"How To Overcome Worry"

Southern Hills Baptist Church

February 23 2003

Philippians 4: 6-7

“How to overcome worry”

Pastor, Mark Hensley

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Introduction: An average person’s anxiety is focused on:

40% -- things that will never happen

30% -- things about the past that can’t be changed

12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue

10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress

8% -- about real problems that will be faced

Transition: Worry and anxiety seem to always wait for an opportune time to pounce on us, when were the least bit ready. We have all heard reassuring, stirring sermons from preachers and evangelists and other reminders from Sunday School teachers, parents and friends that tell us that worry is a waste of energy, anxiety is in fact doubt ….doubt that the God who created you can care for you!

Life can be a thrilling adventure a short walk across this planet then the ultimate of experiences for Christians the fulfillment of heaven. It’s not that the prospect of heaven doesn’t motivate us…it does, we all long to know God more fully to share in a reunion with love ones who are not gone…but wait for us just a short journey from here.

It’s a long way from here to heaven in many ways….those two places are like bookends and the years of our lives are in between. It’s in the day to day pressure and exhilaration of living that makes us all candidates for worry. Worry and its twin anxiety seem to wait patiently in the shadows….waiting relentless waiting…to rob our joy and security in the provision the care of God.

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. George Muller.

I need today’s sermon! We can overcome worry! Philippians 4:6-7

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

I. There is nothing to worry about

II. Prayer releases burdens

III. Gods peace is promised for our hearts and our minds

I. There is nothing to worry about 6Do not be anxious about anything

Paul is speaking to a church where worry was common. When Paul states: “Do not” In the construction of the original language He is prohibiting worry, because the Christians in Philippi were worrying!

We many times think early Christians because of the presence of the Apostles or disciples were somehow shielded from worry…they were not!

Paul declares: 6Do not be anxious about anything”

The word “anything” means what it says…we are not to worry, not even over one thing, not at all!

You not only don’t have to worry, He is telling you not too. He is telling you that if you have something to worry about to give it to Him!

Oswald’s Chambers’ book My Utmost for His Highest was first published in 1935, 13 years after his death. Other than the Bible, it is one of the most widely read Christian books in the world.

In that book He asks this question "Are You Obsessed by Something?" Oswald Chambers says we are to be obsessed only by the presence of God.

He gave this example. "A child’s awareness is so absorbed in his mother that although he is not consciously thinking of her, when a problem arises, the abiding relationship is that with the mother. In that same way we are to "live and move and have our being" in God (Acts 17:28), looking at everything in relation to Him because our abiding awareness of him continually pushes itself to the forefront of our lives.

If I am obsessed by God, nothing else can get into my life - not worries, not concerns. That would be a magnificent obsession!

God emphasized the sin of worry over and over in the bible. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! You see my friend you can know freedom from anxiety freedom from worry in everything, if you pray about everything.

II. Prayer releases burdens 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

A companion verse is found in 1st Peter 5:7 “Cast all your cares upon him, because He cares for you” Literally cast all your anxiety your worry on him! Prayer is doing just that…it’s the relinquishing of our concerns to God, confident that He hears and He answers and He is actively moving in our life toward a conclusion that we could only hope for!