PEACE IN THE MIDST OF PRESSURE

INTRODUCTION

OPENING STORY: WHERE WERE YOU ON APRIL 14, 2019? I KNOW WHERE I WAS. I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO A CHURCH IN SF, AND GOT UP SUPER EARLY TO WATCH THE MASTERS TOURNAMENT BECAUSE TIGER WAS IN THE LEAD. I WAS SO STRESSED AND FILLED WITH ANXIETY WATCHING HIM…FINALLY IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO GO AND I FIGURED I’D TURN ON THE PGA CHANNEL, BUT I DIDN’T HAVE IT. NOW I’M REALLY WORRIED. SO I CALL XM RADIO, AND GOD BLESS THE POOR MAN WHO WAITED ON ME BECAUSE HE WAS MOVING TOO SLOW AND I’M JUST ABOUT FUSSING AT HIM TO HURRY UP ON THE LORD’S DAY AS I’M GOING UP 280. THEN I GET THE CHANNEL…DO I GO TO CHURCH? CAN I CANCEL ON THIS GUY. I GO TO CHURCH…ANXIOUS. FORGIVE MY CARNALITY. COME HOME AND WATCH THE FULL ROUND BECAUSE I RECORDED, AND WHAT I NOTICED BLEW MY MIND. HERE’S TIGER ON ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT COURSES ON ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF HIS LIFE AND HE’S CHEWING GUM! TOTALLY A PICTURE OF PEACE. YOU KNOW OVER 28K THINGS CAN GO WRONG WITH A GOLF SWING…PEACE UNDER PRESSURE!

EXPOSING THE NEED: WE LIVE IN A CULTURE RIFE WITH ANXIETY. REMEMBER FEAR IS THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO AN ACTUAL THREAT; ANXIETY TO A PERCEIVED THREAT. ANXIETY IS ALL AROUND US. MORE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS ON PLANES WITH PEOPLE…ANXIETY. STRESS REDUCING MEDICATIONS ON THE RISE. AND IN THE BAY WITH OUR SUCCESS IDOLS YOU WORK IN JOBS THAT DEMAND YOU TO PRODUCE, PRODUCE, PRODUCE! AND THE PRESSURES. ANXIETY WITH KIDS. DANGLING YOUR HEART IN FRONT OF YOU! STRESSED OUT AT JS GAMES…YELLING. WIFE HAD TO CONFRONT ME. I TOLD HIM FOR EVERY TIME I YELL AT YOU I OWE YOU TEN DOLLARS. STRESSED. AND THEN THERE’S MEDICATION, AND SO ON.

SO WHAT ARE WE TO DO? I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO THE MOST PRACTICAL TEACHING ON ACCESSING PEACE IN THE MIDST OF ANXIETY IN THE BIBLE. WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE PROBLEM OF ANXIETY, THE PERSPECTIVE WE NEED TO MAINTAIN AND THE PROCESS TO ACCESSING PEACE.

THE PROBLEM- ANXIETY (6)

EXPLANATION: LOOK AT VERSE 6. PAUL COMMANDS US NOT TO BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING. GREEK WORD FOR ANYTHING IS VERY INTERESTING, IT MEANS ANYTHING- JOB, KIDS, WEIGHT, ETC. NOTE: PAUL COMMANDS US TO NOT BE ANXIOUS. IT’S OKAY TO BE CONCERNED, NOT OKAY TO BE ANXIOUS. GREEK WORD AND TENSE SUGGESTS AN OBSESSION, A PREOCCUPATION WITH A POTENTIAL MATTER.

ILLUSTRATION: TOUCH YOUR TEMPLE RIGHT NOW AND GIVE GOD PRAISE FOR YOUR AMYGDALAE. THIS IS THE BRAINS ALARM SYSTEM. IT OPERATES YOUR FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE. IF AN INTRUDER BREAKS INTO YOUR HOUSE YOUR AMYGDALAE GOES OFF. IF A PITBULL COMES RUNNING TOWARDS YOU…IF A BASEBALL IS COMING AT YOUR HEAD…THANK GOD FOR OUR AMYGDALAE’S. ANXIETY HAPPENS WHEN THE ALARM IS TRIGGERED AND STAYS TRIGGERED, NEVER GOING OFF. SEES A MOLE AND THINKS CANCER AND CAN’T GET IT OUT OF OUR MINDS. THE BOSS WANTS TO MEET WITH YOU AND YOU JUST CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT ALL THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS...

ILLUSTRATION: TOUCH YOUR TEMPLE RIGHT NOW AND GIVE GOD PRAISE FOR YOUR AMYGDALAE. THIS IS THE BRAINS ALARM SYSTEM. IT OPERATES YOUR FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE. IF AN INTRUDER BREAKS INTO YOUR HOUSE YOUR AMYGDALAE GOES OFF. IF A PITBULL COMES RUNNING TOWARDS YOU…IF A BASEBALL IS COMING AT YOUR HEAD…THANK GOD FOR OUR AMYGDALAE’S. ANXIETY HAPPENS WHEN THE ALARM IS TRIGGERED AND STAYS TRIGGERED, NEVER GOING OFF.

APPLICATION: SOME OF YOU THE ALARM OF ANXIETY IS JUST GOING OFF. IF IT MADE A SOUND THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF BEEPS RIGHT NOW IN THIS SANCTUARY. SEES A MOLE AND THINKS CANCER AND CAN’T GET IT OUT OF OUR MINDS. THE BOSS WANTS TO MEET WITH YOU AND YOU JUST CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT ALL THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS…MARRIAGE…MONEY.

THE PERSPECTIVE (5)

EXPLANATION: WE LIVE IN A WORLD RIFE WITH TEMPTATIONS TOWARDS ANXIETY. THE BIBLE SAYS FLAT OUT THAT IN THIS LIFE WE WILL HAVE TROUBLE. TEMPTATIONS TOWARD ANXIETY PULL AT US CONSTANTLY. BUT IT’S HERE THAT PAUL ACTUALLY SAYS WE NEED TO SEE THESE TEMPTATIONS TOWARD WORRY AS A PHENOMENAL OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY THE GLORY OF GOD! LOOK AT VERSE 5. LET YOUR REASONABLENESS BE KNOWN TO EVERYONE. REASONABLENESS IS GENTLENESS, CALM UNDER PRESSURE. THEN IN VERSE 7 HE POINTS TO PEACE IN THE MIDST OF PRESSURE. AND DO YOU SEE WHAT HE SAYS, WE ARE TO LET GOD’S REASONABLENESS AND PEACE BE KNOWN…COMMANDMENT. PUT ON DISPLAY GENTLENESS AND PEACE IN THE MIDST OF PRESSURE.

ILLUSTRATION: EVER GOTTEN ON A SMALL BOAT WHEN THE WAVES WERE PRETTY ROCKY? THE BOAT IS AT THE DOCK JUST GOING UP AND DOWN AND UP AND DOWN, AND YET YOU’RE ABLE TO BOARD BECAUSE THE BOAT AIN’T GOING ANYWHERE, IT’S NOT GOING TO DRIFT AND BE AT THE WHIM OF THE SEA. WHY? BECAUSE IT’S TIED TO THE DOCK.

EXAMPLE OF PAUL: THAT’S WHAT PAUL HAD. WRITING FROM JAIL. AND 16 TIMES HE EXHORTS THEM TO HAVE JOY! WHAT? WHAT’S MORE IS THAT HERE HE IS IN PRISON AND RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF OUR TEXT HE TALKS TO THEM ABOUT BEING CONTENT, AS HE IS CONTENT. CONTENTMENT IS THE DISPLAY OF PEACEFUL STABILITY REGARDLESS OF ONE’S CIRCUMSTANCES! PAUL WAS TIED TO THE DOCK.

EXAMPLE OF PAUL: THAT’S WHAT PAUL HAD. WRITING FROM JAIL. AND 16 TIMES HE EXHORTS THEM TO HAVE JOY! WHAT? WHAT’S MORE IS THAT HERE HE IS IN PRISON AND RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF OUR TEXT HE TALKS TO THEM ABOUT BEING CONTENT, AS HE IS CONTENT. CONTENTMENT IS THE DISPLAY OF PEACEFUL STABILITY REGARDLESS OF ONE’S CIRCUMSTANCES!

EXAMPLE OF JESUS: . SEE THE GENTLENESS. NO WORRY, NO ANXIETY. TIED TO THE DOCK.

APPLICATION: ANXIETY REVEALS WHAT YOU’RE TIED TO? IF YOU’RE TIED TO THIS WORLD YOU WILL LIVE IN ANXIETY. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO HELP IT. IF YOU’RE ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IT PROBABLY MEANS YOU LOVE THIS WORLD TOO MUCH AND ARE NOT IN LOVE WITH JESUS AND ETERNITY. IF YOU ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR MARRIAGE IT COULD BE BECAUSE YOUR SPOUSE HAS BECOME YOUR IDOL, OR YOUR SENSE OF SECURITY. YOUR KIDS…THE SAME. YOUR JOB THE SAME. BUT WHEN YOU’RE TIED TO THE DOCK OF JESUS YOU CAN BE CONCERNED ABOUT THESE THINGS WHILE NOT DROWNING IN THE SEA OF ANXIETY!

THE PROCESS

EXPLANATION: OKAY…SO HOW DO WE LAY CLAIM TO PEACE. GOD’S WILL FOR OUR LIVES IS THAT WE WOULD DISPLAY HIS GLORY BY BEING PICTURES OF GENTLENESS, PEACE AND CONTENTMENT IN THE MIDST OF TEMPTATIONS TOWARD ANXIETY. YOUR TRIAL IS NOT ABOUT YOUR TRIAL. SO HOW DO WE DO THIS. LET ME GIVE YOU AN ACRONYM- CALM- THAT EMERGES RIGHT FROM THIS TEXT. GOD WANTS US TO BE THE PICTURE OF CALM. CREDIT LUCADO. FOR MORE ON THIS SEE LUCADO’S BOOK...

CHOOSE JOY. FIRST, WE MUST CHOOSE JOY. LOOK AT VERESE 4. IT’S A COMMAND. NOW JOY IS TRICKY FOR MANY PREACHERS BECAUSE THERE’S NO GETTING PAST IT, IT’S AN EMOTIONAL TERM. BUT WHEN WE THINK OF EMOTIONS WE THINK OF REACTIONS TO CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT THIS IS NOT CHRISTIAN JOY. IT’S A SYMPTOM OF LIFE IN THE HS. THE ABILITY TO EXPRESS HAPPINESS IN SPITE OF ONE’S CIRCUMSTANCES. JOY IN THE MIDST OF THE PULL TOWARDS WORRY IS THE WITNESS HERE. - FRUIT OF THE HS.

HOW DO WE INSTIGATE THIS? YES WALK IN THE SPIRIT, BUT VERY PRACTICAL, WHEN YOU’RE TEMPTED TO WORRY, SIT DOWN AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. I DID THIS A WHILE AGO IN THE MIDST OF A TEMPTATION TO WORRY. TOOK OUT MY JOURNAL AND WROTE AS MANY BLESSINGS AS I COULD. AND BOY DID THAT HELP WITH JOY. GOD’S BEEN GOOD AND FAITHFUL, HE HAS ESTABLISHED A TRACK RECORD.

ASK GOD FOR HELP. LOOK AT VERSE 6. BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER. LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD. LAST PHRASE IS A COMMAND. GOD IS COMMANDING US TO PRAY! THE MIND IS NOT A BLANK SHEET OF PAPER. WHICH MEANS YOU CAN’T JUST SAY I WON’T WORRY AND DO NOTHING. PAUL SAYS YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, AND THAT SOMETHING IS TO REJOICE AND ASK GOD FOR HELP.

EXAMPLE OF JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. SHOW WORDS THAT SHOWED HIS TEMPTATION TO WORRY. BUT HE EMERGED THE PICTURE OF PEACE. WHY? HE ASKED GOD.

ILLUSTRATION: MY KIDS ARE OLDER, AND I HAVE A SIMPLE RULE WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR ACADEMICS: IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING IN AN AREA WHICH IS NATURALLY TEMPTING YOU TO WORRY, ASK ME FOR HELP AND YOU’VE GOT IT. NOW THAT MEANS I’LL PAY FOR A TUDOR, OR WHATEVER. I WANT TO SEE MY KIDS FLOURISH AND SUCCEED. MY HELP IS WAITING. MY RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE, BUT THEY WON’T GET IT IF THEY WON’T ASK FOR IT!

APPLICATION: GOD IS SAYING THE SAME THING HERE. ASK ME TO FIX YOUR SITUATION. ASK ME FOR PEACE IN THE MEAN TIME, AND YOU GOT IT.

LEAVE YOUR CONCERNS WITH GOD. WHAT’S IMPLIED BY PAUL’S INSTRUCTIONS WITH PRAYER IS THAT WE LEAVE THE CONCERNS WITH HIM. THIS IS WHAT PETER MEANT IN . CAST…LEAVE IT THERE…DON’T RETRIEVE IT!

ILLUSTRATION: MOST OF US DO THIS, BUT OUR PROBLEM IS WE LIKE TO FISH. FISHING INVOLVES CASTING A LINE, LEAVING IT THERE FOR A MOMENT AND THEN REELING OR TAKING IT BACK. DON’T DO THAT.

ILLUSTRATION: WHAT PAUL HAS IN MIND IS MORE LIKE A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. 10. Lifesaver In 2005, more than 80 mostly-teenaged migrants were abandoned on a boat off the coast of Costa Rica. Left on the crippled vessel by the crew who was illegally smuggling the passengers, they were adrift without any means of typical communication. They ingeniously popped an SOS into a bottle that was miraculously found by fisherman, who delivered the message of “Please help us” to the denizens of a nearby World Heritage site island. The workers there alerted their headquarters, the lost-at-sea drifters were rescued, and the group was taken to the island to recover.

ARE YOU FISHING OR LEAVING A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE TO GOD, NEVER TO REACH BACK FOR IT. LEAVE IT WITH GOD!

MEDITATE ON GOOD THINGS. ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS ABOUT OUR PASSAGE IS THAT PAUL IS CONSTANTLY THREADING OR LINKING THE MIND WITH PEACE. WHAT WE THINK ABOUT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS OF OUR MIND. VERSE 8. THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS IS A COMMAND. DON’T HAVE TIME TO DO AN AUDIT ON THESE WORDS, BUT NOTICE ONE SMALL ONE THAT KEEPS SHOWING UP. IS…IS…IS. WHICH MEANS PRESENT, REALITY. ANXIETY IS OUR ATTEMPT TO FORECAST THE FUTURE. BUT WE NEED TO DWELL ON WHAT IS…AND THE GOOD THINGS OF WHAT IS…AND WHAT IS TRUE? YOU ASK. WHAT IS ALL THE OTHER THINGS? I’LL TELL YOU, IT’S GOD!

CONCLUSION: RESULT- GOD OF PEACE WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS. PAUL MUST HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE GUARDS WHO WERE WATCHING OVER HIM WHILE IN JAIL AS HE WROTE. PEACE WILL MARCH GUARD DUTY AROUND YOUR HEARTS.

GERMAN SHEPHERD ILLUSTRATION: SMALL WOMAN, PETITE. COMING MY WAY, I LITERALLY CROSSED OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE, OUT OF HER PATH. WHEN PEACE MARCHES GUARD DUTY, ANXIETY HAS TO CROSS OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE!

OR ALL SECURE YOU CAN GO TO SLEEP NOW!