Finding Peace
Rev Ricky Ho
MYF Sunday, TMC PJ
31st May 2009
Philippians 4:1-9 So then, my brothers, how dear you are to me and how I miss you! How happy you make me, and how proud I am of you! This then, dear brothers, is how you should stand firm in your life in the Lord. Euodia and Syntyche, please, I beg you, try to agree as sisters in the Lord. And you too, my faithful partner, I want you to help these women; for they have worked hard with me to spread the gospel, together with Clement and all my other fellow-workers, whose names are in God's book of the living. May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and mind safe in union with Christ Jesus. In conclusion, my brothers, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable. Put into practice what you learnt and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.
*There are many challenges in life today
*Peace is not the absence of conflict
*Rather the confidence that God is there with you always
*There are all sorts of things in our lives that keep us from experiencing the joy that is ours in Jesus Christ
*The Biggest one is anxiety or stress
*Philippians 4:1-9 Even in the worst of circumstances you can find peace
*We have hope and God has set out a big plan for us
*Not to be a generation to be spoon fed but to be creative
3 Keys to finding peace in the midst of anxiety
1. Pray with thanksgiving
Philippians 4:4-7 May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and mind safe in union with Christ Jesus.
*Command, requirement to pray with thanksgiving
*Acknowledge your anxiety
*Turn your worrying into a prayer of thanksgiving
*God bad news? Thank God for the opportunityu to grow in faith
*Thank him for his Holy Spirit- to withstand the troubles
*Thank him that he has all in his hand. (in control)
2. Fix your mind on all that is good
Philippians 4:8 May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and mind safe in union with Christ Jesus. In conclusion, my brothers, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable.
*The average person has more than 200 negative thoughts a day- worries, jealoursies, insecurities, craving for forbidden things.
*Depressed people have as many as 600
*You can't eliminate all the troublesome things that go through your mind
*Filtering system of Philippians 4:8-9 In conclusion, my brothers, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable. Put into practice what you learnt and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.
*Is it true, noble, right, pure, loving, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy?
3. Imitate Godly People
Philippians 4:9 Put into practice what you learnt and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.
*When it comes to dealing with stress and anxiety- there are lots of wrong ways to do it
*examples include being angry, get drunk, smoke, eat and escape into the television
*Paul says, "If you want the God of Peace to be with you-Then imitate the kinds of behaviors you've see me do."
Conclusion
1. If you learn to pay with thanksgiving
2. Fix your mind on all that is good,
3. and Imitate Godly people,
* You are promised not only the peace of God, but also the God of peace will be with you
*Peace be with you-catalyst, spark brought out from hopeless, given up, downthrown, fearful disciples that are able to turn the world upside down
*A message of hope and transformation
John 14:27 Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.
*Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE! (Philippians 4:4)
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
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