WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.960 So, good morning. My name is Michael McKittrick, and it's a special joy to be with you this morning. 00:00:09.339 --> 00:00:14.599 And I'm glad I got here safely. I drove from Madison this morning. Obviously, there was a lot of snow. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:22.280 Thankfully, the roads weren't too bad. I did probably see about 20 cars either in the ditch or in accidents from here to Madison. 00:00:22.500 --> 00:00:25.719 So, I was praying for those people. Thankful I was not one of them. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:35.060 So, it is good to be here with you because I've known Mike Salvati since back in 2008 when I moved from Canada to the U.S. to go to Trinity. 00:00:35.619 --> 00:00:43.539 Ended up at Crossway Community Church over in Bristol, and I ended up volunteering in the youth group ministry under Mike Salvati. 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:47.679 He was a mentor to me. He did premarital counseling for my wife and I. 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:51.899 And as we joked earlier, he's not responsible for anything after the premarital counseling. 00:00:51.899 --> 00:00:59.479 But I married to my wife, Heather. We have three daughters, 13, 11, and 9, that are back home in Madison. 00:01:00.179 --> 00:01:05.120 And we've been in Madison since 2016 with a heart to make disciples there. 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:11.000 We're currently involved in a missional house church community, so reaching people unreached by traditional church. 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:19.819 And then I also am involved with a ministry called Word Training that partners with churches to equip believers in how to study, do, and teach God's Word. 00:01:19.819 --> 00:01:26.019 And so, I love God's Word, love studying it with God's people, so it's a real joy to be here with you this morning. 00:01:26.099 --> 00:01:34.419 If you want to open up your Bibles to the book of Philippians, chapter 4, we're going to look at just two verses this morning, verses 6 and 7. 00:01:35.159 --> 00:01:41.239 They're well-known verses, but I think they can speak to us afresh this morning. 00:01:41.239 --> 00:01:54.560 Here we are on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and hopefully you had a chance to reflect, to give thanks, because no matter what's going on in our lives, there's always something that we can be thankful for. 00:01:55.919 --> 00:01:58.840 We heard Pastor Mike pray for many of those things, right? 00:01:58.859 --> 00:02:00.759 There's always something we can give thanks for. 00:02:00.760 --> 00:02:08.400 And at the same time, in a world that is broken by sin, there's often also something that can burden us, isn't there? 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:17.439 That we can have these burdens and these cares that weigh on us, and I'm sure that many of you this morning are bringing some of those things in. 00:02:18.219 --> 00:02:27.540 That there are challenges facing you, that there are things that worry you and keep you up at night that aren't easy to handle. 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:45.019 And thankfully, God's Word doesn't just leave us in this place, but we're going to see this morning that God wants to meet us in the midst of our anxieties, in the midst of our concerns, and point us to a way of working through those things. 00:02:45.020 --> 00:02:58.280 And so, as we read Philippians 4, 6 through 7, I just want to remind us of the context here, because sometimes we can read these words and think, well, that I could only be written by someone that's in a really good spot. 00:02:58.420 --> 00:03:00.920 But Paul is writing these words from prison. 00:03:02.020 --> 00:03:04.140 He has a lot of things he could be worried about. 00:03:04.640 --> 00:03:09.120 Paul is writing to the church in the city of Philippi that is facing persecution. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:12.340 They have a lot of things they could be worried about. 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:17.159 And yet Paul writes these words, Philippians 4, verses 6 through 7, 00:03:17.939 --> 00:03:28.680 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 00:03:29.480 --> 00:03:38.379 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:03:39.099 --> 00:03:40.099 This is God's Word. 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:46.079 So, we're going to see here this morning that Paul gives two commands with one result. 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:50.459 And the first command he gives is, do not be anxious about anything. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:57.599 Now, the first thing that stands out to me when I see that is just how all-encompassing Paul is putting this, right? 00:03:57.959 --> 00:04:00.500 He says, do not be anxious about anything. 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:04.099 Paul doesn't give any exceptions. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:08.139 He says, I don't want you to be worried about anything. 00:04:08.139 --> 00:04:12.659 And maybe at first glance that strikes us as, man, Paul must be naive. 00:04:12.799 --> 00:04:15.679 I mean, that's impossible, this command. 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:17.360 But here it is. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:18.279 What do we do with this? 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:23.360 Well, I think it's helpful to consider what does Paul mean by do not be anxious. 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:28.639 And I think it's really helpful here to distinguish between fear and anxiety. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:35.779 Fear is a natural response of our bodies and our brains to imminent danger, right? 00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:45.039 So, the other week when I was climbing up my ladder to clean out my gutters of leaves, we have like four big maple trees in our backyard, so they dump down a ton of leaves. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:51.540 I feel fear because I'm like six feet up, and if I fall, I could get seriously hurt, right? 00:04:51.660 --> 00:04:53.540 So, I feel fear, right? 00:04:53.580 --> 00:04:59.340 In this moment, there's a real danger, and that fear is a God-given response to be careful. 00:04:59.840 --> 00:05:01.580 There's danger I need to act appropriately. 00:05:01.579 --> 00:05:10.079 Anxiety is if I would have sat around for the three hours leading up to getting on the ladder and worried about what would have happened when I got on the ladder, right? 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:19.659 Anxiety has to do with seeing the future and worrying about potential danger in the future that may or may not even come to pass, right? 00:05:19.659 --> 00:05:26.539 So, there's a difference between fear, a very natural, healthy response, and anxiety. 00:05:26.540 --> 00:05:27.140 Anxiety. 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:41.120 And anxiety really is about we're looking into the future, which we don't know, and only God knows, and we're trying to figure out how to control that unknown future, which only God can do, right? 00:05:41.180 --> 00:05:42.160 And I get it. 00:05:42.260 --> 00:05:43.820 I think it's a very normal human thing. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:45.120 I'm anxious sometimes, right? 00:05:45.259 --> 00:05:51.040 We want to see what's coming and get our hands around it and control it so that everything turns out right. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.439 Because, let's face it, we live in a world where things don't always turn out right. 00:05:56.540 --> 00:06:01.080 And maybe we've had bad experiences in the past, so we want to somehow protect our future. 00:06:01.700 --> 00:06:05.600 And so, we look ahead and try to control it with our anxiety. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.420 Except we can't know the future. 00:06:08.860 --> 00:06:09.700 Only God can. 00:06:09.840 --> 00:06:11.000 And we can't control it. 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:18.879 And so, anxiety in some sense is us trying to reach into the future and say, thanks God, I'd like to take this out of your hands and put it into my hands. 00:06:19.620 --> 00:06:19.900 Okay? 00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:21.860 Because I want to be in control. 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:26.020 And that's why I think Paul is saying, do not be anxious. 00:06:26.020 --> 00:06:34.199 Because he's saying, when we're being anxious like that, we're trying to take something out of God's hands and put it into our hands that we can't control anyways. 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:37.259 And again, that's different from fear. 00:06:38.340 --> 00:06:39.800 And so, he doesn't want us to be anxious. 00:06:39.980 --> 00:06:45.319 He wants us, instead, to have a posture of trusting God with the future. 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:51.279 Now, the thing is, I just want to be honest, these verses can sometimes be used as a bludgeon. 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:52.240 Right? 00:06:52.699 --> 00:06:54.279 Maybe that's happened to you before. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:59.839 Where you're feeling anxious about something and someone comes along and says, well, just don't be anxious. 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:01.319 Just, you know, don't worry. 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:01.800 Be happy. 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:03.819 And that doesn't work, does it? 00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:08.180 And it makes me think of this Bob Newhart skit where he's this counselor. 00:07:08.779 --> 00:07:11.579 And he only charges five bucks a counseling session. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:13.699 So, people come to him and they're really excited about it. 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:16.500 Except his only piece of advice is, well, just stop it. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:20.379 You know, people come to him and they're like, I'm really worried about this. 00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:21.360 He's like, well, just stop it. 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:22.740 I mean, you don't want to be worried, right? 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:23.339 Just stop it. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:25.100 And of course, that's not helpful. 00:07:25.719 --> 00:07:25.879 Right? 00:07:26.139 --> 00:07:28.560 Just saying stop it doesn't work. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:36.439 When our minds are racing and anxiety is crowding, just trying to stop our brains doesn't work. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:45.180 And then when people come along maybe and just try to minimize our fear, that doesn't really work either, does it? 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:46.579 Or if we try to minimize it. 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:52.759 Or maybe you just try to, like, power through that anxiety or just distract yourself. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:56.800 But none of those things work to deal with our anxiety, do they? 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:01.040 Anxiety just keeps racing in our minds. 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:05.180 And we're going to see how Paul addresses it. 00:08:05.280 --> 00:08:12.139 But before we do, I just want to mention that there is sometimes just physical things going on with anxiety. 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:20.980 I don't know about you, but if I get a lack of sleep for a prolonged period of time, my mind doesn't function as well. 00:08:21.080 --> 00:08:21.259 Right? 00:08:21.280 --> 00:08:23.180 It's easier to be depressed or anxious. 00:08:23.340 --> 00:08:23.420 Right? 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:24.639 Good sleep helps. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:25.639 Exercise. 00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:28.319 How we eat. 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:33.919 And also, too, sometimes, just like some other parts of our body don't work well and need some help, 00:08:34.179 --> 00:08:39.259 maybe our brain needs a little bit of help, a little bit of medicine to help it function better. 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:51.639 And that's something I can just share from my own experience, that I, myself, am on a low dose of something that helps my brain slow down so I can take thoughts captive and process them in a way that honors God. 00:08:51.639 --> 00:09:03.639 And I just share that because sometimes I think we can rush too quickly to the spiritual and miss that because we're a physical, spiritual being, there can be both physical and spiritual things going on with our anxiety. 00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:05.659 We don't want to miss either one. 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:10.439 So, if we're not going to be anxious, what can we do instead? 00:09:10.620 --> 00:09:17.339 Well, this leads us to our second command where Paul says to let your request be made known to God with thanksgiving. 00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:25.700 Paul says the way to be anxious about nothing is to be prayerful about everything. 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:31.180 The way to be anxious about nothing is to be prayerful about everything. 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:34.420 And in doing this, what we see is really there's just one command. 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:36.820 He's not adding another burden to you. 00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:39.120 He's giving you a way out. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:43.360 He's saying, if you're feeling anxious, here's the good news. 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:47.019 God doesn't just leave you there. 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:53.080 God cares so much about you that he invites you to bring that to him. 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:58.539 And he's not going to slap you down and say, how could you be anxious about that? 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:01.240 No, he's going to meet you with that anxiety. 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:11.019 1 Peter 5 tells us to cast all our cares upon God because he cares for us. 00:10:12.340 --> 00:10:15.399 Prayer is saying, I'm going to come to God. 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:20.720 I'm going to put the future back into God's hands because I admit that I can't control it anyways. 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:27.000 And I'm going to choose to believe as I pray that God's hands are better than mine. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:32.399 And again, this doesn't mean that things are always going to turn out the way we want. 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:39.080 But what it means is we trust God more than we trust our own ability to control the future. 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:41.080 And we say, I'm going to look to you, God. 00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:45.879 I'm going to put the future back into your hands because I believe, one, that you care. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:49.799 And I believe, two, that you are powerful enough to be at work. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:51.899 Whatever that looks like. 00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:58.419 Bringing our requests to God, and notice how he just repeats this over and over again, right? 00:10:58.419 --> 00:11:03.939 He says, but in everything by prayer and supplication, which is another synonym for prayer. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:07.740 With thanksgiving, let your request, your request is another synonym for prayer. 00:11:07.779 --> 00:11:09.539 He keeps saying, pray, pray, pray. 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:14.519 He's saying, we're praying and making these things known to God, not because God doesn't know them, right? 00:11:14.579 --> 00:11:17.340 Like, God's not like, oh, I'm so glad you told me about that. 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.639 I totally missed that. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:22.240 You know, I got so busy, you know, making sure that the Buckeyes could win, right? 00:11:22.699 --> 00:11:23.340 I'm kidding. 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:25.779 I'm not a Buckeyes fan. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:30.199 But God is not so busy with things that he suddenly forgot our needs. 00:11:31.179 --> 00:11:37.799 He wants us to bring a request to him, not because he's the government and he has to fill out a form so he can do something about it, 00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:39.639 but because he's a listening friend. 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:47.740 And he wants you to experience bringing your need to him and realizing that he'll sit there with you and say, I care. 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:50.419 I care. 00:11:51.319 --> 00:11:52.559 I'm with you in this. 00:11:52.899 --> 00:11:53.699 I won't leave you. 00:11:54.439 --> 00:11:55.779 I won't forsake you. 00:11:56.439 --> 00:11:59.519 No matter what comes, I'll be with you in it. 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:02.600 He wants us to experience that in prayer. 00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:07.679 He wants us to experience this prayer as us entering into a relationship with God and saying, God, I'm here. 00:12:08.319 --> 00:12:09.039 I'm needy. 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:11.819 Maybe we come and we're really feeling the mess of life. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:12.819 He's okay with that. 00:12:12.820 --> 00:12:14.840 God, just read the Psalms. 00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:15.879 Right? 00:12:16.040 --> 00:12:20.720 How often they're just dumping their emotions on God and God is like, that's okay. 00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:24.980 I'm going to meet you in the midst of you dumping your emotions on me. 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:33.759 I want to listen because as I listen and you experience me being with you, you experience his care. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:42.879 And not only do we experience his care, but he tells us to not just come with requests, but to come with thanksgiving. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:49.519 We come with thanksgiving because there's always something we can give thanks for. 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:56.360 We come with thanksgiving because when we come with thanksgiving, we start to see actually God at work. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:13:02.159 Because when we're in the midst of the hard, it's really easy to lose sight of what God's doing, right? 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:10.720 But then as we pray and bring thanksgiving to God, we can see where he is at work. 00:13:11.680 --> 00:13:20.600 And so you're praying for a family member who's walked away from the Lord, but you're giving thanks, saying, God, thanks so much that they still come to all our family gatherings. 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:25.659 God, thanks so much that I have an open line of communication with them. 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:28.579 God, thank you so much that I know that they have a Christian coworker. 00:13:29.779 --> 00:13:32.559 And all of a sudden we start to realize, oh, it's not hopeless. 00:13:33.219 --> 00:13:34.219 Maybe God's at work. 00:13:34.579 --> 00:13:40.600 And we don't just pray for what God's doing in the moment, but we can always pray for thanksgiving for what God's done in the past. 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:43.379 To recall to mind what he's done, right? 00:13:44.459 --> 00:13:48.659 We can thank God for different ways he's been at work in our own lives. 00:13:49.059 --> 00:13:53.319 But then also we can give thanks ultimately for what God has done in Jesus. 00:13:53.320 --> 00:14:08.020 We can always go back to the cross and say, God, whatever else is going on, I'm so thankful that you, Jesus, did what I couldn't do, live the perfect life. 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.240 To die the death I deserve. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:14.640 To offer me the hope that I could never earn on my own eternal life with you. 00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:18.580 There's always something we can give thanks for. 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:28.680 And if we're recalling that to mind as we're praying to God, all of a sudden it's like we get another kind of lens of what we see going on around us. 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:30.879 We bring our real cares. 00:14:31.020 --> 00:14:32.120 We don't minimize them. 00:14:32.180 --> 00:14:33.300 We don't downplay them. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:34.480 We bring them to God. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:36.860 We experience him with us in prayer. 00:14:37.040 --> 00:14:40.080 And we give thanks to him for what he's done and what he's doing. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:47.040 And we see that God's doing more than what the anxiety tells us is going on, right? 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:51.520 And we see something and we start to be transformed a bit. 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:57.200 So maybe you're in a situation where you're wrestling with money worries. 00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:58.460 This can happen to all of us, right? 00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:58.900 At points. 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:02.639 And you're sitting there and you're asking God to provide for you. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:04.540 But then you start to pray and you give thanks. 00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:09.939 And you think about, like for me this happened a little while ago and I was praying and just thanking God. 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:17.079 That God, thank you so much that even if the worst happened, I have a church family that will give me a couch to sleep on. 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:22.860 That's the, if I lost everything, I know I wouldn't be homeless because of a church family I have. 00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:26.019 That's a really sweet thing to give thanks for. 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:30.840 And all of a sudden again, it's like my heart starts to see, oh, God's at work. 00:15:32.439 --> 00:15:34.179 God's going to be with me in this. 00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:43.960 And it's not that that care's not still there, but now that care, as I pray with thanksgiving, turns from worry to a trust with God. 00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:50.039 And so what does that lead in terms of a result? 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.500 Well, we see that in verse 7. 00:15:51.500 --> 00:16:06.019 Notice that Paul does not say anything about our circumstances changing. 00:16:07.700 --> 00:16:11.600 Paul doesn't say, if you pray, everything will turn out great on earth. 00:16:12.419 --> 00:16:15.899 He doesn't say, if you pray, God will fix it just the way you want. 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:22.360 What he says is, the peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:30.959 What he says is, what really is going to change as you pray in the mix of anxiety is your heart and mind will change. 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:36.779 Your circumstances might not, but your heart and mind will change. 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:39.840 And he says particularly that the peace of God will guard you. 00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:42.659 Well, what is this peace of God that will guard us? 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:48.299 I don't know about you, but I think I used to read this thinking, well, it's just this feeling that will somehow come upon me. 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:52.699 And I think sometimes God does give us just these feelings of peace, right? 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.939 Just supernatural peace. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.839 I believe he does that. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.600 I've experienced that. 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.319 Maybe you have too. 00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:59.419 But I don't think that's what Paul is primarily talking about here. 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:06.099 Because a feeling that can come or go is not a very good guard for your heart or mind, is it? 00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:13.019 A feeling that can come or go is not who you want to pay to do security of your heart and mind from anxiety, right? 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:15.119 We need a different kind of peace. 00:17:15.219 --> 00:17:20.699 And if you think about it, every time peace and God are connected in the New Testament, right? 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:23.299 You can see it at the beginning of every one of Paul's letters. 00:17:23.439 --> 00:17:26.919 He says, grace to you and peace from God. 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:30.319 Every single letter he begins it that way. 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:32.000 Grace to you and peace from God. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:36.200 And most of the time he connects it and Jesus Christ, right? 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:38.000 He's saying peace is not this feeling. 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:41.220 Peace is something we receive from God. 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:44.160 And it's something we have with God. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:47.680 So God is both the one giving it and the one we have peace with. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:51.440 So for example, in Romans chapter 5, verse 1, we read this. 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:58.119 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we've been declared righteous by faith, 00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:02.099 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:05.079 Or Ephesians 2 puts it this way. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:05.899 It says, 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:12.419 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ, 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:20.219 for he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. 00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:27.819 Jesus did this to reconcile us to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:32.819 See, before Jesus, our relationship with God was hostility. 00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:36.599 And not because God's not loving, but because we aren't very loving. 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:39.379 And we put ourself as his enemy. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:44.819 And yet through Jesus, God has made peace with us. 00:18:45.379 --> 00:18:50.179 And that peace we have with God that comes from God through Jesus, 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:52.759 that's what will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:52.920 Jesus. 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:57.400 That's what will guard you because it's an objective reality. 00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.299 And I think about it this way. 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:01.480 There was this, I'm a hockey fan being from Canada, 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:04.000 and there's a goaltender by the name of Roberto Luongo. 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:06.579 He played for the Vancouver Canucks back in the day. 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:09.240 And he was a great goalie in the regular season, 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:11.980 but could never win when it came to the playoffs. 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:12.400 All right? 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:16.559 And so he had this kind of reputation, you can't win when it matters. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:23.460 But he was the goalie for Canada's Olympic team in 2010 and won gold. 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:26.599 And immediately in the interview afterwards, someone asked him, 00:19:26.679 --> 00:19:27.500 how does it feel? 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:32.480 And he said, well, from now on, no matter what someone says about me, 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:35.799 I have this gold medal to prove that I am a winner. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:38.659 He wasn't relying on a feeling. 00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:43.879 He had an objective gold medal that he had objectively won to point to. 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:48.380 And Paul is saying, that's what the peace we have with God through Jesus is. 00:19:48.760 --> 00:19:51.880 It's an objective reality that can guard us. 00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:55.380 And that's why he says, it surpasses all your understanding. 00:19:56.380 --> 00:20:01.040 I mean, you cannot begin to plumb the depths of the beauty of the gospel, friends. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:04.420 I mean, who would have imagined that God the Son, 00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:08.100 fully equal with God the Father, would empty himself 00:20:08.100 --> 00:20:12.560 and take the form of a servant for you, for me. 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:17.099 And not only that, but he was obedient to the point of death on a cross. 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:19.440 For you, for me. 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.960 Who would make that up? 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:24.819 That's amazing. 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.779 That's how much God loves you? 00:20:27.179 --> 00:20:27.440 Yeah. 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:30.220 That's how much God loves you. 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:35.279 And that peace we have with him, that's what's going to guard your hearts. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:40.480 Because what happens is when anxiety comes calling, it lies to us. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:44.539 And so we have to go back to the gospel. 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:48.019 We go back to the gospel and say, Romans 8.32, 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:52.899 If God did not spare his own Son for us, 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:55.819 how will he not graciously give us all we need? 00:20:55.819 --> 00:21:00.339 See, when anxiety comes calling and says, God doesn't care about you, 00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:02.419 just look at the evidence all around you, 00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:04.079 you can point to the cross and say, 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:08.839 nope, there's Jesus with nails in his hands and feet dying for you. 00:21:09.179 --> 00:21:10.700 That really happens. 00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:12.839 That's the proof he cares. 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:19.500 When you say, God doesn't have the power to deal with all the hard things going on, 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:23.420 look at the empty tomb where Jesus rose victorious over the grave, 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:26.279 defeated sin, defeated all spiritual evil, 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:28.720 and he's promised to come back and make it all right. 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:33.759 That's the objective proof that he's got the power to be at work in your life. 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:39.079 And again, this gospel is going to tell you that, guess what? 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:41.140 When you feel alone and abandoned, 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:44.140 look at the cross with Jesus crying out, 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:46.440 my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:49.000 And you can know without a shadow of a doubt 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.980 that no matter what you feel, 00:21:51.080 --> 00:21:53.259 because Jesus actually was forsaken, 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.980 you will never be. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:58.279 When you feel betrayed and abandoned, 00:21:58.700 --> 00:22:02.660 look at Jesus abandoned in the garden by his disciples, 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:06.440 and you can know that he is a sympathetic high priest, 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.740 and he'll be with you. 00:22:08.580 --> 00:22:13.680 When you go through loss and pain and suffering and death, 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:17.140 look to Jesus, because he'll say to you, 00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:18.340 I've been there. 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:20.799 I've walked that road for you. 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.980 I'm with you in this road. 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:27.380 And one day, that road will lead to resurrection life. 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:31.320 Even if in this life, it doesn't work out the way you want. 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.779 But one day it will. 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.840 That's a promise, he says. 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:38.199 And as you're praying and giving thanks for God 00:22:38.199 --> 00:22:39.639 for what Jesus has done, 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:41.619 and you're preaching that truth to yourself 00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.879 and thanksgiving as you pray, 00:22:43.179 --> 00:22:45.240 that's what helps you fight anxiety. 00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:49.959 Because a God who would take nails in his hands and feet for me 00:22:49.959 --> 00:22:53.480 is the only person I want trusting my future to. 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:57.779 I don't trust myself with my future. 00:22:58.419 --> 00:22:59.779 I don't trust any of you with my future. 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:01.759 You shouldn't trust me with your future. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:03.920 But I can trust God with the future 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:06.379 because he's promised that in the end, 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.480 there will be no more suffering, 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:10.140 no more sickness, 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.980 no more death, 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.500 no more sin. 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:16.200 That's the future he's promised us. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.819 That's the future we cling to 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:20.619 in the midst of anxiety. 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:24.839 And so whether maybe right now 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:26.879 you're wrestling with finding work 00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:28.500 or you're worried about losing work, 00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:30.579 what does it look like in that moment 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:32.099 to pray and say, 00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:33.480 God, here's my real worries, 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:36.000 but to rehearse to yourself ways 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:38.419 that God's been good to you in the past, 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.859 to give thanks for that, 00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:43.000 to rehearse how God's been faithful to you in Jesus. 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:47.039 You might not get a job tomorrow, 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:50.259 but I can guarantee you're going to approach tomorrow 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:53.119 with a heart and mind guarded in Christ Jesus 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:55.619 from anxiety in a way that wouldn't be 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:57.379 if you weren't praying that way. 00:23:58.019 --> 00:24:00.579 And we could do this for all kinds of things. 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.599 Health scares, family scares, 00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:03.279 all kinds of things. 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.779 We can stop and say, 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:06.639 God, I'm going to bring this to you 00:24:06.639 --> 00:24:07.279 because you care. 00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:09.299 I'm going to bring my cares to you, 00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:11.759 and I'm going to pray with thanksgiving 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:14.359 and trust that the peace that I have with you 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:16.099 through Jesus will guard my heart and mind. 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:20.240 Now notice, though, 00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:23.839 that this is in Christ Jesus. 00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:27.359 And so this morning, if you're here 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:29.399 and you're not sure if you're a follower of Jesus, 00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:31.319 I just want to encourage you 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:34.759 that this peace that your heart longs for 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:36.859 is only found in him, 00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:39.199 and he freely offers it to you. 00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:43.659 This morning, you can know the peace 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:45.340 of not having to fear death 00:24:45.340 --> 00:24:47.120 because Jesus died for you 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:48.660 and promises you resurrection life. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:52.160 You cannot have to fear your sin 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.680 and the consequences of it 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:55.560 because Jesus died for your sin 00:24:55.560 --> 00:24:56.680 to wash you clean. 00:24:57.940 --> 00:25:00.380 You cannot have to fear spiritual evil 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:01.820 because Jesus has defeated it 00:25:01.820 --> 00:25:02.900 and can set you free 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:04.580 from any bondage you are in. 00:25:05.600 --> 00:25:06.279 And so this morning, 00:25:06.340 --> 00:25:08.380 if you're not someone who is in Christ Jesus, 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:10.019 I just want to invite you 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.620 to put your trust in him, 00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:13.919 to see all he's done for you 00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:14.559 and say, 00:25:14.639 --> 00:25:16.719 Jesus, I'm going to trust you. 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:18.799 I admit I fall short. 00:25:19.459 --> 00:25:20.719 I admit I need you. 00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:21.679 I'm going to trust you. 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.799 And he can rescue you, 00:25:24.219 --> 00:25:25.259 adopt you in his family, 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:27.679 and he can give you peace with God. 00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:30.459 And maybe others of you this morning, 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.819 you are believers in Jesus. 00:25:32.679 --> 00:25:33.439 And so this morning, 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.639 I just want to invite you, 00:25:34.739 --> 00:25:36.000 whatever you're going through, 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.479 whatever cares are on you, 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:40.720 to take those cares, 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:43.319 and if they're turning into anxiety or not, 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:45.740 to bring them before God the Father 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:48.000 who knows you more deeply than I do, 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:51.240 whose spirit can speak comfort to you, 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.819 who will point you back to the cross 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:55.779 and bring that to him and say, 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:59.839 Jesus, I've got nowhere else to go but you. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:03.220 And as even the prophet Habakkuk says, 00:26:03.439 --> 00:26:05.439 whether the fig tree blossoms or not, 00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:07.419 whether there are cattle in the stalls or not, 00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:10.319 yet I will trust and praise the Lord my God. 00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:12.459 And if Habakkuk could do that 00:26:12.459 --> 00:26:14.159 before Jesus ever died on the cross, 00:26:14.939 --> 00:26:17.079 then maybe as we lean into trusting Jesus 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:18.259 and remember what he's done for us, 00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:19.379 we can trust him 00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:21.000 and even give thanks 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.579 in the midst of our anxieties 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:25.659 because of what he has done for us. 00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:28.960 So brothers and sisters, 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:32.300 do not be anxious about anything, 00:26:33.580 --> 00:26:34.980 but in everything, 00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:38.100 by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, 00:26:38.800 --> 00:26:40.740 let your requests be made known to God 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:42.540 and the peace of God, 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:44.440 which surpasses all understanding, 00:26:45.060 --> 00:26:47.060 will guard your hearts and your minds 00:26:47.060 --> 00:26:47.960 in Christ Jesus. 00:26:48.800 --> 00:26:49.080 Amen? 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.700 Let me pray for us. 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:50.820 Amen. 00:26:50.820 --> 00:26:51.220 Amen. 00:26:55.660 --> 00:27:00.120 Father, Psalm 103 is coming to mind right now. 00:27:01.560 --> 00:27:03.400 That you know our frame, 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.860 that we are but dust, 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:07.420 and as a father has compassion on a child, 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:09.640 you have compassion on us. 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:13.420 You know we live in a broken world, 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.500 broken by our sin, 00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.400 the sins of others. 00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:19.080 You know we face daily challenges and burdens. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:22.400 And you invite us to come to you. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:27.860 You invite us to bring all the mess of our hearts and minds 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:28.920 wherever they're at. 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:31.980 You invite us to bring them to you 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:33.500 because you care for us. 00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:37.280 You invite us, Jesus, 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:40.280 to know that you are the perfect high priest 00:27:40.280 --> 00:27:42.040 who knows everything we've gone through, 00:27:42.540 --> 00:27:44.180 and you are sympathetic to us. 00:27:45.100 --> 00:27:47.460 You've gone through deeper waters than we have, 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:49.519 and so we can trust our deep waters to you. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:52.859 So, Holy Spirit, 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:55.160 I pray that every person here this morning 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:58.099 would be bringing anything they have to you 00:27:58.099 --> 00:28:01.740 and that they would find that in you 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:04.720 they have something to give thanks for. 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:07.299 And as they come to you and give thanks, 00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:10.779 that the gospel be activated in their hearts and minds 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:12.339 to remind them 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:15.799 that you are the God who is Emmanuel, 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.779 God with us. 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:21.799 Thank you, Jesus, 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:23.000 that you are with us. 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.839 You will never leave us or forsake us. 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:27.200 And so we look to you 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:28.399 and to you alone. 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:29.839 Pray this in your name. 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:30.579 Amen.