Sermon Tone Analysis

Philippians 4:4-10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2004

Worry: Transit Troubles

 

Several years ago, the London Transit Authority had a problem.

Buses were going right past passengers who were waiting at designated places to be picked up.

They were at the bus stops, and the buses were sailing right past them.

The London Transit Authority released a statement to explain their actions.

The statement said it was impossible for them to maintain schedules if they always had to stop and pick up passengers.

It seems to me that they were worrying about the wrong things.

People are more important than time tables.

These days everyone has to deal with worry or anxiety.

But Christians don't need to be strangled by them.

/George Muller/ said this.

 

Anxious for Nothing

 

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.

-- /George Muller/

 

This morning I would like to look at the cure for worry.

Worry happens when we are torn in one direction by our hopes and in another by our fears.

If anyone had cause to worry it was the apostle Paul.

He was concerned for all the Churches.

He was imprisoned in Rome and standing trial for the Christian faith.

He could soon lose his life.

And his dear friends the Philippians had a problem with disunity and he couldn't be there to help them.

However Paul didn't worry, instead he rejoiced in the Lord.

/What is the cure for this thief that steals our joy?/

Paul shares the secret of overcoming worry in this passage.

Paul says 2 things:/ /*/Right Thinking and Right Living./*

 

1.

Right Thinking

 

/a.

Rejoice In The Lord Always/

/ /

*Philippians 4:4:* /Rejoice in the Lord always.

Again I will say, rejoice!/

/ /

The first thing Paul says about right thinking is that we should rejoice.

Paul commands believers */to rejoice in the Lord always/*.

/But how do you rejoice when things aren't working out for you?/

By rejoicing in the Lord.

God is the one we rejoice in.

He will always be our Savior and helper.

So He is always worthy of our praise and adoration.

The Lord is the source of our joy.

David experienced this.

*Psalm 103:1-5* /Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

/And the Psalmist continue to bless the Lord for His goodness.

Similarly, it didn't matter what happened in Paul's life he rejoiced in the Lord.

Paul rejoiced that Christ was preached in chapter 1, even though some were doing this from selfish motives.

He rejoiced in his service and sacrifice in chapter 2. Paul rejoiced in Christ's righteousness in chapter 3.

And in chapter 4 Paul rejoiced in the Philippians and their concern for him.

So when he */commands/* believers /to rejoice in the Lord always/ he is asking them to do something that he practices himself regardless of circumstances.

/Like a victorious locker room, church is a place to exult, to give thanks, to celebrate the great news that all is forgiven, that God is love, that victory is certain.

/Our joy is found in God!

Because God has saved us we can always rejoice.

 

/b.

Be Reasonable To All Men/

/ /

*Philippians 4:5:* /Let your gentleness be known to all men.

The Lord is at hand/.

/ /

The word/ *gentleness* /means/ *graciousness,* /someone who doesn't retaliate when provoked/.

/Our joy in the Lord may not always be seen by others, but our gentle spirit will be.

Christians must not strive and argue with others.

Rather they should be known for their humility and meekness.

The Lord is always near to strengthen those who obey this command.

Gracious conduct will touch people far more than harsh words.

/Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon and the deeper it sinks into the mind.

-- Samuel Taylor Coleridge/

 

/c.

Rely On The Lord /

/ /

*Philippians 4:6-7:* /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./

/ /

Paul gives two commands in verse 6, */firstly/* a negative one */then/* a positive one.

*/Don't be anxious/*.

Anxiety strangles believers as they are torn apart by hopes and fears.

But /God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind/.

*2 Timothy 1:7* /How then do we overcome anxiety?/

By taking our needs and concerns to God in prayer.

Paul learnt from personal experience how believers need assistance in trials.

On our own we aren't sufficient for the Christian life.

So he commanded them take their requests to God.

 

Paul wisely used three words here to describe prayer; /prayer, thanksgiving/ and /requests./

The word*/ prayer/* carries the idea of */devotion, adoration and worship./*

We praise God for His greatness and power, for who He is.

This is important because it places our problems in the right perspective.

*/Thanksgiving/* is showing */appreciation/* for answered prayers.

We must remember to do this or we become ungrateful.

This reminds us of how God has helped us in the past.

The word */request/* refers to */the earnest sharing of needs/*.

When we bring our needs to God this way we see that He is more than able to meet them since He has in the past.

Lincoln's Prayer for Wisdom

 

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.

My wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.

*1 Peter 5:7*: /Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

/The way this is written means that our problems are a concern to God.

He wants us to bring our burdens to Him.

/ /

/d.

Rest Your Mind On Good Things/

 

*Phil 4:8:* /Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things./

Solomon said /as a man thinks in his heart so he is/.

What we feed our mind on determines how we think and feel.

Paul commands believers to dwell on the things that are good and wholesome.

If we will evaluate our thought life against this list then our minds will be controlled by Godly thinking instead of worldly thinking.

The result is peace.*

Isaiah 26:3:* /You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.