34 MSG

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Peter Marshall, the Scottish Pastor and Chaplain of the Senate, once said:

“God help us to do our very best this day and be content with today’s troubles, so that we shall not borrow the troubles of tomorrow.”

“Worry is hazardous to your health and will prove fatal to your health by its continued presence in your life.”

Fifteen things to do instead of worry.

  1.       Read your Bible.

  2.       Enter into His presence through prayer.

  3.       Read books that motivate you to trust Him more.

  4.       Listen to audio teachings that inspire you.

  5.       Get plenty of rest (relative to what your body requires).

  6.       Plan your day. . .and work your plan.

  7.       Avoid the tyranny of the urgent. . .like doing everything at the last minute when time is      running out.

8.         Allow extra travel time and pretend you’re on vacation and not in a hurry.  This will            minimize your aggravation with other drivers who delay you.

  9.       Learn to say “no” to things that won’t help you achieve your goals and thus fulfill your        destiny.

10.       Always carry a book with you to read while waiting in longer lines.  In short lines check your Facebook posts, or sports scores on my phone.

11.       Eliminate clutter . . . it’s amazing how rearranging your office or home library will stir         something fresh in you.

12.       Purpose in your heart to spread God’s love wherever you go and to whomever you           talk with every day.  You can say a kind word or make people smile . . .truthfully, I            like doing both.

13.       Get your financial house in order.  Worrying will not put a penny back in your bank            account, nor get your job back or pay the mortgage.  Begin taking the necessary steps        to gain control of your financial destiny.

14.       If you’re having a bad day. . .look out the window. . .if you don’t see God’s throne,             He’s still on it and everything is going to be okay.

15.       Create some “me” and “thee” time.  Create time where you can decompress.  I     realized some of my Christian brothers and sisters may put a judge on me           because of what I’m about say. . .but the truth is the truth.  I like movies and           television shows where the good guys win and the bad guys lose.  For me, that’s   a             mental distraction serving a purpose and not a waste of time.

“'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.”