When Anxiety Strikes
Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Anxiety interferes with sleep, disrupts concentration, & hinders productivity. The children of God don’t have to allow this destructive emotion to control their lives. Even when believers live through painful circumstances. They can experience peace beyond human comprehension.
1.What is the nature of anxiety?
A.This emotion can be defined as an overwhelming sense of tension. That is it fragments our thoughts & divides our minds.
B.The Bible teaches us how to avoid letting worry take over our lives.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus " Phil. 4:6-7
C.Why is it so important that we learn to deal with anxiety?
Worry disrupts our thoughts. So we can’t think clearly or make wise decisions.
Our productivity decreases because fretfulness wastes time & energy.
Relationships with our spouses, families, coworkers, & friends suffer.
Anxiety contributes to a host of health problems.
It indicates a lack of trust in God. Then hampers our relationship with Him Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
2.How can you and I overcome anxiety?
A.By praying right:
Christians should pray in all circumstances & situations
Again in Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Instead of focusing exclusively on a list of requests. We should seek to adore & worship the Lord. God already knows our needs.
He has the power to supply them.
Believers ought to pray specifically. Think about James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Especially when intercedingfor others.
Christians should cry out to the Lord in supplication Again we still have Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
This word indicates a passionate outpouring of the heart Psalms 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Is in contrast to mere lip service Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: As God’s children, we can trust that He will answer our fervent prayers.
We should make our requests "with thanksgiving" Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Hey it may be a good idea to learn this verse. I think God is telling us something here.
When God doesn’t answer our prayers immediately or when He says no. We should continue to be grateful for what we already have.
B.By thinking right:
Our thoughts directly affect how anxious we feel. Christians are to dwell on "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good
report… [and] anything worthy of praise" Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Instead of worrying about what the future will bring. Try focusing on your relationship with the Lord. Seek His will regarding your goals and life’s purpose. I mean for today, tomorrow, & the future. He holds it all in His hands.
As Christians, we will still face adversity. Yet God can give us supernatural peace in the midst of suffering John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Nothing happens unless He allows it. Think about Job. The Devil had to have God’s permission to touch him in any way shape or form. The same is for us. Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. Job 1:11-12 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
The Lord promises to use difficult situations for our ultimate good Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
C.By living right:
Those who lead ungodly lives cannot experience lasting peace. People who don’t know the Lord have no hope of life after death. Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Meaning they were never saved.) See Matthew 7:21-22
(Nothing to do with losing their salvation.) (They were never saved) If this was the case Jesus would have to say I once knew you. But because you went back into the world I don’t know you. If the other is the case it would make Jesus a liar. We know that He is not according to Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; My Father in heaven promise eternal life, not a hope so life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Yet on the other hand we have John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. They may mask their fears with drugs, alcohol, work, or some other distraction. But such people frequently live with apprehension about their eternal future.
We must be obedient in order to be free from anxiety
Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Conclusion: Commit your worries to God. Determine to meditate on truthful & righteous things. Then surrender control of your life to Him. The Lord will give you the grace to overcome anxiety. Yes, you may still experience heartache, pain, or difficulty. But you can learn to say with the apostle Paul , "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am" Phil. 4:11
