Gotta Have PTSD
1) Introduction
a) 4th of July Celebration, we celebrate the freedom that we all enjoy. Freedom is not getting everything we want but being able to go beyond our unfulfilled desires.
b) Through Christ we can achieve that and we can truly rejoice.
c) Its easy to be happy and have joy when things are great, when we are lacking in nothing but what if things are not great and we are in need of….fill in the blank.
d) What are you in need of today? Have you found it hard to rejoice in the Lord or hard to worship Him?
e) You see, Paul presented sharing the Gospel as a basic source of Christian joy.
f) And also the importance of communicating w/ God daily in order to achieve true joy.
g) Now, as we are talking about joy and rejoicing, lets look at what the word says,
2) Rejoice no matter what happens (vs4) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!
a) Examples: Tennessee Volunteers, picnic, barbeque etc……its easy to have fun
b) Paul in prison while writing Philippians
c) Paul and Silas singing in prison
d) Read Romans 12:12
e) Paul could rejoice in his sufferings because he knew this life was temporary and the pains and sorrow of this life were temporary; something even greater, beyond words was coming.
f) We can get through all the trials and temptations of this life because Jesus has redeemed us and given us power to overcome it. The word of God says, that No weapon formed against shall prosper.
g) That should bring joy to us.
h) Psalms “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
i) Inner attitudes do not have to reflect outward circumstances
j) ‘stand firm in the Lord’ (4:1), ‘agree … in the Lord’ (4:2), now Rejoice in the Lord. (4:4)
k) Going through trials? Find something to praise the Lord for.
3) Tell others, cause the Lord is coming soon (vs 5) Let your gentleness be know to all men. The Lord is at hand.
a) Paul and the Philippians had a common concern for communicating the Gospel to the lost.
b) 1:6 it says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I will not leave your nor forsake you Heb 13:5
c) Gentleness or other translation say: Moderation; forbearance; overlooking the faults and failures of others.
d) So we are to tell others about the Lord w/o discriminating and judging……….for the word says, The Lord is at hand or near.
e) Read Acts 5:41
f) The question, are you willing to suffer for the sake of His name.
4) Don’t be Anxious (vs 6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, w/ thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
a) Anxiety is to have no place in the lives of Christians because in everything there can be prayer.
b) J.A. Bengel said, “Anxiety and prayer are more opposed to each other than fire and water.”
c) Instead of stressing and letting emotions control you Paul says rejoice and quit worrying about everything. Instead try a new approach, worry about nothing. Does this mean we’re supposed to look at life through rose-colored glasses and never face the reality of our circumstances? Are we supposed to believe that sin isn’t real, and sickness isn’t real, and that problems aren’t real? No. Paul says worry about nothing but pray about everything.
d) This means we are to rejoice in what God has done for us through Christ and we are supposed to talk to God about everything in our lives.
e) So the remedy to the anxiety problem is clearly seen in this verse.
f) In this verse Paul breaks it down and says you need PTSD. So if your wondering why did the Chaplain choose this title, well here we go.
g) First of all its not related to the one we teach in Battlemind, although its interesting that if we apply the Biblical PTSD, then God gives us a promise.
h) P - stands for Prayer: get on your knees
i) T - for Thanksgiving; remember what God has done for you
j) S - for Supplication; it’s the petition you bring unto God
k) D - for Daily;
l) When we practice PTSD, then we can truly rejoice in the Lord no matter what.
m) God cares about all your problems and He promised to do something if you practice Prayer, Thanksgiving, Supplication, Daily.
n) So what is the promise, lets look at vs 7
5) The peace of God (vs 7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus.
a) Peace in the midst of the storm, in your marriage, in your finances, in your future and peace when it seems that everything is crashing down on you.
b) When prayer replaces worry, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding comes in, and that peace acts as a protector of the Christian’s mind and emotions from being over-whelmed by the sudden onrush of fear, anxiety or temptation.
c) A joyous Christian has real power because they are not swayed by the ups and downs of life. They choose to rejoice regardless. They give God the glory in all circumstances.
d) If we want to be a people of one mission, singular in thought that would allow us to do God’s work with the most effectiveness possible then we have to be a people of prayer
e) We have to learn to let God take the burden from us. It is not ours to worry about. He will guide our paths and help see us through the situation.
f) does nothing but cause ulcers and quick tempers.
g) Prayer builds faith in us to just know God is here and will see us through this difficult time.
h) If he did it then he will do it today.
6) Conclusion:
a) There is power in prayer. Example my son Eli
b) The storm may still be raging, the thunder still crashing in your life. It has not stopped immediately after prayer but something has happened; peace. In our worry and anxiety we want God to change everything around us. “Give us this.” Don’t let this happen.” “Open up this door for me.” We should be praying, “Oh, God, change me.” We enter with worry but we come out with peace because God has changed us. When we let God change us Joy will come in. When we let God change us then we can rejoice in all things.
c) Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18