Pray Right

 

 

Philippians 4:6-7 

SUBJECT: Prayer

THEME: One Way of Victory Over Worry and Anxiety is Right Praying. We are assured the “God of peace” will guide us and the “Peace of God” will safe-guard or protect our hearts and minds against worry.                               

RELEVANCE: Sometimes we forfeit the joy of the Lord when we worry; this plagues our minds and hearts, effectively stealing our joy. Fears, concerns, apprehensions, worries, uncertainties, and people problems can literally rob us of joy leaving us in a ball of nerves.  But the Lord wants us to have a joy that is untouched and uninfluenced by the problems and uncertainties of life. We can have strong joy when we Pray, Think, and Live right.  We must rely on the “God of Peace” to give us the “peace of God” as we meet his conditions for peace.

INTRODUCTION:

1. What is Worry?

   A.  The word “worry” basically means “careful” and "anxious" or “full of cares.”

   B.  In Phil 4:6 the word “careful” means "to be pulled in different directions." Our hopes pull us in one direction; our fears pull us the opposite direction; and we are pulled apart!

   C.  Basically "worry" means "to strangle." If we have ever really worried, we know how it does strangle a person! In fact, worry has definite physical consequences: headaches, neck pains, ulcers, even back pains.  Worry affects our thinking, our digestion, and even our coordination.

We have here a prohibition which forbids the continuance of an action already habitually going on. The Philippian saints were habitually worrying. Paul exhorts them to stop it. The word “nothing” is literally “not even one thing.”^[a]

Is it really possible for a Christian to be anxious for nothing? It is possible as long as we have the resource of believing prayer. The rest of the verse goes on to explain how our lives can be free from sinful fretting. Everything should be taken to the Lord in prayer. Everything means everything. There is nothing too great or small for His loving care!^[b]

2.  We can conquer worry and experience God’s peace, as we meet the conditions he laid down. There are three:

     A.  Right Praying (Phil 4:6-7)

     B.  Right Thinking (Phil 4:8)

     C.  Right Living (Phil 4:9) (Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

MESSAGE:

RIGHT PRAYING; PEACE THROUGH PRAYER. (Phil. 4:6-7)

Sometimes we’ll say, "I’ll pray about it!" But the apostle was too wise to say that using three different words to describe "right praying": “prayer,” “supplication,” and “thanksgiving.” "Right praying" involves all three.

Joy and gentleness (vv. 4–5), accompanied with an awareness of Christ’s imminent return, should dispel anxiety. Paul’s appeal to the Philippians is do not be anxious about anything. But this was not a call to a carefree life. To care and be genuinely concerned is one thing. To worry is another. Paul and Timothy cared for the people they ministered to (2 Cor. 11:28; Phil. 2:20), yet they retained trust in God. Jesus warned against worry which obviously eliminates trust in God (Matt. 6:25–33).^[c]

A.  PRAYER. (Phil. 4:6)

Describes a believer’s approach to God. ^[d] This is the general word for making requests known to the Lord. It carries the idea of:

    1. Adoration

    2. Devotion

    3. Worship

APPLICATION: Whenever we find ourselves worrying, our first action ought to be to get alone with God and worship Him. Adoration is what is needed. We must see the greatness and majesty of God! We must realize that He is big enough to solve our problems. Too often we rush into His presence and hastily tell Him our needs, when we ought to approach His throne calmly and in deepest reverence. The first step in "right praying" is adoration.

B.  SUPPLICATION. (Phil. 4:6)

Emphasizes requesting an answer to a specific need.^[e]

   1. Supplication is an Earnest Sharing of Our Needs and Problems.

There is no place for halfhearted, insincere prayer!

   2. While We Realize God does not Hear for Our "Much Speaking" (Matt 6:7-8),

Matthew 6:7-8, But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. [8] Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

   3. Still, We Realize That Our Father Wants Us to Be Earnest in Our Asking (Matt 7:1-11).

Matthew 7:7-11, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [9] Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? [10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? [11] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

   4.  This Is the Way Jesus Prayed in the Garden (Heb 5:7), and while His closest disciples were sleeping, Jesus was sweating great drops of blood!

Hebrews 5:7,  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

    5.  Supplication Is Not a Matter of Carnal Energy but of Spiritual Intensity (Rom 15:30; Col 4:12).

Romans 15:30, Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

Col. 4:12, Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

C.  THANKSGIVING. (Phil. 4:6)

After adoration and supplication comes appreciation, giving thanks to God. An attitude of heart which should always accompany one’s prayers.^[f]

Ephes. 5:20, Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;  

Col. 3:15-17, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. [17] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

APPLICATION: Certainly the Father enjoys hearing His children say, "Thank You!"

ILLUSTRATION: When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one of the ten returned to give thanks (Luke 17:11-19), and we wonder if the percentage is any higher today. We are eager to ask but slow to appreciate.

D. REQUESTS. (Phil. 4:6)

Speak of definite and specific things asked for.^[g]

Someone has summarized the verse as saying that we should be “anxious in nothing, prayerful in everything, thankful for anything.”^[h]

“Requests” … emphasizes the objects asked for, namely, the things requested. The preposition “unto” … suggests…, “in the presence of God,” and is a delicate and suggestive way of hinting that God’s presence is always there, that it is the atmosphere surrounding the Christian.^[i]

 E.  RESULTS. (Phil. 4:7)

  1. The Peace Filled Attitude.

      A.  You Will Note That "Right Praying" Is Not Something Every Christian Can Do Immediately.

      B.  Because "Right Praying" Depends on the Correct Attitude.

      C.  This Is Why Paul's Formula for Peace Is Found at the End of Philippians and Not at the Beginning.

             1. With the single attitude of Phil 1, we can give adoration.

(How can a double-minded person ever praise God?)

             2. With the submissive attitude of Phil 2, we can come with supplication.

(Would a person with a proud heart ask God for something?)

             3. With the spiritual attitude of Phil 3, we can show our appreciation.

(A worldly-minded person would not know that God had given him anything to appreciate!)

              4. Summarily, we must practice Phil 1, 2, and 3 if we are going to experience the secure attitude of Phil 4. (Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

   2. Everything is Covered.  Phil. 4:6

Philip. 4:6, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

       A.  Paul Counsels Us to Take "Everything to God in Prayer."

"Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything!" is his admonition.

       B.  We Are Prone to Pray about “Big Things" in Life.

             1. Usually, we forget to pray about the so-called "little things."

             2. Until they grow and become big things!

APPLICATION: Talking to God about everything that concerns us and Him is the first step toward victory over worry.

   3. Peace of God. (Phil. 4:7)

The result is that the "peace of God" guards the heart and the mind.

          A.  Remember Paul was chained to a Roman soldier, guarded day and night.

          B.  In like manner, "the peace of God" stands guard over the two areas that create worry - the “heart” (wrong feeling) and “the mind” (wrong thinking).

          C.  When we give our hearts to Christ in salvation, we experience "peace with God" (Rom 5:1)

          D. But the "peace of God" takes us a step farther into His blessings.

                  1. This does not mean the absence of trials on the outside.

                  2. But it does mean a quiet confidence within, regardless of circumstances, people, or things.

ILLUSTRATION: Daniel gives us a wonderful illustration of peace through prayer. When the king announced that none of his subjects was to pray to anyone except the king, Daniel went to his room, opened his windows, and prayed as before (Dan 6:1-10). Note how Daniel prayed.

     1.  He "prayed, and gave thanks before his God" (Dan 6:10)

     2.  He made “supplication” (Dan 6:11).                                                   

     3.  Prayer - supplication - thanksgiving! And the result was perfect peace in the midst of difficulty! Daniel was able to spend the night with the lions in perfect peace, while the king in his palace could not sleep (Dan 6:18).

APPLICATION: The first condition for God’s peace and victory over worry is right praying.

CONCLUSION:

From the spiritual point of view, worry is wrong thinking (the mind) and wrong feeling (the heart) about circumstances, people, and things.

     A.  Worry is the greatest thief of joy. It is not enough for us, however, to tell ourselves to "quit worrying" because that will never capture the thief. Worry is an "inside job," and it takes more than good intentions to get the victory. (Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

    B.  The antidote to worry is God’s peace! "And the peace of God ... shall keep [garrison, guard like a soldier] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:7).

    C.  When you have God’s peace foremost in your thoughts:

          1. The “peace of God” guards you (Phil 4:7)

          2. The “God of peace” guides you (Phil 4:9).

          3. With that kind of protection - why worry?

Prayer is both an act and an atmosphere. We come to the Lord at specific times and bring specific requests before Him. But it is also possible to live in an atmosphere of prayer. It is possible that the mood of our life should be a prayerful mood. Perhaps the word prayer in this verse signifies the overall attitude of our life, whereas supplication signifies the specific requests which we bring to the Lord.^[j]

Right praying is one condition for having a sense of God’s peace and victory over worry. There is no middle ground. Either we yield heart and mind to the Spirit of God and practice right praying or we yield to the flesh and find ourselves torn apart by worry. There is no need to worry! Besides, worry is sinful! Read Matt 6:24-34. With the peace of God to guard us and the God of peace to guide us - why worry?

---

^[a] Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 109.

^[b] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1978.

^[c] Robert P. Lightner, “Philippians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 663.

^[d] Robert P. Lightner, “Philippians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 664.

^[e] Robert P. Lightner, “Philippians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 664.

^[f] Robert P. Lightner, “Philippians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 664.

^[g] Robert P. Lightner, “Philippians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 664.

^[h] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1979.

^[i] Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 110.

^[j] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1978–1979.