Well, greetings, Church of God. It's a privilege to stand here among you and to bring God's Word. Let's turn in God's Word this morning to Philippians chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4, we'll read the first nine verses together as we meditate this evening on the Word of the Lord. Philippians 4 from verse 1, hear now God's Word. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord. My beloved, I entreat Yuria and Syntyche, I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. And again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. This is God's word. Today in our society, there are many people who suffer from anxiety. Anxiety is a real problem for many people. In fact, surveys say that there are 40 million adults in the United States over the age of 18. More than 15% of the population considers themselves at some time suffering from anxiety. And a survey that was done recently among children or teenagers, 13 to 18, the survey found 25% said they suffered from anxiety disorders. Now, that seems high to me, but these are statistics of surveys that have been done officially. Many people suffer from anxiety. What is this thing we call anxiety? Well, it's apprehension or uneasiness of mind. Usually an over-concern or anticipated problem or ill, a bad thing that's going to happen. Fearful concerns about what might happen or is happening. Overwhelming sense of fear. Often physiological signs are accompanying such anxiety. Doubt about the future or what's happening. Threats, perhaps, that might happen to us. Problems that we see on the horizon that we are struggling with. Sometimes self-doubt and one's ability to cope with the situations that life brings. And many people have such struggles. Maybe it's something once-off, like a job interview or you have to give a speech in front of other people or meeting new people causes anxiety sometimes, but often it's a lot deeper than that. It's maybe finances. We're struggling with finances and it goes from bad to worse and the ends just don't meet. And what are we going to do next year? And what about the kids? and we get overwhelmed by the challenges that finances cause in our life, or relationships, tension in the family or the extended family, even between husband and wife or maybe our parents that just cause us to suffer anxiety, loss of sleep or depression or self-doubt, paralyzed by worry or panic attacks and phobias and post-traumatic stress and all these terms now our society has for this problem we call anxiety. Anxiety disorders, restlessness, irritability, loss of sleep, depression. It's increasing in our society according to the surveys that are done. One of the most common forms of mental illness. How should we as Christians deal with anxiety? That's our question for this evening. And there's a popular song. Some of you might remember it. It hit the charts, top mini charts. It had a catchy little tune, Don't Worry, Be Happy. Don't worry, be happy, because when you worry, your face will frown, and that will bring everyone down, so don't worry, be happy. And there was a refrain, this Don't Worry, Be Happy song. That's not the biblical solution. But that's what the world often says, isn't it? It's a catchy little tune, but it helps us maybe forget for a little while. Put a smile on your face and pretend everything's okay. Don't worry. Turn that frown upside down and just pretend. But happiness of that nature is like an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. You've got to enjoy it quickly because soon it will be gone. Or it's like taking aspirin for something that's deep and internal, a health concern, cancer, or something else like that. At best, it's going to cover the pain. It doesn't deal with the problem, does it? So how do we deal with anxiety when we're facing it? Or maybe some friends of ours, family members or close friends that are really suffering. They're really suffering. This is not just imaginary. This is real. We know it. Maybe a friend. As a friend, you can help them talk through it. A shoulder to cry on. And this can be helpful at times. A God-given friend. Wise advice. It gives us comfort. Many others turn to medication. I have a friend in South Africa. He told me, no, he's really struggling like this. For many years, he tried to avoid going to get medication. But now he just takes medication. He feels so much better for it. And God does give medication. I know that. But is that what the Bible says about dealing with anxiety? Is that the first remedy? Is that where we should go, the 25% of us that face anxiety from time to time? God's Word gives us a better way. And I want to look with you at two verses from God's Word this evening. Philippians chapter 4, we read it together, verses 6 and 7. Philippians 4, verse 6 and 7. God's answer for anxiety therapy. Paul's writing this letter to the church in Philippi, And he gives these words here at the end of the letter, the last chapter. Paul is writing from prison. Did you catch that in his tone? Actually, no, because what is he talking about? Rejoice in the Lord always, right? Be strong in the Lord. This is Paul writing from a prison, probably in Rome, around the year 60 A.D. And this letter is overflowing with joy and thanksgiving. Because Paul had learned the secret of being content in any situation. And he expresses joy. Joy that more people are hearing the gospel of Christ. More people are receiving the good news and believing in the Savior and coming to faith. And the church is growing. And God is doing great works even though he's in prison. And even though he's under a lot of stress, death threats. And we know the list of challenges that Paul faced in 2 Corinthians. but paul is not an uncaring outsider he knows what trouble is he knows what stress is the anxiety of all the churches was heavy upon him but he writes to this church in philippi to encourage them this young church his dear friends who were surrounded by challenges and he's writing actually probably from the first chapter it seems it's they were facing some new daunting challenges and so these words probably were meant to encourage and to comfort and to point them in the right direction you see paul is writing to believers in philippi who were in the lord did you catch that phrase in this chapter verse one particularly stand firm thus in the lord my beloved he says to this church in philippi and so now the holy spirit working speaking through paul's words now speaks to us And he says to us this evening, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known unto God. There's actually seven imperatives, seven commands in this little section. Paul is giving instruction. This is how we are to live, believers. Those of us who are in the Lord, who are standing firm in the Lord, this is how we are to think. This is how we are to face challenges. This is how we are to live. And one of them is verse 6. Do not be anxious about anything. Verse 6. Now, we already described anxiety, overwhelming sense of fear or worry, to be overly concerned about, to be worried about, overwhelming sense of fear, self-doubt, etc. And Paul's words in this verse, maybe you've already connected in your mind these words to what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6. The Philippians probably knew what Jesus said in Matthew 6. Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows you need them. It's likely Paul is just reminding them of teaching that he had already communicated with them from our Lord. So what does he say, Paul, to this church in Philippi? He says, Stop being anxious. Stop being worried. This is what you must do. It's not good to be anxious. The results are bad too. It causes psychological effects and it keeps us distracted and it just ruins our week perhaps. It's difficult. So try to control your anxiety. Reduce it. Actually, no, that's not what he's saying. Do not be anxious about anything is what he's saying. Anything. Do not be anxious about anything. But in everything. So, he's making it very clear, right? He doesn't say, try to control your anxiety and keep it under check, reduce it at times, but do not have any worry about anything. That's pretty extreme, isn't it? Is that reasonable? How can we live in today's world without being worried about things? I mean, there are so many challenges. Is Paul out of touch with reality? That was back then, but this is Southern California, Paul. Don't you understand? There's financial challenges here. It's expensive, and it's not getting better. Paul, don't you understand my situation? My marriage is breaking. I'm watching it step by step. It's not working. Paul, my family's a mess. My children, they're making stupid. Paul, don't you understand? My children are going the wrong direction. My job stress, dilemmas, life choices, social pressures, restlessness. Is Paul out of touch with the reality when he says, do not be anxious about anything. You know, many people find coping mechanisms to deal with problems, don't they? Some people actually will say, you know, Paul, he doesn't understand life in today's world, and really, does God even understand my situation? I mean, I have a lot of problems, you might say. You don't understand. God doesn't know. Maybe he doesn't care. There's doubt there, right? When we're in these situations and we're just overwhelmed and wave after wave seems to overwhelm us and there's nowhere to turn, no shoulder to cry on and it seems like your prayers hit a ceiling, a glass ceiling and no one is listening. Some people try to deny the problem, drink it away or through some other form of trying to forget it. Don't worry, be happy. Put a smile on your face. It's like the circus clowns. They paint that big, big red smile on their face. But behind the mask, they're crying because of their broken lifestyle. And even us, who are Christians perhaps, may have painted smiles on our face when behind the scenes we're carrying, as it were, the weight of the world on our shoulders and nowhere to turn. God's Word is the answer. But God's Word often starts by exposing the problem. God's Word doesn't deny the problem. It doesn't say life will be happy. It's not like the prosperity gospel preachers in Africa who say, if you have faith, all will go well. If you just believe, you'll be blessed, doubly blessed. Just look at those who've been blessed. You'll be like them if you truly have faith. All your problems will go away, health and happiness and success too. And it's a curse, actually, a terrible curse and a cruelty to say things like that because that's a lie. It's a lie of the devil. The Bible is accurate. It gives us the answer, but it doesn't paint over the problem. And the problem is sin. The problem is sin. Maybe not our own sin. Maybe other people's sin in our situation or brokenness in the world today, But maybe it's something in our life as well, because often anxiety is caused by a lifestyle choice or a heart sin. As Proverbs 28 verse 13 says, he that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy. Living with a sinful heart will always cause anxiety. Living with unconfessed sins in our lives, hidden sins, those secret things that we hide from others will cause anxiety. Trying to cover up, trying to forget, trying to ignore, to suppress these things causes a lot of anxiety for those who are living in such situations. As Isaiah says, there is no peace for the wicked. Living in a sinful world is very stressful, very worrisome. And so maybe God's Word is exposing our problem and saying there's something here that needs to be dealt with. There's turbulence in the water because under the surface there's a problem here. And perhaps taking anxiety medication only calms and quiets your conscience and is Satan's way from keeping you from repentance. I don't know your situation. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone. I have my own sins to deal with. But if you're living with a sinful heart, a sinful conscience, an issue that needs to be sorted, God's Word says the solution is repentance. Jesus forgives sins. He receives sinners. He loves us, the unlovable. He takes away our guilt and the stains of our sin. He takes away the shame of our sinfulness. And He receives us into His fellowship and washes us clean. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God's Word never paints over the problem. But God's Word also doesn't say that in life we will have no troubles. Even those who follow God faithfully, even those who are trying to live a godly life according to grace, even God's people suffer problems and challenges. God's Word doesn't deny the problems, but it doesn't leave us in despair either. It points us to the solution. The world sings the song, Don't Worry, Be Happy, and paints the happy clown face on the surface. But God's Word gives us a better answer. Philippians 2, verse 6, God says, Don't worry, keep praying. Prayer with thanksgiving is God's solution. Look with me, verse 6 again, Do not be anxious about anything. That's the command. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. It almost sounds simplistic, doesn't it? And yet this is God's answer for anxiety. Did you catch there's four words there? Four communication words. Prayer. And everything by prayer. a request for help made by speaking to God in the form of a petition or a vow usually or a wish even prayer supplication Paul's almost like adding up these communications words to make it more strong supplication a plea begging God beseeching God is sometimes a word that's used entreaty addressed to God supplication requests requests, a petition, urgent needs expressed in prayer, made known to God, made known, letting God know. Now, God knows everything, but this is Paul's answer to anxiety. Prayer and supplication, letting our requests be made known to God. Prayer is the answer. When should we pray? In everything, all circumstances, especially in situations that cause us anxiety. So when we face anxieties, we learn to pray. God says, don't worry, keep praying to believers, to those who are in the Lord, verse 1, those who are in the Lord, standing firm in Him. Don't worry, keep praying. Now, let's just unpack this because it sounds almost too simple. But remember the Assyrian general in the Old Testament, his name was Naaman, and he went to the prophet Elisha. And Elisha didn't even come out to him. He just said, go wash in that old little Jordan River. And Naaman said, it's too simple. It's too simple. But he had to learn to humble himself, didn't he? This is God's answer for anxiety. And Paul underscores it with four prayer words, Prayer, supplication, request, and making known our challenges, our problems to God. We need to learn the power of prayer. So let's study to unpack this. Unpack this instruction as we have it here in the text. First, step number one. When we're facing anxiety, when you're up at night and you can't sleep because of the problems, when you feel overwhelmed and you're all alone and you feel like there's nowhere to go, So step number one, let prayer be made, and I'm going to start with the last two words of verse 6, to God, to God. Prayer to God. You see, prayer is a relationship, isn't it? It's not just a text message to nowhere. It's a relationship with Almighty God. And when we're consumed by anxiety and worry, we seem to focus on our problems, don't we? And we get fixated on the situation. And it's like the mouse in the treadmill. And he's running and running. And as we get overcome by anxiety, we're running in this treadmill, fixated on the situation. And Paul says, no, to God. Direct your communication, your focus to God. It's about a relationship with God. So much more than just a few words or a self-pity party that repeats all our pain and sadness again. Anxiety, we forget to focus on God. We have to look up to Him. God's love, God's goodness, God's power. Remember the God who urges us to pray about the situation. So carefully consider the God to whom we pray. Do we know him, his almighty power, his gracious providence? Scripture reveals him. In Christ, he is a loving father. As the Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer on Providence makes so clear, in Christ He is willing and able. He is able because He's all-powerful and He's willing because He's Almighty God. And in Christ He gives us, He gives us what we need. Can you trust your Heavenly Father? The situation you're facing right now, can you communicate it to your God in Heaven? Why can't we trust Him more? Is it because we're fixated on our problems? and not looking above them to the Father in heaven who cares for us, who knows our need, even before we ask Him. This is our God. We direct our prayers to this Father in heaven. And actually, this passage is about in the Lord, isn't it? Verse 1, stand firm thus in the Lord. Even later on, verse 2, in the Lord. Two people have to agree in the Lord. Verse 4, in the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord. Paul is building on what he's already said to the Philippians and what he has been teaching them for years. It's our relationship in the Lord, in Jesus Christ. We're not just praying to sending out emails to no one, no one listening to a glass ceiling perhaps. We're speaking to Christ, our Savior, who has given his life for us. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. And yet we find ourselves forgetting that, don't we? Living as if we're all alone. You, by yourself, are trying to face whatever challenge it is right now in your life. But we are called to face it in the Lord, praying to God. So the next time we're anxious, step number one, return to the gospel basics. Is Jesus Christ your Savior? Is God your Father in heaven through Jesus Christ? If not, He is inviting sinners to come and trust Him. With all your cares, with all your burdens, with all your trouble, cast your cares upon him. Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved. As Peter says in 1 Peter 5, verse 7, casting all your anxieties upon him because he cares for you. But if we know Christ, and if we're learning to know him better, to follow him, Maybe he's allowing these anxieties in life, these things that are shaking us, maybe he's allowing them to draw us closer to himself. To realize we can't do it alone. To give up on ourselves and to go back again praying to God in heaven, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Can you submit everything to your Father in heaven? Do not stop praying until you can surrender it all to your Father in heaven. God's way is the best way, though I may not see why sorrows and trials oft gather round me. He ever is seeking my gold to refine, so humbly I trust him, my Savior divine. That's step number one, to God in prayer. Step number two, reword your problem as a request. Because that's what it says in verse six, right? Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, in prayer and supplication, let your request be made known unto God. I find that when I get worried about something, I'm like that rat, that mouse in the running wheel, right? And it goes round and round and around and around, and I keep trying to solve this problem myself. And for me, it's usually about 1 o'clock or 2 o'clock in the morning, and I'm trying to solve this problem and going around and around this little treadmill. And it's really helpful to make our request known unto God, to reword the problem, to rephrase it into a prayer request. That's what Paul is saying here. Let your requests be made known unto God. You see, we get distracted by the problem, don't we? The finances that just don't add up. Or what he said and she said and they said and what might they say and all of these things that keep playing in our minds like a broken record. And really, Paul says, let your requests be made known unto God. Put it into the words of a request. True prayer has the opposite effects. It replaces anxiety and self-reflections with talking to our Father, refocusing our attention on God and His ability to hear and to answer. Cast your burden on the Lord. He will sustain you. Prayer, supplication, urgent request and prayer, sharing our burdens. Communicating with our almighty friend and advocate, Jesus Christ. He is in heaven, praying for us, repeating as it were our prayers to the Father, cleaning them up and correcting the grammar and putting them into the right language and repeating them to the Father. Our advocate in heaven, let your request be made known unto God. Reword it as a prayer request. Force yourself to pray. And it also helps you define the problem precisely in the perspective of our sovereign God and our loving Father. And then third, what does Paul continue teaching us here? In everything by prayer and supplication, let me underscore these two words now, with thanksgiving. With thanksgiving. You see, anxiety, our anxieties are often the result, actually they're complaints. They're complaints. It's not fair what happened to me. or this is not good from my perspective, or I can't solve this problem, or it's too much for us or me. And often they become complaints, not always, but often they become complaints, unthankfulness, or even discontent. Here is Paul writing this to the Philippians. He's in prison. He didn't deserve to be in prison, but he's in prison. And yet he says, Rejoice in the Lord always. I have learned in all things to be content, he says, in another place. You see, our prayers can quickly become laundry list of problems or complaints even. Subtle complaints about our situation. I wish it were different. It's not fair. If only it had been this way. But Paul says, no, no, no, no. Make your requests with thanksgiving. With thanksgiving. A good example of this, Psalm 77. I think we know that psalm fairly well. In Psalm 77, Asaph is praying. And he starts, the first half of the song is a list of complaints. Everything's not going well. Everything is going well for the bad guys, but for me, it's going bad. Why is that? And he's complaining, the first half of Psalm 77. But then there's a shift. Verse 11, I will remember the deeds of the Lord, says Asaph. Oh, now there's light breaking through the clouds. Yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder on all your works and meditate on your mighty deeds. You notice the shift in tone? It went from the first part of the psalm, complaints and problems and envying the wicked to suddenly the light breaking through the clouds of depression and he sees God's wonderful deeds, what God is doing. God is at work, His mighty deeds, His wonders of old. I will meditate on what God has done. We need an attitude of thanksgiving, don't we? Even in the midst of our trials, even when everything does seem to be going wrong because sometimes that's the way life goes. Learn to pray with thanksgiving. Meditate on the wonderful deeds of the Lord, on His mighty wonders of old. That's Jesus Christ. He sent His Son into this mess. Jesus Christ suffered. He suffered wrong and shame and spitting. He agonized. He was in the garden sweating blood. His family didn't understand Him. Even His disciples didn't stand with Him. And there He was praying, crying on the ground, Father, if possible, take this cup from me. But the Father didn't take the cup away because it was necessary for Christ to learn obedience and to suffer. And so Christ surrendered to God's will. And we learn to meditate on these wonderful deeds, the wonderful deeds of Christ's promises. I will never leave you nor forsake you. My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness and so many other promises of Scripture. Learn to pray with thanksgiving. You know, we often get distracted by our problems, don't we? Our concerns. Forgetfulness of God's gracious dealings in the past. Has your heavenly Father failed you in the past? Are Christ's promises still real and true today? Will God forget to be gracious and not show mercy in your situation? We often forget the promises of God and we do not pray with thanksgiving. But that's what Paul is saying here. Remind yourselves repeatedly about God's goodness and mercy. Consider how God has helped in the past and cast your cares upon this gracious friend of sinners. Learn by grace to pray with thanksgiving. that's step three and then finally step four from the text again reflection who is your therapist you know some people when they face anxiety they got to find a therapist right that's that's what our call they won't go to a pastor no no that's not our culture doesn't like pastors we need to find a therapist a counselor someone who's a professional here who is our therapist when we face anxiety you know sometimes we're too quick I think to follow the patterns of unbelievers too quick to rely on the meds the pills or the other psychiatrists and psychologists and all the rest perhaps we pay large sums of money a lot of money actually to find a therapist that can help us when we haven't spent a few hours yet on our knees is there no balm in gilead is there no physician there isn't christ the one who's willing to take our cares and concerns to care for us isn't he there to show us love and mercy and grace and to give us wisdom and to guide us in every situation of life Isn't Jesus the great physician of souls to comfort, to encourage our greatest comfort in life and death? To know that we are in His hands, everything in total control of the one who is in heaven with all power and authority directing the affairs of this universe? I struggle with this sometimes because I'm very busy at times and sleep is very important and sometimes I wake up at night and I can't sleep. And you know, that little pill, that Tylenol P.M., you just get to take a half of it. And you take that and you sleep really good. It's so easy for me to stumble to the bathroom and just take a half of Tylenol P.M., you know, once a month or so, just to help me sleep. But you know what I've learned? that sometimes God wakes me up at 1 o'clock in the morning. I had an old pastor friend say to me, never despise the 1 o'clock prayer meetings. And maybe that Tylenol PM, that half of Tylenol PM, is taking away the privilege that God is giving me to spend an hour in prayer. Maybe I'm giving up that opportunity by running quickly to the medicine. When Jesus wanted me on my knees because he wanted to give me more grace for the day ahead. Every situation is different. I'm not judging anyone here. But sometimes I'm too quick to rely on other things and not trust the great physician to know what he's doing and to guide me with precision. And he gives me this privilege sometimes to spend an hour in prayer when everyone else is sleeping. Are you giving up the privilege of spending time with the Lord? maybe god is sending you trials and anxieties for a reason because he wants to draw you closer in the loving embrace he wants you to need him he wants you to know him better to trust him more to cast all your cares on him again to know that he loves you and he's got you covered can you trust him is there no balm in gilead is there no physician there we have a great physician of souls his name is jesus he gives us everything we need so the next time we face anxiety remember rather retrain ourselves how to think about it maybe god's giving us opportunities to meditate more on His goodness and His mercy and His love. Four steps in verse 6 of how we face anxiety. Trust in Christ. Make your needs known to your Father in heaven. Stop focusing on your problems and pray to God. Reword your fears and your worries. Reword them as prayer requests. Prayer to God, that's number two. Number three, thanksgiving. Replace your complaints with an attitude of gratitude. Remember that next time you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety. Attitude of gratitude, it's a grace. Thankfulness is a grace that Christ gives. And He gives it freely. He gives it freely. Pray that the Spirit of Christ will fill us with thankfulness, overflowing with thankfulness in every situation. Paul says, I've learned to be content because he learned to be thankful to God in every situation. And then third, meditate on Christ. Drink deeply from Christ's balm of Gilead, from His medicine, from our relationship with Him. God's four-step process for dealing with anxiety according to Philippians 4, verse 6. And then there's verse 7. I'm going to be very brief on verse 7. But let's look together at verse 7. What does it say? It's a consequence, actually. It flows from verse 6. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The problem is anxiety. It's a big problem. Our society is diagnosed with anxiety disorder. It's a problem. The solution is a relationship with the triune God in Jesus Christ. Stand firm in the Lord. Trusting in Him. And again, let me say this. I'm almost certain there are people here struggling with anxiety right now. And I don't know you, but the Lord sees your situation. Go to Jesus Christ, the friend of sinners. He's welcoming those with all the problems, the worst sinners, the biggest problems. He specializes in dealing with messy situations. Come to Jesus and receive forgiveness. Receive justification. Receive cleansing, sanctification. Because that's really the long-term solution to the problem, isn't it? We can call it a vaccine. Our society needs a vaccine for anxiety. What's a vaccine for anxiety? Well, verse 7, the peace of God which surpasses understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. God's peace is like a vaccine against anxiety. What is the peace of God? Inner rest, harmony, freedom from anxiety, You see, Christ makes peace. He came to give his life for sinners. His lifeblood, his work of atonement reconciles us with God. We were running away from God and our lives were a mess, a total mess, getting messier. But Christ reconciles us with God. He draws us back in loving relationship. He forgives us justification. And we receive as a consequence of this justification, being declared righteous this relationship with God restored we receive the peace of God and this peace of God fills us fills us with trust in our heavenly father in every situation and so when Jesus says don't be anxious disciples why are you anxious why are you afraid and when Paul says, do not be anxious. It's not like the prosperity preachers who are promising lies. Just believe and everything is going to be well. You'll be rich and healthy. No, no. The gospel has already given the solution. And when we receive the peace of God, then anxieties flee. It's like shadows that flee when the bright light of the gospel is present. The peace of God that It fills our hearts. It fills our lives. Calm, quiet, rest. Knowing that our Heavenly Father is in total control and that Jesus Christ, our Advocate in Heaven, is praying for us. Guard your hearts and your minds. This peace guards us. Because, I don't know about you, but sometimes I'm attacked by worry. You know, a situation that's overwhelming and you start to ruminate on it, right? But you've got to guard your heart. In Christ I have peace. My God is in control. This problem, I don't know how the solution is. I don't know what the problem is, how it's going to end. I don't know the solution, but God is in control. We've got to guard our hearts, don't we? And remind ourselves, no, do not be anxious in anything. Jesus Christ is on the throne. It's a military metaphor. like a soldier with his machine gun ready to blast away any opposition, any worries that come, any lies of Satan that causes us to doubt God's promises, any fears that would cause us to take our eyes off of the Savior and live in fear rather than faith. Yeah, that's a common picture that was in Philippi because Philippi was a Roman garrison. And so Paul is using a military term here, guard your hearts with this peace. But I think the best metaphor is John Bunyan. If you've read Holy War, you'll understand. Let me just quote John Bunyan here. He's talking about the town of Mansoul. And there was appointed in the town of Mansoul a man by the name of Mr. God's Peace. If you haven't read Holy War, you've got to read it. But he said, In Mansoul, nothing was to be found but harmony, happiness, joy, and health, so long as Mr. God's Peace maintained his office. But when Prince Emmanuel, Christ, was grieved away from town, Mr. God's Peace laid down his commission and departed. In other words, when our relationship with Christ is no longer strong, then somehow we are challenged again, isn't it, by this anxiety. Mr. God's Peace laid down his commission and departed. That's how John Bunyan describes it in Holy War. This is a peace that transcends understanding. It surpasses understanding because it's more than just a rational calculation about how we might get out of a fix. It's trusting our Father in heaven with our problems and our concerns, committing it to God in prayer. Is your heart being guarded by God's peace? This is God's solution for anxiety, and Christ offers it freely. He invites us to trust Him. So, the 18% of us who have anxieties right now or the 25% or whatever stat is accurate, those of us who are facing it right now or the 30% of us who have friends going through something that's causing anxiety, let's remind ourselves and let's remind our friends again. Christ's gospel is what saves us and Christ's gospel, his truth transforms us and fills us with the peace of God and as we hold on to these truths by faith we are guarded, we are guarded from anxiety and fear is replaced with faith again as we are taught to trust in Christ the great physician of souls we're given opportunities every week we have new opportunities to learn from the master he's training us, he's training us to trust him more in all situations, in everything. He's training us to pray with thanksgiving at all times and in all circumstances, even when things look dark. And he's training us to rejoice always with the lasting peace that he promises and that he freely gives us because of Christ's blood. Isn't that wonderful? So do not be anxious, friends, but trust Christ more by his grace. Let's pray together. Almighty God, you know our hearts are often filled with anxieties and fears and worries about the future. You know how we are often distracted by such things and led astray from the hope that we have in Christ and the peace that he gives us. But we pray, O Lord, that you will continue to teach us by your Holy Spirit to give us faith again or for the first time. to give us trust in our Savior, to trust you and to follow your instructions, to be free from anxiety and to be filled with your peace. Lord, I pray especially for those here among us today, tonight, who are facing huge trials, looming trials, mountains of trials. I pray that you will fill them with your peace even now, that you will give them faith, greater faith, to trust in you with their problems, to cast their cares upon you and to commit the future to you, Lord, whatever the future holds. Lord, I pray that you will be the balm of Gilead in their souls and that they may find that in the midst of trial you are there with your peace, reminding them of your love and your promises to care for them each step of the way. Lord, help us all to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and cause us to be a blessing to others too, a blessing of hope and joy that tells the world that we have been transformed and that we have a lasting, eternal joy that transcends any concept of happiness, that we can look past the frowns and the brokenness and look above it all through the clouds and darkness to the eternal future that awaits the people of God. Give us this joy, we pray, and this peace and this hope in Christ. And we ask it in Christ's name. Amen. Thank you.