WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:04.400 Uh well a little over a month ago I woke up like it was any other Friday. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:05.679 I slept in a little bit. 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:08.160 I work at a church, so Friday is my Saturday. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:15.359 So I woke up, uh slept in a little bit, had a little devo time, and then I'm in seminary right now, which means I have to take Greek and Hebrew. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:18.320 Uh and so I had a Greek quiz at midnight. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:24.480 So sat down at my kitchen table, started finally getting my stuff organized to take this Greek quiz. 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:28.559 And I am awful at learning languages, like awful at learning languages. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:33.840 And so I was doing whatever I could all week to get away from this Greek quiz. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:39.520 And then so finally I sit down, it's like 12 p.m., it's perfect outside, and Sam Rap is studying Greek. 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:43.039 And so um, yeah, doing whatever I could to avoid that until then. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:45.439 And then I get a call from Matt Hooper. 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:49.280 Uh, and when Matt Hooper calls me, one of two things is happening. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:57.439 Either one, he's checking in on me, asking how the student ministry is going, asking how I'm doing how he can pray for me, or two, he's asking if I can play golf. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:03.439 Uh, and I just knew that this call wasn't a checking in on Sam kind of call. 00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:11.200 I don't know, I don't know what it was about the way that the phone vibrated on the table or the way that the sun looked outside, but I was like, this is a golf call. 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:12.640 This is this is a golf call. 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:21.120 And I'm I'm sitting at this table at this moment, as my phone's vibrating, and Matt Hooper's name is on my phone, I'm calculating, right? 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:25.439 Because this this quiz is due at midnight, and so when I see this name pop up, I'm calculating. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:27.040 I'm thinking, man, okay, it's 12.20. 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:29.519 If I play golf, I'll be done at like 5, 5.30. 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:33.760 And then I am a student pastor after all, so I should probably go to the Meredith High School football game tonight. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:40.799 So that means, you know, seven to ten commitment or so, and then my friend Steven asked if we could hang out that night, so we were gonna hang out after the game. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:46.000 So I'll get home probably at 11:30, which gives me plenty of time to take the Greek quiz, right? 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:48.480 And here's what I knew. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:52.640 If I answer this call from Matt Hooper and he asked me to play golf, I'm not saying no. 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:53.519 I know myself. 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:54.319 I know myself. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:57.920 On a Friday afternoon, y'all know me, I'm playing golf. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:03.120 So the decision, I looked at my phone like truly five times before I answered it. 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:08.080 Like I literally, like, I said nope, put it down, and I was like, well, yeah, nope. 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:14.800 And like like five times, five or six times I did that, and then so finally, you know, I obviously had no time to play golf that day, so what do I do? 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:17.520 I answer the phone and I'm teeing off 30 minutes later, right? 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:19.520 Because that that's just that's just how Samrap goes. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:30.400 And now you're you're probably thinking, okay, I hope this isn't a sermon about self-control, because Samrap uh is not gifted in that way uh in certain in certain things, uh, because you know, when it comes to golf, none. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:31.919 Zero self-control. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:34.560 Um but I'm at the golf course, it's a perfect day. 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:35.599 Like it's a perfect day. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:37.280 It's 75, it's sunny. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:40.879 I'm playing golf, having a good time, talking about Jesus with the boys. 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:42.639 I'm playing well, by the way. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:43.439 You probably don't care. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:44.560 I'm one under through six. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:45.120 It doesn't matter. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:45.840 It doesn't matter. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:47.840 Um I'm not looking for a clap, it's fine. 00:02:47.919 --> 00:03:02.080 We get to hole seven, I hit my drive, uh walking down the fairway, uh, and then all of a sudden I look down at my phone and I see a missed call in two texts from my mom, which typically means I'm in trouble, but this time uh was a little bit different. 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:06.800 And the message basically just said, I need you to come home, it's an emergency. 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:09.840 I was like, Okay, okay, I'm in the middle of the fairway, it's sunny. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:10.879 So I'm like, okay. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:18.400 Um I call her back and I hear these words, which are words that I will never forget, that sting in my ear uh to this day. 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:22.159 And she basically said, It's dad, he's gone. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:25.520 And I'll be honest with y'all, and my sister and I laugh about this. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:28.000 My first thought was, well, where'd this man go? 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:29.919 And who do I need to fight to get there, right? 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:31.199 Like, who is he with? 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:32.240 What woman is he with? 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:34.159 Like we were we're about to be in a problem. 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:36.319 Uh and that's that's where my that's where my mind went. 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:36.960 I'm sorry. 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:39.199 Um, so I start booking it to the clubhouse. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:40.159 Like I'm booking it. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:42.159 I didn't even fully know what had happened at that point. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:46.080 And by the way, we we walked that day, we didn't ride a golf cart, so I'm in a push cart. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:48.400 I mean, just booking it back to the clubhouse. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:52.639 Um and it's not, it's you can't look cool doing that, but I was booking it to the clubhouse. 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:56.879 And then I get in my car, I take a ride out of the the you know, golf course. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:58.560 I'm doing 80 down Stalsboro. 00:03:58.639 --> 00:03:59.599 If you're a cop, I'm sorry. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:01.280 I'm doing 80 down Stallsboro. 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:05.199 Um, and as I'm driving, like the thought starts to sink in, right? 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:11.360 I'm like, he he's not missing, um, but he is he's gone, gone. 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:13.840 And that's when it started to sink into me. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:16.480 Now, I don't know much about anatomy. 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:23.439 That's not my business, but what I do know is that if the heart stops beating, the body stops working. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:32.959 As it turns out, uh my dad had passed away sometime early that morning or overnight because he had a 95% blockage in his heart. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:39.439 A 95% blockage was enough to shut his body down with no warning signs, no previous symptoms. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:44.639 He was healthy as can be, no sore chest, shoulders, no shortness of breath, nothing. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:48.240 And when his heart failed, everything else went down with it. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:53.519 Now, here's my appeal for us this morning as we spend a few minutes together. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:56.639 And for my type A's in here, here's my thesis, okay? 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:57.839 So here we go. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:05.360 A heart that is fully devoted to Jesus Christ will overflow with joy and peace. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:09.199 And that's what I think Jesus is after in this passage today. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:10.879 He's after our hearts. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:20.959 He's not after some external moralistic uh living of life, but he's after the very thing that controls every part of our being, and that's our heart. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:26.399 I would argue that our hearts are the driving force behind our life. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:33.040 Whatever our hearts and the things it is devoted to are is what will lead the rest of our life. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:39.920 We even saw last week in the text that Russ taught on that where our treasure is, there our heart will also be. 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:49.040 We see Jesus in Matthew 15 saying, it's not what goes into the body like food or drink that defiles you, it's actually what comes out of your heart and you speak with your lips. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:51.759 Because the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:59.519 Like a tiny rudder to a huge ship, our hearts and the things our hearts are devoted to will direct everything about us. 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:01.920 And Jesus obviously knows this. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:16.160 He knows that if our hearts are offline, if our hearts are out of step with the Spirit of God, if our hearts are desperately clinging on to control, our lives will be marked by fear and anxiety and a need for control. 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:28.160 And I think the passage that we have this week and the one we had last week are after these two points that affect our hearts so much money and anxiety. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:29.680 So, let's go. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:32.560 Matthew chapter 6, verses 25 to 26. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:40.079 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. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:43.439 Is not life more than food in the body more than clothing? 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:49.680 Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:53.040 Are you not of more value than they? 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:56.160 Now I want to hit on something very important here. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:07.680 Um I have heard sermons and talks related to passages like this that essentially condemn people that struggle with mental illness and explain how mental illness is the result of sin. 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:09.120 I've heard people say that. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:17.839 And so I want to say very clearly to you this morning that if you are struggling with a mental illness, it is not because of inner sin in your life necessarily. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:27.199 And I want to be also very clear: if you are seriously struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression, or some other mental health issue, I'm just begging you to talk to somebody about it. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:33.279 We as a church and I personally are significant proponents of clinical counseling and medication. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:43.120 Mental health issues are real, and even Charles Spurgeon, my own personal faith hero, the 19th century pastor, said that if antidepressants were a thing in his day, he would be the first to take them. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.480 So the church is not a place to hide these things if you're struggling. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.279 So please, again, talk to one of us if you are suffering. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:54.480 So when Jesus says do not be anxious, that's not the kind of anxiety he's talking about. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:08:03.120 He's not talking about a mental illness, a significant chemical imbalance in the brain, or some sort of significant life crisis. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:10.560 What Jesus is ultimately getting at here in this passage, in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, is control. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:17.040 So we see Jesus hit on three of the most basic necessities of life, right? 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:20.160 We see food, water, and clothing. 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:27.680 And few of us, presently and past, have ever really had to worry about those things. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:42.320 So for us, it's easy to distance ourselves from this, but what I would argue is that Jesus is saying that money, possessions, food, clothing, and water will not bring you the true joy and security and peace that I can. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:45.440 I think that's what he's arguing this morning. 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:48.080 Because let's be honest with each other. 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:49.120 Just you and me. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:50.159 Let's have a conversation. 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:51.840 We like control. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:53.200 Amen? 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:54.639 We like control. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:09:02.000 We are people that like things to look a certain way, to feel a certain way, to smell a certain way. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:04.559 We like things that are safe and comfortable. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:06.399 We like to be in control. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:11.600 We like to know what we're gonna eat, what we're gonna wear, we like to have money in the savings account. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:20.159 It's like, yes, God, I trust you, I believe in you, I have faith in you, but really, like, I want this nest egg here just in case this whole Jesus thing doesn't work out, right? 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:22.879 All right, verse 27. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:25.519 Jesus gets like super logical here. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:28.799 He's just right, I mean, this is like mom advice right here, right? 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:32.960 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:34.399 Straight to the point. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.360 Now, if you if you look into the Greek, I just love this. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:41.440 If you look into the Greek, a better translation would be something kind of like this. 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:46.639 Which of you by being anxious can add a single qubit to his height? 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:50.559 Can add a single qubit to his li to his height. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:52.720 In other words, you ready? 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:56.159 Jesus is talking a little bit about little man syndrome. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:56.879 Alright? 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:58.320 Alright, we're gonna be good. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:09:59.200 We're good. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:02.480 A qubit is about the length of your forearm. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:03.759 It's about 18 inches. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:04.240 Okay? 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:20.240 So Jesus is saying, which of you, by being anxious, controlling, desperately fearful about every detail, thought, words you say, how you look, how much you weigh, how much money you have, which of you can compensate by being 18 inches taller? 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:23.360 Truly, that is what the Greek reads. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:29.360 So Jesus is getting at a sort of spiritual little man syndrome here, which I think is I think it's wild. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.679 And Jesus is saying, look at me. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:35.840 I am the one who can satisfy what you're looking for. 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:41.200 This like desperate need for control that you have, I'm the one that can put it at ease. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:43.759 Now, I want to be honest with you guys. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:46.879 This hits home in two very specific places for me. 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:49.759 One of them's funny, one of them's less funny, but yeah. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:54.320 So, on a less serious note, as probably most of you know, I love shoes. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:55.519 Uh, it's a problem. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:11:08.639 But so Grace and I were in the battery uh about what, two weeks ago, three weeks ago, we were on a date night when we were sitting at this table, like right on the edge, um, like by the big walkway walking up to Truist Park. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:12.480 And all of a sudden, this dude is walking past us and he's wearing this pair of shoes. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:14.559 He's wearing a like a$2,000 pair of Jordans. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:17.039 And if you're wondering why the$2,000, we'll talk after. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.159 Like it's it's fine. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:21.600 Um, but so I sell shoes on the side, right? 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:24.399 I sell shoes on the side to make a quick extra book. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:28.639 Uh, and immediately I'm like, I see these shoes, I'm like, shoot, man, like those are the trophy Jordan Room ones. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:30.559 Like, those those are those are big deal. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:33.039 Like, they came out last year, like they sold out real quick. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:36.080 I wanted a pair, I didn't get them, I got the got the loss right there. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:38.639 But these are a dream, a dream shoe for me, okay? 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:39.360 Let's just be real. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:41.120 All right, these are a dream shoe for me. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:43.519 Can't afford it, but they're a dream shoe for me. 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:50.960 So I'm staring at this at these shoes, and then I like I kind of like scroll up with my eyes to his face, and it's Jock Peterson, okay? 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.879 Like, it's Jock Peterson, right? 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:56.399 Pearl wearing, right fielder, Atlanta Braves, by the way. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:57.840 Y'all, come on. 00:11:57.919 --> 00:11:58.960 Yeah, amen. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:11:59.440 Amen. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:00.399 Thank you. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:04.799 I like how I like how Jock Peterson and the Braves get a collapse, but you know, yeah. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:05.759 Uh but here we go. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.879 So Sunday, Sunday is a work day for me, okay? 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:09.919 Let's just be really real. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:11.600 With side side note Braves here. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.960 Sunday's a work day for me. 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:17.200 And if you have Sunday as a work day, you have decisions to make on Saturday nights. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:17.519 Okay? 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:22.080 You have decisions almost every Saturday night from August to December in a normal time. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:34.960 But so last night, my wife and I were in the living room and we're watching the Braves game, and I've learned over the last two weeks that watching the Braves is not good for Sam Rap to watch all nine innings. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:38.000 I've watched Atlanta sports for long enough, I know how it goes. 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:41.440 I've seen a 28-3 win uh turned into a loss. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.039 I've I've seen it, I know how it goes. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:49.200 Um I look at Grace as nervous sweat is pouring out of me, and I say, Grace, this is not good for my soul. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:53.600 I was like, I'm preaching tomorrow, I gotta go to bed, or else I'm gonna be in a bad spot in the morning. 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:55.679 Uh because it was when Luke Jackson came in. 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:56.720 Yeah, we're fine. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:01.279 So I'm like, we're all right, let's call it a night, let's call it a night, let's go to bed, let's unplug. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:07.120 So we get in bed, and I'm laying there, and I I mean, I'm like shaking because I'm like, I have to know. 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:07.919 I have to know. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:12.480 Like, I I don't want to wake up and realize that we won and I didn't watch it, right? 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:17.679 So I'm laying there and like truly like it's like it felt like it was Christmas when I was like eight again. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.519 I was like, I just couldn't stand it. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:24.639 Um so I literally I just had to turn the TV back on and I watched the rest of it by myself while Grace was asleep. 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:28.080 Uh and there's been nights like that the last two weeks, I'll confess it. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:32.720 Um and then you know, I got so hype after we won that it took me like an hour and a half to fall asleep. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:35.600 So uh dragging a little bit this morning, but we're good, we're killing it. 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:36.720 So here we are, go braves. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.600 All right, back to the story. 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:38.240 So here we are. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:40.320 Jock Peterson is walking by us, right? 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:45.120 Jock himself, Jock Tober, and then I'm thinking, okay, man, that's cool. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.480 Like, that's Jock Peterson. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:48.080 But let's talk about the shoes again. 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:50.000 Like, let's let's go back to his shoes. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:54.480 And so my immediate, my immediate thought is like, okay, those are like 2,000 bucks. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:56.240 I've got some pairs in my closet. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:59.120 So I'm I'm I'm calculating as I'm at a date with my wife. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:06.399 And I'm like, okay, like if I I I've got some equity in these shoes, so I sold these, like I might be able to work them all together and maybe get a pair of these, but like that's not wise. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:07.039 I'm a pastor. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.399 Like, I don't need shoes like that. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.600 And so I'm I'm at dinner with my wife, daydreaming about shoes. 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:18.399 And I I recognize there's worse things to daydream about, but I'm daydreaming about a pair of shoes while I'm with my wife. 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:21.840 So, long story short, shoes have me whipped. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:23.279 Uh, shoes have me whipped. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:26.240 But the second one, this is the one that stings a little bit. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:27.600 My reputation. 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:31.039 In other words, like people's perception of SAM wrap. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:32.559 Like, how do people read Sam? 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:39.840 I drive myself crazy with worry and fear and overthinking so often because I'm like, man, like, should I have said that differently? 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:42.159 Was I being too sarcastic with that student? 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:42.799 Probably. 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:46.320 Uh, was I being sweet to grace when we were with all those people at that dinner? 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:48.480 Like, should I have worded that sermon point better? 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:50.480 What if only 10 students come to youth tonight? 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:52.720 Will that mean that everybody's gonna think I'm a failure? 00:14:52.960 --> 00:15:05.120 With this little man syndrome that Jesus is hitting on, he's essentially asking this question How will money, the comforts of the world, and being worried about every little single thing bring us peace? 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:07.279 I think that's where he's getting at. 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:15.919 And what I've noticed in my own life is that when we try to just tightly hold on to every single detail, typically the more anxious we feel. 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:16.799 Amen? 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:22.879 As we build our own little kingdoms, we see that we're not very good at being kings and queens. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:25.200 We're not very good at being God. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.559 But I would argue that Jesus gives us a great remedy. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:38.240 And the remedy of this anxiety, of this need to control everything, of this need for people to accept and approve us is to seek first the kingdom of God. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:40.320 So, Matthew 6, 33. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:47.759 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:51.039 So here's what I believe is true. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:16:05.600 Whatever we believe to be ultimately true about us, like ultimately, ultimately, behind everything else about us, whatever we believe to be ultimately true about us, will affect everything about us. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:07.039 Here's what I mean. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:16.159 What the scriptures testify to be ultimately true about each one of us in this room is that our reality is based in eternity. 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:24.480 We are eternal beings that have a reality that is far outside of the 40, 50, 60 years, 80 years we have on this earth. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:29.600 James 4, 14 even says that our life is a mist and it will soon vanish away. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:31.360 So here's my point. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:51.360 If we believe that what is ultimately true about us is rooted in something that far exceeds anything that we can see, touch, or feel, but is actually existing in a few in a present reality eternally, then I believe that nothing can shake us. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:17:04.079 If we believe deep in our gut, like deep in our like in our minds is one thing, but if you believe deep in our guts that we belong in the kingdom of God for eternity, then I believe nothing can shake us. 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:08.400 I I said this last time I preached, but that's why Paul was so frustrating to the Romans. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.519 I don't know if you remember. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.680 But they said to Paul, stop sharing the gospel. 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:13.440 No, okay, we're gonna kill you. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:15.839 Uh great, to live as Christ, to die as gain. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.799 Okay, we're gonna beat you. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.119 Great. 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:21.279 I don't believe my present sufferings to be worth the future glory that I will inherit. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:23.200 All right, cool, we're gonna throw you in prison. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:27.680 Great, I'm gonna sing hymns, cause an earthquake, and then convert your prison guard and escape. 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:29.599 Paul was brutal, right? 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:36.640 Now the reason is because Paul's entire hope was not built on his tent making. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:44.000 It wasn't built even on his church plants, but it was built on an eternal reality that is the same reality that we have. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:47.440 But let's talk. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:51.680 Paul was a he was a man, and because of that, Paul blew it sometimes. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:55.279 Like we don't see that much in the scriptures, but Paul blew it. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:57.279 Paul was anxious sometimes. 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:00.240 Paul probably made a bad tent sale, right? 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.359 You know how it goes. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:08.880 But I want you to not look at Paul and see something unattainable for yourself. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:12.480 Because, oh man, he's an apostle, like he saw the risen Christ. 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:14.240 I'll never be like that. 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:17.119 So I want to give you the freedom to blow it. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.799 Because you're going to. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:34.079 But what I am pleading for the Lord to believe, and what I've been praying all week, is that those of us in this room who are in Christ have an eternal reality, a home in the kingdom of God forever that nothing in this life can shake. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:38.880 And if we want to know what the kingdom of God is like, we need only look at Jesus. 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:43.920 These eternally, this eternal reality is especially true right now for me. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:47.200 It is visceral right now for my family. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:52.319 A 30-second phone call changed my life and my family's life forever. 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:55.839 And I think the last sermon I preached, I talked about that. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:04.240 How any one of us in this room could have a 30-second phone call right now that would change our reality forever. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.160 Any one of us. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:15.680 But the good news is even though the floor was just taken from underneath us, we have something to hold on to. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:24.640 That doesn't mean that I can't grieve or weep or feel sorrow, but what it does mean is that the deepest parts of my identity are not shaken. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:27.119 Even in the dark night of the soul. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:31.920 Now, if you hear nothing else this morning, please hear this. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:36.640 Jesus, the God man, brought the kingdom of God to earth. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.599 And that is one of the whole messages of his ministry. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:41.680 The kingdom of God is at hand. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:48.079 He came down with an invitation to all of us, because all of us were born into this sinful nature. 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:56.000 All of us were born rebelling against this holy and perfect and righteous God, trying to build our little kingdoms with our names on it. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:58.799 But this Jesus lived the life we couldn't live. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:06.319 He lived in perfect sinlessness so that we didn't have to, so that our eternity isn't built on our kingdoms that we build for ourselves. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:18.880 He died on this cross, putting all of the sin forever on his shoulder so that your sin, your present sin and shame, can be put on his shoulder so that you can walk in freedom forever in the cross of Christ. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:21.759 So that's the invitation for us this morning. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:25.519 Whatever control we're just gripping onto. 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:29.599 Whatever that looks like, the invitation is to let go. 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:36.240 To let go and receive the kingdom of God to be the kingdom that our identity is built upon. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:42.480 To receive Jesus not only as our Savior, but as Lord of every single part of our life. 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:44.799 And walk in holiness with Him. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:48.640 But I want to close with one of my favorite passages of scripture here. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:55.279 And as I close, as I read, I just want you to picture in your head the kingdom of God. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:02.960 That this reality that we're going to see in the book of Revelation is the present reality for you if you are in Christ. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:05.759 So, Revelation 21, 1 through 4. 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:06.799 I know it's Revelation. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.359 You'll be great. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.480 It's not scary. 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:16.559 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:24.400 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:29.759 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:35.759 He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:40.319 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:46.720 Neither shall there be mourning nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:48.000 That's good news. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.680 Let's pray together. 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:52.240 Father, we bless your name. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:22:00.799 Father, we uh man are so thankful that you brought this far-off kingdom into our present reality. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:06.319 Lord, we thank you that Jesus has opened this door for those who are in him. 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:10.240 So, Lord, I pray for each of us this morning. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.920 Every person. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:15.759 Lord, we confess that we are building kingdoms of our own. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:19.920 We confess that our tendency is not to walk in submission to you. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:24.160 Our tendency is to grip tighter when things get crazy. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:31.680 So I pray that we would have the security and peace in our eternal reality and the kingdom of God to let go. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:41.759 To have the faith to not hold on so tightly to our finances, to our appearance, to certain sin. 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:51.359 But I pray that you would give us freedom in Jesus' name to walk in a better life, a better and more full experience of peace. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:54.319 I thank you that you have offered this to us freely. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:57.119 I pray that you bless the rest of our time together for this morning. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.079 In Jesus' name. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.119 Amen.