INTRO: We Live in a Restless World. the Word Restless Means Having No Rest;

“POWER IN PRAYER #8-THE REMEDY FOR A RESTLESS SPIRIT” PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7

INTRO: We live in a restless world. The word restless means “Having no rest; never quiet. Constantly seeking change; discontented. Obtaining no rest or sleep; sleepless.” (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. Volume 2, N-Z. p. 568). We live in an unsettled world, an unstable world, and a uncertain world. With all that we face on a daily basis, is there any question that many find within them a restless spirit? The words that Job spoke many years ago are surely true of mankind—“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1). We live a life full of cares, anxieties, and troubles. All this tends to give us a restless spirit. Charles Spurgeon said, “I suppose it is true for many of us that our cares are manifold. If you are like me, once you become careful, anxious, fretful, you are never able to count your cares, even though you might count the hairs of your head. Cares multiply to those who are care-full. When you are as full of care as you think you can be, you will be sure to find another crop of cares growing up all around you. The indulgence of this habit of anxiety leads to its getting dominion over life till life is not worth living by reason of the care we have about it. Cares and worries are manifold; therefore let your prayers be manifold. Turn everything that is a care into a prayer. Let your cares be the raw material of your prayers. As the alchemist hoped to turn dross into gold, you have the power to actually turn what naturally would have been a care into a spiritual treasure into the form of prayer. Baptize every anxiety into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and so make it a blessing.” (Charles H. Spurgeon. The Power of Prayer in A Believer's Life. p. 166). Tonight, in this final message in our series, we will consider, THE REMEDY FOR A RESTLESS SPIRIT. In we are going to have POWER IN PRAYER we must learn to turn every care we have over to the Lord. If we don't that restless spirit will arise within us. Please note with me tonight three things as we consider THE REMEDY FOR A RESTLESS SPIRIT. Let us see... (1) THE REASON FOR A RESTLESS SPIRIT PHILIPPIANS 4:6a—“Be careful for nothing...”

*The word careful here is translated from a Greek word that means “to be anxious about, care full, to take thought.” Why do we bow to a restless spirit? Two reasons: A. WE WORRY INSTEAD OF PRAY. Carefulness and prayer cannot stand together. When we are worrying we find it hard to pray. When we are praying we find it hard to worry. Friends, if we would pray more we would worry less. The Philippians Christians were continually worrying. Paul wrote to encourage them to stop. To worry is to sin, and here is one sin, like all others, that will rob the heart and mind of peace...anxiety distracts our minds from Christ and His words, thereby preventing spiritual growth... “Worry is the interest we pay on the debt of unbelief with which we have mortgaged life.” Faith ends where anxiety begins, so never give way to anxiety. (Lehman Strauss. Devotional Studies in Philippians. p. 222). Someone said, ”It is a man's business to do the will of God; God takes on himself the special care of that man; therefore that man ought never to be afraid of anything. -- George Macdonald, 19th century Scottish writer. Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 2. B. WE WEIGH OUR PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF TRUSTING GOD'S PROMISES. Why do we take our major problems to the Lord but somehow believe our minor problems are not worthy of His consideration? 1 Peter 5:7 tells believers to be “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” No qualifications. No questions. Just casting our care upon Him! We are to commit our whole cause to the Lord. NOTHING is too insignificant to turn over to HIM. Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34—“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (2) THE REMEDY FOR A RESTLESS SPIRIT PHILIPPIANS 4:6b—“...but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

A. TAKE TO GOD EVERY CARE. Friends, we can pray about small things and great things. You can pray for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, but you can also pray for a new pair of shoes. We can go to the throne of grace asking God to supply our materials needs—food, clothing, shelter, and we can also go to God asking Him to supply our spiritual needs—faith, boldness, opportunities to witness, and growth in grace. We should never put any boundaries on the care of God for us. We should never think that are daily needs are insignificant to God because in comparison to His greatness and glory all things are small with Him. Consider how GREAT HE IS and how small we are in comparison to Him; and yet He cares about every detail of our lives!

ILLUS: God is concerned about everything that concerns His child. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. If we abide in Him and His Word abides in us, we can ask what we will and it shall be done. God has a concern about the believer's trials, tribulations, afflictions—He is concerned about everything that has to do with us as we travel this pilgrim journey. (Oliver B. Greene. The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians. p. 114). B. TRUST AND BELIEVE IN GOD'S CONTROL. We would find ourselves less restless if we were more trustful. The question we have to answer is, “Is God in control of all things or isn't He?” Psalm 37:5 says—“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Someone has said, ”God's never missed the runway through all the centuries of fearful fog.” -- Chuck Swindoll, Christian Reader, Vol. 32, no. 3. Abraham Lincoln said, ”Faith is not believing that God can, but that God will!” – Abraham Lincoln, Christian Reader, Vol. 33, no. 2. Friends, that is how we must pray! WE must believe that each time we pray, praying in the will of God, GOD WILL! If the answer does not come the first time then pray again. If not the second then keep praying. If we are praying in the will of God we have His promise—“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15). The prayer that kills care is prayer that perseveres. (Charles Spurgeon. The Power of Prayer in A Believer's Life. p. 173).

(3) THE REJOICING OF A RESTING SPIRIT PHILIPPIANS 4:7—“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

A. PEACE IS OUR GUARANTEE. I want you to notice the words “the peace of God.” What sweet words those are! When we live our lives in such a way that we practice “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”— instead of worrying and allowing a restless spirit to invade our lives—the result will be that an incredible peace will steal over our hearts and minds. What a great exchange is ours—in exchange for our problems, He gives us peace! A “peace....which passeth all understanding”. This is a peace that removes anxiety. It destroys a restless spirit! When we are anxious and fretting about “things,” we are not abiding in “the peace of God” and when we rest in the peace, trusting God fully, we are not anxious. (Oliver B. Greene. The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians. p. 115). B. PEACE IS OUR GUARDIAN. Isaiah 26:3 says—“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” The word keep used here is translated from a Greek word that means “to be a watcher in advance, to mount guard as a sentinel, to protect, keep.” The peace of God acts as a guard, or sentinel, at the door of the heart and mind...When we dwell upon our problems and perplexities, our hearts and minds become seriously affected, so much that we go all to pieces. This is Satan's strong point of attack...But God's peace does sentinel duty over our hearts and minds to prevent any successful attack on part of the enemy. God's peace is a priceless commodity that this old world cannot purchase with money, nor can it be had through the efforts of modern psychiatry” (Lehman Strauss. Devotional Studies in Philippians. p. 225). Jesus said in John 14:27—“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” It is a peace that money cannot buy, the world cannot give, nor position attain. It is the gift of God! It is the peace that God gives to those who trust in Him!

CLOSING: “Careful for nothing...prayerful for everything...thankful for anything”--this is the secret! (Lehman Strauss. Devotional Studies in Philippians. p. 225). Friends, when we place everything trustingly in our Heavenly Father's hands in prayer, we are assured He will keep our hearts and minds so that nothing can upset us mentally or emotionally. THE REMEDY FOR A RESTLESS SPIRIT is TAKE TO GOD EVERY CARE and TRUST AND BELIEVE IN GOD'S CONTROL. Friend, do you have a tendency to worry? Are you careful over many things? If so, turn your worries into prayers! Let us all remember the words of Joseph Scriven's hymn tonight as we prepare for invitation:

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble any-where? We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus know our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care?-- Precious Saviour, still our refuge-- Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He'll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there. (Joseph Scriven. “What A Friend”. All-American Church Hymnal. p. 313)

Prepared by Brother Bryan L. Browning, Pastor of Beechmont Baptist Church, Beechmont, KY for Sunday Evening, March 18, 2007.