April 6 2014 God's Strategy For Reducing Stress

God's Strategy For Reducing Stress

Philippians 4:4-9

Vs 4: 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:6-9"Don't 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 minds in Christ Jesus." Then he says, "Finally whatever is true and noble and right and pure and lovely and admirable, think about such things 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

1. STEP ONE: WORRY ABOUT NOTHING!

vs. 6a "Do not be anxious about anything..."

(Amp)"Do not fret or have any anxiety..."

The facts about worry:

• 40 % never happen
• 30 % concern the past
• 12 % needless health concerns
• 10 % insignificant/petty issues
• 8 % are legitimate concerns

Memory Verse: Matthew 6:34 "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own."

Key: Live one day at a time

2. STEP TWO: PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Vs. 6b... but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

"Petition": A specific, detailed, direct prayer

(Ph)"When you pray, tell God every detail of your needs."

1 Peter 5:7 (JB)"Unload all your worries on Him since He is looking after you!"

1 Peter 5:7 (Ph) You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon Him, for you are His personal concern!"

James 4:2 "... You do not have, because you do not ask God."

Insight: No problem is too big or too small to pray about

3. STEP THREE: THANK GOD IN ALL THINGS.

vs. 6b (GN)"... in everything (pray) ... with thanksgiving..."always asking Him with a thankful heart."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Insight: Even out of bad God can bring good.

4. STEP FOUR: I THINK ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS.

v. 8"Finally, brothers, whatever is true ... noble... right... pure... lovely... admirable.... If anything is excellent or praise worthy -- think about such things."

(JB) "...fill your mind with those things..."

The root cause of stress:

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."

The Result: Peace of mind

Vs. 7 (LB)"If you do this, you will experience, God's Peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your heart quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus."

February 23 2014 The Choice To Rejoice

The Choice To Rejoice 

Galatians 5:22 – The fruit of the Spirit is joy.

Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice always in the Lord. I will say it again rejoice.

Three Reasons to Rejoice

1. We have hope.

Romans 5:1-2 – Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access, by faith into this grace in which we now stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope.

2. God has a purpose.

Romans 5:3 – We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance.

Verse 4 – And perseverance character, and character, hope.

James 1:2-3 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Verse 4 – Perseverance must finish its work, making you mature and complete, not lacking anything.

3. Understand God is with us.

Romans 5:11 - We all rejoice because of what God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ who has made us good friends.

Isaiah 43:2 – When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you, your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire you will not be burned.

Four Steps to Inner Joy

1. Develop the attitude of gratitude.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ.

Psalm 28:7 – My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.

2. Strengthen joy by giving.

Acts 20:35 – It is more blessed to give than to receive.

2 Corinthians 9:7 – God loves a cheerful giver.

3. Increase joy through service.

Mark 8:35 – For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospels will save it.

Ephesians 6:7-8 – Serve whole heartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not man, because you know the Lord will reward everyone whatever good he does.

4. Learn to share Christ with others.

Luke 15:10 – There is rejoicing in heaven when a person comes to faith in Christ.

Romans 10:1 – How I wish with all my heart that my own people might be saved how I pray to God for them.

Jesus said – I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm, I will come to you.

June 9 2013 How To Release Your Stress

HOW TO RELEASE YOUR STRESS
Philippians 4:4-8
Verse 4 - May you always be joyful in your life in the Lord.  I say it again, rejoice!!
FOUR STRESS RELIEVERS

I.  Step one:  Worry about nothing. 
1.  Verse 6 - Do not be anxious about anything.
Amp. - Do not fret or have any anxiety.

WORRY:  Assuming responsibility that God never intendedfor me to have.

Research on worry
40% never happens
30% concerns the past
12% needless about health
10% petty issues
8% legitimate concerns

2.  Matt. 6:34 - (Jesus) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough troubles of its own.

Insight:  Live one day at a time.

II.  Step two:  Pray about everything.

1. Verse 6b - But in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Petition:  Make request specific or detailed.
Phillips translation says, When you pray, tell God every detail of your needs.




2.  I Peter 5:7 - Unload all your worries on Him since He is looking after you.

The Phillips translation says, You can throw the whole weight of your anxiety upon Him, for you are His personal concern.

Insight:  No problem that is too big for God’s power or to small for God’s concern.

III.  Step three:  Thank God for all things.

1.  Verse 6 b - In everything, with thanksgiving, again, always asking Him with a thankful heart.

2.  I Thess. 5:18 - Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Insight:  There is always something to be grateful for regardless of our situation.

IV.  Step four:  Think about the right things.

1.  Verse 8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

The root cause of stress is the way you think.

Insight:  Whatever I think about is what I’m becoming.

THE RESULT

Verse 7 - If you do this you will experience God’s peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your heart quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.