The Power of a Carefree Mind Philippians 4:6 Phil 4:6 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

The Cares of Life Can Make Us Powerless –Focusing on problems weakens faith –Cares drain the potential of the mind Cares are often caused by idolizing money and pleasure (Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14) Cares can keep us from expecting Christ’s return (Luke 21:34) Paul Calls for a Carefree Mind –“Be careful for nothing” KJV (Phil 4:6) –How can we achieve this important goal? Mark 4:19 19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful Luke 8:14 14 "The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity Luke 21:34 Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;

We Must Trust Instead of Tremble (Isa. 26:4) Anxiety prevents achievement –Consider the potential of a mind free from fear –Think of the inventions and accomplishments of focused thinking Faith and fear are opposites –Faith brings salvation, security, peace –A peaceful mind is a powerful mind (John 14:27) Faith drives fear away, placing everything within our reach (Mark 9:23; Heb. 11:1) Faith is….. –Dead to doubts (Jas. 1:6) –Dumb to discouragements –Blind to impossibilities –Knows nothing but success Isa 26:4 Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful Mark 9:22-23 And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. James 1:6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind

We Must Forgive Instead of Fume (Eph 4:31-32) How do we handle bitterness, wrath, anger, malice? –These hindrances to power must be put away –Anger is a roadblock to accomplishment Consider what anger did to Cain (Gen 4:5) –Anger robs us of the power to bless others –Anger chokes Christian fellowship and service Forgiveness is the antidote to anger – “Be kind to one another” (2 nd Tim 2:24) –“Forgiving each other” (Mat. 6:14-15) Forgiveness opens the channels of power Eph 4:31-32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you 2 Tim 2:24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, Gen 4:5 5 but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Matt 6: " For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

We Must Release Instead of Retain (1 st Peter 5:7) We can cast our cares on Christ and be free of them (Psalm 55:22) –Holding on to our cares makes us weak and weary –Releasing our cares to Christ sets us free We have the option of releasing our cares –God loves us; Christ died for us –The cross proves this caring love (Rom 5:8) 1 Peter 5:7 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Ps 55:22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Rom 5:8 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s Power Can Flow Through Us to Others Trusting, Forgiving, and Releasing Turn the Power On How Much of God’s Power Flows From You.