This is the beginning of a message I delivered last Sunday about worry and anxiety (To read the entire message click the link below). I hope you’ll be encouraged…
God’s Answer To Worry (Philippians 3:20-4:7)
Every time God’s people come together for worship, some are in desperate need of encouragement. The rest will need it at some point in the future… because that’s the nature of life. We go through seasons of joy… rest… frustration… anxiety… hardship… & abundance. Paul is a pastor who u’stands this.
This message is for me as anyone else here. I’ve found that if I don’t remind myself of God’s truths they tend to slip from my consciousness. Consider 2 Peter 1:12-13…
I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them & are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right… to stir you up by way of reminder…
Phil 3:20. Here we find THE foundation for the rest of our discussion. Paul sets before his readers what will keep the rest of life in perspective. The point he makes is that this world is not the end all of life. What we experience here & now does not define us. There is a transcendent reality that renders the events that happen in this life virtually meaningless. Look at 20-21 closely…
The Ruler we answer to… the laws which govern us… the freedoms we have… the power that is ours is in heaven, not on earth. The reality we live by is there, not here. Notice it is a person we rely upon instead of a system, political party, or ourselves. That person is Jesus Christ.
HE is the one who will transform us. Not only that, look at 21b! Jesus’ power overwhelms everything in our puny world. Everything & everyone is controlled by Jesus who is OUR savior. HE is on our side… HE is for us… always (!) doing what is for our ultimate good (Ro 8:28)!
To read the rest of the manuscript, CLICK HERE…