Be Prayerful
The Choice to Rejoice • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 viewsHighlight how Paul encourages believers to respond to anxiety with prayer and thanksgiving, promising that God's peace will guard our hearts and minds. This reflects Christ's invitation to cast all our cares on Him. Encourage believers to develop a lifestyle of prayer, trusting in the peace of Christ that transcends understanding.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out,
23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.
24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
The Authority of Jesus
The Assurance of Jesus
The Power of Jesus
The Person of Jesus
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
The Christian needs to understand:
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
What we have looked at:
Be Steadfast (Stand firm in the Lord)
Be Unified (humility and placing others above yourself)
And now we Paul addresses the behavior of a Christian.
No matter the circumstances in life, the Christian…
Choose Joy
Choose Joy
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Joy is not happiness derived from good circumstances; believers may have joy in the Lord even in the midst of suffering.
This joy is the response to the spiritual presence of the Lord.
Exercise Sound Judgement
Exercise Sound Judgement
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
The Greek word (epieikēs [1933A, 2117]) denotes gentleness, graciousness, and balanced temperament. Jesus Christ is the epitome of epieikēs (2 Cor 10:1).
Knowledge of the Lord’s coming should stimulate believers to live holy lives because after he comes all Christians must give an account of their lives.
Reject Anxious Thoughts
Reject Anxious Thoughts
6 do not be anxious about anything,
Do not be anxious is a negative command based on the idea that anxiety (merimna) betrays a lack of trust in God’s care and is a species of ‘unconscious blasphemy’ against him (so Oswald Chambers)
Anxiety occupies your time, consumes your thoughts, and disables your ability to seek God.
Pray with Thanksgiving
Pray with Thanksgiving
6 but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Prayer cures anxiety.
Prayer relieves the problem of anxiety.
The center of the verse is the significant part: Prayer is to be offered “with thanksgiving.”
The attitude of gratitude accompanies all true approaches to the Father.
Embrace God’s Peace
Embrace God’s Peace
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Here Paul says what the peace of God will do: It will guard the hearts and minds of Christians
Conclusion
Facing storms of life—experiencing anxiety and fear.
Look to Jesus!
The One who can calm the wind and the wave will bring peace in your life!
