First Baptist Church

Are you anxious for nothing? My response is: “Not at all, I have plenty of good reasons for being anxious!” Learning to deal with our anxieties in a Biblical way has been our focus for the past few month.

I wonder, have you been able to apply some of the things you’ve learned. In Philippians 4. 4-8 we’ve found one recipe for dealing with life’s frets.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, what- ever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things.

As I have mentioned over the past few weeks there are a few steps we need to take to enjoy that “peace that passes understanding.” Step 1– Rejoice. (There are things happening around us to celebrate). Laughter, children playing, music, babies are being born. Step 2- Respond with gentleness. Be like Jesus. What would Jesus do, or say? Gentleness is the most Christlike way to be. When we respond with kindness, or patience instead of rage, or hostility– we become the catalyst for good, and hope, and grace in others. Step 3– pray with thanksgiving. Don’t forget to say “thank you.” We try to teach our children to be polite. Should be not be polite to our Heav- enly Father? If we’re not grateful for the ways God blesses us, what makes us think we have the right to ask for more? Yes, We need to ask! But we also need to remember what God has done, and say “Thank You, Lord!” For my health. For the way you provide for me. For the hope of everlasting life! For the people who love me, and my church. Pray with thanksgiving.

Then, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. What does God’s peace feel like? How does one describe that which “transcends our understanding?” For me sometimes I have looked back on an event that should have been stressful, and realized that I wasn’t stressed out. Sometimes I have been able to sleep, when otherwise I might have been up all night. Sometimes God’s peace, feels like release, freedom, letting go.

In the book Believe, Randy Frazee writes:

Unfortunately, too often humans put their hope in things that over promise and under deliver riches, people, idols, government. The only true source of hope is found in Jesus Christ. Christ and his promises become an anchor for our souls and the reason we can persevere. Of all the promises Jesus has made to us, the promise of eternal life with God is the most significant. No matter what we may be going through today, we know what happens in this life is not how our story ends. Our story ends, or really only begins, in the presence of God in his eternal kingdom. [Believe, p. 417]

There are things I hope for but am not very confident about. I hope I might win the lottery but I am not very hopeful that this will happen– especially since I don’t buy lottery tickets. I hope that someday our elected officials will learn to work together instead of against each other. The team I hoped for did win the Super Bowl, but that celebration ended long ago.

The Christian faith is based on a Living Hope- a Lasting Victory! The Living Hope is something that is “still unseen” and I am waiting to experience, but it is not like these other hopes. The lottery doesn’t promise me that I will win. But the Bible does!

The Bible promises this Living Hope of everlasting life to everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ as their Savior. We can all be winners! The Book of Hebrews mentions our blessed HOPE . Here are a few of the passages:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10.23

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6.19

Perhaps like me, you might respond, “No– I have good reasons for my anxieties!” Most of us do. Life is not problem-free. Especially during the past year with Covid added on. In February we began our “Anxious for Nothing” journey. Messages have been based on Philippians 4. 4-9, along with Max Lucado’s book by the same title.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4. 4-9

This past month our focus has been on learning to “rejoice in the Lord always.” The Apostle Paul says it twice. “Again I say rejoice!”Rejoicing is a practical way to replace anxiety, and fret, and worry with calm, and faith, and peace.

There are several reasons why we can rejoice, even in those times when it’s not an easy thing to do. A] We can rejoice in the Lord because He is LORD. He is sovereign. All powerful! He is the One who is in control of things, who created all things, and who can change things. B] We rejoice because God is merciful. He cares about us. He forgives our sin. He invites us to let go of our anxious burdens, and take on his much lighter load. C] We can rejoice because it helps us enter into the Lord’s presence, and remember His blessings.

Psalm 37, is one of those “life-Psalms” that needs to be read often. It reminds us of our hope and security, as we trust in the Lord. It also reminds us that even when it seems like evil is flourishing, and the wicked are enjoying prosperity, God is the final authority.

The Psalm says,

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Do You Fret? Fret (anxiety) is a cousin to fear. Fear is the natural response to a real threat. When we are threatened by cancer, or by an intruder, or by the loss of our job– there is a good reason to fear. Fret, however, is our reaction to a “potential threat.” “What if “ I get cancer, orlose my job, or some other possible difficulty?

Fretting is natural. It is good to be aware of potential threats, and stay back from the cliff, or put on our seat belts. However to experience “perpetual anxiety and to live in a continual state of “fret” is not God’s desire for us. That’s what the Psalmist is trying to teach us.

In February we will begin our “Anxious For Nothing Adventure.” In Philippians 4. 4-8, Paul challenges us to some action steps for dealing with our anxieties. He writes:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.