Dealing With Worry

Transcript

GR 640
4/10/1983
Dealing with Worry
Philippians 4:6
Gil Rugh

We are back to Philippians Chapter 4 in our study together today in a very crucial section of the word of God in Philippians Chapter 4; and we are going to be going a little slower even than we often do purposely to be able to take each of these verses piece by piece concerned that we as believers be experiencing all that God has for us in our lives as his children. There is much discontent, much unsettledness in the world and the people of the world are characterized by a lack of peace, by a lack of inner tranquility and happiness, yet its God’s purpose and God’s intention that each of us as his children be experiencing perfect peace, joy, and happiness in our lives all the time.

I was interested in reading the cover story in Time magazine this week that some of you have probably seen if not I encourage you to read it. It’s on the tremendous explosion of cocaine indulgence in the United States and the addictive characteristics of this drug that people have partaken of thinking that it’s not so bad, it’s different than heroine. And as you read that you find that people are looking for something else, something to give their life an added dimension, an added zip, an added thrill. And it’s a drug that’s not for the down-and-outer because it’s expensive, but those who are middle-class and upper-class find themselves indulging in this.

And they know the professional people that are drawn into the use of this drug and they have testimonies, there are people when they talk about the high that you get and how it makes you feel for that brief period of time after you become involved in partaking of it. And of course like any sinful activity the end result of it is destructive and ruin us but during the time, that brief few minutes it gives you an acceleration and an inner happiness and thrill and remind it no matter what the world has materially, no matter what the world has regarding its position and prestige there’s something lacking on the inside.

And when that something lacking on the inside life just doesn’t come together. And for us as believers we’re privileged to have it all together. We are privileged to have that excitement, that enthusiasm, that happiness, that joy in the inside. It’s God’s intention that I experience that all the time in every situation and that’s what he’s talking about in Philippians Chapter 4 the realization of God’s purpose for us in the experiencing of happiness and joy.

Now it’s sad to say that often we as Christians don’t have that experience of happiness and peace in our lives as we should and Philippians Chapter 4 is telling us how it is to be ours in each situation. We’ve looked at verses 4 and 5 where command is given in verse 4 to rejoice in the Lord always that continue rejoicing, that continual happiness that comes from within. It is on the inside and characterizes our life. It’s not the happiness that comes from the outside because the happiness dependent upon circumstances and situations is taken from us when the circumstance changes, when the situation changes. But the kind of rejoicing, the joy that happiness that God produces comes from within a person. And this is to characterize us always. And you ought to underline that word always that means several expressions like this throughout this section that we’ll stress that God’s happiness and God’s joy is for us all the time in every situation.

Verse 5 he said let your forbearance spirit be known to all men again a command. Our gentleness our forbearing spirit is to be evident to everyone. We are not to be a people that are driven by a necessity to have our own way, to have our own way but rather we’re to be gentle people, a people who can give up our personal rights. Now be careful here, none of us mind, well we mind but we can do it when we realize well I deserve it or they deserve it more than me, I don’t deserve it in this situation.

We’re talking about here with a forbearing spirit being willing to give up what is rightfully yours. Now that’s when the pressure is on me when I realize this is my right, I deserve it, but I am willing to give it up for you. And this is to be known to all men. We are to be evident to everyone as a people who do not feel we have to have our rights; we have to have our own ways.

When you come to verse 6 you have a negative command and we noted there are series of commands given. We had two of them rejoice and let your forbearing spirit be known. With verse 6 we have a negative command be anxious for nothing. And so we are going to look up from the negative side what we are not to do and what we are to do will come at the end of the verse 6 positively make your request known to God.

Let’s have a word of prayer before we look at the details. Father how privileged we are to be your people, to have your work accomplished in us. We praise you for our salvation which is basic and foundational to everything. Lord we praise you for the out working of that salvation and your purpose and plan for each of one of us as your children. As we look at the important matter of anxiety, the experiencing of your peace the privilege that is ours our prayer. We ask that this spirit might carry these through to each heart and mind that we might be a people basking in all that you have for us in Christ. We pray in his name. Amen

Verse 6 begins be anxious for nothing. It’s given a command in the present tense and you could translate it stop being anxious. The idea is the present tense something that is going on the command given don’t be being anxious or stop being anxious either way. We as a people are forbidden to be anxious. That becomes an important point that we are going to note as we move along.

Let me just give you a little background on this word translated anxious merimnao is the word. It means to be of a divided mind basically in the background so carried in different directions. It’s used in a good sense however and a bad sense in the scripture. The word can indicate a proper and healthy concern. Now I mention this because sometimes we as Christians swing to one side in a reaction against the other. We think therefore since I am commanded not to be anxious about things, not to worry about things therefore I not to have a care. But there is a healthy proper caring and this word is used for that. It was used that way in Philippians.

Look back in Chapter 2 of Philippians verse 20. Speaking of Timothy in verse 24 I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned, that word translated concern is the same word translated anxious in Chapter 4 who will be genuinely concerned for you welfare. There is a healthy proper care and concern for other believers. Paul gives that as a testimony and a credit to Timothy that he is unique; he has a special kind of care and concern for fellow believers.

Look back in First Corinthians Chapter 12, First Corinthians Chapter 12. The section talking about the gifts of the spirit and the necessity for the body to function together in proper harmony and proper relationship; each part contributing but God is enabled to take contribute so that the body functions effectively. Note in verse 25. That there should be no division in the body; but that the members should have the same care, there’s our word translated anxious in Philippians Chapter 4 translated care here. It’s God’s intention that the members of the body have the same care for one another that same proper healthy concern and care for one another so there is no place for any indifference on the part of the believer that we are excused with the idea well I’m not to be anxious so I really don’t care about you. I am to have a proper care and concern for you.

Paul said in writing to the Corinthians that I have the burden of the churches upon me, use the same word the care, the concern. Now it’s a healthy thing that he be involved in this way. So as we say do not be anxious for anything there is a proper healthy concern. Now when we realize that we have to come and look at the other side because as soon as we do that we say aha! See I don’t worry I just have healthy concern. And I don’t have ulcers from worrying I have the ulcers from healthy concerns. Obviously there is a difference.

Come back to Philippians Chapter4. Do not be anxious for anything. Here is the negative side of the word used when it’s improper. It denotes fretfulness, improper concern, worrying. One person put it I thought in a nice concise way to care is a virtue, to foster cares is a sin. So you see that the line is drawn so you have to be careful. I am to have a care for you and things I can involve myself in that will help you, that will be necessary in meeting your need. I am to have a care and concern about that. There are things that are beyond my control and I am not to be worrying about those things.

For our scripture reading we read Matthew Chapter 6 and turn back there. Perhaps the most full development of the issue of anxiety or the negative side of this word is in Matthew 6 in Jesus’ instruction. In Matthew 6 in verse 25 the flowing of this back to verse 19 is not laying up for yourself treasures on earth and you cannot serve two masters God and mammon, God and riches. Verse 25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious, same word a Philippians 4 do not be anxious for your life, the things related to the life what’s you are going to eat, what’s your going to drink, what’s you are going to wear where are you going to live these things are not to become an object for concern for us.

Last part of verse 25 s not life more than food and the body more than clothing? I was interested as I read the article that I referred to earlier on cocaine usage that so many of the people that are involved in the use of this drug are those that have more money than they know what to do it. They have the best of clothing, they have the finest in housing but the life is more than food and clothing and they realize it, and their life is empty in spite of all these things.

Now that is the care with believers of all people ought to recognize it. Why should I be worrying about that which is not really the essential of life? Why should I be fretting over my income or lack of it, over the kind of cloth I have or don’t have the kind of house that I have or don’t have. Isn’t the life more than these things? I think one of the things that is worked our perspective is the way that people die in isolation today, when a person is confronted with the reality of death that puts things in proper prospective. You sit down with a person who has three weeks to live and you find out if they are interested in talking about how much money you are going to make next year or the new house you are going build or the new wardrobe you plan on buying.

You’d even be embarrassed to talk about those things why, you realize that life is more than this. There are more serious things that deserve attention at a time like this, that’s what Jesus is saying the life if more than these material things. And God takes care of them for us. The example the birds of the air and they don’t build houses, they don’t go to the best manufacturers of garments and yet God feeds them and takes care of them. And don’t you think you are worth more than a sparrow. Therefore God will meet your need. Now this is going to be where Philippians is developing too.

The issue in worrying and anxiety is a lack of trust in God. It’s a lack of trust in God and that’s the point the Jesus is driving home in Matthew Chapter 6. When you worry you are indicating you are afraid, when you are afraid you are indicating you don’t think you can handle it and as a believer when I am afraid I am saying not only do I think that I can’t handle it, I am concerned and doubt whether God can and will handle it, that’ why anxiety is a sin, worry is a sin. Why it is forbidden in scripture.

In verse 27 for all of our anxiety you can’t change anything basic, you can’t add anything to your life span. No matter how hard you worry if you decides you are only going to sleep two hours a night so it gives you more time to worry, you still can’t add any time of your life or as King James add you can’t any height to you. I may worry for the next six months and I still won’t be six foot four, I probably shrink a little from the burden of it. What, what do we say, our worrying and our anxieties don’t change anything of true significance.

Verse 28 why are you anxious about clothing, why don’t you look at the flowers, I mean look at the beauty of the flowers and what did they do, nothing. Well who made them so beautiful, God. Well, and he uses the example of Solomon, Solomon one of the richest men who ever lived he couldn’t cloth himself with the beauty of a flower so can God provide me the clothing. If God so raised verse 30 the grass of the field which is alive today tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not much more do so for you O men of little faith? You see the issue in worrying and anxiety, faith or lack of faith and when I am worried, when I am anxious it indicate of the fact I am not trusting God.

So do not be anxious then for verse 32 for all these things the Gentiles eagerly seeks. And that’s a sin for the unbelievers. The unbelievers life is absorbed in these things, now be careful. Unbeliever is worried about the future, he’s worried about what inflation will do; he is worried about the situation in his retirement fund, he is worried about the monetary situation in the work, the gentiles worry about these things. All you have to do is read the news, watch the news they are worried about them.

I was interested in watching a program last week or two interviewing some of the more well-to-do people in the world some of you may have seen it, they show their home and you could put five of my homes in there and still have enough room and yet as they talk one of the thing a person, one of them said was now I don’t know about having a family and doing these things because I don’t know how I am going to do financially. I am saying that person probably made more this year than I’ll make in the sum total of my whole life and yet they are saying I am worried about how I am going to do financially they’re still concerned about it.

So all these things the unbelievers eagerly seek, they pursue them but your heavenly father knows you need all those things, seek first his kingdom, his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Now note, we don’t become neutral, we don’t begin to vegetate, I don’t have to worry about it, God’s going to provide for me that’s right, I don’t have to worry about it God’s going to provide for me but that does not mean I sit back now. I am to be eager in the pursuit in the kingdom of God and the righteousness of God. That’s what drives me on. Not the acquisition and the acquiring but the glory of God and I trust you’ll provide these things along the way as I need them therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, tomorrow will care for itself.

When you note where your anxieties and worries come from, they come from tomorrow. I am not worried about today I am here, I had breakfast, I’ve got cloths on and you know what you are worried about, what will happen tomorrow, how can I be sure about tomorrow, I know it’s all right today but what about tomorrow? How many times did that question have, how many times do we do it as a believers? I know, I know but what about, what about what don’t be anxious about tomorrow. Well, what will I be anxious about, today nobody’s taking care of you want to take away all my worries.

Stop and think what do we anxious about, what do we worry about? We worry about as a Church financially, are we here today, things paid for, it’s warm enough in here, its’ cool enough here, almost enough light, you can hear, it’s not bad what do we worry about, well what about next week well, tomorrow will be anxious of itself, Oh I don’t know about that. Simple isn’t it, basic. God tells me not to worry about today I don’t need to worry about tomorrow.

Amazing how simple scripture is. Look over to First Peter Chapter 5, First Peter Chapter 5 verse. This is where we’re coming to in Philippians Chapter 4 but I need to tell you know. First Peter Chapter 5 verse 6 humble yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you at the proper time. Note, I submit myself to him, I bow down under his leadership and his authority casting all your anxiety, there’s our word upon him because he cares for you.

Now look for Philippians going to, what do I have to be concerned about, well I’ll turn that over again yet I don’t know where the food money is coming from next week I turn that over to you. I don’t know where the money to provide clothes for the kids is going to come from next week; I will turn that over to you that’s what he wants me to do. The anxieties, the things that would press in cause me concerned, cause me worry. I am privileged to turn it over to him.

Come back to Philippians Chapter 4, Philippians Chapter 4 verse 6 be anxious for nothing but and you ought to circle or underline that word, but. It indicates a strong contrast but strong contrast is drawn between worry and faith but in everything, now I have to underline that or you could circle the word but and underline in anything and everything. In everything it stands in antithesis to nothing.

Now the opposite here, be anxious for nothing but in everything. So there is no situation and no circumstance where I am permitted to worry, but in every circumstance and in every situation by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. The command is given in the last statement let your request be made known and again, that is a present imperative, sometimes let your request be made known comes across a little soft to us. I translate it you must make your request known to God, it’s a command given in the present tense. You must continually be making your request known to God. I think it’s interesting the way that it’s phrased here, make your request known and that word to make known means reveal, to make known to God.

Now God knows everything does he not? Does he know our mission and yet here we are told to make them known as though God was in ignorance of them in spite of the fact that Matthew Chapter 6 in verse 8 says your heavenly father knows what you have need of before you ask. He knows what I have need of before I ask and now I am told to make my need known to him. If you put it together, I realize I am not making it known to him because he needs the information, but I am making it known to him because he wants us to take that responsibility, he wants us to make it known to him.

The benefit comes for me not for him. It’s not so that he gets information, it’s so that I get the benefit of realizing I have carried this to God and given it to him. I have made it known to God so in effect I have turned it over to him. It’s just as though one of your children came and said to you I have to pay $10 dues or # or Pioneer Girls or something like that. Well you may have known that already, they are making it known to you and it’s good for them to do that, it’s for their benefit primarily not for yours, you already knew it.

And we realize it is healthy for our children because when they make it known to us in effect they have turned their burden for that over to us. You’ve been a parent for a while you’ve had a situation where you’ve known there’s been a need in one of your children’s lives and you have been waiting for them to tell you and that child may be fussing and fretting because they are worried about how to work it ought, and what, they fuss and fret for days about it, finally they come and tell you well that provides the opportunity for you to meet the need but you’ve known about, it’s for their benefit and what happen the load is released, they have turned it over finally to you that’s the way we are with God, he says make it known to me in effect you are going to turn it over to him.

Look at the emphasis he gives on prayer here and that’s what we’re talking about in verse 6 and he uses four expressions that are tied to prayer. I am just going to note them quickly that last statement let your requests, and requests the commands here are your specific petitions, your specific desires. James Chapter 1 verse 5 uses this word when it says if any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally, that word ask is the word we have translated petition here. Let him petition God; let him give his specific request. God wants us to give him our specific requests in fact he commands us to do it.

Then he says in the beginning part of verse 6 the middle but in everything by prayer. And that’s a general world refers to prayer generally or that’s related to the worship aspect of prayer, prayer is worship because when I come to God in prayer in fact I bow down before him, I acknowledge his greatness. So what the general word supplications, your prayer and supplication stresses the element of need. And supplication there is the emphasis our needs. So we are expressing our needs to God.

One other words that’s crucial here, with thanks giving. So all the prayer becomes your petitions you come expressing your need, you come offering your worship, it is all in the context of thanks giving and that’s crucial thanks giving must be present in all of our prayers. We fail to realize how important it is when we look at couple of passages but just note, if you are thankful in prayer it keeps you from being ungrateful.

You know we get so concerned with our own problems we forget about the gracious way that God is worked in our lives in the past that there in fact is a track record if you will. God has dealt with me according to mercy and grace in the past; he’s met my every need. He’s brought me to this point, this place and in thankfulness I call that to mine, that’s healthy for me that helps to calm me so care for the worry that I realize he has cared for me in the past.

It also reminds me of the great blessings that I have here you refer to this as we complain about rather small things because I am thankful to God it’s a reminder of what he has done in my life the Good things that he has provided for me and done for me. You are in Philippians look just back to Ephesians just before Philippians Chapter 5 in verse 18 we are commanded to be filled with the spirit and in verse 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God even the father you note always giving thanks in all things and it’s the result of being filled with the spirit of God.

When you are under control of the spirit of God you will be a thankful person, thanks will characterize you, it will characterize your prayer life. That will tell you something about what kind of prayer life you have. If thanks isn’t a major part of it are you really praying in the power of the spirit because when the spirit is controlling our life, thankfulness does characterize us. Now that does not mean that there are not petitions, that I am not laying my burdens there, that I am not asking him but that is in the context of thanks I have not forgotten what he has done. I appreciate what he is doing even though I have these great needs and burdens to present to him.

In First Thessalonians Chapter 5 in verse 18 and I’ll just read it to you. In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. We say oh I like to know the will of God. Well, it’s God’s will that you be thankful in everything, in every circumstance and in every situation because don’t I realize that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him, to those who are the called according to his propose according to Romans Chapter 8. Well, then I can be thankful even in the difficulties and in the trials.

Very simple, the God’s solution to worry is to realize that he is sufficient, that he is adequate that I am his responsibility. I don’t want my children getting ulcers, they are my responsibility, I don’t want them lying awake at night wondering if I am going to be able to pay the house payment. I don’t want them lying awaken worrying whether I am going to be able to pay for food next week. They are my worry, they are my concern and when they worry about those things, they are evidencing a lack of trust in me and that’s the same way God says I don’t want you lying awake at night worrying. I don’t want you laying awake at night fretting over things why, you are my child, you are my concern. The things that pertains to you pertain to me, your needs are my responsibility.

And often we do tell our children they may hear us as husband and wife talking about the pressure we have or a financial difficulty and they’ll express something about concern for it and we share with them no you don’t need to be worried about that that’s what we say, what do we say, that we can work it out and we will, it’s not their burden it’s so simple when God says that’s the way it is I am his child. And I am tossing and turning at night what am I saying, oh I wonder if God really going to be able to work it out, I wonder if you really be able to do this, I wouldn’t say that why? It sounds like blasphemy wonder what am I worried about can he do it? Am I his child? Is he going to forget to put food on the table?

How many weeks it’s been since you forgot to feed your kids? Oh, I better get home right away. It’s stupid, it really is and yet we fuss and fret about these things as though God forgot. Do you think he has the power and ability to do it, well of course. You think he forgets, well no. What are you worried about? I don’t know I had some free time I guess.

Look back in Psalm 37. Psalm 37 in the 37 Psalm starts out by telling you not to worry because of evildoers. Fret not yourself because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. I think good balance here we worry about the corruption in the world and so often we worry about it and also don’t be envious about it. Those who seem to be prospering because of their wickedness they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; similar what we’ve done in Matthew 6 isn’t it seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness all these things shall be added onto you. Trust in the Lord and do good, carry out his purposes, his instructions, dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in him and he will do it.

I think it’s a matter of trusting the Lord. So I really believe. You know I am amazed. Do you know when I get nervous, it’s not when I going over the end, it’s when I see the end getting close saying oh boy, gap is closing if the Lord is going to come through, if the Lord going to come through he always does. The fact that I am here to the testimony of that fact, the fact that you are here as a testimony of that but you know we worry of every situation comes on and say well he has in the past, he has in the past but it’s getting close, getting close I wonder how he does. That’s very thankful of that reminds me. Praise the lord he came through. He always does.

Now he doesn’t always do it six months in advance. He hasn’t always do it six weeks in advance; he doesn’t always do it six hours in advance. You know we had that expression that some of you are passing around a few years ago, God is sometimes slow but never late and we remind ourselves that he doesn’t always work on our time frame but he is never late. It is always in time. So boy should we take the pressure off if he would do it in advance but it’s the goal to take the pressure off. He isn’t said anything here about taking the pressure off. He’s saying about not worrying under the pressure. Now be careful here so we don’t misunderstand where you are going to get to this if I get going in a moment.

He’s not saying he’ll remove the pressure; he’s talking about not worrying under pressure. You don’t have to tell me to be anxious if there is nothing to be concerned about you don’t have to tell me not to be anxious, it is under the pressure with the difficulty that I need to remind of not to be anxious. So God’s not telling about removing the pressure, he’s talking about how I live under pressure, how I live under difficulty.

Look in Psalm while you are here Chapter 55. Psalm 55 verse 22 cast your burden upon the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Same thing we read in Peter casting all your anxieties upon him because he cares for you. What is God ask me to do, what really concerns you as you hear this morning, What is really the burden and pressure you feel, what’s God say, roll it over on him, commit it to him. So oh I couldn’t do that, why not. You know what the danger is in this area we think we can handle the little things.

When we get to the big things I give the God, so God and I are a team. I take care of the little things and he takes care of the big things. That’s not the way God says it is. God says we’re a team, I trust him and he takes care of everything that’s the way it works, it’s a trap because you know what is the little things that move away, that eat away therefore we realize it would become things that have node away in our lives.

God says the little things you give to him and you develop the pattern and the practice of turning the little things over to God you know what, when the big things come it’s just part of the flow I think. I handle the big things like handle little things, God gives them all and I simply submit to him and trust him to work it out according to his perfect plan what is for his glory and my good. That means trust because I say Lord why don’t you take this burden away.

You know when you trust God knows when you are under pressure. You know when you pray most when you are under pressure. You know when you see the hand of God at work in your life most, under pressure. I hope and I pray that God never takes the pressure off our lives. I hope and pray that God never takes the pressure off of this Church. Greatest fear I’d have is if God will take the pressure off. I hope that we live under pressure until Christ comes and we go to see him because in pressure we realize we can’t do it, we can’t do it. Boy you know we had a bank of $5 million I got all kinds of ideas. After my salary raised there would be a few other things too. But really as I stop and think is God limited, are we able to do everything that God wants us to do? I really believe we are if I am willing to trust him to do it.

Now I want to take the element of trust out of it because if I have everything in hand and necessary to do it, I don’t have to trust God I’ve already got it taking care of folks. I don’t have to trust him for last month’s car payment it’s already done. I don’t have to trust him for last week’s house payment it’s already done. You know what I have to trust him for, what I don’t have in hand that tells us why he doesn’t provided in advance. I’d lose the privilege of trusting him. I’d lose the joy of turning it over to him and seeing it more get out. Praise God for the burdens, praise God for the pressures, that doesn’t mean you come to like them in one sense. I keep thinking oh Lord if you don’t like to take the pressure away and I hear the Lord say yeah, Gill even if I took the pressure away what good would you be? He’s right; I’d be sitting in a hand whole life.

I need the pressure, you need the pressure. We just need to handle it in a biblical way. God’s way to handle pressure, come back to Philippians 4 it’s very simple. Two commands and these two commands tell you simple and concisely how to handle pressure, how to handle worry, how to handle burdens and concerns. Don’t be anxious, now it’s easy to give a command like that. Don’t worry now that’s fine for you to say for what’s the second one you need to put it together.

Let your requests be made known to God. Have you told God about it, have you talked it over with him, have you told him what the need is? Fine, do you think he can handle it? That becomes the only question. I am his child. Are you cast myself on him, God I can’t do it, I can’t handle it I’ve turned it over to you whatever you do, however you handle it, that’s fine with me.

You know the problem is I have a worry or a concern, I tell God about it then I sit in fuss and fret until it’s taken care off. I am not trusting him; I am worrying whether he can handle it. Now I want you to note here this privilege of prayer is only, is only for those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Have personal faith in Jesus Christ in his finished work and so have God as their father.

Let me tell you, I don’t think you can sell enough Maalox and enough antacids to meet the needs of the unbeliever. I think they got plenty to worry about. I think they ought to carry worry beads and worry stones and everything else. I mean I think they are to be realistic and they’ve got a terrible lot to worry about and they don’t have any one to take the worries for them. So they got to be realistic, they tell the unbeliever not to worry is foolish but I say I wouldn’t sleep at all I night so I have more time to worry. This privilege of turning your burdens over to God is only for the children of God, only for the child of God.

There are people in the world that are suffering, that are hungry that are without cloth, without home they don’t know where the next meal is coming from, they are worried. But my children don’t need to have that worry they belong to me, I will see that need is met. That’s the way that it is to belong to God. You know in Proverbs Chapter 28 verse 9 just jot it down he who turns his ear away from listening to the law, one who refuses to listen to the word of God even his prayer is an abomination to God.

You got to mark that words down Proverbs 28:9 he who turns his ear away from listening to the law, the word of God even his prayer is an abomination to God, God hates it, he despises it. Now the person who is not the child of God does not have the privilege of turning his burdens and problems over to God. John 14:6 Jesus said I am the way, I am the truth, I am the light no one comes to father but my me. No one cares the privilege of coming into God’s presence in prayer and casting their burdens before God except the one who comes through Jesus Christ.

Now if you don’t believe that, you are one who refuses to listen to the word of God because that’s the word of God John 14 says. So to think you can pray and ignore Jesus Christ is just to commit an abomination before God. The starting point obviously to recognize what the word of God says. Jesus Christ is the way so I recognize my need of him as a savior, I trusted him as the one who died for me to pay the penalty from my sin that instant of time I am forgiven for sin but into a relationship with God as his child and from that point on I am God’s responsibility. If you will I am God’s problem. The things that pertain to me pertain to him.

My concerns are his concerns and I am privileged to live in the midst of turmoil, in the midst of chaos and in the midst of fearful frightened world with the tranquility of God in my life and that’s where we come to next week the piece of God which surpasses all understanding just stand guard at your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus that is the result for the consequence of handling our concerns and our worries according to the will of God.

Let’s pray together. Father, we thank you for the clarity and simplicity of your word. Thank you for all that you provided for us in Christ. God, help us a people to trust you. Father your grace has been manifested to us so many times in so many ways, blessing upon blessing. Lord, we’ve been privileged to see you meet so many needs, in so many ways, in so many lives, and yet father each time we need to remind ourselves cast that burden upon the Lord, commit that concern to him. God may we be a people who trust you, and may we be a people who are willing to rest in you. Father, how can we thank you enough for the greatness of your love, for the greatness of your care and concern. Lord, thank you for the happiness the tranquility of life that we are privileged to enjoy as your children. We praise you for in Jesus’ name, amen.