Sermon Tone Analysis

LAST WEEK

We took a look at Fasting and Money

We looked at the word Treasure

We looked at the deep parts of our heart

We concluded that when God is our Treasure

When He is at the center of our lives, our emotions, our soul

There is nothing greater to treasure but Him

It sets in place the right motives behind every decision we make.

It gives way to Kingdom Vision here on earth

It sets our eyes on Heaven, while we participate in all God has for us here on earth.

THIS WEEK

We will look at a word that most of us practice yet never repent of

It is an action and a thought at the same time

It is something that Jesus doesn’t want for us, but something we do subconsciously.

This week is going to involve a lot of self reflection

I am praying that it causes a shift

I am praying that it frees us from the bondage of worry to the freedom of wonder

I am praying that it causes us to cherish the present more

I am praying that our focus switches from the internal capacity to an eternal dependency.

READ

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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?

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?

Before we get started, we need to confirm our church’s definition of sin:

What is sin:

How many of us believe that sin is an action/thought separating us from God and contrary to God’s Word?

How many of us believe that every human, has been born with the nature to sin?

How many of us believe that the word of God has the power to change our course?

Or to prevent us from habitual sin?

Sin is the natural thought/action that separates us from God, which can be changed by the power of God’s transforming work through the Holy Spirit which was given to us in light of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So what happens when Jesus tells us “Do not _________”

What if He said:

Do not Worry . . . .

What happens when we worry about what we will eat or drink

What happens when we worry about the clothes we have and what we wear?

If Jesus is telling us “Not to Worry”

Is it a sin to worry about these things?

Does our disobedient nature come alive when we worry?

To better help us answer this question, lets define Worry:

Actually, before we move forward, lets define worry:

Worry in the greek is the word Merinmao

It means to care for, be anxious about, meditate upon

So what is Jesus saying here:

care for, be anxious about, meditate upon

Remember He is referencing the previous text about serving God and Money

He is saying this:

If God is at the center

If Money has been dethroned by God’s position in your life

Therefore,

Do not worry about your life

For he who loses his life will find it

Do not worry about what you will eat

Whether there is an abundance or a lack

Do not worry about what you will wear

Because moths can destroy and thieves can steal your favorite outfit.

Jesus is saying:

Don’t be anxious, don’t worry about, don’t meditate upon the worldly Trinity

Life, Food, Clothes

Instead, cling to the Eternal Trinity

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

How is this fleshed out?

First we must realize that Jesus is placing a higher value on life than how the world values life

He is trying to prevent us from valuing our lives by

The Restaurants we visit

Where we shop for food

Food for Less or Costco

Ralphs or Gelsons

Where we live

Whether we own or rent

Whether its a large home or a small apartment

What we wear

Whether we shop at Nordstroms or JC Penney

Whether we clothe our kids with Gap or setlle for hand me downs

Lululemon or Champion

To Jesus, these things have no eternal value

They don’t change nor reflect your eternal citizenship

They don’t proclaim your eternal value

What your life will consist of

What you will eat or what you will drink

They don’t communicate how God values you

What you will wear

This is why we must get this right church.

In the Kingdom, these things add zero value

It will change our perspective and shift our value system from that which we can purchase to that which has purchased us.

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?

27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Jesus

Look at creation

Look at the birds of the air

They neither sow nor reap

They neither work nor save food for the winter

“Yet your Heavenly Father feeds them”

If your Heavenly Father puts in place a way for the Birds of the Air

To have food in their nests

If he cares so much about the birds

Don’t you think He cares about you too?