20150821 WORRY

WORRY

Matthew 6:25-34 "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  (26)  Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are?  (27)  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  (28)  "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, (29) yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  (30)  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  (31)  "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?'  (32)  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  (33)  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.  (34)  "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

Worry is the opposite of faith and when we worry we show that we do not know how much our Heavenly Father loves us. 1 John 4:18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.

Romans 14:17 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.

Life is so much more than the sum of our daily necessities. Science teaches us that worry does quite the opposite of adding to our lives. It shortens our lives. Worry causes us to lose sleep, drives up our blood pressure, causes strokes and heart disease. This is only the beginning of the physical problems it causes. Now, some of you reading this will begin to worry that worrying is going to kill you. Don’t do that. Stop right now and take a deep breath.

Your Heavenly Father already knows what you need. Change your focus. Think differently. Seek His Kingdom and His righteousness. In other words make your aim in life to live a Kingdom life right now. In this Sermon on the Mount we’ve been studying, Jesus is telling us how to live the Kingdom life and how to live in righteousness. So today, when you start worrying about the next bill that is due, stop, take a breath and start looking for ways to live the Kingdom life. Yes, you may ask God to meet that need. Jesus told us to pray for our daily bread. Then give thanks for what you have and begin looking for ways to bless others.

Father in Heaven, Thank You for the blessings of Your Word. Thank You for Your provision in our lives this day. Remind us how much You love us. Do not let us forget and help us as we walk out the Kingdom life today. May we be found faithful in trusting You, loving You and loving others. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20150812 ENOUGH

ENOUGH

Matthew 6:11 Give us today the food we need,

I never quote this part without hearing the words of Agur. Proverbs 30:7-9 O God, I beg two favors from You; let me have them before I die.  (8)  First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.  (9)  For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name.

This part of the model prayer says, “Give us enough.” It is important to note that Jesus taught the disciples to pray for “us” not “me.” The prayer starts with the plural pronoun, “Our” and here we are praying for “us” to have enough. Un-selfish prayers are prayers that include the welfare of all. This reminds me that we are our brother’s and our sister’s keeper. We should be concerned about whether or not they have enough as well.

Enough… Enough to meet the needs of the day. The Greek word used here could actually be translated, “tomorrow.” Even if that is the case the prayer is for the immediate day or so, not for weeks and months ahead. This keeps us coming back to our Father each day. It also keeps us from joining the foolishness of the rich man with too many crops… Luke 12:17-19 He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.'  (18)  Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.  (19)  And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"'

That man’s end was miserable and swift. He died that very night. How much better, when we are blessed with abundance, to ask, “Father, what am I to do with this blessing? Who needs it? Who shall I bless in Your Holy Name?” Oh, the rich man asked some questions, but he asked them of himself. As believers we are to walk in the Spirit with our Heavenly Father. Carry on conversation with Him. Ask direction of Him.

Father in Heaven, today give us what we need, and perhaps more to share if You would trust us to be conduits of Your blessing. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

A SHAMELESS PLUG: For some time Fairview Baptist Church in Kokomo has been giving support to Our Father’s Home orphanage in Lahore, Pakistan. Presently they have 36 children they care for. It cost $400 a month to feed the children. Our goal is to be able to feed the children every month for the coming year. That would be a total of $4800. On September 26 at 5 PM our Cowboy Church Band will be hosting a Special Request and Open Mic Night. We will be receiving offerings that night and it will all go to Our Father’s Home Orphanage. If you would like to donate, but are unable to attend you may give through our donation button at the bottom of the church web page found here. When donating this way be sure to click the special instructions to the church link which will show up right before you okay the donation. From that link you can let us know that your donation is for the orphanage children. God bless and keep you. --Steve