******Philippians 4:5–7 worry

Philippians 4:5–7 (NRSV)

5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In 1988 Bobby McFerrin had a hit song entitled, “Don’t worry! Be happy! This song was an instant hit and a big success because people deal with worry and don’t want to be overcome by worry. People want to overcome worry! Worry is a problem that every individual faces at times and we need to know what God’s word says about overcoming worry. If we are going to overcome worry we will not do it our way, but His way!

Statisticians at the University of Wisconsin have studied the things human beings worry about. They found that the average individual’s worries can be divided into four headings:

• First, there are the things that never happened, which constitute 40% of the worries.

• Second, there are things over and past that couldn’t be changed by all the worry in the world, and they are another 30% of the total.

• Third, there are petty worries and needless worries, which are 22%.

• Fourth, there are legitimate worries, and these are only 8% of the whole.

FACT: Worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s trouble. We all at times have struggled with worry!

• We worry about family, friendships, finances, the future and failures.

• We worry about trials and troubles!

• We worry about big things and little things! We tend to worry!

How can we overcome worry? How can we live without worrying? Paul challenged the church to respond, to request, and to receive from the Lord. Christian’s can overcome worry by living for Jesus, requesting from Jesus, and receiving from Jesus. Do we worry about any and everything? Are we overcoming worry? Do we have the peace of God in our lives?

This text reveals some specifics about overcoming worry.

I. The practice of the saints (5)

A. We are to reveal a life of humility (5a)

“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”

The Bible teaches us to rejoice in the Lord and reveal a life of humility. Paul moves from the prescription for the church to the practice of the church. Paul tells them that because they are “in the Lord” they should be of the same mind and unified in their love and labor for the Lord.

In verse 5 Paul tells the saints to reveal a life of humility. Gentleness: (KJV: Moderation) epieikes, ep-ee-i-kace’; appropriate, i.e. (by implication) mild, gentle, moderation, patient. NASB: (Gentle spirit) the word means “sweet reasonableness, generosity, charity toward the faults of others, mercy towards the failures of others, bigheartedness, forbearance, agreeableness, graciousness, and submitting our rights to others because of sympathy and love. This is a word to the church and to Euodia and Syntyche. They were to be gracious and bighearted toward one another. Their love “in the Lord” was to override their will to have their rights. These ladies were to make up and love one another and give forgiveness and restore fellowship. They were to let their graciousness and gentleness be made known to all. This was to be done publicly! Their dispute had affected the whole fellowship and their restoration was to affect the whole congregation.

Paul tells the church to not be “unduly rigorous” and rigid. They were to consider others better than themselves. Philippians 2:3–4 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

William Hendricksen wrote, “The lesson which Paul teaches is that true blessedness cannot be obtained by the person who rigorously insists on whatever he regards as his just due. The Christian is the man who reasons that it is far better to suffer wrong than to inflict wrong. Sweet reasonableness is an essential ingredient of true happiness. Now such big-heartedness, such forbearance, the patient willingness to yield wherever yielding is possible without violating any real principle, must be shown to all, not only to fellow believers.”

We are to let our gentleness be made known to all men. We do that by faithfully responding to others as Jesus would. We are to reveal a life of humility. Paul tells us in verse 5 why we are to reveal a life of humility. We notice:

B. We are to remember that the Lord is at hand (5b)

“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”

Paul calls for the Philippians to remember that the Lord is at hand. That fact should motivate us to be reconciled and be gentle and humble and not seek our own, but the good of others. The Lord Jesus is at hand. Two interpretations of this are relevant and fit here. In chapter 3:20 Paul tells the church we are to be eagerly waiting on the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s coming again and when He comes He will change this lowly body in to the likeness of His glorious body. Paul reminds the Philippians that the Lord is at hand.

Hand: (NASB: Near) eggus, eng-goos’; (to squeeze or throttle; near (literal or figurative, of place or time) from, at hand, near, nigh (at hand, unto), ready. The word can mean “near in space or near in time.”

The Philippians were told that the Lord’s coming is near therefore they were to live godly. The Philippians were told that the Lord’s presence is near therefore they were to live godly. The Lord Jesus is at hand. He’s with us in all that we do! He said He would never leave us nor forsake us. He is omnipresent! Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Because the Lord is near we are to act right, live right, and be right.

Paul tells the church to remember that the Lord is as hand. H.A Ironside wrote, “With the realization that He is thus, in the fullest sense, “at hand,” though unseen, how quickly would strife and dissension cease, and the forbearance and grace ever manifested in Himself be seen in His followers.” We need to remember that the Lord is at hand! This should change the way we treat others and the way we respond to the way others treat us. In verse 5 we’ve notice the practice of the saints. If we are going to overcome worry we must practice godliness.

In verse 6 we notice:

II. The petition of the saints (6)

A. We are told why to pray (6a)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Paul tells the church that they are to pray and he tells them why to pray. We are not to worry about anything, but trust the Lord in everything! Anxious: (KJV: careful) merimnao, mer-im-nah’-o; to be anxious about, to be troubled with cares, to worry, to strangle, to have a divided mind. The root word in the Greek (merizo; mer-id’-zo) means “to divide, to cut into pieces, to be pulled in different directions.

Worry does exactly that to us. Worry is detrimental to us and harmful for us. It will affect your relationship with the Lord and your relationship with others. It will have a negative effect on your physical health and spiritual health. Rod Mattoon said, “Stress causes the heart rate to go up and the arteries to constrict, which in turn increases the blood pressure. Increased blood pressure leads to heart attacks or strokes. Stress will increase your cholesterol which can lead to the hardening of the arteries. Stress also increases sugar levels in the blood and in the long term, can lead to type 2 diabetes. Stress will weaken the body’s immune system which will make your body more susceptible to disease. All of these stress factors can be created by worrying about our problems.”

Paul Martin revealed the consequences and destructiveness of worry in the book, “The Sickening Mind.” He said, “During the Gulf War of 1991, Iraq launched a series of Scud missile attacks against Israel. Many Israeli citizens died as a result of these attacks. After the war was over, Israeli scientists analyzed the official mortality statistics and found something remarkable. Although the death rate had jumped among Israeli citizens on the first day of the Iraqi attacks, the vast majority of them did not die from any direct physical effects of the missiles. They died from heart failure brought on by fear, worry, and stress associated with the bombardment.”

Matthew 6:31–34 says, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

When we worry we sin. Worry shows a lack of faith in God. Paul tells the Philippians to be anxious for nothing.

Nothing: (medeis, may-dice’;) not even one! The Bible tells us to worry about nothing! Not even one thing! We are not to worry about anything.

A man was worrying all the time about everything. He was a chronic worrier. Then one day his friends saw him whistling. They asked, “Can that be our friend? No, it can’t be. Yes it is” They asked him, “What happened?” The man said, “I’m paying a man to do my worrying for me.” They said, “You mean you aren’t worrying anymore?” “No. Whenever I’m inclined to worry, I just let him do it.” The friends said, “How much do you pay him?” The man said, “Two thousand dollars a week.” They said, “Wow! How can you afford that?” He said, “I can’t, but that’s his worry.”

Every time we begin to worry we are instead to pray. We are to petition Him for our needs. Worry will not change a thing! A French soldier in WWI had this prescription for worry: “Of two things one is certain. Either you are at the front, or you are behind the lines. If you are at the front, of two things one is certain. Either you are exposed to danger, or you are in a safe place. If you are exposed to danger, of two things one is certain. Either you are wounded, or you are not wounded. If you are wounded, of two things one is certain. Either you recover, or you die. If you recover, there is no need to worry. If you die, you can’t worry!”

Some folks worry about any and everything when God’s word commands us to worry about nothing. Some folks are like the clock I heard about: Like any good clock, it had been ticking away for years, 2 ticks per second every day. But one day the clock began to worry about its responsibilities—all those ticks it had to tick. It had to tick 120 ticks a minute, 7,200 ticks an hour, 172,000 ticks per day, 1,209.600 ticks per week! That’s 62 million ticks per year!” the clock cried, and promptly had a nervous breakdown. The sick clock went to a psychiatrist and explained its troubles. “All those ticks—I don’t see how I can stand it!” The psychiatrist said, “Wait a minute. How many ticks must you tick at a time?” The clock replied, “Oh, I just tick 1 tick at a time.” The doctor said, “You go home and think about ticking only 1 tick. And until you have ticked that tick, don’t even think about the next tick.” A Poem reminds us of taking each day 1 by 1:

God broke our years into hours and days, that hour by hour and day by day,

just going on a little way, we might be able, all along, to keep quite strong.

Should all the weight of life be laid across our shoulders at just one place, and the future, rife with woe and struggle, meet us face to face,

we could not go; our feet would stop, and so God lays a little on us every day.

And never, I believe in all life’s way, will burdens bear so deep, or pathways lie so steep, but we can go, if by God’s power, we only bear the burden of the hour. (Author Unknown)

Paul tells the Philippians why to pray. They are to pray instead of worry because it is the will of God for us to depend on Him and petition Him. David Jeremiah wrote, “Prayer does not always change the situation and make it better, but prayer always changes us and makes us better.”

In verse 6 we are told why to pray. Next, we see:

B. We are told when to pray (6b)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything.”

Paul exhorts the Philippians to petition the Lord in everything. Everything: pas, pas; all, any, every, the whole-all (manner of, means), always, any (one), x daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no (-thing), x thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever. We are to be a prayerful people because we are a needful people.

￫The pagans don’t know how to pray,

￫the religious don’t know who to pray to,

￫the atheist do not believe in prayer,

￫but the righteous knows how to pray and who to pray to.

That’s why we need to pray! God commands us to pray. The Lord tells us to talk to Him! A Good word: Prayer should be a great priority because prayer is a great privilege. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–17 says, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.” Don’t be anxious about anything, but be prayerful about everything. The hymn writer reminds us in the hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” about prayer:

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs

to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God

in prayer! Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh, what

needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble

anywhere? We should never be discouraged, take it

to the Lord in prayer: Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our

every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we week and heavy laden, cumbered with a load

of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to

the Lord in prayer: Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the

Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield

thee; thou wilt find a solace there.

Paul tells the Philippians when to pray. We are to pray in everything. In verse 6 we are told why to pray, when to pray, and next, we see:

C. We are told the way to pray (6c)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”

Paul instructs the church to pray and he proceeds to explain how they are to pray. In verse 6 Paul gives us a pattern for prayer in the four words that he uses here. The disciples once asked the Lord Jesus to teach them to pray. They understood the importance and necessity of prayer. The church needs to be reminded about prayer and be responsive in prayer. We are to be like those disciples. The Philippians were instructed why to pray, when they are to pray, and the way they should pray. Prayer: proseuche, pros-yoo-khay’; prayer (worship); by implication an oratory (chapel) pray earnestly, prayer. This is a general word for pray.

￫This word refers to speaking of praise, devotion, adoration, and worship.

Jimmy Draper says that this word, “does not speak of the words which we say, but of the spirit with which we pray.” Supplication: deesis, deh’-ay-sis; a petition:- prayer, request, supplication. This word refers to an earnest sharing of the problem. It speaks of specific earnest praying. The verb form of this word means “to want.” The word picture is of a humble servant coming before his Master with a need that must be met that only the Master can meet.

Request: aitema, ah’ee-tay-mah; a thing asked or (abstract) an asking:- petition, request, required. This word too refers to particular items on our prayer lists.

Paul is teaching the Philippians how to pray with effectiveness. Their prayer is to be faithful and focused. We are commanded to pray in everything with prayer, supplication, requests, and with thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving: eucharistia, yoo-khar-is-tee’-ah; gratitude; active grateful language (to God, as an act of worship)-thankfulness, (giving of) thanks (-giving). An attitude of gratitude should always permeate our prayers.

In everything we are to give thanks to the Lord Jesus. Guy H. King said it well, “We are to be careful for nothing, prayerful for everything, and thankful for anything.” How can we overcome worry? Instead of worry we are to pray! Listen to the words of challenge from this poem:

Worry? Why worry? What can worry do?

It never keeps a trouble from overtaking you.

It gives you indigestion, and wakeful hours at night, and fills with gloom the days, however fair and bright.

It puts a frown upon the face, and sharpness in the tone. We’re unfit to live with others, and unfit to live alone.

Worry? Why worry? What can worry do? It never keeps a trouble from overtaking you.

Pray? Why pray? What can prayer do?

Praying really changes things, arranges life anew.

It’s good for your digestion, gives peaceful sleep at night, and fills the grayest, gloomiest day with rays of glowing light.

It puts a smile upon your face, and a love note in your tone, makes you fit to live with others, and fit to live alone.

Pray? Why pray? What can praying do? It brings God down from heaven, to live and work with you.

The Lord commands His people to pray and through the apostle Paul He tells us to pray in everything with thanksgiving. We are told why to pray, when to pray, the way to pray, and in the last part of verse 6 we see:

D. We are told Who to pray to (6d)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God:”

The church is to make all their requests make known to God. We are to take everything to God in prayer!

Made known: gnorizo, gno-rid’-zo; to make known; subject to know:- certify, declare, make known, give to understand. We are called to make known our request to God, not for His benefit, but for ours. God knows all things anyway. We cannot inform God about anything that He doesn’t already know about. He is Omniscient! He is all knowing! We declare our needs to God because He tells us to and it helps us express our faith and exercise our faith.

Praying helps us to submit ourselves and our needs to the Lord. Praying humbles us and shows our reliance on Him. In making our request known to God it helps transfer the burden from us to Him. We are commanded to take everything to God in prayer!

▪ We are not to take it to the church, to the government, to a parent, to a friend, but to the Lord.

Insight: I don’t believe it is wrong to talk to others about our problems and needs if we have first talked to God about our problems and needs. If we haven’t talked to God first about them then it is wrong. God wants to hear from us, communicate with us, and work in us and for us in everything. John Phillips wrote, “Nothing is more dishonoring to God than His children begging someone else for what is His joy and responsibility to provide … the trouble with making our requests known to others is that they often give grudgingly; or they give from an ulterior motive; or they give ignorantly, not knowing whether our requests are the kind that God Himself would honor. We are to come to God about everything.” Paul instructs the church to pray and how to pray and who to pray to. We’ve noticed the practice of the saints, the petition of the saints, and in verse 7 we see:

III. The peace for the saints (7)

A. The greatness of God’s peace (7a)

“and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The words of the apostle Paul would have given the Philippians incentive to pray just as they give us incentive to pray today. We are instructed not to worry about anything, but be prayerful about everything. Paul laid down some principles about prayer and then in verse 7 he reveals the promise of peace. This is not just some peace, or any peace, but it is the peace of God which is available to the child of God.

▪ A person cannot have the peace of God until they are at peace with God.

The Lord Jesus made peace with God available by His death on the cross. (Colossians 1:20) Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” That comes through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. When a person turns from their sin and trusts in the Savior they are born again and they receive peace with God. At one time we all were at enmity with God, but because of our faith in the Lord Jesus we have been made right with God. We are no longer enemies of God. We have peace with God!

BIBLICAL FACT: It is possible to have peace with God and not have the peace of God. A child of God out of fellowship with God will not enjoy the peace of God. The peace of God is available to the child of God who takes everything to God in prayer and trust daily in the Lord to take care of him, meet his needs, provide for him and protect him.

Peace: eirene, i-ray’-nay; (to join); peace (literal or figurative); by implication prosperity one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

If you do not walk daily with Jesus you’ll not experience the peace of Jesus. If we are not experiencing the peace of God it is because at some point our disobedience has forfeited His peace in us.

In verse 7 Paul tells the Philippians about the greatness of God’s peace. The Bible says, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Surpasses: (KJV: passeth) huperecho, hoop-er-ekh’-o; to hold oneself above, i.e. (figurative) to excel; participle (as adjective, or neuter as noun) superior, superiority:- better, excellency, higher, pass, supreme, to be in authority or control. The greatness of God’s peace surpasses all understanding. Great Biblical Truth: We cannot comprehend the peace of God, but we can apprehend the peace of God. The peace of God is available for the child of God. Lehman Strauss wrote, “In His last will and testament our blessed Lord made the legacy available to us. Now all who receive Him can enjoy harmonized relations with God. I do not possess the faculty to perceive it all, since it passeth all understanding, but though I cannot perceive it, I may receive it, and so may you.”

￫The peace of God will calm the storms of life,

￫comfort the broken-hearted,

￫give assurance that a child of God is in the will of God,

￫and sustain us through trials and troubles in life.

The Bible says His peace surpasses all understanding. Understanding: nous, nooce; the intellect, i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication meaning, mind, understanding. Jimmy Draper puts it well, “Man’s peace generally means the absence of friction or the absence of problems, calmness, no difficulties, no one bothering us. But the peace of God means that everything is functioning as it is supposed to function. Everything is perfectly at ease in the midst of turmoil. God’s peace is not an orchestra where all of the instruments are quiet, but it is an orchestra where all of the instruments are in tune and playing a symphony together, playing in harmony together.” The peace of God surpasses all of our understanding. The child of God is not only at peace with God, but we can have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Paul tells the Philippians of the greatness of God’s peace. In the last part of verse 7 we notice:

B. The guarding of God’s peace (7b)

“and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The promise of God’s peace is for the child of God who lives in trust in the Lord. Paul tells the Philippians that they are not to worry about anything, but pray about everything, and trust the Lord in every area and every need. When we turn to God and trust in Him He gives us His peace that will sustain us in trials, give us wisdom to make decisions, and will protect our hearts and minds. Guard: phroureo, froo-reh’-o; to be a watcher in advance, i.e. to mount guard as a sentinel (post spies at gates); figurative to hem in, protect:- keep (with a garrison). This word was used of a military garrison that was on guard to prevent a hostile invasion or to keep the inhabitants of besieged city from fleeing. God’s word promises God’s peace that will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

• Hearts: This word speaks of the entire inner person. The understanding, the affection, and the will is meant here.

Paul tells the Philippians that when they rely on the Lord His peace will be a garrison that guards their hearts and minds. Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Too many in the world have no peace in their lives. They seek diligently, but in vain because they seek in the wrong places. A person cannot have the peace of God until they have peace with God. Too many Christians have no peace in their lives because they worry about any and everything. Church folks have no peace in their hearts or minds.

Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”

Does the peace of God guard your hearts and minds? If your mind is not being guarded by the peace of God it is not God’s fault! The peace of God is available to us, accessible for us, and can be apprehended by our surrender to Jesus. Notice Paul carefully tells the Philippians that the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1555, Nicholas Ridley was burned at the stake because of his witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. On the night before Ridley’s execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance and comfort. Nicholas declined the offer and replied that he meant to go to bed and sleep as quietly as he did in his life. Because he knew the peace of God, he could rest in the strength of the everlasting arms of his Lord Jesus Christ to meet his need. Are we trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Does the stress and the worry of the world consume our minds and fill our hearts? Paul tells us what to do to overcome worry!

Years ago in the pioneer days of aviation a pilot was making a flight around the world. After he had traveled two hours from his last landing field he heard a noise in the plane which he recognized as the gnawing of a rat. For all he knew the rat could have been gnawing through vital cables and wires of the plane. It was a very serious situation and the pilot was very concerned and anxious. At first he didn’t know what to do. It was two hours back to the landing field and more than two hours to the next field ahead.

Then he remembered that rats are rodents and they are not made for heights, they are made to live on the ground or under the ground. Therefore, the pilot began to climb. He went up 1000 ft, then another 1000 ft, and he continued to climb. At 20,000 ft the gnawing ceased, the rat was dead. The rat could not survive in an atmosphere of those heights. More than two hours later the pilot brought the plane safely to the next landing field and found the rat dead.

• FACT: Worry is a rodent and it cannot live in the secret place of the Most High!

Worry cannot breathe in the atmosphere made vital through prayer. Worry dies when we ascend to the Lord Jesus through prayer and His word. We need to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ! Be at Peace with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and have the peace of God through our trust and dependence on Him in everything!

Philippians 4:6-7

GOD’S WORD CONCERNING YOUR WORRIES

Intro: The Most Reverend R.C. Trench, who was at one time the Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, had a morbid fear of becoming paralyzed. One evening at a party, the lady he sat next to at dinner heard him muttering mournfully to himself, “It’s happened at last…total insensibility of the right limb.” “Your Grace,” said the lady, “it may comfort you to learn that it is my leg you are pinching!”

I told that little story to ask this important question: Do we have any worry warts present this evening? Of course we do! For all those of you who are prone to worry, did you ever stop to think how dangerous worrying is?

Over 100 diseases have been directly attributed to worry! Worry will not only take away your physical energy, it will also rob the soul of its stamina as well. Why? Worry is the ultimate act of rebellion against the rule of God in a believer’s life. How? Worry says that God is dead; and if He is alive, then He is incapable of doing anything about my situation!

Even though we may know these things, it doesn't change the fact that people worry. As a matter of fact, worry could be called the most popular pastime of the human race. One elderly lady said, “I always feel bad when I feel good, for I know that I’ll feel bad after awhile!” What a tragic outlook, yet many people live right there. Folks, the bottom line is this, When we worry we have ceased to trust the Lord, and that is a sin!

When you get right down to it, although the calendar says that there are seven days in the week, there are really only three. Two of them should never cross our minds in worry. One of them is yesterday, and it can never be changed. The other is tomorrow and no man holds the power to affect tomorrow. Today is really the only day we have and with God's help, we can face anything that arises, Phil. 4:13. My friends, worry is like a rocking chair, it keeps you busy, but it doesn't get you anywhere! If worry is eating you alive and is destroying your physical and spiritual life, I want to help you defeat its power. In these verses, the Bible sheds some light on how we are to handle our cares. Let me take these verses tonight and share with you God’s Word Concerning Your Worries.

I. v. 6a A WORD ABOUT PROBLEMS

A. A Caution To Observe – Nowhere does the Bible ever attempt to downplay the existence of problems. In fact, it tells us quite plainly that problems will stalk us as long as we live in this world, Job 14:1; John 16:33; Eccl. 2:23. Of course, you didn’t need me to tell you that troubles and trials are real, did you? After all, you battle them every day of your life.

B. A Command To Obey – When it comes to worrying over the problems we face in this life God has one word to say: Don’t! The phrase “be careful for nothing” literally means “Do not worry about anything!” As clearly as I can tonight, I want us all to understand that worry is a sin!

1. What is worry? The word refers to “a troubled state of mind resulting from concern about current or potential difficulties.” It comes from an Old English word that means “to strangle”. It was used to refer to the practice of wolves killing sheep by biting them around the neck, thus strangling their prey to death.

This is literally what worry does in your life. It will strangle you physically and spiritually. Worry will choke the life right out of you!

(Ill. “Worry is the interest paid on trouble before it falls due.”

“Worry is the interest we pay on tomorrow's troubles.”

“Worry pulls tomorrow's cloud over today's sunshine.”

“Worry gives a small thing a big shadow.”

2. Why is worrying a sin? It displays a lack of faith in the reality of God and in His ability to meet your needs, Rom. 14:23. Worry calls God a liar; it doubts His ability and it says “God is dead!”

3. Why should Christians not worry? – There are several good reasons!

a. God knows what you have faced, are facing and will face – Pro. 15:3; Job 23:10; Psa. 37:23.

b. God cares about what you face in life – Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 5:7.

c. God has promised to take care of you – Phil. 4:19; Heb. 13:5-6.

II. v. 6b A WORD ABOUT PRAYER

(Ill. If we can’t worry, then what can we do? We ca pray!)

A. The Act Of Prayer – Instead of worrying, the child of God is counseled to pray. When Paul talks about praying, he uses three words in this verse. He talks about prayer, supplication and requests. An examination of each of these will help make his instructions more clear.

1. Prayer – This word is the general word for coming into the presence of the Lord. It carries the idea of our acknowledging God for Who He is. It speaks of adoration, worship and devotion. It is the picture of a weak child seeking the attention of a powerful parent. It is the picture of our seeing Him for Who He really is. Prayer is the believer leaving the cares of the world behind to get lost in the presence of God. It is about our worship and adoration of God. When we get our eyes off our troubles and can focus them on the face of our Heavenly Father, then as He grows larger in our hearts, our problems grow smaller in our minds! When trouble comes in your life or mine, one of the greatest sources of strength we possess is our ability to escape from our world into His. We can literally step into a realm where troubles, sorrows and worries cannot follow! (Ill. Job – Job 1:20-21.)

2. Supplication – This word refers to an earnest sharing of our burdens, needs and problems. It speaks not of flippant prayer, but of prayers that arise out of the heart. Fervent prayer about needs that move the soul is in view here. God wants His children to pray, but He wants us to pray with a passion about the things that move our hearts, James 5:16. (Ill. Heb. 5:7; Rom. 15:30; Col. 4:12)

3. Requests – This word refers to detailed prayer about specific issues. We need to learn to pray specifically and not in generalities! Many times, we pray around and issue, but never prayer in a detailed specific manner. We should never be afraid to approach God with the specific needs of life! (Ill He has promised to hear you and to answer you, Jer. 33:3.)

B. The Atmosphere Of Prayer – Paul says that we are to do this “in everything”. Big things and little things alike are to be the subjects of our prayer lives. Nothing is too big for God and nothing is too small for Him either. (Ill. Deacon who only prayed about the “big things”. What is big to God?) We need to learn to pray about everything all the time! God wants us in His presence talking to Him about every matter of life, Heb. 4:16; Matt. 7:7-11; 1 Thes. 5:17.

C. The Attitude Of Prayer – Notice that our praying is to be done in the attitude of “thanksgiving”. As we approach God with the worries, fears and burdens of life, we should do so with a thankful heart. Why? We have a God Who cares about us; Who hears us; Who loves us and Who had promised to answer our prayers when we call upon Him. Besides that, regardless of how bad life becomes, God has directed our path to that point and He is actively working out His will in us, Rom. 8:28. We need to learn to be a thankful people! (Ill. Eph. 5:20; Col. 3:17-20; 1 Thes. 5:18.) (Ill. After all He has done for us; the least we can do is to be thankful to Him! If He never did another thing for me, I would have enough reason to praise Him for all eternity! Let me learn to be thankful in His presence, Psalm 100.

III. v. 7 A WORD ABOUT PROMISES

(Ill. God wants us to know that there are some precious promises that can be ours, if we can come to the place where we refuse to allow worry to be our master; and we learn to bring our needs to him.)

A. God Promises Us His Peace – We are promised His peace. What is peace? The best definition I have ever heard is this: Peace is tranquility of the soul! This kind of peace “passeth all understanding”. In other words, it is “a mind blowing experience.” This is a state of being where you are calm in the heart and mind despite the fact that turmoil and strife are raging around you. This is calm in the heart that exists even though your storm still rages. It is a mysterious thing, but it is God’s gift to those who will trust in Him “in everything”. This is the kind of peace that Jesus promised His disciples, John 14:27. It is a peace that is divine in origin. It is a peace that cannot be disrupted by the problems, disturbances and difficulties of life. It is a peace that cannot waiver, that cannot be shaken and that cannot be destroyed. (Ill. Job had this kind of peace. Daniel had this kind of peace. The 3 Hebrew boys had this kind of peace. David had this kind of peace. I have had this kind of peace and it is amazing!)

B. God Promises Us His Preservation – We are told that God’s peace will “keep your hearts and minds.” When Paul mentions the heart, he is referring to the seat of the emotions. The heart is the place from which our feelings come. When Paul mentions the mind, he is referring to the place where we do our thinking. And, what is worry if it isn’t wrong feeling and wrong thinking? When we see our burdens, our problems and our fears through human eyes, we will always develop wrong feelings and wrong thoughts about the things we face in life.

However, God’s promise is that His peace will “keep” our “hearts and our minds.” The word “Keep” means “to stand guard over”. When Paul wrote these very words, he had a Roman guard on wither side of him. They were “standing guard” over the man of God. Paul says that God’s peace is like a guard that protects the heart from wrong feelings and the mind from wrong thoughts! I don’t know about you, but I need that kind of help all the time!

Conc: Years ago, in the pioneer days of aviation, a pilot was making a flight around the world. After he had been gone for some two hours from his last landing field, he heard a noise in his plane, which he recognized as the gnawing of a rat. He realized that while his plane had been on the ground a rat had gotten in. For all he knew the rat could be gnawing through a vital cable or control of the plane. It was a very serious situation. He was both concerned and anxious. At first he did not know what to do. It was two hours back to the landing field from which he had taken off and more than two hours to the next field ahead. Then he remembered that the rat is a rodent. It is not made for the heights; it is made to live on the ground and under the ground. Therefore the pilot began to climb. He went up a thousand feet, and then another thousand and another until he was more than twenty thousand feet up. The gnawing ceased. The rat was dead. He could not survive in the atmosphere of those heights. More than two hours later the pilot brought the plane safely to the next landing field and found the dead rat.

Folk, worry is like a rat in your heart and in your mind. If left alone, it will gnaw at you until it destroys your life and until it steals away all your joy, power and energy. But, the rodent of worry cannot live in the secret place of the Most High. It cannot breathe in an atmosphere that is steeped in prayer and influenced by the Word of God. Worry dies when we ascend to the Lord through prayer and His Word. What do you need to carry up to the throne of grace this evening