Be Anxious For Nothing

10-15-23

Hoonah-Hadley

Philippians 4:1-9

Call to Worship Psalm 23

Daily Verse Philippians 4:6-7

Easier said than done. How are we anxious for nothing? It seems we say this about our daily verses each week, but Philippians 4 is famous, it is a mainstay, a cornerstone of a believer’s daily walk. If verses were ranked based on their usage or references, these would be right up there with the Psalm 23’s and John 3:16’s.Why?This is just an observation without consulting the “experts” in the area, but it would probably be safe to say that “anxiety” or “anxiousness” is among the most common conditions of our human nature. God knows it’s an issue with us, something that needs addressed on a regular basis. That’s why we put these verses on our walls, write them on the tablets of our hearts, go to this well over and over again. We need constant reminders of what to do and what not to do. But is hearing them, reading them or memorizing them enough to cure us, comfort us from this awful disease? We can hold the bus, stop the press, get our bibles out and turn to Matthew 6:25-34 and read the red letters,

“…do not worry about your life…But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

During a meeting of the church elders, one elder said “I worry…” The pastor stopped the meeting, had everyone turn to Matt. 6 and read 25-34. Upon completion of the reading the elder once again spoke up and said, “Yea, but I worry about…” Do you see the fallen nature of the human condition?

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Jesus is not just whistling dixie here. This is not a maybe or if you feel like it, it is from God, “Do Not!”Listen to the NIV of verse 27

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

In fact, studies would prove that worry shortens our lives. It’s another one of those billion-dollar industries that takes advantage of the human conditions and solves nothing. Fact, there are perfectly healthy young males, unemployed, on medication, disability and welfare because some doctor driving a BMW diagnosed them with some sort of anxiety disorder, gave them a title, prescribed them some medication, thereby providing them with a crutch to lean on for the rest of their lives taking their song with them to the grave and never singing it.Do the study yourself, see what science and medicine says and does about anxiety and ask yourself the question, “how’s it working?” We can blame it on the devil. We can call it free will. We can list a million reasons we are anxious. We can go to the State Store and get a bottle of wine or the dispensary and get some pot, but we’ll wake up in the morning and find that same old nagging condition of our human nature staring us in the face. Tell me, how many people do you know or cross paths with that have the peace that surpasses all understanding about them? Anxious: (Lat. Anxius < angere, to torment.) Worried and distressed about an uncertainty. Anxiety: …intense fear or dread…Phil. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” The apostle solves the problem before he shows it to us. We’ll do our best not to trouble you anymore with the disease but give our utmost to the cure. Rejoice! The weather as of late has been fantastic, no complaints in the weather department. Red raspberries that bear fruit twice a year, loaded. Apples and pears, more than we know what to do with. God’s word, living and active. He is with us, for us, in us.

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Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, with whom He is well pleased, is seated at the right hand of His Father, on our account. He has made His dwelling place with us, forgives us, cleanses us, saves us, fills us, transforms us, strengthens us, comforts us, sends us an advocate, a helper in the Holy Spirit, grants us a peace that surpasses all understanding. We can go on and on about all that God has done for us, from our first breath to preparing a place for us, but in short, He gives us part of the prescription to all that aisles us, “Rejoice in the Lord!” Vs. 5 “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Gentleness is one of the nine fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. Rejoice in the Lord. Clothe yourself with the Lord. Let your conduct be worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Gentleness is part of His economy. I hear ya, I’m working on it. The Lord is near, praise God He is near, He is our friend. Vs. 6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.” July 11th 1979, the 77-ton space station “Skylab” was do to crash land on earth, somewhere. You want to talk about anxiety. Folks were hiding in caves, wearing hard hats and gathering their children in basements. Whether it’s your kids first day of school, the uncertainty of a doctor’s report, or Skylab falling, God’s word says, “Be anxious for nothing”. N-o-t-h-i-n-g. Not a thing, 0, not one, none. But you say, “but…” No but’s about it. God says don’t do it and when God says “do not”, do not. When God speaks it’s for our benefit, our health and well-being. Our response should not be “but”, but “ok”. It may not make sense to us, but, if we can trust anybody for anything, it’s God, because He’s able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. You can trust Him with your first day at a new job every bit as much as you can trust Him with your life. He knows.

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We have in these two verses 3 parts, anxiety, prayer and peace. Prayer is the heart of the matter, the middle part, the place where all that life throws at us is processed.“ But in everything by prayer…” E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. Take time to pray. Give it all to God. Your finances, gifts, talents, family, job, thoughts, attitudes, desires, what you wear, the friends you choose, what you eat…everything.1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”2 Chronicles 7:14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”2 Kings 20:5 “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.”2 Chron. 30:27 “…for their prayer reached heaven.” Ezra 8:23 “…and He answered our prayer.” Psalm 88:13 “…in the morning my prayer comes before You.” Proverbs 15:29 “The Lord is far from the wicked but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Mark 11:24 “…whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received them…”Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourself to prayer.” When you pray, pray in His name. John 14:14

“If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

Supplication, petition, request, come to Him early and often, He hears your prayers and sees your tears, in everything cast your cares on Him for He cares for you. “…with thanksgiving…” 1 Thess. 5:18 “…give thanks in all circumstances.” Cultivate a spirit of gratitude. Invest your heart, mind and soul in thanksgiving, it is a critical part of the equation. We cannot stress enough the weight it carries. Vs. 7 “and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and minds through Christ.” Prayer is the means, the activity by which anxiety is overcome. Replace worry with prayer. Peace is prayers fruit. We need a guard over our hearts and minds, peace does that, in Christ. Amen.