This broadcaster has 1222 podcast archives available on-demand.
Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.
October 7, 2021 2:00 am
The world has been upended in the last year and a half, but there will always be another crisis. So is there any path to peace of mind? Find out as Skip shares the message "How to Have Unfathomable Peace."
This teaching is from the series Give Peace a Chance.
Links:Website: https://connectwithskip.com
Donate: https://connnectwithskip.com/donate
This week's DevoMail: https://connnectwithskip.com/devomail
The birds God takes pretty good care of them. You're a lot more valuable than they are and take care of you which of you by worrying is to grow a little bit very very profound anxious over concern about life by your mind, anxiety can be overwhelming. You can take steps to overcome today on connect with Skip Heitzig Skip talks about the path you can take to live with an unfathomable piece of my not only want to tell you about a resource that shines important life and what's currently happening in the Middle East. The beating heart of Bible prophecy is the land of Israel and the Middle East.
Joel Rosenberg has his finger on the pulse of the world shaking changes happening right now and he unveils them in his new nonfiction book enemies and allies teach inside inside the house is is think about making US enemies and allies from multiple New York Times best-selling author Joel Rosenberg takes you on an unforgettable journey inside the turbulent Middle East go behind closed doors to hear from the very kings and crown princes, presidents and prime ministers who are leading the charge. Enemies and allies includes exclusive never before published quotes insight and analysis from the authors conversations with some of the world's most controversial leaders your hardcover copy enemies and allies is our thanks for your generous gift of $35 or more today to give call 800-922-1888 connectwithskip.com.
Philippians chapter 2 starts finished that really Sunday you don't know the evangelist for the first baseball got converted to Christ ministry became an evangelist. This had great saying, one of the sayings was, don't look as if your Christianity hurts you that good you knows and I'm a Christian and it looks like it really hurts. I'm so sorry for you. What can I do to help. Don't look like a Christianity hurts you, and I think my favorite saying is if you have no joy there is a leak in your Christianity somewhere that's a good one are you leaking is a joy to leak somewhere. What is joy exactly when the Bible speaks about joy limit could be a definition joy is the supernatural delight in God and in his plan. Think about that supernatural delight so you don't produce it. It comes from him to gift the supernatural delight in God and in God's plan right all things work together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Supernatural delight in God and his plan. It happens to be one of the most infallible signs of the presence of God. It is our badge of ownership right. God owns me.
I can relax. Not only can I relax I can read Joyce because I have a supernatural delight in God and in God's plan for my life know Paul didn't just write about that Paul practiced what he preached because when he was first arrested in Philippi. Remember the stories as Paul was arrested, they beat him with rods and they put them in stocks so I don't know what it feels like to be beaten with rods but I can only imagine the hurt a lot, it leaves a lot of scars. So here's a man I'm picturing bleeding in a prison is in stock so is tied up to a wall in a prison cell and amazingly it says in the text and at midnight Paul and Silas sang praises to God, what who does that somebody was a supernatural delight in God and in God's plan. Does that if if you don't have that you can't do that. He had Proverbs 1515 says he who is of Mary Hart has a continual feast. He was of a merry heart has a continual feast and do you know what they feast on peace, peace, rejoicing, sets the table for the feast of peace rejoice in the Lord now again I just want to look back at the text because when it's written, it sounds like a command right. In fact it is it's an order, he's giving them an order which sounds odd to our ears just walk up to somebody go hey you right now. Rejoice in the Lord. Is that possible you're just given me in order to rejoice but but here's Paul he was like I love you guys your micron your my joy Eugene Giles, I implore you get together and then there's an order.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I'll say it again rejoice. The fact that he gives in order tells me something tells me that joy is a choice we make. Make the choice to rejoice. Joy is a choice. It is not a feeling it is a decision far more than it is a sensation, some you choose to do you wake up in the morning on a rejoice in the Lord. So how often are we to do it is a rejoice in the Lord on Sundays, rejoice in the Lord intermittently sporadically or here's one rejoice in the Lord once a year on Thanksgiving gripe and complain the rest of the year but Thanksgiving. That's when you rejoice, where to rejoice in the Lord always, always so let me let me lay this on you joy is a personal choice to react to life's uncertainties with faith. Again I say joy is a personal choice to react to life's circumstances with faith. It's where you say luck I don't get what's going on but I do know God is on the throne.
I believe that I believe I'm a child of God. He's got me covered here, so I'm not joyful because circumstances are favorable, often they are not.
I'm not joyful because people are wonderful. Often they are not, but a huge part of having peace of mind is the ability to rejoice in God always.
So to important building blocks resolve controversy. Rejoice frequently. Here's 1/3 restored geniality, restored geniality, geniality, just a word that means warmth and kindness, friendliness, sources verse five let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. There's a better translation, a literal translation for that were gentleness at its gentleness and in my Bible my Bible translation, literally. It's this sweet reasonableness. Let your sweet reasonableness be known to all, for the Lord is at hand to make a statement and see if you agree with this. I bet some of you will. I'm thinking our society is becoming less kind than am I alone on this and I don't know anything said you think that as well. Less kind. I think were becoming less civil, less respectful in our discourse, less reasonable, where becoming harsh, snarky, tough, unmerciful, unyielding, critical, cruel, hardened, do you agree that which is exactly what Jesus predicted would happen in the last days member. He said in the last days, that the love of many will grow cold. Don't let that be you don't let that be you because that destroys peace. Now I want to move that idea all away from culture away from society sort of easy to take pot shots of the world and society is one thing Seattle world, less kind, but no one knew that into the church. Some of us, not all of us, but sometimes some of us as we grow in our faith in Christ. Some of us become crusty to me by crusty this kind of a little kind of a superior attitude. I know so much more now II I'm mature, I'm I'm a little more mature than you are in and in it we we become less patient with people you know, we forget what it's like to be newly born Christian so we become a little arrogant. We become a little snobby. No one can relax around you. You always have to correct people call legalism.
Can I just say you your so mature and so awesome. You weren't always this mature always is awesome.
I know you're so spiritual amount so brilliant just so marvelous I don't see anybody can heart you can live with anybody are so amazing, but you are always is why you to fail. You two fell down you to said dumb things the people are to be patient with so with that in mind is how to get in touch with your early Christian growth and be patient with people be kind. Let your gentleness be known. Give people a little slack for the fruit of the spirit. We've highlighted this pretty much every week in this series for the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, long suffering, kindness, gentleness, meekness instead of being touchy. Have a soft touch.
Proverbs 15 a soft answer turns away wrath remember you follow the one who said I am gentle and humble in heart, so what Paul is telling them is get a get a new reputation or maintain this reputation.
Let your gentleness, your sweet reasonableness be known to all men, and here's why. He says the Lord is at hand.
Why should I echo way.
Paul, why, why do I have to be so sweet. The Lord is at hand. I can tell you exactly what he means by that means one of two things.
It could be mean that the Lord is near chronologically or it could mean that the Lord is near. In proximity so on one hand, it could be luck.
Jesus is coming soon. Chronologically, the Lord is at hand. My mom used to do this when I had bad attitude.
She would just lean and go your data be home soon so I had to hear okay what can I do for you mom love you so much. I just sort of change my demeanor at home because my father was at hand.
Maybe he means that maybe he simply means the Lord is near in proximity that whatever you are gathering with another believer in having a difficulty in not feeling like you should rejoice not feeling so gentle. Just remember, the Lord is there, the Lord is at hand could simply mean that so we have a few building blocks to develop unfathomable peace resolve controversy. Rejoice frequently and restored geniality give you the fourth is this really is the heart of the pet the passage of leasable were used to reject anxiety and I chose that word very carefully mean flat out reject anxiety. Don't let it happen.
Look how Paul puts it.
Be anxious for what nothing that's rejecting anxiety.
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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. When we tell you what Paul is not saying by that when Paul says be anxious for nothing, he is not saying don't be concerned about life.
He is not saying be apathetic, the lazy kickback do nothing. Let stuff just come to you didn't say that he says be anxious for nothing, word anxious to very important word to the Greek word, Marinol. I don't care if you ever remember these words I get angry but listen to how it was for Marinol comes from two words put together and when you understand that you understand the definition of anxiety Marie Moritz so is to divideis the mind and when you put those two words together.
Mayor M. Not all you have a word that means to divide or tear the mind to perfect description of anxiety. Anxiety is when your mind is divided between legitimate thoughts and destructive thoughts anxiety will take your mind into different directions.
Like James said the double minded man is unstable in all his weight. I read a survey from the World Health Organization about anxiety I'm using as you see, if you pass this test. Of all the groups they studied around the world. What country do you think has the most anxiety limit what you think. You think America can value your down in your own country. What you write. It is, it is American of this is this is pre-COBIT right so things may change. Maybe there catching up with us in terms of worry and anxiety, but I still think were winning.
It says this Americans were the most anxious people in 14 countries that we've studied with more clinically significant levels of anxiety than people in Nigeria, Lebanon and the Ukraine. Now those three countries are interesting that they mention it because in those three countries. You have reasons to be filled with anxiety much more than we do, Nigeria, Lebanon, and Ukraine. So what the article sings the United States is the undisputed world champion of worry and anxiety. Now I understand why people worry I understand why people are anxious. I understand what people panic if they're not saved, especially mean if you think you're dangling in the dirt clogged in an inexplicable universe.
There's no rhyme or reason to it. You feel pretty alone with those thoughts.
If you don't know why you're here and where you're going. That's pretty scary but followers of the Lord Jesus Christ self included. Listen to what your Lord and lion said to us in the sermon on the Mount.
He said therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life what you will eat what you will drink, or about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing. Look at the birds of the air for the they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they. Which of view, I've always loved this question. Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to a cubit is 18 inches foot half. He imagines every really worried about that just one little taller. I know I'm 65 so it's like that for me even use this as an example so I won't even go there, but which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature. Those are pretty powerful words in Jesus when he says these words is not saying be lazy and he's talking about birds right there.
They're pretty industrious. Last time I checked they're always busy doing something.
But the point Jesus is making is have you ever seen a worried bird. I was in the garden yesterday and I heard birds. I saw them in. They look pretty happen to me have never yet in my life seen a bird with its beak down and soul clause likes what have you look at the birds. God takes pretty good care of them. You're a lot more valuable than they are raising take care of you which of you by worrying is gonna grow a little bit very very profound.
So don't let anxious over concern about life divide your mind back to our text and flipping notice what it says be anxious for nothing, with the next word but but is a word of contrast and the contrast happens to be the solution to the word.
The contrast happens to be the antidote for the word don't do that thing. But do this thing. Replace it with something so secure for worry.
Listen carefully.
The cure for worry is to re-direct your energy and to replace your anxiety. Redirect your energy and replace your anxiety. The Bible calls this in another place, casting casting first Peter casting all your cares upon him because he cares for you, how we do it. Here's four words in the text to tell you how to do it. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything. Here they are, by prayer December 1 by supplication. That's number two, with thanksgiving, that's number three let your requests that's number four be made known to God and the promise the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus which is quickly go through the prayer.
Prayer is the general word used here to general word for prayer in the New Testament often translated worship often translated worship or devotion. So get this when you're worried worship and start worshiping when your heart is weighed down.
It's a time for you to put your hands up, hands up worries hands down worries up when the worries their hands up so worshiping to your focusing on God. Second word supplication supplication. I mean strong please strong cries. This is familiar territory for most of us, because whenever we are filled with anxiety are going through a trial that's always afraid that's okay be that is called supplication strong urging strong cry. I call it turbocharged prayer you not going there and God. We pray that you bless all the people into your ear.
Your playing notice this number three with thanks giving you. Don't forget to add nine SMU thinking what you mean. Thank God when life is hard, but I'm going to try.
Thank God here's what in prayer you're talking to God. Be thankful somebody's on the other end of the line were talking the God he's listening to you.
God cares for you. It is so easy to thank God for times of blessing, but here's what you should thank God for trials, trials are tools that God uses to change you. Trials are tools that God changes uses to change you. So, prayer, supplication, Thanksgiving, and will end with this.
Let your requests be made known to God. Please notice the work doesn't say let your demands be made known to God, but short speed made in God, you better do this no doesn't say let your temper tantrums be made known to God. You are bringing a prayer request to God. God knows best is a request and be specific in your request. Be specific in your specific when you go to a restaurant only say this if you ever get to a restaurant again. When you go when you don't say I have a general food need, bless me, according to whatever you wish know you you say I want number two with green chili.
Your specific right right so so be specific, let your requests be made known to God. So sum it all up. Then be anxious for nothing, be prayerful in everything and be thankful for anything God says the peace of God will literally mount a guard or a garrison over your mind and your heart these things that I just outlined here. That's a process it's a process you can bring with you at a hospital. Somebody's sick. It's a process you can bring when there's an accident bring this process to a funeral, bring it into a disagreement. Follow this through the promises God's peace will guard to replace Rory with worship Thanksgiving specific cries for help. That concludes Skip a text message series give peace a chance to Skip to share how you can keep this broadcast going strong connecting you and many others to the gospel. The Bible is full of God's promises, but if you want to know them to study Scripture while our goal is to connect friends like you with truth found in God's word.
That's why we share these Bible teachings on-air and online into your gift today. You can help keep these messages that you love coming to you and connect more people around the world to the Bible.
Here's how you can give right now: 800-922-1888 to give the gift 800-922-1880. Give online@connectwithskip.com/donate. That's connectwithskip.com/don't.
Your support is vital to continue encouraging you and many others with messages like today's broadcast. Thank you for giving generously to close you to check out the connect with mobile will have access to a treasure trove of scripts, messages waiting your fingertips. Find out more connect with us give.com/2 in tomorrow Skip types of shares about the peace with God so Skip presentation of connection communication through ever-changing time