Standing Firm when Worries Abound

- well, here’s a question to heat things up on an already warm summer day…

- should you stand, or should you kneel?...

- …many started asking that question when conservative Christian Tim Tebow would take a knee before or after a game to, in his words, pray or reflect on His relationship with God which was the most important aspect of his life…

- he didn’t do it during the national anthem…but it became controversial, with some people approving and many in the sports world condemning him…

- then Colin Kaepernick started kneeling during the national anthem as a form of protest against racial injustice and some would say it created such a controversy that no NFL team would hire him…word is now that some teams are thinking about signing him…and there’s also the possibility if not likelihood that in many college or professional sports…kneeling during the national anthem will be a normal part of the game…

- there’s no question that this is a very controversial issue…just ask Drew Brees about the depth of emotion surrounding the issue…

- now, I don’t believe the Bible says there is only one way to think about that issue – so we never want to make the Bible say more than it says which is why we believe in Christian liberty…on questions not specifically answered in the Bible – godly people have to study general biblical principles and determine what they believe the Lord wants them to do and not judge those who come to different conclusions…that’s what liberty and freedom are all about…

- however – moving totally away from the national anthem question – there is no question that there are appropriate times for Christians to kneel…and appropriate times for Christians to stand…

- surely we would all agree with this -- Psalm 95:6 - Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

- we would also say with the apostle Paul - Ephesians 3:14–16 - For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

- so there is no question that there are times followers of Jesus Christ ought to be on our knees…

- we would also say that we want to reach down and share the pain and burdens of those around us…

- you may remember that Paul said of the Corinthians…2 Corinthians 1:7 - and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings…

- in other words, when we’re kneeling down, you’re kneeling with us…

- that’s what the Good Samaritan did, unlike the 2 religious leaders – when a man had been robbed, and beaten, and left for dead – this Samaritan whom Jews would have viewed as unclean and irreligious -- Luke 10:33–34 - But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

- so we would all say (I think, and again, completely disconnected from an athletic game and connected to the playing of the National anthem)…that there are times when followers of Jesus Christ should kneel down and share in the sufferings of others…

- one of my FB friends made this observation this week – Matthew Martens - The Ninth Commandment prohibits bearing false witness. The Westminster Larger Catechism (Q145) explains the conduct that this Commandment covers, including "undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others." In other words, when you see something [unjust], you must say something.

- so, there are times we should kneel with others who are suffering in some way…

- however – you could then ask…to what end?...

- for followers of Christ – one of the primary answers is – to glorify God and point others to the Savior…so we can eventually take our stand in Him together…

- we tether everything we say and do to the beauty and power of the gospel…

- so we hope and pray that as many people in our sphere of influence as possible will be able to Romans 5:2 - through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

- we kneel with others in compassion with the hope that someday we can stand together in Christ…

- and that new identity – that new position – impacts life and even culture on all sorts of levels…including, interestingly enough, the way we handle anxiety, and fear, and worry…

- with that in mind, please open your Bible to Philippians chapter 4…

- we could not do a series on How to Overcome Fear and Worry with studying this important passage of Scripture…

- so far in this study we’ve talked about… the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6 and thought about how we don't have to worry because God faithfully provides for even the birds and the lilies and He surely loves us more than them ...

- then the magnificent miracle of the giving of manna to the children of Israel... a provision that pointed directly to the bread of life, the Lord Jesus Christ and the ultimate satisfaction we can find in Him ...

- next we looked 1 Peter chapter 1 and reminded ourselves of the beauty and power of God's great and precious promises ...

- and then last week Abraham’s faith when he told to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord…

- it’s amazing how much the Bible speaks about fear and worry and trust and God’s provision…

- this morning, we’re looking at a letter the apostle Paul wrote while he was in prison…and we might expect to read words that were filled with dread, and fear, and dark images of worry and pending doom…

- but if you know this book, it’s anything but that…let’s dig in and found out how that could be true…

- Read Philippians 4:4:1-9

- So we’re talking about Standing Firm when Worries Abound…with the time we have remaining, let’s think about 3 ways the gospel empowers you to overcome anxiety.

I. Embrace the Foundation of Overcoming Anxiety – vv. 4:1-5.

- clearly the most focused teaching about worry and anxiety is in verses 6-7…

- and we could have done an isolated study on those 2 verses alone…

- the challenge with that is – these first five verses provide an important context, and verses 8-9 explain the marvelous result…

- so that’s what we mean by “foundation”…what already has to be in place to make verses 6-7 become a reality?...

A. Remember the power of your identity in Christ.

- did you notice the crucial phrase “in the Lord” repeatedly in this first section?

1. v. 1- stand firm in the Lord

2. v. 2 – live in harmony in the Lord

3. v. 4 – rejoice in the Lord

- this is one of the reasons that our concern for social justice (or anything else for that matter) can/must be rooted in the gospel.

- the only way to be truly set free from worry is to locate our identity in the finished work of Christ…

- see, why wasn’t Paul worried at this particular moment?...it had nothing to do with any of his external circumstances, because ultimately he had no way to change or control any of that…it was his identity in Christ that gave him hope and assurance during this time of incredible uncertainty…

- then there’s the hard work of…

B. Solve problems with others for the sake of the gospel – vv. 4:2-3

- Some people see verses 2-3 as a disconnected part of the discussion…

- I think the opposite is the case…many of the things you and I tend to worry about involve unsolved problems with people…

- that’s also the context in which the peace of God is discussed multiple times in these verses…

- this isn’t some kind of serene peace you feel when you’re sitting cross legged on a mountain top looking at the sunset…

- contextually, this is peace in the church as a result of rolling up your sleeves and communicating biblically and getting problems solved

- so you either let personal problems go unaddressed which leads to anxiety and inner turmoil…or you do what the apostle Paul did here…he calls in the Calvary, in this particular case – in the most public way imaginable…

- you understand that this letter would have been read publicly in the church service…

- so there were two women [and by the way, it could have just as easily been two men]…but they were named Euodia and Syntyche…who were at each other’s throats about something…

- and apparently it was so well known that it was causing division in the body and hindering the proclamation of the gospel…

- that’s what’s so bad about situations like this…Paul entire focus, even from prison, is the furtherance of the gospel…that’s what he was all about which is why he said earlier in…Philippians 1:12 - Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,

- if this jail thing is going to result in more men and women coming to Christ, then sign me up for the jail thing…

- so Paul says in verse 3 – look – true companion – who apparently was a well-known person in the church – in fact, that may have been his actual name – Suzugos – true companion – but Paul asks him to sit down with these two church members and get things worked out…because of everything they two had done for the furtherance of the gospel…

- and I don’t know what’s going on in your life right now – but it may be that one of the reasons you’re worried and anxious is because of an unsolved problem between you and another person…and if necessary – I would encourage you to get help…

- we have men and women who are trained and able to facilitate biblical communication and peacemaking…

- don’t let anxiety over unsolved problems rob you of the peace of God which passes all understanding…but it is on you to initiate the process…

C. Build a foundation of joy in the Person and work of Jesus – v. 4:4

- Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

- this is such a crucial aspect of the discussion…

- if all you have is a heap of worries…and you wake up every morning and think about, and talk about, and brood over that pile exclusively and obsessively, they will consume you…

- your stand in Christ gives you the ability to first build a foundation of joy in Him on which to consider your potential worries in a balanced way…

- and please remember what we said at the beginning – ultimately this is rejoicing in the Lord…in the spiritual blessing and gifts and heritage you enjoy in Christ…

- see, when you listen to some people – it’s all about whatever they are wound up over at that moment…there’s no foundation of joy in Christ on which to consider the worries from a balanced perspective…

- if all Euodia has the think/talk about is Syntyche’s failures…and all Syntyche has to talk about is Euodia’s failures…that is a strife and anxiety factory for sure…

- but to start mentally with all we have to rejoice in in Christ…and then on that foundation moving to our hurts and concerns…it makes all the difference in the world…

- it might not be a bad policy to some people and families to adopt that – no one comes out of their rooms in the morning until he/she can state a reason for rejoicing in Christ that day…that’s the foundation on which we are going to address whatever might be troubling us today…

- then there’s this fascinating statement in verse 5…

D. Allow the gospel to develop a gentleness in you – v. 4:5.

- Philippians 4:5 - Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

- remember, that’s part of the fruit of the Spirit -- Galatians 5:22–23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

- you can think all the way back to the way this church was founded in Acts 16…where Paul and Silas were thrown in prison for preaching the gospel…

- so they were “struck with many blows” and thrown in prison…[a different imprisonment than the one he was currently enduring when he wrote the book of Philippians]…

- that night, what were Paul and Silas doing…complaining about their treatment?...fighting among themselves?...trying to convince everyone else about their right opinions?...

- Acts 16:25 - But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

- what impact do you think that kind of joyful, gentle behavior would have on the issues of worry, anxiety, and peace?...

- and what happened next?... Acts 16:26–27 - and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

- Paul could have done a victory dance on that one…but instead, do you remember…

- Acts 16:28 - But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!”

- that’s gentleness…Philippians 4:5 - Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. [and this next part of the verse is crucial to putting off worry and anxiety] The Lord is near.

- what did Paul mean by that?...was he talking about God’s personal presence during a time of trial?...that’s certainly true – but I don’t believe that was his point…

- he was speaking eschatologically…in other words, in light of the end times…

- theologically, we refer to that as the doctrine of imminence – Bible writers expecting the return of Christ at any moment…

- and I realize you might say – well, they were at least 2000 years off…I suppose that depends on how you tell time…remember what Peter said about that?... 2 Peter 3:8–9 - But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

- now, this is why what we studied in Romans 9-11 is so important – we are premillennial…which means that we believe the very next step in the eschatological timetable is the return of Christ for His church…followed by the seven year tribulation described in the book of Revelation which will be a time of judgement and repentance of many Jewish men and women…

- followed by the return of Christ with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom on this earth in fulfillment of all the OT prophecies and promises about the Messiah…

- you might say – why does all of that matter?...your view of the end times has significant impact on the way you think about social problems in our world today…

- because if you believe the church replaced Israel, and it is the church’s to transform society and usher in the kingdom of God on earth today – you will be one very angry, frustrated person…

- from our theological perspective – we understand that you can’t have true kingdom conditions – justice, righteousness, mercy, blessing – without a personal relationship with the king…

- that’s why we tether all of our activity to the gospel…

- and we hope, and pray, and work toward improvements in culture to a limited degree as followers of Christ try to live out our faith in Him…

- so we’re glad when there are medical advancements…improvements in human rights and justice…we long for that and work for that to the degree that we can…

- but fundamentally, we are not expecting this world to get better in this life…we are expecting it to get worse…

- and by many, many cultural indicators – that aspect of the plan is occurring right on time…

- and in case anyone doubts the accuracy of that statement, let’s talk about the over 60 million babies who have been aborted in this country since our co-called “supreme court” legalized abortion in this country in 1973…speaking of whether life matters and if there should be justice for all…

- this is why trying to improve the culture apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ is an exercise in futility…the social gospel has already been tried and was a miserable failure…

- the apostle John explained -- 1 John 2:15–17 - Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

- so do we want to work to improve the conditions for every person everywhere in the world?...absolutely…

- but that is not where our ultimate hope and resides…we can face the worries of this world while standing firm in the Lord Jesus Christ…because we believe – The Lord is near…

- now, it is on that context, or foundation, that we can…

II. Follow the Process of Overcoming Anxiety – v. 4:6

- what we read next is pretty straightforward, isn’t it?...

A. Draw a line in the sand – “be anxious for nothing.”

- this is truly a fascinating word…mirimna – anxious, overly concerned

- what is surprising is that it is also used positively in the Bible, even in the book of Philippians…

- do you remember this statement about Timothy?... Philippians 2:19–20 - But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.

- which word in that passage do you believe is translated “anxious” 2 chapters later?...

- now, you say – wait a minute – why was it commendable for Timothy to be concerned in chapter 2 but it’s sinful to be overly concerned in chapter 4?...

- you probably know what I’m going to say next…it has to do with the issue of balance…

- you’ve heard me quote Warren Wiersbe on this issue many times – balance is that illusive point I pass on the way to my next extreme…

- so when does right concern become sinful anxiety?...think about what we learned from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in our very first week of this study…

1. Right concern becomes sinful anxiety when you act as if that problem is the most important issue in life (cf. Matt. 6:25 – Is not life more than…).

2. Right concern becomes sinful anxiety when you act as if God does not love you (cf. Matt. 6:26 – Are you not worth much more than…).

3. Right concern becomes sinful anxiety when you act as if you can change things outside your control (cf. Matt. 6:27 – And who being worried can add a single cubit…).

4. Right concern becomes sinful anxiety when you act as if God cannot be trusted (cf. Matt. 6:30 – will he not much more clothe you? You of little faith?...)

5. Right concern becomes sinful anxiety when your responses are no different than those who do not know Christ (cf. Matt. 6:32 – For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things…).

6. Right concern becomes sinful anxiety when your focus is taken from seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (cf. Matt. 6:33 – But seek first…).

7. Right concern becomes sinful anxiety when your attention is placed on tomorrow’s worries instead of today’s responsibilities (cf. Matt. 6:34 – Each day has enough trouble of its own.).

- it’s possible to look at that list and see it as unattainable and perhaps even legalistic…as if we are being told to do this in our own power…

- perhaps that’s why the passage began with the multiple references to our union in Christ…

- you could look at each one of those statements through the lens of the cross and say – that is exactly what Jesus did as He suffered in our place…

- can I ask you how you’re doing at obeying this command in the power of Christ?...be anxious for nothing…on a scale of 1-10, is this a little thing for you, or a big one?...

B. Bathe your worries in biblical prayer

- Philippians 4:6 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication…

- so, should we be concerned about the pandemic, of course – it would be irresponsible not to be…but then we have a choice to either pray about our concerns, or become anxious about them…

- should be concerned about ethnic injustices or political division during this election cycle or so many other issues we could list…yes… then we have a choice to either pray about our concerns, or become anxious about them…

- the command is clear -- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication…

- it’s like Peter said -- 1 Peter 5:7 - casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

C. Cultivate the context of a thankful heart

- this aspect couldn’t be overstated either…

- Philippians 4:6 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

- sometimes when you talk to people about their concerns, their worries, their fears…it’s as if they are so tunnel visioned that that particular issue is all they can see…anxiety left unchecked is all-consuming…

- that’s why this passage can be so helpful…let’s start on the foundation of standing in Christ together – our unshakeable foundation that can never shift or be taken away…

- bathed in a context of everything we have for which to be thankful…

- now, on that foundation, let’s consider the area of concern in a balanced way and think about what we can legitimately do to take a days’ worth of steps to addressing it and praying and leaving the rest of it to the Lord…

- so go back to Euodia and Syntyche…when this “true companion” in verse 3 sat down with them…a wise approach would be to first have them consider all the reasons they have to rejoice in Christ, and the many good characteristics of the other person for which they can be thankful…and then on that platform, address the current concern…

- but anxiety causes a person to be so imbalanced and tunnel visioned that there is no rejoicing in Christ and there’s no place to recount all the good things about the person or situation for which to be thankful…

- some people do that with their job…which is why they’re so anxious…

- some people do that with their spouse…which is why they’re so anxious…

- others do that with their country…or with their health…or with their church, and on and on…

- but what happens when you follow the principles outlined in this great text?...

III. Enjoy the Product of Overcoming Anxiety – vv. 4:7-9

- isn’t what we see in these last three verses a delightful prospect?...

A. God’s unexplainable peace

- Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:9 - …the God of peace will be with you.

B. Christ’s disciplined mind

- Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

- I mentioned last week that I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a time in my public ministry when people’s emotions were so frayed…

- but thank God, as Pastor Goode used to like to say – God has made us more than our nerve endings…in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to think God’s truth about whatever situation we’re facing…

C. Paul’s powerful example

- Philippians 4:9 - The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things..

- this week I had one of those milestone birthdays…it ended in a zero and you can decide what number went first…I’ll give you a hint – it wasn’t a “2”…

- one of my friends from college did some research and posted this picture when I was in high school…

- I hadn’t thought about that picture in years…but that was right after I had transferred from a public school to a Christian school…

- I had struggled with worry…so much so that I had multiple stomach ulcers as a kid…

- but I first met these guys and others like them at church youth group…and even though I was shy and nervous…

- they possessed a kind of joy and peace that I had not seem in other teenagers…

- and then they reached down to me…they invited me in…they knelt down and lifted me up…

- it is because of their powerful example that I chose to become a follower of Christ…so we could then stand together…and rejoice in the Lord always…and again I say rejoice…so that the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, would guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus