Title: I am Sharing my Word for 2022 – What is Your Word ...

1 1. Title: I am Sharing my Word for 2022 What is Your Word? Text: Matthew 6:25-34. Date: Jan 9, 2022 at FBCW. INTRO. God willing, next Sunday Jan 16th I will begin a series of sermons on the life of Moses called, Our God Delivers . Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible: Genesis to Deuteronomy. But Moses also wrote one chapter in Psalms. Psalm 90 is the Psalm of Moses. In Psalm 90:10 Moses basically says, Most people live to around age 70, and some are fortunate enough to live to age 80 But then Moses adds this in verse 12 . Psalm 90:12, Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. Number your days (pay close attention to the time you have) (seize the day)! ILLUS: remember the recent sadness of the sudden loss of Robbie Roper, age 18. Funeral had a particular heaviness to it.

2 Before I shared the Gospel I felt let of God to just say this to them: Life is brief, death is certain, and Jesus is the answer. Jam 4:14; Prov 27:1. Develop wisdom (intentionally seek depth, God's truth, learn to do/be better, etc.). Language of not frittering away your days. Instead, you seek maximum impact and influence. Wisdom in the heart this means the inner man. It's that part of you that the world cannot define or judge but it's that part of you that God can deepen and grow. May not be a great math student. May not be a wealthy businessman. May not be a great singer artistic crafty Mom . But you can receive more of the power of God on your life! Today's question with this as a framework for our thinking what is your word for 2022? In the past, God has used words like this to shape/build my life. These words have formed habits/rhythms that are with me to this day: prayer healthy relationships silence unhurried.

3 Carrie's word this year is: present. Not ahead or behind, but fully present in every moment. Another friend of ours (Dawn Mooring) has chosen the word, yes Lord whatever you want, her answer is yes. 2. Background of the Text. Today's teaching is in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). This is the most important/famous sermon in history! This sermon addresses: Character issues in the Beatitudes, like humility, gentleness, mercy, purity of heart. God wants us to be salt and light in this world. We can't flee from this world or run from it. We are called to appropriately touch the world and change the world. The sermon deals with anger, murder, adultery, and marriage. Again, the whole point here is that God's people respond to these things differently than the world does! And it's interesting how Jesus ends the sermon.

4 He basically says eternity only has two options. There is heaven, and there is hell. The road to heaven is narrow there's only one way: it's through Jesus Christ himself. The road to destruction is wide many choose to ignore Jesus and go their own path. Jesus described Two Foundations. The way of wisdom (trusting in God). And the way of foolishness (trusting in yourself). The man who built his house upon the rock He is the survivor! The man who built his house upon the sand He falls away, and it's a terrible fall! But in the middle of this sermon, Jesus basically says you've got to decide how you want to live every day. You've got to make a daily decision. 1. Are you going to trust in yourself to provide for your needs? 2. Are you going to trust in Christ to provide for your needs? First, Jesus says, Do not worry (6:25).

5 Jesus repeats this imperative twice (v 26) (v 34). Don't worry literally, don't be anxious. Don't be consumed with all the possibilities out there. Don't focus on the things beyond your reach; things out of your control. To worry = to fret to get into a dither as if producing/winning all depends on you OR to think that something bad will probably happen. NOTE, God is not saying that food, drink, clothes are unimportant. To contrary Jesus knows these are very important! They are essential! But it's foolish to worry about these things. V25 Life is more than food; the body is more than clothes! Rabbinic argument: if God has done the greater thing (creating you), will He not also do the lesser thing (sustaining you)? God would not make you without the ability to keep you! 3. Jesus' lesson here is clear: we've got to stop worrying!

6 God is on the throne. Scripture has told us what we can expect (John 16:33 both tribulation and glory). If you are saved this world is as bad as it will ever get for you. Maybe the greatest testimony to the world could be: calm, kind, joyous CHRs who won't be rattled by the things of this world. Second, Jesus asks us to notice the birds and flowers (6:26-30). Any culture, any people, from any time in history can understand Jesus' helpful analogy here: birds and flowers. Birds (vv 26-27). Can't control weather or food production . Can't save and store their food. Yet God feeds the birds! YOU (people) are more valuable than birds! Flowers (vv 28-30). Can't improve their appearance can't produce colors by themselves . Flowers are more naturally/technically beautiful than Solomon's Temple. Yet God cares for the flowers!

7 Won't God do more for YOU (people) than He will for flowers? Birds & Flowers are totally dependent on outside help. Followers of Jesus can totally count on God for divine help! Third, we are told the root cause of worry unbelief! Lack of faith! (6:30-32). Listen to Jesus' sobering words of indictment: you of little faith (v 30). Question: how much has not happened in my life because: I have failed to believe! I quit believing I gave up too soon! ILLUS: (Matt 14:31) Peter walking on the water, then sank why did you doubt? ILLUS: (Matt 13:58) At Nazareth, he didn't do many miracles there because of their unbelief. I believe this is the root cause of our doubts/unbelief: Doubt 1 Either God can help, but He won't because He's mean. Doubt 2 Either God would help, but He can't because He's weak. Both doubts are wrong!

8 The lesson of Scripture is this: God can help! God will help! God does help! Because He's our Father and Lord! 4. V30. The only way to defeat worry: we must 1) starve fear and 2) feed faith! Faith is like a muscle! You must work it, exercise it. Or it will atrophy! (ILLUS: like the newbies in the gym in January struggling from the layoff!). V32. Worrying about material concerns shows the faithless/warped concerns of the Gentiles! Disciples must be marked differently! Disciples must not worry about the things God has promised to provide! Fourth, we must prioritize Christ over everything (6:33). This is the entire heart of the matter! This is my personal verse/prayer for the year 2022! Notice the language of this guarantee: you people seek first this and your God in heaven will provide those (v 33). LESSON. I must concern myself with the mission of God and God will concern Himself with taking care of my needs.

9 Can I take care of myself and control my future? NO. Can I trust myself to God and welcome His plan? YES. Seek first the Kingdom of God (Authority). Means I welcome/desire the authority of God over my life. Means God is the potter I am the clay ( jeremiah 18). Means I have surrendered my life, marriage, job, future to God. Means God's priorities are my priorities! o Love everyone evangelize be a good steward be generous (His authority!). Seek first His righteousness (Standards). Means God's standard is my standard. Means God's Word is the truth I live by. Means my character my life my marriage . o Are not governed by my own opinions. o Are not governed by political correctness modern, social standards But rather, it's been predetermined by God in Heaven and I want what He wants! May I seek first the Kingdom of God I want to welcome Christ's authority!

10 May I seek first His righteousness I want to honor God's standard! 5. Big Idea. Daily sermon to myself: Don't worry look around and see God's faithfulness keep your faith prioritize Jesus over everything! God has claim/rights to complete ownership over my life, family, church, reputation. I will put my eyes on Him first. I will trust Him to care for me in every situation. Here's my personal word for 2022: Priority! May God help me be a man of Christ-honoring priorities! Priority defined = the fact of being regarded as more important. Priorities: not a decision of right vs wrong. Priorities: a decision between good vs better. Priorities: a decision of material vs eternal. Priority = what matters most? What is the most important? Priority = what needs to be done or dealt with first? What might this look like in my life in 2022?