1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,300 If I haven't met you, my name is Nick as John introduced me. I've been a servant leader here for the past three years 2 00:00:06,300 --> 00:00:11,580 I've been hanging out in the kids ministry for the past several months. So you might have seen me a little bit or walking around 3 00:00:12,300 --> 00:00:17,780 I I've just been busy with that and really enjoying that but I am really excited to be here this morning 4 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:24,520 I'll forewarn you now. I should say this before every time I speak. I just talk fast. This is just who I am 5 00:00:24,860 --> 00:00:26,760 I'm gonna try to slow down 6 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,760 But I repeat myself pretty often 7 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,920 Today we're gonna be talking about worry or really the instruction to not worry 8 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,720 Which is always easier said than done, right? 9 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,480 I don't even need to explain worry to you guys. Everybody just knows what it is. We just all 10 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:43,360 Develop that ability to worry 11 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:50,320 And Jesus's words this morning have served countless generations of Christians before us and they can serve us today 12 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:56,760 Not because of any new revelation, but because they are not like the wisdom of our age 13 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,880 There's no psychoanalysis here. There's no emotional therapy 14 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:06,880 There's truth and these words speak to our hearts more powerfully than a thousand. Well-meaning self-help books 15 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,800 Before we get started, let's pray 16 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,920 Father in heaven your name be honored as holy 17 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:21,400 We pray that your word would be released like a roaring lion into our lives 18 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:24,600 That we would be shaped by it 19 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,960 That we would be molded into its image 20 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:30,920 That your truth would have power 21 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,080 To accomplish your will 22 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,160 we humbly submit our lives before you and 23 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,360 Receive from you in Jesus name. Amen 24 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:49,920 We're gonna be talking about Matthew 6 25 through 34, I'm gonna be reading from the CSP it'll be up on the screen too 25 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:56,240 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 26 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,520 Isn't life more than food in the body more than clothing? 27 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:02,640 Consider the birds 28 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:07,440 They don't sow or reap or gather into barns yet. Your heavenly father feeds them 29 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,160 Aren't you worth more than they? 30 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,960 Can any of you even add a moment to his lifespan by worrying? 31 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,240 And why do you worry about your clothes? 32 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:22,320 Observe how the wildfires of the field grow 33 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,360 They don't labor or spin thread 34 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:32,800 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all of his splendor was adorned like one of these 35 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:40,240 If that's how God closed the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow 36 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,600 Won't he do much more for you you of little faith? 37 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:48,400 So don't worry saying what will we eat or what will we drink or what are we gonna wear? 38 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:54,080 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things and your heavenly father knows that you need them 39 00:02:55,120 --> 00:03:02,240 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be provided for you 40 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:09,840 Therefore don't worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself each day has enough trouble of its own 41 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:11,840 So good preachers tell you where they're gonna go 42 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:16,960 So I got four points this morning and then two points of application. Okay, you know where we're gonna go 43 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:22,720 And these nine verses i'm well aware that they are a common text in church 44 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:28,880 One of those just really familiar ones. They're easy to preach easy to grasp and they're very comforting 45 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:30,960 So i'm walking on well 46 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:32,960 Worn ground 47 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:37,040 But as is common with a lot of these types of texts to the Gentiles 48 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,960 Common with a lot of these types of texts two issues often pop up 49 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:48,480 One we often read it as like this floating text separated from the preceding verses like the context doesn't matter 50 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:55,040 Kind of like jesus just randomly started a new sermon in the middle of his sermon and then nothing else matters about what's around it 51 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:57,840 And the second one flows out of that first one 52 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,560 That the full meaning is often missed 53 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,400 I know I have incorrectly applied these verses in the past 54 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:09,600 And I must not be that unique because every commentary I read did the exact same thing 55 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,640 They all battled against all this bad application that was out there 56 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:17,520 So today let's just try to avoid those problems by looking at the context 57 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:23,360 Last week if you were here john preached through jesus's teaching on money and treasure 58 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,120 You can store up treasure here on earth or in heaven 59 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,800 Your choice you can have a generous eye or a stingy eye 60 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:35,520 Which really reveals how your heart views money in value of everybody around you 61 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:41,760 And then finally jesus brings it to a head. Are you going to be a slave of money or to god? 62 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,320 You can only serve one master ultimately 63 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:51,840 And then jesus randomly switches tones right like out of nowhere. He then moves to talking about worry and anxiety 64 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,560 Really not that big of a change though 65 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:59,280 He's actually trying to seek to comfort those who are struggling and ease their worry 66 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:01,520 Because of money 67 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:07,200 Don't worry about your life. He repeats it twice. Don't worry about your life 68 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:09,920 This is like a warm hug, right? 69 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,440 To the worried and weary just tired 70 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:19,680 How good does it feel to hear jesus like lean down speak directly into your heart? 71 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:26,480 You don't have to be anxious. I will provide for you. I will make sure you have enough 72 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,320 Man those those words right there those simple words. That's a full sermon in itself 73 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,960 But I got a time commitment and I can't stop just yet 74 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:39,040 so 75 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,080 Ironically this sermon has caused me a lot of worry 76 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,920 I have deepened my faith in the word of god 77 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:52,160 I have had to work and rework and rework it and then yesterday I was blessed with a migraine and so I could barely work 78 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:59,040 And this morning guess what I felt a migraine and on I was trying to fix my sermon to add the last couple notes 79 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:05,440 My printer ran out of ink and my phone updated and so while I sent the email to alissa to get it printed 80 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,040 I couldn't call her to actually have it printed. I was like, oh my god 81 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,040 I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry 82 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:19,520 I couldn't call her to actually have it printed. That is how I drove into church this morning 83 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:28,080 So I've had to preach my first point to my heart so much this morning and it's this seek dependence 84 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:35,120 Jesus instruction is pretty plain. Don't worry and the categories of things to not worry about are the big ones 85 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,520 Don't worry about your life 86 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:42,160 Don't worry about your food. Don't worry about your drink. Don't worry about your clothes and you're kind of like saying Jesus 87 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,320 Don't you know we would die without those things? 88 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:47,760 But he says don't be anxious about these things 89 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,320 But before I go too far I need to explain this this word worry 90 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,360 The greek word is miramnao 91 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,720 It's not important to remember but it occurs 19 times in the new testament 92 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:01,920 And and the idea behind worry 93 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:08,160 Is pretty simple. There's usually a negative one like we would consider anxious and anxiety, but there's also positive concern 94 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:14,400 So paul uses it to express how the love loving concern a husband should have for his wife 95 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:16,560 So it's positive 96 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:18,560 But most of the time it's negative 97 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:24,160 So why I bring this up is Jesus isn't commanding don't feel concerned about the future 98 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:29,040 Jesus Jesus's command to not worry is a lived experience we all have 99 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,840 When when the good concerns that we should have 100 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,000 Grow so large it blocks out our awareness of god's love 101 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:42,160 Resulting in our hearts a lack of trust in the lord and then taking things into our own hands 102 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:44,800 I'm thinking abraham and sarai 103 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,000 Maybe they're gonna sexually abuse their slave 104 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,760 To make things work for them because they didn't trust god's promises 105 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:57,520 Jesus can tell us to to not worry about food because the right concern 106 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:59,520 for food and focus 107 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:04,080 Ensures you have food, but it doesn't doubt that the lord is going to be providing for you 108 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:10,000 Wants you to get that don't miss this the right concern and focus on food ensures you have enough 109 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,040 It just doesn't doubt the lord's provision 110 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,160 But doubting the lord is wickedness 111 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:21,440 Worry is like an ugly flower growing from the root of distrust in the lord 112 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,320 And let me give you an example of this good and bad worry in the same thing 113 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,360 So i'm gonna say now um my wife who's sitting up here 114 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:33,840 She gave me a lot of examples for the sermon and we've talked about all of this and she has read my sermons 115 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:35,840 She knows what i'm going to say 116 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,320 Our third child aiden 117 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,320 She's in the nursery was born really fast from start to finish an hour and a half 118 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,040 Bethany almost didn't make it to 119 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:50,480 The hospital bed aiden actually popped out so quickly that she didn't get the fluid out of her lungs 120 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,480 So when she came out she couldn't breathe 121 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,040 It was silent 122 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,680 It was silence. There was no cry 123 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:04,880 And it still gives me dread whenever I think about that. I know exactly what it was 124 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,560 So when bethany was pregnant with joash, who's our fourth 125 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:15,440 We talked to our doctors about planning for delivery and a quick birth because babies usually come faster than the last one 126 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:21,040 And we wanted to be prepared all the doctors said as soon as you feel something come in don't wait 127 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:25,200 They even said if you think you're not close enough to a hospital call an ambulance and get over here 128 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,320 They weren't they didn't want to take chances and neither did we 129 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:33,440 Our planning wasn't a lack of trust in god, but a loving concern for our son joash 130 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:37,040 Our worry was for joash to be safe 131 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,520 We weren't doubting the lord 132 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:41,520 I trusted the lord 133 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:48,800 I just didn't want to have to deliver a baby in my house and then like suck out all the juices with the nozzle thing. No 134 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,040 Not not not what I want 135 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:56,400 Bethany did have all the stuff we were prepared but again just not what I was hoping for 136 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:58,320 However 137 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:00,320 Bethany did have worrying fear 138 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:07,600 Lots of it her thoughts took her away from trusting the lord. She she was scared to have the baby at home 139 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,320 She was scared that the baby wouldn't be safe 140 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:17,440 Bethany's imagination kept filling her mind with all of the scenarios and all the scary things that could happen that didn't ever include 141 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:18,480 God 142 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:23,120 She moved from wisdom and preparedness to anxiety doubt and a lack of trust in god 143 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,480 She acted as if he wasn't in control of life 144 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,040 same event 145 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,040 different kinds of worry 146 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:36,800 One trying to use wisdom and preparation and one full of mistrust and doubt in god's goodness and power 147 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,920 In the end joash had a normal birth and we have our son and it's fabulous 148 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,760 But it's just an example of what it means to be on either side of work 149 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:47,760 Of what it means to be on either side of worry 150 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,120 And I expect that most of you you've got this lived experience, you know this 151 00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:57,360 Like i'm not talking anything strange here in english. We might say concern versus worry. Jesus just uses the same term 152 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,680 And i'm just trying to highlight that the text supports this idea 153 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:03,280 It's not a weird thing 154 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:10,160 And living wisely means preparing and planning for the future, which is deeply biblical. It is all over the old testament and new testament 155 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:12,880 Let's keep moving 156 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:17,520 Next we come to jesus's example of not worrying birds of the sky and plants of the earth 157 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:24,160 Jesus's examples revealed the dependence upon the lord and is the right posture for all created beings 158 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,160 And this is where i'm trying to draw that point from 159 00:11:26,540 --> 00:11:32,420 Dependence is normal jesus's examples and instruction point us further than just stop worrying 160 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,880 Like just don't do the thing and you're going to be fine into a humble posture of dependence 161 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:44,560 I don't have time to walk through jesus's examples like they're a fabulous deep theology of provision, but that's a whole sermon not going there 162 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:50,480 But here's the key idea. Here's the summary of that sermon the birds are dependent upon the lord to provide food 163 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,520 The flowers are dependent upon the lord to help them grow 164 00:11:54,060 --> 00:11:58,320 Conclusion you should remember you are dependent upon the lord for your life 165 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:00,720 so 166 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,200 Remind yourself of your dependence on the lord constantly 167 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:07,200 For food for clothes for water for work for energy for everything 168 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,200 Jesus teaches us to lean into our dependence 169 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,400 He never gives away out of it 170 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:19,040 No money no security no ability will remove your dependence 171 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:24,640 Or put another way your dependence on the lord isn't the problem to be fixed 172 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,240 It's actually the beginning of the solution 173 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:32,720 Really want you to hear that your dependence on the lord is the beginning of the solution 174 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:39,440 To help this stick I wrote a book. Sorry to help this. I wrote a book. Hooray. You're dependent 175 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,000 It's coming out next year 176 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,120 Hey, I help me with the cover. So it's yeah, just don't read too closely 177 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:52,240 But here's the thing here it is once you start seeking to be dependent upon god 178 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,200 Instead of pushing against it 179 00:12:55,200 --> 00:13:00,000 Your eyes get open up to the multiple ways that he is that you are lacking and he is providing 180 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,800 Which then stops you being worried because you're like, I don't got it 181 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,120 Thank you god 182 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:12,560 And our culture is full of people and we know these people who have never looked into the mirror and told themselves 183 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:15,120 You can't do it 184 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:17,920 But you know what comes with that deep self-awareness 185 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:20,160 freedom 186 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:25,520 Freedom to look around and see all that god is providing for you. Look at the birds 187 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,640 Look at the flowers. Let them be your teacher 188 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:33,040 So point one seek dependence point two expect enough 189 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:40,400 Jesus simple thesis is that you shouldn't worry because god provides enough 190 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,480 God provides enough for the birds and the plants he can provide enough for you 191 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,440 And that had to be a powerful message to his audience 192 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:52,800 Most of them were poor most of them probably lived off whatever they could grow on their land or maybe doing a little fishing 193 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:57,360 And then there was the roman soldiers all around them to remind them right remind them of their oppression 194 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:05,120 One bad farming season one bad injury during some hard labor could immediately turn into food insecurity for them 195 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,720 So how does jesus comfort them seven times? 196 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:14,560 He makes a statement about god providing for his creation such as your heavenly father 197 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:19,600 Feeds the birds god closed the grass of the field your heavenly father knows that you need these things 198 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,320 All of these things will be provided for you 199 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:24,880 And notice the familiar relationship 200 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:30,560 God and you together in a family verse 26 yet your heavenly father feeds them 201 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:36,080 Your heavenly father god god provides for the birds, but the birds are not considered his children. You are 202 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:41,120 Or in verse 32 your father knows your needs. He knows your medical needs 203 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,160 He knows your housing needs. He knows your parenting needs 204 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:46,640 He knows that egg prices are insane 205 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:51,120 And the age is probably going to need an escort here soon when she brings them back to church 206 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,480 And no matter where you are in life 207 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:56,880 You need to be reminded of these words 208 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:02,720 I have an amazing job. I love my job. I would have never been able to imagine I get this job 209 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:07,120 I got great benefits. I have amazing pay and I have a lot of job security 210 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:10,480 I got great benefits. I have amazing pay and I have a lot of job security 211 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:12,560 and it 212 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,560 these words 213 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,560 Just that god's going to provide 214 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:18,720 Feels like sand in my fingers. None of it matters 215 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:26,160 I have I have the god of heaven and earth intimately aware of my needs and I can expect him to provide enough 216 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,240 What else do I need? 217 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:30,320 But be careful to not twist these words 218 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,820 These words are not promises made to you individually 219 00:15:34,820 --> 00:15:40,260 Like if as soon as you become a christian you get a coupon book for a free mcdonald's meal for the rest of your life 220 00:15:41,780 --> 00:15:47,220 These aren't promises that you get to go to the bank and cash in so you don't have to work every week 221 00:15:48,740 --> 00:15:50,260 This is a sermon 222 00:15:50,260 --> 00:15:56,260 To a group of people 2 000 years ago. Those analogies don't even make sense. Just be aware of that context 223 00:15:57,380 --> 00:16:00,660 Jesus is highlighting that the lord uses natural means to provide 224 00:16:00,660 --> 00:16:05,380 There are a number of miracle stories. Jesus could have pulled from manna in the wilderness for 40 years 225 00:16:05,940 --> 00:16:11,860 Shoes in the wilderness not wearing out for 40 years and jesus didn't rely on those things jesus relied on the natural things 226 00:16:13,380 --> 00:16:15,380 because 227 00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:20,660 He sees that god controls the movement of bugs and fish to feed birds 228 00:16:21,300 --> 00:16:27,060 He he keeps the sun shining so that photosynthesis can do its magic stuff and plants can grow 229 00:16:27,060 --> 00:16:31,780 That's what normally happens and our expectation should be that god will provide enough 230 00:16:32,500 --> 00:16:35,140 Not always miraculously if he wanted to he could 231 00:16:36,020 --> 00:16:40,180 But enough food and water and safety and health and everything else that we need 232 00:16:41,140 --> 00:16:46,900 Unlike the gentiles in verse 32 we they're bound to worrying about this stuff. We are not 233 00:16:47,380 --> 00:16:49,380 We get to expect good from the lord 234 00:16:49,860 --> 00:16:52,660 And when this is our expectation that the lord will provide for us 235 00:16:52,660 --> 00:16:58,260 We were able to truly live our lives. We are freed to seek the kingdom and that's point number three 236 00:16:58,820 --> 00:17:00,820 reading from verse 32 237 00:17:02,020 --> 00:17:06,180 For the gentiles eagerly seek all these things and your heavenly father knows that you need them 238 00:17:06,660 --> 00:17:11,460 But seek first the kingdom of god and his righteousness and all these things will be provided for you 239 00:17:12,660 --> 00:17:14,260 It's going to be up on the the the screen 240 00:17:14,260 --> 00:17:19,620 But I want you to understand seeking the kingdom means to desire as first importance the spread of 241 00:17:19,620 --> 00:17:23,540 And the participation in the reign of jesus christ. That's what it means. It has a definition 242 00:17:23,540 --> 00:17:25,540 You don't get to just put your own definition in there 243 00:17:26,180 --> 00:17:31,220 It means to desire as first importance the spread of and the participation in the reign of jesus christ 244 00:17:32,020 --> 00:17:37,220 You might have missed it, but seeking the kingdom is is being contrasted with worrying about your life 245 00:17:38,180 --> 00:17:43,700 You can either be anxious about your physical needs or you can seek the kingdom. That's what jesus is putting out there for us 246 00:17:44,420 --> 00:17:47,300 This means worrying isn't being concerned about your physical needs 247 00:17:47,300 --> 00:17:54,100 This means worrying isn't being denounced just as a bad action or a frivolous mental activity 248 00:17:55,460 --> 00:17:59,700 But as a selfish ambition because it reveals the selfish desires of your heart 249 00:18:01,220 --> 00:18:05,940 And john's thought explains this idea wonderfully in his sermon on the mount commentary 250 00:18:07,780 --> 00:18:09,780 And I just want to read a little bit 251 00:18:10,260 --> 00:18:13,700 Jesus is not talking so much about anxiety as about ambition 252 00:18:13,700 --> 00:18:18,580 Now heathen ambition focuses on material necessities, but this cannot be right for the christian 253 00:18:19,140 --> 00:18:22,100 The christian must have something else a higher ambition 254 00:18:22,660 --> 00:18:30,580 As the supreme good which he will energetically seek not material things but spiritual things not his own good but god's 255 00:18:31,220 --> 00:18:36,180 In fact no food and clothing but the kingdom and righteousness of god 256 00:18:36,900 --> 00:18:38,180 jumping ahead 257 00:18:38,180 --> 00:18:40,500 What then is our christian ambition? 258 00:18:40,500 --> 00:18:44,500 Everyone is ambitious to do something or be something often from early years 259 00:18:45,300 --> 00:18:52,660 Ultimately, there are only two possible ambitions for human beings one can be ambitious either for oneself or for god 260 00:18:53,140 --> 00:18:55,140 There is no third alternative 261 00:18:56,340 --> 00:18:59,940 This is just like jesus spoke in the preceding verses. This isn't out of nowhere 262 00:19:00,500 --> 00:19:03,940 There are two treasures. There are two masters. Which one are you going to serve? 263 00:19:04,660 --> 00:19:05,940 Are you going to 264 00:19:05,940 --> 00:19:12,580 Are you going to do john's example last week? Are you going to follow the master with a sweet siren call that's going to leave you shipwrecked? 265 00:19:13,860 --> 00:19:19,460 And really unsatisfied or are you going to submit to a god who can fulfill your heart's deepest longing? 266 00:19:20,340 --> 00:19:24,500 Do you see how jesus moved from anxiety to revealing our desires? 267 00:19:24,980 --> 00:19:29,140 It's important to follow because while jesus is gently counseling the anxious 268 00:19:29,140 --> 00:19:36,020 He's also speaking past their immediate problems in calling to their hearts to look up and see god 269 00:19:36,900 --> 00:19:40,340 Yeah, he wants you to leave worry behind. He doesn't want you to have to deal with it anymore 270 00:19:41,060 --> 00:19:45,700 But he's really calling us to forsake the sinful dreams of our hearts 271 00:19:46,820 --> 00:19:53,220 Let go of relying upon your own strength. Let go of following your own wisdom. Seek the kingdom and you will have enough 272 00:19:54,980 --> 00:19:56,980 He loves you too much to leave you 273 00:19:56,980 --> 00:19:58,980 Resolved with just no worries 274 00:19:59,940 --> 00:20:02,420 He wants you to follow him into complete surrender 275 00:20:04,340 --> 00:20:06,100 So to lay it out 276 00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:12,740 You can keep worrying about your body your clothes your house your job your kids everything else that you do or do not have 277 00:20:13,940 --> 00:20:17,060 You can keep pursuing the best life your imagination can conceive of 278 00:20:18,020 --> 00:20:22,740 And keep all of the plates spinning above your head and hoping none of them come crashing down 279 00:20:23,700 --> 00:20:24,660 or 280 00:20:24,660 --> 00:20:31,220 You can expect your heavenly father to provide enough and let your heart be filled with the ambition of seeking the kingdom of our savior 281 00:20:32,020 --> 00:20:34,020 And be honest with yourselves 282 00:20:34,100 --> 00:20:38,900 When was the last time you got a dream fulfilled that had left you really? 283 00:20:39,700 --> 00:20:41,700 joyous for a long time 284 00:20:43,140 --> 00:20:46,580 In my experience our dreams are pretty mediocre pursuits in the end 285 00:20:47,780 --> 00:20:50,900 Likely to leave us burnt out or have a broken relationship somewhere 286 00:20:50,900 --> 00:20:55,540 You want the american dream have it have a house have a kid two kids two cars 287 00:20:56,100 --> 00:20:58,100 Get a vacation every year 288 00:20:58,500 --> 00:21:00,500 Job paying six figures great 289 00:21:01,540 --> 00:21:03,540 How long until you get bored with it? 290 00:21:04,100 --> 00:21:06,100 a couple weeks a couple months 291 00:21:06,900 --> 00:21:10,660 Here's the silly example from my life, and this is a true story. Okay 292 00:21:11,860 --> 00:21:18,900 My father-in-law recently blessed us for christmas with a new fridge. It's a fancy french door fridge 29 cubic cubic feet 293 00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:22,180 Um, it has wonderfully cold water and delicious ice 294 00:21:23,940 --> 00:21:26,580 I didn't like our old fridge because it was normal sized 295 00:21:26,820 --> 00:21:31,860 Um, and I had to constantly move things around or like reorganize or take stuff out to get to the back 296 00:21:31,940 --> 00:21:34,340 You know like real big first world problems here 297 00:21:36,180 --> 00:21:38,180 And so right before it got delivered 298 00:21:38,660 --> 00:21:44,500 I was moving stuff around in it and and I heard my heart say I can't wait for my new fridge 299 00:21:44,500 --> 00:21:51,220 My life will finally be better and I will be happy like i'm not joking. I really felt this way 300 00:21:52,980 --> 00:21:56,740 My life had been incomplete until my french store fridge showed up 301 00:21:57,860 --> 00:22:00,900 Sorry kids. Sorry wife like not real joy 302 00:22:01,620 --> 00:22:04,420 Um, I need french doors. That's where true happiness is 303 00:22:06,500 --> 00:22:11,860 So kin's laughing with me you guys never felt this way really i'm alone on this island 304 00:22:11,860 --> 00:22:15,780 You get that you get that new gadget you get a promotion that's a nice one 305 00:22:16,820 --> 00:22:18,820 You finally get grandkids 306 00:22:18,820 --> 00:22:22,740 And you finally say to yourself ha now I will have a happiness now. I will have joy 307 00:22:23,780 --> 00:22:25,780 To quote the great theologian jim carrey 308 00:22:27,860 --> 00:22:34,020 I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so that they can see that it's not the answer 309 00:22:36,340 --> 00:22:40,340 Are you going to argue with such a famous person like he had the money he had the money 310 00:22:40,340 --> 00:22:43,140 He had the place and what did it leave him with? 311 00:22:43,700 --> 00:22:44,900 emptiness 312 00:22:44,900 --> 00:22:51,220 Or as c.s. Lewis summarized we are all content making mud pies when we have been invited on a holiday at the ocean 313 00:22:53,460 --> 00:22:55,540 We now reach the final verse of our text 314 00:22:55,940 --> 00:23:00,180 Culmination and see what the expectation of this world is where is jesus going to lead us 315 00:23:00,740 --> 00:23:07,220 Verse 34 therefore don't worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself each day has enough trouble of its own 316 00:23:07,220 --> 00:23:09,700 Here's my final point expect trouble 317 00:23:10,820 --> 00:23:15,220 Jesus lived in this world surrounded by dirty smelly people just like you and me 318 00:23:16,180 --> 00:23:18,180 He knew what it was like to have a hard life 319 00:23:18,660 --> 00:23:21,460 He doesn't teach the end of worry is the end of problems 320 00:23:22,420 --> 00:23:26,580 The song don't worry be happy fabulous song terrible theology 321 00:23:28,340 --> 00:23:34,500 Removing worry by seeking the kingdom really is the reverse to living an easy life 322 00:23:34,500 --> 00:23:37,700 Really is the reverse to living an easy life 323 00:23:38,500 --> 00:23:43,780 Moving for a life full of worry about this world worry about money worry about your knees. That's normal 324 00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:46,100 You're going to get a lot of support there 325 00:23:47,060 --> 00:23:53,780 But worrying about the kingdom seeking the kingdom is living so counterculturally that the result will be more trouble 326 00:23:54,420 --> 00:24:00,580 Jesus expects a life full of kingdom ambition to result in consistent trouble really hard trouble 327 00:24:00,580 --> 00:24:06,180 Family splitting trouble job losing trouble person persecution producing trouble 328 00:24:07,380 --> 00:24:12,020 And that is the promise repeated throughout the sermon on the mount and the lived experience of most christians 329 00:24:15,300 --> 00:24:19,140 We are exiles we're waiting for an entrance into our kingdom, this is not it 330 00:24:20,100 --> 00:24:21,460 We're outcasts 331 00:24:21,460 --> 00:24:27,460 And until that day comes the common refrain is always going to be life is hard and then you die 332 00:24:27,460 --> 00:24:29,940 Yes, there's an amazing hope for after this life 333 00:24:30,500 --> 00:24:32,820 I'm not denying that and jesus wouldn't deny it either 334 00:24:33,380 --> 00:24:36,020 But there's no expectation to get out of the troubles of this life 335 00:24:36,580 --> 00:24:39,220 But we do have one expectation that we can't hold on to 336 00:24:40,420 --> 00:24:43,860 The more trouble we face the more we grow independence 337 00:24:44,580 --> 00:24:47,540 Which allows us to be more fully seeking the kingdom 338 00:24:48,420 --> 00:24:53,220 And we see that jesus's teaching here is actually meditative and self-reforcing 339 00:24:53,860 --> 00:24:55,860 Let's go to the last part of the sermon 340 00:24:55,860 --> 00:25:00,740 We see that it works in circles seeking dependence pushes me towards more reliance upon god 341 00:25:00,980 --> 00:25:04,820 So I can be more prepared for the next trial or trouble that comes into my life 342 00:25:05,460 --> 00:25:09,460 But the troubles that come simply push me back up towards seeking more dependence 343 00:25:10,820 --> 00:25:14,820 Again, jesus gives no off ramp for our troubles. We have no way out of them 344 00:25:16,260 --> 00:25:17,700 He will be with us 345 00:25:17,700 --> 00:25:22,740 But he's not going to exclude us from them, but neither is he anxious about the troubles that are going to come 346 00:25:22,740 --> 00:25:25,540 And the same goes with expecting enough and seeking the kingdom 347 00:25:25,940 --> 00:25:32,260 The more I trust the lord in every situation for every need the more I am let loose to pursue the kingdom and its obedience 348 00:25:32,980 --> 00:25:38,180 And with more obedience comes more avenues to trust his provision growing in awareness of his provision 349 00:25:38,580 --> 00:25:42,260 Draws me closer to him and produces more spiritual fruit in my life 350 00:25:43,380 --> 00:25:46,900 When my deficiencies and sins are exposed what do I get? 351 00:25:47,380 --> 00:25:51,940 I get to be better positioned to be more prepared for the next trial 352 00:25:51,940 --> 00:25:55,460 I get to be better positioned to grow in christlikeness 353 00:25:56,900 --> 00:26:00,500 Jesus is driving us to see our need and be like him 354 00:26:01,060 --> 00:26:05,220 He wants us to keep going through this cycle. That's why he doesn't give us an off ramp 355 00:26:06,740 --> 00:26:10,420 That's a lot of theology. I recognize that. I'm good at this part 356 00:26:11,300 --> 00:26:13,300 Other parts I'm not so good at 357 00:26:14,100 --> 00:26:16,100 So I want to make sure that we understand this 358 00:26:16,580 --> 00:26:18,580 And we need a heart change 359 00:26:18,580 --> 00:26:21,380 So I got two points of simple application for us 360 00:26:22,820 --> 00:26:24,340 The first one 361 00:26:24,340 --> 00:26:26,340 Is consider 362 00:26:26,420 --> 00:26:27,460 consider 363 00:26:27,460 --> 00:26:29,460 Dr. Kurt Tom Thompson 364 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:36,020 Neuroscientist explains that you become what you pay attention to and john quoted this last week you you become what you value 365 00:26:36,580 --> 00:26:42,740 Pay attention to it. You're gonna it's gonna reinforce into you you become what you pay attention to so step one consider scripture 366 00:26:42,740 --> 00:26:48,100 Meditate on it read it think on it a lot and a lot and a lot more than you are right now 367 00:26:48,660 --> 00:26:52,260 Do it over and over and over again. We we covered nine verses this morning 368 00:26:52,900 --> 00:26:55,860 Matthew 6 24 sorry 25 through 34 369 00:26:56,420 --> 00:26:59,940 You can easily read these verses out loud. I timed myself yesterday in a minute 370 00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:06,740 So if you want to cultivate a life with less worry more trust in the lord and deeper focus on the kingdom read these verses 371 00:27:07,060 --> 00:27:09,060 15 20 times a day 372 00:27:09,060 --> 00:27:13,540 When your mind starts going off to anxiety about what am I going to do here? 373 00:27:13,540 --> 00:27:16,820 What am I going to do here? What what am I going to do about this problem with my kids? 374 00:27:16,820 --> 00:27:19,620 What am I going to do about this this bill that I have to pay? 375 00:27:20,660 --> 00:27:22,180 Go read the verses 376 00:27:22,180 --> 00:27:24,180 Just sit there and read them two times 377 00:27:25,540 --> 00:27:27,540 Try it for a week try it for two weeks 378 00:27:27,940 --> 00:27:29,940 See what will be cultivated in you 379 00:27:30,660 --> 00:27:36,820 You couldn't even imagine how deep they can get how much worry will will be exposed and get away from you 380 00:27:36,820 --> 00:27:41,540 I don't struggle much with worry if you interact with me in life. I got a pretty stressful job actually 381 00:27:42,100 --> 00:27:44,180 but worry is not something that is really 382 00:27:45,140 --> 00:27:47,140 kind of around me all the time, but 383 00:27:47,300 --> 00:27:52,100 Spending the last two weeks meditating on this verse. I just see how much worry I actually have 384 00:27:52,660 --> 00:27:58,820 Like it just exposed like no, I am not trusting the lord this morning. Boy. Oh boy. Was that really really obvious? 385 00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:02,500 So when you feel it creeping in 386 00:28:02,980 --> 00:28:04,740 You're gonna check your phone 387 00:28:04,740 --> 00:28:07,540 I don't know. I checked the stock app on my phone way too much. I don't do anything with it 388 00:28:07,540 --> 00:28:09,460 I just like oh the number went up 389 00:28:09,460 --> 00:28:11,640 I'm just going to replace that with reading these verses 390 00:28:14,820 --> 00:28:21,140 So consider consider consider consider scripture you are what you pay attention to so if you want to be something different 391 00:28:21,460 --> 00:28:24,820 Do something different and you'll quickly become a different person 392 00:28:26,020 --> 00:28:27,940 next step 393 00:28:27,940 --> 00:28:29,460 imagine 394 00:28:29,460 --> 00:28:33,940 And this one comes from living with my life who struggles deeply with anxiety. I love you, babe 395 00:28:33,940 --> 00:28:35,940 I love you, babe 396 00:28:36,980 --> 00:28:39,220 Again she's reviewed everything i'm saying 397 00:28:39,860 --> 00:28:45,300 And there's a there's a tendency of those who struggle with anxiety and worry and I have several of them around me and they all 398 00:28:45,300 --> 00:28:50,900 Do the same thing they can all imagine the worst possible scenarios like 15 steps deep 399 00:28:51,220 --> 00:28:54,420 Like they're in it and they're like, wow, none of that has happened 400 00:28:54,820 --> 00:28:56,260 And I don't think any of it's gonna happen 401 00:28:56,260 --> 00:28:59,540 It's like my kids are climbing on the playset and all of a sudden. Oh, they're gonna fall and break their leg 402 00:28:59,540 --> 00:29:04,260 Oh, and then it's gonna get infected then we have to amputate their leg and now they're gonna be on crutches for the rest of life 403 00:29:04,260 --> 00:29:06,260 Like babe slow down 404 00:29:06,660 --> 00:29:08,660 They're fine. They're a kid 405 00:29:11,220 --> 00:29:17,140 So what what this does constantly doing that we all do this in our own way is it creates neural pathways 406 00:29:18,100 --> 00:29:22,020 And and that's just a bunch of neurons together that like streamline how you think 407 00:29:22,420 --> 00:29:26,740 Okay, it's like a well-worn road or a walkway through a field 408 00:29:26,740 --> 00:29:30,900 It's like if you're pushing a cart and every single time you push the car you want the exact same way 409 00:29:30,900 --> 00:29:33,940 It's going to create a rut and that rut is going to be self-reinforcing 410 00:29:33,940 --> 00:29:39,620 It's going to push the cart back into the rut to make sure that it keeps doing that and that's what we have in our brains 411 00:29:40,660 --> 00:29:43,140 We're all we're all humans here. We all got this. Okay 412 00:29:44,100 --> 00:29:46,100 So how do you break that? How do you stop that? 413 00:29:46,100 --> 00:29:49,620 What you actually have to do is reverse those neural pathways 414 00:29:50,100 --> 00:29:53,380 Get rid of the old ones and build new ones and it's really hard to do 415 00:29:53,380 --> 00:29:57,700 Anybody who's tried to learn a new skill, that's what you're doing. It's exhausting 416 00:29:58,660 --> 00:30:01,380 So not saying that this is easy, but it's just what we need to do 417 00:30:02,180 --> 00:30:04,180 so imagine 418 00:30:04,420 --> 00:30:08,100 Take the bad thing that you see and you can imagine all the bad stuff that can happen 419 00:30:08,420 --> 00:30:13,860 And then shortcut it and say what if god allow the bad thing to happen? But what could he do with the rest of it? 420 00:30:14,500 --> 00:30:19,140 If the bad thing happened, I don't know if it's going to happen or not. What would it look like in a year? 421 00:30:19,140 --> 00:30:21,140 What would it look like in five years? 422 00:30:21,140 --> 00:30:25,940 Or maybe the bad thing's not going to happen and you can imagine how god is going to provide for you through 423 00:30:26,580 --> 00:30:30,420 Whatever circumstance you're in think of all the ways that he could be doing that 424 00:30:33,060 --> 00:30:35,460 I don't know. I don't know what they are. I don't know what your circumstances are 425 00:30:35,460 --> 00:30:38,340 But if I spend time doing this, you know what it fills my brain with 426 00:30:39,060 --> 00:30:44,260 I can expect god's power to show up in my life. This isn't like a magic spell to wipe away worry 427 00:30:44,260 --> 00:30:45,940 Like i'm not saying that 428 00:30:45,940 --> 00:30:48,740 I'm just simply saying that if I can imagine 429 00:30:48,740 --> 00:30:54,500 God can do it. He could do it 10 times better than I can imagine like his creativity and power are limitless 430 00:30:55,060 --> 00:31:01,860 Like i'm i'm very limited and so I want that to show up. I'm going to allow it to show up simply by imagining it 431 00:31:03,620 --> 00:31:08,740 And his he'll show up and he'll do it he'll do what he wants to do and it'll be so much better than what you can imagine 432 00:31:10,820 --> 00:31:14,980 Those are my two application points i'm going to close out the sermon with a really quaint little poem 433 00:31:14,980 --> 00:31:19,940 And I want to share this poem because i'm i'm very confident. This is what pastor jeff would like to share at the end of 434 00:31:20,020 --> 00:31:22,020 this sermon 435 00:31:22,820 --> 00:31:24,820 Said the robin to the sparrow 436 00:31:25,700 --> 00:31:30,980 I should really like to know why these ancient anxious humans rush about and worry. So 437 00:31:31,780 --> 00:31:39,140 Said the sparrow to the robin friend. I think that it must be that they have no heavenly father such as cares for you and me 438 00:31:39,140 --> 00:31:46,020 Let's pray heavenly father 439 00:31:47,460 --> 00:31:54,100 Please help our unbelief, please help our worry. Please help our anxieties our our deficiencies in trusting you 440 00:31:56,500 --> 00:32:03,540 You are good and righteous and kind and please reveal it to our hearts that we would see you in that way 441 00:32:03,540 --> 00:32:11,220 Please help us to be dependent upon you. Please help us to seek your kingdom above all else that our desires would be fulfilled in you 442 00:32:12,100 --> 00:32:14,900 And that your your son would reign in our lives 443 00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:32,900 In jesus name. Amen