WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.960 The Holy Gospel is found in the Gospel of Matthew, beginning chapter 6 at the 25th verse. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.600 Are you not of more value than they? 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:37.539 And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his life? 00:00:38.299 --> 00:00:40.159 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:00:41.120 --> 00:00:43.620 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:46.280 They neither toil nor spin. 00:00:46.879 --> 00:00:52.640 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:01:00.980 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:03.899 will he not much more clothe you? 00:01:04.620 --> 00:01:09.480 O you of little faith, therefore do not be anxious, saying, 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:13.299 What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:19.760 For the Gentiles seek after these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:23.939 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, 00:01:24.580 --> 00:01:26.859 and all these things will be added to you. 00:01:27.520 --> 00:01:30.920 Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:34.080 for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:37.180 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 00:01:37.780 --> 00:01:39.340 This is the Gospel of Christ. 00:01:39.740 --> 00:01:41.680 Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:50.200 So with having a young baby, we have an eight-month-old, 00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:54.840 I find we find ourselves in the evenings, through the newborn phase, 00:01:54.960 --> 00:01:58.820 we watch a lot of Netflix to get by in the moments where he's sleeping. 00:01:59.600 --> 00:02:04.700 And we ended up watching this one documentary on Netflix a couple months ago. 00:02:04.700 --> 00:02:08.340 And I don't remember the guy's name, who it was about. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:12.340 My phone is too old to actually look things up now, 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:14.319 so I couldn't look it up his name yesterday. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:20.159 But this documentary was about this guy who's trying to reverse aging. 00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:29.080 And he's doing it in a way where he has this really intense, regimented routine through his days. 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:31.000 He works out constantly. 00:02:31.140 --> 00:02:35.300 He has this exercising down to a precise science. 00:02:36.020 --> 00:02:38.800 He has this, you call it the perfect diet. 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:41.360 He takes tons of vitamins. 00:02:42.160 --> 00:02:44.100 And he has this perfect skin treatment. 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:50.380 And what he's doing is he says he's trying to de-age his organs, his skin, 00:02:50.540 --> 00:02:52.540 his life in the hopes that he can live longer. 00:02:53.040 --> 00:02:55.280 And he claims it's for science. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:59.300 He spends about a million dollars a year on doing this whole thing for himself. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:01.099 He says it's for science. 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:06.539 But I think it's safe to say he's actually afraid of dying. 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:09.740 He's probably afraid of aging. 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:12.379 That's probably if you get to the heart of it. 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:16.639 If he was completely honest with himself and to those he speaks to, 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:23.039 he's most likely, he's afraid of aging, as we all are in some sense. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:23.120 Yes. 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:27.419 And I bring up this illustration about this documentary 00:03:27.419 --> 00:03:32.060 because the text we're looking at today is the text I just read, the Gospel of Matthew. 00:03:32.780 --> 00:03:37.500 Jesus is talking to his disciples, smack dab in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:39.439 And we'll talk about the Sermon on the Mount in a bit. 00:03:40.060 --> 00:03:44.759 But Jesus is talking to his disciples and those who are around him who may be there 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:48.060 and they catch ear of the Sermon on the Mount. 00:03:48.060 --> 00:03:57.960 He's talking to them because worrying or being anxious is a very common human emotion. 00:03:58.219 --> 00:03:59.020 We all do it. 00:03:59.420 --> 00:04:00.140 We all do it. 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:00.900 We can't deny it. 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:01.840 We worry about things. 00:04:01.920 --> 00:04:03.400 We all have different worries in our lives. 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:09.540 And Jesus is getting at this certain emotion that when you worry too much, 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:17.480 when it becomes crippling, when your entire focus of your life is being anxious 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:21.660 and worrying about certain things, he's speaking directly to that. 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:23.519 Because worrying about some things is fine. 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:27.780 But when it becomes all-consuming, it becomes a problem. 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:29.399 And that's what he's getting at here. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:30.660 That's what he's going after. 00:04:30.660 --> 00:04:36.480 So if you haven't already, turn to Matthew 6, verses 25 to 34. 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:37.580 And we're going to look at this. 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:43.480 And this is one of those texts where, as someone who preaches regularly, 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:47.800 you get to come to it and your sermon is almost laid out for you already. 00:04:47.940 --> 00:04:50.120 It has your three points already. 00:04:50.700 --> 00:04:52.080 And we're going to look at it this way. 00:04:52.140 --> 00:04:55.900 There's the problem, the examples, and the solution. 00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:58.400 So we're going to begin with point one. 00:04:58.480 --> 00:04:59.260 It's the problem. 00:04:59.259 --> 00:05:02.959 So we're going to start in verse 24. 00:05:05.219 --> 00:05:07.019 This is Jesus talking to his disciples. 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:09.939 No one can serve two masters. 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:15.019 For either he will hate the one and love the other, 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:18.939 or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. 00:05:19.620 --> 00:05:22.279 You cannot serve God and money. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:25.680 Other translations will have money as possessions. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:29.139 The Greek word for money here is mammon. 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:31.019 And that means possessions. 00:05:31.220 --> 00:05:34.740 Anything you hold dearly, you possess it. 00:05:34.980 --> 00:05:36.160 That's what it's talking about. 00:05:36.259 --> 00:05:37.579 That's what the word means. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:39.060 And he continues. 00:05:39.060 --> 00:05:49.240 Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you'll eat or what you'll drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:54.560 Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:56.399 So here we see the problem. 00:05:57.399 --> 00:06:00.120 We see that Jesus gives this way of living. 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:01.620 He says to do this. 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:03.780 And it sounds like a good thing to do. 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:07.100 But if we're honest, the problem is we all do it. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:12.579 We all end up worrying about things or being anxious about things that cripple us. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:13.560 We all have different worries. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:14.199 It could be money. 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:15.939 It could be your possessions. 00:06:16.339 --> 00:06:17.139 It could be addictions. 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:24.939 It could be worrying about life, about as you age, getting older, coming closer to the day you'll die. 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:26.259 It could be bitterness. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:29.060 You could be worrying about the bitterness you hold on. 00:06:29.500 --> 00:06:30.699 It could be getting justice. 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:33.779 It could be your self-image, beauty, family. 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:34.379 There's anything. 00:06:34.660 --> 00:06:35.939 The list can go on and on. 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:45.279 And we, as disciples of Jesus, need to reflect on what these things in our lives are that we hold so dearly, 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:49.300 but they actually end up crippling us because we worry about them constantly. 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:59.939 Before I pursued ministry, before 2017, I was really into rock climbing, like really into it. 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:03.199 I was going to pursue becoming a professional rock climber. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:13.199 And I would use people to get to certain areas that I needed to climb certain routes to get better at climbing. 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:18.599 And I would become, if I didn't get to climb a certain amount in the week, I would become grumpy. 00:07:18.779 --> 00:07:19.659 I'd become upset. 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:24.480 I would ruin my day if I didn't perform well while I was rock climbing. 00:07:24.939 --> 00:07:28.680 I had this one drive, and I would worry constantly about it. 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:34.019 See, if we all reflect on these things, there's things in our lives we constantly worry about. 00:07:35.100 --> 00:07:36.780 We have to be honest with ourselves. 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:39.079 So where do we go from here? 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:45.759 If this is the problem that Jesus presents us, that we are to live a certain way, not worrying about certain things, 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.319 how do we go from here? 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:53.759 Well, in order to understand this, we have to look at a whole of what Jesus is talking about here, 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:55.639 what the Gospel of Matthew is talking about. 00:07:55.639 --> 00:07:58.120 We're right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:05.099 Jesus is sitting down with his disciples on a hill here, and he's talking to them, giving them life principles. 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:11.479 The Sermon on the Mount can be called the New Testament law, because in the Old Testament there's a law as well. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:19.019 But it's not about fulfilling, hitting every, ticking every box, getting it all perfectly right. 00:08:19.019 --> 00:08:26.159 It's about something else, and it's about the heart behind of doing these things that Jesus is laying out here. 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:28.359 And it's so easy to get this wrong. 00:08:28.479 --> 00:08:32.960 You read the Old Testament, you can see the Israelites getting it all wrong through the Old Testament. 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:36.299 The Sermon on the Mount is the new law. 00:08:36.299 --> 00:08:42.539 And if we look at chapter 6, before coming up to the text we're looking at here, 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:46.379 in the rest of chapter 6, Jesus talks about giving to the needy, 00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:49.699 but doing it in a way that you won't be praised. 00:08:50.699 --> 00:08:55.679 He talks about doing prayer, and he gives the Lord's Prayer here, as we'll say later in the service. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:09:00.799 But he says don't do it in a way that you want to be heard about your praying. 00:09:01.579 --> 00:09:03.319 And he also says to forgive. 00:09:03.819 --> 00:09:04.819 He talks about unforgiveness. 00:09:05.599 --> 00:09:07.019 And then he talks about fasting. 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:12.620 And the thing that he talks about here is that you should not fast in order to be seen. 00:09:13.599 --> 00:09:15.500 You should be only seen by your Heavenly Father. 00:09:15.959 --> 00:09:18.979 And then he talks about laying up your treasures, which is self-sufficiency. 00:09:19.979 --> 00:09:25.000 See, when worrying becomes consuming, or when you end up serving these things, 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:28.539 it becomes idolatry, and that's what Jesus is getting at here. 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:31.580 The Sermon on the Mount is pointing to these things. 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:34.639 So let's look at what Jesus says next. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:35.340 The examples. 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:37.700 Verse 26. 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:41.480 Look at the birds of the air. 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:45.899 They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.299 and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:51.419 Are you not of more value than they? 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:54.899 See, Jesus uses simple illustrations here. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:56.480 That's what's so good about the Gospels. 00:09:56.860 --> 00:10:01.720 There's these simple illustrations to explain deep life things. 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:04.460 So what is he talking about? 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:06.279 Is he talking about, I don't have to work? 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:08.740 That God will just provide everything for me? 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:09.200 No. 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:12.940 God is not talking about we can just sit back. 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:16.000 See, birds, in this illustration, 00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:18.340 it says that God provides for them. 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:21.879 But it doesn't say that he just gives them the food. 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:24.800 The birds still have to go and search out the food. 00:10:24.800 --> 00:10:28.759 They still have to go and find it, find their nests, make their nests. 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:34.759 So what the principle is here is that Jesus is laying out to his disciples, 00:10:34.939 --> 00:10:36.120 you still need the work. 00:10:36.860 --> 00:10:40.620 But you need to do it in a sense where you bring an honor to God. 00:10:41.980 --> 00:10:44.860 Or you might ask, does this mean I have to work long hours? 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:45.480 No. 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:48.480 The birds only gather what they need in that moment. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:52.000 Jesus is talking about the heart behind the work. 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:54.980 Are you worrying constantly about the work? 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:56.759 Is it consuming you? 00:10:57.539 --> 00:10:58.759 That's what he's getting at. 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:04.639 And you might think, well, this is easy for us to talk about, 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:06.960 living in Western society. 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:07.779 We live in excess. 00:11:08.620 --> 00:11:12.220 But what about the Christians around the world who live in poverty, 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:15.960 who live in constant want of food? 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:21.900 How can we talk so freely about this, but then forget about them? 00:11:22.680 --> 00:11:24.139 It's a good point to bring up, 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:27.580 because it's something that we should reflect on. 00:11:27.900 --> 00:11:31.340 It shows us we need to give more to good organizations 00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:35.560 that help the poor, that help those in need around the world. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:39.980 And it gives us a good illustration about how we need to help those in need. 00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:41.820 But we also need to remember, 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:45.000 Jesus is speaking to those who live in poverty. 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:49.139 His disciples are poor fishermen who are following him. 00:11:49.800 --> 00:11:53.139 They would every day not know where their food would be coming from. 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:57.420 So is this cruel for Jesus to say to them? 00:11:58.900 --> 00:12:00.700 Jesus knows that they need food. 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:03.139 And he's not saying to sit back and relax. 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:06.519 He's saying, what is your heart in this pursuit? 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:08.980 Are you doing it honestly? 00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:12.780 Are you doing it for God's glory or for your glory? 00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:15.699 And then he ends it in this section. 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:17.079 Are you not of more value? 00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:22.240 In Psalm 139, the psalmist is talking about that he is made, 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:24.159 God knitted him together. 00:12:24.459 --> 00:12:26.899 He is made fearfully and wonderfully. 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:31.639 That God values humans so much. 00:12:32.199 --> 00:12:33.959 They're made in his image. 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:36.580 And in the next verse we see, 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:40.019 And which of you, in verse 27, 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:42.240 And which of you, by being anxious, 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:44.700 can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:48.220 Here this brings us back to the illustration at the beginning 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:53.220 of the documentary of the man who's obsessed with trying to de-age. 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:55.560 See, we should care for our bodies. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:58.860 We should use modern medicine. 00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:00.960 We should hope for a long life. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.740 But we shouldn't let it control us. 00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:06.460 We shouldn't consume us, the worry, the anxiety. 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:09.560 See, a hundred years from now, 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:14.440 everyone in this room will be dead unless Jesus returns. 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:18.660 And then another hundred years from then, 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:20.240 no one will be remembered. 00:13:20.940 --> 00:13:26.360 My mother-in-law is gathering the family tree stuff 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:28.460 from all the different families and gathering together. 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:31.740 And it has me thinking, like, I don't know anything about my family. 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:33.560 I don't remember anyone in my family. 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:34.600 I don't know anything. 00:13:35.800 --> 00:13:37.680 See, this brings us to the principle that 00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:39.240 in life, 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:41.400 the things we do in life 00:13:41.400 --> 00:13:43.500 most likely won't be remembered. 00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:46.519 But our Heavenly Father will remember them. 00:13:51.160 --> 00:13:53.259 So Jesus uses another illustration. 00:13:53.540 --> 00:13:55.139 In verse 28, he says this, 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:58.220 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:13:59.059 --> 00:14:00.720 Consider the lilies of the field, 00:14:00.819 --> 00:14:01.539 how they grow. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:04.179 They neither toil nor spin. 00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:05.539 Yet I tell you, 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:07.699 even Solomon in all his glory 00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:09.419 was not arrayed like one of these. 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:12.139 But if God so clothes the grass, 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:12.740 the field, 00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:14.100 which today is alive 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:15.840 and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:18.240 will he not much more clothe you, 00:14:18.419 --> 00:14:19.620 O you of little faith? 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:21.240 Therefore, 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:22.360 do not be anxious, 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:22.720 saying, 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.519 what shall we eat 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:24.480 or what shall we drink 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:25.460 or what shall we wear? 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:28.259 See, Jesus now 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:29.580 goes down again, 00:14:29.660 --> 00:14:31.019 even harder on the illustration. 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.360 He uses the grass of the area. 00:14:35.040 --> 00:14:36.519 See, God has created the world 00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:38.500 and he has made beautiful things 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.160 in this world. 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:39.779 He created 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:41.399 very beautiful 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:43.180 scenes of nature. 00:14:44.160 --> 00:14:45.060 And Jesus here 00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:46.000 is talking about 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.440 in their area, 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:49.500 there's this grass that grows, 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.620 that flowers, 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.360 and he creates a beautiful scene. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:54.340 But then they use it 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:56.399 for their ovens 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:57.620 to cook with. 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:59.160 So God has created 00:14:59.160 --> 00:15:00.460 these beautiful things 00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:01.019 in life, 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.340 but he's given it 00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:03.680 to humanity to use 00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:04.460 for their betterment, 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.180 for their good. 00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:07.180 See, the whole point 00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:08.320 of the Sermon on the Mount, 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:10.040 and this section as well, 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:10.620 of it, 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:11.580 is that 00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:13.560 what is the heart behind it? 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.840 What is the disciple's heart? 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.540 That's the whole point 00:15:16.540 --> 00:15:17.220 of the Sermon on the Mount. 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:18.060 This is what Jesus 00:15:18.060 --> 00:15:18.980 is getting at. 00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:20.500 What is it? 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:22.399 What is your heart 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:23.820 behind everything you do? 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:24.759 Is it, 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:25.519 are you worrying 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.480 to pursue 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.480 to better yourself? 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:28.460 Or are you worrying 00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:29.259 about does it bring 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.100 God glory? 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:31.940 Are you doing it 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:32.899 to bring God glory? 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:34.919 And then Jesus, 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.899 after this section, 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.080 presents the solution. 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:38.879 He gives the solution. 00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:40.340 And it sounds 00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.100 a lot easier 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:42.259 than it actually is. 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:44.480 Verses 32 to 33. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:47.500 He says this, 00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:49.080 For the Gentiles 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:51.120 seek after these things, 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.100 and your heavenly Father 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:53.440 knows that you need them all. 00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:55.259 But seek first 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:56.120 the kingdom of God 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:56.960 and his righteousness, 00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:58.080 and all these things 00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:59.220 will be added to you. 00:16:00.800 --> 00:16:01.200 See, 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.580 when he says Gentile, 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.519 what he's talking about 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.580 is a non-Israelite 00:16:04.580 --> 00:16:05.200 in that time. 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:06.200 But for us, 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.620 we can say a non-Christian. 00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.539 Someone who doesn't believe 00:16:08.539 --> 00:16:09.480 in Christianity 00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.220 would be considered 00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:11.420 a Gentile in our time. 00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:12.659 An unbeliever. 00:16:12.659 --> 00:16:14.699 So Jesus is getting 00:16:14.699 --> 00:16:15.600 at something here. 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:18.860 Through all these examples, 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.179 through all the things, 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.939 those who believe in God 00:16:21.939 --> 00:16:22.699 and those who don't 00:16:22.699 --> 00:16:23.399 believe in God, 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.039 everyone has to work. 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:26.459 Everyone needs to provide 00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:27.139 for their family 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:28.100 in some respect. 00:16:28.459 --> 00:16:28.959 Everyone needs to 00:16:28.959 --> 00:16:29.839 clothe themselves. 00:16:31.079 --> 00:16:33.000 But those who are 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.079 disciples of Jesus, 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.079 there should be 00:16:35.079 --> 00:16:36.459 a noticeable difference. 00:16:37.339 --> 00:16:37.860 There should be 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.759 something deeper 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.779 in what they do 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:40.299 every day. 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.579 What do you live 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:42.920 for? 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:44.220 What do you hope 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:45.460 for in life and death? 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.080 A disciple of Jesus 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.180 should be noticeably 00:16:49.180 --> 00:16:50.100 different in regards 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:50.680 to this. 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.100 They should not 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:53.879 be consumed 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.580 by anything 00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:55.400 other than living 00:16:55.400 --> 00:16:56.580 for the glory of God. 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:58.500 We are to work. 00:16:58.800 --> 00:16:59.700 We are to work 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:01.280 hard at the jobs 00:17:01.280 --> 00:17:01.940 we've been given. 00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:03.420 Whether that's being 00:17:03.420 --> 00:17:05.420 a parent at home 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.259 with your child 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:07.640 or those who go 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.220 to work. 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.360 It's what we are 00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:10.000 supposed to do 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.759 to do it diligently, 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:12.539 heartily, 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.680 but we should do it 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.759 for the glory of God, 00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:16.299 not for our own 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.019 self-image, 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.599 not for the things 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.460 that bring us, 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:22.119 not for the things 00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:23.019 that we get 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:24.220 anxious about. 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:25.460 We should give that 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:25.980 to the Lord. 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:29.039 So how is this done? 00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:31.079 Well, in verse 33, 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.380 he gives the answer, 00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:34.160 but seek first 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:35.420 the kingdom of God 00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.260 and his righteousness 00:17:36.260 --> 00:17:38.200 and all these things 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:39.580 will be added to you. 00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:41.000 Well, it sounds 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.680 a lot easier 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:43.740 than actually doing it. 00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:44.640 How do you do that? 00:17:45.360 --> 00:17:46.320 How do you seek first 00:17:46.320 --> 00:17:47.180 the kingdom of God? 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.320 Well, Paul, 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.440 the Apostle Paul 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.260 in Philippians, 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.660 as he's in jail, 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.220 facing trial, 00:17:54.320 --> 00:17:55.040 not knowing if he's 00:17:55.040 --> 00:17:55.840 going to live or die, 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:58.320 he talks about this 00:17:58.320 --> 00:17:59.840 and he says this 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:01.439 in chapter 4, 00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:02.980 verses 11 onwards. 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.740 Not that I am speaking 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.819 of being in need, 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.299 for I have learned 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:08.679 in whatever situation 00:18:08.679 --> 00:18:09.819 I am to be content. 00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:12.859 I know how to be brought low 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:15.639 and I know how to abound. 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:17.879 In any and every circumstance, 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:18.879 I have learned 00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:20.279 the secret of facing plenty 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.559 and hunger, 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.639 abundance, and need. 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:24.079 I can do all things 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:25.119 through him 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:27.579 who strengthens me. 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.819 That's a great verse 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.419 to remember. 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.439 A great section 00:18:31.439 --> 00:18:32.139 of Philippians. 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:34.279 Because it's not us 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.759 who can do it, 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:37.119 who can bring us strength. 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.899 It's Christ. 00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:38.919 It's the Holy Spirit 00:18:38.919 --> 00:18:39.980 working within us. 00:18:40.939 --> 00:18:41.500 See, the beauty 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.240 of the Gospel, 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:44.200 of the Bible, 00:18:44.899 --> 00:18:46.299 is that it points us 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:47.460 to something else. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.619 It points us 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.139 to something 00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:50.679 that's not within ourselves. 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:51.899 It points us 00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:52.539 to a God 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.619 who loves us 00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:54.659 so deeply. 00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:55.980 That's the beauty 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.539 of the Gospel. 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.059 On our own, 00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:59.819 we'll be overwhelmed 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.440 with life. 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:02.759 We'll never be able 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.379 to let go 00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:04.000 of the bitterness 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.859 we hold on to 00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:05.619 so dearly 00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.700 if you've been wronged. 00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.200 You'll never be able 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:09.200 to get the justice 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:09.879 you want. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:11.480 We will be constantly 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.599 concerned by our 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:13.379 daily needs. 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:15.339 We'll find no comfort 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:17.299 in things 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.240 of this world. 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:19.559 Nothing will ever 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.679 sustain us 00:19:20.679 --> 00:19:21.819 or satisfy us 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.019 until we rest 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.659 fully 00:19:23.659 --> 00:19:25.039 in Christ. 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:26.619 when we seek 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:27.359 the kingdom 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:28.579 and his righteousness. 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.200 And what that means 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:30.659 is just 00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:31.519 when we point 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.740 our minds, 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.279 our hearts, 00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:33.980 everything 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.659 towards God. 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.659 When we ask God 00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.559 to come to our lives 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.279 and help us 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:38.940 in our weakness. 00:19:40.659 --> 00:19:41.819 See, the Gospel story 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.460 is simple. 00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:44.180 It's a simple message. 00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:44.960 It's the message 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.720 of good hope. 00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:47.039 It's good news. 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:48.740 And what this 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:50.019 good news is 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.319 is that God 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.079 sent his son 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.000 into the world 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.400 because humanity 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.700 could not do anything 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.559 to become right 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.220 with God. 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.980 That Jesus came 00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.420 to the world, 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:00.720 lived a perfect life, 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.619 went to the cross 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.920 for our sins 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.779 that we committed 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:06.660 and then rose again 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:07.200 from the dead. 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.200 It's a simple message 00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:09.180 but it's a great 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.400 profound message, 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.279 a great treasure 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.799 to unpack. 00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:15.700 That Jesus 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.819 faced everything 00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:18.880 so we wouldn't 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.440 have to. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.140 And it's the only 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:21.920 way that we could 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.020 face verse 24 00:20:23.020 --> 00:20:23.900 confidently. 00:20:25.040 --> 00:20:25.880 Or verse 34 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:26.460 when it says, 00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:26.900 therefore, 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.040 do not be anxious 00:20:28.040 --> 00:20:28.840 about tomorrow 00:20:28.840 --> 00:20:30.100 for tomorrow 00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:31.240 will be anxious 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.200 for itself. 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.180 Sufficient 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.259 for the day 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.520 is its own trouble. 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:37.460 See, if we don't 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:37.900 have Christ 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:38.640 in our lives, 00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:39.900 if we don't have 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:40.860 the cross 00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:41.600 in our lives, 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.360 we will never 00:20:42.360 --> 00:20:43.120 be able to face 00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:44.520 tomorrow confidently 00:20:44.520 --> 00:20:45.920 because we don't 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.600 know what tomorrow 00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:47.120 will bring. 00:20:48.080 --> 00:20:49.000 Tomorrow will bring 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.080 different crosses 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:51.220 for each and any 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:52.359 of us here. 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:53.500 It might be a great 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:53.819 day. 00:20:53.919 --> 00:20:54.579 It might be a horrible 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:54.819 day. 00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:55.619 We have no idea. 00:20:56.399 --> 00:20:57.179 But we can do it 00:20:57.179 --> 00:20:57.899 confidently 00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:59.919 if we have Jesus 00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:00.779 in our lives, 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.759 if we are able 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.740 to cling to him 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.619 and not cling 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:04.159 to the things 00:21:04.159 --> 00:21:04.899 of this world 00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:07.679 because God provides. 00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:08.740 He's the creator 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.439 of everything 00:21:09.439 --> 00:21:10.960 as Jesus lays 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.519 out here. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.699 God cares 00:21:13.699 --> 00:21:14.659 about every single 00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:15.439 thing that you go 00:21:15.439 --> 00:21:16.359 through in this life. 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.199 We have Jesus 00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:19.019 to hold on to 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:20.279 and it's only 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.839 through faith 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.259 in Jesus 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.960 that we can do 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.299 this. 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:22.339 We have Jesus 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:22.339 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:22.400 We have Jesus 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:22.359 to do this.