How To Walk In Peace
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NUMBER 1
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.
The American Psychological Association (2013) defines anxiety as a future-oriented concern that may lead people to avoid situations that trigger or worsen their distress.
The Bible word for anxiety is: a lack of peace, experienced physically, spiritually or mentally[1] It means to be pulled in many directions.
NUMBER 2
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Definition of Peace = The state of harmony that is available to believers through having a right relationship with God and others and is especially associated with the presence of the Holy Spirit.[1]
Yes peace with God is our greatest blessing. That we are in right standing with Him. Also having a peace with others. But what I’m focusing on today is a state of being or “well being”.
Yes peace is the absence of war in the natural:
Peace is the brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.[2]
True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings; it comes from trust in God and that He is ultimately in control.
but from a spiritual view peace is the presence of God in our life.
Shalom = wholeness, completeness, tranquility in the soul that is unaffected by outward circumstances or pressure. When a person is dominated by Shalom he has a calm, inner stability that results in the ability to conduct himself peacefully, even in the midst of circumstances that would normally be very nerve-racking or traumatic.
This peace that comes from God is supernatural not circumstantial
John 14:27“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.[3]
NUMBER 3
Illustration
Psalm 23:5 NASB95
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Intro: This song is talking about the relationship of shepherd and sheep. A shepherd would anoint the sheep’s head to protect it from flies and other pests.
Body: Problem Summer time the sheep are troubled by the nose fly. These little flies buzz about the sheep’s head attempting to deposit their eggs on the damp, mucous membranes of the sheep’s nose. If they successful the eggs will hatch in a few days to form small, slender, worm like larvae. They work their way up the nasal passages into the sheep’s head. They burrow into the flesh and there set up an intense irritation accompanied by severe inflammation.
For relief from this agonizing annoyance sheep will deliberately beat their heads against trees, rocks, posts, or brush. In extreme cases of intense infestation a sheep may even kill itself to find relief.
Because of this, when the nose flies hover around the flock some of the sheep become frantic with fear and panic in their attempt to escape their tormentors. They will stamp their feet erratically and race from place to place in the pasture trying desperately to elude the flies. Some may run so much they will drop from sheer exhaustion. Others may toss their heads up and down for hours. They will hide in any bush or woodland area that offers shelter. On some occasions they may refuse to graze in the open at all.
Ointment: Answer Shepherds in response to this will apply and smear ointment all over their head and nose through out summer time. Once this ointment is applied there is an immediate change in behavior. Gone is the aggravation, gone in the frenzy, irritability, restlessness, fear, and anxiety. The sheep would begin to feed again and lie down in peaceful contentment.
Personal: How many has had those little flies buzzing around your head. Flies of aggravation, restlessness, fear and anxiety? Little flies that rob you of your peace and joy.
Answer: Just as with the sheep there must be continuous and renewed application of oil to forestall the flies in my life, there must be a continuous anointing of God’s Spirit to counteract the ever-present frustrations and anxiety.
Flies?
Overthinking everything. Reading to much into the situation. Making a big deal out of everything to the point where every interaction starts to seem negative. Sweating the small stuff to were you are thinking of mistakes that you have made years ago. Sulking in self condemnation. Picking yourself apart.
Stress of overachieving. Over working and striving to meet unrealistic goals can lead to frustration and anxiousness. This causes a sense of guilt for relaxing and doing those things that relieve everyday stress. You never feel content with yourself because you are thinking of the next mountain to climb.
The pressure of being liked and excepted by others. This leads to having a poor self -image and feeling that your not good enough.
Negative thinking about yourself, circumstances, or those around you makes difficult for you to feel calm because you are forever finding something to worry about.
Just this Last week.
12 physical side effects of worry.
Panic attacks
Sense of doom
Depression
Headaches
Irritability
Breathing problems
Upset stomach
Loss of libido
Extreme Fatigue
Increase in Blood pressure
Loss of sleep
Muscle aches and other pains
NUMBER 4
How do I overcome these flies in my life. How do I overcome worry and anxiousness?
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Anxious For Nothing!
Christians are to be responsible for their needs and their families and to care about and be concerned for others, but they are not to worry, fret, or have undue concern[1]
Martin Luther King, Jr., from an address given the night before he died[1]
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but … I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man.
Anxious care is out of place in a heavenly Father’s presence
Imagine never worrying about anything! That seems like an impossibility—everyone has worries on the job, at home, or at school. How do we conquer our worries?
If we are to conquer worry and experience the secure mind, we must walk this scripture out. There are three: right praying (Phil. 4:6–7), right thinking (Phil. 4:8), and right living (Phil. 4:9).[1]
Prayer
Worry and prayer cannot coexist.[1]
The word prayer is the general word for making requests known to the Lord. It carries the idea of adoration, devotion, and worship. Whenever we find ourselves worrying, our first action ought to be to get alone with God and worship Him[1]
The second is supplication, an earnest sharing of our needs and problems[2]
After adoration and supplication comes appreciation, giving thanks to God. Certainly the Father enjoys hearing His children say, “Thank You!”
The words “shall keep,” are from a military word, “shall mount
guard.” God’s peace, like a sentinel, mounts guard and patrols
before the heart’s door, keeping worry out[1]
Right Thinking (Phil. 4:8)
Peace involves the heart and the mind.“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee” (Isa. 26:3). Wrong thinking leads to wrong feeling, and before long the heart and mind are pulled apart and we are strangled by worry. We must realize that thoughts are real and powerful, even though they cannot be seen, weighed, or measured. We must bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).[1]
Whatever is true. Dr. Walter Cavert reported a survey on worry that indicated that only 8 percent of the things people worried about were legitimate matters of concern! The other 92 percent were either imaginary, never happened, or involved matters over which the people had no control anyway. Satan is the liar (John 8:44), and he wants to corrupt our minds with his lies (2 Cor. 11:3). “Yea, hath God said?” is the way he approaches us, just as he approached Eve (Gen. 3:1ff). The Holy Spirit controls our minds through truth (John 17:17; 1 John 5:6), but the devil tries to control them through lies. Whenever we believe a lie, Satan takes over[2]
Whatever is honest and just. This means “worthy of respect and right.” There are many things that are not respectable, and Christians should not think about these things. This does not mean we hide our heads in the sand and avoid what is unpleasant and displeasing, but it does mean we do not focus our attention on dishonorable things and permit them to control our thoughts[3]
Whatever is pure, lovely, and of good report. “Pure” probably refers to moral purity, since the people then, as now, were constantly attacked by temptations to sexual impurity (Eph. 4:17–24; 5:8–12). “Lovely” means “beautiful, attractive.” “Of good report” means “worth talking about, appealing.” The believer must major on the high and noble thoughts, not the base thoughts of this corrupt world.[4]
Whatever is pure, lovely, and of good report. “Pure” probably refers to moral purity, since the people then, as now, were constantly attacked by temptations to sexual impurity (Eph. 4:17–24; 5:8–12). “Lovely” means “beautiful, attractive.” “Of good report” means “worth talking about, appealing.” The believer must major on the high and noble thoughts, not the base thoughts of this corrupt world.[5]
Whatever possesses virtue and praise. If it has virtue, it will motivate us to do better; and if it has praise, it is worth commending to others. No Christian can afford to waste “mind power” on thoughts that tear him down or that would tear others down if these thoughts were shared.[6]
Right Living (Phil. 4:9)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
I would describe my conversion as the war on the inside stopped.