Sermons From Philippians - How To Be Free From Anxiety (4:6-7)

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                    "THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS"

                   How To Be Free From Anxiety (4:6-7)

INTRODUCTION

1. If anyone had good reason to be anxious, it could have been the
   apostle Paul...
   a. His beloved friends at Philippi were disagreeing with one another 
      - Php 4:1-3
   b. There were preachers in Rome who were filled with envy and strife,
      and out to "get" Paul - Php 1:15
   c. To top it off, Paul himself was under house arrest, awaiting trial
      and his possible execution!
   -- Yet we have seen that throughout this epistle the keynote repeated
      again and again is "rejoice!"

2. Evidently Paul had found the secret of overcoming anxiety, and
   fortunately for us, he shares that secret in Php 4:6-7

[We shall examine what that secret is, but first, let's take a closer 
look at "anxiety" itself...]

I. UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF ANXIETY

   A. DEFINING THE WORD...
      1. The word "anxious" (careful, KJV) is from "merimnao"
         {mer-im-nah'-o}
      2. As defined by THAYER...
         a. It means "to be pulled in different directions"
         b. For example, our hopes pull us in one direction; our fears
            pull us in the opposite direction
         c. Thus, to be anxious is to be "pulled apart"!
      3. The word "worry" (a synonym for anxiety) in its English origins
         presents a different, yet enlightening picture
         a. It comes from a word meaning "to strangle"
         b. If you have ever really worried, you know how it does indeed
            strangle a person!
            1) In fact, worry (or anxiety) has definite physical side
               effects:  headaches, neck pains, ulcers, even back pains
            2) Worry affects our thinking, our digestion, and even our
               coordination

   B. ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON ANXIETY...
      1. From a spiritual perspective, anxiety is:
         a. Wrong THINKING and wrong FEELING about circumstances, people
            and things
         b. The greatest thief of joy
      2. It is not enough for us to tell ourselves, "Quit being anxious",
         in an effort to stop the thief from stealing our joy
         a. Anxiety is "an inside job"
         b. It takes more than good intentions to get the victory over
            anxiety

[The "antidote" to anxiety is revealed by Paul in our text, which we 
will now look at closely...]

II. WINNING THE VICTORY OVER ANXIETY

   A. THE "ANTIDOTE" IS THE RIGHT KIND OF "PRAYING"!
      1. In which we pray about "everything"!
         a. Like the hymn, Paul counsels us to "take everything to God
            in prayer"
         b. To put it another way, "Don't worry about ANYTHING, but pray
            about EVERYTHING!" is Paul's admonition
         c. We are prone to pray about the "big things", and forget to
            pray about the "little things"
            1) But "little things" left unattended grow up to become "big
               things"
            2) Therefore, God would have us talk to Him about
               "everything"
      2. In which we pray by "prayer and supplication"
         a. "Prayer" is the general word for making requests known to God
            1) It carries the idea of adoration, devotion, and worship
            2) Whenever we find ourselves filled with anxiety, our first
               action ought be to spend time alone with God in prayerful
               adoration and worship
            3) Adoration for God helps us to remember the greatness and
               majesty of God
               a) We must remember that He is big enough to solve
                  problems we cannot
               b) Too often, we rush into His presence and hastily tell
                  Him our needs
               c) But freedom from anxiety comes when we spend more time
                  on Who He is, rather than on what our problems are!
            4) Having spent time in prayerful adoration, we are now ready
               to move on...
         b. "Supplication" is where we begin making our requests known to
            God
            1) It involves an earnest sharing of our problems and needs
            2) Freedom from anxiety does not come from half-hearted,
               insincere praying!
               a) While we know that we are not heard for our "much
                  speaking" - Mt 6:7-8
               b) Still we should realize that our Father wants us to be
                  earnest and persistent in our asking - Mt 7:7-11
            3) An example of this sort of praying is found in He 5:7
               a) Jesus offered up "prayers and supplications"
               b) He did so, "with vehement cries and tears", suggesting
                  true earnestness in making His requests
      3. In which we pray "with thanksgiving"
         a. This implies "appreciation" on our part
            1) Certainly the Father delights in hearing His children say
               "Thank you!"
            2) Yet so many people are like the nine lepers healed by
               Jesus - cf. Lk 17:11-19
            3) Are we eager to ask, but slow to appreciate?
         b. Note that this "thanksgiving" is to be offered at the same
            time we make our requests!
            1) Doing this serves to remind us of all the other things God
               has done and is doing for us
            2) Which in turn helps to keep our problems in perspective

   B. SUCH "PRAYING" WILL RESULT IN A FORTRESS GUARDING OUR MINDS AND
      HEARTS...
      1. God may not always remove the problems that were the initial
         cause of our anxiety, but He promises a "peace which surpasses
         all understanding"!
      2. It is a peace that the world cannot provide, but He can! - cf.
         Jn 14:27; 16:33
      3. It is a peace that "guards" (to guard, garrison like a fortress)
         our "hearts" and "minds"
         a) Guarding the HEART (which is susceptible to wrong feeling)
         b) Guarding the MIND (which is susceptible to wrong thinking)
      4. This does not mean the absence of trials on the outside, but it
         does mean...
         a) A quiet confidence within
         b) Regardless of circumstances, people, or things that would
            otherwise steal our joy!

CONCLUSION

1. This wonderful peace, this freedom from anxiety, is the result of
   letting our requests be known to God through the right kind of
   praying:
   a. Praying about everything
   b. Praying with prayer and supplication
   c. Praying with thanksgiving

2. But note well, all this is possible THROUGH Christ Jesus (Php 4:7)!
   a. He is the source of every spiritual blessing from God, including
      the peace that surpasses understanding - cf. Ep 1:3
   b. And we must be IN Christ if we desire this peace of which Paul
      writes in our text

3. Do you desire the "peace of God"?
   a. Then you must be IN Christ (to see how one gets INTO Christ,
      consider Ga 3:26-27)
   b. And then you must commune with God frequently in the kind of
      praying taught by Paul

Are you in Christ?  Do you commune with God as you should?  If we can
assist you in either way...
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