Dharius Daniels - Mind Games (Arresting Anxiousness)

Well, let’s go together to the Word of God. I’ve got a long way to go in a short time to get there, but, uh, you know, Thanksgiving is coming up. We used to call my great-grandmother «Big Mama,» and one of the things I noticed about Big Mama is that she was always cooking but never eating. One time we asked Big Mama, «Why don’t you eat?» She said, «Baby, I eat. I eat a little bit while I’m cooking.» I want you to know I’ve been eating while I’ve been cooking this week, so I hope this message blesses you, as it blessed me while I was preparing it.

So let’s turn together to the book of Philippians, chapter 4, beginning at verse 8. Here’s what it says: Paul says, «Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me, put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.» Earlier in the text, he talks about the peace of God, and here he refers to the God of peace.

Before I give my subject, I want us to acknowledge one of the charter members—founding members—you know what that means, A1 from day one. We don’t call them original gangsters; we call them original members. We have one of our original members here today. If you remember the show called The Golden Girls, wave at your boy. Some of you, I see all the twenty-somethings looking confused, like, «What?» Anyway, there’s a group in our New Jersey location we call The Golden Girls; they are our original members. We have one in the building today—let’s go crazy for Miss [Name], everybody! An original member!

I want to talk from this subject in this series: «Resting in Anxiousness: Mind Games.» Clap your hands at every location if you’re ready for the Word! Mind Games. This particular passage in Philippians 4 exposes us to a significant and sobering truth regarding the reality of anxiousness. This truth can be captured in the following phrase: anxiousness is not always the sickness; sometimes it’s the symptom of an undisciplined imagination. Wherever there is a lack of discipline, there will be the presence of problems.

We live in a cultural context where there’s a lot of conversation about discipline regarding our bodies, our budgets, and our boundaries. But it is equally important and imperative to have discipline regarding our imagination because an undisciplined imagination leads to anxiousness. Pastor Darius, what is an undisciplined imagination? Thank you for asking! An undisciplined imagination refers to the uncontrolled tendency of the mind—listen to this—to create scenarios, fears, or «what ifs» that amplify worry and anxiousness. Let me read that one more time: it refers to the uncontrolled tendency of the mind to create scenarios. If you know your mind can do that, say «Yes!» It creates scenarios, fears, or «what ifs» that amplify worry and anxiousness.

It involves allowing thoughts to spiral without intention, guidance, or boundaries, often leading to exaggerated or catastrophic thinking. That’s an undisciplined imagination. If my mind doesn’t have discipline, then eventually anxiousness will have my mind. Maybe this is why the Apostle Paul seems to articulate this consistent theme—not just in this book of Philippians, but throughout all of his writings—regarding the connection between spiritual development and mind management. All throughout Paul’s writing, not just in Philippians but in almost all of his letters, he emphasizes this connection.

My spiritual development affects my mind management, and my mind management affects my spiritual development. My spirituality doesn’t just affect my morals; it also affects my mind. He didn’t just say it to believers in Philippi; he said it to believers in Rome. In the book of Romans, chapter 12, verse 2, he says, «Do not be conformed, come on family, to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing…» So there’s a connection between my spiritual development and my mind management.

He didn’t just say this to believers in Rome; he said it to believers in Corinth. In 2 Corinthians, which is the second letter he wrote to believers in Corinth, the context of this conversation in chapter 10, verse 5, is about spiritual warfare. In this part of the letter, he talks to them about biblical spiritual warfare—not Church spiritual warfare, which suggests there’s a demon in every chair—but biblical spiritual warfare.

Listen to this: when he says, «The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds, the casting down of imaginations…» Watch what it says: «We demolish arguments and every pretension.» We demolish what? Arguments! We demolish whatever thoughts arise because anxiousness comes from arguments—not arguments with people on the outside, but arguments on the inside. You’re not going to make it. This isn’t going to work. This is going to end wrong. You’re about to be embarrassed. Come on, you know—the person you argue with the most. So the text says we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up.