Sunday Messages >
Experiencing God's Peace Series


Message 8

Experiencing Gods Peace Message 8

Philippians 4:8-9

Intentional Thinking

  1. Internet Trolls
    1. Not a troll under a bridge.
      1. A person who makes a deliberately offensive or provocative online post.
      2. Negative mean people.
    2. Let’s write a critique about churches.
      1. Judgement day is coming.
    3. Don’t criticize other ministries.
      1. Let’s work on ourselves. There is barely enough time for that.
  2. Why are we so negative?

Make some notes about how these impact you.

    1. Personal struggles
      1. ____________________________________
    2. External influences
      1. ____________________________________
    3. Fear and insecurity
      1. ____________________________________
    4. Past experiences
      1. ____________________________________
    5. Learned behavior.
      1. ____________________________________
  2. Intentional Thinking
    1. “Fix your thoughts.”
      1. Philippians 4:8 (The Living Bible, Paraphrased) — 8 And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.
      2. What is true and good and right.
      3. Think about things that are pure and lovely.
      4. Dwell on the fine, good things in others.
    2. Intentionally focus on what is good and pleasing to God.
      1. In a world bombarded with negativity, chaos, and distractions.
      2. It is increasingly important for believers to guard their minds.
      3. Intentionally focus on what is good and pleasing to God.
    3. Renew your mind!
      1. Romans 12:2 (NCV) — 2 Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.
      2. Romans 12:2 (NIV) — 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
  3. Our thought life.
    1. As a man thinks…
      1. ________________________________
      2. Our thought life has a profound impact on our attitudes, emotions, and actions.
      3. “When we allow our minds to dwell on negative thoughts, worries, or ungodly influences, they can slowly erode our faith, steal our joy, and hinder our spiritual growth.”
      4. Are you trapped by your negative thoughts.
    2. Not wishful thinking
      1. It’s intentional thinking.
      2. Meditate on the truth of Scripture.
      3. Fix our minds on the attributes of God.
      4. His promises, His faithfulness, His divine wisdom, His amazing grace, His power that transforms our lives.

Just Imagine.


Message 6

Message Notes

Experiencing Gods Peace Message 6

Philippians 4:6

Anxiety Prison

  1. Anxiety
    1. Listen to this definition.
      1. Anxiety refers to a “psychological” state characterized by feelings of unease.
    2. I struggle with all of these.
      1. Do you? _______________________
      2. I have a feeling that I’m not alone in this.
  2. It is a normal human emotion.
    1. I am going to say something that might surprise you.
      1. Worry is __________________.
      2. It is an ____________________.
    2. One would think Christians would be exempt from worry.
      1. But we are not.
      2. We have been taught that the Christian life is a life of peace.
      3. When we don’t have peace, we assume the problem lies within us.
      4. Do you understand what I’m saying?
      5. ________________________________________
      6. Not only do we feel anxious, but we also feel guilty about our anxiety!
    3. Anxiety is not a sin; it is an emotion.
      1. Anxiety can, however, lead to sinful behavior.
      2. Someone said: “When we numb our fears with six-packs or food binges.”
      3. How do you deal with worry? __________________________________________
      4. Someone said: “We peddle our fears to anyone who will buy them.”
      5. Luke 21:34 (NIV) — 34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.
      6. Are you trapped?
  3. Anxiety Prison
    1. Was Paul out of touch?
      1. The world in which we live.
      2. Chaos and turmoil!!!
    2. Really Paul?
      1. Philippians 4:6 (NLT) — 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.
      2. How can we not worry about anything?
      3. If he would have said “Be anxious for less” would have been a sufficient challenge.
    3. Anxiety Prison
      1. The Sielbeck Revised Translation reads, “Don’t let anything in life leave you permanently breathless and in angst.”
      2. The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.
  4. Here are the 4 keys to get “out of anxiety prison”?
    1. Choose Faith Over Fear
      1. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) — 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
    2. The Power of Prayer
      1. James 5:16 (NLT) — 16 The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
    3. Have a Heart of Gratitude.
      1. Colossians 3:17 (NLT) — 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
    4. Surrender Control to God
      1. Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV) — 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
  5. The peace of God.

Break the chains that are gripping your heart.


Message 4