Anxious for Nothing (2)

Philippians 4:5 NIV

5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

John 16:33 NIV

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

How to control our mind!

Last week we spoke on the power of Rejoicing at the sovereignty of God because it changes my perspective.

Let Your Gentleness Be Evident to All

Stress and anxiety are real problems in the world…

Unchecked anxiety can unleash angry outbursts, rash accusations, and fiery retaliations against those in your path who are unfortunate to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

How many times has someone yelled at you and the excuse was… “I’m so stressed out and I just took it out on you!”.

Yet the Word of God tells us that we should...

“Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5 NIV).

Philippians 4:5 KJV 1900

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

KJV = moderation = gentle, moderate, patient

The Greek word translated as gentleness describes a temperament that is seasoned and mature.

It envisions an attitude that is levelheaded and tempered.

The gentle reaction is one of steadiness, evenhandedness, and fairness.

Yet we live in this world that leaves us anxious and fearful…

John 16:33 (KJV 1900)

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

It is as inevitable… trouble will happen.

But God overcame it and you can too!

The problem: Society removed God from the equation in the past 50 years and so has no solution other than to medicate an individual.

God’s not real so he can’t help you… here’s a prescription.

BUT we know that God is real!

And that Jesus has promised to be with you in the midst of those troubles.

Matthew 28:19–20 (KJV 1900)

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus is with us!

In fact, throughout the Bible, God repeatedly pledged to be present with his people.

He was with Abram as he traveled to a new land.

He was with Isaac when he was forced to move from place to place.

He was with Joshua when he faced the Canaanites

He was with David when he faced the Philistines.

He was with Peter in prison

He was with Paul whenever and wherever he found himself in dire circumstances.

God was never watching from a distance.

In fact, his very name is Immanuel, which means “God with us.”

People live in anxiety because they don’t know him as Immanuel!

I don’t know what you are anxious about…

How you handle that fight will reveal where your trust ultimately lies.

When the world around you reacts in anger, fear, hate - there is a spirit of gentleness on you that balances the chaos!

This calm will allow you to see how God is working in your situation

and others will notice there is something different about you.

It will bring healing to anxiety, maturity to faith, and show others that God is always faithful.

Anxiety management is like pulling stumps out of the ground.

Some of your worries have deep root systems, and extracting them is hard work.

Be intentional in your thinking.

I will rejoice because God is sovereign...

I will respond in gentleness in every situation…

This is what a spirit of humility and meekness is… and God is the only source!

Galatians 5:22–23 (KJV 1900)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Stop and think about:

Who in your life is most impacted by the way you respond to stressful situations?

How would you define the word gentleness? Would you say your responses to others in stressful situations tend to be gentle? Why or why not?

How can knowing that God is always present in your circumstances help you to maintain a sense of contagious calm?