The Most Important Need Series

The Most Important Need

Griffith Baptist Church – 1/27/08

A.M. Service

Text: Matthew 6:25-34

Key verse: Matthew 6:33a

The Introduction

Two blondes were flying to Miami from Cleveland. Fifteen minutes into the flight, the captain announced "One of the engines has failed and the flight will be an hour longer. But don’t worry we have three engines left".

Thirty minutes later, the captain announced "One more engine has failed and the flight will be two hours longer. But don’t worry we have two engines left".

An hour later the captain announced "One more engine has failed and the flight will be three hours longer. But don’t worry we have one engine left".

One blonde looked at the other the other blonde and said "If we lose one more engine, we’ll be up here all day"

Said the Robin to the Sparrow: "I should really like to know Why these anxious human beings Rush about and worry so." Said the Sparrow to the Robin: "Friend, I think that it must be that they have no heavenly Father Such as cares for you and me." Elizabeth Cheney

But we do have a heavenly Father who has something more important to talk about than worry.

1. Let’s take a look at what Christ is actually getting at in this teaching:

“Take no thought” is mentioned in verses 25, 31, 34

o V. 25 – no thought for: food, clothing (i.e. basic necessities). Life over all.

o Question: (v. 25d) – Isn’t life more than about getting our basic needs met? Survival?

o 4 Illus. – (1) birds fed by God-26, (2) height determined by God-27, (3) lilies beautified by God -28, (4) grass grown and nourished by God -30

o V. 30 - O ye of little faith – All this evidence and your still worried!!!

o Vs. 31-32 – God knows so don’t worry about it. Your way more important than all of these.

o Now the main thought in verse 33: BUT, Seek ye first . . .

2. What we do is spend our time worrying about all the things that could happen and not fully understanding what it means to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first – Philippians 4:6 - Be careful (anxious) for nothing; . . .

3. The main point of Christ’s teaching is not that we should not worry because our needs will be provided but that we are to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness?

A. Christ doesn’t want us concerned about this life first. We are to be upward focused.

i. John 14:27 - . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

ii. John 16:33 - . . . be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

4. Seeking does not mean looking for what is lost but continually pursuing and highly valuing that which is found – Matthew 13:44-46 - 44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

An Evangelist of long ago named Henry Drummond said this: “Above all things do not touch Christianity unless you are willing to seek the kingdom first. I promise you a miserable existence if you seek it second”.

Key Question: What does it mean to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness?

Body

1. Seeking God’s Kingdom means to live under the authority of the King

A. It requires you to be born again – John 3:3, 5, 7 – (verse 7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

i. 1 Peter 1:18-23 – 18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

ii. Without this first step of faith, it is impossible to enter the kingdom of God – Matthew 18:3 - And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

B. It requires sanctification

i. A lady was going away to meet some friends and bring them home with her. She had left her children at home with the understanding that they were to be clean when she returned with the company. She said to the children upon leaving, "Now here is plenty of soap and water and here are your clothes and I will expect you to be clean and dressed up when I return." What she had made provisions for and had demanded she would require. So it is with the Lord. Provisions have been made, at awful cost, for the cleansing of the heart. Holiness! God demands it. "Be ye holy." And what he has provided for and demands He will require. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."