Know Where to Go

Know Where to Go

Philippians 4:6-7

Intro: Where are they?

This morning we open up to three powerful and important Scriptures found in the new testament, they are powerful and were packed for us to draw from throughout our lives and certainly today. The scriptures were written by the Apostle Paul while he was in a Roman prison, to a church that did not seem to have an issue, perhaps did not even understand how much they needed these verses.  The verses would be given in the midst of the good, when things were going quite well, but would remain for all seasons to come, reminding them in midst of anxiety, where they are to go.

Read: Philippians 4:6-7

Where we start today is in verse 6 where Paul gives an encouragement for you and me. It surpasses circumstance and situation, it directs us to the place to draw from, the foundation to stand up, so that we will know where to go when the winds blow and the questions seem only to grow.

The powerful words he gives are not just words to hear, but words to live.

I. Be Anxious for Nothing

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

• Verse 6 kicks off with the phrase, “be anxious for nothing.”

• The second word in the sentence, “anxious,” is worth our consideration, so that we can understand exactly what Paul is encouraging us to not be in our lives.

• The Greek work here is “meremnao.” It is here translated “anxious,” and commonly translated into our English words worried, worry, or concern.  To be anxious, troubled with cares or worry. It is used 19 times in the New Testament.

• The roots of this word are interesting as well. It comes from two root words together. The first means to tear, separate, or divide. The second, means the mind.

Illus. Break in.

Illus. Stuck in a fog.

• Interestingly, the same word used here by Paul, imploring us to not worry, is the same word uses regarding worry in Matthew 6:25-34.

Matthew 6:25-33

Matthew 6:31-33, So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:34, Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

• Jesus said your father knows what you need…He didn’t deny need, or the reality that there are needs. He didn’t push past the situation or place it to the side. The needs were and are real…So is God. In the midst of your situation, know that He knows and let your trust and faith in Him grow..

• There are five times Jesus uses the phrase “you of little faith,” and in every case it had to do with worry, clothing, or life span (Matt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Luke 12:28).

Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

• Trouble comes, the Lord knows we have needs, real needs, in the midst of real circumstances, and there are times where they really need our attention, but we can still avoid anxiousness because the Lord knows our needs, and over and over the Bible points us away from planting a seed of worry, and remaining in the place of faith and trust in Him.

• He knows what we need and will provide, He is our present help.

• When difficult circumstances some, whether real or perceived, the Bible tells us not to worry, Paul says don’t be anxious…Jesus says, have faith!

• We move forward beyond that worry, and here Paul give the prescription and a description of not just what we are not to do, but to where we are to go and what we are to do.

1. 1.   Pursue the pathway to peace

Philippians 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

• While we are to be anxious for nothing, we are given the proper place we are to go with everything.

• In place of worry and anxiety, we are to put prayer and petition.

• One picture of this in the Bible is of casting. 

1 Peter 5:7, Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

• Cast all your anxiety on Him. The picture is to throw upon or place those things upon Him.  Things that cause anxiety come, but, the Bible tells us where those things need to go. In other words, don’t carry your cares, cast your cares!

• So, we are to be anxious about “nothing,” but we begin casting, therefore making the proper subject of prayer and petition, “everything.”

• Prayer and petition are two similar, but distinct words. Prayer is our opportunity to communicate with God, petition is asking God specifically for something, for Him to do something.

• So, we called to pray, petition, and make our requests known to God.

• These are the first two steps in the pathway to peace, prayer and supplication.

• These first things we are to do, often become the last things we do, may that not be true for me and for you.

• In our prayer, we are implored to do so with thanksgiving.

• So easy it is to find what is wrong, but thankfulness redirects us away from what is wrong, to the One who is right.

• It is the place I was redirected again and again this past week. The place where I need to be in prayer, petition, keeping a heart of thankfulness.

• As you endeavor to do that in the situation that is beyond you, a peace comes that so too, is beyond you.

1. 1. Wait for what the Lord will do

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

• Peace depicts a freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, obsession. It speaks of security, safety, prosperity.

• We understand peace with God (the peace that assures our soul of salvation made possible by and through the finished work of Jesus Christ, given when one believes in Him as Lord, Romans 5:1), and here, the peace of God.

• The peace of God is what is spoke about here, it is a peace given that we simply cannot comprehend.

• It is the peace that comes from the One we know works all things together for good (Romans 8:28). It is not self-generated, outside of circumstance, it comes from God alone.

• And it is that peace that makes no sense given the circumstance, but for some reason, there is a peace. 

• This peace is different than the world’s peace. It is the peace Jesus promised to His disciples, and to all who would follow Him.

John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Isaiah 26:3, You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

• It is beyond understanding or comprehension, promised to those who pursue Him by prayer and petition.

• And this peace of God given, in addition to it’s being beyond comprehension, is a peace that will guard your heart and mind.

• The word guard depicts military action. It is on guard over your heart and mind.

• That word “guard” is a military term that means to surround or protect. The picture for the church at Philippi would be of Roman guards who maintained watch, protecting and guarding the city from any outside attack.

• God’s peace is like soldiers surrounding the hearts (the control center of our emotions), and our minds (our thoughts). His peace then, acts as a shield.

• God gives it the peace as we pursue. We continue to pursue then until the Lord does what only He can do and gives what only He can give…The Peace of God. . So, draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. His very peace will begin to guard you.

James 4:8, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Illus. Turn your eyes.

• As we worry, we choose what to hold onto and it is often the wrong thing. In prayer we choose Who to hold onto and we then trust Him with what only He can bring.

Illus. Hold on!

Illus. Peace be still.

• When the waves grow we have to continually be reminded of where we are called to go. To the Lord. Trust Him through it, know what is coming will be best, and believe Him to do it.

Psalm 121:1-3, I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip he who watches over you will not slumber.

Psalm 62:5, Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.

Habakkuk 3:17-19, Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

2 Timothy 1:7, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.