The Peace of God

!!Turn to Phil Ch. 4… (v4)!!

Passage Reading:

Philippians 4:4–9 (ESV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

6 do not be anxious 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.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

!! OPEN in PRAYER !!

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Intro: Living in a Fallen World

· I don’t know if you’ve noticed,

but the world we live in has some issues.

COUNTLESS PROBLEMS

& EVEN CATEGORIES of PROBLEMS!

WARS

FAMINE

DISEASE

POVERTY

NATURAL DISASTERS

ACTS of VIOLENCE & HATRED

** THESE CATEGORIES + COUNTLESS INDIVIDUAL EXAMPLES**

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SIN has AFFECTED the CREATION more than we’ll ever know.

EVER NOTICE… THESE THINGS CAN CAUSE us to WORRY?

HEARING of BAD NEWS ELSEWHERE...

...MAKES YOU WONDER IF BAD NEWS WILL COME to YOU?

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Need:

MESSED UP WORLD = ONE REASON WE NEED this TEXT....

TEXT WILL INTRODUCE US to TOPIC of GOD’S PEACE....

CHANGING THOUGHTS & WAYS—MIGHT CHANGE LIFE.

(T) But before we begin, I want to offer a QUICK RECAP for those who weren’t here last week:

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Recap: “Coworkers in the Kingdom”

Last Wk:

PAUL GETS PERSONAL

*MANY GENERAL TRUTHS/COMMANDS in PHILIPPIANS...

ADDRESSES EUODIA & SYNTYCHE

CHURCH HAD PERSECUTION WITHOUT...

...& DIVISION WITHIN

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PAUL CALLS THEM to AGREE/HAVE SAME MIND

**SAME COMMAND,, FROM CH. 2**

WE APPLIED CH. 2’S TEACHING to PERSONAL SITUATION

CITIZENS of HEAVEN

COWORKERS in KINGDOM

(SAME TEAM)

CALLED to HUMBLY PUT OTHERS FIRST

HOW CAN WE NOT GET ALONG??

PRINCIPLES from PHIL. CH. 2…OUGHT to BRING RELATIONAL PEACE...

(T) And on the TOPIC of PEACE, the SCRIPTURE = GOING to SPEAK...this morning...

…And I PRAY that this TEXT is as BENEFICIAL in YOUR LIFE as it has been in mine.

LOOK W/ ME @ VS 4...

The apostle Paul writes,

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Passage Preaching: Philippians 4:4-9 ESV

Command 1 (V4)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

TODAYS PASSAGE: SEE 7 IMPERATIVES/COMMANDS

—HOW WE OUGHT to LIVE (CITIZENS of HEAVEN)

ADDRESSED to COMMUNITY (COMPOSED of INDIVIDUALS)

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1ST COMMAND: “REJOICE” (COMES 2X)

**INTERESTING to THINK of THIS as a COMMAND!**

REJOICE.... “IN the LORD” = REASON

AS LONG AS YOU ARE in CHRIST—YOU’VE GOT a REASON to REJOICE.

THE CHRISTIAN HAS MORE REASON to REJOICE THAN to BE MISERABLE

CONSIDER ALL GOD HAS DONE for YOU

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Background:

REMEMBER— PAUL = WRITING from JAIL

REJOICE!

(ACTS CH. 16) PAUL in PHILIPPIAN JAIL— PRAYING & SINGING!!

CHURCH @ PHILIPPI:

HAD PROBLEMS

PERSECUTION WITHOUT

DIVISION WITHIN

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PAUL COMMANDS: CHRISTIAN, REJOICE!

**YOU CAN ALMOST IMAGINE EXCUSES…**

“REJOICE”

“BUT PAUL....YOU DON’T KNOW...”

“AGAIN, I SAY, REJOICE!”

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NATURAL DISPOSITION MIGHT AFFECT EXECUTION…BUT WE’RE STILL SUPPOSED to BE a REJOICING PEOPLE

ALL GOT REASONS to BE MISERABLE

ALL GOT REASONS to REJOICE

WHICH WILL WE CHOOSE?

REMINDER: THIS = COMMAND,,

SO CHOOSING NOT to = CHOOSING to DISOBEY!

(T) And then Paul issues a 3RD COMMAND, if you’d look with me at verse 5:

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Command 2 (V5)

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

1ST: CHRISTIAN = REJOICES (2X)

3RD: REASONABLENESS/GENTLENESS BE MADE KNOWN TO ALL...

**NOTE: WHOLE-LIFE COMMANDS**

REJOICE—ALWAYS

REASONABLENESS—KNOWN to “ALL PEOPLE” (EVERYONE)

ALL of LIFE— NOT COMPARTMENTALIZED...

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REASONABLENESS???

SENSE of TOLERANCE/TAKING it EASY:

BDAG: It means, “not insisting on every right of letter of law or custom, yielding, gentle, kind, courteous, tolerant” [1]

NOT BEING OVERLY LEGALISTIC

NOT “STICKING IT TO THEM”

TAKING IT EASY

ALSO: KINDNESS INSTEAD of RETALIATION

TUESDAY NIGHT VOLLEYBALL— NEWCOMERS = GIVEN a LOT of GRACE

EVERY HIT = CARRY?

EH, THEY’RE HITTING the BALL

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(T) WHY BE THIS WAY?

(V5B) — THE LORD JESUS is AT HAND/HE is NEAR!

Scholar Gordon Fee concludes that the use of the word “near” here is as close to a double entendre as you’ll find in the Apostle Paul’s writings…[3]

Double Meaning:

HE’S NEAR—SPATIALLY

HE’S PRESENT/WITH US in OUR SUFFERINGS

HE’S NEAR— IN TIME

COMING SOON—AT HAND

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Attitude: “IF CHRIST = COMING SOON… I’LL LET HIM SORT OUT the PROBLEMS...”

I’LL BE “GENTLE/REASONABLE”

CHRIST WILL VINDICATE ME.

(T) And lastly, there’s ANOTHER THING that comes as a DIRECT RESULT of HIS NEARNESS...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS 6-7...

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Command 3 (V6-7)

6 do not be anxious 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.

IMPERATIVES 4-5 COME:

DON’T BE ANXIOUS

BRING YOUR REQUESTS to GOD

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**INTERESTING NOTE** “THE LORD is NEAR” = HINGE STATEMENT—APPLYING to BOTH VERSES...

Background:

CHAPTER & VERSE #’S ADDED in 13TH CENTURY

MANY BENEFITS

HELP YOU FIND THINGS

DOWNSIDE: SOMETIMES WE SPLIT THINGS UP in BAD SPOTS...

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I’VE MEMORIZED VS 6-7…BUT NEVER VS. 5....

**I LOVE, ESV PUTS a SEMICOLON BETWEEN THEM**

What’s this mean?

I. “The Lord is near” ISN’T JUST a REASON to BE REASONABLE…BUT THAT IS TRUE....

II. “THE LORD is NEAR” = ALSO a REASON NOT to BE ANXIOUS!

JESUS’ PRESENCE W/ US

HIS COMING

HELP ME NOT to WORRY!!

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(V6) COMMAND COMES:

IN NOTHING BE ANXIOUS

BUT IN EVERYTHING BE PRAYERFUL

(Q) Do you see this beautiful contrast?

§ Nothing—anxious.

§ Everything—prayerful.

Background/Context:

PAUL HAD REASONS to BE ANXIOUS

IN JAIL— ON TRIAL FOR LIFE!

PHILIPPIANS HAD REASONS to BE ANXIOUS

PROBLEMS in CHURCH

PERSECUTION

++ PERSONAL STRUGGLES??

LOSING FAMILY/FRIENDS over NEW FAITH??

CARE for PAUL & OTHERS??

ANXIOUS TIME.

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(T) I would contend that we live in a very anxious time as well.

DON’T FACE SAME LEVEL of PERSECUTION—MAYBE SOME RIDICULE HERE & THERE...

BIGGEST PROBLEM: WE LIVE in a WORLD—OVERLY CONNECTED.

HEAR EVERY STORY… of EVERY TRAUMATIC EVENT

NEWS

SOCIAL MEDIA

RADIO

ETC.

WORST ELEMENTS of LIFE—WORLD SUFFERING—GREATEST SINS = PUBLISHED for ALL to READ/HEAR

WARS

NATURAL DISASTERS

SHOOTINGS

RIOTS

CRIME

SAYING: IF IT CAN GO WRONG... IT WILL?

IF IT DOES GO WRONG (21ST CENTURY) —YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT IT

BAD NEWS SELLS—SO IT’S ALL THEY SELL.

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**OVERWHELMING AMOUNTS of BAD NEWS = WORRISOME…RIGHT?**

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BEYOND BIG PICTURE…NATIONAL/WORLD STAGE...

WE’VE ALL GOT PERSONAL LIVES.

§ You’ve got bills to pay, maybe there’s not enough money.

§ You’ve got a job to work, perhaps you hate it.

§ You’ve got responsibilities at home, you probably don’t get a break from.

§ You’ve got a car/house....that needs work

§ You’ve got kids, that are sick.

§ You’ve got a friend or family member who got a bad report from the doctor. You’re worried about them.

§ You’ve got all sorts of reasons for stress and anxiety in life.

ON TOP of PERSONAL LIFE— INFORMATION AGE HEAPS YOU W/ EVERYONE ELSE’S WORRIES TOO...

TICKING TIME BOMBS for WORRY & ANXIETY

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Church....In the midst of a broken world,

stained by sin,

filled with suffering…

...a command comes:

In nothing be anxious, but in everything be prayerful.

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**TRY & CLEAR UP GREY AREAS**

AT WHAT POINT DO “WORRIES/ANXIETIES/CARES” BECOME SINFUL??

(Q) ARE ALL “CARES/CONCERNS” INHERENTLY WRONG?

NO.

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IRONY: PAUL USES SAME GK WORD

Philippians 2:20 (ESV)

20 For I have no one like him [TIMOTHY], who will be genuinely concerned [GK: MERIMNAO; ANXIOUS] for your welfare.

ONE COMMENTATOR:

CONCERNS ARE ONE THING— “DISTRESSING” CONCERNS = PROBLEM.

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(Q) DOES THIS MEAN,, THOSE WHO DEAL W/ ANXIETY as a CONDITION ARE in SIN?

**I KNOW BELIEVERS WHO WOULD SAY YES**

&& THEY’VE OBVIOUSLY NEVER DEALT W/ ANXIETY BEFORE.

I DON’T WANT to VILIFY CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES.

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MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES GET a BAD RAP....

SEEING COUNSELOR/GETTING MEDICATION = GETS A BAD RAP

INTERESTING IRONY:

SAME CHRISTIANS DON’T COMPLAIN WHEN SOMEONE GOES to DR.

HEART ISSUES?

CANCER?

DIETARY ISSUES?

ETC.

NO SHAME

WEIRD:

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?

YOU NEED to PRAY HARDER.

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SIN HAS AFFECTED “VERY GOOD” CREATION in VARIOUS WAYS...

SOME GET HEART DISEASE

SOME GET CANCER

ETC.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES = ONE of THEM.

?? Personal Testimony w/ anxiety??

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**DON’T WANT to SAY PRAYER WON’T HELP YOUR MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES…IT CAN.**

BUT SOMETIMES GOD USES OTHER MEANS

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today: NOT PRIMARILY ADDRESSING:

ANXIETY as CONDITION

GENERAL (NON-DISTRESSING) CONCERNS

RATHER: WORRIES/ANXIETIES/DISTRESSING CARES == PROBLEM.

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TAKE THESE to GOD in PRAYER

GENERAL PRAYER

SUPPLICATION—URGENT PLEAS

REQUESTS = SPECIFIC ENTREATIES (NOT GENERALIZED)

**ALL CHARACTERIZED BY THANKSGIVING**

CONSIDER the BLESSING of PRAYER

OPEN DOOR to THRONE of GRACE!

GIFT of SALVATION/HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE!

THANKING GOD HE HEARS & ANSWERS US!

As Christians we have countless reasons to rejoice in the Lord and as such we have countless reasons to be thankful in our prayers.

o Scholar, Walter Hansen: “Without thanksgiving, prayer becomes merely a way of complaining to God about all the bad things that are or might be happening.”[4]

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IN ALL THIS: REQUESTS = MADE KNOWN to GOD

HE KNOWS OUR NEEDS BEFORE WE ASK—YET HE WANTS us to PRAY!

I. PRAYER SHAPES US

**PRAYER = ACT of TRUST**

IN PERFECT, SOVEREIGN, LOVING GOD...

...PUTTING MATTER in HIS HANDS...

...ENTRUSTING RESULTS to HIM

**BOX ILLUSTRATION**

PRAYER PUTS the BALL in GOD’S COURT...

I’LL DO MY PART

BUT I ENTRUST the RESULTS to GOD

Oftentimes we can’t do anything in our own power, so we entrust those situations to the One whose power is limitless….

WORRY = RESULT of US FEELING in CONTROL

PRAYER ADMITS WE AREN’T in CONTROL...

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(V7)

RESULT: PEACE of GOD WILL GUARD HEARTS & MINDS...

PEACE— “ALL-SURPASSING the MIND!”

BEYOND COMPREHENSION!

PEACE of GOD HIMSELF

One Commentator: “God is never anxious, but is serene and tranquil”

GOD’S NEVER WORRIED!!!

HE’S NEVER ANXIOUS!!!

WE’RE INVITED INTO HIS PERFECT HARMONY

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PEACE WILL GUARD....

· BDAG: “to provide security, guard, protect, keep”[5]

WORD USED to DESCRIBE GUARDING of a CITY

WILL GUARD:

HEART—SEAT of EMOTIONS

MIND—SEAT of THOUGHTS

HAVING PEACE??

KNOWING GOD = IN CONTROL

TAKING WORRIES to HIM

TRUSTING RESULTS to HIS HAND

KNOWING HE IS NEAR

(T) And now, Paul is going to CLOSE in VS 8-9

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Closing Admonition (V8-9)

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

BOW on TOP of EXHORTATIONS....

PEACE COMES THROUGH PRAYER...

BUT PEACE ALSO REQUIRES DILIGENCE in THOUGHT...

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4:8 = TO ME a FILTER

REF: P.POINT & INSERT

WATER W.O. FILTER = GRITTY/GROSS

CAR W.O. OIL FILTER & CHANGE = WEARS OUT FASTER

AIR FILTERS CATCH ALLERGENS

COFFEE FILTERS— WE LIKE to DRINK,, NOT CHEW COFFEE

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FILTER PREVENTS JUNK FROM GETTING THROUGH...

4:8 FILTER FOR MIND...

Is it true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable? Is it excellent and worthy of praise?

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·And what do these things mean?

o True—things factually true.

o Honorable—things worthy of respect, PROJECTOR SCREEN = OK!

o Just—has the sense of uprightness and moral purity.

o Pure—anything clean and wholesome.

o Lovely—things that are attractive, or pleasing

o Commendable— WORTHY of PRAISE

o Any excellence

o Anything worthy of praise?

—IF THESE ARE TRUE— & THEY ARE… THEN THINK on THESE THINGS...

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Think on these things.

EXAMPLES---

WORRY = CAUGHT… TRUST FLOWS THROUGH

SELF-PITY = CAUGHT… REJOICING FLOWS THROUGH

FEAR = CAUGHT… FAITH FLOWS THROUGH

ENVY = CAUGHT… GRATITUDE FLOWS THROUGH

LUST = CAUGHT… PURITY FLOWS THROUGH

HATRED = CAUGHT… LOVE FLOWS THROUGH.

FILTER KEEPS OUR MINDS PURE

PEACE of GOD GUARDS HEARTS & MINDS FROM ANXIETIES...

WE GUARD OUR MINDS FROM UNGODLY THOUGHTS

??? Martin Luther’s Bird Illustration???

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(V9) NOT ONLY THINK…BUT DO...

DO/PRACTICE—THE THINGS YOU’VE LEARNED, RECEIVED, HEARD, SEEN...

BOTH WHAT is TAUGHT—BY MOUTH

& CAUGHT BY EXAMPLE

PAUL’S EXAMPLE

OTHER CHRISTIAN LEADERS

EXAMPLE —GUIDELINE for ACTIONS

OUTWARD CHRISTIAN WALK = PREDICATED ON INWARD CHRISTIAN THOUGHT...

MANY/MOST SINS BEGIN in MIND...

CROWNING JEWEL/CONCLUSION… GOD WHO is PEACE—WILL BE WITH YOU....

(T) And so, we can learn from this passage today, the idea that:

Homiletical Idea:

· The peace of God manifests in our lives as we think right, pray right, and live right.

o REJOICING is a way of experiencing peace.

o BEING GENTLE and not harsh with others results in relational peace.

o SURRENDERING ANXIETIES to God in prayer results in internal peace from God.

o THINKING RIGHTLY & LIVING RIGHTLY then results in the God of peace being with us…

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Gospel: Peace from God begins with Peace with God

PEACE of GOD = SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING....

OFF-THE-CHARTS

INCOMPREHENSIBLE

GREATER GIFT… & NECESSARY PRECURSOR.... = PEACE WITH GOD.

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SCRIPTURE TEACHES—MANKIND OUTSIDE of CHRIST = in REBELLION AGAINST GOD...

ALL HAVE SINNED/FALLEN SHORT

ALL CONDEMNED BEFORE HOLY GOD...

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GOOD NEWS… THAT’S NOT the END of STORY

GOD’S PROVIDED…NOT ONLY PEACE FROM HIM...

BUT MEANS of PEACE WITH HIM...

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

IF YOU’RE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH—YOU HAVE PEACE W/ GOD!

JUSTIFIED???

It means to be pronounced righteous in God’s sight. To be vindicated before the judge of all the earth, and this only comes through our Lord Jesus Christ.

GAVEL STRIKES— “NOT GUILTY!”

HOW???

SOMEONE [CHRIST] TOOK the PENALTY WE DESERVED

SO WE COULD BE FREED from JUDGMENT

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GOD—AS JUST— HAD to PUNISH SIN...

GOD—AS LOVE—MADE A WAY FOR US...

THROUGH CHRIST.... GOD = BOTH JUST & JUSTIFIER

YOU CAN HAVE PEACE W/ GOD…TODAY.

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CALL: And if you’re here today and you’ve never trusted Christ as your personal Savior.

If you’ve never turned to Him in faith,

I’d love to speak with you after the service today…

(T) And now, for those who have, I want to offer you some thoughts on applying the challenges Paul puts forth in today’s passage:

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App: A Checklist for PEACE

PEACE = ALWAYS UNDER THREAT in LIFE

SO MUCH GOING ON

BAD NEWS

BUSYNESS of LIFE

PASSAGE GIVES US a FEW GUIDELINES...

WHAT CAN WE DO?

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YOU CAN’T CONTROL OUTCOMES in LIFE—BUT YOU CAN CONTROL YOU.

AIM to HAVE an ATTITUDE of REJOICING

WE ALL HAVE REASONS to BE MISERABLE,, AND HAVE REASONS to REJOICE

AIM to LIVE @ PEACE W/ OTHERS—LIVING GENTLY

AIM to TAKE YOUR WORRIES to GOD in PRAYER

W/ THANKSGIVING

ENTRUSTING RESULTS to HIS HAND...

AIM to THINK & LIVE RIGHT— USING the PHIL. CH.4:8 FILTER.

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OUTWARD PEACE OFTEN COMES AFTER INWARD PEACE...

LOOK @ the FILTER TODAY—

CONSIDER a NEGATIVE THOUGHT PATTERN THAT STRIPS YOU of PEACE,,

WRITE in on LEFT SIDE…

AND REPLACE it ON RIGHT SIDE W/ FILTERED VERSION

& ULTIMATELY...

TAKE your WORRIES to GOD in PRAYER

& TRUST the RESULTS ARE in HIS HANDS, AMEN?

!!Close in Prayer!!

---COMMUNION SUNDAY---