WEBVTT 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:08.960 Are you not of more value than they? 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:13.199 I think this is perhaps the greatest question asked by Jesus of humanity. 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:15.119 And it goes unanswered by most people. 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:17.280 What happens is that we divorce ourselves. 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:31.679 We set ourselves up to struggle, this lifelong struggle with anxiety because we've divorced ourselves from what God intended to bring us the most comfort, the best perspective, and the maximum understanding of and experience with and enjoyment of God Himself. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:36.320 And this is this this biblically informed belief as to your value. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:44.640 This podcast is a ministry of Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:49.679 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:52.479 Amen. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:53.359 Amen. 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:53.840 Amen. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:54.719 Let's pray together. 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:56.960 God, we uh we've sung a lot this morning. 00:00:57.039 --> 00:00:59.439 We've said we've acknowledged that we're a bound people. 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:06.159 We're not wandering around in this world, but we're found by you and we're bound to the place we were created for. 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:11.920 And so in the meantime, God, we're here, and we're not gonna begrudge that, but we're not gonna act like this is home. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:13.680 There's so much more that awaits us. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:20.000 And the only thing that we'll have in the next life is the treasure that we've laid up there that awaits us when we get there. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:27.840 We can't take anything from here to there, but we can lay up some stuff in this life there, and so that we'd be good stewards of this life. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:32.239 And so, Holy Spirit, breathe life into us this morning as we open up your word. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:36.079 We sing that great hymn that says, and heaven and earth be one. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:42.000 And so we ask you today, God, to bring heaven to bear on earth and to kiss this guilty world in love. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:43.519 You're Jehovah Rapha. 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:48.640 One of your names is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord, which means the Lord our God who heals. 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:55.519 And so we look to the CDC, we look to medicine, we look to a malaria drug, we look to everything at our disposal. 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:57.359 We see them all as gifts from you. 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:06.000 But ultimately we look to you and we ask you, God, to come and act in keeping with your nature and heal our land, heal this world, God. 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:10.479 Effortlessly claim all the due glory that is yours, Lord. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:14.240 We don't want to give it to the wrong people and rob God of glory. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.439 You're the healer, God, and so give you all the glory. 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:22.719 Lord, let people see the insufficiency of what they have built and banked their life on. 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:29.199 And let the sufficiency of King Jesus be manifested through his people during this time. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:30.719 God, this is our prayer. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:33.039 Say a word to our souls today. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:40.479 Feed and water our souls on your word today and by your spirit as we talk about what it means to kill anxiety in us. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:54.080 Lord, protect us from believing things about ourselves that aren't true, believing things about you that aren't true, and believing things about this world that aren't true, because we'll fall a little too much in love with this world and we'll fall out of love with you. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:58.879 And we won't seek your kingdom and your righteousness the way we were created to. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:02.800 And so increase our capacity to seek the right things today. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:07.599 And anxiety dies in the shadow of your kingdom and your righteousness. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:09.039 This is our prayer, God. 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:10.240 Make it our experience. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:11.680 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:15.199 And everyone said, You can have a seat. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:16.960 Uh, if you got a Bible, you're at home. 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:17.919 I invite you to take it. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:19.520 Open up to Matthew chapter 6. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:22.240 Matthew chapter 6, I'll start reading verse 25. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.439 And I want to talk to you this morning about killing anxiety. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:26.719 Killing anxiety. 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:30.159 John Owen had a the three theologian had a great phrase. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:33.520 He said, You got to be killing sin or sin will be killing you. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:41.360 Uh, and I want to just appropriate that and tweak it a little bit and say, you and I have to be killing anxiety, or anxiety will be killing us. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:56.400 We'll we'll kind of start developing all the worst case scenarios in our mind for all that could go wrong during the coronavirus virus and during the lockdown, or we're gonna be able to get out, or we're gonna be able to run our business, and am I gonna be able to open my restaurant and this, that, and the other? 00:03:56.479 --> 00:03:59.120 And so let me just say this: this is before I get into the text. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:06.800 If you have the capacity, uh, go pick up some food at a restaurant and tip the people and just remind them, hey, hey, we're gonna get through this, okay? 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:08.560 This is not the end of the world. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:10.000 Just a little free tip there. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:14.800 And if you go to the Texas Roadhouse, pick up some ribs and drop them off on my front porch and ring the doorbell. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:15.199 Amen? 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:18.240 Anyway, this is Matthew chapter 6, verse 25. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:20.720 I want to talk to you today about killing anxiety. 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:24.800 Jesus, this is some of the greatest ethical teaching in the history of humanity. 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:27.279 Jesus says this in Matthew 6, 25. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:35.120 Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, about what you'll eat or what you'll drink, nor about your body, what you'll put on. 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:38.240 Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:39.839 Look at the birds of the air. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:46.240 They neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.480 Are you not of more value than they? 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:53.120 And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:55.199 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:59.680 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:04.720 And yet I tell you, even Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:14.319 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, oh you of little faith. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:21.839 Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or where shall we find toilet paper, or what shall we wear? 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:26.959 For the Gentile seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:34.000 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:40.240 Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:44.480 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:47.199 Killing anxiety involves four things. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.040 Just four little words I want to give you. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:58.000 But more than four little words, there are four huge realities that you and I are invited by Jesus to kind of live in and learn to love. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:00.480 And the first one is simply this is life. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:01.040 Life. 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:02.319 Look at verse 25 again. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:08.879 He says, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you'll eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you'll put on. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:12.319 Jesus' point is not about food and clothes. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:21.360 He's really contending for a bigger, better, more sufficient, juicy, satisfying definition of an experience with life. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:24.720 Because he says, Hey, I tell you, don't be anxious about your life. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.759 For some of us, the response to that is too late. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:28.959 I'm very anxious. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:32.399 He says, What you will eat, what you'll drink, nor about your body. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:42.240 The reason there's no food on the shelf at Walmart is people are anxious about their life, what they're gonna eat and what they're gonna drink, and what and about your body, about what you'll put on. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:46.959 And then Jesus says this his he contends for a bigger definition of an experience with life. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:51.759 He says, It's not life more than food, and the body more than clothing. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:54.720 So it's not about food and clothing, it's really about life. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:56.079 And how do you define life? 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:57.680 What is your definition of life? 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:08.879 The Bible's always calling us to this actual experience with what the Bible calls life, because most of what we experience in this world has more to do with death than it does life. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:13.439 For example, if you ask someone right now, hey, what do you fear most, life or death? 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:17.360 They would say to you, death, because it's something we've never experienced. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:19.040 We don't have any frame of reference for it. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:20.560 It's kind of like what happens? 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:22.079 I mean, is there a big light? 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:22.800 Do you go there? 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:23.920 Is it warm and glowy? 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:27.199 Is there a big choir of grandmas kind of welcoming you in? 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:28.240 What is this all about? 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:42.720 We don't, so most people would say that, but I'm here to say that if we define life the way Jesus is talking about in Matthew 6, and we defined it that way, the Bible does, you would realize that most people have never really lived. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:51.360 And there's a deep uncertainty as to what we mean by when G what by the word life, when Jesus says, is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:56.000 If you take away provision and enjoyment, how will you define your life? 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:57.439 How do you think about it? 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:08.800 The coronavirus is actually a great time for you and I to redefine and rethink about, hey, is this what I want to do with the 70, 80, 90 years I got here on this planet? 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:12.720 If you're like me, most of your time here on this earth is behind you. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:16.160 You've got more behind you than you've got in front of you. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:19.920 So you and I really need to sharpen the focus on what we call life. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:27.439 Life is often defined in this world by what we're anxious about, what we're anxious towards, and what we're anxious for. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:31.839 And then here's what happens: we get all that, and then we're still anxious. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:35.759 And so we're continually having to redefine what life is. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:43.039 And the Bible is very helpful in this way because the Bible comes along and it always invites us to real life. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:43.840 What do I mean? 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:47.279 This is from 1 Timothy chapter 6, verses 17 to 19. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:57.200 Hear these words this morning, beloved, from the comfort of your couch, and I hope you got your pajamas on, hope your coffee pot is full, because I think all that's an expression of an enjoyment of life. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:59.120 Here's the way the Bible defines life. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:03.440 He says, as for the rich in this present age, which is every one of us. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:14.799 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:28.000 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.200 Did you hear that? 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:33.519 He says, So the last part, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:40.080 If you have an NIV translation of the Bible, the NIV renders it so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:47.919 So if the Bible says, and it does, that there's a life that is truly life, then logic dictates that there's a life that's not really life at all. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:56.559 And I submit to you this morning that most people in this world, not America, but in this world, live this life that's not really life at all. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:00.000 It's just existence, it's just kind of, hey, I'm just kind of getting through. 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:06.080 I worship my work, I work at my play, I play at my worship, however, you want to categorize that. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:08.639 It's just not the life that Jesus talks about. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:12.159 Uh, let me bring this more into focus and ask you this simple question. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:16.559 What would it be like right now, given all the craziness in our world? 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:21.279 What would it be like right now if every Christian in the world did four things? 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:25.840 Here's the first one: to enjoy everything God provides. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.679 Because this is what the Bible says. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:35.039 He says that they're what they're to do, he says, don't set your hope on the uncertainty of riches, 1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 17. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:41.759 Uh, but on God, and here's this phrase, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:45.919 See, here's how you know you have a death mindset instead of a life mindset. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.480 You're always thinking of what you're doing wrong. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:52.000 You get in bed at night and you try to remember all your sins from the day. 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:57.440 Like you're like an accountant, and I'm gonna make a list here, and I'm gonna go down, I'm gonna, sorry for that, I did that again. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:00.080 Let me ask you a weird question. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:06.399 The Bible says that hey, that He freely provides everything for us to enjoy. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:09.440 Ask yourself, here's a life mentality. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:12.320 Death mentality is about what's wrong with you, what are you doing wrong? 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:16.720 Life mentality asks this question where what are you currently not enjoying enough? 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:21.519 What are you currently not enjoying enough? 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:27.440 I stood in front of my wife this morning and said, Hey, is there anything in your life you're not enjoying like you should be enjoying it? 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:30.159 Like anything you should you should be enjoying more? 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:31.840 And she's like, I got nothing. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:37.919 I said, About six foot one, no hair, funny, can't think of anything. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:39.679 No, I'm just kidding, that did not happen. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:41.360 But I will ask her that this afternoon. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:44.159 Ask yourself in the meantime, hey, is there anything? 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:46.799 What am I currently not enjoying like I should? 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:49.279 Because the Bible says that's a life mentality. 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:51.440 The Bible says that God freely provides. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:57.120 You're not twisting his arm with your formulaic prayers or your fear or your anxiety or your despair. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:58.480 That doesn't motivate God. 00:11:58.559 --> 00:11:59.759 We'll get to that in just a minute. 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:03.519 Remember, God's not a sentimental being, he's a principled being. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:03.919 Okay? 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.519 We'll unpack that more in just a minute. 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:08.559 But what just what would the world be like if Christians did four things? 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.960 Number one, they enjoyed everything that God provided. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:14.000 Secondly, they they they set their mind to just doing good. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:15.200 Just to doing good. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:27.279 Not to be, hey, the person, the nicest person in your neighborhood that everyone talks about on your uh neighborhood app or whatever, but you just did good because, hey, there's so much wrong, there's so much bad being done in the world. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:31.759 There's people in the HEB parking lot fighting over toilet paper and milk. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:38.080 And against that backdrop, what does it look like for us to enjoy everything God provides, to do good? 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:40.399 Thirdly, to be rich in good works. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:50.399 To not only do good, but to do so much good that people see you and they go, man, that woman is rich, thick, flush, overflowing in good works. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:54.480 I mean, it just happens naturally, not so that, but because of. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:58.159 Here's the fourth thing, Christians just envision a world today. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:04.559 If all Christians started doing this today, this afternoon at 11.07, you set your mind to this. 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:06.960 Be generous and ready to share. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:10.799 Can you feel how crazy that sounds in this culture? 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:16.960 That means you go ring your neighbor's doorbell and say, Hey, you guys got enough toilet paper, you got enough food, you got enough air, you need anything? 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:20.159 Because man, I got whatever I got, I'm willing to share with you. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:24.000 Because if you're experiencing lack and I got abundance, something is wrong. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:29.519 If my barns are full and yours are empty and you're overwhelmed with fear, something's wrong. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:35.600 If my faith doesn't just share me and my resources, just envision a world what it would be like. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:38.960 Because Scripture says if we do these things, hear this part. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:44.960 He says we store up for ourselves as a good foundation for the future, and we take hold of the life that is truly life. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:55.679 Now, in Matthew 6, in this little pericy, this little section right before we start reading, verse 25, verses 19 to 24, Jesus himself says, Hey, lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.600 And we're kind of like, what does that mean? 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.879 Well, I don't know what that means. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:11.679 And then in 1 Timothy chapter 6, because the Bible is not a bunch of disconnected stories, it's one story that this one God tells with one central character and one outcome and this one opportunity to enjoy. 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:26.000 And so what you see in 1 Timothy chapter 6 is the cohesive nature of the truth because what Jesus says in Matthew 6, Paul picks up in 1 Timothy 6 and says, Oh, by the way, if you want to know what it means to lay up treasure in heaven, do these four things. 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:31.360 Because you lay up for yourselves a good foundation for the future and you store up treasure. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.679 Excuse me, corona. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:36.399 Uh you you store up treasure for yourself. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:38.159 I don't have coronavirus, relax. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:46.399 Uh so the first thing I want to, the first reality that helps us to kill anxiety, because by the way, anxiety didn't never dies of natural causes. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:51.200 It never goes away, it never takes a day off, it never says, you know what, you worried enough yesterday. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:52.639 Today, just chill. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.480 No, you have to kill it. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.080 I have to kill it in me. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:15:00.240 So the first reality that kills that in us is just life as the Bible defines it. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.440 Secondly, is value. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:04.159 It's verse 26 of Matthew chapter 6. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:07.120 He says, This look at the birds of the air. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:11.840 They neither sow nor reap nor gather in the barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:15.440 And then Jesus asked this life-altering question. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:20.399 Few things in the Bible changed my life more than this next sentence. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.799 Are you not of more value than they? 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:27.600 Are you not of more value than they? 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:31.840 I think this is perhaps the greatest question asked by Jesus of humanity. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:33.679 And it goes unanswered by most people. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:35.600 A long time ago, I was buying a suit. 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:36.960 That's how long ago that was. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:43.600 Uh I was buying a suit and I was getting it altered and tailored and the pants taken up and the half break and the cuff and everything. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:48.720 And the guy said to me, He said, Hey, when you look in the mirror, what do you see? 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.399 And he was just cutting up and being funny. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:57.120 And I just said, I see someone who's fearfully and wonderfully made, and because all God's works are wonderful. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.399 I know this fully. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.759 I'm fearfully and wonderfully made, and wonderful are your works. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:04.000 And he said, What are you talking about? 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:05.279 And it was kind of awkward. 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:10.320 He has a little chalk soapstone thing, and I said, Oh, when I look in the mirror, I just think, man, God is so good. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:12.960 Look what God made, and this is wonderful. 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.480 And he said, No, seriously. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:15.919 And I said, Seriously. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:18.399 He goes, You think that about yourself? 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:19.679 I said, Oh, it's worse than that. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:21.279 God thinks that about me. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:27.360 He stood up and he set his stuff down in a little tray and he goes, No, seriously, mister, what are you what are you talking about? 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:29.919 I said, There's a psalm in the Bible, 139th Psalm. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:34.960 And this guy writes, it says, Hey God, I'm just saying what's true of everybody that God created. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:37.679 And so if you're breathing right now, God created you. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:40.320 It's not about arrogance, it's about identity. 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:42.639 Because I said to the guy, I said, I'm not being arrogant. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.799 I know no one's gonna say, Oh, you like what you see? 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:48.399 And I said, Oh, I the suit's great, but I always like what I see. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:50.240 And yes, I know that sounds arrogant. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.840 Some of you like, oh, don't say that. 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:53.600 I don't want my kids to be arrogant. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:17:02.080 What you be careful, parents, that you don't parent your kids into this diminished unbiblical view of themselves because you don't want anybody to think wrong of them. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:06.960 And so he's like, Wow, ah, ah, hmm. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.759 See, when Jesus says, are you not a more value than they? 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:17.759 See, the obstacle for many of us is because we were taught, like we kind of teach our kids, hey, believe in the Bible. 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.799 There's good things in the Bible. 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:22.960 Let's don't go overboard because you might come off as arrogant or obnoxious or whatever. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:25.039 What happens is that we divorce ourselves. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:39.440 We set ourselves up to struggle, this lifelong struggle with anxiety, because we've divorced ourselves from what God intended to bring us the most comfort, the best perspective, and the maximum understanding of and experience with and enjoyment of God Himself. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:43.839 And this is this this biblically informed belief as to your value. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:52.319 So I would just ask you this question: are you not of more value than not just the birds, but everything else you see that God's created? 00:17:52.960 --> 00:18:00.319 Because if you're a person out there, and there's many people out there, and I'm not making light of you, I'm inviting you to think about the insufficiency of your point of view. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:14.400 Uh and it's simply this if you're a person out there that believes is taught in every biology class in America almost that, hey, human beings have no greater right to life than frogs or owls or lizards or deer or whatever. 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:16.960 We're all just we're all God's creatures. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:22.079 That worldview is fixing to hit the rocks of reality here in just a minute, but stay with me. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:25.599 Because Jesus Himself says, Are you not of more value than they? 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.680 And so think about that. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.640 And so, what am I saying? 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:38.079 I'm saying this that you're not some anxious hot mess waving your arms, trying to get the attention of a disinterested God and begging him to please be interested in you. 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:49.279 You are his child, upon whom he places great value, and not only that, but this God who crowned you when he created you with glory and honor and dominion. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:52.559 And now he didn't do that, but he's never gonna take these realities back. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:59.279 And so you and I have to learn how to live with these realities just kind of placed upon our life. 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:06.559 The Bible says that he's crowned us with glory and honor, and he's given us dominion over everything. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:14.400 I was having a conversation with a lady one time on an airplane about animals, and I was reading the Bible and she said, Well, are you a very religious person? 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.839 I said, Not religious at all. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:20.240 I have a relationship with Christ that's a it's the guiding principle and priority in my life. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:28.400 And she said, Well, I think, you know, we got in a conversation about creation and creatures, and she says, Well, you know, do you think human beings are more important than animals? 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.839 And I said, Oh, absolutely. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.759 It's the created order. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:36.400 Uh, God never crowned the frog with glory and honor and gave him dominion over us. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:42.000 The only time God gave frogs dominion over people was over Pharaoh and unbelievers in the book of Exodus. 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:47.039 It was a little disorienting her because she was a bioethicist or something, but it was a great flight. 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:48.480 I enjoyed the whole conversation. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:53.680 It wasn't conflictual, it was a little awkward and a little, and she was like, How could you believe this? 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:59.839 I said, Because I'm not God and I don't get to establish the value of creation and the created order. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:05.920 God he charged Adam and Eve and said, Rule over creation and subdue it. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:08.799 That doesn't mean that we're irresponsible, we abuse animals. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.440 I'm not for that. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.799 I'm not Michael Vick, okay? 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.160 I'm not down with that. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:17.920 I'm just saying that we've got to stop apologizing for what the Bible says is true about us. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.279 You say, Well, what do you mean? 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:20.720 Where do you get all this? 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:22.079 Psalm 8. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.759 Let me just read it to you this morning. 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:25.440 It says, This, oh Lord, our Lord. 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:32.640 And David is outside, he's looking up at the heavens, at the stars, and he says, Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.480 You've set your glory above the heavens. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:36.640 Now hear that phrase this morning, all right? 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.559 Put down the coffee for a second, Dad. 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.519 Hear that phrase. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.319 You have set your glory above the heavens. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:45.279 Hold on to that with your brain just for a second, okay? 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:53.119 He says, out of the mouth of babies and infants, you've established strength because of your foes to steal the enemy and the avenger. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:58.240 He says, When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:02.960 Then he asks this question What is man that you're mindful of him? 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:05.440 He's mindful of you today. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:12.480 Against the backdrop of all this other stuff, David's knees are buckling as he looked up at the heaven and he says, You made all this. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:18.160 How in the world do you have room and time and space and affection left for me? 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:21.039 He says, What is man that you're mindful of him? 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:23.440 And the Son of Man that you care for him. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:35.039 And then he turns the corner with this three little three-letter word, yet, yet, you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:37.759 Remember that thing that he said above the heavens? 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:41.200 That glory, he said, you set your glory above the heavens. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:44.319 That's the exact thing that he has crowned you with. 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.519 That's the exact thing. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:50.960 You've crowned him with glory and honor. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.759 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:55.920 You have put all things under his feet. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:59.759 Here's where my animal loving friend on the plane had a problem because I read this. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:12.640 He says, all sheep and oxen, also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas, O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:17.119 David says to God that you're majestic, that you've ordered creation this way. 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.440 Now, again, that doesn't mean we abuse animals. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:22.319 That means we steward the environment in which we live. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:28.880 But it also means that we don't tell the lie of the creationist that says, all life has equal value. 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:30.160 No, it does not. 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:33.359 That will be true when the deer starts hunting us. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:37.200 Yes, Gary Cooper, I'm talking to you. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:40.720 Third reality that we use to kill anxiety is faith. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:44.960 Faith, you got life, you got value, and you got faith. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:48.799 Look at verse 27 of Matthew chapter 6. 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:53.279 He says, This, after he asks this great question, are you not of more value than they? 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:58.480 He says, And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.400 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:02.640 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:04.960 They neither toil nor spin. 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:11.680 And yet I tell you, even Solomon, Solomon, the richest man, boys and girls, in the world at the time. 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:15.279 This man had a walk-in closet bigger than your house. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:19.759 And Jesus says, not even Solomon, in all his glory. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:24.160 He could make, he had the most brightest colored robes. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:28.240 I mean, because he was rich and they were rich purple, violet, and red. 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:30.400 Everybody else wore just earth tones. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:32.240 He showed up and he was popping. 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.680 He looked sharp. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:40.000 And Jesus says, not even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:49.839 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is used to start a fire in the oven, will he not much more clothe you? 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:54.160 And then Jesus says this, oh you of little faith. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:56.079 This is why it's an issue of faith. 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:58.720 Now notice he doesn't accuse them of having no faith. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:01.759 He doesn't say, oh, if you have anxiety, you're probably not a Christian. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:04.720 No, he just says, hey, oh you of little faith. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:09.200 Anxiety is not the absence of faith, but it's the indication of a misplaced faith. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:13.839 And it's a faith that's in self and circumstances and not in God. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:16.640 In times like these, our faith doesn't take a beating. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:20.559 What we have faith in gets revealed, and that feels like a beating. 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:36.240 And so I don't want to beat you up and pile on today, but I want you to understand this because we've, here's my fear in America, is that we look to our fear to accomplish for us what the Bible says only your faith can accomplish for you. 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.359 Let me say that again. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:44.960 We look to our fear to accomplish for us what the Bible says only faith can accomplish for us. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:48.640 I know it's kind of heady, but even people visiting from Illinois can understand that. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.759 You say, what do you mean? 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:57.440 If we're not careful in times like these, we'll teach ourselves that God responds to fear the way the Bible says he responds to faith. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:06.240 It's as if we believe that God looks down and sees us worrying over things and he feels obligated to respond to relieve our anxiety, and that's not how it works at all. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:09.920 Matter of fact, a lot of people quote unquote lose their faith, which is impossible. 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:12.400 If you lose your faith, you never had it, according to the Bible. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:15.920 But a lot of people lose their faith because God just didn't come through. 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:18.960 I mean, I prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed, and I just kept feeling that way. 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:23.359 It's because God doesn't respond to fear, He has no frame of reference for it. 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:26.960 I mean, if you're sovereign king of the universe, what do you fear? 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:30.319 And so he's like, uh, hello. 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:33.359 Uh what God responds to is faith. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:35.839 He said, I don't agree with that. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:49.680 Just last week, Blake uh stood up here and he preached about the persistent widow, which that parable ends with this question hot out of the mouth of God, he says, Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:53.759 Again, God's moved. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:26:01.119 He's a principled being, he's not sentimental, he he's not moved by what we're feeling, he's moved by our faith. 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:08.400 And so, beloved God, this principled God acts on in response to the principles of faith, not the uncertainties of our mood. 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:18.319 And so you gotta be careful because if you're not careful, you get this ingrained repetitive behavior going in you and you act as if fear obligates God to you. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:21.039 Beloved, that's manipulation, that's not worship. 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:24.000 He's like, I'm just gonna keep fearing until God comes through. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:33.839 And so what happens if you set the scenario to where if God is really God, the way God proves that he's God is he does something about this thing that I'm obsessing over in fear. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:39.519 And this continually requires God to prove himself over and over and over. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:45.920 And so while that sounds good and relief always feels better than the truth, here's the problem with that. 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:55.359 That means you continually need God to prove his existence, and you never have the pleasure of demonstrating that he's enjoyable. 00:26:55.599 --> 00:27:00.319 Your life and my life, it really comes down to a couple things when we talk about our faith. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:03.039 Either I need God to prove his existence all the time. 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.799 Well, you know, God's real. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.759 God came through. 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:12.640 We didn't know what we were gonna do, I needed a job, we were worried about our business, and I'm telling you, God came through and he proved himself. 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:15.119 I'm not trying to be a jerk. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:18.880 Boys and girls, look at your parents right now and say, Pastor Neil's not trying to be a jerk. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.680 I'll give you some time. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.559 Tell him. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.119 Okay, that's enough. 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:32.240 Uh, here's the thing: to a pre-existent being like God, he has no frame of reference for existence. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:44.559 So when we are looking at God, kind of saying, Hey, demonstrate that you're real, God's like, hey, I want you to demonstrate that I'm enjoyable, that I'm sufficient, that I'm enough. 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:46.960 And again, I'm not piling on you. 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:55.440 I'm just saying anxiety is gonna beat your brains in until you and I get to this place where we we just, hey, one of the realities that we demonstrate during this time is faith. 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:58.720 Here's the last one that kills anxiety is just seek. 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.559 Just the word seek. 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:03.440 And so I don't know what you mean. 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.079 Uh much. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:10.720 If I want to know what you value, I'm just gonna watch what you're looking after, what you're seeking after right now. 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:18.640 Uh Jesus said it like this in verse 31 to 34, he said, Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat, or shall we drink, or what shall we wear? 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:21.039 For the Gentiles seek after these things. 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:23.119 And your heavenly father knows that you need them. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.720 Just underline that last part. 00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:27.599 Your heavenly father knows that you need them all. 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:30.000 Your heavenly father knows that you need them all. 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:31.839 That wrecked me as well. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:40.319 Because a long time ago, godly older man, I said, Hey, if there's something part of the Bible that I could just that you come through throughout your life, and he said, Oh, the Sermon on the Mount. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:42.799 The Sermon on the Mount is Matthew 5, 6, and 7. 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:46.240