Depending on our King

Introduction/tension

We’ve been discussing how Jesus ushered in his Kingdom and the Sermon on the Mount was a primary way he did that. Like Moses, by God’s hand, gave the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai, Jesus introduces his kingdom and his ways through these new ways of living. And in many ways, these new instructions were to help the people of his kingdom to depend on him. It’s the same as in Moses’ day. The nation of Israel had been in bondage to Pharoah for 400 years and the 10 commandments were the way to get Egypt out of the people and to help them to know how to depend on their God.

Jesus’ instructions on the Mount of Beatitudes were his way of helping a people who had been in bondage under Caesar and oppressive religious tyranny but mostly, the bondage of their own sin. It was his way of helping the people of his kingdom, who enter by faith, to know how to depend on their new king.

A need we all have

And that’s something we all need. We have a king. God on high. He is a gracious king who wants use to draw near to him through prayer and fasting. He wants to know us and to be known by us. But truly, he wants us to depend on him. Like, totally rely on him. And his is reliable. He’s capable to walk us through all things. Are you depending on him today? Not, just believing in him, but depending on him. There’s a difference. This “being a part of his kingdom” isn’t just an empty religious act. It’s not merely allegiance to a nation. It is wholehearted, i’m laying my life down to willingly to submit to this all powerful king that will guide me and take care of me. I want o help us deepen our dependence on him today through his word. Would you join me.

"Lord help us to be humble enough to hear your word and help us to respond to you in joy as we apply your word to our lives.”

What God Says: Biblical Truth

If you’re able, please stand to honor the word of the Lord.

Matthew 6:19–34 CSB

“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “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 more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? And 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 that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 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 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?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and 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.

1. Where is your treasure? (vv. 19-21)

Focus: The world’s wealth rots; the King’s treasure is eternal.

Jesus begins with addressing our treasures. And I ask you, what treasures do you have? Jesus contrasts the kingdoms. Is your treasure here? Where it can be destroyed or stolen? Or, is your treasure in the heavenly kingdom. Where it cannot be destroyed or stolen.

I think about skeptics to Christianity. And if you’re here and you’re skeptical of Christianity, I mean no disrespect. I’m glad you’re here. But, I know one of the things that trips people up who are skeptical. They understand Christianity, especially evangelical Christianity to be something that is meant only for this world. And I get it, we’ve probably helped them have this mentality. But true Christianity is otherworldly. We don’t live for this world and what it offers. We live for something richer and greater and unseen with human eyes. We live for the kingdom that is not in this world or of this world. We have dual citizenship but our primary home is heaven.

What kingdom are you living for? if it’s for this world, you’ll be left empty handed. Don’t store up for here only. Be sure your treasures are primarily being stored up in heaven.

2. Where is your vision? (vv. 22-23)

Focus: Looking at the world brings darkness; looking to the King brings light.

This vision discussion is tied to the treasure one, but it’s significant to pull the two apart for a moment, then bring them back together, as Jesus did. You are unable to see in darkness. You need light. You know this. This isn’t new. But we must think of it spiritually. What spiritual darkness are you dabbling in? It shouldn’t be any. We need light. And we need light on our path. We need light for our eyes. Our spiritual eyes. We’ve got to make sure our spiritual eyes are healthy. That song you learned as a child is significant still. Be careful little eyes what you see. What are you looking to? Jesus or this world. Are you looking into light or darkness?

3. Where is your master? (vv. 24)

Focus: You cannot serve God and money. The King demands—and deserves—undivided loyalty.

Jesus comes back to tie these two thoughts together, treasure and vision. He says you cannot serve money and God at the same time. See, when people look to something other than Jesus and his kingdom for provision and as a a treasure, it will suck you in and you’ll believe, if you’re not careful, you’ll believe that you can depend on both. But Jesus wants you to depend on him. He won’t let us down.

Now, does this mean we shouldn’t work and save? No. Elsewhere in scripture it says that the man who leaves his children an inheritance is a good man. It’s a matter of the heart more than it is a hard and fast rule. What Jesus is putting forth is that your heart can be tied up too much into money and treasures on this earth that will one day fade away. Where is your most desired treasure?

A great litmus test for where your treasure is deals with measuring your generosity. How generous are you. How willing are you to give to someone else in need? That will help you determine where your treasure it.

4. Where is your trust? (vv. 25-34)

Focus: The world breeds anxiety; the dependable King provides peace.

Jesus next walks through how you can trust him instead of worrying. The lord will take care of you. He will take care of your provision. Seek him and all these things will be taken care of. Now, this doesn’t mean you don’t have to put forth any effort. It’s about trust. You work while trusting. You live while seeking. You give while relying.

Who do you trust today? This world? Nah, it will let you toil and let you down. Trust in our king, he is trustworthy. He brings peace.

Run to Jesus

Run to the presence of the king today!

Come to him today. Here’s how you do that:

Jesus I’m a sinner. Desperate without you.

I believe in you. Forgive me of my sins.

Help me to depend on you daily and walk with you all the days of my life.

In Jesus name, amen.

Closing

He’s inviting you to come to him today.

Matthew 11:28–30 CSB

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Romans 10:9–10 CSB

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

Romans 10:13 CSB

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Transition to the Lord’s table.