Philippians 4:4-7

Be Anxious for nothing

George Muller said “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." (SC)

It’s no secret that we don’t know the future, and it can be so tempting to try to be in control. When we feel that life is out of control, it can leave us with much anxiety.

IN John 14:27 Jesus said,

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Tonight, I’d like to take a brief look at Philippians 4:4-7

Philippians 4:4–7 NLT

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Worry is a thief that wants to steal our joy.

Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere. – Erma Bombeck © Source: https://www.quotespedia.org/authors/e/erma-bombeck/worry-is-like-a-rocking-chair-it-gives-you-something-to-do-but-never-gets-you-anywhere-erma-bombeck/

My Mom

was a woman that I loved and respected. She was a woman of faith.

Dad and Mom were married for 1 day short of 45 years. They had a lot of hard knocks over the years: Frost, drought, freak losses of cattle, and the list is probably a lot longer.

Because of some of the hard times and loss with excessive interest rates, Mom wondered if she would have enough to live on in her retirement.

Dad was an optimist and didn’t let much bother him, but after Dad died, Mom would worry. She lived in a senior’s apartment building and she would complain that her fridge was always running. She was concerned that the power bill would be too big.

The devil isn’t a gentleman. He plays dirty. He looks for our weaknesses and he throws darts at us trying to get our minds to work overtime.

Ephesians 6:10–13 NIV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm.

We can worry because we don’t feel that we are in control. We can worry because we aren’t sure if God cares or if He’s even interested in our lives. Sometimes we worry and we don’t even know why we are worrying, but

1 Peter 5:7–9 NLT

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Philippians 4:6 NLT

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

When we worry, it’s like we are telling God that we can handle it ourselves and we aren’t ready for Him to take care of it.

Have you ever thought that God was too busy to bother. With 7.9 Billion people on earth, surely He’s too busy to be bothered by me.

Maybe we think it’s too small to ask God about. Maybe it’s just too big and we don’t think that God is able to handle it.

In the first book of the Bible, we have the story of an older couple that had never been able to have children.

Abraham was 99 and Sarah was 89. Abraham had had a son to a young woman named Hagar.

They lived a lot differently than we do now. It seemed ok to have more than one wife, but God had promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son and He asked the question, “Is anything to hard for the Lord?”

Nothing is too hard for God. You may be facing an impossible situation, it may seem insurmountable, but there is nothing too hard for the Lord.

Romans 4:18–25 NLT

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

In 2022, I find it hard to believe that anybody would want a child at 99 years old, but in Abraham’s day, it was important to have someone to carry on the family line.

Even though they lived longer, they were still really old. Abraham lived to be 175 and Sarah lived to be 127.

Why don’t people live as long today, I’m not sure but God knows how long each of us will live and that’s all that really matters.

What did Jesus say about worry?

Matthew 6:25–34 NLT

“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? 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? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “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, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 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? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

I Am Inwardly Fashioned For Faith, Not For Fear. ... Contributed by Donnie Martin on Oct 24, 2003 (message contributor) Dr. E Stanley Jones said this,

I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath—these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely—these are my native air.

A John Hopkins University doctor says, “We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact.”

But I, who am simple of mind, think I know. We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality.