TRUTH VS. ANXIETY PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9

TRUTH VS. ANXIETY PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 6 Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise dwell on these things.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6 6 Don't worry about anything

Anxiety is what you feel, when you are in the Rocky Mountains, wondering if you will be attacked by a grizzly bear, even though there is no bear in site.

Fear is what you feel when you are in the Rocky Mountains and you run into a grizzly bear, and he looks hungry and you know you are the slowest runner in your group.

JOHN 16:33 33 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.

PSALM 46:1-2 1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

PSALM 46:1-2 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

THE NATURE OF ANXIETY

THE NATURE OF ANXIETY 1. Anxiety is worthless

PHILIPPIANS 4:6 6 Don't worry about anything

ANXIETY IS WORTHLESS Anxiety = Merimnaō: to be troubled with cares.

ANXIETY IS WORTHLESS Care + Circumstances

ANXIETY IS WORTHLESS Conjecture: opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information

LUKE 12:25-26 25 Can any of you add a cubit to his height by worrying?

LUKE 12:25-26 26 If then you re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

THE NATURE OF ANXIETY 1. Anxiety is worthless 2. Anxiety is dangerous

ANXIETY IS DANGEROUS 1. Anxiety Cuts the cord of faith and confuses the road of righteousness

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the rams horn throughout the land saying, Let the Hebrews hear!

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 4 And all Israel heard the news, Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines. Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 5 The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 6 The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear.

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 8 He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him.

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 9 So Saul said, Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. Then he offered the burnt offering.

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 10 Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him,

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 11 and Samuel asked, What have you done? Saul answered, When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn't come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash,

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 12 I thought: The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven't sought the Lords favor. So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 13 Samuel said to Saul, You have been foolish. You have not kept the command which the Lord your God gave you. It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel,

1 SAMUEL 13:3-14 14 but now your reign will not endure.

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength. - Corrie Ten Boom

THE UNTANGLING OF ANXIETY

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? a. The solution is not to stop caring.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? b. The solution is not to stop looking.

PROVERBS 27:12 12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? c. The solution is not to deny reality.

So, baby, pull me closer In the back seat of your Rover That I know you can't afford Bite that tattoo on your shoulder Pull the sheets right off the corner Of that mattress that you stole From your roommate back in Boulder We ain't ever getting older

We ain't ever getting older No, we ain't ever getting older We ain't ever getting older No, we ain't ever getting older We ain't ever getting older We ain't ever getting older We ain't ever getting older No, we ain't ever getting older We ain't ever getting older No, we ain't ever getting older Chainsmokers, Closer

HOW TO UNTANGLE ANXEITY Know the nearness of God.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-6 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-6 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6 6 Don't worry about anything

PSALM 73:28 28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.

EPHESIANS 6:14-15 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God s righteousness.

EPHESIANS 6:14-15 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

1 PETER 3:18 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, after being put to death in the fleshly realm but made alive in the spiritual realm.

HEBREWS 4:14-16 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast to the confession.

HEBREWS 4:14-16 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.

HEBREWS 4:14-16 16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 6 Don t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge Take it to the Lord in prayer; Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.

APPLICATION 1. Pray in your closet.

MATTHEW 6:5-6 5 Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They've got their reward!

MATTHEW 6:5-6 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

APPLICATION 1. Pray in your closet. 2. Pray at prayer meetings.

1 CORINTHIANS 14:16-17 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don t understand what you are saying?

1 CORINTHIANS 14:16-17 17 You will be giving thanks very well, but it won t strengthen the people who hear you.

APPLICATION 1. Pray in your closet. 2. Pray at prayer meetings. 3. Spouses support and point each other toward the Lord.

PROVERBS 31:25 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.