Freedom From Anxiety

Philippians 4:6-7

Philippians 4:6–7 NASB95

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.

Response to Anxiety

Be “Anxious” (Merimnate) means to be concerned “Plural often used for cares of life which disturb sleep, from which refuge is sought in love or drink, and which only death can end.” (Theological dict. of the new testament)

“Nothing” means (work, school, finances, relationships, salvation, own/others, death . . .”

So do I go to work? YES. Do I work hard? YES AS UNTO THE LORD. Do I get anxious about my work? NO

NOTE: This command does not dissolve us of responsibility to live right before God.

“Everything” is “work, school, finances, relationship, salvation, own/others, Death.”

“Prayer” (proseuche) Prayer, place of prayer. “Septuagint translation of the Hebrew is (topilla) related to the verb to pray’.”

“Supplication” (deesis) “Request, Plea, Prayer” . . . from the verb “To make”.

“With Thanksgiving” (eucharistias) “Describes the expression and experience of being thankful and the action of giving thanks.” (Lexham TW)

TELL GOD “Let your requests be made known to God.”

NOTE: Who do you talk to about your anxieties? Request from God, every single time an anxiety, worry or concern, enters your mind, for His will in your concerns and He will time and time again show Himself faithful.” And as He reveals Himself as the Faithful One You will EXPERIENCE THE RESULTS of responding to Anxiety in this way.

Results of not being Anxious

“Peace that passes all understanding”

“Peace” I think of “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) which is Hebrew (Salom). “State of well being . . . Septuagint, eirene is the usual translation of (salom). . . soundness” (Lexham TW)

ILLUST: No more stomach upset, flushing and head rush making you warm, racing mind and all those symptoms that come from anxiety. Instead soundness with a sense of well being and no matter what happens it “will be okay”.

NOTE: This idea that everything will be okay is what it means when Paul says “Passes all understanding.”

Think about this for a moment. My child may not make it home tonight, my spouse might leave me, I might lose my job, the doctor might give me terminal news, but the person who talks and thanks, and requests from God in SOUND and it doesn’t seem to be understood by us or those around us. How can that person be so calm . . .

Because He will “guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus.”

“Guard” (phrourese) verb, future active meaning “I guard or rather I garrison” (Lexham TW)

Garrison is defined as “A military post, especially one that is permanently established.”

“Heart and mind" (kardias) which is the internal organ but also the “inner person”. Mind is (noemata) “to perceive think or know.” The faculty in which you are attacked, the mind, and the faculty that is made distraught is constantly guarded from the lies of the enemy and the world that God is not big enough and is not in control.

CLOSE: The way you and I respond to Anxiety will determine the results produced in our lives. Jesus will guard your heart and mind continually if you will stand up and fight the way Paul prescribes. Every time and anxious thought enters the mind, PRAY, GIVE THANKS AND MAKE YOUR REQUEST KNOWN TO GOD. HE WILL DO THE REST!