Overcoming Distractions to the Peace of God
Notes
Transcript
It is an honor to be asked to preach today at your annual Homecoming service. I’m thankful for the friendship of this church and the friendship of your pastor. You guys have been a blessing to us since we moved here three years ago and I look forward to what the future holds as we work together for the cause of Christ in the Black Mountain area.
Today I have a message on my heart that is probably not your typical Homecoming message. But it’s a message I need, and because it comes from God’s Word and the lips of Jesus, I know it is a message that every believer needs. Even if you are here as an unbeliever today, I believe there are some reminders that will point you to Jesus and eternity as well.
Today’s message is “Overcoming Distractions to the Peace of God”
With that said please join me in the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 6 and we will begin reading at verse 19.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The first way that believers can overcome distractions to God’s peace is to...
Reevaluate Your Priorities (vv. 19-24)
Reevaluate Your Priorities (vv. 19-24)
We all have priorities. Our priorities are seen in what we focus on, what we purchase, where and how we spend our time and the list goes on. But I dare say that every one of us in this room needs to reevaluate our priorities from time to time. A good day to start is TODAY! Let me challenge you to...
Reevaluate What we are Seeking (Investments) (vv. 19-21)
Reevaluate What we are Seeking (Investments) (vv. 19-21)
Jesus begins this section by warning us not to lay up for ourselves “treasures on earth” (v. 19). He then proceeds to give us a good reason why. Earthly treasures are temporary and decaying. Earthy treasures are “fools gold.” Jesus warns us against making earthly, temporary, decaying treasures the focus of our lives.
Adrian Rogers calls earthly treasure, “GIFT-WRAPPED GARBAGE.”
Proverbs 23:5 expresses it this way...
Proverbs 23:5
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Paul said this to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Instead of focusing on earthly, temporary, and decaying treasure we need to focus on true treasure (v. 20). Treasure that is heavenly, eternal, and unaffected by time and circumstance. It is the ULTIMATE treasure!’
Paul put it this way in Colossians 3:1-2
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
The truth is ALL of us are building a portfolio of treasures: either on earth or in Heaven. The question is, “Where are you building your portfolio?”
Jesus made it clear in this text as He said Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Not only do we need to reevaluate what we are SEEKING, but we also need to...
Reevaluate How we are Seeing (vv. 22-24)
Reevaluate How we are Seeing (vv. 22-24)
Notice again Matthew 6:22-24
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Jesus uses an illustration about our eyesight. The healthy eye lets light into the body, much like a window lets light into a room. If the window is filthy it’s going to effect the illumination in the room and if the eye is healthy vision will be clear and crisp.
However, Jesus also talked about the “evil” eye in verse 23. This is like an unhealthy eye that sees things in a DISTORTED WAY. Someone put it this way...
An evil eye makes earthly stuff look priceless and heavenly stuff look worthless.
A good eye makes earthly stuff look worthless and heavenly stuff look priceless!
An “evil eye” is focused on materialism, is covetous and leads to darkness and spiritual blindness. One with an evil eye has “misdirected priorities.”
An evil eye also leads to “double vision”...trying to serve two masters, but Jesus said it’s impossible. We cannot split our loyalty between the temporary and the eternal!
When our PRIORITIES are misplaced our attention is DIVERTED from our loyalty to God and we become focused on TEMPORARY, EARTHLY concerns which only produces anxiety and insecurity.
Not only do we need to REEVALUATE our PRIORITIES but we also need to...
Reestablish Your Focus (vv. 25-32)
Reestablish Your Focus (vv. 25-32)
Notice how Matthew 6:25 begins
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
It begins with the word “therefore.” Whenever you see the word “therefore” in Scripture you always need to look back and see why it’s there for. Jesus is referring back to what He just said.
Because “where our treasure is that’s where our heart will be...”
Because “earthly treasures are temporary...”
Because “heavenly treasures are eternal...”
Because “no one can serve two masters...”
We need to REESTABLISH our focus!
Notice, first of all...
Focusing on what we Do Not Have Leads to a Divided & Distracted Mind (v. 25, 27-28a)
Focusing on what we Do Not Have Leads to a Divided & Distracted Mind (v. 25, 27-28a)
In verse 25 Jesus mentions not worrying about our life...specifically what we are going to nourish our body with and clothe our body with.
Notice the question He then asks in Matthew 6:27
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Worrying ADDS NOTHING to our body, worrying ADDS NOTHING to our table, worrying ADDS NOTHING to our closets.
Since that’s the case Jesus asks in Matthew 6:28
And why take ye thought for raiment? (So why do you worry about clothing?)
When our focus is on the material possessions we do not have it only leads to a mind that is DIVIDED and DISTRACTED! Someone said, “Materialism and anxiety are TWIN SISTERS.”
So rather than FOCUSING on the WHAT, we need to focus on the WHO...
Focusing on WHO we Have and His Character Brings Peace (v. 26, 28b-31)
Focusing on WHO we Have and His Character Brings Peace (v. 26, 28b-31)
Notice Matthew 6:26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Jesus uses an illustration about God providing for the birds of the air. We are reminded of God’s care and provision for even the wild birds. Jesus indicates that if God takes care of the birds, how much more can we trust Him to take care of us, who were created in God’s image. If we have been redeemed and adopted into God’s family we can certainly trust our Heavenly Father to provide everything we need to accomplish His will for our lives. One author said, “WE ARE OF INFINITE VALUE AND WORTH TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.”
As a result we can shift our FOCUS from what we do not have to RELYING upon the ONE who OWNS it all!
Jesus not only uses the birds as an illustration, but also points to the “lillies of the field.”
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
These lilies serve as a continual reminder of God’s RELIABLE and GENEROUS provision. They serve as an antidote to needless anxiety. If God lavishes such beauty on a flower that’s here one day and gone the next can’t we trust Him to care for the pinnacle of His creation!?
If we can learn to REEVALUATE our priorities and REESTABLISH our FOCUS we will have a lot more time on our hands. The last thing we can do is to...
Reinvest Your Time (vv. 32-34)
Reinvest Your Time (vv. 32-34)
Imagine the time we will have on our hands we stop COLLECTING things that are earthly, temporary, and material and focus on COLLECTING things that point our hearts and minds toward Heaven.
Imagine the time we will have on our hands if we stop TRYING IN VAIN to serve two masters, and WHOLLY DEVOTE ourselves to serving the ONLY MASTER that is worthy to be served!
Imagine the time we will have on our hands if we stop being FIXATED on the things we cannot control and rest in His control!
I don’t use the term “FIXATED” lightly. Sadly my mom has dementia and there are times when she gets FIXATED on certain things. Her and my dad go out to eat at least once a day, sometimes twice a day. In her dementia she gets FIXATED on going out to eat and the time they are going.
If she overhears that they are going somewhere or someone is coming to see them it’s as if that’s all she can focus on and she will ask repetitive questions about WHO is coming or WHEN they are going to leave. It’s as if her brain is completely FIXED on that subject, but she can’t remember the question she asked about that subject 5 minutes ago, so she will ask the question over and over again. It’s sad to watch.
I can only imagine how sad it is for our Heavenly Father to see His children FIXATED on things rather than Him! But if we would learn to do the opposite we could...
Reinvest Our Time to Prioritize God’s Agenda (vv. 32-33)
Reinvest Our Time to Prioritize God’s Agenda (vv. 32-33)
Notice Matthew 6:32
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
When our focus is on FOOD and CLOTHING Jesus says we are acting like those who do not know God. The way Jesus uses the term “Gentiles” in this context references PAGANS, UNBELIEVERS, or the HEATHEN. They are the ones that are characterized by a fixation on a “frantic pursuit” of things because their security is not in the TRUE PROVIDER!
As believers we should understand we have a PROVIDER and as a result we should do what Matthew 6:33 says
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Our focus should not fixated on the PROVISIONS, but rather we should be FIXATED on our PROVIDER...His Kingdom and His righteousness...our PROVIDER will take care of the things we need!
The way verse 33 is worded in the Greek language is not a suggestion, but rather an IMPERATIVE or a command. It’s also a PRESENT imperative, which means we are to CONTINUALLY, ACTIVELY, and AGGRESIVELY seek first God’s kingdom! IT MUST BE PRIORITY...WE ARE TO GIVE GOD OUR WHOLE HEARTED ALLEGIANCE AND DEDICATION!
THIS IS WHY WE CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS.
Finally verse 34 tells us that we need to...
Reinvest Our Time by Focusing on Today (v. 34)
Reinvest Our Time by Focusing on Today (v. 34)
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
This verse is also a PRESENT IMPERATIVE. Our minds are not to be DIVIDED about WHAT we seek, but neither are they to be DIVIDED about WHEN we seek.
It is USELESS to be FIXATED on tomorrow.
Adrian Rogers tells the story of a Grandfather Clock:
I think I told you one of my favorite stories about an old grandfather clock that stood in the hallway for two generations and kept wonderful time until one day it began to think about the future. And, the clock started to reason with itself, and it said, “You know, I tick every second.” And then, he started doing a little mathematics, and he said, “Why, that’s 120 ticks a minute. Why,” he said, “that’s 7,200 ticks an hour.” And then, he said, “My goodness, that’s 172,000 ticks a day.” And then, he said, “My, my, my, that is 1,905,000 ticks every week.” And then, he said, “Why, that would be 62,000,000 ticks a year!”
Why, he had a nervous breakdown, and he went to the clock psychiatrist. And, the clock psychiatrist began to talk to the old grandfather clock, and he said, “Why, I want to ask you a question now. You’re worried about all these ticks you’re going to have to tick in the future. How many ticks do you have to tick at a time?” “Well,” he said, “I only have to tick one tick at a time.” “All right,” he said, “from now on, I want you to go back, and rather than thinking about all the ticking you’re going to have to do, just think about the one tick you have to tick. And,” he said, “don’t think about the next tick until you tick this tick.” And so, he went back, and he started just thinking about one tick at a time. And, for the last twenty years, he’s been there, healthy as can be, just ticking one tick at a time.•
Wouldn’t our lives be so much better if we just focused on the TICK we need to TICK next instead of all the ticks that are to come! Worrying about “ticks” that haven’t arrived yet only robs us of our joy today and keeps us from being effective in the present!
As we close this morning I want to share with you how this sermon came to be. This sermon came to be because of something I read in Genesis 17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
That little phrase “walk before me” caught my attention. It can also be translated “LIVE IN MY PRESENCE.”
Did you get that...God told Abraham, just LIVE IN MY PRESENCE. How do we live? ONE TICK OF THE HEART at a time.
We cannot live in God’s presence “YESTERDAY” because it’s gone.
We cannot live in God’s presence “TOMORROW” because it isn’t here yet.
If we are going to LIVE in God’s presence we are going to have to do it ONE TICK AT A TIME...RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!
Are you willing to do that?
It begins by BEING SAVED
It CONTINUES by GRACE!
