What do you seek?
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Last week we talked about Who do you serve? As we got back into our Sermon on the Mount: Are you in or out sermon series. I pray you spent time with God this week in your secret place diving into scripture and I pray that your homework drew you closer to God!!!!!!!
This week we continue with our series with Matthew 6:25-34
In fact I had planned on skipping this section of scripture since two weeks ago we talked about turning worry and anxiousness into peace. I thought that we covered it then, in fact even used verse 34 as part of that sermon.
God had different plans, however. As I got my Bible out to begin to prepare for chapter 7 of Matthew I saw the word Therefore in verse 25 of Matthew 6. I couldn’t move past therefore.
You see therefore is a significant word in the Bible. It is a neon sign pointing to a truth. It screams pay attention to this it is important. Therefore means because what you just read is true....what comes next must be applied or must happen because of the truth you just read.
God said preach my word therefore!..Who am I to not listen to Him?
Two weeks ago we looked at worry and anxiety for what they are sin because when one chooses to worry and be anxious they choose them over God.
We looked at how much God loves us and how we can totally trust Him.
Two weeks ago God gave you the perspective we as Christians must have in all aspects of life including worry and anxiety.
Today God gives you the action…Seek first the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 6:25-34
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25 “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
First I want you to notice this:
God provides for His children
God provides for His children
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You can see in verses 25-32 that Jesus explains that as Christians we are to trust God for provision
That doesn’t mean sit at home doing nothing and food and water and clothes will fall out of the sky and land in your yard.
No you are to work but you trust is in God to provide..provide you the job that provides the money to obtain what you need.
I am not saying that God can’t supernaturally provide because He can and I believe He does.
You ever have that pair of jeans that just never seems to wear out?
The key here is your heart.....are you content with what God provides in your life or are you seeking to serve your desires and lusts and chasing everything but Jesus?
Since we covered anxiety and worry two weeks ago I felt God telling me to focus on verse 33 and 34
What do you seek?
What do you seek?
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Last week we talked about Who do you serve?
Now God is taking that truth, you can’t serve God and money and taking it further in What do you seek?
Seek comes from a Greek verb that means seek both literally and figuratively, to worship, be about, desire, endeavour
This takes being intentional.
This takes effort
You can’t just sit in a church pew and hope the pastor seeks enough for both of you.
You must move
you must take action
Fruit…spiritual fruit must result from your seeking!
The key to eliminating anxiety and worry is to have a lifestyle of seeking God’s kingdom.
Luke 10:38-41
Luke 10:38-41
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“While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,”
Martha had her own expectations.
Things had to be done....not bad things but not Kingdom things. Jesus was there and Martha was seeking to fulfill her expectations and not seeking Jesus!
How many times do you miss Jesus because you are
consumed with your own expectations
Consumed with your kingdom
consumed with the worldly kingdom
Martha wasn’t the only one to be with Jesus but miss Jesus
Matthew 14:22-33
Matthew 14:22-33
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22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.
27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”
29 He said, “Come.”
And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Peter had faith enough to step out of the boat.
I want you to notice something look at verse 24 the boat was being battered by waves because the waves were against it.
It was windy out. The wind was driving the waves. The sea was rough
Despite the rough seas Peter stepped out of the boat and was walking on the rough seas.
Peter was fine as long as he was seeking Jesus.
The moment Peter focused on what was happening around him and not truly seeking Jesus he began to sink
How many times have you sunk because you focused on circumstances
because you focused on situations
because you focused on the storms in your life instead of seeking Jesus?
Christian what do you seek?
Do you truly seek Jesus and God’s kingdom or do you seek your kingdom, your desires, your lusts, your wants, your solutions to your problems instead of seeking Jesus?
Matthew 8:23-27
Matthew 8:23-27
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“As he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves—but Jesus kept sleeping. So the disciples came and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!””
The disciples were with Jesus.
Jesus was asleep…completely calm…no worry and no anxiety despite the hurricane that raged around Him
Now the disciples were fishermen....they were experienced sailors. They had been in many storms.
This storm must have been huge, hurricane force winds driving huge seas in fact the Bible said the boat was being swamped by the waves…
Jesus was sleeping....
experienced sailors were fearful for their lives but Jesus was asleep.
Cancer diagnosis
Heart Attack
Divorce
Bankruptcy
Death of a spouse or child or loved one
Persecution, maybe even facing death yourself
You have direct access to the same peace that allowed Jesus to sleep during a hurricane.
Those circumstances and situations, while bad, very bad, do not have the authority or power to steal your peace IF you seek Jesus in the midst of those things.
Jesus wasn’t asleep because He didn’t care about them....no He was asleep because He knew God and knew God would take care of them
If you have a major health storm in your life you may not physically recover…you may indeed pass away but even then as a Christian you do not have to have worry or anxiety because you know the Father. You know where you will go.
IF you have Jesus in your heart and seek Him first, you can peacefully rest in the midst of giant storms!
What do you seek?
That is a question I pray you ask God to answer for you.
Ask Him to search your heart to show you what you seek!
If you struggle with worry and anxiety and fear I challenge you to fast seeking God.
Seeking peace.
seeking to apply the blood of Jesus to defeat worry and fear and anxiety.
Psalm 3:3-6
Psalm 3:3-6
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“But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of thousands of people who have taken their stand against me on every side.”
Let’s talk about the time that David wrote this Psalm.
His son Absalom was trying to take David’s kingdom from him. Absalom had rapped his sister Tamar and killed his brother Ammon.
He was leading a revolt against his father David and planned to kill him as well.
This is the background to when David wrote this Psalm....But you, Lord, are a shield to me.....when anxiety and worry and fear strike allow the Lord to be your shield
Cry aloud to the Lord....He hears you and fights for you!
When you allow the Lord to be your shield and you cry out to Him you can lie down and sleep because it doesn’t matter who or what is after you....
people
or disease
or sin
or death
or whatever it is....
the Lord has already defeated all of those things.
Many of us have heard this Psalm at most funerals we have attended but it is much more than that, it is not a Psalm of the dead but a Psalm of the living.
Psalm 23
Psalm 23
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Many of us have heard this Psalm at most funerals we have attended but it is much more than that, it is not a Psalm of the dead but a Psalm of the living.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever
Let’s look at what God is telling us in this scripture.
Not only does this comfort us when someone passes or as someone prepares to pass but as Christians still living and walking this earth this scripture should comfort us that no matter what we are just fine in the hands of Jesus
You find a shepherd....
a perfect leader....
a perfect provider....
a perfect protector.....
you have no reason to fear or worry or be anxious.
You find rest and peace…
lie down in green pastures....
beside still waters....
Jesus is your peace....
if you need peace you need Jesus!
You find restoration and renewal....
Jesus makes you a new creature......
when you sin as a new creature Jesus restores you into right standing with God!
You find strength…
Valley means that there is an end....
keep walking....
keep chasing Jesus
and you will find relief from worry and anxiety and peace.....not relief as in they are gone but relief in they no longer have power over you
You find provision....
God is the perfect provider as He knows exactly what we need exactly when we need it.
You find goodness and mercy. God’s goodness and mercy.
Forgiveness of sins…
love beyond comprehension…
peace beyond understanding
You find a home…
dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
You are wanted.....
you are welcome…
you are family.
It is time to stand on the Word of God and allow God to defeat worry and anxiety and fear in your life.
It is one thing to read it.....
hear it proclaimed....
and another thing to truly believe and apply.
If you are here and you struggle with worry and anxiety and fear apply, through the Holy Spirit, these truths to your life today.
If you apply those truths stop allowing the enemy and your doubt to give worry and fear and anxiety power.
Let me explain what I mean.....
how many times do you read a truth....
hear a truth proclaimed in a sermon or Bible study....
believe that truth and want to apply that truth but you say something like......
I know what God says but that is hard......
I know and agree and believe that truth but you just don’t know me........
I have been here before and failed and will fail again!!!!!
The struggle is real today........
Maybe you post a meme about something you are struggling with like worry and anxiety and fear....
A meme that tries to justify or draw sympathy for those who struggles with these things
That is not standing on the Word that is turning to the World.
That is not seeking Jesus and God’s kingdom
but making excuses for why you are not turning to Jesus.
If you are a Christian here this morning and you have given God these burdens.....these struggles…these sins and you are still struggling with them that is on YOU.
God says he removes sin as far as the east is from the west.
If you have confessed, repented and given worry and anxiety and fear to God but still struggle with it you chased it down
you gave it power
you allowed it into your life
Pastor Josh how do I stop doing that?
2 Corinthians 10:5
2 Corinthians 10:5
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“and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
I want to be perfectly clear and honest here..........This will take work
This will be a constant battle
This will wear you out
This will make your emotions go all over the place.......you will feel emotions that you have no idea why they are there if you don’t stand on scripture
Let me give you an example of this:
As you know I am leaving NHS as of 1 pm on Wednesday 5/25. I have lived in Nevada since the 4th grade. I have attended Nevada R5 school district from 4th grade through Graduation
When I was in school I wanted nothing more than to be a Nevada Tiger.
I can remember being a middle school football player watching games on Friday nights dreaming about the day I was on that field, under those lights.
I went away lived some life, made many mistakes, learned lots of lessons and God called me home to teach and coach as a Tiger.
The last year and half that has been changing. God called me to another home....NEVC where I will start as the JR Sr High principal officially on August 1st but I get keys on June 1 so that is when I will get going
I say all of that to say this. I have been in a battle. I have allowed negative thoughts and emotions to drive the bus.
I have been physically worn out at the end of the day
I have been mentally worn out at the end of the day
I have been spiritually worn out at the end of the day these past couple of weeks
Until this week I didn’t stop to see what was happening. I was seeking my kingdom. I was not taking thoughts captive.
I had been blaming everyone but myself for the negative thoughts and emotions and tiredness in reality it was because I was trying to fight a fight I had no business being in
What I realized was that I was so caught up in MY feelings and MY emotions and MY thoughts that I pushed God out of the way and then wondered why I was crashing and burning
I gave that to Jesus and what a different state I am in. The situations and people causing the negative thoughts and emotions are still there but now I am choosing to give those to Jesus
To hold those thoughts captive against the Word of God.
it is tiring.
It is a battle
It is constant
But Jesus fights the fight all I have to do is stand and take the thoughts captive
When those negative thoughts come.....
when those thoughts of worry and fear and anxiety come....
take them captive to obey Christ.
If they match the Word of God keep them.....
if they don’t get rid of them....
stop making excuses for why they are there and make them obey Christ.
I don’t care what you say.....
I don’t care what you feel....
I don’t care what you read in some secular self-help book....or Christian self-help book for that matter.....
i don’t care what your family history is.....
I don’t care about anything other than the Word of God.
you can make excuses all day long and never find that peace that is so freely offered.
Stand on the Word of God and that is enough!
The girls are going to come and lead us in an invitation song…Who you say I am.
God says you are His if you have accepted Jesus.
God says you are a member of His family if you have accepted Jesus.
God says you have won the fight because He has won the fight if you have accepted Jesus
I don’t know your struggle.
I don’t know what fight you are fighting alone.
I would love to pray with you
I would love to get into God’s Word together
I would love to meet with you
Most of all I would love for you to meet Jesus and give it all to Him this morning.
If you don’t know Jesus today is the day. When this song plays come and meet your Savior at the cross!
If you need to put I John 1:9 into action come confess leave righteous or ignore the Holy Spirit and leave how you came in and stay in that worry and anxiety and fear.......give it to Jesus and you can leave in peace! the choice is yours