WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.500 Today I am teaching while Pastor Nathan is in 00:00:02.500 --> 00:00:04.919 the South Sudan, and yes, he's finally there. 00:00:05.019 --> 00:00:07.440 That's a lot of travel, so whoop, he's there. 00:00:09.419 --> 00:00:15.199 But today I have an interesting topic that I 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:18.739 think is really needed nowadays and is good for 00:00:18.739 --> 00:00:22.379 us to remember and to what I like to say is how 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:27.519 to be content in Christ. Anyone else would notice 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:31.519 that times right now are tough and even scary. 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:36.659 We have the cost of living going up. I don't 00:00:36.659 --> 00:00:38.579 know about you guys. Living in California is 00:00:38.579 --> 00:00:42.479 so dumb. It is so expensive, especially here 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:47.060 in LA. But also, anyone else notice that people 00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:52.039 are more hostile? Just the general public is... 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:56.439 more on edge. I noticed ever since COVID, right 00:00:56.439 --> 00:01:00.859 when the break of COVID's whole lockdown was 00:01:00.859 --> 00:01:03.000 up, so many people were getting knocked out. 00:01:03.259 --> 00:01:05.859 People were getting punched because it's like 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:09.000 we spent, what, two and a half years behind screens 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:11.400 and not dealing with people, and then people 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:13.439 think they can be rude to others, and then others 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:15.040 think the way to respond to that is with more 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:18.079 rudeness, and we just see the sinful side of 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:20.870 human beings. We see people hurting each other 00:01:20.870 --> 00:01:23.670 because they disagree. You've even got, unfortunately, 00:01:23.829 --> 00:01:26.170 if you didn't know, known terrorist groups right 00:01:26.170 --> 00:01:28.569 now are calling for their followers to go around 00:01:28.569 --> 00:01:32.450 and hunt down other religious groups. And we've 00:01:32.450 --> 00:01:34.750 seen it. We've seen some connections. We've seen 00:01:34.750 --> 00:01:37.209 others where it's just political, people have 00:01:37.209 --> 00:01:39.810 political bents, where they're attacking churches. 00:01:40.069 --> 00:01:43.510 We have recently, this past month, three separate 00:01:43.510 --> 00:01:45.849 different schools and or churches of different 00:01:45.849 --> 00:01:48.170 faiths that were attacked, and people are dying. 00:01:48.620 --> 00:01:53.280 Because of disagreements. It's crazy. We've even 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:56.760 got the assassination of Charlie Kirk, his martyrdom. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:01:59.359 And if you don't think it's martyrdom, I disagree 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:01.819 kindly. We can disagree and still be friends 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:04.840 and brothers and sisters in Christ. But his whole 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:08.340 point for starting Turning Point USA was literally 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:13.360 because he believed in Jesus. His faith was so 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:16.159 important to him. And God was so important that 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:19.060 he's like, Lord, you've... given me these ideas 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:21.060 and you've called me to go and make disciples. 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:23.659 And that's how he went and did it. And someone 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:25.699 disagreed with him and did not like those views 00:02:25.699 --> 00:02:28.419 and killed him. He therefore died for his faith. 00:02:30.180 --> 00:02:34.599 So all of these situations can make us worrisome. 00:02:35.099 --> 00:02:38.580 All of these situations can cause anxiety, cause 00:02:38.580 --> 00:02:41.939 us to fear. Some people would even say it makes 00:02:41.939 --> 00:02:47.219 us discontent. We don't have enough money to 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:50.719 afford groceries, to afford bills. We don't have 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:52.939 enough safety. People are dying. I'm afraid to 00:02:52.939 --> 00:02:55.340 talk to people. I don't know what they're going 00:02:55.340 --> 00:03:00.340 to do. But today, I want to address those situations 00:03:00.340 --> 00:03:03.039 because I believe God has addressed what it means 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:07.159 to be content in him. I think we need to trust 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:09.639 him more, and specifically, we're going to learn 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:14.639 today what it means to be content in Jesus. So 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:16.560 with that, I'd like to pray, and then we'll get 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:22.919 into worship. Lord, thank you. I pray that you 00:03:22.919 --> 00:03:25.460 bless this time, Lord, as we've gathered here 00:03:25.460 --> 00:03:27.680 in your name, that you would hear our worship, 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:29.539 and it would be a sweet -smelling aroma to you, 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:33.000 Lord, that we would lay down any weights that 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:35.659 are causing us to not fully engage with you and 00:03:35.659 --> 00:03:37.979 worship you, Lord, and that we would truly bless 00:03:37.979 --> 00:03:40.360 you with our worship, and that your word would 00:03:40.360 --> 00:03:42.280 be blessed for us today, that we would take it 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:44.060 and live it out, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. 00:03:44.219 --> 00:03:48.080 Amen. As we started in the intro, we're talking 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:51.860 about how to be content in Christ today and what 00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:55.280 that means and what that looks like. So we have 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:58.379 to start out by asking the question, what is 00:03:58.379 --> 00:04:00.719 contentment? What does it mean to be content? 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:03.819 And the dictionary, modern dictionary, says the 00:04:03.819 --> 00:04:06.599 state of being mentally or emotionally satisfied 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:10.080 with things as they are. And as we talked about 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:13.330 in the intro, it's easy to see why nowadays Not 00:04:13.330 --> 00:04:16.589 so many people are content. But everyone wants 00:04:16.589 --> 00:04:18.910 to be content, right? We all want to be satisfied 00:04:18.910 --> 00:04:21.110 with the things that are around us, with the 00:04:21.110 --> 00:04:24.410 status of what's going on. We want that just 00:04:24.410 --> 00:04:28.569 nice peace, that contentment of just, yes, I'm 00:04:28.569 --> 00:04:33.550 okay with this. But as I said, more and more 00:04:33.550 --> 00:04:36.629 it seems like people are lining up with discontentment. 00:04:37.670 --> 00:04:41.310 And even some Christians are lining up with discontentment. 00:04:42.350 --> 00:04:44.290 People aren't satisfied with the state of things 00:04:44.290 --> 00:04:49.689 right now. There's uproars, there's riots, there's 00:04:49.689 --> 00:04:52.069 literally in other parts of the world, there's 00:04:52.069 --> 00:04:54.509 constant revolts against government. There's 00:04:54.509 --> 00:04:57.230 a lot going on. People aren't satisfied. Some, 00:04:57.290 --> 00:04:59.250 even for us here, right? We might not be satisfied 00:04:59.250 --> 00:05:01.269 with how expensive things are. We don't have 00:05:01.269 --> 00:05:04.170 enough money or people are being just aggressive 00:05:04.170 --> 00:05:07.730 and maybe people are scared. Bless you. People 00:05:07.730 --> 00:05:10.850 are scared and they're afraid and they want more 00:05:10.850 --> 00:05:17.079 safety. They want to feel safer. But again, these 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:20.639 things, these issues, can lead us to worry and 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:25.079 anxiety. And unfortunately, the younger generations, 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:28.220 as I deal with youth, are extremely anxious. 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:30.220 I actually had a youth the other day in one of 00:05:30.220 --> 00:05:33.120 the Friday night hangouts. I always give time 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:37.300 for them to ask questions. And they were talking 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:39.720 about how they're scared because they're almost 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:44.639 an adult. the craziness of politics and people 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:48.279 being aggressive. And it's like, yeah, it can 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:51.639 be scary and it can be worrisome. But today, 00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:55.639 I'm going to look at how we don't have to be 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.240 discontent in this. We don't have to worry and 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:01.800 have anxiety. Now, I do want to address, there 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:04.740 are more than one way of being discontent, right? 00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:07.040 There is more than one way. It's not just, oh, 00:06:07.060 --> 00:06:08.939 worry and anxiety is the only way of being discontent. 00:06:09.060 --> 00:06:13.180 There are other ways. You have such as someone 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:16.220 who, not because they lack money, but they love 00:06:16.220 --> 00:06:18.879 money. This is someone I'd call is greedy. They 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:21.160 have a love for money. Think of Rockefeller, 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:23.100 right? When he's asked, when will enough be enough? 00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:25.120 And he's like, one more dollar. He just always 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.379 wants more, always wants more. I believe that's 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:31.199 Rockefeller. But, right, that idea of just always 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:35.379 wanting more. But then there's also covetousness. 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:38.740 Ah, my friend has the thing that I really want. 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:41.600 It's like, oh, he's got the better car, the better 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.139 motorcycle, the better you name it. I want that. 00:06:45.579 --> 00:06:48.980 And unfortunately, these are all forms of discontentment, 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.459 right? Worry, covetousness, greed, or love of 00:06:51.459 --> 00:06:54.740 money. It's all a form of discontentment. The 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:57.319 beautiful thing about today is what we're looking 00:06:57.319 --> 00:06:59.480 at is we're going to be looking at the answer 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:03.560 for all forms of discontentment. Today's answer 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:07.480 shows us how to be content in Christ in all situations. 00:07:10.649 --> 00:07:13.850 Now, to get into that, I first want to look at 00:07:13.850 --> 00:07:17.649 a person who learned the secret of being content. 00:07:19.089 --> 00:07:23.870 That would be the Apostle Paul. And I love the 00:07:23.870 --> 00:07:26.430 Apostle Paul, and if anyone should be discontent, 00:07:26.449 --> 00:07:30.569 it's him. Let's be honest. He went through some... 00:07:30.860 --> 00:07:35.060 crazy opposition for Jesus. Even in 2 Corinthians, 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:38.180 in chapter 11, Paul records some of the stuff 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:40.699 he's been through, specifically verses 23 through 00:07:40.699 --> 00:07:44.560 28. Paul says this, Are they servants of Christ? 00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:47.819 I'm talking like a madman. I'm a better one. 00:07:48.410 --> 00:07:51.209 With far more labors, many more imprisonments, 00:07:51.230 --> 00:07:55.670 far worse beatings, many times near death. Five 00:07:55.670 --> 00:07:58.689 times I received 40 lashes minus one from the 00:07:58.689 --> 00:08:02.230 Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once 00:08:02.230 --> 00:08:05.920 I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:09.360 I've spent a night and a day in the open sea. 00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:12.519 On frequent journeys, I faced danger from rivers, 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:15.519 dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, 00:08:15.660 --> 00:08:18.800 dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:21.579 in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers 00:08:21.579 --> 00:08:25.250 among false brothers. toil and hardship, many 00:08:25.250 --> 00:08:28.529 sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without 00:08:28.529 --> 00:08:32.470 food, cold and without clothing, not to mention 00:08:32.470 --> 00:08:35.370 other things. There is the daily pressure on 00:08:35.370 --> 00:08:40.309 me, my concern for all the churches. That's a 00:08:40.309 --> 00:08:46.210 list. I don't know about you guys. I haven't 00:08:46.210 --> 00:08:49.389 been beaten for Jesus. I haven't been stoned 00:08:49.389 --> 00:08:53.740 for Jesus. Paul has. How many of us are like, 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:58.000 yeah, I've had it just as bad as Paul? No, I 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:01.779 doubt it, right? It's, wow, he went through some 00:09:01.779 --> 00:09:06.080 crazy stuff for Jesus. So then the question should 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:09.679 be is how is he content in Christ? I mean, he 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:12.700 faced one of my worst fears. And don't get me 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:14.860 wrong, I'm not a fearful person. I think I have 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:17.539 healthy fears. Being stuck in the ocean for a 00:09:17.539 --> 00:09:20.779 day and a night with things that are three times 00:09:20.779 --> 00:09:24.480 to ten times your size and swim not only twice, 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:28.919 but sometimes ten times faster than you? I don't 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:31.340 want to be stuck in the ocean. My wife and I 00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:33.519 had an anniversary at a beach once, and there 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:35.460 was this baby whale. And I remember, I'm like, 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:37.059 I want to go swim with it. And the lifeguard's 00:09:37.059 --> 00:09:39.070 like, don't do it. I'm like, why not? And they're 00:09:39.070 --> 00:09:41.370 like, their form of playing is pinning you under 00:09:41.370 --> 00:09:43.690 until you die. They think they're playing. You 00:09:43.690 --> 00:09:46.549 can't lift the 300 -pound animal off you while 00:09:46.549 --> 00:09:49.710 you're under the water, right? Scary, but Paul 00:09:49.710 --> 00:09:54.909 somehow through all of this was content. Here's 00:09:54.909 --> 00:09:59.590 the thing. It's crazy to think how he's content, 00:09:59.730 --> 00:10:02.649 but he specifically learned a secret about it, 00:10:02.710 --> 00:10:04.509 and we'll see that in Philippians chapter 4, 00:10:04.570 --> 00:10:08.149 verse 11 through 13. Paul writes, I don't say 00:10:08.149 --> 00:10:10.990 this out of need, for I have learned to be content 00:10:10.990 --> 00:10:14.970 in whatever circumstance I find myself. I know 00:10:14.970 --> 00:10:17.649 how to make do with little, and I know how to 00:10:17.649 --> 00:10:21.509 make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances, 00:10:21.710 --> 00:10:25.330 I have learned the secret of being content, whether 00:10:25.330 --> 00:10:28.710 well -fed or hungry, whether in abundance or 00:10:28.710 --> 00:10:32.110 in need, I am able to do all things through him 00:10:32.110 --> 00:10:37.000 who strengthens me. Paul says that he has learned 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:40.080 the secret of being content, and there's something 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:42.059 about this phrase that really makes me happy, 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:44.620 because to give context of what's going on here, 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:48.320 why he writes this, Paul just received a gift 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:51.139 of money from the Philippian church, and he writes 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:52.820 back to them saying, thank you, right? They sent 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:55.179 him money to help him in his ministry, and he's 00:10:55.179 --> 00:10:57.379 saying, thank you, and then proceeds to say, 00:10:57.460 --> 00:10:59.759 you didn't have to, but thank you for partnering 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:02.950 with me, but I know how to be content whether 00:11:02.950 --> 00:11:07.230 I have money or don't. And what I like here is 00:11:07.230 --> 00:11:09.710 he specifically says that he has learned how 00:11:09.710 --> 00:11:12.190 to be content in all situations. And the word 00:11:12.190 --> 00:11:14.230 learned in the original language literally means 00:11:14.230 --> 00:11:19.590 to gain knowledge or skills to learn. So it's 00:11:19.590 --> 00:11:21.289 not like Paul just magically woke up one day 00:11:21.289 --> 00:11:24.590 and was content. He's not like, I can be okay 00:11:24.590 --> 00:11:27.970 in anything now, right? Now, I do believe God 00:11:27.970 --> 00:11:30.879 can help us. learn contentment quicker and could, 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:34.580 if he wanted to, choose to make us learn contentment 00:11:34.580 --> 00:11:38.100 like that. But that's not so for all of us. A 00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:40.379 lot of us, if you're like me, you kind of got 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:42.500 to go through discontentment to learn contentment. 00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:49.000 Now, here's the thing. Paul said he learned the 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.240 secret. That is a blessing to me, and I hope 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:54.460 it's a blessing to you, because if Paul learned 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:57.789 it, it means we can learn it. It doesn't mean 00:11:57.789 --> 00:12:00.350 that Paul magically attained something we can't 00:12:00.350 --> 00:12:05.009 have. It means we can learn it as well. Now, 00:12:05.049 --> 00:12:07.529 what is the key to Paul's contentment then? If 00:12:07.529 --> 00:12:09.490 he learned it, what's this secret, this key? 00:12:10.169 --> 00:12:13.450 He says that he can be fed or hungry in abundance 00:12:13.450 --> 00:12:15.389 or need. I don't know about you, when I'm hungry, 00:12:15.450 --> 00:12:19.990 I get grumpy. I'm not content. Hey, man, hangry 00:12:19.990 --> 00:12:26.159 is a word for a reason. Either way, Paul says 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:29.480 he can be content in all things. Why? Because 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:32.360 of Jesus who strengthens him. And yes, that verse 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:34.940 is in context of living for him, not in like, 00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:37.059 I can't open this peanut butter jar. I can do 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:38.360 all things through Christ who strengthens me, 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:41.460 right? It's not that. What he's saying is he 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:44.500 can be content in all situations of life because 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:49.980 of Jesus, because he knows who he is. This is 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:55.610 the key. Jesus is the source. of Paul's contentment. 00:12:56.710 --> 00:13:01.029 And he should be our source as well. Jesus is 00:13:01.029 --> 00:13:03.929 the one that Paul is focused on, on knowing him, 00:13:03.990 --> 00:13:06.870 of understanding him. Paul's not focused on his 00:13:06.870 --> 00:13:10.750 situation. He's focused on Jesus. And the reason 00:13:10.750 --> 00:13:14.309 I use the word focus is because, yes, Paul's 00:13:14.309 --> 00:13:16.049 not like in the middle of the ocean going, okay, 00:13:16.110 --> 00:13:17.669 I'm not going to swim. I'm just going to drown 00:13:17.669 --> 00:13:19.669 now because Jesus will take care of me. No, he 00:13:19.669 --> 00:13:22.190 sees a situation. He knows he's got to paddle 00:13:22.190 --> 00:13:25.019 or hold on to something. But he's not focused 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:27.600 on it and freaking out. I love when we read about 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:30.100 Paul in the prison, right, when he's in prison, 00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:32.820 and he's not going, oh, guys, prison's so hard, 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:34.759 I don't want to be here. He's like, guys, this 00:13:34.759 --> 00:13:36.659 is for God's greater good. The gospel's going 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:39.820 out to so many people here in prison. So you 00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:42.620 can see, even in prison, Paul is focused on Jesus. 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:48.799 And that's how he was content in prison. So if 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:52.750 Jesus is Paul's key to contentment, We should 00:13:52.750 --> 00:13:56.769 probably look at what Jesus says, right? I agree. 00:13:56.950 --> 00:14:00.590 I think so. And if worry is one of these big 00:14:00.590 --> 00:14:02.690 forms, especially nowadays, of discontentment, 00:14:02.730 --> 00:14:06.289 let's look at what Jesus has to say about worry 00:14:06.289 --> 00:14:09.929 and about being content. In Matthew chapter 6, 00:14:10.110 --> 00:14:15.450 verse 25 through 34, Jesus says this. Therefore, 00:14:15.590 --> 00:14:20.090 I tell you, don't worry about your life. What 00:14:20.090 --> 00:14:22.690 you will eat, or what you will drink, or about 00:14:22.690 --> 00:14:26.129 your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more 00:14:26.129 --> 00:14:29.289 than food and the body more than clothing? Consider 00:14:29.289 --> 00:14:32.129 the birds of the sky. They don't sow or reap 00:14:32.129 --> 00:14:34.470 or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father 00:14:34.470 --> 00:14:38.309 feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they? 00:14:39.370 --> 00:14:42.730 Can any of you add one moment to his lifespan 00:14:42.730 --> 00:14:45.879 by worrying? I'm glad the CSB words it that way 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:48.200 because Kirk likes to joke with me and say, you 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:50.179 know, who can add a cubit to his stature because 00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:53.860 I'm short. Love you, Kirk. So I'm glad they worded 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:55.759 it that way. Either way, back to what Jesus says. 00:14:57.700 --> 00:15:01.940 And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how 00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:05.200 the wildflowers of the field grow. They don't 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:08.820 labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even 00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:11.740 Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:15.070 one of these. If that's how God clothes the grass 00:15:15.070 --> 00:15:17.330 of the field, which is here today and thrown 00:15:17.330 --> 00:15:20.769 into the furnace tomorrow, won't he do much more 00:15:20.769 --> 00:15:25.309 for you? You of little faith. So don't worry 00:15:25.309 --> 00:15:27.830 saying, what will we eat or what will we drink 00:15:27.830 --> 00:15:31.649 or what will we wear? For the Gentiles eagerly 00:15:31.649 --> 00:15:34.950 seek all these things and your heavenly father 00:15:34.950 --> 00:15:39.379 knows that you need them. But seek first the 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:43.100 kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:46.019 these things will be provided for you. Therefore, 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:49.740 don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:53.279 will worry about itself. Each day has enough 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:59.000 trouble of its own. Jesus literally said, don't 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.200 worry about your life, what you will eat, drink, 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:06.409 or wear. He says, don't worry. He then compares 00:16:06.409 --> 00:16:12.990 the value of us to that of birds and flowers 00:16:12.990 --> 00:16:18.129 of the field and our worth to God. Compared to 00:16:18.129 --> 00:16:20.769 these birds that don't collect food and store 00:16:20.769 --> 00:16:22.889 them in storehouses and make sure they have enough 00:16:22.889 --> 00:16:27.129 in case a disaster happens. No, they trust God. 00:16:27.610 --> 00:16:30.070 God provides for them daily. The flowers, which 00:16:30.070 --> 00:16:32.169 are adorned more beautiful than Solomon himself, 00:16:32.470 --> 00:16:36.129 who was part of the golden era of Israel where 00:16:36.129 --> 00:16:38.730 they had no issues, they had so much money it's 00:16:38.730 --> 00:16:40.669 not even funny, and they still don't look as 00:16:40.669 --> 00:16:42.169 good as the wildflowers. And I don't know about 00:16:42.169 --> 00:16:44.750 you guys. I love going out and hiking and camping. 00:16:45.649 --> 00:16:48.590 Wildflowers are so pretty. I like them more often 00:16:48.590 --> 00:16:50.429 than not than people's own personal gardens. 00:16:50.690 --> 00:16:53.629 Not in a weird way. There's something about the 00:16:53.629 --> 00:16:55.250 natural beauty of seeing them. I don't know if 00:16:55.250 --> 00:16:57.909 you've ever driven on the freeway. more on the 00:16:57.909 --> 00:17:00.149 91 further east, and you get to see just after 00:17:00.149 --> 00:17:01.929 it rains all the rolling fields with all the 00:17:01.929 --> 00:17:04.009 beautiful flowers and the purples and yellows. 00:17:04.009 --> 00:17:10.269 So beautiful. And yet God loves us more. We are 00:17:10.269 --> 00:17:14.349 of so much more worth to God than birds and flowers, 00:17:14.450 --> 00:17:16.910 yet he takes care of them. Who did God die for? 00:17:17.009 --> 00:17:22.250 The flowers and the birds? No, for us. That's 00:17:22.250 --> 00:17:24.549 the worth he sees in us, even when we were still 00:17:24.549 --> 00:17:28.829 enemies. He loves us that much. And that's why 00:17:28.829 --> 00:17:31.910 Jesus says, aren't we of more worth than birds 00:17:31.910 --> 00:17:35.690 and flowers in God's eyes? Then why do we worry? 00:17:36.509 --> 00:17:39.029 Now, I want us to look at something here. Notice 00:17:39.029 --> 00:17:43.170 what Jesus said. He says, the Gentiles eagerly 00:17:43.170 --> 00:17:47.420 seek after these things. Now remember, at this 00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:50.160 time, Jesus' ministry is focused towards the 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:53.299 Jews, towards the Israelites. And so if we take 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:55.920 what he's saying here and move it into our modern 00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:00.700 vernacular, our modern words, Jesus is saying 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:03.660 the Gentiles, the world, the people who don't 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:06.779 live for God, not God's people, they eagerly 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:11.759 seek after these things. The people who don't 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:16.269 love God, Seek after worldly things. And it just 00:18:16.269 --> 00:18:18.589 makes me think of people who go into crippling 00:18:18.589 --> 00:18:23.069 debt for things I call status symbols. Such as 00:18:23.069 --> 00:18:28.109 the nice car, the big house, social media followers. 00:18:29.410 --> 00:18:32.529 Do so much to where, hey, I've spent so much 00:18:32.529 --> 00:18:34.809 money to get this car, but I can't feed my family 00:18:34.809 --> 00:18:38.769 because I'm in crippling debt. And it's like, 00:18:38.829 --> 00:18:42.619 ah! But you see that their heart is chasing after 00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:45.819 these material things. They're trying to fill 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:49.559 a void of discontentment that will never get 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:54.960 filled. Their mind is fixated on worldly things. 00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:58.779 But Jesus says to his people what they should 00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:01.819 be doing is seeking first the kingdom of God 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:06.259 and his righteousness. Jesus is saying before 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:09.259 anything else in life, Chase after God's kingdom 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:14.359 and his righteousness. Yes, I'm not saying don't 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:16.380 have a job. I'm not saying go into the wilderness 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:20.119 and don't work. We'll talk about that in a little 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:23.740 bit. But I believe the secret of contentedness 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:28.369 that Paul learned is Jesus. And that might sound 00:19:28.369 --> 00:19:30.390 easy, right? How many of you remember being in 00:19:30.390 --> 00:19:33.269 Bible, in Sunday school, and it's like every 00:19:33.269 --> 00:19:35.930 answer to every question was always Jesus, right? 00:19:36.009 --> 00:19:38.549 It feels easy. But that's what this answer is. 00:19:38.650 --> 00:19:42.630 The answer really is Jesus. This is the secret 00:19:42.630 --> 00:19:47.180 to contentment. Why? Because I believe Paul grew 00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:50.339 in his knowledge of Jesus, grew in the knowledge 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:53.019 of God's kingdom and his place in the kingdom, 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:55.299 grew in his knowledge of God's righteousness. 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:59.019 He learned the character of God. He found that 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:02.740 God was trustworthy, faithful, good, loving, 00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:05.859 and even a loving father who disciplines him 00:20:05.859 --> 00:20:09.180 when he messes up. Not for discipline's sake, 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:12.220 but for redemption's sake to pull him back. to 00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:17.259 make him more Christ -like. He learned God. He 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:22.200 learned Jesus. And this is something I think 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:25.579 we need to be doing daily. Not just learning, 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:29.059 but also remembering. Because how often do we 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:31.680 come to a church service and Pastor Nathan teaches 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:33.000 something, we're like, oh, I remember learning 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.599 that, but I really needed that today. I don't 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:37.680 know why I forgot it. Same, right? That's... 00:20:37.950 --> 00:20:40.009 That's how it is. We're forgetful as humans. 00:20:40.150 --> 00:20:45.230 Look at the nation of Israel walking through 00:20:45.230 --> 00:20:46.970 the wilderness for 40 years, constantly forgetting 00:20:46.970 --> 00:20:50.569 God, when God was literally a cloud above them 00:20:50.569 --> 00:20:52.710 by day and a pillar of fire by night, and yet 00:20:52.710 --> 00:20:54.990 they're still walking into rebellion and walking 00:20:54.990 --> 00:20:59.089 into idolatry. Humans are sinful and forgetful. 00:20:59.329 --> 00:21:02.549 We need to constantly be focusing on who God 00:21:02.549 --> 00:21:05.170 is. I mean, even think about it. Think about 00:21:05.170 --> 00:21:08.019 Peter walking on water. I love Peter, right? 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:10.940 I relate to him because both him and I tend to 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:12.380 put our foot in our mouth. We're really good 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:17.539 at that. But he might be the one that everyone 00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:19.619 says, oh, he's the one that Jesus said, get behind 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:21.980 me, Satan and adversary and all that. But you 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:23.519 know, he's also the only disciple that walked 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:27.400 on water. None of the other ones could say that. 00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:31.200 Now, what happened when Jesus took his focus, 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:33.819 or when Paul took his focuses, or Peter took 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:39.799 his focus off Jesus? He sank. When he stopped 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:44.119 focusing on Jesus and instead worried about the 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:47.880 situation and his surroundings is when he sank. 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:52.819 He was content in the moment while looking at 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:56.000 Jesus. But the moment he took his eyes off and 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:58.539 looked around and started focusing and worrying 00:21:58.539 --> 00:22:01.240 and getting anxiety over all the waves, that's 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:07.430 when he sank. Our main goal as believers is to 00:22:07.430 --> 00:22:12.549 know our God, to know his kingdom, our place 00:22:12.549 --> 00:22:15.130 in it, and to know the works that he has prepared 00:22:15.130 --> 00:22:18.009 for us, to do them, to be faithful servants, 00:22:18.109 --> 00:22:22.990 keeping our eyes focused on him. Worry, greed, 00:22:23.210 --> 00:22:26.150 covetousness, and discontentment, that's what 00:22:26.150 --> 00:22:30.150 you get when you stop focusing on God. When you 00:22:30.150 --> 00:22:33.029 don't look at Jesus and look to the future hope 00:22:33.029 --> 00:22:35.769 that we have in him, of course, It's like looking 00:22:35.769 --> 00:22:37.589 around and seeing what everyone else has and 00:22:37.589 --> 00:22:39.789 everything that's going on. We're like, ah, and 00:22:39.789 --> 00:22:44.890 freaking out or wanting more. When we focus ourselves 00:22:44.890 --> 00:22:47.490 on our situation, we are like Peter and we sink. 00:22:47.990 --> 00:22:51.890 When we focus on the material and the temporal, 00:22:51.970 --> 00:22:55.410 the things that don't last, think about that. 00:22:56.910 --> 00:23:00.859 They don't last. We think, I need the perfect 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:04.160 life with the big car and the big house and all 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:06.559 these things. And it's like, guys, I used to 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:08.259 be a furniture deliverer, one of the many jobs 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:10.980 I had. I delivered to rich people's mansions. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:13.059 They're overrated. The rooms are literally, I 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:15.000 got 30 rooms. Yeah, but you can't even fit a 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:17.119 twin -size bed in it, so it's not worth it. Just 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:22.940 saying. Either way. Instead of focusing on those 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:26.119 things, we should focus on the spiritual and 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:30.519 eternal, the things that last, God and his kingdom. 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:35.019 Look at 1 Timothy 6 -8. It says, But godliness 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:40.220 with contentment is great gain. For we brought 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:43.559 nothing into this world, and we can take nothing 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:47.500 out. If we have food and clothing, we will be 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:52.319 content with these. We can gain all the fame, 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:54.799 have all the entertainment, all the material 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:58.700 wealth that this world can give us, and the truth 00:23:58.700 --> 00:24:02.160 is, we don't get to leave with any of it. It 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:04.240 doesn't matter. It's not like, you know, the 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:07.119 Egyptians believed, oh, we can stockpile our 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:08.980 tombs with all our stuff, and the pharaohs had 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:11.019 all these extravagant, that's a waste of stuff. 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:13.160 Imagine how many people could have been fed with 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:16.160 all of the money that was buried with the pharaohs. 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.680 It's like, this is dumb, because they don't get 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:20.119 to take it with them. We don't get to take our 00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:21.779 stuff. It's not like, cool, I got to take my 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:24.720 computer to heaven with me, right? No, it's staying 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:32.920 here. This is the truth. Our contentment, our 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:36.359 godliness, being like Christ, with contentment, 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:40.839 being okay with food and clothing, the basic 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:44.799 necessities, that is what we should be content 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:47.710 with. Thank you, God. Don't get me wrong. I'm 00:24:47.710 --> 00:24:49.430 right there with you guys. Sometimes we focus 00:24:49.430 --> 00:24:51.390 on the worldly things. We're like, Lord, I want 00:24:51.390 --> 00:24:53.670 that really cool thing. I want that cool new 00:24:53.670 --> 00:24:56.250 gadget or tool. And then you get it and you're 00:24:56.250 --> 00:24:59.069 like, oh, that was a waste of money. I've been 00:24:59.069 --> 00:25:04.029 there with you, right? We should focus on Jesus. 00:25:04.170 --> 00:25:07.250 Our lives should be lived for him, learning about 00:25:07.250 --> 00:25:11.269 him, remembering what he's done for us and what 00:25:11.269 --> 00:25:14.849 he is doing for us. Learning how to serve him 00:25:14.849 --> 00:25:17.470 each and every day, asking him, Lord, what do 00:25:17.470 --> 00:25:21.130 you want me to do today? Is there anyone? Open 00:25:21.130 --> 00:25:23.109 my eyes to see the work that you have prepared 00:25:23.109 --> 00:25:27.509 for me today. Because without Jesus, we are and 00:25:27.509 --> 00:25:33.049 have nothing. We are just horrible sinners that 00:25:33.049 --> 00:25:37.470 shouldn't even exist. But God loved us so much 00:25:37.470 --> 00:25:40.910 that he not only let us exist, but he died for 00:25:40.910 --> 00:25:45.349 us. Now, you might be thinking, but Pastor Rick, 00:25:45.430 --> 00:25:47.250 hold on, hold on, hold on. You're saying some 00:25:47.250 --> 00:25:50.990 fancy words, and you can be content, but people 00:25:50.990 --> 00:25:53.849 are trying to kill people nowadays. Like, this 00:25:53.849 --> 00:25:56.569 is a little extreme. And I would say to you, 00:25:56.710 --> 00:26:00.390 so what? Suck it up, buttercup. Martyrdom ain't 00:26:00.390 --> 00:26:05.609 new. It's new to America, right? Well, not exactly. 00:26:05.670 --> 00:26:09.049 It's new for our generation. But let's be honest. 00:26:09.990 --> 00:26:13.250 Martyrdom isn't new. Welcome to the club. Pastor 00:26:13.250 --> 00:26:16.289 Nathan is in the South Sudan. You guys know if 00:26:16.289 --> 00:26:18.609 you look at open, I think it's open glass or 00:26:18.609 --> 00:26:22.009 opendoor .org, they track the deadliest and most 00:26:22.009 --> 00:26:24.970 dangerous places to be as a Christian. Yeah, 00:26:25.089 --> 00:26:28.289 South Sudan or the Sudan, fifth, fifth most dangerous. 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:31.319 Now, don't worry. He's safe, right? As he said 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:33.380 in the video, he's safe. He's in a compound. 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:35.519 There's generals in the army there. I'm kind 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:37.240 of jealous because he gets to be with 50 cows. 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:41.480 I want to go shoot one. Either way, he's safe 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:44.200 there. But if any of us was just randomly in 00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:47.200 the sedan walking around and proclaiming Jesus, 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:52.319 I would say there is a 99 .99 % chance you are 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:54.059 going to get captured, tortured, and killed. 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:59.390 In America, Worst thing we got was people being 00:26:59.390 --> 00:27:02.750 mean on the internet. Maybe people sue your bakery 00:27:02.750 --> 00:27:05.670 and you run out of business. Now people are dying. 00:27:05.809 --> 00:27:10.109 But so what? And I know that sounds like, wow, 00:27:10.289 --> 00:27:13.890 Rick, you're kind of, Pastor Rick's kind of crazy 00:27:13.890 --> 00:27:15.710 here. He's just saying so what? Well, look what 00:27:15.710 --> 00:27:21.150 Jesus said in Matthew 10, verse 28. Don't fear 00:27:21.150 --> 00:27:23.869 those who kill the body but are not able to kill 00:27:23.869 --> 00:27:27.220 the soul. Fear him who is able to destroy both 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:31.579 soul and body in hell. Here's my question to 00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:35.640 all of us. Are you more afraid of just a random 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:40.680 person or are you more afraid of God? I hope 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:42.940 and pray we're all more afraid of God because 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:47.099 he is the only one who can send us to hell. No 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:50.519 one else can. And I want to do what God has called 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:54.359 us to do. I want us to be living for him. Sure. 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:56.839 Hey, think about this, guys. If you're a Christian, 00:27:57.039 --> 00:28:00.259 death is no longer death. One of my favorite 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:05.079 apologists, Frank Turek, I don't know why I couldn't 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:07.380 remember his name, he says something that I love. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:11.019 Death is no longer scary for a Christian. It 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:14.240 is simply our moving date. Because Paul says 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:18.420 our bodies are simply tents. This is not our 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:21.220 home. We are a part and citizens of the kingdom 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:24.200 of heaven. So while we're here, this is like 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:27.680 a work trip. We are his ambassadors, his servants, 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:30.839 sharing his word and his truth, knowing him more 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:34.119 and more. And hey, if you send me home, cool, 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:37.079 I got to go be with Jesus. Right? Now, don't 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:39.779 get me wrong. When Charlie Kirk died, a lot of 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:43.539 people mourned, and that's okay. I'm not saying 00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:45.500 don't mourn death, but you know what I think 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:48.279 happened when he got to heaven? God was like, 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:52.539 well done, my good and faithful servant. There 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:57.019 was angels rejoicing. I don't see this as like, 00:28:57.099 --> 00:29:01.039 oh no, it's like, okay, he's home now. He did 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:03.279 what God called him to do, and now he's with 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:07.539 his Lord and Savior. Like, yes, that's awesome. 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:12.420 So be like Paul, saying to live is Christ and 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:18.859 to die is gain. Now, I'm not saying don't have 00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:22.240 a plan. I'm not saying, you know, you see like 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:25.019 a six -foot -five dude that's like 250 with a 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:28.380 giant axe and has a mask on. Don't go up to him 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:31.259 and go, hey, do you know about Jesus, right? 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:35.759 Like, be wise. Don't just like, if I was walking 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:37.640 down the street and my friend Eric here had a 00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:39.559 giant axe, I would run the other way. Love you, 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:49.269 Eric. But be wise. If it's, you know, if God 00:29:49.269 --> 00:29:53.329 calls you to go talk to that person, do it. But 00:29:53.329 --> 00:29:57.490 don't be dumb. The Bible talks so much about 00:29:57.490 --> 00:30:00.130 wisdom and how important wisdom is. It even says 00:30:00.130 --> 00:30:04.089 that wisdom comes from God. So for us to be Christ 00:30:04.089 --> 00:30:07.190 -like, we should be wise. There's literally an 00:30:07.190 --> 00:30:09.890 entire book in our Bible dedicated to wisdom, 00:30:10.089 --> 00:30:12.769 Proverbs. I recommend reading at least one chapter 00:30:12.769 --> 00:30:15.150 a day because there's 31 chapters, and if you 00:30:15.150 --> 00:30:17.269 land on a month that has 31 days, there you go. 00:30:18.029 --> 00:30:23.789 You have wisdom for each day. That is the importance, 00:30:23.849 --> 00:30:28.109 right? Have this plan. Now, what I like is Paul 00:30:28.109 --> 00:30:32.869 says he knows how to make do with a little or 00:30:32.869 --> 00:30:36.029 a lot. That even gives us the example that it's 00:30:36.029 --> 00:30:38.730 not like Paul's just like, well, I guess God 00:30:38.730 --> 00:30:41.670 will have to do everything for me. No, he focuses 00:30:41.670 --> 00:30:44.730 on God, and he knows how to handle what he has. 00:30:45.289 --> 00:30:47.049 So whether you're in a situation where you don't 00:30:47.049 --> 00:30:48.970 have a lot of money, or you feel like you're 00:30:48.970 --> 00:30:51.430 not safe at home, or all these, have a plan. 00:30:51.809 --> 00:30:54.230 Think about it. But then don't fixate on the 00:30:54.230 --> 00:30:57.170 problem and the plan. Give that plan to God. 00:30:57.490 --> 00:30:59.589 Be like, all right, Lord, this is my plan. If 00:30:59.589 --> 00:31:01.230 you want to change it, change it, and I'm just 00:31:01.230 --> 00:31:07.019 going to live for you today. So have an emergency 00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:10.519 fund. Have a retirement plan. Have life insurance. 00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:16.380 Be wise. But don't fear other people more than 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:25.259 fearing God. Remember, in Matthew chapter 6, 00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:30.799 33 through 34, Jesus himself said, but seek first 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:34.759 the kingdom of God. and his righteousness, and 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:37.599 all these things will be provided for you. Therefore, 00:31:37.859 --> 00:31:41.059 don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow 00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:44.460 will worry about itself. Each day has enough 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:50.880 trouble of its own. Seeking God, seeking his 00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:53.720 kingdom, learning more about him and knowing 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:57.819 him intimately is priority number one as a Christian. 00:31:58.759 --> 00:32:02.279 We so often are focused on the material because 00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:05.220 We live in a material world, right? Material, 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:09.880 no, okay. We live in a material world. So we 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:12.299 always focus on that and we neglect to think, 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:17.519 but Lord, you've given me new life. You've brought 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:22.440 my spirit to life. I am alive in you. I should 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:26.259 focus on your truth, your kingdom, which I'm 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:30.099 a part of now. Now, Colossians chapter three, 00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:33.670 verses one through four says this. So if you've 00:32:33.670 --> 00:32:36.549 been raised with Christ, seek the things above 00:32:36.549 --> 00:32:40.210 where Christ is, seated at the right hand of 00:32:40.210 --> 00:32:44.450 God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly 00:32:44.450 --> 00:32:48.210 things, for you died and your life is hidden 00:32:48.210 --> 00:32:51.509 with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your 00:32:51.509 --> 00:32:55.910 life, appears, then you also will appear with 00:32:55.910 --> 00:33:02.039 him in glory. This should be one of the verses 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:06.700 we remember every day, or set of verses, because 00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:08.920 I think this verse is telling us, have a heavenly 00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:15.000 mindset. Focus on Jesus. Remember that, guess 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:17.559 what? When Jesus comes back, yes, he's seated 00:33:17.559 --> 00:33:20.259 in heaven right now, and we are seated with him. 00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:24.160 But when he comes back and appears again, we 00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:27.180 will appear with him as well in his glory. The 00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:29.640 glory that he's given us, that should be the 00:33:29.640 --> 00:33:31.619 focus of our life, which allows us to be content, 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:36.579 whether we have or have not. Here's the truth. 00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:39.700 The troubles of today do not come close to the 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:42.539 glory that we have received and will be in with 00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:48.880 God. They don't. If you focus on them, sure, 00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:52.740 you'll get scared. But compared to God, not even 00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:59.660 close. We should be focusing on our new eternal 00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:03.460 life in Christ, where we get to spend the rest 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:06.079 of eternity on the new heaven and new earth with 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:09.260 God in bodies that can actually see the presence 00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:12.159 of God without being destroyed, where we can 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:14.039 literally be in a place where there's no more 00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:18.039 sin or sorrow, but instead fullness of joy. I 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:22.139 can't even comprehend fullness of joy. Yes, we 00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:24.800 say fullness of joy, but I can't, like, my brain 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:27.539 just blows up and I'm like, Literally no lack 00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:31.800 of joy. It's just, it's perfect. So yeah, I can 00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:35.739 bear not having things here on earth. I can bear 00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:38.599 people not liking me. And hey, cool, you kill 00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:40.840 me now? Great, I get to go up to heaven and I'll 00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:42.599 have a new body soon. I don't care what you do 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:48.139 to this body. This is just a tent. This is how 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:52.860 we should be focused on God every day. As I said, 00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:57.199 we should be heavenly minded. Not focusing on 00:34:57.199 --> 00:35:00.480 earthly things, but instead giving everything 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:04.280 to God. And the beautiful part is, in Matthew 00:35:04.280 --> 00:35:08.539 chapter 6, after Jesus says the Gentiles eagerly 00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:10.860 seek it, he says, and God knows you need them. 00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:14.780 It's not like God stumped going, oh, I didn't 00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:17.199 know you needed that money for that thing. He's 00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:21.679 like, no, I've got the plan. Trust me. Focus 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:25.230 on me. Well, focus on God and God will take care 00:35:25.230 --> 00:35:30.869 of it. Please don't focus on me. But this is 00:35:30.869 --> 00:35:36.309 the truth. I think one of the problems with those 00:35:36.309 --> 00:35:40.550 that are discontent and even the hard one, complaining. 00:35:41.409 --> 00:35:44.630 You know what comes from discontent? Complaining. 00:35:45.469 --> 00:35:47.570 Someone's complaining a lot in their life, encourage 00:35:47.570 --> 00:35:52.570 them to focus on Jesus. And get, hey. I'm right 00:35:52.570 --> 00:35:54.170 there with you. I'm like the number one complainer 00:35:54.170 --> 00:36:01.369 in my life. But focus and seek first the kingdom 00:36:01.369 --> 00:36:04.710 of God and his righteousness. Do that in your 00:36:04.710 --> 00:36:08.309 own lives and you too will learn the secret of 00:36:08.309 --> 00:36:10.829 contentment. You will learn how to be content 00:36:10.829 --> 00:36:13.050 no matter what's going on because your eyes are 00:36:13.050 --> 00:36:17.570 focused on him who has the future for us set 00:36:17.570 --> 00:36:22.739 up perfectly. Glorious. It's so amazing. Like, 00:36:22.739 --> 00:36:27.320 yes, thank you, God. When I think about it, that's 00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:29.099 all I can say because I'm just like, it's too 00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:37.239 much. Thank you, God. Now, if you don't know 00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:40.960 Jesus or your eyes have been stuck on the world, 00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:42.880 you haven't been looking at him, you haven't 00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:45.739 been learning about him, yeah, you're going to 00:36:45.739 --> 00:36:49.000 be discontent. And if you don't know Jesus, You'll 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:52.880 never be content. The world can't give you contentment. 00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:56.619 As we went over, all the stuff you're acquiring, 00:36:56.820 --> 00:37:00.199 you ain't going to leave here with it. It's staying. 00:37:01.800 --> 00:37:04.179 You can accumulate all the power, fame, entertainment, 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:07.199 and money all you want. Doesn't matter. It's 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:10.980 staying. What matters when you leave this life 00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:15.460 is if you have Jesus or not. That's the only 00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:20.820 thing that matters. One of my favorite examples 00:37:20.820 --> 00:37:22.980 for this, and I say that in a weird way because 00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:25.519 I don't like what happened, is look at Robin 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:29.199 Williams. For those that don't know, Robin Williams, 00:37:29.340 --> 00:37:32.599 massive comedian and actor, had all the money, 00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:35.639 all the fame, everything. His life from the outside 00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:41.059 looked perfect. Yet he was a massive alcoholic 00:37:41.059 --> 00:37:43.460 who became depressed all the time and then ended 00:37:43.460 --> 00:37:48.880 up killing himself. Why? Because none of this 00:37:48.880 --> 00:37:51.400 world's material things can bring contentment. 00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:58.840 Only Jesus can. And he didn't have Jesus. So 00:37:58.840 --> 00:38:02.860 please, if you don't believe in Jesus, give your 00:38:02.860 --> 00:38:05.460 life to him. Because you're just going to go 00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:09.000 around this world chasing things and then end 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:11.380 up in hell for eternity. And I don't want that 00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:13.960 for you. No Christian wants that for you. And 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:16.619 God doesn't want that for you. He wants you to 00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:19.679 believe in him, to trust him, to love him so 00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:22.159 he can give you the fullness of his love and 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:27.860 glory. So if everyone can, please just close 00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:31.500 your eyes and bow your heads. If there's anyone 00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:34.400 here today that doesn't know Jesus and you want 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:37.280 to give your life to him, please just raise your 00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:40.860 hand. I just want to give an opportunity. If 00:38:40.860 --> 00:38:43.420 you're here today and you don't know Jesus, but 00:38:43.420 --> 00:38:48.460 you want to and you want contentment, please 00:38:48.460 --> 00:38:53.920 raise your hand. Now, the other thing I want 00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:56.820 to do, if you're here today and you're a Christian 00:38:56.820 --> 00:39:00.059 that's been worrying, you feel like your focus 00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:03.900 hasn't been on Jesus, please raise your hand. 00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:11.840 Okay, I see you. I would like to pray for everyone 00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:14.079 here, especially those who raised their hand. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:22.460 Lord, I just want to say thank you, especially 00:39:22.460 --> 00:39:24.539 for my brothers and sisters here that we get 00:39:24.539 --> 00:39:27.619 to worship you, Lord. And thank you for dying 00:39:27.619 --> 00:39:32.340 for us to give us eternal life, taking our punishment, 00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:36.280 Lord. And those that are here that we've had 00:39:36.280 --> 00:39:40.139 our eyes on this world. focused on the material, 00:39:40.360 --> 00:39:43.300 focused on the temporal, Lord. All of those who 00:39:43.300 --> 00:39:45.880 raised their hands, Lord, I pray that you help 00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:50.039 them refocus on you, Lord, that your Holy Spirit 00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:52.699 would tug on their hearts daily to remind them 00:39:52.699 --> 00:39:54.300 to read the Bible and that they would be good 00:39:54.300 --> 00:39:58.019 and faithful servants choosing you, choosing 00:39:58.019 --> 00:40:01.199 to seek after your kingdom first, Lord. I pray 00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:03.460 that for all of us, even those in this room that 00:40:03.460 --> 00:40:04.880 didn't raise their hand, that we would continue 00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:08.320 to seek you first, Lord, because you are good, 00:40:08.380 --> 00:40:12.619 amazing, and worth it, Lord. We thank you so 00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:15.579 much. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.