Worry Free Living

Scripture Text

Matt. 6: 24- 34

Intro: Who is the greatest preacher you have ever heard? Jesus, the greatest preacher that has ever been on this earth, is going to preach to us and we would be wise to listen and heed His words. If we heed Jesus’ words, we will surely be victorious in this life!

Matthew 6:24 (NKJV) "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

There are only two treasures: the earth and its treasures or God and His treasures, physical and material things or spiritual and eternal things. One of these is the master-owner of your life. A Slave has no free time of his own,but is controlled by the master.

Mammon- Aramaic for Money, wealth or any material thing that has value to a person. This means property, possessions, money, stocks, bonds, precious metals or jewels. You can’t serve yourself with things and God at the same time! The wealth or the things of this world will never bring you real joy, peace, or fulfillment. That only comes from within!

Matthew 6:25 (NKJV) "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

The point is clear and striking: a person's life and body are of more value—much more value—than the food he eats and the clothes he puts on. Why then should a person allow these things, secondary things, to consume and dominate his life? Be sure God is your master and you won’t have to worry about anything else. Remember Your master owns you! Matthew 6:26 (NKJV) Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Go bird watching! Look at them and study them. Use your eyes and learn thoroughly—learn from what you see around you. The providence of God takes care of the birds. Learn that God will likewise take care of the believer who really trusts Him. Jesus is saying; Man is a higher being, on a much higher level of creation, than animals. He is more noble and excellent, a spiritual being made in the image of God and capable of a personal relationship with God. Man is the crowning creation of God.

Matthew 6:27 (NKJV) Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

The point is striking. Worry is sin, senseless—just as senseless as trying to add to one's height or lengthen a minute to one's life span (when it is time for one to die).

Matthew 6:28 (NKJV) So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

Lilies grow from a deep root. The roots are where they belong, deep in the soil to receive nourishment. The roots of believers are not to be in the material things of this earth. In order to receive their nourishment and fulfill their purpose on earth, believers are to put their roots where they belong, deep in God and His righteousness.

Matthew 6:29 (NKJV) and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Lilies do not toil or spin at spinning wheels to adorn themselves with beauty. Their beauty comes naturally as they go about their purpose in the world. So our beauty comes from fulfilling God’s purpose for us in this world.

Matthew 6:30 (NKJV) Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Man is as the lilies of the field: here today and gone tomorrow. There is so little time; he does not have time to become entangled with worldly affairs. To worry about your clothes, food, money and things shows little faith in God’s ability to supply. Is He in control of all things? Is He able to take care of us? “Is God really who He says He is and will He do what He said He would do?

Heb. 11:6 Says “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight. Feed your faith and fear, worry, and doubt will starve to death. Matthew 6:31-32 (NKJV) Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

All unsaved people seek after these things. They worry constantly about them. Christians Do not spend energy fretting over having enough food or drink or clothing. Worry has no place in the lives of Jesus’ disciples because their heavenly Father already knows all their needs.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Jesus now tells us the solution to worry. We must be seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We are to focus our minds and hearts on seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. The kingdom of God right now is in believers on earth. We should be focused on how much of the kingdom of God is being lived in me. I am to be concerned about living righteously. Strangely enough, when you get your priorities right, Jesus promised that God will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him. When Jesus’ followers seek (go in search of) his Kingdom first, God takes care of all their needs. That’s His promise to us and by faith we receive it.

Matthew 6:34 (NKJV) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Because God cares for his people’s needs, Jesus says, “Don’t worry (fear, or be anxious) about tomorrow.” In an appeal to common sense, Jesus explained that what we worry about happening tomorrow may never happen, and we may not live another day, so we will have wasted time and energy worrying. We need to reserve that energy because today’s trouble is enough for today. We only add to today’s burdens when we worry about the future. All the anxieties about tomorrow will not change the outcome, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. The burdens of today are enough, so let God take care of them. We must trust God for today without worrying about tomorrow. Tomorrow we will trust God for that day. We are to have A calm God-centered and trusting attitude. A person goes about living and working ever so diligently and calmly, trusting God to take care of all. He does all he can about the necessities of life, both for himself and for others, but he seeks God and His righteousness first. This will make for the greatest year yet.

Invitation: If you have never asked Jesus to forgive your sins against God, all you can do is worry. Only the forgiveness of Christ can give you a worry free life here on this earth and for an eternity. The destination for the unsaved is Hell. You do not want to go there and you don’t have to. Call on Jesus right now to save you and if you are serious about it, He will save you and come into your life by His Spirit and live in you. He will bring you worry free living.

Meaning of Easter

Intro: The word Easter means different things to different people. To a child it means Easter eggs and candy. To others it's just another holiday. To some it means buying expensive clothes. To some it's a family gathering with barbecue, and drinking. But none of these things capture the real meaning of Easter as described in the bible.

1. Easter means the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Matthew 28:1-8 (NKJV) ¹  Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ²  And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. ³  His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. ⁴  And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. ⁵  But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. ⁷  And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." ⁸  So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.  a. Three days after His crucifixion Jesus was resurrected from the dead and He ascended to the Father. By His death and resurrection Jesus paved the way for us to have eternal life. Paul said in; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (NKJV) ²⁰  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²²  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
2. Easter means our sins have been forgiven. 

1 John 1:8-9 (NKJV) ⁸  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

a. When we confess our sinfulness and asked for forgiveness, verse 9 says we are forgiven and cleansed because of Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for our sin.

1 John 2:12b (NKJV) All true Christians have in common the fact that their sins are forgiven because of Jesus sake and in 1 John 2:13b “we have overcome the wicked one.” So many Christians live in doubt and unbelief. They are not sure they are God's child and they are not sure all their sins have been forgiven. The devil comes and says, well if you are God's child why did you act like that and why is this bad thing happening to you? When we listen to the devil's voice and we don't believe what God says we will live a miserable life and we will never receive God's best for us. God's word is true no matter whether you believe it or not. Situations and circumstances do not change God's word. God's word says if you have confessed your sins to Jesus and asked Him to forgive you, then your sins are forever forgiven and you are victorious over the devil and the world. 1 John 5:4-5 (NKJV) 

⁴  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. ⁵  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

3. Easter means we now belong to God's family. 1 John 2:12 (NKJV) I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.

a. God thru John calls us His “little children.” This is a term of endearment. When we believe that Jesus died for our sins and we believe God the Father raised Him from the dead, at that moment we become God's children, that means we belong to the Father's forever family. John under the influence of the Holy spirit writes to God's children.

1 John 3:1-2 (NKJV) ¹  Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ²  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

This verse doesn't say we are going to be His children in the sweet by and by, but we are now God's children. When God says you are His child, don't you ever doubt it when The devil comes and tries to get you to doubt God's word just like he did Eve. Jesus death and resurrection brought us into the family of God and no one can take us out of His family. One day when He is revealed we will be like Him & we will see Him as He is.

Conclusion: This is the true meaning of Easter! All the worldly celebrations have no biblical foundation. May we be thankful for our salvation and never forget the true meaning of Easter. We need to be thankful to Jesus for what He has done for us.

Invitation: Have you taken advantage of Jesus' death on the cross as payment for your sins? He was resurrected from the dead to give you eternal life? When you confess your sins to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness, He will give you eternal life. Because He lives, those who believe in Him shall also live forever. If you have not followed Jesus in believers baptism, do it as soon as possible.

Because of His Grace

Scripture Text

Luke 23:34, 39-43

Intro: This Friday is called good Friday. It was not good for Jesus, but because of His grace, it was good for us. It is the day that Jesus was crucified for the sins of all mankind. Why would Jesus leave heaven and come to this sinful earth? Why was Jesus crucified? Jesus could have called ten thousand angels to stop His crucifixion. Why didn't He do that? He was innocent. He did it because of His grace toward us sinners.

I. Christ' grace was illustrated on the cross. [v:34] Luke 23:34 (NKJV) Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Jesus' grace was never more fully expressed than it was on the cross. In His grace He prayed for those who were crucifying Him. They didn't deserve His forgiveness. They were His enemies. Before we blame those who crucified Jesus, we need to look at ourselves. We are also responsible for Jesus crucifixion because of our sins against God. It was our sins that nailed Him to the cross. He had no sin, but because of His grace toward us, He died as payment for the sins of all mankind against a Holy God.

II. We all need Christ' grace. Mark 15:32 (NKJV) Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

We were all like the two criminals that were crucified with Jesus. This verse says they both reviled Jesus. This means they assailed Him with abusive and scornful language.

Who knows what kind of life they had led? Had they murdered someone? Were they robbers who preyed on innocent families hard earned possessions? How many lives had they ruined? How much wreckage had they left behind? Whatever the case they both had led lives of crime. They didn't deserve grace. They deserved punishment. We are no better then them. We don't deserve Jesus' grace, we deserve punishment. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. This includes you!

III. The way of grace. Luke 23:40-42 (NKJV) ⁴⁰  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." ⁴²  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." One confessed and repented. This is the way of Jesus' grace. When one confesses His sin against God and asks for forgiveness, he can become the recipient of Jesus' grace. That's what crucifixion day is all about. That's why Jesus went to the cross and shed His precious blood. One criminal recognized his sin and confessed his actions were sinful and cried out to Jesus for His mercy, grace, and forgiveness. He knew more about Jesus' forgiveness than most people in the world.

IV. Result of Jesus' grace. Luke 23:43 (NKJV) And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Jesus told the repentant criminal he would be with Him in paradise. Even though he was not worthy, even though he was a criminal and had done nothing at all to receive Jesus' grace, Jesus gave it to Him anyway. Jesus will do the same thing for anyone who confesses his sin and asks Jesus for His saving grace. Because of His grace, we can be forgiven of all sins. There is a hymn called “Amazing Grace.” This “Friday” remember to thank Jesus for His amazing grace that saved a wretch like you.

Invitation: If by chance you have never confessed your sins to Jesus and asked Him to forgive you, now is the perfect time to do that. Then you will become the recipient of His amazing grace and you will spend eternity in Heaven with Father God and Jesus.