WEBVTT 00:00:05.432 --> 00:00:08.266 Well, good morning, Valley View. 00:00:08.266 --> 00:00:12.000 It's great to be with you all as we continue in our study of the book of Philippians. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:19.565 And we're actually landing today on the passage that is our memory verse for the month Philippians four six and seven. 00:00:19.565 --> 00:00:22.800 And it's interesting that that lands today. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:33.265 This week especially, we're going to see a key theme in this around Thanksgiving and giving thanks all tied in to the week of Thanksgiving. 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:40.932 But the key word in this passage that I think is going to resonate with many, especially in our age, is the word anxiety. 00:00:40.932 --> 00:00:48.232 That's an idea we're going to wrestle with today, and it's one that so many are wrestling with and are overwhelmed by. 00:00:48.732 --> 00:00:56.133 I remember when I was very little, living at home, still, very young one night in particular. 00:00:56.133 --> 00:00:59.332 You know, most kids don't like to go down the hall to their dark bedroom. 00:00:59.332 --> 00:01:00.332 There's some fear there. 00:01:01.533 --> 00:01:04.465 But for me this night, it was debilitating. 00:01:04.465 --> 00:01:17.599 I was 1,000% convinced that if I tried to go down that hall to my bedroom, waiting there for me to attack me, to want to hurt me, to dismember me would be a full grown monkey. 00:01:20.033 --> 00:01:28.865 Now you laugh because you know the chances of being attacked by a monkey in Louisville, Kentucky, even if you work at the zoo, are basically below zero. 00:01:28.865 --> 00:01:31.132 If that's possible. 00:01:31.132 --> 00:01:37.599 But I couldn't be convinced otherwise because I think we had seen a movie with a dangerous monkey in it at some point. 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:40.066 And so now I was convinced there was one waiting for me down the hall. 00:01:40.066 --> 00:01:46.266 And my dad very graciously, very patiently took me by the hand and walked me down the hall. 00:01:46.266 --> 00:01:51.533 And he turned on the lights as we went, and we get to the bedroom and he shows me there's no monkeys in the closet. 00:01:51.533 --> 00:01:52.733 There's none under the bed. 00:01:52.733 --> 00:01:54.066 You're going to be okay. 00:01:54.066 --> 00:01:57.332 And even then, I was still hesitant to believe him. 00:01:57.332 --> 00:01:58.700 Look, John, I'm just down the hall. 00:01:58.700 --> 00:02:00.465 Monkeys don't really sneak around. 00:02:00.465 --> 00:02:01.165 They're pretty loud. 00:02:01.165 --> 00:02:04.400 I'll be here for you if one happens to show up. 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:05.632 Finally, I was okay with it. 00:02:07.033 --> 00:02:08.966 Isn't it interesting, though, how even. 00:02:08.966 --> 00:02:11.366 And that's maybe a silly example around anxiety. 00:02:11.366 --> 00:02:25.966 We'll get to some of the more pressing issues, but even something completely remote, unrealistic, impossible to happen can still be debilitating, can still leave you unable to function or move forward. 00:02:26.466 --> 00:02:28.665 Part of the reason and we'll get to this phrase. 00:02:28.665 --> 00:02:29.633 We'll unpack it a little more. 00:02:29.633 --> 00:02:38.466 Part of the reason is it's not really the threat that's the problem, but it's your perception how you handle it, how you think about it. 00:02:38.466 --> 00:02:39.532 It's not even the threat. 00:02:39.532 --> 00:02:40.832 And we'll get to why that is. 00:02:40.832 --> 00:02:47.300 But we're looking at Philippians chapter four--turn in your Bibles, and we're going to read again verses six and seven. 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:50.733 You could probably just quote it to me as we go at this point. 00:02:50.733 --> 00:02:54.900 And in here, we're going to see Paul give three approaches to anxiety. 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:59.900 He's going to talk to the Philippians about the anxiety they're facing in the church in Philippi. 00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:03.133 And he's going to give you three responses that I think will help guide us. 00:03:03.133 --> 00:03:18.133 And I think today, in fact, my prayer has been leading up to today, that if you're wrestling with anxiety, my prayer is that today would be the day that you have a major breakthrough with anxiety. 00:03:18.133 --> 00:03:29.900 In fact, my prayer has been for this church that if you're wrestling with anxiety, today would be the day that that that wrestling is over, that it's done. 00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:35.832 And I think he gives us the strategy for that in this chapter in Philippians, in these two short verses. 00:03:35.832 --> 00:03:38.832 So let's look at verse six and seven. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:51.432 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 00:03:51.432 --> 00:04:01.300 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:04:03.532 --> 00:04:08.332 Now Paul begins the passage with this word anxiety. 00:04:08.332 --> 00:04:09.699 Do not be anxious. Now. 00:04:09.699 --> 00:04:20.766 I appreciate that he's starting by just acknowledging the reality that there is anxiety present in their church, and they do have a lot to be anxious about. 00:04:20.766 --> 00:04:25.733 We've seen and they know that Paul is likely is in Rome, is likely in Rome. 00:04:25.733 --> 00:04:28.132 He is in prison writing from prison. 00:04:28.132 --> 00:04:31.466 And certainly they're going to be worried for him. 00:04:31.466 --> 00:04:34.766 We know that they send a pat for us with the gift of money to him. 00:04:34.766 --> 00:04:41.632 They're probably worried that the money gets there, but then they hear that a part for Titus is sick and they're worried about him and his condition. 00:04:41.632 --> 00:04:46.466 We know that the church is being attacked both from without and from within. 00:04:47.033 --> 00:04:55.100 And we know we saw last week that the church may be on the verge of splitting, because the argument that started between two women, they got a lot on their plate. 00:04:55.100 --> 00:04:57.833 They got a lot to rightly be anxious about. 00:04:59.932 --> 00:05:00.800 And I think it's okay. 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.932 In fact, I think it's important to start by acknowledging your anxiety. 00:05:03.932 --> 00:05:07.199 If it's there, acknowledging the things that have you worried. 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:19.665 I think it's important to name the things that actually have you worried because the enemy, he wants you to keep it all vague, but he wants it to feel like because I don't know exactly what it is, then there's no solution. 00:05:19.665 --> 00:05:20.632 There's no hope. 00:05:20.632 --> 00:05:22.132 It can't be overcome. 00:05:22.132 --> 00:05:24.333 He wants anxiety to not become a problem. 00:05:24.333 --> 00:05:27.333 He wants it to become an identity. 00:05:28.132 --> 00:05:29.665 And you'll hear people say this sometimes. 00:05:29.665 --> 00:05:32.100 Well, I'm just an anxious person. 00:05:32.100 --> 00:05:34.165 Well, that's that's not okay. 00:05:34.165 --> 00:05:41.833 I'm not okay with someone saying, well, I'm just an angry person or I'm just a I'm just a drunk or I'm just it's just who I am. 00:05:41.833 --> 00:05:44.100 No, no, no, we're not going to be okay with that. 00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:48.165 Scripture is clear that we can't stay in that realm long term of anxiety. 00:05:48.165 --> 00:05:50.065 And you have ups and downs and things come and go. 00:05:51.466 --> 00:05:53.932 But we start by acknowledging it. 00:05:53.932 --> 00:05:56.632 Be specific. 00:05:56.632 --> 00:06:09.333 And my guess is that if you have 100 things you could write down, and I'd encourage you to do that this week, find a window to just sit down and go, what are the things that are really worrying me that are causing fear, that are causing anxiety? 00:06:09.333 --> 00:06:10.266 Write them down. 00:06:10.266 --> 00:06:12.865 Write them all down. 00:06:12.865 --> 00:06:25.432 My guess is if that if you have 100 things you write down, there's probably 1 or 2 that are at the top that if you were able to really deal with those, a lot of the others would really shrink in significance. 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:33.533 That's an important exercise to do, but the hard part of that is it partly feels a little unchristian to do that. 00:06:35.065 --> 00:06:44.132 I think many of us feel like, look, if I'm really a good Christian, a strong Christian wouldn't be bothered by all this, a strong Christian wouldn't be anxious or worry or fear. 00:06:44.132 --> 00:06:45.533 I remember sitting down with a friend of mine. 00:06:45.533 --> 00:06:54.833 I was in a season where I was wrestling with a lot of challenges, and I came to him and I was kind of apologetically sharing them with him. 00:06:55.865 --> 00:07:00.333 And even saying things like, look, I know this isn't that big a deal for for most people. 00:07:00.333 --> 00:07:03.065 I know that other people have it way worse. 00:07:03.065 --> 00:07:04.932 I know this really shouldn't be bothering me. 00:07:04.932 --> 00:07:05.766 And finally he just stopped me. 00:07:05.766 --> 00:07:08.365 He's like, John, would you quit saying all that? 00:07:08.365 --> 00:07:10.333 Look, reality is, yeah, sure. 00:07:10.333 --> 00:07:11.565 Someone has it worse than you. 00:07:11.565 --> 00:07:13.132 There always is. Someone worse than you. 00:07:13.132 --> 00:07:17.033 There's someone in Uganda right now being whipped to death for their faith. 00:07:17.033 --> 00:07:19.132 Yes, someone has it worse than you for sure. 00:07:20.565 --> 00:07:23.365 But you're still facing real stuff that is hard. 00:07:23.365 --> 00:07:24.766 And it's okay to acknowledge that. 00:07:24.766 --> 00:07:29.865 In fact, if you want to move forward, you got to start by acknowledging these things are hard. 00:07:29.865 --> 00:07:34.665 Now, how are we going to see God move forward in your life? 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:39.533 Paul starts by saying there is anxiety present. 00:07:40.533 --> 00:07:43.199 And what he does next, though, is to give them. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:51.233 And this is the first of the three major points in this passage around anxiety is that he gives them a command. 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:53.833 And it's straight forward. 00:07:53.833 --> 00:07:56.833 Do not be anxious in anything. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:05.632 I think the first approach to anxiety here, as a result, is to reject anxiety, reject anxiety. 00:08:05.932 --> 00:08:15.600 This is a mindset too many of us immediately trickle down to when something hard happens, we immediately become anxious. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:16.932 That's our default response. 00:08:16.932 --> 00:08:18.432 We've developed that over time. 00:08:18.432 --> 00:08:20.932 We immediately run to worry and fear. 00:08:20.932 --> 00:08:22.733 Paul is saying, do not be anxious. 00:08:22.733 --> 00:08:25.199 We have to start by believing that that is true. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.565 I don't have to be anxious. 00:08:27.565 --> 00:08:30.565 I can reject anxiety. 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:34.533 We've got to start by reprograming our mind. 00:08:34.533 --> 00:08:35.533 This is the Christian life. 00:08:35.533 --> 00:08:39.232 Romans 12 two talks about this renewing your mind. 00:08:39.232 --> 00:08:47.066 We've allowed our mind to end up where it is, but we can be intentional to direct our mind, to direct our hearts. 00:08:47.066 --> 00:08:51.332 We don't have to just be led along by whatever happens to us. 00:08:52.432 --> 00:08:56.666 In fact, I think when Paul says this to them, do not be anxious. 00:08:56.666 --> 00:09:03.166 I think he's really hinting at referencing, likely quoting Jesus's words on this. 00:09:03.365 --> 00:09:05.600 And so I want to take you there to Matthew chapter six. 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:09.200 This is the sermon on the Mount Matthew's, the first book in the New Testament. 00:09:10.533 --> 00:09:13.533 By the way, if you don't have a Bible, our church Bibles are out in the lobby. 00:09:13.533 --> 00:09:15.600 We'd love for you to have one. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:18.200 We read from the Bible together. 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:20.365 I try to point you into God's Word and get you. 00:09:20.365 --> 00:09:22.799 Turn in there so you can find it and see it on your own. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:31.166 If you struggle with anxiety, this passage is one that should be highlighted in your Bible, that you should have some kind of marker to help you get there quickly. 00:09:31.166 --> 00:09:34.232 It's one I leaned on heavily in a season of anxiety. 00:09:34.232 --> 00:09:36.700 Matthew six, verse 25. 00:09:36.700 --> 00:09:38.732 This is in this section called The Sermon on the Mount. 00:09:38.732 --> 00:09:44.566 It's probably Jesus's most extensive section of just continuous teaching. 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:48.066 And he starts this way in Matthew 625. 00:09:48.066 --> 00:09:59.765 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious right here, and he's going to go down and tell you all the way is not to be anxious from here all the way down through 34. 00:09:59.765 --> 00:10:01.600 In fact, he ends it in verse 34. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:09.533 Therefore do not be anxious once again about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:10:09.533 --> 00:10:12.765 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 00:10:12.765 --> 00:10:15.865 The reason Paul could tell them, you should not be anxious. 00:10:15.865 --> 00:10:20.299 You need to reject anxiety, is because Jesus said that. 00:10:21.432 --> 00:10:23.133 He's not just making it up out of thin air. 00:10:23.133 --> 00:10:24.166 This is a good idea. 00:10:24.166 --> 00:10:27.500 Maybe you shouldn't struggle with anxiety. 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:28.600 Don't be anxious. 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:31.399 Start by trusting that this command is true. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:34.000 Start by meditating on it. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.232 You know there's a verse referenced in your notes. 00:10:36.232 --> 00:10:38.399 Second Corinthians ten five. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:47.332 That passage is all about taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, instead of thoughts just invading us and us submitting to them, we take those thoughts captive. 00:10:47.332 --> 00:10:48.732 We bring them before him. 00:10:50.832 --> 00:10:52.466 And we reject anxiety. 00:10:52.466 --> 00:10:54.332 Start by meditating on this command. 00:10:54.332 --> 00:11:05.033 And maybe you haven't been able to memorize all of Philippians four six and seven yet. I get it, but I think you can memorize that short phrase do not be anxious about anything. 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:10.133 How many of us feel like we can probably master that phrase? 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:13.700 Not as many as I'd hoped to see. 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:16.166 Okay, well, we'll work on that as well. 00:11:16.166 --> 00:11:18.732 Do not be anxious about anything. 00:11:18.732 --> 00:11:21.600 Start by meditating on that running to that phrase. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:26.133 When anxiety comes, we're reprograming our mind and our heart. 00:11:26.133 --> 00:11:28.865 So first he gives us a command. 00:11:28.865 --> 00:11:34.332 But he doesn't just leave us with a hey, stop that! I mean that that's a good start. 00:11:34.332 --> 00:11:39.633 But second, he gives us a commission, a task, an action, a strategy. 00:11:39.633 --> 00:11:42.066 However you want a word, it gives us a command. 00:11:42.066 --> 00:11:45.232 And now here's a strategy for how you handle it. 00:11:45.232 --> 00:11:46.832 And it's in the second part of that verse. 00:11:46.832 --> 00:11:48.832 Look back at Philippians four verse six. 00:11:48.832 --> 00:12:02.700 Do not be anxious about anything, but instead in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 00:12:02.700 --> 00:12:05.633 First he gives a command, now he gives a commission, a strategy. 00:12:05.633 --> 00:12:07.466 And it's real simple. 00:12:07.466 --> 00:12:10.466 Instead of anxiety, pursue prayer. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:21.732 Instead of allowing your life to be led along by anxiety, instead of that, pursue prayer. 00:12:21.732 --> 00:12:28.432 Now, it's powerful here in this passage because he actually gives four different words for prayer. 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:34.365 He's giving us an offensive strategy for prayer, for anxiety. 00:12:34.365 --> 00:12:36.166 We don't have to stay on the defense. 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.365 I like playing chess. 00:12:38.365 --> 00:12:49.232 When I taught my kids how to play chess, I taught them that if someone attacks you, if they're attacking a piece, instead of just immediately retreating and going on the run, look to attack them somewhere else. 00:12:49.232 --> 00:12:51.765 You don't have to just go on the defense. 00:12:51.765 --> 00:12:53.365 You can go on the offense. 00:12:53.365 --> 00:12:55.932 That's another way to solve the problem. 00:12:55.932 --> 00:12:56.732 Over here. 00:12:56.732 --> 00:12:59.765 And so instead of it just immediately run into anxiety. 00:12:59.765 --> 00:13:01.633 Now we have an offensive strategy. 00:13:01.633 --> 00:13:02.865 Here's how I can go on the offense. 00:13:02.865 --> 00:13:04.000 I can go in prayer. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:10.232 And I think with these four different words, I don't think Paul is trying to outline a four part strategy to prayer by using these four different words. 00:13:10.232 --> 00:13:14.666 I think he's probably just piling on words that are similar to emphasize the importance of prayer. 00:13:14.666 --> 00:13:21.832 But I think we can use these words to highlight a four part strategy of prayer when it comes to battling anxiety. 00:13:23.033 --> 00:13:24.832 And so look at each of these words prayer. 00:13:24.832 --> 00:13:27.365 That first word, just general player. 00:13:27.365 --> 00:13:31.799 I think it points to just an attitude of dependance. 00:13:34.066 --> 00:13:46.166 When you approach God in prayer, hopefully you're coming with an attitude of dependance that says, I really need you in this situation. 00:13:46.166 --> 00:13:49.166 I'm not going to depend on self for this. 00:13:50.232 --> 00:13:53.332 I'm no longer going to carry it on my own. 00:13:53.332 --> 00:13:57.600 So much of anxiety comes from feeling like I'm the only one that can solve this. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:59.232 No one else is there to help me. 00:13:59.232 --> 00:14:00.865 I've got to carry it all on my own. 00:14:00.865 --> 00:14:04.100 But when you come to Christ in prayer, you're coming with an attitude of dependance. 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:05.200 Jesus, come help me. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.365 I'm giving this to you. 00:14:06.365 --> 00:14:07.765 I know you can help me. 00:14:10.033 --> 00:14:12.799 One of the pastors I like to read, he passed away a few years ago. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:15.265 Tim Keller. 00:14:15.265 --> 00:14:17.399 He was very well known. 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:20.033 It's been very influential and significant. 00:14:20.033 --> 00:14:30.966 However, there were a number of other pastors who were becoming well known at the same time of them, many of whom abused their power in various ways, many of whom are now out of ministry. 00:14:30.966 --> 00:14:39.533 And I heard an interview with him, was a journalist, asked him how come you have been able to remain faithful while others have fallen away? 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.232 And he said this. 00:14:41.232 --> 00:14:46.432 He said, I think it's just simply been a commitment to personal prayer. 00:14:47.566 --> 00:14:53.932 You know Keller, well known writer, influential pastor in New York City. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:58.600 It would be easy to let that become a power play. 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:03.899 It would be easy if someone questions you to turn that into, who are you to question me? 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:07.633 I'm going to make sure that I do whatever it takes. Now to silence you. 00:15:07.633 --> 00:15:11.200 You could turn to manipulation and to control. And he didn't do that. 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:17.033 Instead of that, as some turned their approach. 00:15:17.033 --> 00:15:21.033 Instead of that, he turned to prayer. 00:15:21.033 --> 00:15:23.166 God, I can't figure this out. 00:15:23.166 --> 00:15:26.166 And in my flesh, I want to lash back. 00:15:26.232 --> 00:15:28.732 I want to exercise control and power. 00:15:28.732 --> 00:15:32.899 Instead, I'm coming to you and I'm turning it over to you. 00:15:34.133 --> 00:15:44.365 Prayer shows that we have an attitude of dependance, and it helps us build an attitude of dependance and helps you learn that I'm turning this over to Christ. 00:15:44.365 --> 00:15:45.533 I don't have to carry it anymore. 00:15:45.533 --> 00:15:46.399 That's the first one. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:53.133 Notice the second word he has here by prayer and supplication and the notes I wrote the word petition. 00:15:53.133 --> 00:15:56.466 That's another way to translate that word. 00:15:56.466 --> 00:16:02.633 The key idea here is to, when we come in prayer, to approach, approach him with humility. 00:16:04.133 --> 00:16:07.133 Have a mindset of humility. 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:10.299 Have a posture of humility. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:18.100 So when I approach God, I approach him like a servant does a king. 00:16:18.666 --> 00:16:21.666 I approach him with reverence. 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:25.466 I approach him with respect. 00:16:25.466 --> 00:16:29.232 I don't come in a demanding way in my prayers. 00:16:29.566 --> 00:16:31.265 I come in humility. 00:16:31.265 --> 00:16:39.365 In fact, first Peter five six talks about this humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time. 00:16:39.365 --> 00:16:42.000 Come in humility. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.432 That's the way to approach him. 00:16:43.432 --> 00:16:49.365 And when we do that, by the way, that more rightly orients our life. 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:53.765 I'm coming to him in humility, knowing that he is great. 00:16:53.765 --> 00:16:59.033 He is powerful, he is strong, and I can trust him. 00:16:59.466 --> 00:17:00.899 The next word, though, is the big one. 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:08.232 I think for today in particular, and this week by prayer, supplication with thanksgiving. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:14.200 I think the strategy for us with this is to choose gratitude. 00:17:15.032 --> 00:17:17.066 You got to choose gratitude. 00:17:17.066 --> 00:17:21.232 Gratitude doesn't not come naturally for many of us. 00:17:21.532 --> 00:17:31.700 I so appreciate Isaac starting our service today with us just each taking time to just be intentional, to give thanks for something. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:34.133 It's so easy to do the opposite, to grumble. 00:17:34.133 --> 00:17:37.133 Complain about everything. 00:17:37.833 --> 00:17:40.266 But we've got to learn to instead choose gratitude. 00:17:40.266 --> 00:17:43.266 And here's why this is so important. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:48.799 In fact, seeing this, it was hard to read. 00:17:49.066 --> 00:17:53.932 This is something that should shock us a little bit to read this. 00:17:54.500 --> 00:18:00.400 We're going to see a connection in Scripture today between idolatry and ingratitude. 00:18:01.665 --> 00:18:07.400 In fact, in gratitude, we could say, is a gateway to idolatry. 00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:10.465 Ingratitude is the doorway to idolatry. 00:18:12.465 --> 00:18:13.566 We're going to I'm going to show you this. 00:18:13.566 --> 00:18:15.833 I'm going to show you a passage. 00:18:15.833 --> 00:18:20.465 Turn to Romans one, and then I'm gonna tell you a story, a Bible story related to it, that illustrates it. 00:18:20.465 --> 00:18:21.365 Romans chapter one. 00:18:21.365 --> 00:18:23.599 And of course, that section is famous. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:33.299 It's well known for condemning those who have turned from God's plan for physical intimacy and pursued their own plan. 00:18:33.532 --> 00:18:35.732 But notice why that is. 00:18:35.732 --> 00:18:38.732 They didn't just start there. 00:18:39.232 --> 00:18:40.633 We're going to see how it began. 00:18:40.633 --> 00:18:41.732 Romans chapter one. 00:18:41.732 --> 00:18:47.732 We're going to look at verse 21 and following. 00:18:49.633 --> 00:19:01.599 It says, for although they knew God, or knew of him or knew about him, they knew who he was, but they did not honor him as God. 00:19:02.732 --> 00:19:06.766 We know who you are, but you're not our God. 00:19:06.766 --> 00:19:11.766 And they did not give thanks to him. 00:19:11.932 --> 00:19:13.732 Notice the connection. 00:19:13.732 --> 00:19:18.000 We are rejecting God and we are ungrateful for you. 00:19:18.633 --> 00:19:20.900 But they became futile in their thinking. 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:24.432 Their foolish hearts were darkened, claiming to be wise, they became fools. 00:19:24.432 --> 00:19:28.932 And here's the connection between ingratitude and idolatry. 00:19:28.932 --> 00:19:45.965 Instead of giving thanks, they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things in gratitude and rejection of God led them to idolatry. 00:19:45.965 --> 00:19:51.532 This is exactly what we saw happen with the very first sin with Adam and Eve. 00:19:51.532 --> 00:19:54.232 God said, look, I've got this whole gigantic garden for you. 00:19:54.232 --> 00:19:59.766 Who knows how many millions and millions of trees you can eat from any of them except one. 00:19:59.766 --> 00:20:01.432 There's just one. 00:20:01.432 --> 00:20:04.432 Leave this one alone. 00:20:04.732 --> 00:20:09.365 And instead of God, thank you for the millions and millions of trees. 00:20:09.365 --> 00:20:11.165 Instead of that, it became. 00:20:11.165 --> 00:20:14.566 How dare you keep this one tree from me? 00:20:15.365 --> 00:20:16.465 I'm paraphrasing. 00:20:16.465 --> 00:20:21.133 We don't have those words written, but the attitude was, why do you hate me? 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:25.732 Why do you want to persecute me and keep this one thing from me? 00:20:25.732 --> 00:20:29.665 If you loved me, you would let me eat from that one tree. 00:20:32.032 --> 00:20:33.532 They questioned his goodness. 00:20:33.532 --> 00:20:37.232 It led to ingratitude and ultimately it led to idolatry. 00:20:37.232 --> 00:20:41.700 We're going to serve some other God, the God of self, who knows? 00:20:43.432 --> 00:20:45.500 This is why gratitude is so important. 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:47.066 It protects us from idolatry. 00:20:47.066 --> 00:20:50.865 It protects us from serving some other God, some made up God that we often have. 00:20:52.432 --> 00:20:56.532 In fact, Tim Keller says this about idolatry. 00:20:57.465 --> 00:21:05.200 When you serve an idol, you're saying Jesus is nice, but I have to have this thing too. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:08.200 If I'm going to be happy. 00:21:09.165 --> 00:21:11.165 I don't like reading all this either, by the way. 00:21:11.165 --> 00:21:12.932 I can feel it in here. 00:21:12.932 --> 00:21:14.599 It feels uncomfortable. 00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.700 Jesus. You're okay. 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:17.465 You're great. You're good. 00:21:17.465 --> 00:21:22.566 But if I don't have this, I won't be happy. 00:21:22.566 --> 00:21:28.032 If there's anything in your life like that, that's a good sign that that thing has become an idol. 00:21:28.032 --> 00:21:31.500 That thing has surpassed Jesus in importance. 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:35.465 I can't follow a God that won't let me have this. 00:21:37.365 --> 00:21:41.566 And there are plenty of good things in that category, by the way. 00:21:41.633 --> 00:21:46.700 But if they're surpassing Jesus in your hope and in goodness, it's become an idol. 00:21:48.465 --> 00:21:56.032 And the way to battle that, the way to start battling that is to start with gratitude, to choose gratitude. 00:21:56.032 --> 00:22:01.665 And I'm guessing some of our anxieties in the room have their roots in a lack of gratitude. 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:05.599 And we're going to battle that this week. 00:22:05.833 --> 00:22:13.432 Not only do I'm giving you homework today, not only do you take time to write down all your anxieties, but each day write down your things. 00:22:13.432 --> 00:22:19.799 You're grateful for. This week, let me challenge you to at least everyone in the room every day. 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:24.465 Start your morning by writing down at least one thing you're grateful for. 00:22:24.566 --> 00:22:27.165 Best case would be three overachievers. 00:22:27.165 --> 00:22:28.700 Go for five. 00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:32.500 Take whatever time you need and just write down each day. 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.900 This is something I'm grateful for. 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:35.833 I'm going to start my day with gratitude. 00:22:35.833 --> 00:22:37.066 I'm going to choose gratitude. 00:22:37.066 --> 00:22:42.066 And even better is if you can focus on gratitude in an area that combats an area of anxiety. 00:22:42.066 --> 00:22:46.532 If you're worried about money, focus on giving them gratitude for what he has given you. 00:22:46.532 --> 00:22:50.066 Find the counterbalance, but choose gratitude. 00:22:50.066 --> 00:22:52.633 This is a powerful strategy to fight anxiety. 00:22:54.700 --> 00:23:00.833 And then lastly, in this group of four words, we have prayer, supplication, thanksgiving. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:04.400 Let your requests be made known to God. 00:23:05.232 --> 00:23:08.633 Some translations say present your request to God. 00:23:08.633 --> 00:23:17.932 The final step here in these four part strategy for battling anxiety is to just ask, to simply ask. 00:23:17.932 --> 00:23:21.932 Make sure you're bringing your request to Jesus and asking him. 00:23:22.732 --> 00:23:26.833 There's a powerful illustration of this in Mark chapter ten. 00:23:26.833 --> 00:23:31.200 A blind man sees Jesus coming down the road and or or I guess he doesn't see him. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:34.200 Sorry about that. 00:23:37.566 --> 00:23:43.165 Here's the Jesus is coming down the road and he says, Jesus, have mercy on me. 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:46.799 Jesus says, bring him over. 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:51.633 He clearly knows this guy wants healing, but he asks him, what do you want me to do for you? 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:55.165 What do you want? 00:23:55.165 --> 00:23:58.066 Would you give me sight? 00:23:58.066 --> 00:24:03.599 The powerful part of that is that he asks specifically, this is what I need. 00:24:03.665 --> 00:24:08.200 Jesus wants us to come to him with specific requests. 00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.732 Come to him. It's okay. 00:24:09.732 --> 00:24:10.133 Sometimes. 00:24:10.133 --> 00:24:12.900 Again, it feels unchristian to ask Jesus for things to bring. 00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:14.732 My prayers for him shouldn't pray for me. 00:24:14.732 --> 00:24:15.665 I should only pray for others. 00:24:15.665 --> 00:24:17.932 No, no no, it's okay to pray for yourself. 00:24:17.932 --> 00:24:19.299 It is okay. 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:24.000 This is where James four becomes so helpful because it says you have not because you ask not. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:27.532 But you also don't have because you ask with impure motives. 00:24:27.532 --> 00:24:30.700 And so I've just committed I'm going to ask I'm going to pray. 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:32.032 I'm going to ask for it in Jesus. 00:24:32.032 --> 00:24:35.200 If my motives are impure, would you correct them? 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:37.299 Would you redirect them? 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:39.165 And I'm going to pray for that as well. 00:24:39.165 --> 00:24:40.432 But ask come to him. 00:24:40.432 --> 00:24:42.700 Ask specifically. See what he does. 00:24:44.432 --> 00:24:46.432 A guy this week shared a story with me. 00:24:46.432 --> 00:24:51.500 He said I knew our family was in a place where we needed another car, and I thought, I'm just going to pray. 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:59.633 And instead I thought probably a $5,000 car would do the trick, which tells you he was giving it to a new driver, right? 00:24:59.633 --> 00:25:02.165 That tells you right away that's who it's going to. 00:25:02.165 --> 00:25:03.232 I thought that would do the trick. 00:25:03.232 --> 00:25:06.965 So I began to pray, Jesus, would you just provide us a $5,000 car? 00:25:06.965 --> 00:25:11.465 I mean, he had the money to pay for it, provide the right car for us. 00:25:11.665 --> 00:25:18.532 And he said, when I started to pray that I knew right away God had that answered, that it was in his hands, I knew he would answer it. 00:25:18.532 --> 00:25:21.099 And he said, I became so excited to know what's going to happen. 00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:22.066 What's he going to provide? 00:25:22.066 --> 00:25:31.165 What's it going to be? A few weeks later, a lady, one of his family members, calls and says, hey, I've got this car I need to get rid of and I'd like to sell it. 00:25:31.165 --> 00:25:33.365 Do you have a need? 00:25:33.365 --> 00:25:34.566 Yes, I do. 00:25:34.566 --> 00:25:35.299 How much is it? 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.865 And he said, I knew what she was going to say. 00:25:36.865 --> 00:25:38.932 I knew exactly what she was going to say before she said it. 00:25:38.932 --> 00:25:43.566 I knew she was going to say $5,000, and she said $2,000 would be enough. 00:25:44.333 --> 00:25:46.965 And he said, Lord, I love you even more today. 00:25:46.965 --> 00:25:49.965 Thank you for answering that prayer. 00:25:50.032 --> 00:25:51.266 Pray specific. 00:25:51.266 --> 00:25:54.266 Come to him with your specific requests. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:56.665 Some of them might get answered better than you thought. 00:25:56.665 --> 00:25:58.900 Some of them exactly like you thought. 00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:07.865 Some of them not at all like you thought, but come to him, put that on him instead of just carrying it yourself. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:13.799 Prayer is a powerful strategy to battle anxiety. 00:26:14.333 --> 00:26:17.032 And the last thing we'll see here is he gives us the command. 00:26:17.032 --> 00:26:17.766 Don't be anxious. 00:26:17.766 --> 00:26:19.665 He gives us a task, a commission. 00:26:19.665 --> 00:26:21.200 Battle it with prayer. 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:24.066 But then God says, here's my commitment to you. 00:26:24.066 --> 00:26:27.066 Here's my promise to you. 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:31.232 What he'll do is he will bring peace. 00:26:31.232 --> 00:26:34.232 He will provide peace. 00:26:35.266 --> 00:26:37.732 And everyone who's anxious, that's exactly what you want. 00:26:37.732 --> 00:26:39.799 You want peace. 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:42.566 That's what we all want, is to walk in peace. 00:26:42.566 --> 00:26:46.865 So much of life is all about trying to find peace. 00:26:47.633 --> 00:26:58.200 Look back at verse seven and what he says, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:26:58.200 --> 00:27:01.032 I think there's four things about peace we can see here. 00:27:01.032 --> 00:27:04.066 Two in this passage, two just in Scripture broadly. 00:27:04.066 --> 00:27:25.599 But he says, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding or transcends all understanding, we have to have Ephesians 320 here in the notes, because there it talks about the wisdom of God to him who goes far above and exceeds all our expectations, surpasses anything we could imagine or grasp. 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:31.133 What we need, when we need peace is we need supernatural wisdom. 00:27:31.665 --> 00:27:34.133 We need supernatural understanding. 00:27:34.133 --> 00:27:36.266 That's what surpasses here is pointing at. 00:27:36.266 --> 00:27:41.965 We need heavenly insight into how the world should work. 00:27:41.965 --> 00:27:46.066 We need supernatural understanding into the situation. 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:53.700 If I'm trying to only lean on my own understanding, I'm never going to rightly see a situation. 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:57.833 I'm never going to rightly understand how to approach that area of anxiety. 00:27:57.833 --> 00:28:01.232 So we come to him trusting that he will guide us. 00:28:01.232 --> 00:28:06.465 Second, priests, peace brings power. 00:28:07.865 --> 00:28:11.932 Another aspect of princes peace is how powerful it is. 00:28:11.932 --> 00:28:14.532 Romans 1620 says 19 be excellent. 00:28:14.532 --> 00:28:15.165 What is good? 00:28:15.165 --> 00:28:18.066 Be innocent and evil, and the God of peace. 00:28:18.066 --> 00:28:19.500 That's who he is. 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:22.900 Will soon crush Satan underneath his feet. 00:28:24.432 --> 00:28:28.732 The God of peace is also the God of power. 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:32.299 He can handle whatever situation you're facing. 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.700 I shared last week. 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:40.566 You know, we we looked at the whole passage about the audience in Turkey who were in a quarrel, and I shared about situation. 00:28:40.566 --> 00:28:44.900 I faced a ministry with two women who were at odds with one another. 00:28:46.266 --> 00:28:50.266 But you know where the breakthrough occurred with them. 00:28:50.266 --> 00:28:55.833 It's when the woman, who was the more senior of the two, more experienced in ministry, more well known. 00:28:55.833 --> 00:29:00.532 It's when she came to the meeting and said. 00:29:00.566 --> 00:29:03.599 All week I've been praying and I've been praying. 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:06.766 God, would you give me wisdom on how to move this thing forward? 00:29:06.766 --> 00:29:14.932 And I realized the Holy Spirit broke into my life and said, you've got to start by asking forgiveness for the things you've done wrong. 00:29:16.133 --> 00:29:26.266 She said, I've been so focused on all the things you're doing wrong and all the problems you caused for me to the other woman, all I can do is start by saying, I'm sorry. 00:29:26.266 --> 00:29:29.266 This I'm sorry for what I've done. 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:33.200 Will you forgive me? 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:35.865 And the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:29:35.865 --> 00:29:38.365 Man broke through in that relationship. 00:29:38.365 --> 00:29:41.432 And that was the beginning of healing and reconciliation. 00:29:41.432 --> 00:29:46.732 And look, they didn't become best buddies forever after that, but they got through the conflict. 00:29:46.732 --> 00:29:49.732 It was no longer dividing the ministry. 00:29:51.032 --> 00:29:54.032 Peace is powerful. 00:29:55.833 --> 00:29:59.732 Note here also, peace is wholeness. 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:03.133 When you're at peace, you feel whole instead of divided. 00:30:03.133 --> 00:30:06.766 James one talks about that double minded man, unstable in all his ways. 00:30:06.766 --> 00:30:09.799 We don't want to be unstable, double minded. We wanted to be. 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:11.566 We want to be whole. 00:30:11.566 --> 00:30:21.532 We want to be a person who's the same person in public that they are in private, that you know what you're getting, that they're not duplicitous and never able to know what you're going to get. 00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:25.700 Peace brings wholeness. 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:30.833 And then lastly, peace is a guardian. 00:30:30.833 --> 00:30:32.333 That's what it says here in the passage. 00:30:32.333 --> 00:30:37.432 The peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:30:37.432 --> 00:30:40.432 Pieces of guardian. 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.432 And the language here. 00:30:42.432 --> 00:31:04.432 The word picture is of a walled city with a citadel guarded by soldiers who so well protected that the people in the city have no concerns at all, even if they're being sieged by an incredible army. 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:07.900 No worries, we are at peace. 00:31:08.365 --> 00:31:09.633 I said this at the beginning. 00:31:09.633 --> 00:31:16.066 It's not the actual issue that causes anxiety, it's your perception of the issue. 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.732 Think of Paul. 00:31:17.732 --> 00:31:19.432 Paul's in prison in Rome. 00:31:19.432 --> 00:31:30.365 Likely, many believe, chained between his soldiers and every chapter in Philippians he uses the word joy. 00:31:31.432 --> 00:31:34.465 Rejoice! I'm joyful for you. 00:31:34.465 --> 00:31:36.066 Walk in joy. 00:31:36.066 --> 00:31:40.032 Rejoice again I say, rejoice, Paul. 00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:41.133 Paul's in prison. 00:31:41.133 --> 00:31:47.200 By the way, when Paul came to Philippi, they beat him and threw him in prison, and they sang hymns of joy and praise. 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:49.432 It's not your actual situation. 00:31:49.432 --> 00:31:53.400 It's not the actual circumstance that causes anxiety. 00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:56.032 Paul was an anxious. 00:31:56.032 --> 00:32:01.333 It's our perception of it, how we handle it, how we respond to it, how we react to it. 00:32:01.333 --> 00:32:05.965 And I just want to plead with you today because this passage gives us a strategy for battling it. 00:32:05.965 --> 00:32:10.865 And my prayer has been, is that we come to believe that this works. 00:32:10.865 --> 00:32:13.900 You don't have to submit your life to anxiety anymore. 00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:15.665 Today could be the day right now. 00:32:15.665 --> 00:32:18.732 Today can be the day where you say, I'm no longer going to live. 00:32:18.732 --> 00:32:19.900 Crippled by anxiety. 00:32:21.833 --> 00:32:27.465 And here's the question are you going to believe that God's Word is true and you got to wrestle with that? 00:32:27.465 --> 00:32:29.000 Do you believe His Word is true? 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:36.099 Do you believe that you can trust that this works, that prayer works to battle anxiety or not? 00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:37.932 And I get it. 00:32:37.932 --> 00:32:39.032 I hear it all the time. 00:32:39.032 --> 00:32:43.066 Look, John, I, I don't have time to pray. 00:32:43.066 --> 00:32:45.700 Life's too crazy. 00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:49.133 Okay, well, you have plenty of time to be anxious. 00:32:49.133 --> 00:32:50.633 Which do you want? 00:32:50.633 --> 00:32:52.099 How do you want to spend your time, John? 00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:52.965 A little prayer is hard. 00:32:52.965 --> 00:32:57.732 I know it's incredibly hard, but so is living life riddled with anxiety. 00:32:57.732 --> 00:32:59.000 Who wants that? 00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:00.266 Which hard do you want? The hard. 00:33:00.266 --> 00:33:01.965 That's forced on you or the hard you choose what? 00:33:05.266 --> 00:33:15.665 The key phrase in this whole passage is the very last tag will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:33:15.665 --> 00:33:22.865 So this isn't about me being so good at prayer that somehow I tackle this myself. 00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:27.299 No, it's all about Christ. 00:33:28.432 --> 00:33:36.400 You know, when I came to my dad, I came to someone who was stronger than me to help me deal with my anxiety. 00:33:36.766 --> 00:33:39.700 You're not going to be able to deal with this anxiety on your own. 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:43.266 You come to Christ who's stronger than you. 00:33:43.266 --> 00:33:47.566 He went to his father in his moment of worry. 00:33:48.365 --> 00:33:49.665 He's the one we come to. 00:33:49.665 --> 00:33:52.000 Jesus, would you guide me? 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:53.232 I'm coming to you. 00:33:53.232 --> 00:33:56.700 Guard my heart, guide me in prayer and help me to come to you. 00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:58.200 In the midst of this anxiety. 00:34:01.066 --> 00:34:11.465 This week I met with Jim Newton, who had surgery for pancreatic cancer this week, and I came to his home to pray with him before he went into surgery. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:26.699 And Jim said, I just really want to get past this so I can get back to contributing in the church, serving in the church, he and a number of men help around the facility, working on the facility, and he loves to do that, but he just hasn't been able to physically. 00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:27.900 And I said, Jim, how are you doing? 00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:29.800 How are you feeling? How's it going? 00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:32.266 How are you feeling about tomorrow? 00:34:32.266 --> 00:34:37.865 And I was expecting to see tears and anxiety and worry. 00:34:38.766 --> 00:34:41.766 And instead he smiled. 00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:51.666 John, earlier today one of my mentors from years ago called me and he said, I want to pray a verse over you before you go into surgery. 00:34:53.266 --> 00:34:54.233 And he said, here it is. 00:34:54.233 --> 00:35:08.632 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer, supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God. 00:35:09.132 --> 00:35:16.632 Which transcends and surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:35:18.532 --> 00:35:20.565 He said, I'm at peace. 00:35:20.565 --> 00:35:23.565 I'm at peace. 00:35:24.733 --> 00:35:25.733 You can know peace. 00:35:25.733 --> 00:35:27.766 You really can walk in peace. 00:35:27.766 --> 00:35:29.599 Come to Jesus with your anxieties. 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:31.300 Trust him. 00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:33.400 He will guard your hearts and your minds. 00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:36.400 Let's pray. 00:35:37.432 --> 00:35:41.865 God, thank you for this passage and thank you for your word. 00:35:41.932 --> 00:35:43.199 So much of life we live. 00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:45.865 Wondering how are we going to get through it? 00:35:45.865 --> 00:35:48.865 How are we going to survive another day? 00:35:50.365 --> 00:35:53.199 But your word is power. 00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:55.233 Your word is healing. 00:35:55.233 --> 00:35:56.532 Your name is life. 00:35:59.333 --> 00:36:03.733 And I know there are many here today who are riddled with anxiety. 00:36:03.733 --> 00:36:06.733 Would you give them victory today? 00:36:08.766 --> 00:36:14.400 Would you right now give them complete release from anxiety? 00:36:15.065 --> 00:36:18.065 Would they sense hope? 00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:24.833 Would they trust your word and know peace can be found. 00:36:25.065 --> 00:36:29.166 Walk away today full of peace. 00:36:29.333 --> 00:36:30.065 Thank you Jesus. 00:36:30.065 --> 00:36:32.800 We also just continue to pray for healing for Jim. 00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:37.166 He did have surgery, came through it, continue to bring healing to his body. 00:36:37.166 --> 00:36:40.900 Thank you for his example of walking in peace rooted in your word. 00:36:40.900 --> 00:36:45.065 We love you and it's in your name we pray. 00:36:45.065 --> 00:36:48.065 Amen. 00:36:48.465 --> 00:36:50.833 I'm going to mention just two quick things. 00:36:50.833 --> 00:36:53.900 First, we're going to have a couple of baptisms next Sunday. 00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:56.932 And we almost always do those at the very beginning of the service. 00:36:56.932 --> 00:37:02.233 So you want to be in here right at the start so we can celebrate those baptisms together. 00:37:02.233 --> 00:37:10.699 And then secondly, we have a women's Christmas breakfast happening in a couple of weeks this Sunday and next tickets will be for sale out in the lobby. 00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:12.965 So you want to check those out, but let's all stand. 00:37:12.965 --> 00:37:14.900 We'll have a closing prayer. 00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:19.400 A closing prayer of blessing as we go into our week. 00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:24.965 Reminder there's no Wednesday night activities this week with it being Thanksgiving week, we're taking a week off. 00:37:24.965 --> 00:37:26.932 Enjoy time with your family. 00:37:26.932 --> 00:37:28.300 Let's pray. 00:37:28.300 --> 00:37:31.300 May the Lord bless you and keep you. 00:37:32.032 --> 00:37:36.000 May his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:40.733 May you feel the fullness of his presence, of his countenance. 00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:45.099 And may that bring. 00:37:45.365 --> 00:37:47.599 Peace. 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:52.400 May you feel his peace which surpasses all understanding. 00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:54.233 May you walk in gratitude this week. 00:37:54.233 --> 00:37:57.199 We love you, Jesus, and it's in your powerful name we pray. 00:37:57.199 --> 00:37:59.666 Amen. Go in peace. Have a great week!