Sermon on 19 May 2024 by Pastor Gaius
Introduction
What is stopping us from coming into God’s kingdom? It is what we desire in the world.
For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world. - 1 John 2:16
Message
How do we know what is from God and what isn’t? If something draws us closer to God, that gift is from God. If it takes us away from God, steals God’s glory, it is from the world. A common example is money. Money itself isn’t bad. It is how we look at it that’s the problem.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. - Matthew 6:24
In challenges, which would you choose? Would you choose to seek the world’s kingdom? Or seek God’s kingdom?
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. - Matthew 6:25-29
Some of us may say that for survival, we need to choose the world’s kingdom. We can get anxious about things we care about. Jesus encourages us not to be. Remember that God knows. He knows what we need.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. - Matthew 6:30-34
The world is very attractive. It has comforts and it has pleasures. But the world’s kingdom is temporary. We are only laying up treasures on earth if we choose the world’s kingdom.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. - Matthew 6:19-20
Laying up treasures in heaven is about us using our talents, our resources to bring more souls to heaven.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:21
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. - 1 John 2:15
In good times, do you choose the world’s kingdom because you value enjoyment? Or do you choose to seek God’s kingdom because of function?
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:20
Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? - Ecclesiastes 7:16
Don’t let your eye be bad. Seek His kingdom. Yearn and thirst after Him. Ask Him to teach you to be righteous.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! - Matthew 6:22-23
The world is temporary. When we leave the world, we bring nothing with us. Don’t seek the kingdom of God only when we are free, only when we come to church, but seek it every day.
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. - 1 John 2:17
Closing
Focus on things that are right in God’s eyes. For all of our challenges, God will take us through.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:33
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