WEBVTT 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:08.960 This podcast is a ministry of Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:14.000 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit GrandProquay.org. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:29.199 When I was growing up because in my hometown in Kansas City, Missouri, it was a very segregated town. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:41.280 And my parents and I, and my brother and my youngest sister, we lived on what was considered the other side of the tracks. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:56.399 And so to my sheer excitement, in the fifth grade, I can remember my father coming to us and saying that he and mom had worked hard. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:01.600 So they wanted what they called a better life for us. 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:08.400 So we were going to move to the other side of the tracks to a new home. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:27.359 They described the home, and they said it was going to have two bedrooms and two bathrooms and a living room and a dining room and a beautiful kitchen, and then even a special room in the basement that was going to be called the recreational room. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:32.480 We were so excited as kids. 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:49.840 All of us have rooms in our lives. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:55.280 Some of the rooms in our lives are extremely organized. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:04.640 Some of the rooms in our lives, we have inside those rooms very cherished memories. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:12.400 Other rooms, there's so much clutter that we have to hide it. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:35.280 Yet there are some rooms in our lives that have a sign on the door of the room. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:39.599 The signs read somewhat like this. 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:41.840 No entrance. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:45.120 Off limits. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:49.680 Enter at your own risk. 00:02:54.400 --> 00:03:01.840 And there are some rooms that are so destructive that the sign says caution, danger. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:11.680 Well, I don't know about you, but no, I'm very protective of some of the rooms in my life. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:24.400 I try my best at times to tackle some of the things, some of the problems in these rooms almost like a football player. 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:40.800 But to my discouragement, I find that each time I try to tackle a problem in one of these dangerous rooms, one of these rooms where I'm hiding stuff, I find as I try to tackle one problem, another problem arises. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:45.520 And to the point problems pile on top of each other. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:49.919 And before I know it, I'm find myself, I'm just stressed out. 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:54.960 I'm overwhelmed with trying to handle the stuff. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:04:08.479 But what's most shocking is that inside one of our rooms, and each one of us in this room this morning has this room. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:19.120 There's something unassuming and small in the corner, tucked away in the corner, almost out of sight. 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:25.600 And in this room, there's an emotional atom bomb. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:37.040 This small, unassuming, powerful, very destructive force is in our rooms. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:45.519 It's even more destructive than the atom bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:47.519 It is just that powerful. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:56.160 This unassuming emotional power that's in our room. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.480 It's called worry. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:12.879 The question is this morning that each of us should be asking, is there any help for us to deal with this today? 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:19.920 Must we continue to hide this from other people? 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:25.279 Do we even know that it's in the room? 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:36.639 Do we know that it's like a disease that it can become airborne, even passed on to others? 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:46.000 Must we continue to wrestle with this problem on our own? 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:50.480 I want to tell you this morning, it's a resounding no. 00:05:53.040 --> 00:06:04.000 Because Jesus understands, because of our humanness, that we have a tendency to fall into this trap. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:14.800 There are times when this disease, when this problem of worry is so strong, it devastates us. 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:32.800 And it even moves us into fear where it's happened to some of you in this room, it got so bad, you were so worried about something that you even refused to leave your home because you were afraid. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:42.879 So what I need to do is I need to define the difference between worry and concern. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:56.480 Concern embodies embracing the proper mindset of caring about important issues, important decisions, events, or conditions. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:08.079 It also means taking proper steps to create effective solutions, monitoring their outcomes and making changes or modifications where necessary. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:17.120 When we're concerned, we've made, it's almost like going to the shallow end of a pool. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:21.759 First, we we step in and we test the waters. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:36.800 But when we're worried, what we merely do, we go to the pool and we just begin to circle the pool, looking at the abyss, pondering what the water feels like, but never taking the plunge. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:40.319 Concern is not negative. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:45.600 It's important to be concerned about your children. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.920 It's important to be concerned about your family. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:57.600 It's important to be concerned about your job, even to be concerned about the future of our great country. 00:07:57.839 --> 00:07:59.680 There's nothing wrong with that. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:16.560 But worry gets to the point where it's defined this way: worry is the preoccupation with our mental and physical powers, with things that are future, hypothetical, and beyond our control. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:21.519 Worry is the antithesis of faith. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:31.120 Faith perceives potential problems with a view of the infinite power and fatherly concerned of our God who saved us. 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:50.799 Worry, on the other hand, sees the obstacles, actual or imaginary, and meditates on all of the possible disastrous possibilities while neglecting the fact, while neglecting the fact of God's divine care and control in our lives. 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:54.240 Worry only sees the negative. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:59.200 Worry only perceives the potential dangers. 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:01.440 Worry only sees the problems. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:09.519 And I promise you, each of us in this room have had moments in our lives where we found ourselves worrying. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:12.480 If you've ever worried, can I see your hand? 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:14.559 Yes. 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:28.399 And someone in this room right now, because of some information that you received last week, you're sitting in this place extremely worried about next week. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:35.120 You're worried about the blood work that you're gonna go back to the hospital and you're gonna get the resolution. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:36.559 You're gonna find out the information. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:38.559 You're worried about the diagnosis. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:41.440 You're worried about that young man that your daughter's dating. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:44.879 You're worried about that son of yours in the career that he's chosen. 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:51.120 You're worried, and you've already decided what the outcome is going to be. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:56.559 And Jesus knew that this would happen to us. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:01.759 He knew that this is serious stuff, and so he talked about it. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:06.000 So I want you to turn your Bibles with me to the book of Matthew, chapter six. 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:08.879 It's a very familiar passage to many of us. 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:21.279 By scholars, this is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount, chapter 5 through chapter 7 of Matthew. 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:29.440 Jesus is becoming extremely popular to the point where crowds are following him to hear his sermons. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:38.159 So the crowd had gotten so big what the text says, he goes to the mountain so that he can speak and be heard by all. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:42.399 And he discusses many issues of life. 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:49.679 But all of these issues are couched in this greater issue, which is about his kingdom. 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:53.919 He's come to talk about his kingdom. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:58.399 He's come to invite people into this new kingdom. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:02.879 He says, the kingdom is here, and yet the kingdom is coming. 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:15.759 There's even a point in chapter 6, beginning at verse 7, where he says this: When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:22.879 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:37.600 So instead, pray like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, honored as it is in heaven. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:49.279 Give us this daily bread, and forgive our debts as we have also forgiven our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:12:03.679 So Jesus recognizes that there's an aspect of his kingdom at the very moment that he was on planet earth that was already in existence, and yet he says, pray for the future kingdom. 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:08.159 So right now we live in the midst of his kingdom. 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:12.799 We are kingdom people, and he is the ruler of the kingdom. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:18.320 And there is a lifestyle, that's a way that we as his subjects are supposed to act. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:22.240 We're supposed to act like representatives of the king. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:27.039 Listen and understand, and don't get it twisted. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:35.200 As crazy as it may sound, you are not here for your personal enjoyment. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:41.120 You are not alive for your own personal happiness. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:49.200 The only reason why your heart is still beating in your body right now is because he declares that it beat. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:53.600 You are here and you are alive to bring him glory and honor. 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:58.960 And at the moment where you're no longer bringing him glory and honor, he will stop your heart. 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:03.840 He created us. 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:06.240 Go all the way back to Genesis chapter 1. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:12.960 Let us make man in our image and in our likeness, and let's let them rule in our stead. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:15.759 We are to be image-bearers. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:24.320 And when we worry, it is implying that the God that we serve is powerless. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:29.120 And so let's look at our text. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:33.759 Verse 25 of chapter 6 begins this way. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:36.399 Therefore I tell you. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:44.320 Now, one of the things I teach my students in the seminary, whenever you see the word, therefore, what it's doing, it's a word of summation. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:47.360 It's summarizing something that's been said prior. 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:59.360 And so if we go back to verse 19 of the text, it says, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroys, where thieves break in and steal. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:07.279 Verse 20, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:10.879 For where your treasure is, listen to that. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:15.840 There your heart will be also what you treasure. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:18.480 That's where your heart is. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:44.799 So if the eye is healthy, verse 22, and your whole body will be full of light. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:48.240 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:52.320 If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness? 00:14:52.559 --> 00:15:01.360 No one, no one can serve two masters, which is exactly what the Pharisees were trying to do. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:11.519 For either he will hate the one and love the other, he will be devoted to the one and what despise the other, you cannot serve God and money. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:14.879 You cannot serve God and materialism. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:25.039 And with the Pharisees, the Pharisees had been taught, and they were teaching that when you had stuff, it implied that you were under God's blessings. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:29.840 And the more stuff that you had demonstrated your true spirituality. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:34.000 And Jesus says it's not about the stuff. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:41.360 And oftentimes we worry so much about the stuff that we spend thousands of dollars protecting our stuff. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:49.360 The only problem is one day there's no protection that you're gonna have that's gonna protect you what? 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.720 You from your stuff. 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.679 Because guess what? 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:55.600 You're gonna die, and none of your stuff you can take with you. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:05.919 And don't misunderstand what I'm saying. 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:14.879 I'm not saying don't care or be concerned about your stuff, to be concerned about your children, to be concerned about your possession, your possessions. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:16.799 I'm not saying don't care. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:23.600 I'm not saying don't be concerned, but don't find yourself consumed about your stuff. 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:29.120 One of the things that your stuff is, is you. 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:33.519 So watch what he says in the text. 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:43.600 Therefore, I tell you, again, let's summarize, Jesus says what I've said, do not be anxious or do not worry about your life. 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:46.559 Why, Jesus? 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:54.240 Or what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, nor about what your body of what you will put on it. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:58.960 Is not life more than food? 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.960 Is not the body more than clothing? 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.519 He says, Let me give you an example. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:07.279 Look at the birds of the air. 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:18.319 They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:23.519 Are you not more valuable than they? 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.359 What's the answer? 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.960 Absolutely. 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:29.680 We are his highest creation. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:48.160 And so he says, Well, look, the reason why I'm telling you, don't be concerned about that, because if I take care, if I meet all their needs, if I provide all that they need so that they don't have to worry, when was the last time you saw a bird saying, Man, I'm really worried about my stuff? 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:08.720 He says in verse 27, and which of you by being anxious, or which of you by worrying can add even a single span to your life? 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:17.519 By you worrying, it's not gonna make you live one more second or one more hour longer than he has deemed for you. 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:31.599 Isn't it surprising to recognize, and I hope you do in this room, God knows, just as he knew the moment of your entrance into this world, he already knows the moment of your exit from this world? 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:41.680 And as sad as it might seem, there's nothing that you can do to change that moment. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:44.640 Does that mean don't eat right? 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:46.160 Does that mean don't exercise? 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:48.640 Does that mean you know, don't care for yourself? 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.680 No, not at all. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:59.200 But recognize, even regardless of all of those things that you do, you will not change what God has already decreed for your life. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:06.160 You are only sitting in these seats right now because God has a work yet for you to do. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:22.319 And when that work is over, no prayers, no machines, no special anointing oil will keep you alive. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:30.319 God will say, My child, you served your purpose. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:35.200 And now it's time for you to close your eyes. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:39.440 And there are some of us in this room, let me give you some good news. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:45.759 Some of us in this room will never experience physical death. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.640 You say, preacher, wait a minute, that's heresy. 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.359 No, it isn't. 00:19:49.599 --> 00:20:08.799 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 says, The Lord shall return with a shout, with the trump of God, with the voice of the archangel, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and then we, Paul says, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together and meet them in the air, and so shall you be with the Lord. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:12.160 He then he says, and comfort one another with these words. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.119 So guess what? 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:25.279 It is possible if he came back within the next 15 minutes, we would be those who want or alive and remain. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:41.200 And the dead in Christ, mama, grandpa, papa, pookie, everybody's got a Pookie in their family. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:44.640 And there's some June bugs, too. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.319 There's some June bugs. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:53.359 If they were in Christ, they shall rise first, and then we will rise with them, and then what? 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:57.440 The Bible says, we will forever be with the Lord. 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.799 But until then. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:09.680 But until then, we are commanded to live a life that's worthy of who we are. 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:12.079 We are God's kids. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:17.440 We are kids, we are children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:20.000 That's worthy of shouting and saying, Amen. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:30.319 So let me tell you what not to do from this text. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:45.119 We shouldn't worry about things that are only temporary versus those things that are eternal. 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:46.559 Why? 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:59.759 Because worrying about our life is unproductive, it doesn't produce anything, it doesn't accomplish anything. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.559 It can't change anything. 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:08.400 And it has a tendency to even get you to the point to where you're extremely fearful. 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:10.400 Let me give an example. 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:18.559 And if my wife could come to this platform and if she could give you the story, she could give it better than I. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:20.079 But let me try. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:27.599 I'm at the doctor, and the doctor says, We've run some blood tests. 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:28.559 And Mr. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:32.720 Bowden, what we want you to do, we want you to go to another hospital. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.720 Got some special things that you want to do there. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:42.640 But my doctor didn't tell me specifically why I was going to go to the other hospital. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:45.680 So I'm sitting there in the waiting room. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:48.799 And the nurse comes back, and the nurse says, Mr. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.920 So-and-so, Mrs. 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:51.039 So-and-so, and Mr. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.240 Bolton and Mr. 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:54.240 Smith, come follow me. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:58.960 And so we all followed, and we were all just kind of looking at each other, you know, what's going on? 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.640 Where is she taking us? 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:07.680 And then she walked into this room, and all I could see over the top of the door, such and such cancer clinic. 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:11.920 And guess what I did? 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:28.640 I jumped all the way to who was going to sing at my funeral, and who was going to be the eulogist, and who was going to show up, and what I was going to be wearing in the casket. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:39.519 And as I sat in the room, I don't even remember what she said because I found my heart begin to beat. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:43.200 Have you ever found yourself where anxiety has got you so strong? 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:49.279 I mean, it's physically you begin to perspire, and your heart begins to beat like it's gonna jump outside of your body. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.720 Has that ever happened to you? 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.599 Oh yes. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:53.440 It affects you physically. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:56.319 And I was numb, I'm sweating, and I'm worrying. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:56.640 Why? 00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:01.759 Because I've already projected into the future what I think is going to be the outcome. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:08.000 And come to find out that that room that they took us in was just a room on the way to the real room. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:16.240 I was not being tested for cancer. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:18.079 That was just the room on the way. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:24.799 And I bet you it's happened to you. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:37.359 You heard something, you didn't have any further information, but you took the little bit that you heard and it turned from concern to worry. 00:24:37.759 --> 00:25:03.279 Any dads remember the very first time the young man came and said he wanted to take your daughter out to the movies, and you know, and you had finally said, Okay, sweetie, you're old enough to date, and then you know you, you know, you take the young man aside and you you give him the pep talk the pep talk, and then of course you pull out your gun and you set it on the counter, and you and you remind the young man, I will kill you, young boy, right now. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:06.079 And this is my baby girl. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:11.279 Now you have her back at such and such time, that's a curfew. 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:14.000 I don't care what's going on, I don't care what's going on in the movie. 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:20.960 If you have to leave the movie early, this is a time that she must be not on the way to the door, she must be in the house. 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:24.799 Now I'll never forget my baby girl. 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:30.559 She's gone, and every five minutes I'm going to the window. 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:34.480 I'm going to the window. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:47.759 And then it gets close to the time, and I'm pacing the floor, then I'm going to the window, and then finally the key hits the door, and my heart settles. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:55.039 Because the whole time I couldn't relax, I couldn't rest. 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:57.839 Because I had gone beyond concern. 00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:05.359 I'd gone to the point where I was thinking, ah, the young man could do this, this could have happened, they could have had a wreck along the way. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.480 I mean, all these things. 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:08.799 Has that ever happened to you, dad? 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.480 Yeah. 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:14.960 That's what the Lord's talking about. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:19.119 The Lord's talking about the danger of worry. 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.799 It is unproductive. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:27.440 It won't help you, even to the point, it'll get you to the point where it will make you physically sick. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:29.119 It will paralyze you. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:34.559 And there's some of us in this room that have been worrying about something so much that we won't even do it. 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:36.960 We'll do everything in our power to stay away from it. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:50.480 Some of us know that we need to fly to that particular place and we'll do everything in our power not to get on that airplane because we've already projected that our airplane will be the only plane in America that won't make it to its destination. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:54.000 Everyone else will land safely, but not ours. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.839 So the best thing to do what? 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:58.480 Is to avoid that thing. 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.880 Have you ever avoided things because you were worried? 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.240 Yes, you have. 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:08.000 So watch what Jesus says. 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:09.920 Verse 28. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:13.359 Why are you anxious about clothing? 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:17.200 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin. 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:22.319 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:31.599 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? 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.559 Watch this. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:36.640 O ye of little faith. 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:39.279 Why should we not worry? 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:42.880 Because worry is what the world does. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:52.400 Worry, he says, he says, exactly what the Gentiles do, for the Gentiles seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:59.519 He says, when you worry, you're acting like the world, you're acting like you don't have a relationship with me. 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:07.200 When you worry, it implies that I'm in a situation where God is not there. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:11.920 It implies I'm in a situation and he can't fix it. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:24.960 I'm in a situation where he's either not knowledgeable, or maybe he's knowledgeable and he just doesn't have the power to do it, or he's knowledgeable and what because he's not really good, he doesn't want to do it. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:39.039 And I tell you today that God knows your situation before you know it, and God has already deemed what is going to happen in your life. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:44.000 He's an absolute control of everything. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:49.039 And so he says, as a result of that, you've got to trust me. 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:58.799 And guys, I find myself too often trusting in things more than I trust in him. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:01.039 You ever been there? 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:07.759 I find myself trusting in people, and the only problem with trusting in people is that people are not what? 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.799 Infallible. 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:10.400 People are not all-powerful. 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:20.000 And sometimes the very people that you were trusting in, you find out that they turned their backs on you, or they stabbed you in the back, or they didn't fulfill what you thought they were going to do. 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:21.920 Stop trusting in people. 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:27.039 Trust in the Almighty God who never changes. 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:30.400 Who's the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:34.720 And he says, When you worry, you are not trusting me. 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:36.480 It is not faith. 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:40.400 You have replaced faith with fear. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:44.480 And then finally, watch what he says. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.559 Verse 31. 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:54.079 Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:59.039 For the Gentiles seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.160 Here it is. 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:05.680 But instead of worrying, seek first. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:11.119 The kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then what? 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:19.759 All these things I know you need will be added to you. 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:26.799 So the three things I want you to take away this morning. 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:30.880 And I pray that you practice these things. 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:47.119 Number one, place your life, if you haven't done it today, finally, for once and for all, in the hands of the Lord and say to him, Lord, I give myself to you. 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:53.279 I give up trying to control my life, trying to control my affairs, trying to control my situations. 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:56.000 I give myself to you. 00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:01.440 I'm under your control and under your authority. 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.160 Why? 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:10.880 Because not only did you create me, you loved me so much that you sent your son to die for my sins. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.720 Y'all, that's love. 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:27.680 Number two, direct your energies toward his kingdom and the righteousness that is a part of that kingdom. 00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:34.319 Direct your energy on doing those things that fulfills his kingdom. 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:36.240 What do you mean, preacher? 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:42.799 If you're not doing something now that adds to his kingdom, do it. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:45.440 He's given you a gift. 00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:48.799 Even before you were a Christian, he gave you talents. 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:55.279 And the question is, are you watching others do things for his kingdom, or are you doing things for his kingdom? 00:31:55.519 --> 00:32:03.359 If you're sitting here today and you're not actively involved in some ministry, you are in spiritual disobedience. 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:13.359 God is going to deal with you because he gave you something, and the Bible says, to whom much is given, much is required. 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:22.640 There will be one day that you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and He will ask you this very simple question: What did you do with what I gave you? 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:29.359 Did you hold it back because you thought you couldn't do it? 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:35.440 Did you hold it back because it it you th you were afraid that it would take up too much of your time? 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:46.480 Stop focusing so much on your stuff and what brings you happiness and joy, and focus more on his stuff. 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:53.920 And one of the things about his stuff is that it is a life of righteousness, a life of godliness. 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:54.720 And guess what? 00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:57.599 We live in a world, we live in a culture. 00:32:57.759 --> 00:33:05.759 If there was ever a time in the United States of America where righteousness needs to prevail, where righteousness needs to be elevated, it is now. 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:16.400 It is not about what political affiliation you are, it's not about what race you are, it's not about where you were raised, it's all about righteousness. 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:23.839 And our world, who is in such utter darkness, needs the righteousness that only believers in Jesus Christ can manifest. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:29.359 And it is time, since everybody else is coming out of the closet, we might as well come out of the closet too. 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:38.400 And show the world who we are. 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:41.359 Stand up and show up and be counted. 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:42.160 Now, guess what? 00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:48.240 Now, when you do that, when you do that, be ready to people to take pot shots at you. 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:58.240 But even if they even if they do, your heavenly father, who is able to deflect anything, as a matter of fact, the Bible says, no weapon that's formed against you, it shall prosper. 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:07.359 And even if it happens to you, Paul says, rather, John says, Happy are you if you suffer for righteousness' sake. 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:18.159 And then last but not least, refuse to borrow on tomorrow's troubles. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.559 What do you mean by that, preacher? 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:23.119 Look at the last verse, verse 34. 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:25.840 Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow. 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.199 Why, Jesus? 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:31.360 For tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:38.000 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:42.400 I start thinking about that. 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:48.159 There are days where I'm having such a difficult day with today. 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:55.199 Why would I add possibilities of tomorrow? 00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:58.000 Today's hard enough. 00:34:59.119 --> 00:35:09.280 And tomorrow hasn't even come, and I've already, in my mind, I've already projected what tomorrow's potential problems, and I've added tomorrow, which I'm not in tomorrow yet, into my today. 00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:13.920 So I start thinking about it. 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:15.679 Wait a minute, wait a minute. 00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:25.920 The reason why I don't have to worry about my tomorrow and only focus on my today, because Jesus is not only in my today, but Jesus is already in my tomorrow. 00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:30.079 And since Jesus is already in my tomorrow, guess what? 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:33.840 When my tomorrow comes, he'll be there with me in my tomorrow. 00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:35.840 So just focus on what? 00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:36.800 Today. 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:40.559 So, Dad, focus on today. 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:45.039 Have fun on Father's Day and don't worry about the bill tomorrow. 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:58.400 Throw caution to the wind and have the best Father's Day. 00:35:58.639 --> 00:36:05.599 Moms, daughters, do the best for him today. 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:09.199 We only get one time a year, anyway. 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:16.079 Poor dads. 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:21.119 Because if you're like me, I'll just tell you this and I'll close. 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:24.320 Love mom, love dad. 00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:27.119 They're both gone on to be with the Lord. 00:36:27.679 --> 00:36:28.559 Moved out. 00:36:28.639 --> 00:36:29.599 I'm on my own. 00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:31.039 I've got my family. 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:33.760 And I would call back to check on them. 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:35.519 And it would go something like this. 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:39.119 Dad would pick up the phone and I would say, Dad, how you doing? 00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:40.320 Good, son. 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:44.559 I would say, How the how the how the can how the chiefs playing today? 00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:45.599 Pretty good. 00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:47.119 Or how the roles playing? 00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:47.760 Pretty good. 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:48.719 How's the weather? 00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:49.519 Pretty good. 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:50.880 Can I talk to mama? 00:36:58.559 --> 00:37:02.480 Poor dad would get about 30 seconds, mama would get two hours. 00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:07.519 I'm talking to mama about the deep stuff. 00:37:07.679 --> 00:37:10.079 I'm talking to mama about my feelings. 00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:12.880 My dad wouldn't have it. 00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:14.000 How you doing? 00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:15.440 Need any money? 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:18.239 Bye. 00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:19.440 His his mama. 00:37:24.719 --> 00:37:38.400 So in the corner of that room in your life, worry sits there almost like a bear. 00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:44.320 Waiting to jump and devour you if you let it. 00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:46.719 But remember this. 00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:54.480 Paul says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 00:37:54.800 --> 00:38:01.760 And what I will do, I will trust my life into his hands. 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:13.920 And since I can't project the future, I'm going to stop trying and just live a righteous life when today. 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:16.159 Father, I thank you so much. 00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:18.880 This morning. 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:27.840 The web of worry has many of us entangled in its clutches. 00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:32.880 And some of us, it's even affected us physically. 00:38:35.280 --> 00:38:41.840 Some of us are so fearful of the potential of what we have projected is going to happen. 00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:44.639 We try to hide from it. 00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:47.039 We avoid it like the plague. 00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:53.519 And yet, you want us to live in the midst of your kingdom. 00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:59.840 And when we live in the midst of your kingdom, we don't have to worry about tomorrow. 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:02.320 Because you're already there. 00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:05.440 And tomorrow is in your control. 00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:07.679 Bless us this day. 00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:10.960 Amen.