Worry And Anxiety - Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ.

But I know you need to know that all this happens in her own mind, he said, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

That's the real world. The spiritual world of God is the real. This world is a world and it is certainly subservient to the sodomite over letter Paul is trying to get across joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now again he shows us how God's word meets our work put in prison now after you put in prison falsely charged. When asked how would you feel when you find that there there perhaps can execute.

How would you feel would you feel any anxiety. Seriously, would you feel any anxiety at all.

I want to tell you what Paul felt no anxiety.

I mean a little, I mean zero. He felt no anxiety infects the theme of the book of Philippians is not about how you deal with terrible circumstances.

The theme of the book of Philippians is joy. Paul talks about all the joy that he had so he writes this verse to them out of prison, where he might be executed. His anxiety and worry level was zero. Not at all.

In fact, early in the book. In the early chapter, Paul says that if you give me a hypothetical situation Congress can ask if you had a choice of whether living on or dying right now.

What would you choose pulsatile that's easy. I'd rather die right now.

What is that your choice, I mean all of us write all of us want to go to heaven. None of us want to go tonight to see what I mean.

That's the way this works for us. That's just the way we see this pulse is no abscess in the body present with the Lord.

No more sorrow no more tears forever with my Lord I do choice. That's what I take.

He said, but for your sake.

God wants me here. I'd be glad to stay here and be your teacher think that's the sovereignty of God in Paul's like that's how he sees it so he says to them down here in verse six of chapter 4 be anxious for nothing again a commandment, but in everything by prayer and treating the Lord with petitions and then a keyword and supplication. The word supplication means an emotional response.

In other words, pour out your heart to God.

Let them know how you feel if the situation you're in, warns tears cry. You see what I mean if you're really afraid Tello. He said you can do that you could print your humanity to me.

I'll let you pray your humanity to me just pour out to me so petite, prayer, and then supplication and then the thing that changes the cell with Thanksgiving. Now that is completely backwards to your thinking and mine often because I know that, could you tell me you when I hear your Thanksgiving when you get what you want isn't God is in Jesus I pray for is any good. He is good then take much faith to say that God says no you think me up front before you get it or not getting you think me before you get it. Why would I think of now because you believe that I'm sovereign and I love you and I'm right here and you believe that.

So why not thank God in the beginning he sovereign over everything.

So why not think of one am praying see what we end up with praying up we get our results were thankful that if we don't get our results were nothing for all. He said no pay upfront thank me upfront. I'm sovereign over everything I can do anything. I love you see on this works gotcha spank me if that's how you see life or do you see life circumstantially and that I'll be thankful God after I get what I want. You see, that's not faith fact and that sense it's very ethnocentric, very selfish long as God gives me 11 will be thankful. So he says, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, then the result great verse, and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. There's a promise is important for this God promise if you do this piece. What kind of peace peace beyond all comprehension.

Jesus said in John my peace I give to you.

That's unbelievable.

Peace. If you have unbelievable peace.

Guess what, you don't have anxiety, worry, God says I promise you all of you.

I give you peace. If you pray that believing that you'll get peace and will be beyond all comprehension. While that's what I'm saying the sovereignty of God. If you really believe it would take away all your anxiety and worry because God is completely sovereign over everything and he loves you and he will never leave you nor forsake once you believe that I have no reason to feel anxiety. That's what Paul did the me I want to illustrate that. Go with me back to the book of second Kings chapter 6 second Kings chapter 6 and second Kings six God's going to do something you don't see often the word of God.

We think this is the world the whole world and the real world.

God says is on that, etc. so what God does in second Kings 641 of the rare times in the Bible. He's going to pull the curtain back and he's going let you and me see what the real world is not the world of just physical world. But what the real world as he pulls it back to you and I can see it should give us tremendous confidence when here's how the story goes first eight the king of Aram Debbie modern-day Syria, the king of Aram was warring against Israel any counsel with the service and said in such and such a place shall be my camp the man of God sent word to the king of Israel and men of God to Elisha saying beware that you do not pass. This place for the Aramaeans he said are coming down there. The king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God and told him that he warned him so that he guarded himself there more than once or twice, he already went there fortified.

So that's what's going Elisha told the king of Israel. As I watch now the heart of the king of M was enraged over this thing, and he called his servants and he said to them when you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel is the only thing you slips sink ships. Somebody in this room, told the king of Israel that I was going to attack him. There one of his servants said no, my Lord, okay, but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, he tells the king of Israel, the words that you speak in your bedroom you love you speak some in your bedroom. He'll tell Israel about not you think if that were true, the dispute king of Aram would have been like oh my goodness that's amazing power. This ignores a typical of an unbeliever, and he says so he said go and see.

Worry is that I may send and take him and it was Ptolemy cities the holdings in Dothan, so we sent horses and chariots of the great Army there and they came by night. They surrounded the city of both. He sent hundreds of not more of troops to kill one man that's his goal now when he attended of the man of God, this is Elisha's attended had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots were circling the city.

How do you think he felt anxious is that all he sent an army to kill a man and him what is going to kill me to his servants said to them, alas, my master, what shall we do, what is that he's worried when you be you should but would you there's a whole army coming just to kill you and Elisha see that lots of time you really want to worry not notice what Elisha he answers. Do not fear how anxious this Elisha's idea zero noise on do not fear none just like Paul not, do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who were with him. I imagine regularly attended. I do see anybody but you and me here, but what Elisha was doing the speaking the truth about of the reality of it. Those are with us are more than those who with him. Then Elisha prayed and said, oh Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see in the Lord open the servant's eyes and he saw behold the mop was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha would God do. He gave him a glimpse of reality. There they are. So what are we afraid about see Elisha didn't need to see why he believed that he believed that God is sovereign. It is believed that he didn't have to see it. I know this is true. I know about God is as and when they came time Elisha prayed to the Lord said strike these people with blindness. I brainy strike of the blindness. According to the word of that man got to see something most of us never do. There's always the real world of God. And this physical world of our flesh. Reality is found in God and not our physical world know you maybe even send you but you know what that sounds like a good story except Elisha is an Old Testament prophet, I know I'm not and he had an experience I got but I know I wouldn't. Maybe not, but I want to show you something where reality really lies go with me to second Corinthians in the New Testament, chapter 10. The apostle Paul writes the starting in verse one. He said no I Paul myself urged you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. I who are meek when face-to-face with you but bold toward you when I am absent, I asked that when I am present.

I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous again. Some who regarded us as if we walked according to the flesh. Paul was saying, I have a tremendous confidence even though I appeared meek, but he said I have tremendous confidence in his comments is based on what I know with the real world is and you don't hear as it says four that's an explanatory garden Greek and reexplain for though we walk by the flesh. We live in flesh and blood. We do not war according to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses what you mean fortresses we are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Paul was speaking there that the real world of spiritual and nursing a physical world that claims it's the only real world that is, he said yeah that's because it's against the knowledge of God. These are foolish. These are just speculations. He said, but I know better than that and you need to know better than that and noticed he said all this happens in our own mind, he said, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. That's the real world. The spiritual world of God is the real world.

This world is a world that claims to be real but is not and it is certainly subservient to the sovereign one over.

That's what Paul was trying to get across from them. So what you end up seeing here is that this theme that has three steps to it one God is sovereign, completely sovereign God loves you what to think out for God so loved the world he sent his son so he loved us enough than we were still at enmity with them. Paul says in Romans that he center · force's love is so great. Romans 830.

Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ not spiritual beings. Nothing, not life, not death. Nothing that exist in creation will ever be able to separate you and me from the love.

So he infinitely loves me, he is infinitely sovereign over every aspect of the whole creation, including my life. And he said I'll never leave you nor forsake you.

Always be there. What should that produce in your mind.

Peace about what about everything. Nothing is out of the reach of this is he that become such an important part of this whole thing.

That's what makes a difference.

I was to illustrations. Here's one you all know more. Most of you know the story of Shadrach me shack in a Bendigo.

They are Jewish brothers in the sense with Daniel and then the Babylonian captivity in Nebuchadnezzar's king and he's an egomaniac like lots of kings, and he decides to build a statue of himself, about 90 feet high and he demands that everybody worship so this comes the Shadrach me shack in a Bendigo who I will favor in the king-size it is when you worship this and they said politely no not this Miami draft. I'm the king you see I have the power know we would never do that when I can worship any Isle of Man that made a mad lot of times in your savings. I got the kings to get mad so he got really mad so had a furnace. He hated the furnace up seven times hotter than it was designed to be perfect, portending at the door guys and I'm sure all the TV Guide he was even in their so he said Shadrach me shack in a Bendigo now in a change of mind, no matter all military how much anxiety they had about zero again. None in her statement to him was interesting.

I got is able to deliver us.

That's where the peace came from. He's able what is God able to do anything right anything in his sovereign will. He wants to do is able to do anything so they sicking our God is able. If he delivers us fine.

If he doesn't were still with our God.

You see, it doesn't matter to be with God. Either way, right here, right there were fine were not doing now the story goes that what happened they got delivered. You see they got delivered but they did get peace because I got delivered. They had peace before they were delivered. They gave thanks to God before they were delivered why they believe he was sovereign, that he loved them. That is right with them so they had peace now. With that in mind, I want to give you a contemporary version of the same story Mrs. by Stephen Cole, pastor in California and he writes this he said a little over a year ago, I learned that a woman who led music. The music ministry. When I first became pastor almost 20 years ago had been stricken with three malignant brain tumors. She and her husband are maybe 10 years older than I am. I wrote to her and she wrote back and told how her husband who has worked all his life in construction now had such bad arthritis in his hip that he could no longer work. She said how the doctors had warned them to do anything they really wanted to do because her time on earth will be short. This is a final paragraph he said the piece of board, the peace that the Lord gave me while I was in the hospital is far beyond my understanding. Everything is in his control, especially the timing of my life. He said that his grace is sufficient and that I find that to be absolutely true and that his strength is made perfect in my weakness than core axis.

She's now the Lord's presence free from a mortal body. She got now is not a Shadrach me shack in a Bendigo story isn't what did she get the God promised peace. Total peace complete peace. The peace before she died.

Complete peace and she said this piece is so great I don't even understand it. I can even understand it. I know that his grace is so sufficient that in my weakness. This had to be painful, for in my weakness is strength prevail. She had peace. She wasn't worried to not full of anxiety and so many of us off.

I do in that situation be so no see if you truly believe in the sovereignty of God and the love that God has for you, and his presence in your life.

There's nothing you see, there's nothing out there that could take away your peace.

See God is not restricted by what you and I call the real world. He's not restricted by medical science. The doctor said is not restricted by that he's not restricted by natural laws is not restricted by that he will do as the psalmist says as he pleases you know what I hope for you, but I can tell you. For me that's good enough for me, if that's what God wants to do with my life, that's fine. I mean, he knew what my life's going to win.

Tell before I why was a fetus so nothing's going to change and I'm fine with that too. That's where the belief in the sovereignty of God and his love for me and is ever present. That's God's promise to you and me give you peace. That's why it seems amazing that Jesus speaks often about worrying.

He said don't worry if you have food to eat. Don't worry if you have close your back God's in control. Don't you worry about this. He said that what he does.

There were Spero takes care of the birds. He thinks more view than that.

Stop worrying. But somehow for Christians our worldview that the circumstances of my life are most important betrayers they cause us the anxiety and the worry word of God takes all that away. I don't know one single sermon that I've ever prepared that I've prayed more for you and me, but for you. I'm so involved with all the worry and anxiety of your lives.

I see it all the time and it's so unnecessary. You don't have to do this but you have to do is just trust the Lord because he sovereign over every single thing. Nothing that will ever happen to you or me didn't go through his sovereign love first.

Nothing, and I trust his judgment completely and as you know I've said it a thousand times. Even the worst thing that could happen to you.

It can happen to you. Praise God for that. Fill your heart with peace instead of worry, whispering father. We all worry, stress out have anxiety and somehow in the middle of it. It dominates our thought life when we should be thinking of what who you are, what you've done and what each of us means to you, your promises should give us comfort your powers and give us peace and father.

When we learn this lesson. What a benefit it is for us. What a testimony it is for us with others of like Jesus Christ can produce the life of the father used this truth to change us to convict us for our good news this truth in Christ pastoral giver on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like the sum of the message one more time.

Remember, you can Google a great website called in one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online at that website you will find on with today's broadcast. Also, many of our previous audio programs as that Fellowship in the Word we are thinking for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible with all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting monthly with just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and O LA.Margie at our website you will find hundreds pastoral sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sensors are looking, or you can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listen at your own. And remember all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FVC Nola.org for pastoral gift card. I'm Jason Gebhardt. Thank you for listening to fellowship in order