Aligning Hearts: Loyalty to God Over Earthly Concerns

Devotional

Day 1: Prioritizing Spiritual Commitments Over Worldly Concerns

Jesus teaches that while we must fulfill our earthly obligations, our ultimate loyalty belongs to God. The coin with Caesar's image belongs to Caesar, but our hearts, bearing God's image, belong to God. This principle calls us to prioritize our spiritual commitments over worldly concerns. Jesus' profound answer to the Pharisees' trap question about paying taxes to Caesar highlights the importance of distinguishing between our duties to earthly authorities and our devotion to God. By giving to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's, we are reminded to align our hearts and lives with God's will, ensuring that our spiritual commitments take precedence over worldly distractions. [12:02]

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Reflection: What are some worldly concerns that have been consuming your thoughts and energy lately? How can you realign your priorities to ensure that your heart and actions are devoted to God?

Day 2: Embracing the Hope of Eternal Life

Jesus corrects the Sadducees' misunderstanding by affirming the resurrection and the eternal nature of our relationship with God. He emphasizes that God is not the God of the dead but of the living, highlighting the hope and assurance we have in eternal life. This teaching reassures us that our relationship with God transcends physical death and that we are called to live with the hope of resurrection. By understanding that God is the God of the living, we can find comfort and strength in the promise of eternal life, knowing that our connection with God is everlasting. [18:43]

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (ESV): "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body."

Reflection: How does the promise of eternal life influence your daily decisions and actions? In what ways can you live more fully in the hope of the resurrection today?

Day 3: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare

The sermon reminds us that our real enemy is not people or organizations but the spiritual forces of evil. We must engage in spiritual warfare through prayer and fasting, focusing on bringing God's kingdom rather than being distracted by worldly conflicts. Recognizing that our true enemy is spiritual helps us to approach challenges and conflicts with a different perspective, relying on spiritual disciplines to combat the forces of evil. By prioritizing prayer, fasting, and living out kingdom values, we can effectively engage in spiritual warfare and contribute to the advancement of God's kingdom. [27:57]

Ephesians 6:12-13 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

Reflection: What spiritual disciplines can you incorporate into your daily routine to better engage in spiritual warfare? How can you shift your focus from worldly conflicts to advancing God's kingdom through prayer and fasting?

Day 4: Living Out Kingdom Values

Jesus' mission was to bring the kingdom of God, not to destroy earthly empires. We are called to follow His example by living out kingdom values and loving others, even those we disagree with, rather than being consumed by empire-minded thinking. By embracing kingdom living over empire thinking, we can demonstrate God's love and grace to those around us, fostering unity and compassion. This approach encourages us to prioritize the values of God's kingdom, such as love, mercy, and justice, over the pursuit of power and control. [22:54]

Romans 12:17-18 (ESV): "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate kingdom values in your interactions with others, especially those you disagree with? How can you shift your mindset from empire thinking to kingdom living in your daily life?

Day 5: Partnering with God in Bringing His Kingdom

Our role is to be examples of God's transformative power in the lives of broken people. By loving others and living out the teachings of Jesus, we partner with God in bringing His kingdom into the midst of the empire. This calling challenges us to actively participate in God's mission by embodying His love and grace in our interactions with others. By partnering with God, we can make a meaningful impact on the world around us, helping to bring healing and restoration to those in need. [30:50]

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

Reflection: How can you actively partner with God in bringing His kingdom to those around you? What specific actions can you take today to demonstrate God's transformative power in the lives of others?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Welcome to Five Rivers Church! Today, we delved into Matthew 22, where Jesus faces a series of traps set by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. These religious leaders, despite their differences, unite against Jesus, trying to ensnare Him with questions about paying taxes to Caesar and the resurrection. Jesus, with His profound wisdom, navigates these traps by emphasizing the importance of giving to Caesar what bears his image and to God what bears His image—our hearts. This teaching underscores the necessity of aligning our hearts with God, rather than being consumed by worldly concerns.

Jesus' response to the Pharisees about paying taxes highlights that while we live in a world governed by earthly authorities, our ultimate allegiance belongs to God. The coin bearing Caesar's image should be given to Caesar, but our hearts, bearing God's image, must be devoted to Him. This principle extends beyond money, touching on the broader theme of where our true loyalty lies.

In addressing the Sadducees' question about the resurrection, Jesus points out their misunderstanding of the Scriptures and the power of God. He emphasizes that God is the God of the living, not the dead, affirming the reality of the resurrection and the eternal nature of our relationship with God.

The sermon also challenges us to recognize that our true enemy is not people or organizations, but the spiritual forces of evil. We are called to engage in spiritual warfare through prayer, fasting, and living out the kingdom values Jesus taught. Our mission is not to destroy empire but to bring the kingdom of God into the world by loving others as God loves them.

###

Key Takeaways

1. minded thinking. [22:54]
5. Partnering with God in Bringing Kingdom: Our role is to be examples of God's transformative power in the lives of broken people. By loving others and living out the teachings of Jesus, we partner with God in bringing His kingdom into the midst of the empire.

### [22:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:54] - Importance of Message Notes
[02:29] - Introduction to Matthew 22
[03:17] - Jesus on the Defensive
[04:10] - Background on Herodians, Sadducees, and Pharisees
[05:04] - The Concept of Taxation
[06:27] - Pharisees and Herodians Unite
[08:23] - The Trap Question on Taxes
[09:22] - Jesus' Profound Answer
[12:02] - Give to Caesar What is Caesar's
[13:11] - The Heart Belongs to God
[17:05] - The Sadducees' Trap Question
[18:43] - God of the Living
[20:18] - Jesus' Response to the Sadducees
[22:54] - Kingdom Living Over Empire Thinking
[27:57] - Our True Enemy is Spiritual
[30:50] - Partnering with God in Bringing Kingdom
[32:54] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the trap question the Pharisees and Herodians asked Jesus about paying taxes? How did Jesus respond? ([09:22])
How did Jesus address the Sadducees' question about the resurrection? What was His main point? ([18:43])
According to the sermon, who is our true enemy, and how should we engage in spiritual warfare? ([27:57])

Interpretation Questions

Why did Jesus emphasize giving to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's? What does this teach us about our priorities? ([12:02])
How does Jesus' response to the Sadducees' question about the resurrection challenge their understanding of the Scriptures and the power of God? ([18:43])
What does it mean to live with a kingdom mindset rather than an empire mindset, according to the sermon? How does this affect our daily lives? ([22:54])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you are more focused on worldly concerns than on your spiritual commitments? How can you realign your priorities to give your heart fully to God? ([12:02])
Jesus corrected the Sadducees' misunderstanding about the resurrection. Are there any areas in your faith where you might need a deeper understanding of Scripture? How can you seek that understanding? ([18:43])
The sermon emphasized that our true enemy is spiritual, not people or organizations. How can you shift your focus from fighting against people to engaging in spiritual warfare through prayer and fasting? ([27:57])
Think of a situation where you felt trapped by an impossible question or dilemma. How can Jesus' example of wisdom and focus on God's kingdom help you navigate similar situations in the future? ([09:22])
The sermon calls us to partner with God in bringing His kingdom into the world by loving others. Identify one person in your life who is difficult to love. What specific actions can you take this week to show them God's love? ([30:50])
How can you avoid being distracted by empire-minded thinking and stay focused on living out kingdom values in your daily interactions and decisions? ([22:54])
Reflect on Ephesians 6:12. How can you incorporate more prayer and fasting into your life to combat the spiritual forces of evil? What specific steps will you take this week to engage in spiritual warfare? ([29:47])

Sermon Clips

1. "Because there's tremendous power when you have a fear, a shared fear of a common enemy, you can come together. And that's what we see happening. In this particular passage, here's what they say. Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by others because you pay no attention to who they are." [08:23] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Jesus rightly points out that there's a coin that they have to pay this imperial tax. It has Caesar's image on it. And so Jesus says, well, it's got Caesar's image on it. So who does it belong to? Caesar. It belongs to Caesar. Jesus takes no issue at all with his followers giving back to Caesar something that rightfully belongs to him. But he doesn't stop there. His statement to give God what belongs to God is made while he's holding a coin with Caesar's image in his hand." [12:02] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Mankind, the people standing in front of him, are made in whose image? God's image. The heart of man is not created in Caesar's image, it's made in God's image. The statement Jesus is making here has practically nothing to do with money. It has everything to do, or so much to do, with the idea of repentance. Making sure that your heart is oriented in the direction of God." [13:52] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Give to Caesar what bears Caesar's image. And give to God what bears God's image. And what is it, folks, that bears God's image? We bear God's image. So give to Caesar what is his. When he comes demanding his tax, give it to him. But do not give him your heart. Do not give him your worship. Do not give him your loyalty. Do not give him your allegiance. Because that, my friends, belongs to whom?" [15:45] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus knows and understands his mission is not to destroy empire. His mission is to bring kingdom to the earth. Are you all with me? It's important that you understand that destroying empire is not the same thing. It's not congruent. It's not equal to bringing kingdom. Those two things are not the same thing. You can't do that. You can't think like, well, if we destroy empire, kingdom will just magically exist. Jesus knows this. He understands it." [22:20] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We may not have Herodians, Sadducees, or Pharisees in our culture, but what we do have is a spiritual enemy who tries to trap us every single day. An enemy who will use circumstances and situations to create impossible questions for you and for me as we pursue kingdom living. And I want you to understand this. Any of you who've been around the church for any period of time, how many of you have had questions about what the Bible says and means?" [24:08] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Do not let the trappings of empire-minded thinking paralyze you in your pursuit of kingdom living. And you're like, what is empire-minded thinking? Empire-minded thinking is thinking that the enemy puts into your head to make you believe that people or organizations are your enemy. See, Satan wants nothing more than you, for you to believe that the enemy of your, your enemy, is the person who sits across the political aisle from you or the candidate that they support." [26:10] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. People. People are not your enemy. And correcting their thinking and correcting their actions is not your battle to fight. But the spiritual enemy Satan certainly wants you to believe that it is and distract you from what you're supposed to be doing, which is living out like Jesus to the world around you." [29:07] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Jesus understood this when he encountered the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the Herodians. He did not make it his mission to destroy them. He simply told them, God is in control. Your days are numbered. And when that happens, I feel bad for you. That's really what Jesus said. He said he wept over Jerusalem when he looked over the city because he knew what was coming and it broke his heart. That's where we should be, folks. God will win the battle." [30:12] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "You and I, we are here to be examples of what the power of God can do in the lives of broken people. And when we do that, we partner with him in bringing kingdom in the midst of empire as we love those people whom he loves. And I really... I try really hard not to upset people, but sometimes I just can't help myself. Do any of you relate to that? God loves Donald Trump. God loves Kamala Harris. God loves all the congressmen and senators that you can't stand." [30:50] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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