Seven Steps to Spiritual Stability
Thankful Prayer
by
John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved
(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling
1-800-55-GRACE)
Philippians 4:6b-7
Tape GC 50-40
Outline
Introduction
Review
I. Cultivate Harmony Through Love (vv. 2-3)
II. Maintain a Spirit of Joy (v. 4)
III. Learn to Accept Less Than You Are Due (v. 5a)
IV. Rest on a Confident Faith in the Lord (vv. 5b-6a)
Lesson
V. React to Problems with Thankful Prayer (vv. 6b-7)
A.The Attitude of the Believer (v. 6b)
B.The Peace of God (v. 7)
1.What it is
2.What it does
Introduction
How can we be spiritually strong in the midst of temptations and trials? How
can we be stable and not waver in the face of death? How can we be content and
tranquil when grave difficulties arise? To help us be spiritually stable in such
situations we need to adhere to the principles in Philippians 4:1-9.
Review
I. CULTIVATE HARMONY THROUGH LOVE (vv. 2-3)
II. MAINTAIN A SPIRIT OF JOY (v. 4)
III. LEARN TO ACCEPT LESS THAN YOU ARE DUE (v. 5a)
The humble believer realizes his unworthiness to have received God's grace. And since God's grace is sufficient for every situation in life, he's not expecting or making demands for anything better. Such an outlook will help any believer be stable, even when despised or rejected by others.
IV. REST ON A CONFIDENT FAITH IN THE LORD (vv. 5b-6a)
David wrote, "In Thee, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be ashamed; in Thy righteousness deliver me. Incline Thine ear to me, rescue me quickly; be Thou to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me. For Thou art my rock and my fortress; for Thy name's sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me. Thou wilt pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me; for Thou art my strength. Into Thy hand I commit my spirit; Thou hast ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth" (Ps. 31:1-5). His trust rested in the character of God. An adequate knowledge of God is essential for spiritual stability. And the only way to know God is through what He has chosen to reveal of Himself in Scripture.
Just as the Lord was David's confidence in physical battle so He is our confidence in spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:15 says we're to "shod [our] feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace" for spiritual warfare against the devil and his forces. Roman soldier wore hobnail boots made of leather. The nails were driven through from the inside, enabling the soldier to anchor his boot in the soil to prevent slipping or sliding during life-and-death combat. In the same way the gospel of peace helps us stand firm in spiritual warfare. Knowing God is on our side is the anchor of our confidence in battle, for He is our friend, resource, and power.
A Comparison of Two Theologies
Through the years Arminian and Calvinistic theologies have been at opposite poles. Traditional reformed theology that we call Calvinism emphasizes God's sovereignty, but Arminian theology in effect emphasizes man's sovereignty. That is the primary difference. Arminian theology teaches that God is helpful in providing spiritual assistance, but that one must find it in himself to come to Christ, persevere in the faith, accomplish spiritual goals, and win spiritual victories.
What results from that kind of theology? First, a person can profess to trust in Christ, but in reality trust in himself. That's illustrated by someone who says, "I had the sense to commit my life to Christ." Those words reflect the belief that the power to choose salvation--or lose it through spiritual failure--belongs to the individual. But can you imagine facing death, believing you had that kind of power, and wondering what your standing with God was? Can you imagine the battle in your heart over the issue of your salvation, not knowing if you committed too many sins to be disqualified from heaven? That kind of uncertainty will bring anxiety, not security.
An understanding of God's sovereignty will help a believer be stable. And fully trusting God requires an understanding of God's sovereign grace: that an individual is chosen, redeemed, kept, and glorified by God, who is the initiator. That means every trial of the believer's life is under God's sovereign control to perfect him or her for His eternal purpose and glory.
Another result of man-centered theology is the belief that Christians can bind Satan and demons. But that kind of power hasn't been given to believers. Even the archangel Michael, "when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you'" (Jude 9). God alone is the One who controls Satan. Those who practice such things have an exalted view of themselves, not understanding their own weakness or the greatness of God's power.
Lesson
V. REACT TO PROBLEMS WITH THANKFUL PRAYER (vv. 6b-7)
A.The Attitude of the Believer (v. 6b)
"In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
We've already talked about the virtues of peace, love, joy, humility, and faith. Here we see the virtue of gratitude--the antidote to worry--is to be our attitude in prayer. The Greek terms used refer to specific petitions made to God in the midst of difficult times.
Instead of praying to God with doubt or discontentment, the believer is to approach God in a spirit of thanksgiving. That's because God promised not to allow anything into our lives that will be too much for us to bear (1 Cor. 10:13), to work out everything for our good in the end (Rom. 8:28), and "perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish" us in the midst of our suffering (1 Pet. 5:10).
The believer is to know that all difficulties are within God's purpose and to thank Him for His available power and promises. First Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (NIV). In doing so we are to be thankful for His providence, His promise of perfecting us, the glory He will receive from accomplishing His will, and for past mercies that are the promise of future blessings.
Being thankful releases us from fear and worry. The presence of worry could mean a believer doesn't understand who God is or else has a weak faith because of sin in his life. We need to trust every situation to God's sovereign control. If we understand that God will supply all our needs (Phil. 4:19) and that He knows everything about our lives (Ps. 139:3), cares about us (1 Pet. 5:7), has the power for every difficulty (Ps. 62:11), is perfecting us to be like Christ (Phil. 1:6), and that nothing escapes Him (Ps. 147:5), that will lead us to be stable, not anxious.
B.The Peace of God (v. 7)
"The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
1.What it is
This verse promises inner calm or tranquility to the believer who prays with a thankful attitude. Notice it doesn't promise what the answer to our prayers will be.
The apostle Paul has been building a spiritual crescendo: As you cultivate love and peace in the fellowship (vv. 2-3), focus on your relationship to the living Christ (v. 4), have a humble heart, and derive comfort from the nearness of God (v. 5), and pray with a thankful heart in the midst of difficulties (v. 6), God will respond by giving you His peace (cf. Isa. 26:3). This peace "surpasses all comprehension," which speaks of its divine origin. It transcends human intellect, analysis, and insight. No human counselor can give it to you because it's a gift from God.
The real challenge of Christian living is not to eliminate every uncomfortable circumstance from your life, but to trust the infinite, holy, sovereign, and powerful God in the midst of every situation. So the way you look, the way you've been treated by others, or where you live or work aren't the issue.
Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). So we need to live on the supernatural plane, accept that we live in a fallen world, and allow God to do His perfect work in us. And God will give us His peace as we confidently entrust ourselves to His care.
2.What it does
The peace of God "shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7). The Greek term translated "shall guard" is a military term meaning "to keep watch over." The Philippian believers lived in a garrison town where Roman soldiers were stationed to guard the interests of the empire in that part of the world. In the same way God's peace guards us from anxiety, doubt, fear, and distress.
John Bunyan's The Holy War illustrates how the peace of God watches over the believer's heart. In the allegory Mr. God's-Peace was appointed to guard the city of Mansoul. As long as Mr. God's-Peace ruled, Mansoul enjoyed harmony, happiness, joy, and health. However, Prince Emmanuel (Christ) went away because Mansoul grieved him. Consequently, Mr. God's-Peace resigned his commission and chaos resulted.
The believer who doesn't live in the confidence of God's sovereignty will lack God's peace and be left to the chaos of a troubled heart. But our confident trust in the Lord will allow us to thank Him in the midst of trials because we have God's peace on duty to protect our hearts.
The apostle Paul isn't making a distinction between the heart and mind. Although we could say the heart is the seat of personhood and the mind is the seat of thought, I think he's making a comprehensive statement that refers to the whole inner person. Because of our union with Christ, He guards our entire inner being with His peace. And that's what helps us be spiritually stable.
Focusing on the Facts
1. What will help you be stable when rejected or despised by others (see p. 1)?
2. How did David manifest his confident faith in God (Ps. 31:1-5; see p. 2)?
3. What is the only way we can know God (see p. 2)?
4. What does it mean to "shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Eph. 6:15; see p. 2)?
5. What must the believer understand to fully trust God (see p. 3)?
6. What specific virtue is to characterize the believer's prayers (Phil. 4:7; see p. 3)?
7. What divine promises help remove doubt and discontentment from the believer's life (see p. 3)?
8. What are two specific reasons for the presence of worry (see p. 4)?
9. What does verse 7 promise those who pray with thankfulness? What doesn't the verse promise (see p. 4)?
10. What does "surpasses all comprehension" mean (v. 7; see p. 4)?
11. What is the real challenge of Christian living (see pp. 4-5)?
12. What does "shall guard" mean in verse 7? What is the believer guarded from (see p. 5)?
13. The believer who doesn't live in the confidence of God's will lack God's peace (see p. 5).
14. What is the significance of our union with Christ (see p. 5)?
Pondering the Principles