June 14-15, 2003                     GOD’S SECURITY SYSTEM! Philippians 4:4-7

TWENTY-FOUR HOUR MONITORING!

*** Phil. 4:4-7 “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” [New Living Translation]

HOW WE CAN HAVE 24-HOUR SECURITY IN LIFE?

1. BY PUTTING YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD!

*** Phil. 4:4 (NLT) “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”

*** Phil. 4:4 “Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!” [Message]

! WORRY IS OUR ATTEMPT TO PLAY GOD!

! KNOW THAT ALL DAY – EVERY DAY GOD IS IN CONTROL!

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE! (36:9)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF JOY! (Job 22:26)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF WISDOM! (Job 28:20)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS! ( Ps. 43:4)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF BLESSINGS! (Ps. 87:7)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF HONOR! (Is. 22:23)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF STRENGTH! (Is. 49:5)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF PATIENCE! (Rom. 15:5)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF ENDURANCE! (Rom. 15:5)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF HOPE! (Rom. 15:13)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF PEACE! (Rom. 15:33)

ä GOD IS THE SOURCE OF SALVATION! (Heb. 15:9)

*** Job 42:2 (Msg) "I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans.”

*** Jeremiah 32:17 (Msg) “Dear God, my Master, you created earth and sky by your great power—by merely stretching out your arm! There is nothing you can't do.”

!AN ALL-POWERFUL GOD MEANS

WE CAN HAVE ALL CONFIDENCE IN HIM!

2. BY REMEMBERING GOD IS ON THE JOB 24/7!

*** Phil. 4:5 (NLT) “Remember, the Lord is coming soon.”

*** Psalm 121:3-4 “He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches…will neither slumber nor sleep.”

[New International Version]

*** Matthew 10:29, 31 (NLT) “Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

! GOD IS NEVER SURPRISED!

*** Isaiah 46:10 (NLT) “Only I can tell you what is going to happen even before it happens.”

*** Proverbs 3:26 (Msg) “Because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound.”

*** Mark 6:46-48 “After saying good-bye to the people, he went away to a hill to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, while Jesus was alone on land. He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because they were rowing against the wind; so sometime between three and six o'clock in the morning, he came to them, walking on the water.” [Today’s English Version]

! IN THE MIDDLE OF: THE NIGHT! THE STORM! THE LAKE!

JESUS SEES!

! AN ALWAYS PRESENT GOD MEANS

WE CAN HAVE ALL CONFIDENCE IN HIM!

3. BY TURNING OUR WORRY INTO WORDS!

*** Phil. 4:6 (NLT) “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

*** Psalm 34:4 (NLT) “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears.”

*** James 4:2 (NIV) “You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

*** Matthew 7:7 (NIV) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

*** Matthew 6:11 (NIV) “Give us today our daily bread.”

            ˜ ASK FOR GOD’S ASSISTANCE! “Give us…”

            ˜ REMEMBER GOD’S RESOURCES! “…our daily bread.”

            ˜ TRUST IN GOD’S TIMING! “Today…daily…”

! AN ALWAYS LISTENING GOD MEANS

WE CAN HAVE ALL CONFIDENCE IN HIM!

4. BY REPLACING PANIC WITH PEACE!

*** Phil. 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” [New American Standard Version]

*** Psalm 12:7 (NIV) “O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us….”

*** Psalm 17:8 (NLT) “Guard me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

*** Psalm 32:7 “You are my hiding place! You protect me from trouble….”

 [Contemporary English Version]

*** 1Peter 5:7 (NIV) “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

! AN ALL POWERFUL, ALWAYS PRESENT, ALWAYS LISTENING GOD MEANS WE CAN HAVE ALL CONFIDENCE AND PEACE IN HIM!

“Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.” -- Psalm 68:19