Paul shows us how he deals with his own anxiety

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Goal

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.
I am all the more eager to send him (Epaphroditus), so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety.
Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!
I have great joy in the Lord because now at length you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)

I thank my God every time I remember you.
I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you
For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart...
For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.
After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”
At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.
Two years elapsed…

Paul gets clarity about his ultimate goals: the message and kingdom of Jesus
- Then he can say v.18
A very stiking way of writing in the Greek that occurs in three places in Philippians—one in each story:
- Ususally not obvious in our translations, but I have made it explict
- show all three

I’ve been sick all week, and this passage has really spoken to me
- Could I preach on Sunday
- What about all my other work piling up?
I’ve been praying for healing, but I know it is in his hands
- Nothing that God want’s to accomplish can be stopped by my sickness
- I simply don’t have to worry
- If I’m sick or well on Sunday, God’s plan’s can’t be thwarted
- The real trick is to get aligned with God’s plans!

Here the question is the outcome of the trial
He is optimistic, but there is still a possibility he might get condemned to death
This time he unpacks his “weather.. weather...” for us
Why is he not anxious? —because both ways are good
Yesterday I had a call from an old friend who has been struggling with a chronic desease
- He called me because he was so excited about a discovery he had made
- He’s thought about the ways his life might go in the future
  - They were all good in terms of accomplishing something for Christ
  - All his anxiety had gone because ultimately it’s a win-win

This story is a joint challenge—will they face it together, or will the Philippians be alone?
When Paul had been there, he had been such a great leader
- In the prison, singing
- They needed him now—would he come?
explain v.28
Here is the truth: v.29 Suffering for Jesus is an honour
- strange to our ears
Process
- What are you anxious about?
1. Think through your ultimate goals
2. Look at the options, and if your goal, are God’s, they are all good!
- Then you don’t have to worry