Focus on Supplication

Philippians 4:4–7 

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

What is the difference between prayer and supplication ?

-Supplication: Pleading a humble petition to God. 

-Prayer: Sincere thanksgiving or request made to God. 

Supplicate, praying a pleading humble petition to God, with:

1. Calm assurance.

Peace comes when we go to God and trust Him.

2. Confidence. 

Jesus gives us access to God’s presence. 

We receive mercy and grace and help. 

3. Clarity of focus. 

Focus on the all-powerful God who is sovereign over all things.

4. Without Ceasing. 

Prayer: a way for us to develop our fellowship with God. 

As we pray with persistence, we find ourselves growing in grace while we wait for the answer.

5. In Community. 

Our relationships are strengthened bearing burdens of others.  

Prayer is useful for encouragement to others.

Pray for those who are suffering. 

Pray for the sick. 

Pray for revival in our nation. 

Pray for those who are lost. 

Like A Building Block, Supplication is foundational to spiritual stability

This Scripture deals with SPIRITUAL STABILITY Through Supplication:

Teaches Us How To:

-Face trying times;

-Face great temptation;

-Face great trials;

-Face persecution;

-Face great family loss;

-Face times of confusion;

-Face distress and illness;

-Face weakness;

-Face fear;

How can we be spiritually strong !

How can we be calm and at peace during grave difficulty !

How do we demonstrate what we think about The Lord !

How can this building block of supplication / spiritual stability show through ?

Answer: 

We show SPIRITUAL STABILITY through SPIRITUAL MATURITY:

(Remember: Fruit produced by the spirit is spiritual virtue)

Virtues That Are Indication Of Spiritual Maturity:

BE A SPIRITUAL STABILIZER BY:

1. Being a peacemaker cultivating peace in fellowship of love:

-Be in an environment of peace in our fellowship.

-Be NOT a troublemaker but a peacemaker in our fellowship.

-Be a stabilizer in the fellowship.

2. Being joyful in the Lord:

-Based on a focused relationship with the Lord;

-Based on permanent union with Him;

-Based on cultivating a deep love for Him;

-Based on living in the light of His Holy Spirit;

-Be a stabilizer in your relationships.

3. Being Humble:

-Be satisfied with less;

-Be contented;

-Be gracious;

-Be aware we deserve nothing;

-Be aware we have given up our rights;

-Be a stabilizer in your attitude.

4. Being Confident In Your Faith In the Lord:

-Know He is near;

-Know He is in control;

-Know He is always working His plan.

-Know He is a promise keeper.

-Know He is sovereign.

-Be a stabilizer demonstrating your faith in Him.

• All Scripture is the revelation of God.
• In knowing Scripture we know God.
• In knowing God we know He knows us.
• In knowing God we can expect His love toward us.
• In knowing God we can predict His purposes.
• God is on our side.
• Confidence He is on our side anchors you in battle.
• He’s not our enemy; He’s our friend,
• He’s our resource, He’s our power.
• We can be stable in any situation if:
  We understand His sovereign control;
  We understand His sovereign purposes;
  We understand His great power over anything.
  

5. Being Thankful:

Spiritual Stability requires us to react to issues with thankful prayer.

Do We Want To Know How To Overcome Anxiety / Worry?

Verse 6: In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God;

Not an emphasis on the theology of prayer BUT:

-The importance of prayer;

-The attitude of prayer;

-The words that petition God;

Prayer, Supplication, Request.

Cry out to God:

-not in our difficulty,

-not in our doubt,

-not in our dissatisfaction,

-not in our discontent,

BUT IN THANKSGIVING.

BECAUSE of His Promises !!

1 Peter 5:10:

He is the God of promise who is allowing you to suffer:

that you might be made perfect,

that you might be settled, 

that you might be established.

Supplicate With Thanksgiving 

Make A Humble Petition To God With Thanksgiving

Thankful for His purposes,

Thankful for His providence,

Thankful for His power,

Thankful for His promise,

Thankful for His perfecting work,

Thankful for the hope of relief,

Thankful for the hope of glory,

Thankful that it is His Will,

Thankful that He accomplishes His purposes,

Thankful for past mercies.

NOTE: 

The promise is if you pray and supplicate with a thankful heart:

God WILL grant you peace in all situations no matter God's answer. 

God WILL NOT always answer your prayer the way you want. 

What kind of peace is it?

It is peace which surpasses all comprehension,

It is not human, 

It is not rational, 

It transcends intellectual powers, 

It transcends analysis,

It transcends man’s insights,

It transcends man’s understanding,

It transcends man’s definition,

It transcends man’s explanation,

BUT YOU MUST GO TO GOD TO GET THAT KIND OF PEACE !!

IT IS SUPERNATURAL PEACE !!

It is not a cheap substitute,

It is not an attempt to reason your troubles away,

It is not through superior human scheming,

It is not through superior human devices,

It is not through superior human solutions,

It is not through superior human security,

It is not trying to create a perfect world, 

John 16:33: 

In this world you shall have tribulation;

Be of good cheer; 

Jesus has overcome world (the evil world system).

Accept the fact:

Fallen people are living in a fallen world;

Expect no tranquility in this current evil world system;

Supernatural Peace is found by trusting in Jesus; 

Jesus has overcome this evil world system;

The peace of God surpasses all comprehension;

The peace of God guards your hearts;

The peace of God guards your minds;

The peace of God protects you from anxiety;

The peace of God protects you from difficulty;

The peace of God protects you from distress;

The peace of God protects you from dissatisfaction;

The peace of God protects you from discontent;

The peace of God protects you from doubt;

SPIRITUAL STABILITY:

Philippians 4:4-7:

Humble Thankful Prayer