What Holds Your Heart Part Two

Recap:

New Heart (Ezekiel) Heart not of stone. Heart of flesh.

Tithe is an act of obedience and a blessing for you and others. Follow your purpose, over your passion. When you pursue your purpose over your passion, you will no longer be interested in what money can buy because you will be pursuing your God given purpose, which is to glorify Him. Tithe helps you not have distracting devotions and to focus on serving God alone!

Matthew 6:25–34 ESV

25 “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. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

[Therefore]

What did we just read the verse before this passage. Look back…dig in for a minute.

It is important in helping us understand the relationship between a kingdom servant and the king. The king desires unreserved devotion. No division.

[Take no thought]

Translation study…

Does this mean that we are not to think about where I am going to sleep? Does this mean that I am not to think about what my kids are going to eat? Does this mean that I am not to have a thought about how to pay the bills I owe? So often I have wondered why Jesus would say do not worry about anything, and yet be commanded to care for the poor, the widow, and the orphan. Isn’t the care for the poor, the widow, and the orphan a care that is a thought in my mind?

Remember the context…devotion to the king…

A distracting thought…which is why anxiety is often used to translate for the appropriate meaning.

Take no anxious thought or forethought, for temporal things.

“Some of ya’ll know people who worry about having something to worry about.” -Anonymous

The call to take not a thought is less about thoughts and more about radical reliance.

There is a difference between anxious thoughts and earnest thoughts.

[eat, drink, clothing]

Is there a reason Jesus used eat, drink, clothing? Could He have used any other categories?

(Survival, Pleasure) and (Status, Appearance)

[birds, lillies]

Maybe it is because the birds were flying overhead. Maybe it is because the Lillie’s were in the field around them. Maybe it was because everyone can see Lillie’s of the field and birds in the air. And everyone can see that God provides for them. He didn’t use some abstract example.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

[who’s kingdom]

God's kingdom. Who’s righteousness? God’s. Not your kingdom, not your politics, not your sport, not your mom, not your dad, not your church, not your way.

[what will be added?]

Food, drink, clothing (status symbol)

Mirage: an optical illusion…Think with me to the children of Israel. God delivered them. Out in the desert and they started imagining that things were better back in slavery in Egypt. The children of God didn’t not find in manna all the sweetness and strength they might have found in it, not because the manna didn’t have it, but because they longed for ‘other’ food. When you long for ‘other’ food provided from sources other than God (you will never be satisfied when you get them), but you also be tricked into thinking the ‘other’ food is better.

Do not long for ‘other’ provisions.

Jesus’ followers must be motivated by confidence in the Father’s provision for their basic needs in this passage. When you follow me, I am going to take care of you. I am your Lord, Father, God. I am going to take care of you. For example…

[who do you think will be adding it]

God! Of course!

So let’s recap…this passage that began with the phrase do not be anxious is not about turning off critical thinking.

Trusting Jesus isn’t turning off your mind—-its turning over your control.

Tahoe, Stand Up Freezer, Chest Freezer, and Oven. They had to research, plan, purchase, and so on…

“Hey Joe thanks for checking on us. The devil is working overtime but we aren't going to let him win!! See you Sunday!”

They had an eternal perspective…A God perspective…a Theological Worldview…where a Good God will take care of them!!!

The definition is worship is ascribing ultimate value to an object and engaging your mind, your heart, and your will, the whole being, as you do it. Using your entire person to ascribe ultimate value to some object. That is worship. (Timothy Keller)

It’s saying, I give my control of my thoughts to you Lord. I will use my will, my mind, my soul, and my heart to intend my mind on remembering God is my king.

Faith isn’t a leap into the dark, it’s a walk in the Light.

It isn’t ignorant cluelessness or foolishness.

Application: Ways to battle the divided thoughts…

Pray. If you're feeling overwhelmed by worries about providing for your family, take a moment each evening to gather everyone for a family prayer. Share your concerns aloud and commit them to God as a family. This helps not only in acknowledging the collective worries, but also reinforces your devotion to trusting God’s provision together.

Quiet Time: In times when school pressures seem overwhelming and you worry about grades or fitting in, choose to start your day with a five-minute devotion. Write down one specific worry or stressor you have, then pray for guidance and strength. This practice helps you re-focus on God's love and control, easing the burden of anxiety in your school life.

Serve: If you're feeling anxious about the state of the world and your role in it, engage in community service. Volunteer at a local charity or outreach program, dedicating your time and effort to help those in need. This act of devotion not only pulls you out of your worries but also connects you with other believers who share your mission of embodying Christ's love in your community.

Conclusion:

No one ever lost out by excessive devotion to Christ. (H. A. Ironside)

Our heart is so easily shaped by what we treasure and where we invest our thoughts. Some of us have this command and disconnected your mind from the equation that you NEVER have a thoughtful thought. When the bible clearly teaches us to love the Lord with ALL our mind! Be transformed by the renewing of our MIND. Some of you this verse has been taught bad or misused and has caused you to not engage your mind at all and you need to be intentional with your time, talent, treasure, and HEART.

Others of you are worried, stressed, anxious with your constant thoughts about what might happen, what could happen, why did this happen, why do they, why don’t I. When Jesus commands us not to have anxious thoughts, he wants us to not have a divided mind. Let all of your thoughts trust in Him always. Don’t let some of your worry on what you will eat, what you drink, what you will wear, or what people think…or what you might be missing out on…or what life could be like…or could have been…or why you aren’t like that person.

[Verse 33-34] We need an eternal perspective. When you said YES to Jesus, You are no longer your own. And you are to trust that HE will take care of YOU!. That He has got you!