All Things Through Christ
Fear Not • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsWe have no reason to fear, but rather we should rejoice in the understanding that we can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives us strength. All things mean just that, all things!
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good evening and welcome back!
Tonight if you will, start turning in your Bibles to Philippians 4.
We are going to be continuing with our series on “Fear Not,” this evening and tonight we are going to be looking at one of those reasons that we should not fear.
In fact, we are going to be looking at the main reason that we should not fear.
But just as a quick recap and to remind us how we got here, last week we began this series and we looked at the differences between healthy and unhealthy fear.
And if you remember, we concluded that healthy fear is that amount and type of fear that God has given us as a means to protect us.
It is that fight or flight response that we have.
It is that ability God has given us to stop and think about things in the attempt to avoid trouble.
However, the unhealthy fear, if you recall is that fear that paralyzes.
That type of fear that tends to lead to our reacting in irrational and ungodly ways to things.
It is that type of fear that causes us to do things that otherwise we wouldn’t even consider.
It is the type of fear that grips us and keeps us from fulfilling the mission and calling that God has placed on all of our lives.
It is the type of fear to avoid.
And tonight, like I said we are going to look at one of the reasons and ways that we can avoid falling victim to this type of fear.
And we are going to do so against the backdrop of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, or the Church at Philippi, if you will.
And in this letter, like most of Paul’s letters, he is offering both encouragement and admonishment to the Christians there.
He is offering them comfort and acknowledging the hard path they had already trod and the path that lays ahead of them.
But he is also admonishing them at the same time to keep their foot on the gas.
To never let up.
And to never give up.
To continue to press toward the goal that is heaven.
And in this admonishment, he is also challenging them to overcome their fears, rather than being overcome by their fears.
Paul wants them, and us by extension to realize where our real strength and power comes from.
Who we serve.
Who our Father really is.
Which is what we get into tonight.
So, if you have found Philippians 4 or you can follow it on the screen.
Starting in verse 4, Paul writes this . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Do Not Be Anxious (vs 4-7)
Do Not Be Anxious (vs 4-7)
So, Paul starts out her with what I would say is something that is familiar to us all.
And also something I would hope is also comforting to us as well.
First he says . . .
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
And this is something that is not really what I would call optional.
This could be considered more of a command of God if we want to be real about it.
He is telling us to . . .
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
And I will admit is sometimes much easier said than done.
It is real easy to stand up here and say rejoice int he Lord always!
But in practice it is much different.
Sometimes we don’t feel much like rejoicing do we?
Sometimes bad things happen or even not as severe, sometimes we have a bad day.
And we don’t feel much like rejoicing do we?
Let’s just be honest about it.
And Paul, I am sure, had his fair share of bad days.
Look what he says down in verses 11-12 of our text . . .
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Days when he was rejected by those he was trying to preach the Gospel to.
Days when he was thrown into prison.
Days when he was beaten as close to death as you could be.
Days when he was shipwrecked and tossed aside.
Those would qualify as bad days.
So, what is Paul actually getting at here?
He continues on . . .
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
In other words, let Christ shine through you, every day, even—especially— on the bad days.
Remember that the Lord is near.
Both His coming is near, and also he is very near to us.
Remember, he has already promised to never leave us or forsake us.
So he is near to us.
Remember James told us to draw near to God and he would draw near to us.
Same concept here.
And then Paul goes on to why we have reason to always rejoice in the Lord.
He says in verse 6 . . .
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Anybody ever been anxious, worried, concerned, just uneasy feeling about things?
Sure, we all have.
However, Paul tells us not to be this way.
Don’t be anxious.
Don’t worry (which is also something Jesus told us as well).
And the reason Paul can say this is because he has been in some pretty hairy situations and God has always seen him through.
He trusts God.
And because He completely trusts God, he doesn’t worry.
There is a story in our Daily Breads from this past Wednesday and I want want to read it because it is exactly what I am talking about.
The author writes this . . .
“Three hundred children were dressed and seated for breakfast, and a prayer of thanks was offered for the food. But there was no food! Situations like this were not unusual for orphanage director and missionary George Mueller (1805–1898). Here was yet another opportunity to see how God would provide. Within minutes of Mueller’s prayer, a baker who couldn’t sleep the night before showed up at the door. Sensing that the orphanage could use the bread, he had made three batches. Not long afterward, the town milkman appeared. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. Not wanting the milk to spoil, he offered it to Mueller.”
Mueller was following Paul’s advice.
He first was rejoicing in the Lord.
And also, he refused to worry and be anxious about the needs of the children not being met.
He instead brought his request to God with prayer, petition, and thanksgiving.
And God did what God does, God showed up and God provided for the need.
And that is how God operates.
Sometimes, we don’t allow God to show up.
We do absolutely everything and worry ourselves to death about things, that in most instances, we can’t control anyway and refuse to be patient and wait on God.
And when God doesn’t do things the way we want or the way we think He should, we get angry and upset and abandon God.
However, if we want to be God’s people and if we want to experience God in a real way, then we have to allow God to work.
And we have to trust God.
We have to replace our anxiety and worry with trust in God.
Which is, I admit, very difficult at times.
But we need to take a page out of Paul’s book.
Because what happens when we are full of worry and anxiety, we move very quickly into that place of fear, which then moves us to a place where we are paralyzed and unable to function because of it.
However, when our faith and trust is squarely rooted in God, then this happens . . .
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
We experience the true, lasting, calming, and eternal peace of God.
A peace that we cannot even put in words.
But faith has to come first.
Trust has to come first.
I Can Do All Through Christ (vs 8-13)
I Can Do All Through Christ (vs 8-13)
And how do we achieve this?
Paul tells us next . . .
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
So, what is he saying here?
He is saying look at the positive things that are happening.
It’s really all about our perspective on life.
Is the glass half full or half empty.
How do we look at things?
Because that says a lot about who we are and about how we we analyze situations that we face in life.
For instance, if you are the type of person that always sees the negative side of things, in every situation you face, that is what you will focus on.
We call them pessimists.
However, if you focus on the good and on the positive, if you are an optimist, you will be able to more easily see God at work in situations.
Just think about our daily lives, how do we look at things?
Do we see all the things that have went wrong today or could possibly maybe go wrong and it has soured our attitude?
Do we dread the day ahead because we think it will be a bad day before it’s even started?
Chances are, if this is how we are thinking, then it will be a bad day.
Or do we start each day rejoicing in the Lord, thanking God for all He has given us, and how He has blessed us?
And as we go through the day, even when we face challenges do we try to look for the good and the positive in it?
Sometimes that may mean stopping and asking God to show you, but do we try?
Paul continues on . . .
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
In other words, trust God and practice what you preach.
Let God be evident in your everyday life.
Let God shine through you.
Be a person that displays the confidence knowing that they are a child of God and not a person who is fearful of situations and circumstances, especially those we have no control over.
Altar/Challenge
Altar/Challenge
And finishing up in verse 10 . . .
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
Paul here is just thanking them for being concerned about his well-being.
And we have already covered verses 11-12, which confirm that Paul knows what he is talking about.
And the verse I want to really get to, which we should all commit to memory . . .
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Or as we know it . . .
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
And the real kicker to this verse is whether or not we really believe it.
Do we believe that we can accomplish anything through Christ?
And if the answer is “yes,” then what are we worried about?
What are we anxious about?
Why do we doubt?
Why do we fear?
Why don’t we rejoice in the Lord always?
What is it that is holding us back?
And those are questions that only you and God can answer.
And tonight, we need to pray about these things and seek God’s answer.
Can we do that tonight?
Will we do that tonight?
Let’s pray . . .