The Peace of God

Were told that anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States according to health experts.

Anxiety disorders any anxiety that persists to the point that it interferes with one's life were very anxious people and we were very worried people we worry about your family by relationships of either work about school about her parents about her aging parents about nuclear attacks about terrorism and a host of other things. Let's face it, when facing the real world. It's hard to feel stressed feverish anxieties and stress and tension and these little worms of knowing worry attached because all research is so strong that anxiety and stress contribute to heart disease, ulcers, loss of memory, blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, diminished immune function and disturbed sleep patterns and many other things and there's a huge industry and our culture here in the West and sleeping pills and antidepressants and tranquilizers and therapists and counselors, all designed to help us cope with stress, but experts are by no means agreed as to the cure for worry and anxiety is the cure is impossible to experience peace and tranquility in our world and our culture with the many storms of life.

What you think is peace possible. Some of you will remember Rams song everybody hurts sometimes and when you feel like letting go and your sure you've had too much of this life and that goes on and that is a wonderful song but it has very bad theology because it tells us in these difficulties in life. We just are pulled on with it crying on the really the answer today were going to look from the Scriptures answer the cure to your hearts and your pains and the stresses and strains and anxieties of life. 2000 years ago. The apostle Paul is writing to a church at Philippi would obviously some people were very worried and had great anxiety and then he gives not only the challenge not to be anxious, but he gives the biblical solution here is a message. Then this morning not only to the Chronicle or warrior not only to those who feel frequently stress what I suggest a message to all of us that we can truly have hearts and minds and peace this morning are subject is the peace of God is the third message on this little series back to the basics of wheat we thought of the grace of God.

Last week, the God of the word of God. Next week will think of the cross of Christ today.

It is peace.

The peace of God telling your Bibles to Philippians chapter 4 or rather let stand and read these verses that we have on the screen. Let's read these thoughtfully and take them to heart. Do not be anxious about anything 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. Thank you. Please be seated with Paul saying in verse six. Bring all of your anxieties to the Lord in prayer that we want to look at that. That's a little closer because Paul tells us first.

There something we must not do and he saying don't be anxious. Philippians 4 verse six begins. Do not be anxious about anything intriguing that Paul is giving us a command. It's an imperative.

Do not be anxious about anything, this is interesting. I agree. Gord Martineau means anxiety, which originally means to be a rooftop to be torn but anxious and we feel torn up inside no way something is tearing us up.

We use that expression.

This this is tearing me out. That's anxiety. It's a dreadful experience and that we feel the emotion we feel it in the pit of her stomach. It can bring tension headaches and migraines and do all kinds of nasty things to us. We feel it in the very depth of our of our stomach. It what's going on, anxiety.

Paul is saying to you today do not be anxious about anything. If you have your Bible turn to Matthew chapter 6 when our Lord Jesus deals with the subject of anxiety and uses this same word that Paul uses in Philbin for about six modern now he uses it five times in the passage that were going to look at this morning at this passage. Matthew six verses 24 through 34, 25 to 34 is one of the most comforting.

One of the most beautiful passages in all of Scripture.

Part of what we call the sermon on the Mount and Jesus here gives us many reasons why we are not to be anxious I want to mention five of them first. In verses 25 and 26 of Matthew six therefore I tell you, Jesus is speaking. Do not be anxious about your life. There's another command same word Martineau don't be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you will drink a lot 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, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they is a reason why you not to be anxious.

Your heavenly father is watching over you something your heavenly father is watching over you. He takes care of his creation and you are much more value than the birds.

Jesus says that in Matthew chapter 10 when he talks about this matter.

He says there's not one sparrow that falls to the ground apart from your father. Your father knows about that and he says in the day. All of the hairs of your head are numbered and you have much more value than many sparrows. Therefore, don't fear, but have to ask you do you go it is your heavenly father you see is in God. They heavenly father of everyone while God is the creator of everyone.

But when the Scripture talks about God as our heavenly father is talking about a relationship of being in the family of God in the New Testament teaches us that the only way to know God is our heavenly father is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. John Saiz and John one verses 12 and 13, but to all who received him, that is to receive Jesus to them he gave the authority to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name who were born, not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. That is if I'm going to be in the family of God.

There's only one way and that is Jesus Christ. That's why God in his love sends Christ into this world and those I receive Christ as my Savior. I'm born again and I'm part of this wonderful family and God is not my heavenly father is whatever your problem this week is what today is understand that God is your heavenly father.

Earlier this summer did and I were done at one of the beaches here in beautiful beaches in North Carolina with her grandchildren and they love going in the sea, but there are certain dangers in the C1 of the grant as sons. Ian was concerned about conduct of the sharks there were jellyfish by these big waves and I'm with them and watching them with the Satan wasn't on fear your states began, but that are sharks until the kids that will take care of the sharks. I think I'm don't worry granddad's here enjoy her is not the point. Your heavenly father is saying to today without anxiety not worry stop worry, your heavenly father is here. Do not fear. But secondly, there's another reason why were not to worry.

Verse 27 in which one of you by being anxious. There's a word and add a single hour to his span of life and why you anxious about clothing. Consider the lilies of the field have they grow, they neither toil nor spin what eating produces absolutely nothing. Zero. It's a pointless exercise.

When you worry worrying anxiety achieves absolutely nothing.

It's like sitting in a rocking chair gives you something to do, but he goes nowhere, worrying. Never ever produces this solution. That's what Jesus is saying here worry about your heights. Your cows are all over him and all you can send that you're so small you can worry and worry and worry but it will never do any good. Is the point where he first got your heavenly father. Secondly, it is a pointless exercise. It's counterproductive. Third, verses 28 through 32 while you anxious about clothing. Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, all you of little faith. Therefore, do not be anxious.

There's a word say what shall we, neither was, shall we drink, or what shall we wear for the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them is wonderful to know my heavenly father knows all of my needs. These friends who dedicated their children today do they know the needs of the children.

Of course they do ridiculous for the little baby to be worrying my going to be fat is going to be a bed for me tonight's now is a loving parent. You know the needs of your children and God is a far better parent, a far better father than the best of fathers here. He knows our needs and therefore don't worry, number four, verse 33 but seek first to the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to your use of your heavenly father not only knows all of your needs. He provides all of your needs. He can do what the best father can do I can say my six-year-old grandson. Don't worry about the sharks but let's face it, the shark came good.

I take care of could I really protect them. I don't think I would run to shorter leave them there.

I'm not that kinda granddad but our heavenly father not only knows all of your needs is able to provide for all of your needs and is able to protect you from all kinds of dangers but what is my priority is not to worry, it is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. I am to focus on Christ. The most important allegiance in my life is to be to Jesus Christ and Jesus is saying if you put me first in your life if you seek me with all of your heart.

Don't want to buy these things will take care of them all.

And then, fifthly, verse 34 therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow. Notice verse 25 it begins to not be anxious here this little section ends with a do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble is not wise advice. Do you believe that God gives you all of the strength, the wisdom and grace that you need for today.

Of course he does. He does not give you today, the strength, the wisdom and the grace that you need for tomorrow. Now he gives you all you need for today.

Jesus is saying don't worry about tomorrow. Aren't most of your worries and the design is not about today about tomorrow and being anxious about tomorrow if I'm anxious about tomorrow, Monday. That is going to rob me of today's joy and strength. No today is a gift from God tomorrow. I don't know the future belongs not to me but to God. That's in the hands of God to leave it there and so Jesus is saying stop working, don't be anxious about your life. Don't be anxious about tomorrow. Paul is saying is really back in Philippians 4 verse six. Do not be anxious about anything, something you mustn't do. Don't be anxious, but here's the positive. Philippians 4 verse six. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer is a positive in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

What am I to do and to bring all of my worries.

All of my anxieties to the Lord so you can sleep well last night. Your worry some of you have had a very very stressful week. Whether your anxieties, we worried about.

Name them one by one name them. Everyone perhaps even write them out. Here are my worries number one number two number three use after a long list write the moderates the way to be anxious about nothing.

Paul is saying in this wonderful verse is to be prayerful about everything, all of my cares all of my anxieties, all of my fears are to be brought to the Lord. No exceptions.

I'm to bring them every one of them to the Lord in prayer and don't miss this.

Don't be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. You say, Jon, I don't feel very thankful. I understand that times in my life when I didn't feel thankful but here is the command as I pray as I take my worries and anxieties to the Lord I'm to do so with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is an essential albeit often forgotten spiritual key and dealing with anxiety and worry. If you're not thankful in the midst of your worries and anxieties.

You know what happened you was going to happen. You see than others will readily than yourself will become self pitying we can become whining and complaining any complainers or whiners here, bitterness you meant any bitter people want to tell you the reason why they are bitter. Someone at work offended them.

Someone betrayed them. Something happened to them that they think they didn't deserve and bitterness and self-pity in whining and complaining take over. I realize in life people are treated badly. I realize some of you have got employers that are totally unreasonable. I realize that some of you have employees that are totally unreasonable.

I realize that some of you have deep deep problems in your family and your finances in your health. I'm not denying that and I'm certainly not saying you desire these problems and difficulties in life.

But bitterness and anger and frustration, and resentment stop you from being thankful I'm asking you are you are thankful person, the less thankful you are the more you will worry and have anxiety and stress. Gandy said revenge is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die. Sometimes we can be so focused on that person who's her desk whose leathers Don was offended us or betrayed us that this essential component of the Christian life of thankfulness is neglected. I'm saying to you when you bring your worries and your and your anxieties, the Lord in prayer used to do so without thankful spirit. I said we were done at Carolina Beach. Earlier this summer and that we visited that zoo the cuddling up reserve some you been there pleasantly much from the outside, but in fact it's a very interesting zoo and when we were there with the grandkids a couple men came and Isaac and work that is it, what you doing and they say were about to feed the pigs and that there they are. I will be giving the pigs not filling me non-but what we would call garbage but the mindset I citizens got pieces not really. He said, is quite healthy for the pigs others fruits and vegetables and there's all kinds of things and obviously the pigs loved it. The grandkids that I said to these two men do they have the pigs ever say thank you you look to me as if you know where you from your not from around here and I said it really seemed to be enjoying the foods he said they are beloved, but no they never say thanks and I said what we we just passed an alligator. In fact, I took a picture of the delegate that I wanted to climb over the fence were good and he said no and he said to me let me tell you about alligator as it were, by the is a jiffy delegate that he suggests he said we refuted 40 pounds of food every week and he said that alligator he doesn't even choose the foods he just swallows it takes about a week to digest the lesson animals at the zoo are not thankful that some use of my dog as I know it wags its tail, but that's to keep the food going is not really saying thank you dogs are smart, but they're not very thankful.

I realize your your dog is different but the rest of us. We understand the animals are not thankful, but were not animals early if you got a friend or family member, a colleague who's never thankful that's not a very pleasant person to be around visit person who's always self-centered. Let me ask you and your relationship with God, your thankful person I'm single most thankful you are, the less you will worry is not what Paul is saying you see when were thankful acknowledging God's goodness to us in the past he's my heavenly father think brothers and sisters of how God has blessed you over the years. I realize life is difficult, I realize all of us could talk about the many heartaches in our lives but hasn't God blessed you.

Above all, is in the same truth so the giving of this wonderful future. To give you this wonderful charge. Some of the they are appearances or talking about it. Were thinking God for this church thing of all of the blessings that God showers on you. You think you have but there's this aspect of understand that, take that to the Lord, but make sure your thankful pole earlier stays here at the end of verse three, he says. Their names are in the book of life. Remember when we were going through revelation. We talked about the Lamb's book of life which are saved by the grace of God.

Your name is in the Lamb's book of life. He also says here in verse at the end of verse five the Lord is at hand either mean the meaning the Lord is about to come, or the Lord is right close. Both are true God is plaster he's poured his blessing on you. Therefore, as you bring these worries and anxieties to the Lord do so with thanksgiving that what are you to do it. The cost all of your cares to the Lord. Peter says that casting all of our cares on him because he cares for us.

Psalm 55 verse 22. Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you. It will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Why do you insist on carrying that burden. These anxieties these worries.

These frustrations are going to live in your love this terrible burden on your back there not for you to handle. Therefore the Lord to handle tell him about them.

You said I really can handle this and give it to the Lord. You can copy all burdens. What do you is a huge issue that difficult conversation with your boss tomorrow that health concern that family problem which is all-consuming, which is very difficult to you is microscopic to the grade cards. We marveled in ways we saw the eclipse how can people fictional God.

When scientists can calculate right to the second when that eclipse will take place over North America.

The amazing laws of God. God is our designer God is great and he certainly can deal with the biggest problem that you and I have a God centered. No problem centered stop focusing on the problem focus more on God as you bring this to the bring these to the Lord.

You trust the Lord to trust what I understand trust is difficult for us. Trust is a rare commodity in our society was a crisis of trust, who do we trust in business, we trust a politician would really trust her friends for many people do you really trust when we are worried we feel there's no one we can really trust. Sometimes were so overwhelmed by the anxiety that we can really trust ourselves we we know that we can make very bad decisions in the middle of that stress and being overwhelmed that we can make decisions which don't please God and so we don't even trust our own judgments. What we did take that worry take that anxiety and make it be known to God. Trust. Trust him all of your worries. All of these feverish anxieties, all of your cares to the Lord, and he can be trusted. Earlier this summer, as well as being at the beach. We were in Scotland is who will be doing all summer studying the word that we want me to know and how we were in Scotland and it was wonderful and that little house blue house there. This is a picture of the house where we stayed good and nine.

This is a village where my mother was born and where of for all of my boyhood.

We went for a long time. Every summer on their vacation and I rented this house a blue house for a week for study. It was with me earlier in the week and then she went to friends in Aberdeen and I was left alone to study and there, because so far north of the north of Scotland and that this was at the end of June. The sun goes down regulate after 11 o'clock in the gets up about 4 o'clock and is just incredible. About 6 o'clock tomorrow before 6 o'clock the morning I'm in this little bedroom, two bedrooms upstairs, and Eminem in the top bedroom door close.

Fortunately and I and we cannot buy strange signs and as I came to know that twilight zone.

Not sure your way could you dreaming you have the nightmare was going on. I thought it must be a bird outside my window was flapping and picking and I got not.

And there was no was no burden is a habitat thought this bird is coming from the next bedroom, small bedroom and so I went through and sure enough there was a bird inside the house trying to get out the window no idea what going on. I don't handle this very thankful that my wife was in there. She really would not handle this in a very godly way. So I don't what do I do to get this bird arts in my pajamas. I'm half-asleep been dreaming of Romans and Paul and all kinds of things not really, but I go downstairs on my big jacket which I had for the Scottish cold and wet and there's a newspaper, rolled up this newspaper and went upstairs and pictures of these Hitchcock movies were the birds come to, and I thought what way did I would like my eyes packed tight and how how long would it take before someone realized this was John so I went must be quite a sight and going close the door and is myself in this bird not. I love all animals and nothing in the great bird lover, but I want I wanted to help this bird and wanted to release it.

I wanted to go out into the beautiful village they exercise freedom, but there it was. And as I went to. It was obviously very, very afraid, and it was flapping and it was panicking and was being certain deposits that I didn't particularly appreciate. And in the goodness of God. This is window open. I got the window open, but bird was that the other side. I'm trying to speak to the part I'm trying a whistle to it to get it to come and eventually it goes out to freedom panicking over my thought is not so much of who we are in life were flapping and were panicking in our heavenly father is there enough and we don't hear his voice was so consumed with what's going on around us were so consumed by one problem. Instead of hearing God's. The psalmist says be still and know that I am God is God leaving you don't focus on the stormy walk waters focus God cast all your cares on him not. That's the command here is the promise and the time is almost gone.

Verse seven is the promises you do that, there's this incredible from a promise of God and the peace of God together for peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus exchange all of your worries for the peace of God, can you think of a better deal than what exchange do you believe this promise take all of your worries. All of all of the all of your cares all of your anxieties and cast them on the Lord let them go stop holding onto them, release them from your grant role your worries and your fears onto the Lord, and he has promised, as you do this, he will give you not just peace.

Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. A supernatural piece of peace that God gives is that many of us have experienced that piece of various and my wife is through very circumstances of life which would overwhelming think of good day going when she had her consort of our thyroid God supernaturally granting her peace. We knew this is no ordinary peace. We knew this is not just my wife being disciplined or put them on an act of being brave know this is from above God reaches the and grant you peace.

You have them in the quartet saying that piece in the storm in the shelter of his arms.

Jesus says peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid it's not just peace unbelievers can have a measure of peace. Jesus says this is my peace never was a man molded peace than the Lord Jesus in the midst of the storms of his life. He knew the peace of God and he gives us this piece pulsates here.

It's surpasses all understanding is humanly inexplicable. What is it is the tranquility and peace in our hearts and our soul. And Paul says this piece will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And here Paul uses a military picture phone is under siege by the soldiers. The detachments of soldiers are standing guard. The enemy wants to attack the city but there's this beautiful detachment of soldiers standing guard to protect the inhabitants of the city of Philippi and Paul is saying in the same way that when you take these worries and anxieties and roll them over to the Lord God is going to send a supernatural gardening heart and your mind what it affects our hearts thousand. Sometimes our hearts even pound affects our minds or minds of restless at night and at night he is awaiting all kinds of scenarios are going through our minds and think how wonderful it would be to have peace both as now here's a promise as you do.

I say you take them give thanks to the Lord, and you consciously one by one commitment to the Lord.

His peace will guard her sin, he says, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I'm asking you this morning.

The claim that promise you do that before I close out to say something you have to make sure that first of all, you've exchanged your sin, for his salvation.

Here Paul is talking about the peace of God. But there's another kinds of peace. There is a piece with God. This promise is our to those who are he says in verse seven in Christ Jesus to this promise of supernatural peace of God is not for everyone solely for those who are in Christ Jesus. And if you're not in Christ Jesus. Your biggest problem is not your worry are your anxiety, your biggest problem is your sin.

That's a burden, and you should be worried about that because the wages of sin is death, and you need Christ, salvation, and before you experience the peace of God, you must first take experienced peace with God and the only way to have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of our sin were enemies of God. But Jesus Christ comes and he is the peacemaker. He's the bridge builder and he does that. At the cross, he does that.

At Calvary, as he atones for our sin. And as you turn from your sin and embrace Christ's. He forgives your sin and you are now at peace with God.

So Paul can say in Romans five verse one therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ only way I could have peace with God is through our Lord Jesus Christ. I can't manufacture that piece.

I can remove my saying I can atone for my sin I can change my ways but still that sin remains the only one who can deal with my sin is Christ on the cross and therefore I come to Christ for salvation and that wonderful opportunity in this beautiful day here in Charlotte, North Carolina for you to come from your sin and to trust Christ some of you know you should do that and for some unknown reason you haven't done it many of you here are followers of Christ. Praise God for that. You're sitting there with burdens and cares and anxieties is a solution. RAM said just hold on, is that it no no I can you hold no I want one who holds me who will hold me fast as we were sinking who will never let me go there I am in his hands and he is all-powerful and his love is so strong that nothing in this whole universe can separate me from this love on this one. My heavenly father loves to be an cares for me and want a very fast for me and I come take that worry and anxiety committed to Jesus and he will protect will guard my heart turned minds with the supernatural peace of God resting and causing a wonderful song. He almost 23 it's a beautiful song, which emphasizes that we must put our trust in the Lord understanding and saying that as we do that you have that burden and that worry just come forward stand here or kneel here you say why do have to do that. This is something that has to be done decisively is not enough for you the sale. I understand if I take my worries and put them to the Lord to give me peace know you got to do it. This is something that requires action. You have a specific worry you have a specific burden to take that to the Lord and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

And then verse nine pulsates what you've learned and received and had been seen in me practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. Peace with God is my salvation. Peace of God's daily realities, I commit my what is the Christ in his wheel of life.

We know that the God of peace will be with us. Let me pray with you as our musicians come and get ready to lead us in the song if you feel so led come and commit that cares to the Lord. Father, thank you for your perfect heavenly father love us or all-powerful, how we get worried how we get frantic how we get stress symptoms over trivial things and others through very big things and some of my brothers and sisters here that we done. May we cast cares on you because you care for us increase our strength, increase our trust in Christ we pray this precious name