 |
| Rev. Brent Russett |
Pastor of
Sunnyside Wesleyan Church in Ottawa:
http://www.sunnysidechurchottawa.com/ _______________________________________________________
PODCAST LINK to CFRA broadcast - Sunday, July 10th, 2016:
Worry and the Kingdom of God
Good morning. And
welcome to good news in the morning. My
name is Brent Russett. I am the Senior Pastor at Sunnyside Wesleyan Church here
in Ottawa. It is my pleasure to look at some of life’s challenges, and then bring
you some good news in the morning.
I am
glad that you tuned your dial to CFRA. I want you to know that you can also
find Good News in the morning on the internet at Goodnewsinthemorning.ca .
There you can keep up to date with what is happening around Good News Christian
Ministries.
I want
to say a special welcome to our international listeners, who listen via the
internet. We are glad that you have found us, and that you are finding this
ministry an encouragement.
**
This
morning I want to talk about Worry and what Jesus has to say about it.
When
Jesus was here on earth, the topic he talked most about was the Kingdom of God.
He began his ministry talking about the Kingdom of God. All through his
ministry he talked about the Kingdom of God. He demonstrated the Kingdom of
God. After he rose from the dead, the bible says he taught his disciples about
the kingdom of God.
One
of the things that I love about Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom of God is it
provides an alternate way of living – an alternate way of being. You can see
that in how we are to treat people. The rule of the kingdom is Love. You can
see that in what our attitudes are supposed to be. Jesus provides a different
way of living.
And
Jesus is very practical. This morning we are going too look at Luke 12. He
talks about worry and the Kingdom of God. Specifically worry about money. Most
people live in worry. But the kingdom of God is about something different.
That
being said, “I know what it is like to live in worry.” And I know that some of
you know what is like to live in worry. In fact some of us have worry down to
an art form.
And
saying don’t worry doesn’t really help. It is like these parents who received a
letter from their son from scout camp.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Our scoutmaster told us all to write to our parents in case you saw the
flood on TV and worried. We are OK. Only one of our tents and two of our
sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily none us got drowned because we were all
up on the mountain looking for Chad when it happened.
Oh yes, please call Chad's mother and tell her he is OK. He can't write
because of the cast. I got to ride in one of the search and rescue jeeps. It
was neat. We never would have found him in the dark if it hadn't been for the
lightning. Scoutmaster Long got mad at Chad for going on a hike alone without
telling anyone. Chad said he did tell him, but it was during the fire so he
probably didn't hear him. Don't worry it didn't hurt anything very much, just
burned part of the chow hall. Scoutmaster Long said we will have to wash the
black stuff off of the meat that used to be in the cooler but he said it would
be alright. Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas can will blow
up? The wet wood still didn't burn, but one of our tents did. Also some of our
clothes. John is going to look weird until his hair grows back.
Guess what? We have passed all our first aid merit badges. When Dave
dove in the lake and cut his arm, we all got to see how a tourniquet works.
Also, Wade and I threw up. Scoutmaster Long said it was probably just food
poisoning from the leftover chicken.
But Don't worry about anything. We are fine.
Love, Cole
P.S. How long has it been since I had a tetanus shot?
Hearing
don’t worry doesn’t really help. But here is what I do know: the words of Jesus
can help. Come with me to.
Luke 12:22–34 (NLT)
22 Then, turning to his
disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday
life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life
is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens.
They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you
are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a
single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing
like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 “Look at the lilies and
how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his
glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so
wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow,
he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
29 “And don’t be concerned
about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These
things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father
already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he
will give you everything you need.
32 “So don’t be afraid,
little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions
and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And
the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be
safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your
treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
An
alternate way of living.
30 These things dominate
the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows
your needs.
Worry
dominates the thoughts of people all over the world, but life in the kingdom of
God is different. If you are a follower of Jesus then you are called to
something different.
Would
you like to step into this alternative way of being? Would you like to walk in
peace rather than worry? Would you like to walk with a sense of well being
rather than anxiety? If you would then you need hear and follow the words of
Jesus.
Music
– Seek ye First – 3:04
Come
with me to
Luke 12:22–26 (NLT)
22 Then, turning to his
disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday
life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life
is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens.
They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you
are far more valuable to him than any birds!
Jesus,
in this passage is not talking about all worry. He is talking about a specific
kind of worry. He says don’t worry about your life, about your everyday life.
Those ongoing little stresses that build up.
The
first century world was somewhat different than our world in some ways, but in
some ways not. People both then and now wondered if they had enough to survive.
I
think if Jesus were speaking to our culture he would say, “That is why I tell you not to worry over about everyday life -whether
or not you will have enough money. Life is about more than what you can buy.
Look at the crows, the ravens. God
takes care of them. You are far more valuable to God than any bird. God will
take care of you.
I
realize that a whole range of people listen to Good News in the morning. Some of you make extremely good money. Others
of you are the working poor. Others of you, for one reason or another cannot
work. And I know that when each of us hears verses like this, we will all tend
to hear them differently.
What
I want to do, is urge those of you who make good money, not turn me off, by
saying this applies to someone else. Sometimes, I think that those who have
more, worry more about money.
The
top three reason of marital breakup. Money, sex and in-laws. Money hits the top
of the list. Some really good friends of mine are going through a marital
break-up. Their household income was probably in the neighborhood, of 130,000
dollars. Yet the reason for the breakup center around money. Having money does
not preclude worrying about money.
What
Jesus has to say is for everyone who it is at all worried about whether or not
you will have enough money.
*********
There
are a couple of misconceptions about what Jesus is saying – so let me clear
those up first. There is a huge difference between worrying about money and
managing money. Or to put it another way, the opposite of not worrying about
money, is not spending without thought or plan. In fact some worries about
money, come from the lack of a plan to manage what you have.
Another
misconception is that the best way to deal with worry about money is to make a
lot of it. Whether you focus on how you don’t have enough money, or your total
focus is on making money, your life is still all about money. Jesus says
clearly, your life is about more than what you can buy.
Another
misconception is that the way to deal with our want to buy, is to not desire
anything. That would be a very Zen way of approaching it. But Jesus is saying
here, wanting what you need is ok. Desire is ok. Worrying about where you are
going to get it is a problem.
So
let’s walk through what Jesus has to say.
Luke 12:25–26 (NLT)
25 Can all your worries add
a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing
like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
Jesus
says that the first thing to realize is that worry does not accomplish
anything. You can’t extend your life by worrying. If you can’t do something
like that, then why worry about the bigger things. It doesn’t help.
If
you have ever been awake in the middle of the night worry about money, you know
it doesn’t help. If you have every let your anxiety about money, creep into
your relationship, you will know worry does not help.
Jesus
comes along and says, there is a better way to live. An alternative way to
live. He says the first thing you need
to know is that worry doesn’t help.
The
reason that is helpful, is not because if you know this, that you will just
stop worrying. You can’t usually do that. The issue is that until you see worry
as a problem, you will never deal with the problem.
We
usually worry about the things we are worried about. We worry about whether we
have enough money, or good health, or we worry about the people we care about.
We focus on the object of our worry.
Jesus comes along
and says, the issue that you think is an issue, isn’t the main issue. The main
issue is not the lack of money, the main issue is worry.
Your
lack of money is an issue, but it is not the main issue. Worry is the issue. Your worry doesn’t change your lack of money.
But worry changes you – and not in good ways. It has an effect on your physical
body, on your emotions and on your spiritual life. Jesus says, I want something
better for you.
Life
in the Kingdom of God is not about the absence of trouble, but it is about the
ability to have peace in the middle of the trouble. It is about being able to
flourish despite the trouble.
So
Jesus say, I want you to know that the issue is worry.
Then
he goes on to say two things about God.
Luke 12:24 (NLT)
24 Look at the ravens. (NIV
“consider the ravens” ) They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for
God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!
Luke 12:27 (NLT)
27 “Look at the lilies (NIV
consider the lilies) and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,
yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And
if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the
fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
The birds
don’t worry about what they are going to eat but God feeds them. The lilies
don’t worry and God clothes them. You are more valuable than birds, you are
more important than flowers to God. God fed and clothed them. How much more
will he not feed an clothes you.
Then
he adds this line. “Why do you have so little faith?” The provision of your
needs come out of the character of God.
The first thing you need to know is that
worry is a problem. The next thing you need to do is have a deep settled faith in
the character of God. Do you really believe that God is good?
So
how do you get that kind of faith. That faith comes from experience where you
have seen God provide. But it also comes from consider what God has done. Note
Jesus says, consider the ravens. Consider the wild flowers. Take time to
reflect on how God has worked and does work.
Often
time God does something, around us or for us and we fail to consider it. We
fail to give thanks for it. We miss developing faith in the character of God
because we don’t reflect on his goodness.
Know
that worry is a problem. Know that faith in the character of God is the way to
combat worry.
But
Jesus goes on.
Luke 12:29 (NLT)
29 “And don’t be concerned
about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.
Luke 12:29 (NIV)
29 And do not set your
heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
I
like that translation of this verse. Don’t set your heart on it.
Don’t set your
heart on your scarcity. Don’t focus on your scarcity. This does not mean that
you are pretending that what you need is not a need. This does not mean that
you are pretending that the problem doesn’t exists. But you are not going to
spend your time focusing over and over and over again on the problem.
This
matters. There are times when you have to take every thought captive an make
obedient to Christ. Don’t keep your
focus on what you do not have.
Luke 12:30 (NLT)
30 These things dominate
the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows
your needs.
God
is recognizes that you have a need. Just
don’t let your needs dominate your thoughts.
Luke 12:31 (NLT)
31 Seek the Kingdom of God
above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
Here
is the promise, instead of letting your worry dominate your thoughts, put that
energy into seeking the kingdom of God. God will take care of what you need.
We
seek the kingdom of God, when we pray, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.”
We
seek the kingdom of God, when we seek to know and do the will of God. We seek
the kingdom of God when we seek to know and do what God wants.
We
seek the kingdom of God when we live under the reign of God, then our lives
flourish, our hearts are enriched, the power of God becomes evident – we live
in the love of God.
Romans 14:17 (NLT)
17 For the Kingdom of God
is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
And
look at what Jesus says
Luke 12:32 (NLT)
32 “So don’t be afraid,
little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
It is
your heavenly fathers great pleasure to
give you the Kingdom.
He
says, if you will seek first the kingdom of God, you will have everything you
need in terms of money, but more than that you will be given the kingdom. The
power and love and life that only God can give.
Jesus
goes on
Luke 12:33–34 (NLT)
33 “Sell your possessions
and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And
the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be
safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure
is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
He
takes the people worried about money and turns them into generous people.
People who give to those in need.
Jesus take people from worrying about where
their next meal is coming from, and says the issue is not the meal, it is the
worry. Have faith in the character of God. Reflect on who God is so your faith
can be built. Don’t focus on what you don’t have. Instead focus on the Kingdom
of God. God will give you both what you need and the kingdom itself.
When
you have the kingdom you will treasure something much more valuable than money.
You will treasure the things of kingdom, both now and for eternity. But you
will also have what you need and when you do your giving to those in need will
reflect on what you see as a priority.
You
will see the needs of others as a priority. When you are not worried about what
you don’t have, and you are filled with peace and joy that comes from living in
the kingdom, generosity is both a by product and an insurance policy.
We
give we because we are kingdom people who care about people. But we also know
that it is very easy to become money focused rather than kingdom focused. Being
generous is a way to combat that.
Jesus
comes along and says, it is not the lack of money that is the main issue, worry
is the main issue. Look at my character,
look what I have done, trust in me.
Instead
of putting your energy into worry, put it into seeking my kingdom. If you do
that, I take care of what you need, and not only that but I will give you the
kingdom too. Kingdom people are generous people, because they have gained my
heart for the world, and they protect their hearts from becoming worldly.
Jesus
says I have an alternative way of living, a better way of living. Will you walk
with me into the kingdom?
Prayer:
Lord
Jesus, I pray for all those who can see a picture of an alternate way of living.
Instead of being encased by worry and downtrodden by fear, I pray, Lord, that you
would help them walk in your kingdom; and that they would seek first, your kingdom.
I
pray that they would find you faithful, as they do that.
I
pray this in Jesus’ name, AMEN.
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May you know
Jesus Christ personally and profoundly.
May the Holy Spirit reside deep within your heart. And may the heavenly Father surround you with
His constant and abiding and accompanying love
By Rev. Brent Russett
Pastor of Sunnyside Wesleyan Church in
Ottawa:
_______________________________________________________
PODCAST LINK to the CFRA broadcast:
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