Peace vs. Anxiety
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Text: Eph. 6:14-15; Matt. 6:34; Phil. 4:6-7
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This morning as you can see there are a number of shoes.
It is because we are talking about the next part of the armor of God - feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
Here this morning we have:
work boots
booties
slippers
skates
sandals
snow boots
open toe shoes
leather boots
cleats
This does not even touch all the shoes that are avilable. When we look at this we see that there are a lot of shoes for a lot of different activities and things we encounter in life.
There are special boots that soldiers wear that equip them for running and marching. They are designed for one primary reason that is to give the soldier hand to hand combat against the enemy.
Well in our day battling anxiety is closely comparable to battling the enemy.
So when getting ready to do this make sure on your feet you put on the peace tht comes from the Good news which will make you prepared.
So as we are preparing ourselves to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy we need to take a look at how we not only stand but how we equip all aspects in our life and that includes our feet.
I have mentioned before that I believe our society has been plagued with anxiety and depression as our plague of the day. In the past it has been tuberculosis, the plague, and now today our disease that is crippling our society is anxiety.
I haunts so many households and it rears its ugly head all too often. This morning let’s talk about overcoming anxiety.
Anxiety is one of the defining symptoms of our times 18% of America’s population deals with anxiety and depression.
According to the National Post:
A recent poll of 1,500 Canadians found 41 per cent of those surveyed identified themselves as “someone who struggles with anxiety.” A third said they had been formally diagnosed with anxiety. A similar proportion had been prescribed antidepressants.
Some anxiety is a result of genetics, brain chemistry or both and some as a result of life events.
Rates are rising among all ages. Children are being diagnosed at a younger and younger age.
Our world measures, grades and judges everything we do.
Social media posts liked or not
cyber bullies on the rise
Just last week right here in CBS there was an article released noting a mother with a desperate plea regarding her child being bullied daily at one of our CBS schools.
Kids feeling greater pressures to achieve and succeed like never before.
Seeing those we love being gripped with anxiety is increasing our level of anxiety and life is already a great challenge:
money worries
economic uncertainty
job stress
family conflicts
traumatic events
addiction
caring for loved ones
international conflicts
political discord
violence
uncertain climates
God in His wisdom has provided support for those who need it:
medication
counselling
support groups
healing
A life in Christ does not remove us from the world it sustains us in it.
One of the ways Christ sustains us in this world is through the gift of peace.
Eph. 6 is our spiritual warfare
stand therefore… having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
NLT --- for shoes - put on the peace that comes from the good news so that you will be fully prepared.
Talk about all the shoes that are there and what they prepare you for
What would happen if instead of fear and vulnerability the enemy saw preparation and strength in you?
The importance of Peace
The importance of Peace
Peace, Peace
Wonderful peace
Coming down from the father above
Sweep over my spirit
Forever I pray
In fanthomless billows of love
Just as the Roman soldier’s studded their shoes wo anchor them firmly to the ground as they faced their opponents.
Peace anchors us firmly to God. As we face the troubles and uncertainties that assail us in this fallen world.
When we have life apart from Christ there is no deep peace
We have been created with a need for God.
Some people try to fill it with other things - alcohol, drugs, sex, other gods.
Because there is an emptiness even in ancient times.
When we come to Jesus Christ and put our trust in Him we are justified by faith.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Peace given by Jesus was purchased at the price of His own blood.
God gave us Jesus and through Jesus we have peace!
Struggles with anxity can seem like an unending battle.
God understands he extent of your worry.
Because of the Gospel of peace we do not have to fear about loosing His love.
Even in the darkest nights the God of peace is WITH you and FOR you!
Embrace these verses
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
There is peace beyond all understanding!
Peace is available at all times!
Peace through Christ
Peace through Christ
Jesus knows about the temptations of the enemy. He experienced it all. He knows the feeling of being pushed past physical limits, and he knows the longing for freedom from pain.
But the good news is that when we are in our lowest moments and questioning out faith or God’s willingness to deliever us from our pain we must remember the gospel - which is the Good news - Jesus Saves
Shout it out and let all the world proclaim that Jesus saves!
This morning if you struggle with aniety in your life, your life can seem like a battle. But God gets it, he understands the extent of it. And because of peace, the one thing you do not have to fear is losing His love!
Peace beyong Understanding
Peace beyong Understanding
Jesus told His disciples that there will be trouble.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus is capable of calming the storms and calming any storm in your life.
Peace 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.
Jesus knew that in the matter of hours thee lives of his disciples would be shattered through his own terrible ordeal and death. Yet he told them to have peace in the midst of trauma. An inward peace that brings confidence and stability.
illustraton from page 87-88 of overcomer:
“Eric Barker was a Christian missionary who spent fifty years preaching the gospel in Portugal in the years leading up to World War II and beyond. What was a challenging mission field in the best of times became even more stressful as the war gained momentum.
At some point things became so dangerous in Portugal that he was advised to send his wife and eight children by boat to England, as well as his sister and her three children. So he loaded the thirteen people he treasured most in the world onto a ship and watched it steam out of sight. His plan was to join his family in England on a later ship after concluding some missionary busi- ness in Portugal.
The Sunday after his family’s departure was a Sunday like most—except for a telegram he received shortly before the service began, a telegram he shared with his congregation: “I’ve just received word that all my family have arrived safely home.”
The congregation breathed a sigh of relief and the service continued. It was only later that the full meaning of the pastor’s words became known to the congregation: “Safely home” didn’t mean “safely in England.”
Just before the meeting, Barker learned that a German U-boat had torpedoed the ship carrying his family; there were no survivors. His wife, their eight children, and his sister and her three children were all lost. But Barker knew exactly where they were. They were in- deed “safely home” with the Lord.”
Now that is peace that is only possible with God. Peace in the midst of extreme tragedy and grief.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It is peace that is not rooted in this world and peace that this world can never bring to you.
Experiencing God’s Peace - God’s Plan
Experiencing God’s Peace - God’s Plan
When we have made peace with God and have the peace of God in our lives, we can hold our ground and overcome any assault by the enemy.
Our faith - just like those cleated shoes - will hold firm and not allow us to slip and fall.
There are two types of peace to talk about here:
Peace with God through the acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior
Supernatural sense of calm and confidence when life is chaotic
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Some people define peace as the removal of trouble or a short term escapism. When the temporary effects wear off, one is left with more anxiety that before and for the believer and have a greater sense of guilt.
God’s plan is long lasting and God’s strategy is found in to scriptures that I would like to take a look at this morning:
Phil. 4 and Matt. 6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.
In this text take a look at the word anxious which literally means to be pulled in two different directions.
Anxiety means to have a war, a battle going on in your inner spirit that is pulling you apart inside.
Someone said:
“If it is big enough to worry about it is big enough to pray about”
“Think of worry as a prayer alarm. Everytime it goes off, you put it to prayer”- Mark Batterson
So the next question is how are you praying?
How are you praying?
How are you praying?
Progressive prayer - when we are under pressure we rush into God’s presence and listing off all that we need without even saying hello.
Real prayer is a lifestyle of love for God. Don’t rush in with a laungry list of needs without pausing to focus on Him.
Have you ever started talking to God about your problems and found yourself more overwhelmed than when you started?
That’s because you are focus on the problems rather than the problem solver.
I remember in Bible College being taught a Four step prayer outline:
ACTS
Adoration - Spend time worshipping Him. Recognize and acknowledge God’s greatness and allow your needs and problems to be seen in the proper perspective.
Confession - Tell God your sins and repent and turn away from them in your heart. Be sincere. Let His forgiveness wash over you.
Thanksgiving - Express Gratitude to God. Thank Him for His love and mercy and His many blessings on your life.
Supplication - Humbly ask God for what you need. Be specific and trust Him to take care of your problems and replace them with joy!
Illustration:
Hold your finger an inch from your eye and it will block the view of the most majestic mountain. But take the finger away and you’ll see the mountain and the finger in their proper relationship to each other.
That’s how it is with prayer. Your anxieties, held too close, can blind you to the truth of God’s majesty. When you focus on His majesty, you come away with your perspective restored.
Proactive Prayer:
Prayer is meant to be both preventative and proactive.
Proavtive prayer is learning to pray in advance of hardship. Asking for strength to face challenges before they even hit.
By praying in advance to overcome anxiety you are preparing for the inevitable when your mind is clear and rational. This draws the power of the Holy Spirit into the picture and giving you future strength to overcome difficulty.
Prayer should not be our last thought but the first. Before doubt and fear hit, before we are vulnerable.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
Fear will creep into our thinking and worry will become our normal state - unless we constantly affirm our strength in the peace of Christ by asking Him to bring it on us.
What are you thinking?
What are you thinking?
What’s your thought process like?
What do you dwell on?
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.
Through this list Paul is telling us exactly and specifically what we are to think on making it clear that we can and should direct our throughts to what he describes. This is a command, an action statement. It is what we are to put our minds towards.
Our thought life is to be positive, uplifting, and redemptive because our thought life is the launching pad for our active, outward life. If you want your mind free of anxiety, make determined, definite choices as to what you allow into it.
You are the guardian of your mind.
The most important weapon against anxiety is less than 3 lbs and sits between your ears. Think about what you think about!
Saturate your mind with God’s truth and that will help you see life from God’s perspective.
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
Where are you living?
Where are you living?
Where do your thought reside?
Past, present or future?
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
The past exists as a mere memory.
The future exists in imagination.
The present exists as true reality.
Jesus told us not to dwell on tomorrow.
Conclusion:
The story is told of a man who was on a long-haul flight when the voice of the captain came across the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts. I’m asking the flight attendants to be seated and we’re suspending beverage service because we’re expecting turbulence ahead.” Turbulence is what they got. Within minutes, the plane was trembling, then quaking from the storm. Cracks of thunder could be heard above the roar of the en- gines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and the plane jolted like a cork tossed around on a heavenly ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific cur- rents of air; the next it dropped as if about to crash. The man was as terrified as the other passengers. Only one person seemed perfectly calm: a little girl, her feet tucked beneath her as she curled up reading a book amid the mayhem. Sometimes she closed her eyes as if napping.
Gradually the plane escaped the storm and finally flew peacefully on to its desti- nation. While waiting to disembark, the man couldn’t help asking the girl why she had not worried. “My daddy’s the pilot,” she said, “and he’s taking me home. I didn’t worry because I knew he was in the cockpit.”¹⁷ In the midst of the storm, we need to set our minds on the One who is at the controls—almighty God. We can rest secure in Him as He takes us home. Isaiah 26:3 is a prayer for us to echo: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
He gives me peace in the midst of the storms of my life
He’s an anchor
He a rock to build my faith upon
With Christ in my vessel
I feel no alarm
He gives me peace in the midst of the storm.