Sermon Tone Analysis

Bishop Bryan Strickland

1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Philippians 4:4–8 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

In just a few days we will be celebrating Thanksgiving.

How can you be thankful in tough times?

When the economy is not good.

When things aren't going your way.

How do can you and I be thankful in tough times?

When it seems our world is crumbling and falling apart around us.

In Philippians 4, Paul says "May you always be joyful in your life in the Lord."

Is that possible?

Is it always possible to be joyful, no matter what the circumstance?

Yes it is.

We need to learn to celebrate the life that God has given us and be thankful for the things that we do have.

The bible tells us that God has given us everything that we need to live and enjoy a Godly life.

Rejoicing in the Lord is simply celebrating what God has done for us and in us.

Nothing is in shorter supply today than rejoicing.

In our world today there seems to be a lot of stress and worry in the hearts and minds of God's people.

Many people are so stressed out when they come to church that they can't enjoy God's presence and power.

While they may be at church physically their minds are somewhere else.

They are worried about something at home, on the job, or any number of things.

They find it hard to be thankful during tough times.

However, I am convinced that we can be thankful regardless of our circumstances.

Thankfulness is a state of mind that I choose to have.

It is a life style that I choose to live.

The Psalmist said this is the Day the Lord Has Made AND I WILL BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN IT.

We can have a thankful mind and live a life of thanksgiving if we will do as God has instructed us to do in His word.

READ Philippians 4:6-7

In this very short passage we have the four keys to surviving stress.

They're very simple to say, they're a lot more difficult to apply.

Step One: Worry about nothing

Step Two: Pray about everything

Step Three: Thank God in all things

Step Four: Think about the right things

1.

Step One: Stop Worrying

V. 6 "Don't be anxious about anything.

Do not fret or have any anxiety.'

That's easier said than done.

It's no sweat to say it but as soon as you're finished saying it, you start worrying about something.

The word worry means to be pulled in different direction; to strangle or choke.

It's interesting to note that when Paul wrote this he was in prison.

He was in prison in Rome in a dungeon and he's saying, "Don't worry about anything."

Facts about worry:

40% of your worries never happen.

So there's 40% of them that you don't even have to worry about.

So out of your list of ten worries, pick out four and throw them out because they don't count.

30% of your worries concern the past.

Worry cannot change the past and worry cannot control the future.

All worry does is mess up today.

So you can't control the past, and 40% aren't even going to happen so 70% of your worries are worthless.

12% of your worries are needless health concerns.

Like the hypochondriac who had written on the tombstone, "I told you I was sick!"

10% of your worries are insignificant and petty issues.

Only 8% of your worries are actual, legitimate concerns.

Worrying doesn't change anything.

It's stewing without doing.

The key to reducing stress in your life is live one day at a time.

Don't worry about tomorrow.

Just focus on today.

Focus on today's issues and problems and let God take care of them.

Worry about nothing.

God is saying I will take care of you one day at a time.

Someone has said, "God has promised you grace for all your tomorrows, but He didn't promise tomorrows Grace for today."

2. STEP TWO: Start Praying

"In everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Some people say, "I don't have time to pray."

If they use the time they spend worrying for praying then they would have the time to pray.

If you and I prayed as much as we worried, we would have a whole lot less to worry about.

He says "in everything."

Is God interested in your car payments?

Yes.

Is He interested in postnasal drip?

Yes.

Is God interested in your headache?

Yes.

He's interested in every detail of your life.

Phillips translation: "When you pray, tell God every detail [circle "every detail"] of your life."

God is concerned about the big things and the small things.

He knows every detail of your life.

The God who made every thumbprint unique,

who made every voice print unique,

who made every snowflake unique has no problem handing the details of your life.

There is nothing you cannot pray about.

If it's worth worrying about, it's worth praying about.

There is nothing insignificant to God.

You can pray about anything and everything.

Most people pray too vague, they pray in such a general way.

Things like, "God, bless me."

What is a blessing?

Can you define what a blessing is?

Sometimes a problem is a blessing.

Is that what you're praying?

"God, give me a lot of problems."

1 Peter 5:7 says cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Circle "all".

We have to learn to unload our problems instead of worrying.

You've got to let it go, unload it.