Being a Card Carrying Believer Philippians 4:6-9
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.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Play video on- “Worry.”
Worry or fret indicates a lack of trust in God’s wisdom, sovereignty and power. I’m going to give you the antidote to anxiety. Are you ready? Delighting in the Lord and meditating on His word.
Psalm 1:1-3NLT Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
There are only two camps. 1.The Godly. 2.The Ungodly.
Listen to Philippians 4:6 again, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
I’ve said it before, but can you imagine telling people, “Hey be careful for nothing!” However, that actually how a believer should respond to life difficulties.
Take everything to the Lord in prayer with thanksgiving!
Matthew 6:25-31NLT Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
Verse 30b... Why do you have so little faith? This was Jesus’ recurring rebuke to His weak disciples.
“Coming to church as a believer, but thinking, speaking and acting as a pagan!”
Ephesians 4:17-20NLT With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.
Listen to verse 20 again, But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Ephesians 4:21-24NLT Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
God has called us all to do three things together. Say, together.
He’s called us to be a card carrying Christian. (Not in name only.) Is there enough evidence to find you guilty as a Christians?
2. He’s called you to be a faith speaking believer. (When you don’t feel like it.)
3. He’s called you to be a good news carrier. (Song: I’ve got good, good news!”)
Philippians 4:7NLT Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7TM Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Philippians 4:8-9NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
When do you think like this? All the time!
Prayer.
