BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING!

One of the great encouragements to the body of Christ is found in Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi. This letter gives us a great example for our conduct of life today. We must remember that Paul is writing this letter while in prison in Rome.

Phil 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. NKJV

Rejoice in the Lord always. Regardless of what life throws at us, our attitude in life should be one of rejoicing in what Jesus Christ has done for us, and Paul is so emphatic in this statement that he repeats himself, again I say rejoice. The word rejoice, means to have delight or joy in the Lord. Now many in today’s economy and conditions may find it hard to rejoice when they have lost homes and jobs. But Paul did not just tell us to rejoice, he also gave us the answer as to how to have victory over the situations we find ourselves entangled in. Be anxious for nothing. The word anxious, means to draw in a different direction, to distract; hence it signifies, that which causes us to change our correct thinking to one of anxious care.

Paul tells us not to allow this to happen. But how do we stop it? How do Christians stop being anxious when bill collectors are calling, jobless and no food to eat? Paul gives us the answer. In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.

In everything means there is no exception to which this will not work. Regardless of what you are going through it will work. First we pray, and then we supplicate. What is the difference? Prayer is our petition to God, presenting what we have need of. Supplication is a legal term meaning ‘to present ones case before a judge’. How do we present our case? When we became born again we entered into a covenant relationship with God. Under the terms of this covenant, we discover that God has promised to meet our need according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). Jesus tells us in Matt 21:21-22, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." We have an intercessor, a high priest, an attorney, who presents our case to God. His name is Jesus Christ. It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us (Rom 8:34).

It is only when we realize that God loves us so much and that He has made a way to meet our every need, that we can give thanksgiving even before we receive the answer to our request.

This brings us to the final point. Paul said, “let your request be made known to God”. The word request comes from the Greek ‘aiteo’ and it means, to ask for with urgency, even to the point of demanding - 'to ask for, to demand, to plead for.' (Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain) This is not a word use without reverence. We are always to remember that we pray in reverence to God. However, God has given His promises to us and we can make a demand upon those promises. A great example of this is if you have a checking account and you write a check from that account. When that check is cashed it will make aiteo or demand on that account. God has provided through His son, Jesus Christ, a wonderful account for us to call upon, and it is full of great wealth.

It is called Salvation. The very definition of Salvation is healing, safety, deliverance, prosperity and preservation.

It is when we understand and believe what God has done for us and we offer thanksgiving, that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Blessings to all,

In His Service,

Dr. Rod and Maggie