Practical Biblical Applications

Philippians 4:6-7

Matthew 6:25, 31 NKJV 25 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'    

We often look at these verses thinking we are not to be anxious about our food, drink and clothing. But don’t overlook the first part of verse 25…”do not worry about your life.” In other words don’t be overly concerned about your very breath. God is in control of our every breath as well as our food, drink and clothing. As much as possible, be concerned about the foods you eat and drink, and wearing clean clothes. But what about the other parts of the life? Are you concerned about these things or do they plague your life with worry and fret?

God knows that you have needs – and He cares

He knows that you have problems – and He has solutions

He knows that you feel defeated – and He holds the keys to victor

Philippians 4:6-8 NKJV 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The first thing we see in verse 6 is something we find impossible to do…not to be anxious! But hold on. God is not going to leave us hanging by giving us a command without giving us a way to accomplish it.

The Greek word for anxious is merimnaw, merimnao, mer-im-nah'-o. First, let’s take a look at this word. Look at the many different dictionary definitions of anxiety/anxious/anxiousness:

·       Worried because something bad might happen.

·       Wanting something, especially when this makes you nervous, excited, or impatient.

·       Concern respecting something future or uncertain which disturbs the mind and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness.

·       Feeling of worry–worry implies persistent doubt; uneasiness; nervousness or agitation (often about something that is going to happen). Fear that produces strong mental agitation.

                                                     False

                                                     Evidence

                                                     Appearing

                                                     Real 

·         Strong wish to do something (especially if the wish is unnecessarily or unhealthily strong).

·         Extreme apprehension.

·         Strained about some uncertain event or matter.

·         A state of restlessness and agitation, often with general reluctance or unwillingness to do something.

·         Feelings of fear and concern detached from objective sources.

·         Mental oppression of varying degree arising from heavy responsibilities. 

**Anxiousness is a mental tension that is found in

most forms of mental disorder**

While concern/care has more to do with: 

·         That which affects the welfare or happiness; interest; moment.

·         Serious thought rather than with emotion (how many times are you led by your emotions rather than thinking something through?). 

Let’s take a look at the spiritual implications of worry and anxiety: 

·         The fruit of the Spirit is choked - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

·         When fruit is choked it does not ripen

·         It remains small– growth is stunted

·         It hardens

·         It becomes sour

·         Spiritual unripe fruit is distracting – we lose focus on God 

Next we see verse 6 describes our communion with God. Prayer is not a monologue (one-way conversation); it is a dialogue (two-way conversation). It is important to wait for God to speak to our heart after we’ve lifted up our prayers and petitions…don’t forget about thanksgiving. I must listen for Him to speak, laying my heart out before Him, waiting on Him, worshipping Him, and loving Him. These are all part of prayer. But I’ve got to know His voice to hear and heed it. I’ve got to be in His Word consistently to know Him and what to expect from Him, and to know what He expects from me. How do you make a best friend? Spend time with them. 

·         Request is WORSHIP and an act of asking for something in a polite or formal way.

Prayer and supplication are similar, but distinct.

·         Prayer is a broader word that can mean all of our communication - a general sense, the act of asking for a favor, and particularly with earnestness.

·         Supplication directly asks God to do something. Supplication is a humble and sincere appeal to God to grant a request. To entreat for. 

…let your request be made known… Doesn’t God already know our requests before we pray them? Of course He does; yet He will often wait for our participation through prayer before granting our request.  

…with thanksgiving… This cautions against a whining, complaining spirit before God when we let our requests be made known. We really can be anxious for nothing, pray about everything, and be thankful for anything. 

When we come to the Lord to seek communion there is an order that Paul shows us: 

·         Don’t be anxious

·         Communicate with God

·         Be direct with humility and sincerity

·         Be thankful

·         Let God know what you want 

And the results… 

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

The Bible describes three great aspects of peace that relates to God. The one mentioned here is the peace that is beyond our power of thinking. 

Peace from God: Paul continually used this as an introduction to his letters; it reminds us that our peace comes to us as a gift from God. See Romans 1:7, 1Corinthians 1:3, 2Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, and Colossians 1:2. 

Peace with God: This describes a relationship that we enter into with God through the finished work of Jesus Christ. See Romans 5:1 

Peace of God: This is the peace spoken of here in Philippians 4:7. See also Colossians 3:15. 

God’s peace is supernatural, not psychological and will stand guard over your feelings and thoughts. Stand guard over your heart and mind by means of Jesus Christ is a first-century term for high security, denoting to set a watch, post spies at gates and keep securely locked. Wow!! 

Through prayer, experience God’s peace that surpasses all understanding! This peace is not senseless, but goes beyond our ability to understand and explain - therefore it must be experienced. This peace doesn’t just surpass the understanding of the worldly person, it surpasses all understanding. Even the godly person can’t comprehend this peace. 

When people seem to “lose” their heart or mind, it often is connected to an absence of the peace from, with and of God in their life. Therefore, God’s peace does not act as a guard for the heart and mind. 

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Blessings,

Barbara