WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.480 I see a few faces this morning that I don't recognize. 00:00:02.700 --> 00:00:05.339 For those that don't know me, my name is Caleb Waters. 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:07.640 ! First and foremost, I'm a follower of Christ. 00:00:08.220 --> 00:00:11.480 I'm a husband, and I'm a community group leader here. 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:14.900 For a living, I teach math at West Forsyth High School. 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:22.440 And so on Thursday morning, I got a text from Nathan at about 10 o'clock. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:23.980 And I didn't know what it was going to be about. 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:26.280 It just said, call me when you get a chance. 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:26.960 And so I was like, okay. 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:30.900 And I teach all day long on Thursdays. 00:00:30.940 --> 00:00:32.500 I don't have any planning periods that day. 00:00:32.539 --> 00:00:35.420 So it was about 4 o'clock that afternoon when I was able to call him back. 00:00:35.480 --> 00:00:37.079 And he was like, do you want to preach Sunday? 00:00:38.520 --> 00:00:39.560 I was terrified. 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:45.060 But I eventually told him that I know I have the Spirit of God working in me. 00:00:45.219 --> 00:00:47.100 And I know I have the Word of God to preach. 00:00:47.939 --> 00:00:50.960 With those things, by His grace, I can do this. 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:56.020 So a little bit of background before we get into where we'll be at. 00:00:56.020 --> 00:01:00.500 Margaret and I live in Cleveland right now, and we work in Forsyth. 00:01:01.420 --> 00:01:05.140 She's a student, teaches at Liberty Middle School, and I teach at West Forsyth High. 00:01:06.060 --> 00:01:10.800 And so we have a really, really, really long drive down there and back every day. 00:01:11.060 --> 00:01:11.719 Really long drive. 00:01:12.240 --> 00:01:12.359 Okay. 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:19.200 And so we try to redeem a lot of that time by that being a lot of the time that we read Scripture and discuss it together. 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:29.859 And so I've been given the advice, and I believe it's fitting, to preach on a topic that I think the Lord is really working on my own heart about. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:34.700 And it was a passage that we read early last week. 00:01:34.700 --> 00:01:36.579 And it comes out of Matthew 6. 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:39.400 So turn there with me this morning to Matthew chapter 6. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:46.780 So many mornings when we're driving to the school, I'm really nervous. 00:01:47.020 --> 00:01:52.340 Having only taught for three weeks that isn't student teaching so far, I feel like I don't have a whole lot figured out. 00:01:52.980 --> 00:01:56.980 Most days I feel like I have less figured out than I don't have figured out. 00:01:56.980 --> 00:02:03.680 And so I'm worried, nervous, and anxious about the day to get started. 00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:08.700 And then Margaret starts reading the Scripture that we decided on that day. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:12.300 And we'd made it to verses 24 to 34. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:18.340 And it was really, really fitting for me then and continues to be now. 00:02:19.300 --> 00:02:22.860 And so I pray it serves you well today as well. 00:02:22.860 --> 00:02:28.400 So let's go ahead and read verses 24 to 34 here in Matthew chapter 6. 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:30.260 Starts off saying, 00:02:30.260 --> 00:02:37.900 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. 00:02:38.440 --> 00:02:40.520 You cannot serve God and money. 00:02:41.540 --> 00:02:48.200 Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. 00:02:48.640 --> 00:02:51.520 Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:53.219 Look at the birds of the air. 00:02:53.420 --> 00:02:57.640 They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 00:02:58.160 --> 00:02:59.660 Are you not of more value than they? 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:04.240 And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:03:04.740 --> 00:03:06.060 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:08.260 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. 00:03:08.700 --> 00:03:10.180 They neither toil nor spin. 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:14.560 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:03:15.180 --> 00:03:20.620 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 00:03:20.620 --> 00:03:23.719 will we not much more clothe you, O you of little faith. 00:03:24.200 --> 00:03:28.780 Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:33.520 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 00:03:33.920 --> 00:03:39.480 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:46.019 Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:03:46.340 --> 00:03:49.039 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 00:03:49.679 --> 00:03:51.799 Okay, this is God's word to us this morning. 00:03:52.259 --> 00:03:54.859 I'm really thankful that he has given it to us. 00:03:55.019 --> 00:03:58.919 And so, pray with me just real fast, again, before we get going again. 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:03.139 Father, we are thankful this morning for your word. 00:04:04.699 --> 00:04:13.139 I know that I can rest in it, that its truth will come out no matter how good or bad I speak. 00:04:14.379 --> 00:04:19.379 Father, and I just pray for all of our hearts, that you would work in them to not be anxious, 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:22.379 and to have a greater trust in you this morning. 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:27.839 And I pray that you would just help us to think and listen clearly this morning. 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:29.399 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:36.779 So, a little bit of my perspective on riding in the car, Margaret reading this passage. 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:39.319 I'm still nervous. 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:42.879 I'm struggling to focus on the words that I'm hearing her say. 00:04:44.060 --> 00:04:48.540 That the Lord of the universe said here so many years ago to us, 00:04:48.540 --> 00:04:55.980 the same God that came to this earth, lived a perfect life, and suffered the death that we deserve for our sins. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:05:00.480 The same God saying these words to not be anxious. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:05.900 That life is so much greater than just food or clothing. 00:05:06.840 --> 00:05:12.220 I start feeling pretty pathetic for how I was worrying about so much, 00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:17.379 and not even being able to focus there on this text. 00:05:17.379 --> 00:05:20.980 And so, it really served me really well to hear them then. 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:24.199 And so, we're just going to walk through it this morning. 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:30.139 And before we get to that, I just have a simple dictionary.com definition of anxious. 00:05:30.899 --> 00:05:31.180 Okay? 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:34.360 So, to be clear on what anxiousness means. 00:05:34.459 --> 00:05:35.579 It's an inward feeling. 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:42.360 It's being full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune, 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:43.740 or to be greatly worried. 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:43.939 Okay? 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:47.579 So, it's not a massive concept. 00:05:47.780 --> 00:05:53.960 It's just this inner feeling inside of us being torn apart just by a lot of worry. 00:05:54.620 --> 00:05:54.759 Okay? 00:05:55.220 --> 00:05:56.980 With that in mind, let's go ahead. 00:05:57.280 --> 00:06:00.240 And how this passage is kind of laid out. 00:06:00.340 --> 00:06:03.759 We have the main exhortation in the beginning and at the end. 00:06:03.900 --> 00:06:07.259 And then Jesus gives us quite a few reasons supporting that. 00:06:07.340 --> 00:06:11.019 And so, that's exactly how we're going to walk through it this morning. 00:06:11.019 --> 00:06:13.500 And so, just a summary statement that I made. 00:06:13.599 --> 00:06:14.299 It's very simple. 00:06:14.919 --> 00:06:19.719 The main exhortation of this passage is just to trust in God and don't be anxious. 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:22.759 Trust in God and don't be anxious. 00:06:23.159 --> 00:06:23.279 Okay? 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:31.399 We can see this early on in verse 25 where the Lord, he just reminds us that life is much more than food and clothing. 00:06:31.859 --> 00:06:32.039 Okay? 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:34.620 At the end of verse 25, he says, 00:06:34.700 --> 00:06:38.460 Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 00:06:39.580 --> 00:06:45.420 When we're anxious, we're rebelling against this God who's called us to think about higher things than that. 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:51.560 He's calling us away from the simple, the cares of this world and drawing our focus to things that last. 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:55.400 And we see down there in verse 33, seeking first the kingdom of God. 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:58.939 He's drawing us away from the things of this world and to that. 00:06:58.939 --> 00:07:04.019 In the words of Paul, he said that's the same concept later on in Colossians where he said, 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:07.839 Set your minds on the things above and not on the things of this earth. 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:14.560 And looking back in verse 24, we see how Jesus is telling us that we can't serve two masters. 00:07:15.100 --> 00:07:19.920 That we're either going to hate one and we're going to love the other or vice versa. 00:07:20.259 --> 00:07:22.439 We can't do two things at once. 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:27.060 We have to be fully devoted to God or we'll be fully devoted to this world. 00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:32.579 And so throughout this whole passage, Jesus gives quite a few reasons for this. 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:34.660 That's how we're going to walk through it this morning. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:38.980 It's just looking at these reasons and talking through the logic of them. 00:07:39.780 --> 00:07:44.500 So I have it structured as Jesus's reasons to not be anxious and trust in him. 00:07:44.939 --> 00:07:45.939 I have seven of them. 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:48.480 I promise I won't take three weeks to get through them. 00:07:48.699 --> 00:07:50.120 I won't take three weeks. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:52.720 Probably won't even be 40 minutes. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:08:00.980 Okay, so to start off with number one, number one of Jesus's reasons to not be anxious and trust in him. 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:03.020 Come straight out of verse 25. 00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:07.080 Life is much greater than food or clothing. 00:08:07.940 --> 00:08:11.320 Okay, life is much greater than food or clothing. 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:13.720 In verse 25, let's go ahead and read that again. 00:08:13.820 --> 00:08:18.200 Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, 00:08:18.540 --> 00:08:20.240 nor about your body, what you will put on. 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:23.360 Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:31.060 So that's this rhetorical question, which obviously the answer is yes, that life is more than food and it's more than clothing. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:35.360 But why would he ask that question in such a way? 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:41.519 Why wouldn't he just point us to the fact that we do need to be seeking his kingdom first? 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:42.879 So why did he ask it? 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:44.480 And so let's think about this. 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:46.720 If we didn't have food, we'd eventually die. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:51.740 If we didn't have clothing to keep us warm from the cold, we'd eventually die. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:54.980 But if we didn't have food that we didn't like, we'd just be uncomfortable. 00:08:55.920 --> 00:09:02.740 If we didn't have clothes that the people around us liked, we might not have the same image in their minds that we want them to have. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:08.860 So ultimately here, he's talking about three different things, at least three different things. 00:09:08.860 --> 00:09:13.259 Preserving our life, comfort, or man's opinions. 00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:14.080 Okay? 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:17.659 The preserving our life, if we didn't have them at all, we'd just die. 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:24.779 Our comfort, wanting things that just we want. 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:25.080 Okay? 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:26.519 So just being comfortable. 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:31.720 Or man's opinions, what people think about us. 00:09:32.180 --> 00:09:34.920 As believers, those are not the things we are called to. 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:37.759 Not the things we are called to at all. 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:41.939 In this passage here, we're given the exhortation to seek first the kingdom of God. 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:51.639 That does not include seeking first our comfort, or our self-preservation, or even, at all, man's opinions of us. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:57.319 In other words, verse 33 could be called, and it is elsewhere, take up our cross and follow Jesus. 00:09:57.459 --> 00:09:59.659 The same exhortation, just put a different way. 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:09.179 We're called to lose our own life so that we can gain that true and greater life of living each day oriented toward what God's kingdom could use the most. 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:13.339 So it's not at all, our calling is not at all about our comfort. 00:10:14.259 --> 00:10:20.559 It's not at all about what other people would think about us, and it's not at all about preserving our own life. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:23.819 This could be put another way, and we so often do. 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:29.379 We're called to experience, proclaim, and display the supremacy of Jesus Christ in all things to all peoples. 00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:30.500 That is our calling. 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:32.859 It is not to be comfortable. 00:10:33.599 --> 00:10:38.459 It is not to have others have a high opinion of ourselves. 00:10:39.719 --> 00:10:43.119 So life is more than food and clothing. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:50.320 So point number two of Jesus' reasons to not be anxious and trust in him. 00:10:51.700 --> 00:10:53.960 We can only do so much. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:57.240 We can only do so much. 00:10:57.419 --> 00:10:58.580 Let's look at verse 26. 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:00.960 It says, 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.200 Look at the birds of the air. 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:06.960 They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:09.460 Are you not of more value than they? 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:15.860 First thing I think we need to clarify that we all know, but we need to clarify it. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:19.080 Verse 26 is not an excuse for laziness. 00:11:20.300 --> 00:11:22.240 It's not just saying that, 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:24.500 Look at the birds like the heavenly Father feeds them. 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:25.879 They don't do any work in this. 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:27.879 It's not at all what it's saying. 00:11:27.940 --> 00:11:32.980 It's saying Jesus doesn't, I mean, it's saying the birds don't store up just things for, 00:11:33.300 --> 00:11:35.139 that they could live on and on for eternity. 00:11:35.800 --> 00:11:36.800 They trust the Lord. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:41.339 They work as hard as they can each day trying to provide for themselves, 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:43.399 going around eating food and building their nests. 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:46.379 When I was riding this section, I was at the Boyk's house, 00:11:46.459 --> 00:11:49.579 and I saw lots of birds going and getting food at their bird feeder. 00:11:50.459 --> 00:11:51.519 They were moving around. 00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:55.419 They weren't just sitting in their nest, staring up at the sky, waiting for food to come down. 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:57.500 That's not how birds work. 00:11:58.279 --> 00:11:59.099 They do work. 00:11:59.199 --> 00:12:00.019 They do their best. 00:12:00.439 --> 00:12:02.899 Each day, they strive. 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:06.740 They eat, and they build their nest, and they try to provide for their children. 00:12:08.179 --> 00:12:11.240 But ultimately, they control so little. 00:12:12.319 --> 00:12:13.139 So little. 00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:20.059 If a just hard winter came, or they were out of food, 00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:23.740 they couldn't find any worms to eat, or there wasn't a convenient bird feeder, 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.179 they'd starve. 00:12:26.079 --> 00:12:26.759 They'd starve. 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:32.659 Look at the middle of that verse 26. 00:12:32.939 --> 00:12:34.720 Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:38.379 It is the Lord who is in control of their well-being. 00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:41.200 And that is the same for us. 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:42.960 That is the same for us. 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:46.759 We control so little about the circumstances around us. 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:54.779 So when I immediately think about anxiety, three passages come to my mind. 00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:58.600 This one, Philippians 4 and Psalm 127. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:01.019 Turn with me right now to Psalm 127. 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:01.259 Psalm 127. 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:01.259 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:24.620 Let's look at verses 1 and 2 here. 00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:26.659 Go ahead and read those. 00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:27.200 It says, 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:30.639 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:34.740 Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:38.059 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, 00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:39.480 eating the bread of anxious toil. 00:13:39.939 --> 00:13:41.960 For he gives to his beloved sleep. 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:48.400 I think these verses here demonstrate really well what I believe the middle of verse 26 is saying 00:13:48.400 --> 00:13:52.420 when it's clarifying that it's our heavenly Father that's providing for the birds. 00:13:52.920 --> 00:13:53.639 The same for us. 00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:56.960 If the Lord was not orchestrating all the events around them, they wouldn't survive. 00:13:57.300 --> 00:13:57.920 They would starve. 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:58.600 They would freeze. 00:13:58.920 --> 00:13:59.840 They wouldn't make it. 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:02.120 And that's the same thing for us. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:07.240 Remember, the whole universe is being upheld by the word of his power. 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.980 That's present tense. 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:13.320 It's not as if God created everything and stepped away. 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:15.039 That is present tense. 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:15.639 We are here. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.240 I am breathing. 00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:16.820 I am talking. 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:17.560 You are breathing. 00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:22.659 You are writing things down because the Lord is holding everything together. 00:14:23.420 --> 00:14:30.340 It's not at all that we just do all of our own thing after the Lord created us and walked away. 00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:36.800 So ultimately, it is the Lord providing for all of us. 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:37.879 Amen. 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:38.080 Amen. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:43.960 And so we can only do, we can only do so much. 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:48.539 Unless the Lord wills whatever we're trying to do, we're not going to be able to do it. 00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:54.019 Just thinking about college and how many times I failed tests. 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:55.220 A lot. 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:56.000 A lot. 00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:59.059 Unless the Lord wills us to pass it. 00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:05.319 It's in vain that we stay up until 2 in the morning and get up at 4 two hours later to study for it. 00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:08.579 It's in vain that you take the same class three times. 00:15:09.079 --> 00:15:09.479 Okay? 00:15:09.719 --> 00:15:10.459 It is. 00:15:11.099 --> 00:15:16.239 Unless the Lord wills us to be liked in the side of our boss or our coworkers, it's just not going to happen. 00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:17.759 No matter our efforts. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:21.220 The Lord is orchestrating all of the events around us. 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:22.519 Every single one. 00:15:23.819 --> 00:15:25.019 And this is a good thing. 00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:28.919 It's a good thing that we don't have full control. 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:33.139 Because the Lord always has our best interest in mind. 00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:36.360 The Lord works all things together for our good. 00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:39.399 And that good is that we will become more and more like Him. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:43.639 Ultimately, we can't survive. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:46.120 We can't provide for ourselves unless the Lord wills it. 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:53.259 But, as I mentioned earlier, this is not at all an excuse for laziness. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:56.000 We see birds moving around, building their nests. 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:56.720 They've got string. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:57.320 They've got straw. 00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:57.919 They're building it. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:58.799 They're eating worms. 00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:00.620 They're diligent. 00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:01.360 Okay? 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:09.759 This concept reminds me of a verse that when we're going through 1 Peter in college Bible study a couple years back. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.120 Probably a lot of y'all remember that. 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:13.279 1 Peter 4.19. 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.379 It says, 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:21.159 Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good. 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:28.919 Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good. 00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:32.620 That command applies for us as well. 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:34.519 That's what we can do. 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:37.179 All we can do is trust God and to do our best. 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:39.179 Notice that verse says, 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:42.200 Entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good. 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:43.400 It doesn't just say, 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:46.160 Entrust their souls to a faithful creator. 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.060 It doesn't say, 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.480 Just do good. 00:16:49.140 --> 00:16:53.240 We could never just keep doing good and keep doing good with no trust in our heavenly father. 00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:57.660 And we could never have true trust in our heavenly father without doing good. 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:00.500 Those are right there together. 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:03.320 So we're active in this. 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:06.339 But we can only do so much. 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:12.640 So point number three of Jesus' reasons to not be anxious and trust in him. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:16.299 Worrying doesn't fix anything. 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:19.619 Worrying doesn't fix anything. 00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:23.039 So let's look at verse 27 here. 00:17:24.739 --> 00:17:29.139 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:17:31.219 --> 00:17:31.979 None of us. 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:32.619 We can't. 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:33.559 We can't. 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:33.779 Okay. 00:17:34.719 --> 00:17:38.679 And many times when I'm worrying, I'm anxious about something. 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:42.219 It's taken up the time that I could be spent doing good. 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:47.500 It's taken up the time that I could be using, accomplishing that thing that I'm worrying so much about 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:52.099 by dwelling in that worry, just wallowing in that worry. 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:55.619 We can't even add an hour to the next 24 hours, 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:59.160 although how much I would have loved to these past few. 00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:01.240 We can't. 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.160 We can't. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:07.740 Ultimately, it's about trusting in the Lord and doing good. 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:16.539 In true CFC form, I decided to quote Spurgeon on this one because he had a really good quote. 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:18.779 I don't have a fancy book, but I do have Google. 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:26.240 And he made a quote. 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:32.259 Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength. 00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:40.079 Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:43.319 Worrying will ultimately not help us at all. 00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:49.179 It will steal the strength for the good we could be doing while we're entrusting our souls to God for today, 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:51.799 and it's not going to fix the things about tomorrow. 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:54.480 Number four. 00:18:56.419 --> 00:18:59.079 God values his people and therefore provides. 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:04.819 God values his people and therefore provides. 00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:10.960 In verse 26, let's look at that verse again. 00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.879 Look at the birds of the air. 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:15.599 They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.619 Are you not of more value than they? 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:20.919 Let's also jump down to verses 28 through 30. 00:19:21.939 --> 00:19:22.480 Read those. 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.939 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:27.119 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. 00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:29.159 They neither toil nor spin. 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:34.000 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:39.720 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:44.400 will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:49.940 So in that rhetorical question in verse 26, where he's asking if we're more important than birds, 00:19:50.040 --> 00:19:51.560 the obvious answer is yes. 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:58.619 And then in 28 through 30, he gives us a couple more examples of some seemingly more helpless things than us, 00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.759 flowers and grass. 00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:02.039 He shows the point of grass. 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:08.000 A lot of people in this day used it as fuel in their oven to keep warm, to cook, to have fire. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.539 That was its point. 00:20:10.879 --> 00:20:11.980 The Lord clothed that grass. 00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:16.099 He orchestrated all the events around the grass to have people use that. 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.879 That was its point. 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:23.080 And then Jesus shows us how Solomon, one of the richest men to ever live, 00:20:23.580 --> 00:20:27.620 in all of his glory, everything he had in this world, 00:20:28.580 --> 00:20:32.280 is not as good as what the Lord has to offer us. 00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:37.780 Thinking even about in our sanctification and our salvation, 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:43.760 those gifts are so much greater than anything we could ever amass for ourselves, 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:47.720 whether it be food or clothing or anything we could think of. 00:20:48.840 --> 00:20:49.920 So much greater. 00:20:50.760 --> 00:20:55.000 So I've heard a lot of people around here sum these up as, 00:20:55.280 --> 00:20:56.380 we're more important than birds. 00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:58.960 We're more important than flowers. 00:20:59.360 --> 00:21:01.580 And therefore, the Lord will provide for us. 00:21:02.280 --> 00:21:03.320 Simple as that. 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:05.200 He'll give us what we need. 00:21:05.760 --> 00:21:08.080 It says down there in verse 32, 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:12.039 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:14.419 and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:18.079 The Lord already knows that we need provision. 00:21:18.659 --> 00:21:21.539 The Lord knows that we need these things, and he will provide for them. 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:25.579 The Lord will take care of us as people, of us as his people. 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.919 Let's talk a little bit about why. 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:30.740 Going all the way back to the beginning, 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:34.620 the Lord created us as mirrors to reflect his glory. 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.500 He made Adam. 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.339 He made Eve. 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:41.880 And they were there to reflect the glory of God to one another. 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.940 They sinned. 00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:45.339 They broke those mirrors. 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:49.519 They became shattered mirrors that would reflect either a distorted image of God 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:52.519 or really no true image at all. 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:57.799 All of us individually, we all have also disobeyed God. 00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.279 All of us. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:04.639 And just like they, we are deserving of eternal wrath, 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.579 eternal punishment because of that. 00:22:08.379 --> 00:22:09.299 All of us. 00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:14.740 But God, being rich in mercy, and he's desiring to show his steadfast love, 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:20.720 decided that he would send his son, Jesus, to take on the sin of all of us. 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.939 He lived a perfect life. 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.379 He deserved no death. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.740 He deserved no bad thing. 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:28.879 But he took on all of the sin of the world for us 00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:33.199 and suffered the punishment that we deserved for our sin. 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:36.139 So that for those of us that put our trust in him, 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.819 we were given his righteousness. 00:22:38.439 --> 00:22:39.480 He took our sin. 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:41.720 He bled and died for that on the cross. 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:43.039 And we were given his righteousness. 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:48.339 That's called the great exchange many times. 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:54.039 When we were given his righteousness in exchange for our sin. 00:22:54.659 --> 00:22:56.639 That's the love that he demonstrated for us. 00:22:56.699 --> 00:22:58.839 While we were yet sinners, when we had done nothing good, 00:22:58.919 --> 00:23:03.379 when we were not desirable at all, he did that for us. 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:05.359 And that's that great love. 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:08.299 And he valued us that much. 00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:09.980 Quite a lot. 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:11.380 He valued us quite a lot. 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:17.539 And to think that this same God that was willing to go to those extents, 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:21.620 this God that condescended, became a man, took on flesh, 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:24.360 went through all of this life, living a perfect life. 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:26.880 He was tempted just as we were, but without sin. 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.680 He went to the cross. 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:30.620 He suffered and died for us. 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:34.620 And on the third day, he rose again and now sits at the right hand of the Father. 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:38.019 Thinking about that, him going through all of that, 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:42.479 it would make no sense at all that he would not provide for our daily needs. 00:23:43.939 --> 00:23:51.039 And how often do we still worry we are not willing to give our burdens over to him, 00:23:51.139 --> 00:23:54.539 this God that is all-powerful and loves us so much, 00:23:54.939 --> 00:23:57.479 both sovereign and good and loving. 00:23:58.139 --> 00:24:01.879 He can do all things, and he wants to give his children good gifts. 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:06.000 He's going to provide for our needs. 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.740 He cares about us so much. 00:24:08.800 --> 00:24:10.400 Let's look at verse 33 again. 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:16.260 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, 00:24:16.780 --> 00:24:19.540 and all these things will be added to you. 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:25.500 I want to make it really clear that this verse cannot be used to preach the prosperity gospel. 00:24:27.060 --> 00:24:28.020 Not at all. 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:31.440 Verse 33 says in that phrase, 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:32.740 all these things. 00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:36.000 There's a lot riding on that phrase right there. 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:37.559 What does that phrase mean? 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.700 And so let's look at it. 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:41.980 All the these things in this context, 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:43.299 he's been talking about food. 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.539 He's been talking about clothing. 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.819 He's been talking about water. 00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:52.139 The all these things in this case does not include a free Lamborghini for all Christ followers. 00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:57.820 It does not include even a perfect life here. 00:24:58.500 --> 00:25:01.660 It doesn't even include escaping from really hard things. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.660 But he will provide for us. 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:06.060 He will provide for our needs. 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:09.280 It doesn't say all things here. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:15.000 So we know ultimately that the Lord works everything together for our good, 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:18.599 and that that good is becoming more and more like him. 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:22.399 And we can trust him that he will provide to that end. 00:25:24.859 --> 00:25:30.740 So point number five of Jesus's reasons to not be anxious and to trust in him 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:34.579 is that anxiety characterizes unbelievers. 00:25:36.120 --> 00:25:38.039 Anxiety characterizes unbelievers. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:41.920 Let's look at verses 31 and 32. 00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.140 It says, 00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:44.700 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:47.779 What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:50.279 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:53.400 and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:58.480 So here Gentiles is being used to talk about people that are outside 00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:00.860 outside the realm of the promises of God, 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.960 outside salvation. 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:05.000 He's speaking to a Jewish audience here, 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:07.559 and so people outside that realm. 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:11.099 So in common language now, 00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:14.220 we could say that unbelievers worry a lot about what they're going to eat, 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:15.259 what they're going to drink, 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.460 what they're going to wear. 00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:20.220 So that meaning, 00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:24.000 the unbelievers care too much about their appearance before other people 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.759 and their comfort. 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:28.319 That's something that characterizes unbelievers. 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.759 They really care. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.420 And we, 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:32.519 when we're caught up in these ideas, 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:35.460 really care about what other people think about us 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:37.299 and what our comfort. 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:39.779 We care so much about that 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.480 that we forget 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:42.779 what the Lord has called us to 00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:44.420 in seeking first his kingdom 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:47.519 and that all those things will just work out. 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.259 Ultimately, 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.799 our approval comes from God 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.859 and not from man. 00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.180 And therefore, 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:57.379 these are not fitting for a believer 00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:59.139 to care so much about 00:26:59.139 --> 00:27:00.619 how we look to other people 00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:03.139 or how comfortable we are. 00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:07.559 That sounds like the polar opposite 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:09.259 of taking up our cross 00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.139 and following Jesus. 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:12.079 Exactly the opposite. 00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:15.659 Wanting to not sacrifice anything 00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:17.519 for the cause of Christ, 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.960 of living in comfort 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:21.039 and what haven't wanting to 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.840 look good in other people's eyes. 00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.640 So to point six, 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:30.960 tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:35.079 Tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:38.140 So look down in verse 34. 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:40.279 I don't think I can say it a whole lot. 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.700 I can't say it any better. 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.740 This is a word of God 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:45.519 than this. 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:45.940 But it says, 00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.180 00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:48.039 do not be anxious about tomorrow, 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:51.079 for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.859 Sufficient for the day 00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:54.539 is its own trouble. 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:58.480 This is such a comforting verse. 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:01.299 Don't be anxious about tomorrow. 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.900 Tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:05.619 Don't worry so much on that. 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:06.920 Sufficient for the day 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:08.579 is its own trouble. 00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:10.319 That's how Firm of Foundation says, 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.920 As thy days may demand, 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:13.440 shall thy strength ever be. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:15.240 The Lord will provide 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.539 what we need 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.920 for each day 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:19.140 to be able to get through it. 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.180 But, 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:22.519 He doesn't want us to bring 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.500 that trouble 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.759 that He will provide the grace 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.440 to get through 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.940 into the previous day 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:28.820 by worrying and dwelling on that 00:28:28.820 --> 00:28:29.900 at all. 00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:32.100 As Spurgeon said earlier, 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.160 dwelling on tomorrow's trouble 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:33.900 doesn't make 00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:35.059 the trouble of tomorrow 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:35.799 get any better. 00:28:36.320 --> 00:28:38.140 But it's just taking the strength away 00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:40.000 from what we have to face today. 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:43.120 Not doing anything for it. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:46.400 One of the biggest, 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.759 biggest things 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.360 to take away from this passage, 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.799 point number seven, 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:53.000 anxiety is sin. 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:56.320 Anxiety is sin. 00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:59.860 So many times 00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:00.519 I am tempted 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.460 in my heart 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.259 to say, 00:29:02.820 --> 00:29:04.820 I know that Jesus 00:29:04.820 --> 00:29:05.559 has told me not 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.700 to be anxious about tomorrow. 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:08.980 but look at tomorrow. 00:29:09.340 --> 00:29:10.120 Look at everything 00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:11.200 that is coming ahead 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:13.220 and hold on 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.080 to that anxiety. 00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.819 That is not 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.460 at all 00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:17.200 what we're called to. 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.160 That's telling Jesus 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:19.299 that He is not enough. 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:20.059 That's telling Him 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:21.080 that we want to hold on 00:29:21.080 --> 00:29:22.420 to our burdens 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:23.200 for ourselves. 00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:26.120 We can't make 00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:27.000 statements like that. 00:29:27.080 --> 00:29:27.860 We can't say 00:29:27.860 --> 00:29:28.900 that 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:31.180 Jesus has commanded us 00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:31.700 to be anxious 00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.680 but we want to 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:34.240 just hold on to that. 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.140 Not okay 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:36.140 at all. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.780 We've forgotten 00:29:36.780 --> 00:29:38.460 what the Lord 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:39.200 has done for us 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:40.560 and who He has made us. 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.500 We've forgotten 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.740 that He is a good Father 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:44.020 that can also control 00:29:44.020 --> 00:29:45.100 all events, 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:46.160 that He is sovereign. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.500 He is working 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.780 everything out 00:29:48.780 --> 00:29:50.540 for our good 00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:52.240 because He is both 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.620 good 00:29:52.620 --> 00:29:53.800 and sovereign. 00:29:54.280 --> 00:29:55.320 He cares about us 00:29:55.320 --> 00:29:56.520 and wants 00:29:56.520 --> 00:29:57.620 to give good gifts 00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.840 to His children. 00:29:58.839 --> 00:30:00.659 look over 00:30:00.659 --> 00:30:02.079 probably one page 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:03.019 in most of y'all's 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.299 Bibles 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:05.059 to Matthew 7. 00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:10.240 We're going to read 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.279 verses 7 through 11 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:11.639 over here 00:30:11.639 --> 00:30:12.079 which I think 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.759 communicates 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.759 this idea. 00:30:13.899 --> 00:30:14.519 This was just 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:16.019 a minute or two 00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:16.619 later in 00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:18.179 Jesus' sermon here. 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:20.299 Same train of thought. 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.720 So let's read 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.899 verses 7 through 11. 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:24.899 It says, 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:25.840 Ask and it will be 00:30:25.840 --> 00:30:26.500 given to you. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.780 Seek and you will find. 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.840 Knock and it will be 00:30:28.840 --> 00:30:29.780 opened to you. 00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:30.980 For everyone 00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:32.200 who asks receives 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.759 and the one 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.800 who seeks finds 00:30:33.800 --> 00:30:34.519 and to the one 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.120 who knocks 00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:36.060 it will be opened. 00:30:37.100 --> 00:30:38.000 Or which one of you 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.560 if his son 00:30:38.560 --> 00:30:39.519 asks him for bread 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.420 will give him a stone 00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:41.060 or if he asks 00:30:41.060 --> 00:30:41.700 for a fish 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.640 will give him a serpent. 00:30:43.340 --> 00:30:44.100 If you then 00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:44.780 who are evil 00:30:44.780 --> 00:30:45.440 know how to give 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:45.980 good gifts 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.640 to your children 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:47.980 how much more 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.720 will your Father 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.420 who is in heaven 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:50.720 give good things 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.920 to those who ask Him? 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:55.160 We so often forget 00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:57.700 that that is our God. 00:30:58.660 --> 00:31:00.300 That He is a good God. 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.980 And that He can do 00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.960 all things. 00:31:03.080 --> 00:31:03.820 And He commands us 00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:04.400 to ask 00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:05.120 and these things 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:05.600 will be given. 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.720 He truly does 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.480 care for us. 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:09.519 He loves us. 00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.539 He went to the cross. 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.500 How much more 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.820 can anyone do? 00:31:13.080 --> 00:31:13.380 None. 00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:14.840 He took 00:31:14.840 --> 00:31:16.240 all of that for us 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.400 and so He allows us 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:18.220 to cast our cares 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.600 upon Him 00:31:18.600 --> 00:31:19.440 because He does 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.800 care for us. 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:23.300 And so when we're anxious 00:31:23.300 --> 00:31:25.360 we're telling Him 00:31:25.360 --> 00:31:26.480 that He is not 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.320 enough to carry 00:31:27.320 --> 00:31:27.759 our burdens. 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:28.380 We're telling Him 00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:29.160 that He is not 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:30.220 providing 00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.940 well enough 00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:32.500 for us. 00:31:32.580 --> 00:31:33.259 And we're telling Him 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.600 that these events 00:31:34.600 --> 00:31:35.279 aren't truly 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:37.400 working for our good. 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.580 So these 00:31:39.580 --> 00:31:40.800 past few weeks 00:31:40.800 --> 00:31:42.000 of being a new teacher 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.759 I've had to 00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:44.779 preach this to myself 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.539 constantly. 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:46.660 Constantly. 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:48.120 And being newly 00:31:48.120 --> 00:31:48.940 married as well 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.519 having all 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.640 different 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.900 responsibilities 00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:52.460 and 00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:55.680 it's so easy 00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:56.300 no matter 00:31:56.300 --> 00:31:57.020 where we're at 00:31:57.020 --> 00:31:57.900 we all struggle 00:31:57.900 --> 00:31:58.680 in some 00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.920 form of 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:00.660 anxiousness. 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:03.759 And that's sin. 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:05.300 That is telling 00:32:05.300 --> 00:32:07.000 God that He is not 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.140 enough for us. 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:08.640 Think about 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.900 our relationship 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:10.620 with Christ 00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:11.240 in the church. 00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:13.480 It's given 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.259 in many different 00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:14.640 places 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:15.440 that that is just 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:16.700 like the relationship 00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:17.380 of a husband 00:32:17.380 --> 00:32:17.960 and a wife. 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:20.799 I can't imagine 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:22.140 how painful 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:22.700 it would be 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.180 if Margaret 00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:23.880 came to me 00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:24.460 and told me 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.039 that she didn't 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:25.440 trust 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.539 that I would 00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.279 provide for her. 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:30.100 That's what we're 00:32:30.100 --> 00:32:30.700 telling Christ 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.259 when we're anxious. 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.259 That's what we're 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:35.740 telling Christ 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.220 when we're anxious 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:36.920 that we don't 00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:37.539 trust Him 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:39.960 that He will 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.779 provide. 00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:43.680 So the exhortation 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.039 here 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:46.420 is to not be 00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:46.839 anxious 00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:47.660 and trust 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:48.059 in Him. 00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.220 That's it. 00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:50.220 Simple message. 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.539 Not be anxious 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.180 and to trust 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.539 in Him. 00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:54.039 One more quote 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:55.240 from R.C. 00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:55.539 Sproul. 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:57.859 He says of this 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:58.240 text, 00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.279 We are to make 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.059 God's sovereign 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:00.500 rule 00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:01.480 and a right 00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:02.000 relationship 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.500 with Him 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.200 the highest 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.680 priority 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:04.240 in life. 00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:05.559 Worry 00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.519 is inconsistent 00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.019 with this 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:07.500 priority. 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.619 It doubts 00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:09.259 the sovereignty 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:09.980 or goodness 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.500 of God 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.720 and distracts 00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:12.200 from the true 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.000 goals of life. 00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:14.819 God will meet 00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.700 all the needs 00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:16.519 of those 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:16.940 who risk 00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:17.500 off for Him. 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:19.099 We can be 00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:19.960 confident in that 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:20.720 that because 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.720 our God 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:22.240 is both 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.799 sovereign 00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.980 and He is good 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:25.059 that He will 00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.960 meet all 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.640 of our needs. 00:33:27.900 --> 00:33:28.940 With that in mind 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:30.000 we have no room 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.599 to worry. 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:32.140 We have no room 00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:33.700 to be anxious 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:35.140 and so 00:33:35.140 --> 00:33:36.880 we often need 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:37.240 to go 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:38.240 to the Lord 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:38.680 about that. 00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.160 That is something 00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:39.880 I struggle 00:33:39.880 --> 00:33:40.380 with on a 00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:41.200 daily basis. 00:33:42.620 --> 00:33:43.540 Just fight 00:33:43.540 --> 00:33:43.980 and fight 00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:44.360 and fight 00:33:44.360 --> 00:33:44.960 my flesh. 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.560 But ultimately 00:33:47.560 --> 00:33:48.220 we know 00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:49.140 that God 00:33:49.140 --> 00:33:49.580 is sovereign 00:33:49.580 --> 00:33:50.440 and He 00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:50.860 is good 00:33:50.860 --> 00:33:51.620 and so 00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:52.360 we can 00:33:52.360 --> 00:33:52.980 trust Him 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:54.380 with our 00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:54.700 lives. 00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:55.519 So in 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:55.820 closing 00:33:55.820 --> 00:33:56.900 I'd just 00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.200 like to 00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:58.380 ask a 00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:58.740 couple of 00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.180 questions. 00:34:00.300 --> 00:34:01.120 Number one 00:34:01.120 --> 00:34:01.380 being 00:34:01.380 --> 00:34:02.620 what are you 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:02.960 seeking 00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.540 first? 00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.279 What are you 00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:05.500 seeking 00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:05.940 first? 00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:07.700 many of 00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:08.220 our lives 00:34:08.220 --> 00:34:08.840 just become 00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.500 disoriented. 00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:11.460 We revert 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:12.079 back to 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.800 looking for 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:13.320 that comfort 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:13.860 or looking 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:14.300 for that 00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:14.740 approval 00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:15.380 of man 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:17.119 so often 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:17.579 and then 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.260 put 00:34:18.260 --> 00:34:19.619 sharing the 00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:19.960 gospel 00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:20.440 and living 00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.400 out a life 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.079 oriented to 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:22.720 God's kingdom 00:34:22.720 --> 00:34:23.599 on the 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.079 back burner. 00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:25.079 We try to 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:25.400 do it 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:25.740 but it's 00:34:25.740 --> 00:34:26.200 not the 00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:26.900 first priority. 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.440 All of 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:28.019 our life 00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:29.059 it says 00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:29.320 here 00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:30.260 seek first 00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:30.679 the kingdom 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:31.159 of God 00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:32.079 is the 00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.819 first priority 00:34:32.819 --> 00:34:33.239 we got. 00:34:34.859 --> 00:34:35.559 And then 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.299 question number 00:34:36.299 --> 00:34:36.519 two 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:38.019 why are you 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:38.460 anxious? 00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.839 Why are you 00:34:40.839 --> 00:34:41.259 anxious? 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.799 It shows in 00:34:42.799 --> 00:34:43.199 our heart 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:43.739 that we're 00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:44.159 believing 00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:45.059 either a 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:45.639 lie about 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.239 who God 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:46.659 has made 00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:47.159 us or a 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:47.500 lie about 00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:47.980 who God 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.299 is. 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:49.559 We either 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.099 don't trust 00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:50.339 in His 00:34:50.339 --> 00:34:50.699 sovereignty 00:34:50.699 --> 00:34:51.179 we don't 00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:51.579 trust in 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.019 His goodness 00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:53.539 we don't 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.019 trust He's 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:54.639 working out 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.239 everything 00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:55.719 for our 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:55.960 good. 00:34:58.599 --> 00:34:59.480 So why 00:34:59.480 --> 00:34:59.839 are we 00:34:59.839 --> 00:35:00.259 anxious? 00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:02.759 And so 00:35:02.759 --> 00:35:04.059 trust in 00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:04.339 God 00:35:04.339 --> 00:35:05.379 and don't 00:35:05.379 --> 00:35:05.859 be anxious 00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:06.419 and let's 00:35:06.419 --> 00:35:06.899 pray.