Winning Over Worry
Philippians 4:6,7
Introduction:
Underline phrase: “Be careful for nothing…”
“Careful” = is not saying there are not times that require us to be cautious or that I am to never have legitimate concern – to be filled with care – describes an anxious and worrisome heart.
Word = carries the idea of being pulled in different directions – when worry overtakes us it seems our insides are being pulled apart.
Worry = like fighting a war on two fronts – our minds are divided bet legitimate thoughts & destructive thoughts… hearts are divided bet legitimate feelings and destructive feelings.
Worry = English word – (lit) to strangle – worry will strangle the life out of you… Satan love nothing more than to set up a stronghold of worry in our lives to rob us of our joy, peace, contentment, faith… causing us to abandon our trust in the One who commanded us to cast all of our care upon Him.
Matthew 6:25-34 = 3x’s Jesus says – “Don’t worry” (vv.25,31,34)
? Necessities of life (v.25) – food & clothing… God is not just our Creator, He is our Sustainer; not just our Redeemer but also our Provider!
? Tomorrow (v.34)
? Dying (v.27; John 14:1-3)
? Headlines
Mark 13:7 – “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.”
Quote: Basketball Coach Rick Majerus once quipped, “they talk about the economy, well my hairline is in recession, my waistline is in inflation, and I am altogether in depression.
Jesus = (v.30) links a worrisome & anxious heart to a lack of faith.
Heb. 11:6 – faith pleases God – so a lack of faith displeases God!
Quote: George W. Truett – described, “worry as a mild form of atheism.”
It’s not that we do not believe that there is God; we just live as if He doesn’t exist!
Worry = more than a psychological label “anxiety disorder” – SIN!
It is a sin against our Heavenly Father who loves us and has promised to care for us!
1John 5:4 – “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:” = good news for living in a worry filled world.
Christian = we are Overcomers! You can win over worry!!
1. Make Everyday a Joyful Day!
Look: Phil. 4:4 – more than just the mantra, “Don’t worry, Be happy!”
Happiness = comes from what happens to you – can’t control it.
Joy = comes from what happened in you!
Isaiah 12:3 – “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
John 15:11 – “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
Joy & Peace = go together – like peanut butter & Jelly; they are two sides of the same coin.
John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Gal. 5:22 – both part of the 9-fold cluster of the Spirit’s fruit – love, joy, peace.
Phil. 4:4
“Alway” = in all times or every season.
“Rejoice” = a command but it is also a choice!
Paul = wrote these words he wasn’t sitting in a luxury condo overlooking the Med Sea while catching the evening breeze and sipping on coconut drinks…
Prison = unsure of the outcome – live or die – not one hint of anxiety or worry about the future… writes to them a letter saturated with joy.
Joy/Rejoicing = mentioned 19x’s – 4x’s in chapt. 4 alone.
Book of Philippians is the pathway to a joyful life.
We may not be able to rejoice in every circumstance, but we can always rejoice in the Lord…
A. His Presence (5)
“Moderation” = gentleness of spirit, a sweet reasonableness – instead of having a bitter spirit we are to have a sweet spirit or a joyful spirit.
Why? (V.4) – “the Lord is at hand” = to be near at hand… speaks of the closeness of His presence. In His presence is fullness of joy!
Psalm 34:18 - The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 119:151 – “Thou art near, O LORD.”
Matt. 28:20 – “And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Phil. 4:9e – “…and the God of peace shall be with you.”
No matter how dark the night, how steep the path, how deep the valley you can rejoice because the Lord is with you!
Quote: “Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Jesus.”
Quote: Corrie Ten Boom – “Don’t wrestle, just nestle.”
B. His Precepts & Promises
Psalm 19:8 - “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:”
There is a God-given precept or promise to counteract every anxious thought and every worrisome circumstance in life.
Quote: “meditation is better than medication.” = go to the pharmacy and buy sleep but you cannot buy peace!
C. His Providence
Rom. 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.”
Joseph – ye meant it for evil but God meant it for good!
D. His Pardon
Rejoice in the fact that our sins are gone!
Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
Even after saved – 1John 1:9
David = in the midst of his sin and failure that he prayed,
Psalm 51:12 – “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.”
E. Provision
Matt. 6:31,32 – “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.”
Phil. 4:19 – “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
F. Protection
Ps. 63:7 – “Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”
G. Paradise
Phil. 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Psalm 23:6 – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
When we choose to make every day a joyful day it drives the worries from our hearts filling us with God’s abiding peace.
Quote: "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow; it only saps today of its joy."—Leo Buscaglia
Conclusion:
Illust: Few people have had as much impact for the cause of Christ through song than hymn writer Francis Ridley Havergal had in her short 42 years.
Born Dec. 14, 1836 in Astley, England… Francis came to know the Lord at the age of 15 she wrote, “I committed my soul to the Savior and earth and heaven seemed bright from that moment.”
Francis’ suffered her entire life from illness, pain, and nervous exhaustion… 1874 while vacationing in Wales she caught a severe cold that led to an inflammation in her lungs… when doctors told that she would might die from her sickness she replied, “If I am going, it is too good to be true.” Amazingly, Francis survived and later that year captured in song the sweet peace and joy that the Lord gave her in those dark moments.
1. Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.
2. Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.
3. Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully, all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
Chorus: Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.
In a letter to another hymn writer Francis quoted Romans 5:1 – We have peace with God and added, “it is yours already, purchased for you, made for you, sealed for you, pledged to you – by the word of the Father and the precious blood of Jesus Christ.”
Jesus = wants you to have His peace, perfect, precious, powerful, peace… the peace of God that passeth all understanding!
Isaiah 26:13 – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Friend without Christ you will never know the peace of God until you first have peace with God!
