Pastor Mac Hammond | September 5, 2021

Recap:
Read through the parable of the sower and you’ll see three different categories of worldly ideas that will choke out the Word of God: cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things. This week, Pastor Mac focused in on how the cares of this world will choke your faith. That includes both the distractions of this world as well as fear-based anxiety and worry that will keep you focused on what is wrong rather than on God and His Word. We counteract these weed seeds by seeking first the kingdom of God and trusting God to take care of everything else.

Dive Deeper:
Many people have become casual about worry. They worry about this; they are anxious about that. Worry is just a regular part of their day. However, worry doesn’t have to be front and center in your life, for worry is based in fear and a root cause of stress.

God wants us to become more dependent on Him than our worry.

When we worry, it chokes out our faith. When we are distracted by the world, it chokes out our faith. Thankfully, God has a three-fold cord that cannot be broken that will help us overcome worry and fear. Those three things are the power of the Holy Spirit, the love of God, and a sound mind.

When fear overwhelms you, pray in tongues. Put others first. Prioritize thoughts that are based on the Word. These three choices will push fear far from you. They are, you could say, the antidote to fear.

Remember, the thoughts running through your head don’t have to stay there. When negative thoughts or fear-based concern come into your mind, you can run them out by choosing thoughts that are based on God’s Word. How do you take those thoughts? You use your words. As you do these things, you cast your care upon the Lord. When you cast your cares on the Lord, you are choosing to humble yourself before the Lord and trust Him. This mindset is one that will keep weed seeds away from your heart.

Read More:
Mark 4:18-19 KJV
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:18-19 Amp.
And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures], and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Matthew 6:31-34 Amp.
Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 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. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

James 1:2-4 KJV
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Discussion Questions:
1. Has anxiety ever overwhelmed you? What daily practices have you found that help you get rid of anxiety and worry?
2. How can you cast down negative thoughts and instead choose thoughts that point you to God?
3. What can you do today to seek first God’s kingdom?
4. What does humility look like to you?

Rewatch or catch up on the full sermon with the link below!

Watch Now
Share
Share
Share

Recent Sermon Notes

The Impossible Dream: Strongholds, #3 | Mac Hammond

Mar 2, 2025

Pastor Mac presented the third installment of his new series entitled, “The Impossible Dream.” He said it was important that we have a clear understanding of what is the impossible dream. It’s not enough simply to dream. You need to go out on a limb and dream an impossible dream. What is an “impossible” dream? It’s a dream that can’t be fulfilled without God’s ability and power! Pastor Mac said, “God has called us to be dreamers.”

GRACE UNVEILED: “Death, Raised, Bound, Loosed,” #28 | Jim Hammond

Feb 23, 2025

Pastor Jim continued with his series on the book of Romans entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” His focus was the passage in Romans 7:13–14: “Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.” Pastor Jim taught on the Apostle Paul’s own personal struggle with trying to live his Christianity with an Old Covenant mindset… how it was impossible to do and something that would only bring about failure. In spite of Paul’s warning, many Christians try to live their Christian lives with an Old Covenant mindset.

GRACE UNVEILED | Don’t Blame the Mirror for What You Look Like #27 | Jim Hammond

Feb 16, 2025

Pastor Jim gave the 27th installment of his series on the book of Romans called, “Grace Unveiled.” We’re in the seventh chapter, nicknamed by scholars as “Law School.” Romans chapter six tells us that sin has no more dominion over you. The reason is because you’re not under the law; instead, you’re under grace. Yet, many believers are living as though they are under Old Covenant law. How does that happen? Their mentality is Old Covenant, not New Covenant. Pastor Jim explains how that happens. 

GRACE UNVEILED: “School of Law” #26 | Jim Hammond

Feb 9, 2025

Pastor Jim gave the next installment to his teaching series on the book of Romans: “Grace Unveiled.” In this 26th message, he taught on Romans chapter 7, which he subtitled, “School of Law.” In this chapter, the Apostle Paul used an allegory of the marriage relationship to compare the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. Even though Christians are under the New Covenant, they very often slip into the mindset of someone that lived under the Old Covenant.  

Between the Calling and the Separation | Pastor Marie Helene Moulin

Feb 4, 2025

Our very special guest minister came all the way from Nice, France to deliver a special word from the Lord to us. When Pastor Marie-Hélène Moulin was praying about the message the Lord wanted her to share with our congregation, His words were simply to tell us, “The Lord is recruiting!” In preparation for the work of end time harvest, the Lord has begun to call believers into full-time ministry. She explained that not every believer is called to full-time ministry. However, every believer is called to the ministry of reconciliation—sharing Jesus with the lost.