1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,240 Let's come to our Lord in prayer this morning. 2 00:00:07,420 --> 00:00:10,960 Lord Jesus, we do thank you that you have the words 3 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,480 of eternal life and that as your disciples, 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,280 we have no other place to turn, 5 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,960 even though there is such great temptation 6 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,740 day in and day out to look to the things of this world. 7 00:00:26,740 --> 00:00:31,740 Lord, as we, your people, come around your word this morning, 8 00:00:32,620 --> 00:00:36,900 we ask that by your spirit, you would speak to us, 9 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:40,940 that you would help us, that you would humble us, 10 00:00:40,940 --> 00:00:44,500 that you would turn our eyes heavenward, 11 00:00:45,500 --> 00:00:49,020 and that you would change us to be the light, 12 00:00:49,020 --> 00:00:52,060 the salt of this world as you call us to be. 13 00:00:52,060 --> 00:00:55,740 We ask for this in Jesus' name, amen. 14 00:00:58,600 --> 00:00:59,720 Can everyone hear me? 15 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:07,160 So paradoxes are incredible things, 16 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:12,200 because two contradictory statements can be said 17 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:16,480 in the same sentence to bring out a truth. 18 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:21,480 And for me, the media during COVID really brought this out. 19 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,640 You see, on the one hand, this world was going through 20 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,400 a real experience of fear about a virus 21 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,760 that no one really knew much about. 22 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:33,400 People were terrified. 23 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,680 But on the other hand, we also witnessed 24 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,520 some of the most incredibly ridiculous behaviour 25 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:43,240 that the world has ever been exposed to. 26 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:48,040 I'm of course talking about people fighting over toilet paper 27 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,720 in the aisles of the local supermarket. 28 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,320 That's right, in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, 29 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:59,160 in the midst of such uncertainty and fear, 30 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:03,280 we were exposed to a great paradox, 31 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,340 in that we were shown, deep down, 32 00:02:06,340 --> 00:02:08,840 people are actually pretty shallow. 33 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,160 Now the thing that brought all this about 34 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,660 was the unbelievable worry that people had. 35 00:02:16,660 --> 00:02:21,080 Worry and anxiety over the things of this world 36 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:25,660 drove people to all sorts of insane behaviour. 37 00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:29,960 Well this morning, our text is going to address 38 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,280 the root cause of worry and help us to see 39 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:38,280 that when our hearts are focused on the goodness 40 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,800 and the providence of God, 41 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,840 well the things of this world won't cause us to walk 42 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,320 in such crippling anxiety. 43 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,720 So if you have your Bibles with you this morning, 44 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,920 we're going to be in the text quite a lot. 45 00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:58,280 So we're going to look at just one word in verse 25, 46 00:02:58,280 --> 00:02:59,700 the first word. 47 00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:02,040 We read, therefore. 48 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,440 Now it's been said from this pulpit before 49 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,040 that whenever you see the word therefore, 50 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:11,320 you must ask yourself the question, 51 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,920 why is that word therefore? 52 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:17,760 Well, it's usually there because the author 53 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,520 is summing up what's come before. 54 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,320 In other words, when you see the word therefore, 55 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,280 you need to look back so you can understand 56 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,680 the context of what you're reading. 57 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:31,640 And that's where we were last week. 58 00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:34,360 You'll notice this is part two. 59 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:36,740 We were in the context to this passage 60 00:03:36,740 --> 00:03:41,740 that spoke about what it is to live for the kingdom of heaven. 61 00:03:43,860 --> 00:03:47,440 In fact, Jesus has been teaching us about what it is 62 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:52,440 to live as kingdom-minded people all throughout this sermon. 63 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:54,560 And he's been doing this. 64 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,720 He's been doing this teaching about what it is 65 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:02,720 to be part of his kingdom because the disciples of Jesus 66 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:07,720 are called out of this world and into his kingdom 67 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:09,960 to do something. 68 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:14,640 And that something is to be the salt and light 69 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:19,640 of this world, which means that when we become Christians, 70 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:23,120 we're not to depart from this world, 71 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:28,120 but to impart into it so that those trapped in the darkness 72 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:33,120 might come towards the light, glorifying our heavenly Father 73 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,920 because of our good deeds, chapter five, verse 16. 74 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:43,200 Again, we are the salt and the light of this world, 75 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:48,200 a peculiar people who live in a peculiar world, 76 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:53,640 yet with a totally different ordered way of doing things, 77 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,040 which really does something, our Lord tells us. 78 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,120 It really does something in the scheme of things. 79 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,600 For example, as we saw last week, 80 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,600 those of the kingdom are not to live 81 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,600 for the things of this world, 82 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,320 storing up earthly treasures. 83 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,640 Because as Jesus told us by way of incredibly 84 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:22,520 metaphoric language, all that we collect and value 85 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:27,520 in this world is going to rot in the ground anyway, 86 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,520 if it's not stolen beforehand, that is. 87 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:33,880 So don't be like those of the world who live 88 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,480 for the things of this world. 89 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,000 No, turn your minds to the things of God 90 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,360 and employ your abilities in living in response 91 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,560 to the things that God would have you to do. 92 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,960 And it's as you do this, said Jesus, 93 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,600 it's as you look heavenward and cast your eye 94 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,040 towards what God would have you to do, 95 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,600 that the things of this world will be seen 96 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,560 as they're meant to be seen. 97 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:06,520 That we're seen as things that have a use-by date on them, 98 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:11,520 not as things to cast all your energy towards. 99 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,080 No, to live for the kingdom of heaven, 100 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,320 our Lord Jesus told us, 101 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,280 well, that can never be taken away from you. 102 00:06:20,280 --> 00:06:23,480 In other words, the treasures of living in obedience 103 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:28,360 to God's word will never decompose, 104 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,560 but follow you into eternity. 105 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,600 And it was as we were in our text last week 106 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,640 that Jesus ended with verse 24 107 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,400 with an incredibly sobering statement. 108 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,680 In fact, I would go so far as to call it 109 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,360 a black and white declaration, 110 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:53,360 meaning there is no gray areas to live out our discipleship. 111 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,960 Either God is your master and you will live to serve him 112 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:58,360 with all that you are, 113 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:03,240 or money, status, wealth still drives everything 114 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,000 that you're about. 115 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:09,400 And from that place of bondage and slavery, 116 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,000 you will live out your servitude 117 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:16,000 to the trinkets you collect and the treasures you store up. 118 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:20,760 We simply cannot serve two masters. 119 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,240 A sobering statement indeed. 120 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,640 This morning, we are going to continue 121 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:29,640 in our Lord's sermon in this part 122 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:31,920 about what it is to be a people 123 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,120 who have had their eyes lifted to heaven. 124 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:37,240 So with all that said, 125 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,560 let's dive headfirst into the text. 126 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:42,400 Again, looking at verse 25, 127 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:47,400 and I think we'll get a little bit past one word this time. 128 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,040 So these are the words of our Lord. 129 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:55,040 He says, I tell you, do not worry about your life. 130 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,560 Now, I think it would be very helpful 131 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:00,080 for us to understand something 132 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,120 about what Jesus is saying here. 133 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,160 You see, as I've already said, 134 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,280 what we have before us this morning 135 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,120 is building off last week 136 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,200 what was said last week. 137 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:13,960 And as we saw in that passage, 138 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,240 Jesus wasn't teaching that a total rejection 139 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,280 of having things on this earth was on view, 140 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:25,280 but a reordering of one's life priorities, 141 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,440 a reordering of our life's priorities. 142 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:29,960 That's what we looked at last week. 143 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,920 Jesus made us keenly aware that there is a danger 144 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,360 that we have to be aware of, 145 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:39,360 a danger of living to store up treasures on this world 146 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:42,920 and find our worth in those things. 147 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:44,960 Now, as disciples, we're to live 148 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,840 with a reordered view of our things 149 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,160 because our stuff doesn't define us. 150 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,320 It's not meant to satisfy us. 151 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:57,360 And we know that because the Holy Spirit of God 152 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:02,360 has shown us someone so much greater that we live for. 153 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,000 Our heavenly master, 154 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,840 he has revealed that to us, to his people. 155 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,120 And so with that understanding, 156 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:14,040 by Jesus saying, don't worry, 157 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,760 he's not saying to the disciples, she'll be right. 158 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:19,800 Don't worry about it, cover. 159 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,040 Sarah, Sarah, whatever will be, will be. 160 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,400 But again, he's making us keenly aware 161 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:31,400 that there needs to be a reordering in our life 162 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:36,320 because if we still have our eyes firmly fixed 163 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,160 on the things of this world, 164 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,520 then we will live in a constant state 165 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,440 of worry about those things. 166 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:48,800 Let me explain it like this. 167 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,080 When Jesus says, do not worry, 168 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,560 we have to understand that statement 169 00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:57,000 in the whole council of scripture. 170 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,160 And so with that said, he's not saying 171 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:03,120 that we should not concern ourselves with making a living. 172 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,600 And just because we follow him, 173 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:10,600 food will magically appear at our doorstep each morning. 174 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,680 And let me warn you, don't eat what the cats bring you. 175 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:19,280 Nor is he saying for us to just go and quit all of our jobs 176 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,800 and God will take care of the rest. 177 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:26,320 We know that's not the case because Paul says later 178 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,000 in 1 Timothy 5, 8, 179 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:32,760 that people who can work so as to provide for their families 180 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:37,160 but choose not to are worse than unbelievers. 181 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,400 Nor as Christians are we to ever turn away people 182 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,160 in genuine need. 183 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:47,160 It's a good and biblical principle to concern ourselves 184 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:50,720 with the practical assisting of others 185 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:52,000 in whatever way we can. 186 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,440 We saw that in the Ephesians series that we went through. 187 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,440 I also want to say that Jesus isn't saying 188 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,960 that you won't have any trouble in this life. 189 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:07,200 That if you put Jesus first, you get a spiritual hall pass. 190 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,160 No, you will have trouble and persecution 191 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:11,560 if you follow Jesus. 192 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:16,560 He tells us that plainly in John 15, 18 to 21. 193 00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:19,120 So we mustn't misunderstand Jesus here. 194 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:20,840 He's not saying don't worry 195 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:24,480 because you really won't have any troubles at all. 196 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,520 Now as we're gonna see in our passage this morning, 197 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:33,440 he's saying don't worry because if you understand the truth, 198 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:37,520 if you raise your eyes from the things of this world 199 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:39,640 and to our heavenly father, 200 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:41,480 then you won't worry about your life 201 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:45,360 despite your troubles in this world. 202 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:48,240 Now it might be said, 203 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,160 we might explore worry a bit, the theme of worry. 204 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,840 And worry bubbles up to the surface 205 00:11:55,840 --> 00:12:00,360 because we've drifted off and fixated on the wrong things. 206 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,680 Now please don't misunderstand me here this morning. 207 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:07,720 We all go through things in various degrees 208 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,280 and our trials certainly can bring out 209 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,800 some serious concerns for us. 210 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,800 Jesus knows that about his disciples. 211 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,400 He knows that we will go through all sorts 212 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,560 of trials and tribulations in this world 213 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:26,080 and that we will have to deal 214 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:30,280 with some pretty serious things on this side of eternity. 215 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:35,400 Christians go through financial hardship, 216 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,200 go through the loss of a spouse or child, 217 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:42,400 go through the deterioration of health, 218 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,160 bad news from the doctors. 219 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,320 Christians go through persecution 220 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,320 and times of oppression from governments 221 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:55,000 and communities, friends, and even their own families. 222 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,320 I know for myself going through the season 223 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,920 that Hayley and I have just gone through, 224 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:04,320 there were real moments of worry at night 225 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,200 as I lay there thinking about all the things 226 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:11,360 that could go wrong with a spinal operation. 227 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:16,480 I can't imagine what some of you have gone through 228 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:18,520 in this room this morning. 229 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:21,520 I might as say that worrying about things, 230 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,000 well, it doesn't always come 231 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,520 from these big life events either. 232 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,560 No, it can come just from life in general. 233 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,040 I think that's the deeper question 234 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:39,040 that our Lord brings out in us here this morning. 235 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,960 When he says, don't worry, 236 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:47,320 he brings out the question of where our hearts are 237 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:52,320 at any given moment with our walk with God. 238 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,720 Where are they when we go through various trials, 239 00:13:55,720 --> 00:14:00,640 through the unpredictable, even the mundane? 240 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,480 You see, worry comes as a result of fixating 241 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:05,280 on what is right in front of you 242 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,480 and the what ifs of the situation. 243 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,760 And things get clouded when we get distracted 244 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,480 with the things of this world, whatever they might be. 245 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:20,480 That's usually why we worry because, yes, 246 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,960 you really might lose your house. 247 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:27,880 Yes, you may really lose a spouse, your health, 248 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,840 and yes, we may really be persecuted in this country 249 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:34,600 of ours because we don't use the right language 250 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,560 or affirm the right communities. 251 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:42,440 But all those possibilities bring out something in us. 252 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:46,640 Do we worry because our heart is fixated 253 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:48,880 on the wrong things? 254 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,400 Is it possible that we worry and fret 255 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:56,040 because our treasure is still on the things of this world? 256 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,800 Well, brothers and sisters, it's actually a wonderful thing 257 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:02,840 that Jesus is doing here. 258 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,960 Because as he tells us not to worry, 259 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:11,880 we again can think of the places where we do worry, 260 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:14,480 which is a good opportunity to do something 261 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:18,240 called self-examination. 262 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,360 Self-examination in light of the word. 263 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,920 And again, this morning, there is a good opportunity 264 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,920 to think about where and what we are trusting in 265 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:30,960 and a good opportunity to see where the things 266 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,560 of this world really do have our attention 267 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:38,040 and confess them before our Father in heaven. 268 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,360 And our Lord is doing this because he knows 269 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,560 what we will face in this world 270 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:48,560 and how fear will try to claw its way into our hearts 271 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:53,640 and drag us back into the darkest recesses of hopelessness. 272 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,560 So instead of saying, don't worry about it, 273 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:01,160 and that's that, Jesus actually breaks into 274 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,680 our fear and trepidation with truth 275 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:07,160 and tells us where we can lift our hopes 276 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,560 and where we can lift our eyes and put our trust. 277 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,760 That's right, Jesus again takes our minds 278 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:19,640 from where he knows they naturally gravitate towards 279 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,480 and with this passage gives us some great things 280 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:27,880 to help us lift our eyes heavenward to our loving Father. 281 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:32,480 Because he knows if we focus in on the truth, 282 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:37,480 the worries of this world will be seen for what they are. 283 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:41,280 However, church, you must understand, 284 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:45,080 Jesus isn't giving us a formula here to say over and over, 285 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,960 there's no place like home, there's no place like home, 286 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:49,360 there's no place like home. 287 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:55,040 No, he pierces our hearts with his word, the truth, 288 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,680 so that we might get things in perspective 289 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,360 and look heavenward so as to put our trust in someone 290 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,160 other than ourselves. 291 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:10,080 To put it plainly, Jesus holds the truth to us 292 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:14,800 in this passage so that we might trust our heavenly Father 293 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:18,920 as trust in the truth of who God is, 294 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:23,520 is what it takes to overcome worry in this world. 295 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:26,920 So six things we're gonna look at in this passage, 296 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:28,760 and for you note takers out there, 297 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:32,560 I very kindly numbered them for you. 298 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:34,360 You may see more in the text, 299 00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:38,160 but six is what we will focus on this morning. 300 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:42,320 So first, you might notice it in verse 25 301 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:47,320 that Jesus highlights where our priorities go wrong. 302 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,760 He says, is life not more than food, 303 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:54,080 the body more than clothes? 304 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:57,680 And that's so great what Jesus is doing there. 305 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,640 He's telling us when worry starts to creep in, 306 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:05,480 we should ask ourselves the question in the midst of it all, 307 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:10,160 is life not more than food and the body more than clothes? 308 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:11,880 I think some should have asked, 309 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,240 is life not more than toilet paper? 310 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:16,480 Might be too late for that. 311 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:19,760 But that's a great question to ask ourselves. 312 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:21,800 When worry starts to creep in, 313 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,520 to kick your mind back into reality, 314 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:28,280 ask yourselves, is life more than what I eat 315 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:31,320 and drink and wear? 316 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:33,720 And it's funny because that's what 317 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:37,120 advertising companies go after, right? 318 00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:41,760 They attach so much of those things to our status, 319 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:46,000 preaching to us that you're not as great as the next person 320 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,800 if you don't have the greatest things. 321 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:54,800 The world attaches so much satisfaction and status 322 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,200 to what you do with your body. 323 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:04,040 It's a worldly mindset and our Lord is saying 324 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:08,280 our lives are so much more than these things. 325 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:13,120 Because we don't live for the approval of others, 326 00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:17,320 but in the hope of not just this life, but the life to come. 327 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,880 So this question gets us to see things in perspective. 328 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,720 If you're trusting in what the world labels 329 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:28,720 as great and important, then your priorities are misplaced 330 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:30,920 and you'll always worry. 331 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:34,800 Always worry that either you'll lose these things 332 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:39,800 or you won't do enough to get them, won't have enough. 333 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:43,800 So Jesus gets us to look at our priorities. 334 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:47,680 Second, he draws our minds to the providence of God 335 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:49,760 in verses 26 and 28. 336 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,240 He says, look at the birds of the air. 337 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,120 They don't sow or reap or store away in barns 338 00:19:56,120 --> 00:19:58,400 and yet your heavenly father feeds them. 339 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,160 And why do you worry about your clothes? 340 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,400 See how the flowers of the field grow, 341 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:06,000 they do not labor or spin. 342 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:08,440 Notice what he's doing here. 343 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,880 He not only gets us to ask ourselves 344 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:14,320 where our priorities are when we worry, 345 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,760 he also draws our minds to the providence of God 346 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:22,760 in the midst of it, which is so clearly on display 347 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:24,360 in his creation. 348 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,000 I mean, this is an everyday thing that we can do. 349 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:34,000 Just open the door, walk outside and go and see. 350 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,000 Let me draw one example here on how important it is 351 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,600 to understand what Jesus is saying here. 352 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,640 We just got birds for Bethany and for her birthday. 353 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:51,960 And there's such a sense of care and love from her 354 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,080 already towards these little things. 355 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:59,560 I mean, she spent hours on YouTube researching 356 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:03,040 what they need to eat, where they're meant to live, 357 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:04,760 how they're meant to be handled, 358 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:06,760 and how they're meant to be protected, 359 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:10,320 especially from sticky little siblings. 360 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:15,000 And she does this because she loves them so much. 361 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,840 These aren't random little creatures to her. 362 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:22,200 They're her responsibility and she takes seriously 363 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,480 her role in the whole thing. 364 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:30,000 But that is nothing compared to what we saw on Monday 365 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,760 when she asked me to take her to the zoo 366 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:36,520 because she wanted to visit her budgie's little cousins 367 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:37,840 in the bird enclosure. 368 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,360 I mean, there's people in that place 369 00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:46,640 who have spent years and years studying birds 370 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:50,360 so that they can help them survive and not go extinct. 371 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:55,240 And it dawned on me, the great similarity between my daughter 372 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:58,360 and these people who dedicate their lives 373 00:21:58,360 --> 00:22:01,320 to these beautiful little animals 374 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:06,320 is that they both live to serve these creatures. 375 00:22:08,120 --> 00:22:13,120 Jesus is drawing his disciples to something here, 376 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:16,680 not to little pets owned by children 377 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,120 or to the exotic fowl at the zoo 378 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:21,800 who are cared for by experts, 379 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,560 but to the birds of the air who are graciously, 380 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:28,960 wonderfully served by our heavenly father. 381 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:33,640 Now think about it, birds of the air, 382 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:35,360 grass of the field, 383 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:40,000 well, they don't have a personal relationship 384 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:42,920 with our heavenly father through the Lord Jesus Christ, 385 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,560 but we do, brothers and sisters. 386 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:50,840 So if God cares for them in such a way, 387 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:55,680 how do you think he's gonna care for us? 388 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,880 Are you not much more valuable than they? 389 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:00,320 Verse 26. 390 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,720 So we combat worry in our lives 391 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:08,160 by thinking where the priorities have gone wrong 392 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:13,360 and then we can meditate on God's providential care. 393 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,080 Third, Jesus has so kindly, 394 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:19,240 all throughout the Sermon on the Mount, 395 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:24,240 given incredibly deep logical reasons 396 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:29,240 for his argument, and we see it again in verse 27. 397 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,920 Jesus says, can any one of you, 398 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:36,920 by worrying at a single hour to your life? 399 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,280 I mean, think about what he's saying here. 400 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:42,160 When you feel that worry kicking in, 401 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,280 the what ifs of the situation, 402 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:49,400 if you relish it in your mind and spiral around it, 403 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,680 the only thing it will achieve 404 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,240 will be something like a whirlpool 405 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:57,240 that drags you down and suffocates you. 406 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,600 I mean, it's not like if you completely freak out 407 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,800 that the results are gonna change. 408 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:09,240 At the end of the day, the Lord is telling us, 409 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,200 worry doesn't actually do us any good. 410 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,040 It doesn't actually fix anything. 411 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:18,480 Fourth, when we worry, we act like people in the world, 412 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:22,360 more than those who know that we have a loving, caring, 413 00:24:22,360 --> 00:24:24,960 providential heavenly father. 414 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:27,160 It's right there in verse two. 415 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,320 The pagans run after these things. 416 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:32,280 They worry about clothes and what they'll drink 417 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:33,240 and what they'll eat, 418 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:38,080 but your heavenly father knows that you need them. 419 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:41,640 In other words, to be consumed with worry 420 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:43,160 about how are you going to live 421 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:48,080 is something that those who don't trust in God, 422 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:49,680 that's what they do. 423 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:51,480 That's how the world thinks and acts 424 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:55,040 because ultimately they have no hope. 425 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:57,880 On the flip side, fifth, 426 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:02,040 if we trust that our father knows what we need, 427 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,200 then really at the end of the day, 428 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:07,800 really at the end of the day, 429 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:09,400 we have nothing to worry about. 430 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,240 Now don't mishear me. 431 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,160 Things get hard. 432 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:17,120 Things get scary. 433 00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:20,160 That valley that you may be walking through 434 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:23,080 gets very, very dark, no doubt. 435 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:27,320 But it's not like our heavenly father is looking around 436 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,960 going, oh no, I've lost Bruce and Sheila again. 437 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,640 And the truth of the matter is that, 438 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:36,560 though we might feel scared, 439 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,840 our heavenly father knows exactly where he has us. 440 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:43,000 He knows exactly what we need 441 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:47,320 and he provides for us in the midst of it. 442 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:52,040 Sometimes what we need is not always what we want. 443 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:55,840 That's why knowing God as our father 444 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:01,360 tears away at worry because we know 445 00:26:01,360 --> 00:26:05,520 that he knows us better than we know ourselves. 446 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,480 He knows what we need more than what we want 447 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:14,480 and he provides for us in that providential love and care. 448 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:22,320 So church, Jesus penetrates our ever sanctifying lives 449 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:25,240 by holding out to us some incredible truths 450 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:27,760 so that we might combat the worry 451 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:32,200 that so easily, so easily creeps in. 452 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:36,440 First, worry comes because our minds are disoriented. 453 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:38,640 So when things feel off course, 454 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:42,280 when things get hard, ask yourself in that situation, 455 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,200 is this really what my life is all about? 456 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:50,200 Second, we are testified to every day by God's creation 457 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,360 and it shows us that he cares for us 458 00:26:54,360 --> 00:26:57,120 more than we could ever possibly imagine. 459 00:26:57,120 --> 00:27:00,800 Third, worry actually doesn't change anything. 460 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:03,440 Fourth, worry about things is what the world does 461 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:06,320 because they walk around really with no hope 462 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:10,960 and but we do because fifth, we have a heavenly father 463 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:14,560 who not just loves us but knows what we need. 464 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:19,520 Now there's one more thing that Jesus adds into all of this 465 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:22,200 and we wanna take note of it, it's in verse 34. 466 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:27,000 Our Lord ends this entire point by saying, 467 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,920 therefore don't worry about tomorrow 468 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:32,880 for tomorrow will worry about itself. 469 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:36,440 Each day has enough trouble of its own. 470 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:39,800 In other words, we don't know the future 471 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:43,480 and so to look at your present situation and worry 472 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,400 is just as useless as looking to the future 473 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:51,400 and fretting over things that you just have no control over. 474 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:55,840 Now getting back to what was already said this morning, 475 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:58,800 just because you follow Jesus as Lord 476 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:01,880 doesn't mean that we have some spiritual hall pass 477 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:06,880 that protects us from every creepy crawly in this life. 478 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:12,960 No, God doesn't extract us from this world. 479 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:18,920 He actually sends us out into it to be lights 480 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:23,840 knowing that we will be in a dark world. 481 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:29,440 And so we just don't know what troubles will come 482 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:31,240 in that darkness. 483 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:33,920 And so our Lord is telling us this morning, 484 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,560 it does no good for us to fixate our minds 485 00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:40,480 on what is wrong and what can go wrong in this world. 486 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,880 Now what He's preparing us for church, 487 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,360 what He's preparing His people for 488 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:51,200 is a way to deal with those things as they come 489 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,760 because trouble is part of a fallen world. 490 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:57,840 And so the Lord Jesus gives us some things here 491 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:00,720 to help us lift our eyes to the truth 492 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:03,880 so that we might be set free from worry 493 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:08,280 as we trust in the providential love and care 494 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:09,760 of our heavenly Father. 495 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,120 I want us to step back for a moment. 496 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:17,880 And I want to make you aware of something 497 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:22,480 running through the entire sermon on the Mount. 498 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:26,840 It's a theme that helps us to draw it all together. 499 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,520 It's on the slide. 500 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:31,400 It's the kingdom of heaven. 501 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:36,960 We've heard about it over and over and over again 502 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:39,760 through the five and a half months 503 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:41,320 that we've been in this book. 504 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:45,040 God promised through the prophets 505 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:49,400 that He would send a king who would usher in a kingdom. 506 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:55,160 And that's exactly what God has done with Jesus. 507 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:59,880 He is the promised king of God's heavenly kingdom. 508 00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:02,960 Now what's important to note about all of this 509 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:05,560 is that God made a promise 510 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:09,920 and God fulfilled that promise in Jesus Christ. 511 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:13,920 He really did send a savior into this world 512 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,320 to save His people. 513 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:17,920 And so we can look at Jesus 514 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:20,000 and know beyond a shadow of a doubt 515 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:24,320 that our greatest need for yesterday, today, 516 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:29,040 and forever has been fully and completely met. 517 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:33,280 Our ultimate need has been met in Christ now 518 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:34,880 and for all eternity. 519 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:38,440 We've seen that through the months 520 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:42,440 as we've been in the gospel according to Matthew. 521 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:46,640 When Christ's righteousness is given to us, 522 00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:50,320 we enter into the kingdom of heaven. 523 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:55,080 Are we given the status in Jesus 524 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,720 as a son or daughter of God? 525 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:01,640 That's right, we enter the kingdom of heaven 526 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:05,440 because the king of heaven came to live 527 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:08,720 and die for His people. 528 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,680 And we are told that whoever calls upon the name 529 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:14,360 of the Lord will be saved. 530 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:19,440 And so this morning, everything is put into perspective 531 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:23,200 when we understand who and what we are 532 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:25,560 in relation to this world. 533 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:30,920 Worry is squished when we see that we are citizens 534 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:35,840 of God's kingdom through the Lord Jesus Christ. 535 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:39,320 What a wonderful truth to not just meditate on, 536 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:42,200 but trust with all that we are. 537 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:46,880 So with all that said, with that understanding and told, 538 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:51,280 Jesus draws our attention to how we, His disciples, 539 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:53,720 citizens of the kingdom of heaven, 540 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:58,720 God's children should approach every given situation. 541 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:00,440 In verse 33. 542 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:06,720 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. 543 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:13,240 And all, not some, all these things 544 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:16,200 will be given to you as well. 545 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:22,520 Church, we will come against all sorts of things 546 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:23,400 in this world. 547 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:28,720 But when you're dealing with worry, stop, ask yourself, 548 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:32,280 what is this life really all about? 549 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:37,960 Because at the end of the day, Church, because of Jesus, 550 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:42,960 you're no longer a citizen of the kingdom of darkness, 551 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:46,520 but a citizen of another kingdom. 552 00:32:47,800 --> 00:32:50,760 So worry really comes when we drift off 553 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:55,760 and forget what we are now at this moment in Christ, 554 00:32:56,680 --> 00:32:59,720 who and what we are now in relation 555 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:02,880 to the creator of all things. 556 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:07,000 Because of Jesus Christ, there is a new order 557 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:10,680 of priorities that come with being a citizen 558 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:13,240 of the heavenly kingdom. 559 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:17,440 So there's an order that we live for and seek in this world. 560 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:23,480 So in any given situation, you might ask, 561 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:27,840 am I seeking God's rule on earth as it is in heaven, 562 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:29,560 like we pray? 563 00:33:29,560 --> 00:33:32,760 Or am I still looking for what works best for me? 564 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:35,320 Am I seeking the leading of Jesus in my life 565 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:39,320 or is my mind still positioned in such a way 566 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:42,440 that I'm looking at all of this with me at the center? 567 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:46,840 Remember, we're invited, invited by our heavenly father 568 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:50,360 to go and speak to him about all these things. 569 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,040 And I want you to notice this, Church. 570 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:56,760 Our Lord says to us that we don't seek God's rule 571 00:33:56,760 --> 00:34:00,200 and reign in our lives as some afterthought. 572 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:04,120 We seek first above all else. 573 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:07,400 And that mindset isn't limited to Church life. 574 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:11,960 No, it infiltrates by the work of the Spirit, 575 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:15,480 it infiltrates everything that we're involved in. 576 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:18,440 Every hobby, relationship, desire, job, 577 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:21,640 recreation, business plan, our everything. 578 00:34:24,040 --> 00:34:27,000 Without pushing this illustration too far, 579 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:30,280 we're kind of like a paradox, right? 580 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:34,280 On the one hand, we're a blood-purchased people 581 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:37,400 who are citizens of the heavenly kingdom, 582 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,360 children of the living God. 583 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:46,120 Yet we're still in our bodies in a fallen world, 584 00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:50,120 which is grasping for all our affections and desires. 585 00:34:51,160 --> 00:34:55,160 It's known by some as an already but not yet. 586 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:58,520 An already but not yet existence. 587 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:02,200 Jesus calls us to something so much greater 588 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:04,520 than a life lived for oneself. 589 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:08,920 He calls his disciples to a life of servitude, 590 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:12,760 both before our heavenly father and towards others 591 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:15,560 in the way that we act in this world. 592 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:19,800 And all of us are faced with decisions in our life. 593 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:22,280 King Jesus knows that. 594 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:24,200 Yet as we've seen, worry is a sign 595 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,000 that our priorities have gotten out of order 596 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:29,000 and that we've become disoriented. 597 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:33,080 And yet Jesus says when these things come, 598 00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:35,560 raise your eyes heavenward 599 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:37,800 because we can know that our heavenly father 600 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:42,280 sees and understands every aspect of our lives. 601 00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:45,480 And more than that, he cares for you. 602 00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:48,680 And so in light of that church, 603 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:52,360 we can give ourselves over completely 604 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:55,720 to the cause of the kingdom in all that we do. 605 00:35:55,720 --> 00:35:59,080 Not worrying that we'll be forgotten or misplaced 606 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:03,400 because we know that our heavenly father provides for us. 607 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:10,280 Because of Jesus, because of Jesus, 608 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:15,320 we can abandon ourselves into our heavenly father's care 609 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,520 and give everything we are for his service, 610 00:36:18,520 --> 00:36:22,280 wherever we may find ourselves in this dark world. 611 00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:27,880 Because we know by the words of our Lord 612 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:33,720 that we will be provided for in the here and the now 613 00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:35,960 and for all eternity. 614 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:41,840 These are wonderful truths that Jesus gives us in his word. 615 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:44,480 The church, do you trust him? 616 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:49,040 Do you trust his word over what you see in this world? 617 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:52,560 Well, like always, we are invited 618 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:56,240 to come to the throne of grace as the people of God. 619 00:36:56,240 --> 00:37:01,240 So let's do that now as his disciples and children. 620 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:03,760 Would you please pray with me? 621 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:06,240 Please pray with me. 622 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:14,240 Lord Jesus, we started our time this morning 623 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:19,120 asking that you would help us to understand your word 624 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:25,680 by your spirit who is working among us this morning. 625 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:32,160 And Lord Jesus, we have come up time and time again 626 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:37,160 against such wonderful truths that we need your grace 627 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:41,880 and your mercy and your love and your care 628 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:43,480 to lead and guide us in. 629 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:48,720 Lord Jesus, these are not words that you have given to us 630 00:37:48,720 --> 00:37:52,560 to cast aside and keep doing things our way, 631 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:56,600 but words that bring us to you daily. 632 00:37:57,720 --> 00:38:01,200 And so we ask that you would please help us. 633 00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:03,240 Please change us. 634 00:38:03,240 --> 00:38:06,760 Take us from where we were to take us 635 00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:08,960 to where you want us to be. 636 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:15,120 Lord, we want to see your kingdom come on this earth 637 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:18,520 as it is in heaven wherever you have us. 638 00:38:18,520 --> 00:38:21,840 Lord, we want to see people hear the gospel. 639 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:24,600 We want people to turn from the way they were going 640 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:29,400 and to put their trust completely and totally in you. 641 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:32,560 Lord, we want to be a people that make disciples 642 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:35,280 not of our own cultural community, 643 00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:38,520 but of you in all that you have taught us. 644 00:38:38,520 --> 00:38:41,040 These are things that we need your help 645 00:38:41,040 --> 00:38:43,240 and we want your help in. 646 00:38:43,240 --> 00:38:47,120 Would you please, Lord Jesus, lead and guide us 647 00:38:47,120 --> 00:38:49,280 in what you would have us to do. 648 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:51,960 We ask for all of this in your mighty 649 00:38:51,960 --> 00:39:06,960 and precious and holy name, amen.