WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:01.280 Good morning. 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:07.120 Our scripture reading for today is Matthew 6, 25 through 34. 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:15.839 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. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:19.679 Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:21.760 Look at the birds of the air. 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:26.719 They neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:29.760 Are you not of more value than they? 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:34.960 And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:37.359 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:39.840 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:41.600 They neither toil nor spin. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:46.560 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:56.719 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 00:00:57.200 --> 00:01:02.719 Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:08.239 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:14.480 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:19.359 Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:22.159 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:23.599 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:24.879 Please be seated. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:46.799 And the reason I'm preaching is because the Rathmans had their baby. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:48.719 So that's great. 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:49.599 That's great. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:54.959 Happy to give them some time off to uh spend time with their newborn and their family. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:02:03.439 So I'm gonna go ahead and pray for us, and then we're gonna walk through uh Matthew 6, 25 through 34. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:09.680 Which I'm sure, you know, it's about anxiety and money that I'm sure nobody here struggles with either of those. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:12.800 So hopefully you get something out of this today. 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:14.000 Uh so let me pray. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:19.360 Father, um, this is a this is a wonderful passage. 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:21.759 It's a it's a wonderful promise from you. 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:31.840 I I ask that you you give us understanding as to what it means and how it applies to our lives. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:43.919 I I pray that we can walk out of this church today of people that are unwaveringly trusting in you and your plans for us tomorrow. 00:02:44.240 --> 00:03:00.080 To the point where the world would see us as almost negligent because we don't worry about what we will eat, what we will drink, or what we will wear, because we trust in you so much that you will give us what we need. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:10.719 I pray that you meet with us, each of us, in our hearts and do the work that only your Holy Spirit can. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:17.599 Father, I am expecting to encounter you today in your word, and we all should as well. 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:20.719 I pray that you meet with us here. 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:21.840 In your name we pray. 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:22.719 Amen. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:31.919 As we continue our sermon series on Christ is enough, we turn our attention back to generosity. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:41.520 Three weeks ago, James taught through uh Matthew 6, 19 to 24, and how Christians are called to live a life of financial generosity. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:46.400 Jesus ends his teaching with a stern warning, really, for everyone. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:54.800 He says, No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:57.840 You cannot serve God and money. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:03.039 We should look at that verse and say, How do I know I'm not serving money? 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:06.080 How do I know that my allegiance is towards God? 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:08.960 Well, you give it away. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:12.319 How do I know I'm not serving money? 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:14.960 Well, because I give it away to those in need. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:18.160 I give it to the poor, I give it to the church, I give it to kingdom work. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:22.959 You see, money is a tool in your hand to bless people. 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:33.839 Paul in 2 Corinthians calls the giving away of money an act of grace and proof of genuine love towards God and others. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:41.279 There was a famine in Israel, and Paul was collecting money from all the Gentile churches to give to the church in Jerusalem. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:44.639 And he says in 2 Corinthians 8, 1 through 8, let me read it. 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:51.279 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:05:03.120 For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:19.040 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their own means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:20.720 Skip a couple verses. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:25.360 Paul says in verse 5, see that you excel in this act of grace also. 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:35.360 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love is also genuine. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:45.120 Paul says here that giving is an act of grace that the Macedonian church begged to participate in despite their poverty. 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:52.639 This means that giving and generosity is not something we have to participate in, it's something we get to participate in. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:57.439 It's not a duty, it's not drudgery, it's a privilege and it's a joy. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:03.759 The second thing that giving does is that it proves our love towards God and other Christians is genuine. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:07.680 How do I know in my heart that I love God and I don't love money? 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:09.360 I give it away. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:20.240 Now there's many enemies in our hearts that ambush and destroy our love for generosity, right? 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:23.759 Greed, selfishness, hard-heartedness. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:27.120 All of those could be a sermon today. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:31.839 But the enemy we're going to talk about today is actually anxiety. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:47.199 Anxiety about your student loan bills, anxiety about medical bills, anxiety about job security, anxiety about a newborn baby, and all the wonderful costs that are associated to them. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:57.199 All these forms of anxiety raise their objections in the courtroom of our hearts for God's command for us to be generous. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:03.199 And these anxieties, they don't lessen as you get older, at least not where I'm at right now. 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:04.800 They seem to be getting worse. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:10.800 You know, when I was 17 and I lived with my parents, no money problems. 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:22.480 You know, even when I was 20, if my bank account hit zero or below zero, which it might have, just pick up the phone. 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:25.519 Hey Dad, I need some money. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:31.199 But as I got older, I got married, I had kids, loads of them. 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:33.600 I'm tied for the most in the church. 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:40.639 I bought a house, started investing, 401k, emergency fund, all that stuff. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:43.439 Uh the anxieties didn't go away, though. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:44.879 They got worse. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:54.399 Now I think it's wise we define what type of anxiety Jesus is referring to here. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:58.560 Because, you know, it's a broad term in the English language. 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:04.720 If you were about to get hit by a car, you would feel a tremendous surge of anxiety. 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:07.680 I don't think that's what he's talking about here. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:12.319 That's a natural reaction God has given us to get out of the way. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:20.560 Specifically, Jesus tells us three times in this passage not to be anxious about future earthly needs. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:21.839 I'll say it again. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:34.240 Jesus tells us three times in this passage not to be anxious about money, not to be anxious about food, not to be anxious about what we're going to drink, and not to be anxious about what we're going to wear. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:39.519 Those three categories kind of encompass everything you need to live, right? 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:42.399 You'll live if you have those three things. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:44.720 And he says, don't fear the future. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:55.200 In this category, anxiety is a sinful response to God's providential care for your needs. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:09:02.960 This anxiety about tomorrow sprouts from a lack of trust and faith in God as our Father. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:07.759 Now, I don't want to beat you over the head, right? 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:16.639 Because this is not going to be one of those sermons where like anxiety is a sin and I have a giant pool noodle and I'm just hitting you over the head saying, Stop being anxious, and you're like, it's making it worse. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:18.720 That's not the point. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:28.000 This is one of those sermons where you know God is your father stooping down and saying, I would like to take your anxiety from you. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:29.919 Can you please give it to me? 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:34.320 I would like to know, I would like for you to know that I'm going to provide for you. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:39.679 Can you please relinquish control over tomorrow? 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:41.759 I want to bear that for you. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.159 That's what this sermon's about. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:50.000 So we're going to look at two things about this. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:54.000 Today Jesus teaches us two things about anxiety. 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:58.720 Do not be anxious about tomorrow, because God will provide everything you need. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:07.679 Not necessarily everything you want or everything you think you need, but he will provide you everything he knows you need. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:14.639 And the second point is when we trust God with tomorrow, we can really begin to seek his kingdom. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:20.559 So I'm going to read verses 25 through 30 again. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:26.799 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:32.000 What you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body what you will put on. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:36.399 Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:38.960 Look at the birds of the air. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:44.639 They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.720 Are you not of more value than they? 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:55.840 And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:59.600 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:04.240 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:10.320 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:19.919 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you? 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:22.159 Oh you of little faith? 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:31.840 We need to understand that this passage is a part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:32.320 Okay? 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:34.159 We're coming in towards the end. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:36.399 It started like a chapter ago. 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:41.919 And the Sermon on the Mount is where Jesus talks a lot about his kingdom. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.440 What does it mean to live in his kingdom? 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.440 What does kingdom living look like? 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:48.639 What does it mean when you follow him and live with his people? 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:52.000 Very interested in that in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:58.480 So I want you to imagine you're standing on this mountain with Jesus. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:03.759 Which for Colorado was more like a big hill, but I digress. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:07.200 Like it was it was pretty big for over there. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:14.480 So you're standing with Jesus on this mountain, and he and you get to listen, like front row seat, you're listening to his sermon, right? 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:21.759 The most famous sermon that was ever preached, probably the most profound sermon that was ever preached in his earthly ministry. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:27.360 And on this mountain, I want you to imagine he's showing you his kingdom, okay? 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:30.240 It's laid out in the distance as far as the eye can see. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:33.600 He's a king and he's showing you his kingdom. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.840 And he's pointing to different parts of his kingdom. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:39.440 And he's explaining, like, this is what this part is, and this is what it's like over there. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:43.200 And you know, when you when you live here, this is what you're gonna do. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:46.320 First thing he shows you is the people. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:49.840 You know, he says, hey, look at this, it's the poor in spirit. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:51.279 The kingdom's for them. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:54.639 They actually own the kingdom, it belongs to them. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:57.519 And over here, this these people are this is the merciful. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:59.200 They receive God's mercy. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:01.759 And look at these people over here, they're peacemakers. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.039 You know what, you know what God calls them? 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:04.320 His children. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:08.480 Look at those, the persecuted. 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:11.279 Those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:17.039 For me! You may think they're at the bottom of the kingdom, but the kingdom belongs to them. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:25.039 And then he starts pointing to other areas, saying, This part over here is about anger. 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:28.000 You want to know what it's like to live in my kingdom with anger? 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:32.559 It means you do everything you can to reconcile with those who are angry with you. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:36.320 And over there, that's sexual purity and lust. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:38.240 It's really dangerous. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:40.879 Do everything you can to avoid it. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:43.679 Marriage over here. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:47.200 Oh man, the world does not know what they're talking about with marriage. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:50.080 You just don't get divorced for anything, okay? 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.559 If you do, it's adultery. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:53.519 Don't do it. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:55.600 Here's the part about O's. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:14:00.240 Just because you make a promise on something doesn't make it more important. 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:02.399 Just let your yes be yes and your no be no. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.840 Speak plainly. 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:06.080 Here's the part about revenge. 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:09.120 There's gonna be a lot of people that hurt you when you're in my kingdom. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:10.720 Don't do revenge. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:12.879 Let me handle that, God says. 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.799 In fact, you're gonna make enemies. 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:19.360 I want you to love them. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:21.120 I want you to pray for them. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:25.840 Speaking on prayer, let me teach you how to pray to your father. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:26.639 We learned that. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:28.159 I think it was it last week, right? 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:29.519 Maybe two weeks ago. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.480 The Lord's Prayer. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.919 Here's how you pray. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:35.279 Here's a part on fasting. 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:38.480 Don't do it so people think you're really holy. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.360 Try and hide it. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:40.000 Do it for me. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.919 Do it for my Father in heaven. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:44.799 Here's a part about money. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:48.159 Don't serve it. 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:50.960 You can't serve both God and money. 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:56.240 You can't live in my kingdom and still have your heart pledged to money. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:07.440 Now our natural reaction to Jesus' command on that is to say, I hear you. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:11.200 But but I'm worried about money. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:20.000 You want me to give it away, and I already have a tough time keeping what I've got, I'm worried. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:23.919 This is a burden that you're putting on me. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:29.519 That's when Jesus says, Oh, in this section, let's talk about that. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:32.240 Let's talk about worry and anxiety. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:38.799 In verse 25, he tells us, don't worry about what you will eat, what you'll drink, or what you can wear. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:46.000 As you can see, in my kingdom, there's so much more than just material wealth and needs. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:55.360 Your body is not made to just consume food, and it's not a mannequin just to display clothes. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:58.879 There's so much more to life in my kingdom than that. 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:02.080 I don't want you to worry about those things. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.679 In verse 26, he gives us that example. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:07.440 He says, you know, look at look at the bird over there. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:07.840 You see it? 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.639 You see it flying? 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:10.000 See that bird? 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:12.320 Does that bird look worried? 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:12.960 No. 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:18.559 I I wouldn't know what a worried bird looks like, anyways, but that bird's not worried. 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:21.919 It doesn't have any tools to gather its food. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:23.440 It's got its wings and its beak. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:28.960 It doesn't have a barn, it can't, it can't like store up food for a rainy day. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:36.000 It it just gets to work every day, and it doesn't worry, and my heavenly father provides for that bird. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:40.639 And you're more important than a bird. 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.240 You're God's child made in his image. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:47.360 So of course, God loves you more than that bird. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:49.679 Of course, he'll provide for you. 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:54.480 Verse 27, he says, and you know, anxiety. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:17:00.080 What has anxiety about tomorrow ever really done for you? 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:05.599 Can you live longer the more you worry? 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:10.720 Through the power of anxiety, does your life get better? 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:17.200 When you reach tomorrow, did you look back and say, I am so glad I worried all day yesterday? 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:19.839 Because it made today completely better. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:29.119 It does nothing but rob you of your current day. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:36.960 In verses 28 and 29, he says, And why do you worry about what you're gonna wear? 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:43.759 Why do you care about your brand of clothing or what you look like or if you'll have enough? 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.480 Look at down here. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:48.240 Do you see this field of lilies? 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:50.079 Do you see how beautiful they are? 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:56.880 God causes them to grow, and they're not they're not toiling and spinning clothes for themselves to become beautiful. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.200 I'll let you in on a secret. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:09.279 Even Solomon, who was the wealthiest man Israel had ever seen, and all his kingly robes and splendor was not as beautiful as one of those flowers. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:12.480 You don't need to worry about clothing. 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:15.920 I'll provide that for you. 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:18.240 I'll give you what you need. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:22.160 Verse 30 says, I make plants beautiful. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:24.240 And do you know what you use them for? 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.480 The plants I make so beautiful? 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:30.960 You cut them down and then you use them for fuel, and then they burn, and that's what you use to cook. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.960 That's the end of plants. 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:34.880 But I care for them. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:40.160 And you're much more valuable than a flower or grass. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:42.319 Oh, you have little faith. 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:48.240 Do you not think that God cares for you more than these things? 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.839 It's a wonderful promise. 00:18:56.240 --> 00:19:00.559 So what do we do with it? 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:05.039 You know, at face value. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:16.319 It looks like Jesus is promising here that there will ne go that there will never be a Christian who starves to death, and there will never be a Christian who lacks clothing. 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:19.440 This this is like a blank check, right? 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.759 Like we can all go quit our jobs tomorrow. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:22.640 This is great. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.839 Let's hang out. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:24.960 Don't do that. 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:25.839 Don't do that. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.440 That was a joke. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:30.160 But but that's what it looks like, right? 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:43.759 When we seek to understand this promise of Jesus, one of the most important things in interpreting the Bible is you need to let the Bible interpret itself. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:44.319 Okay? 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:58.240 So we need to find another passage that speaks on this exact same issue, and we're gonna see what that passage says, and then we're going to have it help us understand what Jesus means here. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:07.519 It's not going to contradict what Jesus says, but it's going to help us define it, to really get it, the heart of what Jesus is saying here. 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:11.119 We're going to go to Romans 8, 32 to 37. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:25.200 Paul says here, He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:28.480 Graciously give us all things. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:34.400 We didn't get to verse 33 yet, but Jesus says, I will give you all things. 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.519 All things. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:38.160 Same two words, all things. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:46.880 This includes what you eat, what you wear, and what you drink. 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.720 Paul continues on in Romans. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:51.119 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 00:20:51.279 --> 00:21:02.400 Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or get ready for it, famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:07.759 As it is written, for your sake we are being killed all day long. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:13.759 Paul is saying here, Christians will starve to death. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:18.079 Christians will be persecuted and die of exposure. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:23.279 We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:26.559 No, and all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:35.680 So Paul virtually says, some Christians will die of distress, persecution, famine, which means you starve to death. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:38.640 Nakedness, that means you die of exposure. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:48.319 This is not contradictory to what Jesus says here. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:53.119 Rather, it clarifies for us exactly what he means. 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:55.599 So what is Jesus saying? 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:58.799 Do not worry about tomorrow. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:07.200 For God will give you all the earthly needs you need to follow Him and to glorify Him. 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:13.839 Jesus is not giving us a promise of comfort and wealth. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:26.400 It is a promise that God will provide what you need to glorify Him in any situation, either by giving something to you or taking it away. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:36.240 This is not a promise to give you everything you want or everything you think you need, but it is a promise to give you truly what you need in order to follow Him. 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:41.519 Did you just get anxious when I said that? 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:46.640 Did you feel the desire to take back control? 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.920 No, Father. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.920 No, thank you. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:54.480 I'll be a nice person, I'll be loving, I'll be kind, you know. 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:56.480 I'll say some prayers. 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:59.279 But I've got investment savings, I got a job that's mine. 00:22:59.359 --> 00:22:59.599 Okay? 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:01.039 You can't have those. 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:06.079 I need those so that I'm not anxious about tomorrow. 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:11.279 Because if you're my only safety net, that's too much. 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:13.839 I need another safety net. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:16.400 I need a safety net for my safety net. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:21.599 Do you trust God here? 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:26.960 Do you trust that his plan for tomorrow is better than your plan for tomorrow? 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:31.839 Because when you do, you can finally stop being anxious. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:38.240 More money and more possessions does not ease anxiety over tomorrow. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:41.279 As the great philosopher notorious B.I.G. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:44.079 said, Mo money, no problems. 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:54.240 Building your life around financial security so that you won't be anxious is a lie you are being sold. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:09.920 Only when you trust God can you open your hands to Him and the Father and say, I trust you. 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:12.880 That's when you'll stop being anxious. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:24.799 Let me tell you about a Christian missionary named Alan Gardner, who understood this and truly believed this, that God would provide him everything he needs. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:36.480 Alan was born in England in 1794, and he attended the British Royal Navy College of Portsmouth when he was 14, and he joined the British Navy. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:40.400 He soon after became a Christian. 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:52.799 Fifty-six years later, or uh no, maybe 40 years later, he felt God calling him to reach tribes in South America who had never heard of Jesus or the gospel. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:25:05.920 So in the early 1850s, he and six other missionaries took two small boats to reach, I'm gonna butcher this, the Yagan tribe, who lived in the small islands of Tierra del Fuego. 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:09.599 That's modern-day, very, very southern tip of Argentina. 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:20.880 Upon meeting the Yagan tribe for the first time, the Yagans stole all their belongings, and Alan and the other missionaries were forced to flee the island. 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:29.119 Nobody knew what happened to them until they found their shipwreck a year later. 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:34.079 They crashed on a small island and hid in a cave from the harsh winter. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:36.559 You're down close to Antarctica down there. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:40.240 And they died of starvation and exposure. 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:44.400 They found Alan's diary. 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:49.839 And this is what the last entry read. 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:57.119 Lord, at your feet I humbly fall, and I give you all I have. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:00.400 All that your love requires. 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:04.000 To lack is best, for all is yours. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.680 Take care of me in this hour of test. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:11.119 Do not let me have the thoughts of a complainer. 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:18.079 Make me feel your power, which gives life, and I will learn to praise you while carrying your cross. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:23.599 By God's grace, this blessed group was able to sing praises to Christ for eternity. 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.920 Last line. 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:35.599 Wonderful grace and love to me, a sinner. 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:43.759 I am not hungry or thirsty despite five days without eating. 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:47.440 Wonderful grace and love to me, a sinner. 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:54.960 This is not a promise of comfort and ease. 00:26:55.599 --> 00:27:02.880 It is a promise that God will sustain you with everything you need. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:13.599 When you believe this, you can finally let go and say, I don't need money for security. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:22.880 If I could lose everything and have the peace Alan had as he died, I'd take that. 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:27.839 Do you see what this promise does? 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.279 Can you believe it? 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:34.640 It doesn't always change your circumstances. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:38.240 But it always changes you. 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:50.000 It changes you so that you have the ability to face anything tomorrow brings because you know God is your provider. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.920 Oh, you know, lost my job. 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:57.200 I have no money. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:59.599 I could probably lose my house. 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.599 Well, Father. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:05.359 Excited to see what tomorrow brings. 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:08.799 Maybe I didn't need those things. 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:10.640 You know, I thought I did, God. 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:12.960 Maybe I actually didn't. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:14.400 You know? 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:16.640 I hope you have something wonderful in store for me. 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:17.680 I know you do. 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:31.359 You know, a lot of our anxiety is not about the thought of loss, but it's the thought about improving our lifestyle. 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:38.319 A lot of the things we're chasing, bigger house, bigger car, these things, I need more, I want more. 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:43.519 That causes a tremendous amount of anxiety in our lives. 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:50.880 Do you trust that God's tomorrow is better than yours? 00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:59.039 Or you could be thinking, I've made dumb mistakes with money, okay? 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:10.799 I'm in a lot of debt, and I think God's angry at me, and he's only gonna provide for me for tomorrow if I get myself out of debt first. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.039 No. 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.119 No. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:21.599 This promise is not for people who don't make mistakes. 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:24.880 This promise is for every Christian. 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:33.039 God wants this promise to change you. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:36.799 He wants to take that anxiety away from you. 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:41.920 He wants you to trust him that he can make right your wrongs. 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.559 You know what it looks like? 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.839 God, I've been really dumb. 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:47.119 Really screwed up. 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:48.079 I'm sorry. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:49.680 Can you help me? 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:54.000 God will say, Yeah. 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.680 I can. 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:58.079 I can help you. 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:01.599 You can sleep again now. 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:04.640 Because you've given this over to me. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.359 God, I'm worried. 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:11.599 I'm worried that I won't be able to provide for this for my family. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:14.480 I'm worried I won't be able to go on this vacation. 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.519 I'm worried. 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.440 Hey. 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:21.119 My tomorrow's better than yours. 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:24.319 You don't need to worry. 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:32.000 It's not foolishness to be at ease about tomorrow. 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:34.960 Whatever your financial situation will be. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:38.559 It's not foolishness to not be worried. 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:43.359 Just because you don't worry doesn't make you irresponsible. 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:45.599 I could see some of the some of the thoughts. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:53.279 Well, if I don't care and I'm not anxious, doesn't that mean I'm just being silly about this and I'm not really acknowledging the gravity of the situation? 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:54.720 No. 00:30:56.160 --> 00:31:04.160 You're not anxious because your father promises to provide what you need for tomorrow. 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:07.359 It's not foolishness to not be worried about this. 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.799 Hear me out. 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:12.160 Like, I would love to meet a Christian. 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:13.680 Like, I just lost everything. 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:15.119 It's crazy. 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.720 But it's all good. 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:18.240 You know, I know God's got me. 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:23.440 I think that's that's what we should be like. 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:27.440 Hey, you know, didn't didn't work out for me. 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:30.319 God's great. 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.640 That's what this is. 00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:48.880