Do Not Worry – 9

Sermon on the Mount - 9

Philippians 4:6–7 (AMP)

6Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

7And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Worry is defined by Webster as “mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated.”

In other words, worry is about things that have not happened.

Be careful (anxious) for nothing (KJV). The word “nothing” is literally “not even one thing.”

We must remember that worrying is choosing not to trust God. Anger and worry (fretting) are two very destructive emotions. They reveal a lack of faith that God loves us and is in control.

We should not worry; instead, we should trust in God, giving ourselves to him for his use and safekeeping.

When you dwell on your problems, you will become anxious and angry. But if you concentrate on God and his goodness, you will find peace.

Where do you focus your attention?

Wuest Translation: Stop perpetually worrying about even one thing, but in everything, by prayer whose essence is that of worship and devotion, and by supplication which is a cry for your personal needs, let your requests with thanksgiving for the things asked for be made known in the presence of God, and the peace of God which surpasses all power of comprehension, shall mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8–9 (ESV)

8Finally, 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.

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

Our thoughts express what we really are. We are what we think. We can easily deceive other people by our actions; we can be hypocritical in word and deed, but not in thought.

How are our thoughts and worry related?

What does God’s Word say about our thoughts?

How can we change so that we truly stop worrying?

Colossians 3:1–3 (NIV84)

1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Set your hearts on = ζητέω zēteō = seek, look for; pursue, try to obtain, desire to possess.

Prioritize (something) highly.

The grammatical tense is continuous present, which says, keep setting your hearts on things above.

We are to make it our life’s pursuit.

Set your minds on = φρονέω phroneō = to give careful consideration to something; set one’s mind on, be intent on,

to concentrate: to direct one’s attention and thought to something.

“to direct one’s mind to a thing.”

Lightfoot: ‘You must not only seek heaven; you must also think heaven’

Vincent: “Seek marks the practical striving; set your mind, the inward impulse and disposition.

Expositors: “The things on the earth are not in themselves sinful but become so if sought and thought on in preference to the things above.”

Christ’s being seated indicates that his saving work is done, with nothing more to be accomplished to secure our entry into heaven.

A person seated at the right hand of a king is one who enjoys the highest favor and influence.

Our Savior is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, securing forever our favor and interceding for our blessing (Rom. 8:34).

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

3You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Perfect peace = peace peace = שָׁלוֹם shalom = the state of being safe or free from danger; peace; prosperity, success; welfare, state of health; friendliness; deliverance, salvation.

Peace, safety, prosperity, well-being; intactness, wholeness; peace can have a focus of security, safety which can bring feelings of satisfaction, well-being, and contentment.

Perfect peace or complete peace expresses it well. (Genuine peace)

Mind = יֵצֶר yester = form, framing, purpose; of what is framed in the mind; imagination, device, purpose; a steadfast purpose (or frame of mind).

Something formed, creation; inclination, disposition, motivation.

Its most frequent usage in the latter sense refers to that which is formed in the mind, e.g. plans and purposes (Gen 6:5; 8:21; Deut 31:21) or even the state of mind (Isa 26:3).

It pertains to the inclinations or intentions in a person’s heart.

Is stayed on = סָמַךְ sāmak = it describes a heart that is supported, sustained.

Sustain, uphold, support, i.e., cause a state to continue, with a focus that whatever is necessary to remain in that state is given, including a maintaining power; be steadfast.

To be established (abstractly); to be made secure or firm (of something abstract).

Abstract refers to something that is not physical. This is referring to one’s mind.

A person’s mind is made secure when it is fixed on and trusts in the Lord.

Psalm 112:1–10 (NIV84)

7He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast (fixed, kjv; firm, esv; set, lsb), trusting in the Lord.

8His heart is secure (established, kjv; steady, esv; upheld, nasb95, lsb), he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

Is steadfast = כּוּן kûn = to be marked by firm determination or resolution; be unshakable.

Is secure = סָמַךְ sāmak = to be sustained: to be supplied with necessities and support.

(Charles Spurgeon): “His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.” He is neither fickle nor cowardly; when he is undecided as to his course he is still fixed in heart: he may change his plan, but not the purpose of his soul. His heart being fixed in solid reliance upon God, a change in his circumstances but slightly affects him; faith has made him firm and steadfast, and therefore if the worst should come to the worst, he would remain quiet and patient, waiting for the salvation of God.

“His heart is established.” His love to God is deep and true, his confidence in God is firm and unmoved; his courage has a firm foundation and is supported by omnipotence. He has become settled by experience and confirmed by years. He is not a rolling stone, but a pillar in the house of the Lord.

John 14:27 (NIV84)

27Peace 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.

Peace = εἰρήνη eirēnē = blessing of peace: a state of peace that is a blessing or favor from God.

A set of favorable circumstances involving peace and tranquility.

The inward serenity based upon reconciliation with God.

Not peace in the empty way in which the world so often uses the word. It’s the peace that comes through knowing that your sins are forgiven and your guilt is removed. It’s the peace you have when the ruler of the universe is reigning in your heart, when you know you have that place in heaven prepared by God’s grace.

Hearts = καρδία kardia = the locus of a person’s thoughts (mind), volition, emotions, and knowledge of right from wrong (conscience) understood as the heart.

Do let be troubled = ταράσσω tarassō = to cause inward turmoil, stir up, disturb, unsettle, throw into confusion.

Do be afraid = δειλιάω deiliaō 1x = to be timid: to be lacking conviction or boldness or courage.

“to be a coward”

They would have peace with God (Rom 5.1), because their sins were forgiven and the peace of God (Phil. 4:7) would guard their lives.

The world is unable to give this kind of peace.

Fear of death (Heb. 2:14–15) and fear of the future are removed as Jesus’ followers trust in Him. Thus, they need not be troubled.

1 Peter 4:7 (NIV84)

7The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Some people act as if they will live forever. Not so says the Bible. We often say, “Today is the first day of the rest of my life.” That is true.

It is equally true to declare, “Today could be the last day of the rest of my life.”

The end is not only present but also poised and ready to materialize.

The end of all things is speaking of the Lord’s return.

The verb translated is near (ēggiken) means “approaching.” The event (Christ’s return) is imminent; it could occur at any moment.

Therefore, believers are to live with an ongoing attitude of anticipation or expectancy, as a mark of faithfulness.

Be clear minded = σωφρονέω sōphroneō = to be soberly wise: to think and live wisely in self-control over one’s passions and desires.

Be in one’s right mind; think sensibly, be sensible or serious.

To be clear-minded is to see things as they are and to act appropriately.

Self-controlled = νήφω nēphō = to get self-control; sober up: to curb the controlling influence of inordinate emotions or desires (and therefore become reasonable); conceived of as sobering up from the influence of alcohol. self-controlled.

Exercise self-restraint, to help you pray.

“alert, sound-minded, and mentally disciplined.”

1 Peter 4:7 (ESV)

7The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

Thomas Manton (1620-1677): “The disposition and temper of heart fit for prayer must never be lost.… It is a difficult thing to keep up this praying frame, yet this must be a Christian’s constant work and care. The whole spiritual life is but a watching unto prayer.”

We must always be ready to pray. Alert, watchful, and anticipatory—these are attitudes to have so that we are immediately ready to see God at work among us and to approach God in prayers of thankfulness or petition.

To “watch unto prayer” is to maintain a heart fit for prayer.

“How shall we pray at night when we have been offending God all the day?”

Self-control and sobriety are essential for prayers to be genuine and effective.

Psalm 66:18 (NIV84)

18If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

I had cherished = רָאָה rāʾāh = to consider; look at: to take into consideration as an example; conceived of as directing one’s gaze towards something.

See, look at, take notice, investigate, visit, provide, find, experience.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon: If, having seen it to be there, I continue to gaze upon it without aversion, if I cherish it, The Lord will not hear me. Can I desire him to connive at my sin, and accept me while I willfully cling to any evil way?

Nothing hinders prayer like iniquity harbored in the heart; as with Cain, so with us, sin lies at the door and blocks the passage.

If you refuse to hear God’s commands, he will surely refuse to hear your prayers.

An imperfect petition God will hear for Christ’s sake, but not one which is willfully mis-written by a traitor’s hand.

For God to accept our devotions, while we are delighting in sin, would be to make himself the God of hypocrites, which is a fitter name for Satan than for the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 59:1–2 (NIV84)

1Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

2But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Iniquities = עָוֹן ʿāwōn = an act or feeling that transgresses something forbidden or ignores something required by God’s law or character; whether in thought, feeling, speech, or action.

Iniquities include not only our visible actions; they also include our invisible thoughts and feelings.

Iniquity precedes; sin follows. Iniquity is the root, but a fault is the fruit coming from the root. Hence iniquity seems to refer to the wickedness of the heart, sin to the error of the body. Thus, iniquity is heavier, as though the material for sins, while sin is lighter.

Experiencing anxiety is common when we sin because the guilt we feel creates tension in mind, spirit, and body.

The anxiety associated with guilt may be due in part to the fear of judgment or of facing the consequences of wrongful actions.

True guilt results in godly sorrow over sin.

False guilt results in a worldly fear of consequences.

True guilt encourages freedom through repentance.

False guilt provokes depression and despair.

True guilt accepts forgiveness.

False guilt flourishes in self-pity.

Proverbs 4:20–27 (NIV84)

20My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.

21Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;

22for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.

23Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

(NLT) “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

24Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.

26Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.

27Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

(NLT) “Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV84)

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace in the heart will follow praying about what concerns us. The phrase the peace of God occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. This is peace that comes from God rather than peace with God. It is a peace that comes to us when we pray because we enter into the tranquility of God’s own presence.

This peace, or release from tension, is something that we cannot fully comprehend.

This peace acts like a sentry to guard believers’ hearts (affections) and minds (thoughts) under the sovereign influence of Christ Jesus.

Man’s attempt to gain peace and to alleviate anxiety is often accomplished through unscriptural methods.

What are some of those unscriptural ways people use to attempt to rid themselves of worry?

Is there a counterfeit peace that one assumes is from God?

Next Week!!! (The Lord Willing)