Keith Battle - The Journey to Peace - Part 3

I’m the journey piece, part three. I’m going to refer to our foundational scripture because I really want God to convey what He needs to say. I don’t want to engage in any formalities; I just want to get to what He’s trying to communicate to us. Our foundational scripture is Philippians 4:6-7, which says, «Don’t worry about anything.» What does it say? «Don’t worry about anything.» Say it again: «Don’t worry about anything.» Let me hear you online: put it in the chat, «Don’t worry about anything.»

Now, if you’re not worried, that must mean you trust. «Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.» I want you to remember this, amen. If you can remember an entire Jay-Z album, you can remember two verses! If you can recall a whole song and its lyrics, including the background parts—you don’t just sing the lead singer’s part but the background, too—then you better know this book. It makes a difference when you know what God says. Yes, it makes a difference when you’re informed.

As I stated in the last service, when people know their rights, they respond differently when pulled over by the police because they are aware of their rights. Do you understand what I’m saying? Am I implying anything against the police? There are specific things that should be done when apprehending someone; you are required to read them their rights, their Miranda rights. I have been in a courtroom where I witnessed people being acquitted of charges because their rights weren’t read.

Some of you need to get into the practice of knowing your rights because you may not be familiar with them, and therefore, you don’t know what the devil is throwing at you and what you don’t have to accept. Remember, «Don’t worry about anything; pray about everything.» Tell Him what you need and thank Him for all He’s done. This is the pathway to peace. All this stuff starts calming you down: «I trust You, God. I need You in this situation. I thank You for what You’ve already done. I thank You for what You’ve done in my childhood, in my relationships, and in my health. I was sick, but now I’m better.» You thank Him for all He’s done—gratitude suffocates worry.

Then it says, if you do these things, then God’s peace, which is deeper than your own understanding, will guard your heart and mind. Watch this: as you live in Christ Jesus, it’s a lifestyle. Somebody say it’s a lifestyle. This is the plan; this is the pathway to peace. When you confront the challenges of life, which can often provoke worry, remember to play your part: trust God, pray about everything, tell Him what you need, and thank Him for all He’s done. Abide in Him; you just have to be consistent because worry can show up at any time.

It can even appear during the service when you’re receiving the Word to combat it. You need to have your own tools to fight with, as I am trying to provide you with tools to contend against worry. If you don’t learn to manage worry in your life, it can harm you. I know they don’t list worry as a cause of death on death certificates, but I guarantee you whatever the medical cause may be, there was often some worry involved. Come on, people worry themselves to death.

So let’s explore this passage. I want to go to where everything starts—the journey to peace begins with worry. And worry, by definition, is not just a passing negative thought; it is to be fixated on something dark and difficult. Yes, it is to be locked onto such thoughts. Some of us are so accustomed to this that we don’t even realize it’s a sin. Why do I say it’s a sin, Pastor? The Word says so. «But they’re my kids, man, what am I supposed to do?» I’m saying it’s a sin based on the Word because God tells us not to do it.

How about this? When God says «Thou shalt not kill,» does that not suggest that killing is wrong? Come on, talk to me! If God says, «Thou shalt not commit adultery,» doesn’t that imply it’s wrong? Yes! If God says, «Thou shalt not steal,» doesn’t that hint that stealing is wrong? When God commands us not to worry, it’s not just a suggestion; it’s a commandment. God tells us not to worry because, when you do, you demonstrate a lack of trust in Him.

Moreover, you might think you’re worrying because you care, but in reality, you’re worried because you’re obsessed. Yes, you have made an idol out of whatever you are concerned about. I am your God, not your child, not your job, not your house. I gave you all that, and the Lord gives, and the Lord can take away, but blessed be the name of the Lord. One of the things we have to pay attention to is how we respond to difficulty.