All right, well, good morning, church.
How many of y'all were here last Sunday
and heard my friend Ed Upton speak?
Did y'all enjoy Ed?
I thought he did an outstanding job,
and I appreciated him being willing to come and do that.
Thank you for allowing me and my family a Sunday off.
We were out in California and then Arizona with family
and had a wonderful vacation time there.
But it's great to be back.
We're looking forward to getting back.
Number one, you spent a little bit of time in California,
and you remember how wonderful the weather is.
And how crazy everything else is.
No, it's just, it's hard to take a Texan out of Texas
and have him be happy for too long.
Anyway, let's get into it today.
We've been in a series on new life,
a fresh beginning with Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5.17 has been our series text.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away, and see, the new has come.
We've been seeing a lot of new in our church.
We've got a new sign out there.
We've had God working new life in our church,
evidenced by the baptisms we've been seeing.
We've seen new faces attending.
There's a lot of new happening in our church,
and we thank God for that,
because God is the God of new.
Old things are passed away,
and God is doing something new in our church.
Much of the study and content comes from
Pastor Craig Groeschel of Life Church in Oklahoma City.
And I want to remind us, in our very first sermon,
we learned that God is doing a new thing.
Do you not see it?
We do see it.
And then secondly, we learned we need to stop trying
and start what?
Training.
That's right.
We've got that part down, don't we?
Stop trying, start training.
Oftentimes, we encounter difficulties in our life,
and we try to defeat them, try to defeat them,
and we fail and fail.
But then God wants us to kind of reverse our mindset on that
and say, you stop trying and allow me to train you
to be who I say you are and who I want you to be.
So then we got into you do what you do
because of what you think of you.
We do what we do because of what we think of ourselves.
Our identity determines our behavior.
And again, if we have a mind shift
to see ourselves as God sees us,
then we behave according to who God says we are,
not who we have always thought we are.
So there's a shift there.
And then this is the third Sunday
in this little sub-series.
We've kind of shoehorned into this.
And the first Sunday was lay aside.
Lay aside every week, every wait.
Do you remember what happened on the Sunday
when we talked about laying aside the wait?
Anybody want to remind me what happened?
Thank you for that.
He said, you got smoked.
Yes, I did.
I had a foot race with one of our teenagers
who I think is in here somewhere.
Anyway, yeah, he's back there.
And I lined up on that aisle
and he lined up on that aisle
and we just had a foot race down to the front
and he blew me out of the water.
Wasn't even close.
Then I burdened him down with a weight vest
and kettlebells and a big medicine ball
and we ran again and I barely beat him.
It was very revealing.
Anyway, weights do slow us down.
There's no way that kid could lose to me in a foot race
unless I added a whole bunch of weight to him
and obstacles that he had to run with.
So lay aside every weight.
Two questions there.
What are you holding on to?
And then what is holding on to you?
We find that one in those two verses,
Hebrews 12 and Philippians 3.
And these are kind of the texts for this series
that we're in right now.
So what are you holding on to?
What is a sin problem?
A self-destructive habit
that you might still be holding on to?
And then secondly,
what is something from your life
that might be holding on to you?
Philippians 3 reminds us to forget what lies behind.
And then number two, two weeks ago,
let us run.
Let us run.
That was graduation Sunday, senior Sunday.
We talked about how it's important
to have a goal that we're moving toward.
Start moving.
Reaching forward to what lies ahead.
And then keep going.
Run with endurance.
Again, drawing from Hebrews 12 and Philippians 3.
So that should catch you up.
If you forgot or maybe you missed one of those weeks,
then you should be kind of caught up on where we are.
And today, we're wrapping up this mini-series here
from Hebrews 12 and Philippians 3.
Look at Jesus.
So first week was lay aside the weight.
And then let us run the race that God has set before us.
And now we are reminded to look at Jesus.
So let's look at the Word of God.
Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 2.
If you'll turn in your Bibles over there,
we'll read from it together.
Hebrews 12 and verse 2.
Therefore, I'm going to begin in verse 1
and we'll catch you up here.
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses
surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance
and the sin that so easily ensnares us.
Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.
And here we are keeping our eyes on Jesus,
the source and perfecter of our faith.
For the joy that lay before him,
he endured the cross, despising the shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Now would you turn over with me to Philippians chapter 3.
Philippians chapter 3.
We're going to read in verse 13.
One thing I do, about halfway down verse 13 of Philippians chapter 3.
One thing I do, forgetting what is behind
and reaching forward to what is ahead,
I pursue as my goal the prize promised
by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
Would you pray with me?
God, I thank you so much for your word that is alive.
It addresses every problem in our life.
It gives us grace for every day.
I pray that your word would speak to us today.
Adapt every word that comes from the reading of your word
and the preaching of it.
Adapt it to our personal lives and situations.
Personalize it for us, Lord.
And if there's anybody here who doesn't know you as their Savior,
let them not leave here today
without establishing that relationship the first time.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
All right, so look at Jesus.
That is kind of the conclusion of our series here
from Hebrews 12 and Philippians 3.
I want to share a quote with you from a woman
who was Dutch and allowed many Jews to hide in her and her family's house
many years ago in the days leading up to the Nazi concentration camps,
the Holocaust back in World War II.
So she says, as someone who sacrificed much for God's people to be saved from their oppressors,
and then eventually she herself was taken prisoner
and sent to a Nazi concentration camp where she suffered unimaginable things.
And she said later in her life, if you look at the world, you'll be distressed.
Well, that's probably true, especially considering the things that she endured.
If you look at the world around you, you will be distressed.
I wouldn't have to probably convince too much of you to agree with that.
I think we all pretty much agree the world around us is full of problems.
It's full of stress.
It's full of distress.
If you look within, you'll be depressed, which is often the case, isn't it?
We probably have let ourselves down more than we've let anybody else down,
and we've let other people down, haven't we?
We probably know the truth about ourselves, and that often depresses us
maybe more than it energizes us.
Because we know our innermost thoughts.
We know our weaknesses.
So if we look outside, we're distressed.
If we look within, we're depressed.
But if we look at God, we will be at rest.
Our eyes must be fixed on Jesus.
If our eyes get fixed on anyone or anything else,
we will be distressed or we will be depressed.
Ultimately, our eyes must remain on Christ to find rest for this journey.
So number one, eyes up.
Eyes up.
Hebrews 12 says,
keeping your eyes on Jesus,
looking unto Jesus.
That is the key to the Christian life.
Eyes up.
Hebrews 12,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him,
endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Why are we looking at Jesus?
Because he walked this path before we did.
And he did it perfectly.
Why are we keeping our eyes fixed on Christ?
Because he is our example.
He is our role model.
He is our goal.
He is our prize.
We keep our eyes on the what?
Yes.
Keep our eyes on the prize.
I was seeing if y'all could get there with me.
We keep our eyes on the prize,
and the prize is Jesus Christ.
He is the one we are striving to please.
He is the one who has rescued us.
He is the one whose grace sustains us,
whose blood has washed us from our sins.
He is the one who has given everything for us,
and he is our goal.
He is the light at the end of the tunnel.
So we look to him.
Eyes up.
Now, Isaiah 45, 22 shows us it has always been this way.
From the very beginning,
the goal is to get our eyes back on our creator,
on God.
Isaiah 45, 22,
turn to me and be saved,
for I am God and there is no other.
Have you ever heard in the world today
that you just believe what's best for you
and let me believe what's best for me
and don't tell me that you're right and I'm wrong?
You ever heard that kind of thing?
It's especially popular in our culture and society today.
The Bible tells us the exact opposite of that.
God is very inclusive in that he wants all men and women to come to him,
but he's very exclusive when he says,
I'm the only one that can save you.
I'm the only one.
If you go to another church that says any other way to be saved
other than placing your faith in Jesus alone,
that is not correct.
The only way to be forgiven
and to have a relationship with God
is through Jesus Christ.
That's it.
There is no other way.
I hear all the time,
well, all us churches should just get along
because we're all preaching the same thing.
Well, we're not all preaching the same thing.
Thank God many are.
Thank God many of our churches here in town
are pointing people to Jesus,
but I dare say there's probably some who aren't.
All across this world,
there are people who gather in churches
and they add to the scriptures,
they add to the gospel message,
or they take away from it.
It's either, oh, God doesn't think your sin is that bad,
or it's you have to jump through all these hoops
that we have created to get to God.
But the reality is,
you just have to turn to Jesus.
You turn to Jesus and say,
I know I'm a sinner.
I know Jesus died for my sin,
and I place all of my faith
in the risen Savior, Jesus Christ.
He will forgive me.
He loves me.
He will make me his child.
That is the way of salvation,
and there is no other.
And that's according to God himself.
He says, I am God.
Buddha's not God.
Mohammed's not God.
Throw in whatever,
anybody else who's ever tried to
represent themselves as a deity on this earth,
they are not God.
Fortunately, you are not God of your life.
I am not God of my life.
There is one God.
His name is Jesus.
Let's turn to Matthew, would you with me?
Matthew chapter 14.
Now, I think I'm preaching to the choir
mostly in this room.
I think most of you would agree
with what we just talked about.
There is one God.
His name is Jesus.
He's the only way to salvation.
But what does that have to do with us now?
Once you have placed your faith in Jesus,
say, yeah, I know that.
I believe.
I put my faith in Jesus.
I've been baptized like Heather was this morning.
What does that mean for me now?
Matthew chapter 14, verse 22.
This is right after the feeding of the 5,000.
Jesus and his disciples,
they're probably on a high
after this amazing miracle.
With Jesus multiplied
this small amount of food
and fed so many people.
Now, they're leaving.
Verse 22.
Immediately, Jesus made the disciples
get into a boat
and go ahead of him to the other side,
the Sea of Galilee,
while he dismissed the crowd.
After dismissing the crowd,
he went up onto the mountain by himself
to pray.
Jesus would often do this.
By the way, it's a good idea
after a big win
or a big loss
to go off by yourself
and pray.
Recenter yourself on God.
Give him the glory
for what just happened
or take to him
the sorrow and care
that you're experiencing.
Whatever those times are,
it's a good idea
to copy what Jesus did
and go get away
and pray.
Well into the night,
Jesus was there alone.
Verse 24.
Meanwhile,
the boat,
with the disciples in it,
was already some distance
from the land,
battered by the waves
because the wind
was against them.
You know, folks,
sometimes in life,
the wind is going to be
against you,
so to speak.
Seems like the whole world
is stacked against you.
You know why?
Because it is.
As a child of God,
this world is stacked
against you.
But be not afraid
because Jesus
has overcome the world.
There is no power greater.
There will be all sorts
of power and obstacles
rise up against you
as a child of God.
But your power,
the one that is walking
with you,
the one who is talking
with you,
the one who is leading you
and never abandons you,
he is greater.
He is more powerful.
So as the winds
rise up against
this boat
with the disciples in it,
what happened?
Jesus came toward them.
Walking on the sea.
I love how it just
throws that in there
like it's an everyday occurrence.
Oh yeah,
Jesus was taking a walk
on the sea early
in the morning.
I like to take a walk
early in the morning
when I wake up
early enough to do that.
But I don't normally,
you know,
go out to the city pool
and take a stroll.
I don't go down
to Lake Arrowhead
and take a nice little walk.
Jesus,
though,
was doing that.
Verse 25,
Jesus came toward them
walking on the sea
very early in the morning.
And when the disciples
saw him
walking on the sea,
they were terrified.
It's a ghost!
They said.
And they cried out
in fear.
Now y'all,
these guys had been
walking with Jesus.
It wasn't like
they didn't know
who he was.
They believed
that he was the Messiah.
They believed
that he was from God.
So should it have been
a huge leap
for them to see Jesus
walking on the water
and realize,
oh yeah,
that's Jesus.
He's different
than we are,
isn't he?
He can do that.
But that wasn't
their first conclusion.
Even the ones
who literally
walked in the physical,
human presence
of Jesus
on this earth
still didn't have
enough faith
to realize
that's the Son of God.
He loves us.
He's our friend.
He's coming to save us.
No,
their immediate thought was
it's a ghost.
We've never been
like that,
have we?
Of course not.
We've never had
some opposition
come up against us.
We've never had
some change
happen in our life.
Maybe some evidence
of God
actually working,
but it wasn't
what we thought.
It wasn't
what we planned.
All they wanted
was for the storm
to die down,
right?
Just take the storm
away
and we can get
to the other side
here in peace.
It never entered
into their mind
that God would come
walking across the water
to save them.
So,
when they saw
what God chose
to do,
freaked them out.
We've never been
in those shoes,
have we?
When we saw
something that God
chose to do
and it wasn't
what we had planned,
it wasn't even
what we had asked
for or hoped for,
and it kind of
spooks us a little bit.
So,
what happened?
They cried out
in fear
and immediately,
verse 27,
Jesus spoke to them.
Have courage,
it is I.
Don't be afraid.
So,
who speaks up first?
Well,
if you know
the disciples at all,
your first guess
would be Peter
and you'd be right.
Lord,
if it's you,
Peter answered him,
command me to come
to you on the water.
And I love this,
verse 29,
he said,
come.
I just,
that baffles me
for some reason.
Maybe because I'm
raising two little boys,
they're not so little
anymore.
They're getting bigger
and they're sitting
right up here,
Austin's bouncing
in his seat.
At least he's staying
awake,
that's a good thing.
When I'm trying
to get my kids
to do something
that they're
uncomfortable with,
do something
that might make them
a little nervous
or a little scared,
I usually don't
just say,
come.
Usually,
I gotta talk them
through it,
you know?
Okay, son,
now here's what
you gotta do.
You gotta get
one foot out
of the boat,
okay?
Just get one foot
in the water.
We'll work on the
next one in a minute,
okay?
How does that feel?
Does that feel alright?
Feel like you can
put the other one in now?
Alright,
now come on out.
I got my hand out here.
Come on,
walk to me.
Walk to me.
You got this.
That's what I would
have done.
But Jesus
just says,
come.
Why do you
think that is?
I think it's
because Peter
had an opportunity
here
to exercise
the faith
that Jesus
knew he had.
Jesus knew
he had enough
faith
to walk to him.
So I think
Jesus wasn't
gonna coax him
through it.
It was just,
I'm gonna issue
you a command.
Your job
is to step
out by faith
and follow me.
I'm not gonna
explain all
the reasons
of why this
is gonna work.
Just gonna
help you
see
that you
have to
simply obey.
So,
Jesus says,
come.
And climbing
out of the boat,
Peter started
walking on the
water
and came
toward Jesus.
but when he
saw
the strength
of the wind,
he was
afraid.
And beginning
to sink,
he cried out,
Lord,
save me!
So he knew
that Jesus
could save
him.
So who did
he doubt
in that moment?
What was it?
Himself.
Right?
Have you ever
been there?
It's like,
God,
I know
that you're
real.
I know
that you
are great,
you are
powerful,
you love
me,
you wanna
help me,
but I
don't feel
the same
way about
myself.
God,
I know
you wanna
do great
things in
my life,
but I'm
not sure
I'm your
guy.
I'm not
sure I'm
your girl.
I'm not
sure I'm
the one
that can
handle
what you're
trying to
get me
to do.
I've been
there time
and time
again in
my life.
God,
I know
you're
strong
enough
to beat
this habit
that I
have,
but I'm
telling you
I'm not.
I can't
do it.
I can't
handle it.
My faith
just isn't
strong enough.
And Jesus
says,
listen,
all you gotta
do
is come.
You just
have to get
out of the
boat,
you just
have to
keep
putting
one foot
in front
of the
other.
Peter
didn't have
to have
some massive
amount of
faith.
He just
had to
walk.
Just
literally
walk.
And then
Jesus would
take care of
the rest.
But Peter
couldn't do
it.
He was
too scared.
The winds
and the waves
around him
scared him
too much.
What if
got in
the way?
What if
came
burrowing
its way
into his
mind
saying,
what if
my faith
isn't strong
enough?
What if
I start
to sink?
What if
I don't
make it
to him?
He can
do that,
but I
can't.
This is
crazy.
What am
I doing?
And the
moment he
lost his
faith,
he began
to sink.
But he
had enough
faith to
cry out,
God,
save me.
Anybody
ever done
that by
testimony of
uplifted
hand?
Anybody
ever cried
out to
Jesus,
Lord,
help me,
Lord,
save me
from this
situation,
maybe save
me from
myself?
Yeah,
I've been
there.
So Jesus
says,
you of
little faith,
why did
you doubt?
He reached
out his
hand and
caught him
and said,
son,
why did
you doubt
me?
This wasn't
about you,
this was about
me.
Of course
you can't
walk on
water,
but I
can.
Of course
you can't
save your
marriage,
but he
can.
Of course
you can't
help your
kids,
but he
can.
Of course
you can't
fix your
finances,
but he
can.
Of course
you can't
beat that
habit that
you haven't
beaten your
whole life,
but he
can.
He was
training
Peter.
He didn't
need Peter
to try to
walk on
water,
water.
He just
needed him
to understand
that Jesus
was in
control of
that situation,
put one
foot in
front of
the other.
When Peter
took his
eyes off
Jesus,
he sank.
When you
and I
take our
eyes off
Jesus,
we crash,
we sink,
it doesn't
end well,
we get
scared.
Jeremiah
33.3
says,
call to
me and
I will
answer you
and I
will show
you great
and mighty
things which
you don't
know.
Listen,
folks,
at least
Peter called
out to
Jesus,
right?
Even when
he was
thinking,
at least
he said,
Jesus,
save me.
At least
he had
the sense
to do
that.
And
sometimes
that's
what we've
got to
do.
To say,
God,
I know
I messed
up.
I know
you were
going to
do
something
great.
I know
I got
in the
way
and
messed
it
up.
God,
help.
What
does
Jesus
do?
Well,
you
should
have
listened
to
me.
Shaking
his finger
at us.
What were
you thinking?
No,
he doesn't.
He reaches
down and
picks us
up and
says,
next time,
trust me.
Come on.
I'm the
one who's
got this.
And as
long as
I've got
you,
you've
got this
too.
Eyes
up.
Number
two,
press
toward the
prize.
Number
two,
press
toward the
prize.
Philippians
three,
and we'll
be done
in just
a moment.
Philippians
three.
This is
going to
be fun.
All
right,
y'all
ready for
this?
Philippians
three.
Number
one was
eyes up,
look at
Jesus.
Number
two,
press
toward
the
prize.
Verse
14,
I pursue
as my
goal the
prize promised
by God's
heavenly call
in Christ
Jesus.
Eyes
up,
looking at
Jesus,
because he
is our
prize.
Jesus
gave us
our
calling,
he drew
us to
himself,
he forgave
us of
our sins,
so we
keep our
eyes
on the
prize.
There
will be
all kinds
of other
things
tried to
distract
you.
Peter
got
distracted
by the
waves
around
him.
All
kinds
of
people
or
places
or
things
or goals
or careers
or desires
or sin
problems
will try
to worm
their way
in and
pull your
focus
away.
And that's
why Paul
reminds us
to press,
press,
pursue
the prize
that God
has before
us.
How many
of y'all
have ever
seen the
show that
came,
I don't
know if
it's still
airing or
not,
they may
be just
delaying
before another
season happens,
but it's
this little
mini golf
show called
Holy Moly.
Came on
ABC,
I think.
Within the
last five
years or so,
they came out
with a couple
seasons of it.
There you go,
we got one,
I know my
kids down
here watch
it.
Yeah,
alright,
well Holy
Moly
action,
it's great
man,
it's extreme
mini golf
and it's
amazing.
I have a
little clip
from it
here,
ready?
Bears,
bears,
bears.
Alright,
here we go,
let's try it,
we'll start
it over.
Here we go.
Here comes
the distraction.
Bears,
bears,
bears.
Okay,
let me set
this up for
you.
This hole,
they all
play these
different holes
with different
challenges on
each mini golf
hole.
This one is
called the
distractor.
So,
the two
golfers line
up,
they're ready
to putt a
simple,
I don't know,
18 foot putt
or something.
In this level
of mini golf,
it's not that
bad.
Just a straight
putt.
Then this wall
turns and behind
the wall is some
crazy,
crazy thing that
is going to
distract them
while they putt.
One time it
was a marching
band.
One time it
was a drill
sergeant like
screaming at
them in their
ear as they
try to make
this putt.
This one was
amazing.
Here comes
the distraction.
Bears,
bears,
bears.
Oh my
goodness,
it's Pat!
It's Pat!
Oh my
goodness,
it's Pat!
It is
paparazzi.
Oh,
soulless.
The flashbulbs
and the red
carpet.
Oh,
that was a good
jump.
Pat,
do the jump
again.
I recognize
some of these
folks from my
trees,
Joe.
Pat,
you look
amazing!
And now
our competitors
are going to
have to putt
down the red
carpet.
Pat,
who does
your beard?
Pat,
who did
your hair
tonight?
Tell me
about your
shoes,
Pat.
Have you ever
had much
experience
with a paparazzi,
Joe?
I really
don't swim
in those
circles there,
Rob.
Well,
I have,
and it's
just like
this.
Pat,
come on,
give me
the shot.
Right down
the barrel,
right down
the barrel.
Can he
overcome
the paparazzi
and sink
this 15-foot
putt?
Oh,
you gotta
see this one,
Pat,
you gotta
see this.
Oh my God,
oh my God,
oh my God!
And Pat
misses.
These photos
are gonna
be all over
TMZ tomorrow.
Guy didn't
stand a chance,
did he?
I mean,
he's a great
mini-golfer.
They have
some of the
best mini-golfers
in the world.
I don't know
where you find
those people
exactly,
but they
found them
somehow.
This guy
is amazing!
You watched
the rest
of his rounds
there on that
episode.
He was
incredible.
He should
have easily
made that
putt,
but he
didn't stand
a chance
against what
was happening
around him.
He got
distracted,
right?
Now,
that's an
extreme example,
but you
and I
get distracted
pretty easily.
that's
why
Paul
reminds us,
I press
on toward
the goal
for the
prize of
the upward
call of
God in
Christ Jesus.
There is
a goal.
His goal
was to simply
put the little
ball in the
hole.
He couldn't
do it.
He should
have been
able to.
He was
equipped.
He was
good enough.
He could
easily handle
that putt,
but he
couldn't do it
on that
hole because
he got
distracted
by everything
else happening
around him.
Now,
usually,
that's what
happens to
you and
me,
especially if
you've been
in church
for a while.
You know
the Bible.
You've been
taught.
Maybe you
grew up
going to
Sunday
school,
going to
church.
You've
heard the
Word of
God
preached.
You've
read it
for yourself.
You know
what you're
supposed to
do,
when you're
supposed to
do it,
how to
do it,
but you
get distracted
by your
spouse.
You get
distracted
by your
work.
You get
distracted
by disappointment.
You get
distracted
by expectations.
You get
distracted
by hurt.
You get
distracted
by your
own flesh.
You get
distracted
by people
around you.
You get
distracted
by the
cares of
this life.
And Paul
wants to
remind us
there's an
upward
call.
what does
it mean
when he's
talking about
this upward
call of
God in
Christ Jesus?
Have you
ever tried
going upward?
Is it
easy or
difficult?
That's not a
trick question,
y'all.
Is it hard
or easy to
go uphill?
It's hard,
right?
But that is
the call of
God in
Christ Jesus.
He's calling
us upward.
As we
walk upward,
it's going
to be
difficult.
But when
we reach
the top,
the view
is amazing.
When we
reach the
peak or
the pinnacle
of our
climb,
Jesus has
formed us
into who
he wants
us to
be.
And then
we get
to enjoy
a beautiful
forever
eternity
in heaven
with him.
It's the
upward
call of
God in
Christ Jesus.
He's leading
you upward.
There's
going to
be beautiful
things along
the way.
There's
going to
be moments
where we
can stop
and rest.
There's
going to
be great
times and
not so
great times
on this
upward
journey.
But he's
drawing you
upward because
the opposite,
we don't want
to go there.
That's drawing
you away from
God.
That's drawing
you down,
further and
further down.
Jesus is
calling you
upward.
I've been
reminding us of
this verse since
late last year.
Romans 12
2,
don't copy
the behavior
and customs
of this world
but let God
transform you
into a new
person by
changing the
way you
think.
Then you
will learn
to know
God's will
for you
which is
good and
pleasing and
perfect.
This is the
upward call of
God in
Christ Jesus.
This is the
upward call.
This is
pressing on
toward the
prize of
Jesus.
So let
God change
your thinking.
Go back to
Matthew,
would you?
Matthew 6
and verse
25.
Matthew 6
and verse
25.
For sake of
time, I'll
go ahead and
read.
Therefore I
tell you,
don't worry
about your
life.
What you
will eat
or what you
will drink
or about
your body,
what you
will wear,
isn't life
more than
food?
And the
body is
more than
clothing?
Consider the
birds of
the sky.
They don't
sow, they
don't reap
or gather
into barns,
yet your
heavenly Father
feeds them.
Aren't you
worth more
than they
are?
Can any
of you
add one
moment to
your lifespan
by worrying?
No.
Why do you
worry about
clothes?
Observe how
the wildflowers
of the field
grow.
They don't
labor or
spin thread,
yet I tell
you, not
even Solomon
in all his
splendor was
adorned like
one of these
flowers.
Verse 30,
if that's how
God clothes the
grass of the
field, which
is here today
and thrown
into the
furnace tomorrow,
won't he do
so much more
for you,
you of little
faith?
So don't
worry saying,
what will we
eat or what
will we drink
or what will
we wear?
Or what
will happen
in my family?
What will
happen in my
job?
What will
happen in my
retirement?
What will
happen in our
church?
We're having
new people come
in, we're having
new people get
baptized, we've
got a new
pastor, what's
he going to
do?
Don't worry
about tomorrow.
The Gentiles
eagerly seek all
the same things
that we get
so worried
about.
Your heavenly
father knows
that you need
them.
Verse 33,
but seek first
the kingdom of
God and his
righteousness.
Follow the
upward call of
God and Christ
Jesus and all
of these things
will be provided
for you.
All these things
will be provided
for you.
Therefore, don't
worry about tomorrow
because tomorrow
will worry about
itself.
Each day has
enough trouble
of its own.
Jesus is calling
you out.
Jesus is calling
us out.
He's calling me
out, he's calling
you out, and he's
calling us out
now.
He's saying, I'm
calling you upward.
Maybe you've been
walking on level
ground.
Maybe you've been
walking a little bit
downward.
Maybe you've been
walking off to the
side.
God is calling you
ever upward.
And if you
haven't been
journeying with
Jesus, then you're
probably heading a
different direction.
But Jesus wants to
call you upward
toward himself.
So get your eyes
up and press
toward the prize.
He's calling you
out.
He's calling you
now.
Here's our takeaway
for today.
God, change my
thinking to focus
on following you
and then lead me
where I cannot
go on my own.
Let's read it
again.
God, change my
thinking to focus
on following you
and then lead me
where I can't go
on my own.
Would you bow
your heads with
me?
God, that's our
prayer right now
today.
That you would
change our thinking
to focus on you.
You are our
prize.
It's easy to get
distracted by so
many other things.
individually, even
in the life of our
church, God, it's
easy to make other
things, God, instead
of you.
We get used to
doing things a
certain way.
We get used to
things looking or
feeling a certain
way and that
starts to become
God more than
you are.
I pray that we
would follow you
into the great
unknown knowing
that you already
know everything
that's coming.
I pray that
whatever that
looks like for
each family,
each man,
each woman,
each teenager,
each child, I
pray that you
would show,
personalize it for
them.
Whatever you would
call us to do,
God, give us the
courage, the
boldness to keep
our eyes on you
and press toward
the prize of the
upward call of God
in Jesus.
We can't get there
on our own, God.
We need your help.
church right now
with our heads
bowed and our
eyes closed, would
you take a moment
of reflection?
Would you take a
moment of private
quiet prayer?
I would ask you
if at all possible
to keep your seat,
let the stillness
allow the Holy
Spirit to work in
this moment, in
your heart, in
your mind.
In just a moment
we'll pray and be
dismissed.
But before then
while Brother
Greg sings a song
over us, can we
just keep this
silence, this
stillness, and ask
God to show us
exactly what it is,
what steps we need
to take to get
back to following
Him, pursuing Him,
to get our eyes
back on Jesus.