FIVE WAYS TO COMBAT FEAR, WORRY, STRESS
PH 4 VS 4-9
Philippians 4:4-9 (NKJV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
**DR DAVID JEREMIAH’S DEVOTION THE OTHER DAY INCLUDED RESEARCH ABOUT THE MOST POPULAR BIBLE VERSES- ACCORDING TO AMAZON, THE MOST POPULAR BIBLE VERSES THAT FOLKS ARE LOOKING UP IN OUR ELECTRONIC AGE IS PH 4:4-6. AS I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THIS I ASKED SANDRA WHAT WOULD SHE THINK WOULD BE THE MOST POPULAR, AND SHE NAILED IT AND HER EXPLANATION BLEW ME AWAY- SHE SAID PEOPLE WOULD BE RESEARCHING IT BECAUSE OF “FEAR.” OR BEING AFRAID, UNCERTAIN, WORRIED, STRESSED!!—AS A SIDE NOTE, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE JOHN 3:16.- THIS BEGAN MY STUDY, WHICH ENDED UP IN THIS SERMON!
**WE ALL EXPERIENCE THESE HUMAN EMOTIONS FROM TIME TO TIME- GOD PLACED THEM IN OUR BRAIN/BODY TO CAUSE US TO “RUN TO HIM” WHEN PROBLEMS LARGER THAN WE ARE COME OUR WAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE IN A LARGE PART, FROM RUNNING TO HIM, EITHER JUST RUN AWAY FROM HIM, BLAME HIM OR TRY TO COVER THESE UP WITH THE “WRONG THING” SUCH AS MANY THINGS IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY- SEX, DRUGS, ALCOHOL, MEDICATION, OTHER DIFFERENT ABUSES AND HABITS. GOD DOES HAVE A PLAN FOR US WHEN WE EXPERIENCE THESE EMOTIONS AND I WANT TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS:
1. WHEN PROBLEMS, WORRY, STRESS, FEAR COME OUR WAY THE BIBLE SAYS TO REJOICE:
Philippians 4:4 (NKJV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
*PETER SHARES WITH US THE “BIG PICTURE”
1 Peter 1:3-10 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
** THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WERE EXPERIENCING GREAT ANXIETY, FEAR, STRESS AT THE TIME OF THE BABYLONIAN CONFLICT AND IN THE MIDST OF ALL THAT GOD SENT A WORD THROUGH HIS PROPHET JEREMIAH:
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV)
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
** IF WE KNOW THE WHY, AND THE WHO AND WE EXERCISE OUR FAITH IN “HIM” I PROMISE WE CAN REJOICE IN EVEN THE MOST EXTREME TRIALS. INSTEAD OF “AS JOHN HAGEE WOULD SAY” GRAB FOR THE MEDICINE CABINET, WE SHOULD GRAB FOR OUR BOOK SHELF AND PULL DOWN “THE WORD” AND LET IT GET DEEP INTO OUR SOULS WE WILL BE ABLE TO SAY- “GOD I TRUST YOU THROUGH THIS TRIAL I AM IN, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU HAVE THE VICTORY WAITING FOR ME IN CHRIST JESUS” I GUARNTEE WE WILL COME OUT OF THIS THING HEALTHY AND ABLE TO LET OTHERS KNOW ABOUT THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD, RATHER THAN WALLOWING AROUND IN SELF PITY WHICH WILL GET US NO WHERE!
**DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REJOICE IN GOD ABOUT TODAY???
***** I SAID DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REJOICE ABOUT IN GOD TODAY???
***** DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REJOICE ABOUT IN GOD TODAY????
2. WE ARE TO BE GENTLE TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER- THE CHURCH IN PHILLIPI WAS UNDERGOING SOME STRIFE(VS 2) AND PAUL WAS ENCOURAGING THEM TO BE GENTLE WITH ONE ANOTHER EVEN THOUGH THEY DISAGREED- **IT IS OK TO DISAGREE, BUT WE ARE STILL CALLED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER REGARDLESS**
Philippians 4:5 (NKJV)
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Ephesians 5:17-21 (NKJV)
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Matthew 7:1-5 (NKJV)
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Galatians 6:1-10 (NKJV)
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For each one shall bear his own load.
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
ARE YOU REJOICING IN GOD?
ARE YOU PRACTICING GENTLENESS TO ONE ANOTHER??
