Seek First God’s Kingdom
Matthew 6:31-34 – Victory Fellowship
October 8, 2023- Rev. Roderick Grabski
I. INTRODUCTION
a. Red letter Bible – these are all Jesus’ words
i. He wants us to trust God and not be anxious for anything
ii. Jesus tells us we can’t have faith in God and faith in our money or worldly possessions.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety (George Mueller)
Andre Massena, one of Napoleon's generals, suddenly appeared with 18,000 soldiers before an Austrian town which had no means of defending itself. The town council met, certain that capitulation was the only answer. The old dean of the church reminded the council that it was Easter, and begged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God's hands. They followed his advice. The dean went to the church and rang the bells to announce the service. The French soldiers heard the church bells ring and concluded that the Austrian army had come to rescue the town. They broke camp, and before the bells had ceased ringing, vanished.
II. RELATING THE TEXT
a. Jesus teaches that our lives should be free from anxiety
i. He talks about birds, lilies, grass and reminds us that we are more important to God than these things.
24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25 ¶ "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
b. In verse 30 Jesus says that if we can’t trust God for all of our needs (food, shelter, clothing) then we are people of little faith. He tells us that God KNOWS we need these things.
c. Jesus’ focus is on vs 33 “seek first His Kingdom…
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
III. APPLICATION
a. Jesus wants us to make Kingdom seeking a priority in our lives. (*Hudson Taylor)
*Hudson Taylor, missionary to China: "Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into [God's] hand; and then, when we have given all over to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about."
b. God helps us trust. He initiated the relationship with us (Rom 3:10-12 none righteous; 3:23 all sinned)
c. In John 15:16 more red words: 16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 "This I command you, that you love one another
There is the heart of it… Mark 12:29-31 29 Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' 31 "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
d. We can’t bear fruit if we have anxiety over anything. We can’t love God and neighbor if we approach situation with fear and worry. Anxiety and worry become our idol.
e. It’s actually not healthy to worry or be anxious… …A John Hopkins University doctor says, "We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non- worriers, but that is a fact." But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
IV. FOLLOW THROUGH
a. God called us and will help us (collectively and corporately) but He requires our participation.
b. Learning to trust God over our anxiety takes practice. It takes faith.
c. There are specific exercises we can do to build up our faith and trust…
*Read the Bible
*Pray (Phil. 4:6-7) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
*Pay attention to our circumstances and don’t quench the Holy Spirit
*Consider the wise council and example of Godly and God fearing Church leaders.
*Give frequent Testimony
V. Conclusion:
a. If God is asking us as individuals and as the Church to do something – anxiety over the circumstances or fear of a lack of resources should not govern our decisions…instead we should see if there is a Biblical precedence, we should pray over the situation, we should see what doors God opens up as we go forward, and we should consider the wise counsel of the spiritual leaders in our congregation.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
PRAYER
SONG: Heart of God
Matthew 6:31-34
31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NAS95)