“When you pray, leave your concerns to God.”
Sermon Title: BE NOT ANXIOUS
Scripture Text: PHILIPPIANS 4:6
Sermon Notes:
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“Anxiety steals peace because it says “what if.”
I. WORRY ABOUT NOTHING
PHILIPPIANS 4:6 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
MATTHEW 6:25-30 NIV
25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“We can worry, or we can trust. We can’t do both at the same time.”
REFLECT:
What worry about tomorrow do you need to trust God today?
II. PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING
PHILIPPIANS 4:6 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6 MSG
6 Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
1 PETER 5:7 NIV
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
“When you pray, leave your concerns to God.”
PHILIPPIANS 4:6 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
REFLECT:
Are you praying your cares to God? Or are you worrying about your cares?
III. GIVE THANKS ABOUT ANYTHING
PHILIPPIANS 4:6 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
“Life in the natural starts with our circumstances. But the life of faith, starts with Jesus.”
REFLECT:
“How can we not be thankful when we owe everything to God?” (John Piper)
THREE CHOICES:
1. WORRY ABOUT NOTHING.
2. PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.
3. GIVE THANKS ABOUT ANYTHING.
PHILIPPIANS 4:7 NIV
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“Worry says “what if,” but peace says “even if.”
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered “peace be still”
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
(Tony Wood & Kevin Stokes)