The Biblical Worldview on Overcoming Fear & Worry: The Peace of God

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org that's harvest.org maybe one personal piece comes down to thinking why the meditating on things that are true, noble, reputable, compelling ratios of the best words beautiful and not the ugly things to praise God things to curse today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie points out, we find real peace when our thoughts and emotions are in harmony with the war. If you want personal peace.

It involves a hard line and if you run out of things to turn on the news one crisis after another 24 hours a day. The old thing in the news business is if it bleeds it leads or causes to set our minds on things above today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie shows why when we made our peace with God, it so easy to enjoy the peace of God.

Pastor Greg shows us how to enjoy worldview not mired in worrying is a completely negative thing to have in your life. Actually, modern medical research has proven that worry breaks down our resistance to disease that actually diseases the nervous system. Specifically, the digestive organs and the heart 79 to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are stress related complaints out this happen to me. Not long ago I thought maybe I'm having a hard problem because I was feeling pressure in my chest and I thought what is this a hard thing and so I googled symptoms of heart attack at the pressure Jesse I got that and then it said nausea and I immediately felt nauseated about the right there, so I am going to my doctor. I didn't even tell Kathy about this.

He was a good set but I drove to my doctor said I'm afraid I might be having a heart attack so we did an EKG and meet there was nothing wrong with me at all, then the bill came a week later and I did have a heart attack. Seriously though things are expensive. What I been doing is I've been playing racquetball again. I used to do that many years ago and I in my attempt to get that crazy little ball and slammed up against the wall a few times, and so I bruise my chest hitting the walls on a heart attack. It's just idiocy and action is what it actually is. But there's all these things that we worry about that don't help us at all. Actually, so let's try to stop worrying. If they want easy for you to say. All I know, but I want you to consider who wrote the words were about to read. There were written by the apostle Paul, under adverse circumstances.

When Paul wrote the words were about to read. He was under house arrest but he gives to us some of the most inspiring words found in the pages of Scripture series of verses that every believer should know and even commit to memory of talking about Philippians 4 starting in verse four will read down the verse eight Paul writes rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men.

The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, or literally, don't worry about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God's promise and the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Christ.

This is the biblical worldview, but overcoming fear and worry three elements I want to bring your attention, it's right praying verses 6 to 7. It's right thinking verse eight, and finally right living verse not so right, praying right thinking right living. Let's over the first one).

The next time you're tempted to worry. Pray instead.

Notice it says with thanksgiving, with thanksgiving, that's an important element before the prayer is answered because they take time to worship my father and remind myself of his greatness and power and in doing so I automatically put my own problems into their proper perspective.

What I see God in his glory.

I see my problems. The way I should see them big God. Small problems big problems small God. We need to pray that he will have his will in our life and that we rejoice in the fact that he's in control. Daniels life is a perfect example of this. Here's Daniel the prophet, an older man. At this stage of his ministry, ministering to the leader of Babylon. Darius and Darius valued the Council of Daniel will Daniel have some competition. There were other advisors to the King, the didn't believe in his God, and they didn't like the fact that the king favored Daniel so they wanted to get rid of them of the problem for them. At lease was there were no skeletons in Daniel's closet. No sin for them to uncover so they said the only way were going to trip this guy up as we catch them doing something with him in his God. So they got the king to unwittingly assign a degree that no one could pray to any God except the king himself and Daniel heard about it and went to his house and open up the windows as he always did got done in his knees and he prayed, but even more, he gave thanks to God.

It's important to give thanks to God. I think it's a great thing when people pray over their food at home, and even in public places and when you're in a restaurant dog your head and think the Lord for your meal. It's a great witness.

I think to other people around there to see a family praying together, don't you just make sure you leave a tip because that when you don't leave a difference a bad witness to the server okay and be generous will be achieved. So you know the ideas that were giving thanks to God. Even before we have the answer that we may be hoping for. Daniel prayed the Bible says and he gave thanks to God and he made supplication for other than this word is used here as well.

Philippians and everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Supplication is where you are praying for others and sometimes praying for others. Put your problems in the perspective right. Maybe you're having a hard day on moving to Joe, hard day. Lorna got a flat tire.

Life is so hard. Why God would you allow this to happen to me in your Christian friend calls and says would you pray for me I just got the test back and I have cancer. Yes, I'll pray for you and as you pray for them.

Suddenly you see how stupid you were being when you're complaining about your problem or someone with a real problem in your heart goes out to them as you make supplication for them helps you put your own issues in the perspective in everything by prayer and supplication, praying for others with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. What happens in the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and its appease a god can give you no matter what you're facing right now. So if you want to overcome fear and worry.

You need to have right praying the number do you need right thinking right thinking of you taking notes, you might write that down.

Verse eight, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure and lovely, whatsoever things are of good report of there's any virtue that there is anything praiseworthy meditate or think on these things. Here's another translation of that verse summing it all up friends that say you do your best by filling your minds and meditating on things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious, the best and not the worst, the beautiful and not the ugly things to praise, not things to curse. I love this. If you want personal peace.

It involves a hard and the minds because Isaiah 26 says that I will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on the because he trusts in the so think about what you think about assertively when you sit down to eat. It will affect you friend since I can't eat certain kinds of food late at night because I have acid reflux. What a drag it is because I love to eat food late at night and I love spicy food, how many of you like spicy. I love spicy, Tabasco sauce on everything Tallulah on everything. I love it in a and does so think about it.

So it's maybe an eye maybe eight or 9 o'clock. I'm hungry. All of the pizza Mexican food. No way Italian food. No way. Because the tomato was acidic, so I have to make other choices. Also, I can drink caffeine after 7 o'clock because it will keep me up all night so there's a cut off point for me and coffee so I do think about it because I know that coffee or that food will have a direct affect on me so I need to look at God and life in general this thing. This showman watching TV.

What kind of affect, will it have on me this movie that I'm about to go to what effect will this movie have money this music, listen to what effect will this have on me. See if you want personal peace that comes down to praying right and it comes down to thinking right and it comes down to guarding what you put in your mind in a moment. Pastor Greg takes is to some words from the psalmist. David about how to quiet our minds in times of distress. Good insight is coming next everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study.

It's a worship service.

It church in your home, you're not able to get out your church right now.

If so, join us per Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this. We have seen thousands of people commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend Harvest at Home.oh well. Today Pastor Greg is helping us think biblically were discovering that if our minds are in tune with the Lord it will lower her fear and worry. Let's continue why is the mind important well because this is command central, right here, by the way, why am I bald because grass doesn't grow on busy streets does bald people we know all the jokes trust when we read about what is right here I think about something before I do it.

I contemplated here in my mind. First, you see with my mind.

I reached to the pass-through memories I reached in the future through imagination, so I need to learn how to think properly and biblically in a second Corinthians 10 five says bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ.

So the next time your trouble. You might try talking to yourself, the greater your your mind. I will listen what I'm saying because we need to say to ourselves, think biblically, because these things don't always come naturally. For instance, we see the psalmist and some despair and some 42 he says in Psalm 42 verse 15. Are you downcast all my soul why you disturbed within me know this. Many of the Psalms are songs and prayers right in their honest and as you read some of those Psalms that he says things that you and I say well I dare not pray that no going.

Pray that what I'm hurting right now I'm in pain right now. I don't understand this right now I'm struggling with this right now and so the psalmist says why are you troubled soul where you disquieted. Then he sort of talks to himself and says put your hope in God. For I will get praise them, for he is my Savior and my God. So sometimes you you're getting done. I don't know what's going happen. I don't know how many get out of the situation I'm afraid that he is a lesson so don't worry about anything, pray about everything. The peace of God that browses all human understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus quote the Bible to yourself and remind yourself of the truth of God's word. That's what it means to think biblically so it's right praying and it's right thinking and there's one more right living right living. Verse nine. These things that you've learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do in the God of peace will be with you cannot separate outward action and inward attitude.

You need to live these things out in your life. Now let me say this. Studies have found that 85% of the things that we worry about never have case all the stuff you're worried about right now I don't even know what it is like some your warning. Will he ever stop the sermon will discomfort under which weighed 85% of it so I can help. So that's good to know but some of your thinking yeah, but what about the other 15%. That's a good point. What about the other 15%. What about that fear that worry. What if this happens and then it does in fact only doesn't happen, but something even worse than you were considering happens, what then will then the Lord will be with you in your time of difficulty. Listen, God is not promise will you live in a pain free world. It's been nine years now since our son Christopher left us and went to heaven and you never get over this and I just talked to couple who been married 10 years longer than Kathy and I have 52 years and they lost their son like 34 years ago and they told me you you you never get over it gets because you don't expect your children to die before you, you expect, you die. Then your children will die and it's out of the natural order. You don't ever plan on what what kind of casket you'll choose for your child's funeral and those of the kinds of issues you have to deal with when a child dies or when a loved one dies and so you see will Greg, this is kind of scary to me, and even a little frightening for you to even talk about this. Okay, I understand that but we need to face facts. Loved ones are going to die of hardship will come in our lives. Now some live relatively pain free lies with the rest of this don't get out that way.

We live in the land of the dying, but were headed to the land of the living Izzy.

So that's a good view.

But we have to face these things. But here's the good news when death comes in. Yes, it will come. We have this promise from Jesus when he says in Revelation 117 don't be afraid. I'm the first and the last time the living when I died look am alive forevermore that I hold the keys of death and great I'm so glad he holds the keys if I have the keys they would've been lost for years now. I lose every city keys all the time just I have these little things to find my keys is just pathetic and loose hotel keys. But Jesus never loses the keys anything. Don't be afraid I'll be there for you, so here's the thing.

Most of the stuff you worry about is endemic happen and when things do happen. God will be there for you in the middle of it. Someone asked me not long ago. What was the most spiritual moment of your life. In other words, when one is a time in your life when you felt God's presence more than any other I think about it ability was at the day of my conversion allows a wonderful mom and I still remember vividly that was net was, it wasn't the day I was baptized. I remember that day like it was yesterday but I wasn't the most spiritual moment. Was it the day I married Kathy is wonderful is that they was.

That was not my most spiritual moment and then I realize the most spiritual moment of my life. In other words a moment where I felt the presence of God more than any other was when I heard the news that my son had died and God was there with an here's my point to you. God will be with you, giving you what you need when you need it, not necessarily before and never after. So don't worry about it. Don't worry, that song don't worry, be happy. I hated that song but you know theologically it was right. So turn your worries in the prayer. Let me just say this.

In closing, for some of you that have joined is here. You might be afraid today that you've come in here with something that scared you. Maybe it's a medical scare. Maybe it's a loved one that's died recently.

Maybe you had a close brush with death, or you're just in panic about something and here's what you need to know God can remove that worry and replace it with the peace that passes all human understanding and when you have all of your bases covered. You don't have to be afraid. You know why Daniel was able to sleep peacefully in the Lions den after he was arrested for praying publicly is because he knew he was in a win-win situation, win-win option number one has a good night sleep and uses a big fat For a pillow.

Option number two.

Easy by one of the cats and ends up in heaven. It was win-win. And it's the same for us. Our options are when win. That's why Paul said the live is Christ and to die is gain. So my option is if I can live for the Lord walk with the Lord discover is fine for me in this life and then when death does come I go straight to heaven. It's win-win for great things to know. But if you're not a believer in Jesus. Listen to this. It's a lose lose none win-win loses.

Not even when Luke's some I think it's a lose lose because in this life you live with guilt in this life you live with the repercussions of your sin in this life you don't have the peace that passes all human understanding in this life you don't have God and in the afterlife. You'll be separated from God for all eternity, lose lose, but you can change that today by believing in Jesus to say what you mean by that I mean by praying and asking God to forgive you of all of your sin, because 2000 years ago God sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us the full turn from our sin and believe in him, he will come and live inside of us and we can know was certainly will go to heaven when we die really close now prayer and I will extend an invitation for anybody here to believe in Jesus was not yet made this commitment. So if you need Christ in her life. If you need this piece we been talking about. If you want to be free from your fear and worry respond to this invitation. Let's all pray father, thank you for loving us so much that you sent Jesus Lord Jesus, thank you for coming. And now I pray for every person here who is in attendance or is watching or listening if they don't know you yet. Help them to come to you. Help them to believe in you and help them to be forgiven by you with past now. Greg Laurie important prayer and wherever you stand with the Lord today. You can make a change and make things right. Pastor Greg would like to help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes that the title of today's study is the biblical worldview on overcoming fear and worry and you can hear the message again online@harvest.org and then we are excited to make available Pastor Greg's new book on the life of Billy Graham is called Billy Graham the man I knew yesterday I got I thought a bit about what day-to-day life must be like for a major A-list movie star. Let's say you know they they just can't go to the grocery store or walk to the mall.

It would turn into a crowd control issue will Billy Graham wishes recognizable as any movie star, and even more well-respected. Yes, could he do everyday things could he could he drive through McDonald's what he would he would and he really would be out of the God he didn't have a security team around him. He was just Billy may be of one friend with them but do you know he was recognized wherever he went by me. This profile could have been on Mount Rushmore.

Such a familiar face, sort of chiseled you know incredible and so I was with him once at the red lobster having lunch and any so he had a ball cap on. I guess thinking that would disguise him and the funny thing is, there was an atheist convention going on at the same time as Billy was holding this Crusade in this town and there were people coming up to him that were attending an atheist convention. I know because they have the little ID tag still to be in the convention, but they were thrilled to meet Billy and he was so gracious to every one of them will anyway so he had this hat and he lost it and then he said to me, Greg, could you get me another hat. I said absolutely so I went down to the local mall like I was on a mission from God. I'm getting. I hat for Billy Graham, the Billy basically were ball caps, and so I think I found the strength it was called lids maybe but it was I walked. It was all my goodness, there were too many hats over so many ads to choose from. And then I didn't take the time to find out is hat size and so II look the little guy even pray. God help me find the right hat for Billy Graham. My goodness and I finally chose one.

I don't remember what size it was, it would look like and I would back to the hotel and gave it to me. Think me and war. Then the next day I open the paper and there's a photograph of Billy wearing the hat. I said I got a bad hat that's and I got it, then I think you misplace that shortly afterwards and think he lost hats quite frequently and I don't really know.

Think of much good because people seem to recognize them.

No matter what will the stories you tell in the book are just fascinating.

You know you not only tell the stories of times you spent with Billy and Ruth, but he retraced his early life is a new believer, you know, trying to determine God's call on his life is just a unique look at the life of this remarkable man of God. It is sort of an evangelist look at the life of history's greatest evangelist and would like to send you a copy. Hot off the press to thank you for your investment in making these daily studies possible. It's only through listener support that we can feature Pastor Greg's teachings each day, and will only be mentioning this. A short time longer so got in touch right away. You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime again at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and look for Billy Graham, the man I knew yesterday we heard in today's message. The importance of coming to Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. Yes, for those who have never done that before. Maybe you could explain just exactly how we do come to Christ be happy to Dave.

You know sometimes people wonder why. How does one become a Christian.

Sometimes you will hear people say well I'm in the process of converting lesson here either converted or you're not converted conversion doesn't take years.

It doesn't take months. It doesn't even take hours.

It can happen in a flash. Listen God is only a prayer away. You need to admit your sin. The God turn from it and put your faith in Jesus Christ and you can know that you go to heaven when you die and be done that yet. If not, it would be my privilege to lead you in a prayer of asking Christ to come into your life and forgive you of your sin. If you would like to do that.

Please pray this prayer after me right now. Again, if you want Christ to come in your life. Pray this prayer after me now. Let's pray Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but you died on the cross for my sin and paid the price for every wrong I've ever done.

I'd churn from that sin.

Now I ask you to come in the my life be my Savior be my Lord be my God, and be my friend.

I choose to follow you from this day forward.

Thank you for loving me and calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. If you just pray that prayer and minute Jesus Christ himself has come to live inside if you the Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God is you just pray that prayer you are receiving him so God bless you and welcome to the family of God, and you know what we have some great resources we want to send you to grow spiritually. So here's Dave was in detail yet those resources are all assembled in what we call our new believers growth packet is free to those were making a first time commitment to the Lord today, so get in touch and ask for the new believers growth packet are mailing addresses a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300 were here to speak with you 24 seven and again that number 1-800-821-3300 or go to harvest.org and click on know God Pastor Greg continues his worldview series with some great insight on where contentment is found it isn't found where the world tells us to test next time your new beginning and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org