Do Not Worry

Introduction

It has been close to two months since we have gathered in this room. As businesses open back up and on May 17, we will regather here in this room, it will continue to be a different world. Some people will wear masks and others will not. We are still seeing more confirmed cases in our state than recovered patients. We have been blessed in that McNairy County has no known active cases. I know that some people are deeply frustrated with what seems to be a lack of desire to regather. I assure you that is not the case, nor has it ever been. Others may feel that we are regathering too early and I understand your concern. Some of you may feel since there is a lack of information, there has been a lack of planning. I assure you that we have attended hours of webinars and online meetings. We have read hundreds, if not thousands of pages of government, denominational, and para-church documents related to regathering. We have a plan that we are going to send out in stages. Expect the first document to come this week to prepare you for what things will look like when we regather on May 17.

As we approach that day and adjust to what just might be a new normal, I want you to join me in seeking the peace of God.

Let’s look at Philippians 4:6-9 tonight.

Philippians 4:6–9 CSB

6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Pray

Do Not Worry

What are we told to not worry about?

Verse 6 tells us Don’t worry about anything.

Worry is being anxious for something, someone, or some situation. Worry is overly caring about something. This verse does not prohibit us from caring or being genuinely concerned about something, someone, or some situation. Worry goes beyond caring and concern.

Where is the line between caring and worrying?

To answer that, you must evaluate your praying over the situation. A person that is worried does not trust God with what is being worried over.

Since we are in the midst of a pandemic, I must say that there is a difference in simply being wise and being worried. I can be wise and stay in, wear a mask those few times that I am out, wash my hands often, and don’t touch my face. Worry would be living in constant fear that I am going to get it, wearing a mask while I am preaching, and constantly dwelling on the spread of the disease.

The Bible tells us to not worry about anything.

Anything includes everything and nothing is left out of anything. Therefore we are simply told not to worry.

Why should we not worry? First of all, because scripture commands it. The second reason is that:

We can trust God

Let’s look at verse 6 again:

Philippians 4:6 CSB

6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

We can trust God with everything! What is included in everything? Everything.

COVID-19

Murder Hornets

Economic Downturns

Meat Shortages in the grocery stores

Cancer

Inter-personal relationships

Anything else you can think of.

We can and must trust God with everything. It is the only way that we can have peace. We will see more about that in just a moment. First, I want to encourage you to do something.

We must Pray

Prayer is the means through which we simply talk to God. It does not have to be fancy, it does not need to be rehearsed, and you don’t have to say certain things. You simply talk to God.

You simply tell the Lord how you feel about a situation, ask Him to work in you and the situation. You give the situation over to Him to handle. If you are genuinely concerned about it, then you keep praying about it. When the thought of the situation comes up, don’t dwell on it and try to figure it out. Simply say a prayer concerning it and leave it to the Lord. Whenever you think about it, give it to the Lord.

He tells us to give petition with thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is the act of thanking God for something.

Thank Him for how He has come through for you in the past.

Thank Him for your salvation.

Thank Him for His ability to work all things to our good.

Romans 8:28 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

When we give thanksgiving to the Lord in the midst of praying over a concern, it reminds us that He has been faithful, He is faithful, and that He will always be faithful.

We should always have an attitude of gratitude when coming to the Lord in prayer.

We are also to present our requests to God.

Do not be afraid to be specific in your prayers to God. Pray for specific answers to what you are concerned about.

Do not let your concerns become worry, but let them be matters of prayer instead.

The Peace of God

Philippians 4:7 CSB

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

If we do, verse 6, then the peace of God will flood our troubled souls. When we truly trust God with a situation, the direct opposite of worry will flood our hearts, minds, and souls - PEACE.

There is nothing that can compare with not worrying about anything and praying about everything. When we learn to do this, we experience peace.

Peace comes from trusting that God is able.

Peace comes from trusting that even if I don’t get what I want, I realize that God has given me exactly what I need.

Peace is a satisfaction that can not be understood or described.

Today is Lisa Connerley’s birthday. Lisa donated a kidney to me. In the midst of kidney failure, the weakness, and misery that came with it, I had peace. While we were looking for a donor, I had peace. When Anthony found out that he could not donate, I had peace. When I had to go on dialysis while we finalized Lisa’s donation and scheduling. I had peace. I had peace because I rusted God. It wasn’t because I am some sort of super Christian, because I am not.

It was because I trusted Him with my health, life, and family. I could trust Him. I could trust Him that even if I spent years on dialysis, He allowed it for my good. I could trust Him that if I died my family would be taken care of and I would be in His presence.

Folks, there is no way to completely describe the peace that comes through prayer, petition, and trusting the Lord.

Notice what the peace of God does for us - It will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The idea of guarding is the same idea as protecting. The peace of God guards our hearts and minds. The peace of God protects our hearts and minds. The peace of God watches over our hearts and minds.

How great is the Father’s Love for us that He gives us His peace.

Dwell on the Right Things

The Lord knows our tendency to dwell on the negative. So, He gave us a list of things to dwell on rather than our worries. Let’s close with verses 8-9

Philippians 4:8–9 CSB

8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Pray