Phil. 4:5-7: Victory Over Worry

Introduction

Worry or stress is something we all deal with

But it is something that each Christian should overcome in their own lives

Paul writes these words as he is locked up in prison, and even then he isn’t worried

Instead he teaches us how not to worry and how to have victory over it

While other people might worry and get stressed in a certain situation, christians should submit their case to the Lord in prayer and thankfulness

This is one of the greatest ways that a Christian’s life is different from the world’s

1. Don’t Worry About a Thing v. 6a

Paul tells us that we should never worry or be anxious about anything ever

This seems to be an extreme statement on Paul’s behalf

Careful

This is the first part of Paul’s commandment

This is the negative side of his commandment

This is something we shouldn’t do

What is carefulness?

It means to be anxious, to suffer anxiety

It means to be pulled in many different directions

It gives an idea of being choked or drowned by worry

It means to care for, to be unduly concerned with, to be worried about, to meditate upon, to be cumbered with, to be distracted about

It is to be constantly aware of everything that is going on around you

It is to be constantly thinking about all of the needs and all of the things that have to be done

It is being distracted by a thought

The great majority of the time that this word is used in the Bible we see that it is being worried about provision, time, etc.

Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:25–34 KJV 1900

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Jesus rebukes Martha for being “careful and troubled” Luke 10:41

Luke 10:41 KJV 1900

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

Martha suffered with the same issues many of us face today

It is the fear of what we can’t control

It is being worried that something is going to go wrong

Things we worry about

Our health

Our income

Our career

Our job

Our children

Our children’s futre

Our futre

Our family’s security

Our children’s education

The people that have offended us

Our retirement

Our investments

COVID

Traveling by car, boat or plane

Being ripped off

Our house being broken into

Being cheated

Being cheated on

Economic instability in the country

Political instability in the country

Running out of toothpaste

Running out of shampoo

Death

People can worry about absolutely anything in life

This worry can even have physical consequences in our lives (headaches, migraines, neck and back pain, ulcers, etc.)

Worry will affect our thought life, our digestive system and even our coordination

Spiritual Perspective

From a spiritual perspective, worry is thinking incorrectly about myself and incorrectly about circumstances, people and things

anxiety betrays a lack of trust in God’s care and is a species of ‘unconscious blasphemy’ against him. - Oswald Chambers

Worry and anxiety put us in the position of God because we think it is our responsibility to solve all of our problems

Problems, uncertainty, needs and bad circumstances will always exist

We will never be able to change those things, but we can decide to react correctly to them

2. Ask God For Everything v. 6b

The first part of the verse will only make sense and be possible when we see the alternative to worry

And the alternative to worry is prayer

It seems impossible to just say “don’t worry” until you add prayer to the mix

The answer to worry is prayer

Peter tells us to cast all our cares upon Him 1 Peter 5:7

1 Peter 5:7 KJV 1900

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Paul gives us three terms here to be able to understand prayer correctly

Prayer - Worship

This is love, adoration, worship

This is enjoying God’s presence

It’s just us sharing our heart with God

It’s true devotion to Him

Our first response to worry should be to get alone with God and worship Him

Worship is necessary

We should see God’s greatness and majesty

We should be able to worship Him for who He is

If He is almighty then He can handle any of my problems

If I can worship Him for who He is then I will remember that He can handle my problems

He is big enough to solve any problem I might have

Many times we just run into His presence and get straight to asking

But we should come into His presence with great reverence and worship

Supplication - Begging/Asking

This means we earnestly bring our prayer requests to Him

We bring Him our requests, needs, worries, concerns, fears, etc.

It means that we fervently and sincerely approach God with these things knowing He can solve them

‘There is nothing too great for God’s power; and nothing too small for his fatherly care.’

Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 90). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.

1 John 5:15

1 John 5:15 KJV 1900

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Thanksgiving

Our Father loves it when we say “Thank You!”

When Jesus healed the 10 lepers there was only one who returned to thank Him

Surely it’s the same way today

Many are quick to ask but slow to thank

It requires faith for us to thank God for difficult circumstances or for requests that He still hasn’t answered

Being thankful is being faithful

It means we thank Him for what He is going to do with our request

He know that if we put it in His hands, He will take care of it

What’s Best For us

When we pray we should remember three things

God’s love for us: He only wants what’s best for us

God’s wisdom: He knows what is best for us

God’s power: Only He can give us what is best for us

3. God Will Give You Peace v. 7

The direct result of prayer and thanksgiving is peace

It’s the peace of God that takes care of us and maintains us

Peace that comes through prayer is an expression of faith or trust in God

God’s children don’t have to have all the answer to be able to trust Him

The whole Christian life is summarized with “through Jesus Christ”

This is the peace that passes all understanding

It’s a supernatural peace that can’t be found on this earth

It means that despite the circumstances and problems we can have a divine peace from God Psalms 56:11

Psalm 56:11 KJV 1900

11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid What man can do unto me.

Peace With God

This peace from God can only be found when you have peace with God Romans 5:1

Romans 5:1 KJV 1900

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

God’s peace exists for the person that has made peace with God through the blood of Jesus Colossians 1:20

Colossians 1:20 KJV 1900

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

You must repent of your sin and put your trust in Jesus to be able to experience this peace

What will we choose?

Will we choose worry or peace?

Will we try to solve all our own problems? Or will we bring it to thee feet of Jesus and let Him take the burden for us

1 Peter 5:7

1 Peter 5:7 KJV 1900

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Matthew 11:28

Matthew 11:28 KJV 1900

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.