The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is now going through and studying the book "Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World" by Max Lucado. In this book Max reminds us that we can trust God in all things. He is good, he does good, and he is working all things together for your good and His Glory.
When we cling to Christ we abide in Him, which means is to live, continue, or remain; so, to abide in Christ is to live in Him or remain in Him.
The secret to being anxious for nothing is in bearing the fruit from abiding in the vine, in Jesus. When you abide in Jesus you are at peace because you have also been given the fruit of the Spirit because you abide in the one that give that fruit, and part of that fruit is peace.
And the peace of God enables you to control your thinking so that you can.
Philippians 4:8 NIV 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
To get a copy of the book click this LINK or the image of the book at the end of the notes for the session
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.
The last two weeks we talked about gratitude or thanksgiving ushering in the Peace of God and His Peace is our peace. That covered chapters 7 through 9. Just a little review.
Philippians 4:7 NIV And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This peace is a constant in our lives if we pray with gratitude as we walk through decisions, relationships, or daily tasks. But how many times do we stop to accept it?
He bestows upon us the peace of God. Remember, and this is important, this is not a peace from God, it is Our Father gives the very peace of God.The peace of God transcends all logic, scheming, and efforts to explain it. We should be worried, but we aren’t. We should be upset, but we are comforted.
Sometimes we have situations where it seems that every bad thing happens at once. We get sick or a loved one gets sick, and at the same time something unexpected happens, our car breaks down, we get laid off, we have a relationship problem of some kind, a friend or relative has a need, all happening at once, and this causes some anxiety.
Max calls it the “perfect storm” like the time that Paul was being taken to Rome to appear before Ceasor and the ship he was on rain into a perfect storm where all the weather patterns converge. The whole thing in Acts 27. The storm caused great anxiety to those on the ship so much so that they didn’t eat for many days, the scripture says at
Acts 27:20 NIV 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
There are three promises that can give us peace in the middle of a perfect storm that come out of this experience as recorded in Acts 27.
Acts 27:21-26 NIV After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
We talked about them last week.
Heaven has helpers to help you.
Acts 27:23 NIV Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
In this instance the help came as an angel.
So continue praying and continue trusting in God and His promises.
Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
God said that He would not forsake us so He will send the appropriate help at the appropriate time. It may be an angel, it may be a relative or friend, or it may be a stranger, but help is on the way.
Heaven has a place for you.
Acts 27:23 NIV Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
Your place even during the perfect storm is with God as one of His children. Your place is with God because you belong to Him.
Galatians 4:7 NIV So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
You can have peace in the midst of the storm because you are not alone, you belong to God, and the third promise,
You are in the Lord’s service.
Acts 27:23 NIV Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
We all have an assignment, a purpose.
If God has work for you to do, he will keep you alive to do it.
Psalms 139:16 NIV Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
No life is too short or too long. You will live your prescribed number of days. You might change the quality of your days but not the quantity.
Philippians 1:6 “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” -
Do you ever feel like you are just so far off course that you will never reach your goal?
The journey of your life was predetermined long before you were born. Your Father knew that you would venture off the path. He knew you’d mess up. He knew you’d slip up. He knew you’d falter. And He certainly knew you’d delay. But the Word says that He never stops carrying out the work He started in you, praise His name! He never gives up on you. He will ensure that His plan is carried on to completion. No matter what you do or how badly you attempt to derail His plan, He will continue to carry on His good work until completion.
This is as true today as it was when Paul wrote it to the church in Philippi. Paul made sure to add in this verse, the key phrase “until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Until Jesus comes back to Earth, our Father will continue to see that His plans are carried out. He will continue to ensure that His plans are completed. He knew we would mess up and delay and attempt to derail; but the good news is, He accounted for our humanity when He called us in the first place. There is nothing we can do to “screw it up.” So long as we believe in His son Jesus and the sacrifice that was made on our behalf, our Father will diligently and lovingly continue to redirect our course to ensure we are on the path towards His predetermined destination.
There will be days in which you are tempted to worry or become anxious. I’m not saying you will have no more problems in your future. Quite the contrary. God has never promised a life with no storms. But he has promised to be there when we face them.
John 16:33 NIV “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
When you are faced with the perfect storm meaning every terrible thing you can think of comes at one time do what king Jehoshaphat did.
The entire account is in 2 Chronicles chapter 20.
Here’s the background of his anxiety.
2 Chronicles 20:1-2 NIV 1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).
He went to God in prayer and praise and his prayer can be an example of how we can pray when facing our perfect storm.
First, remind yourself of God's greatness.
2 Chronicles 20:3-6 NIV Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.
Next, remind yourself of God’s unlimited power.
2 Chronicles 20:7 NIV Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
When you realize that God has all the power in the world, you can just trust him. As you pray, think of all the ways God has helped you, other people, and people in the Bible.
Hebrews 13:6 NIV So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Then, remind God of his promises.
2 Chronicles 20:9 NIV ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
Jehoshaphat reminded God he promised Israel that the land would be theirs forever. The reminder is not for God it is for us. God has made promises to you too. In fact, there are thousands of promises for you in the Bible. When your kids remind you of the promises you’ve made to them, it can be frustrating. But God loves to have his Word quoted back to him.
Finally, ask God for a breakthrough.
2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
Don't just ask God to bless your life. Focus on him and then tell him the specific thing you need for your breakthrough.
Then think about what you think about.
Philippians 4:8-9 NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever 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.
You have no control over most things but the one thing that you do control is what or where you place your thoughts. You choose what to think about. People can try to influence your thinking but the choice of what to think about is yours.
When we make the choice to do what it says in
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.
And Jesus said before His crucifixion that He would live us with His peace.
John 14:27-29 NIV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
All of this lead up to the fact that in order to overcome anxiety we should Cling to Christ which just happens to be the title of chapter 10.
When we cling to Christ, we can channel our thoughts to those things we just read that will give us peace even at and during those times that we are anxious, during our perfect storms.
When we cling to Christ we abide in Him, which means is to live, continue, or remain; so, to abide in Christ is to live in Him or remain in Him. When a person is saved, he or she is described as being “in Christ”
Romans 8:1 NIV 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
We are secure in a permanent relationship.
John 10:28-29 NIV 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
So, abiding in Christ is not a special level of Christian experience, available only to a few; rather, it is the position of all true believers.
John 15:4-10 NIV 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
So I say again when we abide in Christ we are able to think clearly about what to think about
Philippians 4:8 NIV 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Like Max says, Is he not true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise?
Let’s look at Jesus’ metaphor of the vine and branches. The vine is the root and trunk of the plant. It is what takes nutrients from the soil to the branches. If anything, good comes into our lives, he is the conduit for that good.
The secret to being anxious for nothing is in bearing the fruit from abiding in the vine, in Jesus. When you abide in Jesus you are at peace because you have also been given the fruit of the Spirit because you abide in the one that give that fruit, and part of that fruit is peace
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
And the peace of God enables you to control your thinking so that you can.
Philippians 4:8 NIV 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Our aim our only aim is to abide in Christ which is where we get all our strength to deal with anxiety. As I said before to abide is to live with to be at home with.
To be at home is to feel safe. The residence is a place of refuge and security.
To be at home is to be comfortable. You can pad around wearing slippers and a robe.
To be at home is to be familiar. You know where everything is you don’t have to figure is out.
Look at page 136 in our book and read
Our aim—our only aim—is to be at home in Christ. He is not a roadside park or hotel room. He is our permanent mailing address. Christ is our home. He is our place of refuge and security.
Psalms 46:1-3 NIV 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
We are comfortable in his presence, free to be our authentic selves. We know our way around in him. We know his heart and his ways.
We rest in him, find our nourishment in him. His roof of grace protects us from storms of guilt. His walls of providence secure us from destructive winds. His fireplace warms us during the lonely winters of life. We linger in the abode of Christ and never leave.
The branch never releases the vine. Ever! Does a branch show up on Sundays for itsonce-a-week meal? Only at the risk of death. The healthy branch never releases the vine, because there it receives nutrients twenty-four hours a day.
Our goal is not to know every detail of the future. Our goal is to abide in the vine the One who does and never, ever let go.
How do we disarm anxiety? Stockpile our minds with God thoughts. Philippians 4:8-9
Draw the logical implication: if birds and flowers fall under the category of God’s care, won’t he care for us as well?
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Saturate your heart with the goodness of God.
James 1:17 NIV17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2).
How might you do this?
Is there a block of time you can claim for God?
