Sunday Worship 11.00 am and 6.30 pm Minister: Dr William (Bill) J M Parker
6. Wiles of Devil (3) – Philippians 4:4-7 (Ephesians 6:10-11) – Anxiety – 18/2/18 (am)
Spiritual Warfare
Sermon Date: 18 February 2018 (am)
The Devil's Schemes (3) Anxiety -
Ephesians 6:10-13 & Philippians 4:4-7
Main Teaching Point:
Do not be anxious about anything, rather rejoice in the Lord and present your requests to Him.
Anxiety flows from fear; the devil seeks to cause us to be anxious.
Good Anxiety … Bad Anxiety
Christians may display legitimate
anxiety and, therefore, not sin or fall foul of the devil’s schemes.
The Lord Jesus: was concerned for others’ spiritual/physical needs; in Gethsemane you can sense his anxiety
(Matthew 26:38-39). Yet He did not sin. The Apostle Paul was anxious/concerned about: his thorn in flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-8); the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28-29); his fellow Jews (Romans 9:1-3). Yet he did not sin.
But a point can be reached where legitimate concern becomes
sinful anxiety. It happens when our eyes are pulled away from trust in the Lord. This is the kind of anxiety that the devil seeks to promote. The Greek word for anxiety/worry, merimnao, means to draw in different directions. Anxiety draws your eyes to your circumstance and away from the Lord. It is the word used when Jesus commands His disciples three times not to be anxious (Matthew 6:25-34) and when Paul commands the Philippians not to be anxious (Philippians 4:6).
Paul, the Philippians and Anxiety (Philippians 4:4-7)
The Apostle was in prison because of the Gospel. The Philippians were persecuted because of the Gospel. Both were open to an anxiety attack from the devil. Paul was not
anxious! The Philippians were
habitually anxious.
We get anxious: about family and friends; in difficult circumstances at home, school, university, work; over our health, financial security. If the devil can get us to be sinfully anxious, he affects us physically (health), and spiritually (diverts our attention from God). How should Christians deal with such an attack?
The Responsibility of the Christian (4:4-6)
1. Have a Particular Attitude (4:4a).
Rejoice in the Lord always. A command! Not a trite don’t worry, be happy!
Our joy is in the Lord and our unchanging, regardless-of-circumstance relationship with Him. This joy fills up spaces in our heart and mind that sinful anxiety wants to occupy.
2. Grasp a Particular Truth (4:5).
The Lord is near. This should bring comfort and chase away sinful anxiety.
3. Employ a Particular Strategy (4:6).
- Do not be anxious. Another command. Refuse
to be sinfully anxious.
- Pray. Another command. Prayer, Petition & Requests
all refer to petitionary prayer with nuances of urgency and specific requests. Thanksgiving is for blessings including God’s work that brings salvation.
The Response of God
(4:7)
1. Peace that transcends all understanding.
It is experienced
but leaves the Christian wondering Why am I so at peace? I should be anxious!
(Acts 16:24-25).
2. Peace that guards the heart and mind.
Guard is a military term used of a detachment of soldiers protecting a city from attack. God’s peace is a garrison keeping guard where anxiety begins – in the Christian’s heart and mind.
Conclusion – Defeat for the Devil and Glory to God
In a mid-Atlantic storm in1736, John Wesley was amazed that Moravians calmly, peacefully, kept worshipping God while other passengers panicked. What an impact Christians today would make on others, even evangelistically, if we could display peace in our lives despite
our circumstances. We would be demonstrating the defiant nevertheless
that theologian Karl Barth spoke of in reference to the joy seen in Philippians. What defeat for the Devil! What glory to God!
© Dr Bill Parker 2018