Sermon Tone Analysis
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*Philippians XVI: *
*Why Pray When You Can Worry?*
*Philippians 4:6-7*
*/March 9, 2008/*
*Prep: *Reread Piper, leftovers, my prayer (“Through”)
*Opening comments: *Paintball, website and Prayer Room
*Opening prayer*
· Justin McNeil’s mom
· Sharron’s surgery
· Face our anxieties
*Last week...*
This is the *second* *part* of a sermon within our series in Philippians.
In other words, last week I ran out of time half way through the sermon.
· Turn to your Bibles to Philippians 4:7.
Try to bring your Bibles so you can makes notes, but if you forget, that’s okay.
We reaching the end of Philippians, and Paul is throwing out *miscellaneous* *instructions* and commands, all of which describe how we bring *Jesus* into *everyday* *life*.
Last week, I said that Christians should be known for:
1.
...*getting* *along* and help others get along.
(4:2-3)
2. ...*rejoicing* in every circumstance.
(4:4)
3. ...their *gentleness*, not *insisting* on their *rights*.
(4:5)
*Anxious in America*
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.*
*/Philippians 4:6-7 NIV /
*Anxiety*, *worry*, *stress*, *apprehension*, all big issues today:
· *Anxiety* *disorders* are the *most* *common* mental health disorder in America, affecting *40* *million* adults (18%)
· $*42* *billion* a year (almost 1~/3 of mental health expenses).
· Suffers are 3-5 times *more* *likely* to go to the *doctor*, *6 times* more likely to be hospitalized for *psychiatric* *disorders*.
*Symptoms*: Mood swings, anger, depressed, exhaustion, fragmentation, panic, change in sexual desire, over-spending.
Also: Self-medicating (small group is Jack Daniels and Jose Cuervo), grumpy, over-sleeping or insomnia, and isolation.
· That’s 4 of the 7 dwarves: *Bashful*, *Sleepy*, *Grumpy*, and *Dopey*.
Q Does this sound familiar?
Maybe *worry* isn’t something *you* *worry* about, but it’s is a really struggle for me.
My *body* lets me know when I’m anxious.
Q What are things that you worry about?
Instead of *sermon* *notes*, there is a place for your *worry* *list*.
*Write* down your top three, and then *shout* *out* some.
· My top three are raising our girls right, finances, and caring for this church (*family*, *money*, and *work*).
Q How many of those things do we have complete control over?
We usually only worry about things we *can’t* *control*.
Only 8% of worries are valid concerns; 92% are either *out* of our *control*, in the *past*, *imaginary*, or *insignificant*.
· If you *can* do something about, *do* *it*, then it’s not a worry.
· Marilyn keeps a *notepad* by the *bed*.
*why pray when you can worry?*
Q Since we can’t control these things, what should we do?
In the words of the great philosopher *Bobby* *McFerrin*, “Don’t Worry, Be happy.”
I know that you’re facing *bankruptcy*, and your *dog* just *died*, but be happy!
This *works* *well* for the *minor* *stuff*, but doesn’t handle the *bigger* *things*.
· It’s actually a quote from Eastern mystic *Meher* *Baba*, and is dependent upon *denying* the *realities* of this physical life.
Fortunately, Paul’s solution is more *theologically* *sound* and *effective* than *pretend* you don’t have anything to worry about.
Let’s find it in the *diagramed* version:
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything...present your requests to God. [antidote]
by [Means~/tools] prayer [general conversation and
petition [supplication],
with [manner~/attitude] thanksgiving,
[result] And the peace of God (which transcends all understanding) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.*
*/Philippians 4:6-7/
Looking at this diagram, we see Paul’s antidote to worry is simple: *present* our *requests – Pray*.
That is such a *surprising* connection, and so *profound*.
· Not *don’t* *worry*, not *work* *harder*, not *give* *up*, but *pray*.
In other words, rather than *worry* about things we *cannot* *control*, turn it *over* to *God*, who is the only one who *can* control it.
· Life is so *unpredictable*, I thought I felt an *earthquake* (just the *washer*), but reminds me how *little* *control* we have.
Worry tries to take *control* of *burdens* we were never meant to carry, but *praying* put it *back* in God’s hands.
Prayer simultaneously does two things:
1.
Prayers *demonstrate* and *increases* trust
2. Petitions allow us to *participate* in God’s actions
*Prayer as trust*
*Anxiety* can be a good *indicator* of *trust* in God; it’s like a trust meter.
The more I *worry* instead of *praying* (which is a lot), the clearer it is I *don’t* *trust* God to take care of me.
· I’m *not* saying that if you are suffering from *panic* *attacks* you should *throw* away your *meds* and *trust* God.
But for the *majority* of us, anxiety is sign that I am trying to *trust* *myself*, not God.
· And this sort of anxiety is not a condition to be treated, it is a *sin* to be *repented* of.
How we respond in the *difficult* *times* is the clearest indicator of who we *trust*.
And it demonstrates what we believe about God:
· *Prayer* says that I believe he is a *loving* *Father* who *wants* to take care of me.
· Trying to handle it on my own says I think he is a *grumpy*, stingy *old* *boss* who doesn’t want to help.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
/1 Peter 5:7 NIV/
Prayer says, “I know that *you* *care* more about what *I care* about then I care what I care about, because *you care* about *me*.”
*Summary*: So in prayer, *demonstrate* that we are putting our trust in God, putting the things I can’t control *back* *into* his hands.
· I have on occasion *literally* “lifted it up to God.”
Our spirit *follows* our *body*.
*Prayer as action*
Prayer is not only trust, it is *action*.
God has given us the unfathomable *opportunity* and *responsibility* of affecting change through our prayers.
· When we can do nothing else we can *pray*, and that is *enough*.
Not only so, but we pray so that we can *do* the *impossible*.
If you want to only accomplish what you are capable of doing on your own, then there is no need to pray.
· But we long to seeing God do *awesome* *stuff*, in us as *individuals*, in our *families*, and in our *church*, so we pray.
*Preemptive Praise*
Finally, Paul addressed the *attitude* we should have behind our requests: *Thanksgiving*.
Q When does Paul say we should be thankful, *before* or *after* receiving the answer?
Gratitude *before* the answer is a sure sign of *trust*.
Not trust that God will answer so much as trust that *God* is *good* and that his *answer* will be *good*.
· We don’t always *like* his *answers*, and things may get *worse* before they get *better*.
Thanksgiving, before getting the answers, is *vital* for *freedom* from anxiety.
It shows we believe God when he says “all things God works for the good of those who love him.”
(Rom.
8:28)
*Irrational peace*
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