Be Careful For Nothing

Temple Baptist Church - 10-3-2012
Philippians 4:6-7

Introduction:

A. “Be careful for nothing” means that we are not to allow our fears of the unknown overcome our faith in our ever present Lord.

1. The Lord cares about what we care about. 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

2. He is affected by what affects us. Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

3. He has promised to be there with us and there for us. If God be for us, who can be against us? 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

4. He has guaranteed perfect peace to those who trust Him. (verse 7) Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4) Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

B. “Be careful for nothing” means that there is a possibility of the failure of our trust. Worry causes stress and stress is possibly the greatest killer in America. People today are stressed out because of the economy, the wickedness in our Land, the uncertainty of the future of our children and grandchildren, and the list could go on and on.


1. Worry will damage both your physical and mental health. Look at the people on medication for mental health. The Mayo Clinic states that statistically 80-85 % of their case load of ill people was either directly or indirectly related to stress. “Seventy percent of all patients who come to physicians could cure themselves if they only got rid of their fears, worries, and bad eating habits.”


2. Worry will cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts. The Bible says that we are to think upon good things. (Philippians 4:8) Most social, family, and church problems are stress related.

3. Worry will disrupt your productivity and purposes. You cannot give yourself over to worry and do what needs to be done diligently. Job performance across our land is caused by apathy and stress. People who do not care or people who are consumed with their problems.

4. Worry will negatively affect the way you treat and interact with others. You will be self-centered because of the load of your cares. You will seek your own good instead of the good of others.

5. Worry will adversely affect your emotions. Your “fuse will be short” and your outward demeanor will not glorify the Lord.


6. Worry will cause you to say things that you would not ordinarily say.

a) Out of the heart are the issues of life.

b) As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

c) Out of the abundance of the heart, a man speaketh.

7. Worry will reduce your faith and trust in the Lord. You cannot trust and worry at the same time. These two are like oil and water, they cannot mix!

8. Worry is more harmful than helpful! It is a total waste of time and effort. Some confuse worry and concern. Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern: Worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action. We should be concerned and not neglect matters of importance. We shouldn't worry about them and do nothing about it.

C. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, told the country during the Great Depression that the greatest fear was fear itself. Here are some good quotes concerning worry.

“A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work.”

“Work won't kill, but worry will.”

“Don't tell me that worry doesn't do any good. I know better. The things I worry about don't happen.”

“Tain't worthwhile to wear a day all out before it comes.”

“It ain't no use putting up your umbrella till it rains.”

“Happy is the man who is too busy to worry by day, and too sleepy to worry at night.”

D. George McDonald wrote the following about worry. "No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourselves so. If you find yourselves so loaded, at least remember this: It is your doing, not God’s. He begs you to leave the future to Him, and mind the present."

Psalms 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

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.

1. Christians Are Not Immune To Worry!

a. Though We Know That God Is In Control – He is in control of all that exists and that includes our circumstances!

b. Though We Know That All Will End Well – Our life story has already been recorded in Heaven. The final chapter of our life has been written and it is alright!

c. Though We Know That Worry Is Sin And Distrust – It is one thing to have concerns and another to worry. We are concerned because we do not know the end of a thing but worry is a “horse of another color!” Worry is our failure to trust our lives, families, finances, protection, and provision to the One who holds it all in His hand.

d. And Yet, We Still Have A Tendency To Worry

1) We worry because we are affected by the world.

2) We worry because we are robed in frail flesh.

3) We worry because we are still imperfect in our faith.

2. And, Most Of The Time:

a. We worry about things that either never occur or do not measure up our expectations.

b. We worry about things that we cannot change.

c. We worry often times about things that really do not matter.

3. How To Handle Worry:

a. We Should Not Worry Because We Are Children Of God -

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

b. We Should not worry because, as Christians, we are people of faith - Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

c. We should not worry because our focus is to be on kingdom of God, on the spiritual - not the material - Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

d. We Need To Realize That God Cares - 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
"I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and hurry so."
Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."

-- Elizabeth Cheney

God’s Prescription For Peace

1. The Requirement of Prayer. Prayer is our worship. Too often, when we get into a crisis or valley, we rely upon worldly means for the solution to our problems.

a. The Bible says not to put our confidence in either man or things. Our confidence is to be the Lord: maker of heaven and earth: He who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.

b. We belong to Him and He belongs to us. His love, compassion, and pity belong to us and His thoughts toward us are more than can be numbered. He truly “thinketh” upon us. He loves us enough that He gave His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for our sins.

c. He holds our future just as He held our past and present. God can handle all of our problems, take down all of our enemies, and supply all of our needs.

2. The Requirement of Supplication.

a. We are to pray for God’s will in our lives. 1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (15) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

b. We are to pray in specifics. Luke 11:9-13 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (10) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (11) If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? (12) Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (13) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

c. We are to pray in faith. James 1:5-8 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (8) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

3. The Requirement of Thanksgiving.

a. Thankful to God for who He is. Job 1:20-22 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, (21) And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (22) In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

b. Thankful to God for what He has done. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

c. Thankful to God for what He will do. Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Conclusion: Here is the outcome of verse 6: Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.