October 11, 2015
Morning Service

We are continuing our study on the discourse that many call “The sermon on the mount.”  In this study, I believe Jesus lays out for us the firm foundation of we need to live a life that is pleasing to Him.  He has “magnified” the OT Law to the degree that we can now clearly see and understand that serving Him is not just a matter of following a set of rules and regulations, but it is a commitment on our part to surrender our heart, will, mind and soul completely to Him.  He simply asks us to love, believe and trust in Him enough to follow His commands even when they are difficult and sometimes even don’t make sense (this is faith in action). Our words, actions and lifestyle should all reflect that He is the Lord of our lives.

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus challenged us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Jerry expounded upon that to start in our homes by men stepping up and being the leader of the household that God created you to be (I Cor. 11:3).  The women are to be in subjection to their husband supporting and encouraging him to fulfill God’s calling in his life (I Peter 3:1).  The children are to be obedient to their parents and be taught to show love and respect to others (Eph. 6).  By lining up with the design God has laid out for us we not only honor Him, but also create an atmosphere that will work and be successful.  We simply need to trust God’s wisdom over our own.  Let’s see what we can learn today.

Mat 6:22-23 the light of the body is the eye. Therefore if your eye is good, your whole body shall be full of light.  (23)  But if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

·         These verses can be summed up by sayings our mothers told us years ago.

o   Be careful little eyes what you see.

o   You are what you eat.

We have the freedom to look at an almost limitless amount of information and images right at our fingertips and totally without anyone else’s knowledge.  Much of that is good and helpful, bringing light into our lives.  However, there is a tremendous amount of this multimedia world that can create a pathway for that great darkness He speaks of here to enter into our very souls.

 

Here Jesus is warning us to create a filter for our body that will seek out the light and reduce the darkness.

·         Are the books and magazines I am reading offering light or darkness to my body?

·         Are the television shows and movies I am watching adding light or darkness?

·         Are the web sites and social media sites I am viewing and participating in bringing me closer to Jesus and portraying my faith in Him or the opposite?

Much of the sin, strife and stress in our lives are there simply because we invite it in through the things we allow into our body through our eyes.  “Be careful little eyes what you see” rings true as we remember Jesus’ teaching in Matt. 5:29.

This is a choice each of us is able to make.  Just as Joshua challenged the children of Israel:

Joshua 24:15   Choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

·         Jesus now challenges us:

 

Mat 6:24 No one 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. You cannot serve God and mammon.

·         A choice must be made by us to serve God or the world (mammon means money, material things or worldly ways).  We cannot keep one foot in the boat and the other in the water, you’ve got to choose.

·         How does that play out in my life?

 

Mat 6:25-32 Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  (26)  Behold the birds of the air; for they sow not, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them; are you not much better than they are?  (27)  Which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his stature?  (28)  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, nor do they spin,  (29)  but I say to you that even Solomon in his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  (30)  Therefore if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much rather clothe you, little-faiths?  (31)  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed?  (32)  For the nations seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.

·         If we live a life that is placed in His total control, we have no need to worry about food, clothing or the necessities of life.  God created us and knows the needs we have in our lives and asks us to trust Him to provide them.

·         Can I simply just sit back and wait for God to fulfill my needs in some miraculous fashion.  That is not how it works. 

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

·         We must believe and diligently seek Him and then we can trust Him to provide all that we need.  This verse challenged me at the core of my faith. 

·         Do I really believe?

·           Am I diligently seeking? 

·         How do I turn that faith into action in my life?

·         Jesus closes this discussion with the answer to that question.

 

 Mat 6:33-34  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.  (34)  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow; for tomorrow shall be anxious for its own things. Sufficient to the day is its own troubles.

·         My faith becomes action when I choose to put Him first in everything, holding nothing back. 

·         He promises us then if we put Him first, He will take care of the rest (all things). He will be there for my family, job, finances, friendships, health….

·         Does that mean we will always be healthy, wealthy and happy?  Not at all, it simply means we are placing our lives totally in His hands regardless of the outcome.  The life we are called to as Christ followers is not easy, but it is worth it. 

·         As Paul closed out the second letter to the Corinthian church he wrote:

 

2Co 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Perfect yourselves; encourage yourselves; mind the same thing; be at peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

·         His greatest promise to us is as we travel along the journey of life and strive to put Him first, He will be with us.  We will never be alone despite our circumstances.  He is in control and will be there through all the good and bad times and grant us the peace that passes all understanding.

·         Is that enough for you?  Today you must choose whom you will serve, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord!  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

 

Lord fill us with the Holy Spirit to empower us to always put You first in our lives.