Kingdom First Matthew 6:25-34

Kingdom Focus is the Key to Overcoming Anxiety

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Fear, Child’s

A little boy had a part in the school play that read, “It is I; be not afraid.” He came out on stage and said, “It’s me and I’m scared.”500

I. One Negative Command: Do Not Be Anxious v. 25

Jesus opens this section of His teaching with a command to the crowd: “Do not be anxious”

If any of you have ever faced the extremes of anxiety and fear, you know that this feels like the cruelest wisdom of all

It is impossible for any of us to just drop anxiety on command, especially in the critical matters of life that Jesus describes here: food, drink, and clothing are all essentials

The key is hinted at in the rest of Jesus’ statement: life is more than food and the body more than clothing

We find the cure to our anxieties when we look beyond them to the deeper and greater matters of life

If we are going to be empty of anxiety, we must be full of something else!

‘Do NOT to think of pink elephants. Whatever you do, don’t think of pink elephants. Do NOT think of pink elephants with big sunglasses and fluffy pink coats and shiny pink leggings. Do not think of pink elephants. Seriously! Stop! Don’t think of pink elephants. Have you stopped thinking of pink elephants yet? You know, the ones in the coats and the leggings – the pink ones?

Now … think of blue monkeys. Imagine big, fluffy, friendly, blue monkeys swinging from vine to vine. Imagine blue monkeys everywhere. Imagine big huddles of blue monkeys eating banana bread, telling jokes and laughing so hard they fall on their fluffy blue bottoms. Dark blue, light blue, middle blue – so many blue monkeys.

What’s happened to your pink elephants now?’

II. Four Truths to Remember vv. 26-32

God values you highly: v. 26

Jesus makes it clear that the Lord cares for the sparrows, seemingly insignificant little creatures

However, the Lord values you more and will give equivalent or greater care to you

Your life matters to God and you must never lose sight of that; even when you don’t care about yourself, He cares about you.

Worry is worthless: v. 27

Second, we see that worry has no positive value

Worry cannot add an hour to your life, but it can certainly take away a few and rob you of the joy of the ones that you have

God created you for eternity: vv. 28-30

Jesus compares us to the lilies of the field; God only grants them a brief time, yet He makes them beauty for their time

If this is true of something so short-lived, how much more will He care for His eternal creation

God knows what you need: vv. 31-32

God is never ignorant of our circumstances or situation

In fact, His way is perfect

I not only can trust that He will provide, but I can trust that His provision in His wisdom is sufficient for every need I face

750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers 540: Providence

In 1937 Walt Disney released the first full-length animated movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Producing an animated movie was a gargantuan task. Disney artists drew over one million pictures. Each picture flashed onto the screen for a mere one-twenty-fourth of a second.

As we watch the movie run at regular speed, it seems so simple. We have no idea all that goes into it.

Our lives are like that movie. God puts infinite thought, skill, and careful attention into every detail. Yet as our lives run at “regular speed,” we have no idea how much God’s providence fills every single second.

III. 1 Positive Command vv. 33-34

The answer to the question of anxiety is a refocus; think about something else

That something is the pursuit of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness

We know that the Kingdom and His righteousness are ours in Christ, yet we are called to live in a manner that seeks them in their fullness

We believe that there are three primary ways that we seek the Kingdom:

By connecting with God- intimate fellowship with Him

By connecting in Community- sharing our lives with like-minded and purposed brothers and sisters

By connecting to Kingdom purpose- making the purposes of God our primary aim

I think two notes are critical here:

You will not seek the Kingdom effectively without pursuing His righteousness; there is no long-term connection with God, church, or world that does not require us to pursue righteousness

You will experience the provision of God, the “all these things” through your pursuit of the Kingdom:

When I am connected to God, I experience His spiritual provision and will watch Him work in my life; this should not be a surprise, it ought to be the principle we live by.

When I am connected to His people, I find that they are frequently His conduit of supply; I am blessed by them and I am able to be a blessing to Him

When I am connected to His purpose, I can expect Him to provide for the sake of His own mission!

However, there is one final critical responsibility that we do have: the responsibility for today

Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, I only have today

Dwelling on the past and worrying about the future are easy, but God holds me accountable for today

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Anxiety)

A doctor had to give a painful shot to a four-year-old girl. When she learned what the doctor was about to do, her face showed her anxiety and her body tensed. As the doctor picked up what looked to the little girl to be a needle large enough to kill an elephant, she turned her eyes to her father, who then took her hand and fixed his eyes on hers. An expression of confidence and calmness came on her face. She knew she was not alone and found comfort, not in her father’s spoken answer, but in his presence with her in her time of trial.

How are you seeking the Kingdom today?