Finding Peace: Trusting Our Heavenly Father's Provision

 

Summary

In our tenth study of the Sermon on the Mount, we delve into the profound teachings of Jesus, focusing on the themes of kingdom discipleship and the knowledge of God as our heavenly Father. Jesus, as the King in God's kingdom, has shown us the kingdom's power and now guides us on how to live as His disciples. In Matthew 6, Jesus emphasizes the word "Father," teaching us that knowing God as our heavenly Father can deliver us from the plagues of hypocrisy and anxiety. While hypocrisy is a common issue among religious people, anxiety is a pervasive plague in the Western world today. Jesus, with His tender understanding, offers us a long-term cure for our anxieties.

The key to understanding this passage lies in the word "therefore," which links Jesus' teachings on treasures, the eye, and serving two masters to His teachings on anxiety. Jesus diagnoses the root causes of our anxiety, likening Himself to a spiritual physician who identifies the pain points in our lives. He points out that misplaced treasures, unhealthy eyes, and divided loyalties are symptoms of our anxiety. When our treasures are stored in earthly possessions, when our eyes focus on things of passing value, and when we try to serve two masters, we create a recipe for anxiety.

Jesus calls us to understand the gospel and the implications of having God as our heavenly Father. He prescribes a cure for anxiety by urging us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. By doing so, we align our lives with the Father's reign, trusting that He will provide for our needs. Jesus challenges us to yield our lives to God, promising that as we seek His kingdom, all things will be added to us. This requires a leap of faith, akin to throwing ourselves into the hands of the Father, trusting that He will catch us and diminish our anxieties.

Key Takeaways:

- Understanding God as our heavenly Father is crucial in overcoming the plagues of hypocrisy and anxiety. Jesus teaches that knowing the Father delivers us from these spiritual ailments, offering a long-term cure for our anxieties. [01:24]

- The word "therefore" is a pivotal link in Jesus' teachings, connecting His insights on treasures, the eye, and serving two masters to His guidance on anxiety. Recognizing this connection helps us understand the root causes of our anxiety. [04:37]

- Misplaced treasures, unhealthy eyes, and divided loyalties are symptoms of anxiety. When our focus is on earthly possessions and divided between two masters, we create a breeding ground for anxiety. Jesus calls us to realign our priorities. [06:48]

- Jesus prescribes the gospel as the cure for anxiety, urging us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. By doing so, we trust in the Father's provision and experience the peace that comes from aligning our lives with His reign. [21:48]

- Embracing the Father's reign requires a leap of faith, akin to throwing ourselves into His hands. This act of trust diminishes anxiety, as we learn to rely on the Father's care and provision, experiencing the fullness of life in His kingdom. [23:32]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:19] - Introduction to Kingdom Discipleship
- [00:41] - The Word "Father" in Chapter 6
- [01:06] - Deliverance from Hypocrisy and Anxiety
- [01:24] - The Cure for Anxiety
- [02:44] - The Importance of "Therefore"
- [03:28] - Linking Treasures and Anxiety
- [04:37] - Understanding the Root Causes
- [06:23] - Misplaced Treasures
- [07:34] - Possessions vs. Treasures
- [08:38] - The Anxiety of Materialism
- [10:49] - The Eye as the Lamp of the Body
- [12:36] - Serving Two Masters
- [16:32] - The Gospel Cure for Anxiety
- [21:48] - Seeking First the Kingdom
- [23:32] - Trusting the Father's Care

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Understanding God as Our Heavenly Father

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:19-34
2. Romans 12:1-2

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Observation Questions:

1. In Matthew 6:19-21, what does Jesus say about where we should store our treasures, and why is this important for our spiritual well-being? [06:48]

2. How does Jesus use the metaphor of the eye in Matthew 6:22-23 to explain the importance of our focus and perspective in life? [10:49]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the word "therefore" in Matthew 6:25, and how does it connect Jesus' teachings on treasures and anxiety? [04:37]

4. What are the symptoms of anxiety that Jesus identifies, and how do they relate to misplaced treasures, unhealthy eyes, and divided loyalties? [06:48]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding God as our heavenly Father help deliver us from the plagues of hypocrisy and anxiety, according to the sermon? [01:24]

2. In what ways does Jesus act as a spiritual physician in diagnosing the root causes of our anxiety, and what does this reveal about His understanding of human nature? [05:29]

3. How does seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness serve as a cure for anxiety, and what does this imply about our priorities and trust in God? [21:48]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between serving two masters and the experience of anxiety, and how can this understanding impact a believer's life? [13:34]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there any "earthly treasures" that you are holding onto that might be causing anxiety? How can you begin to shift your focus to heavenly treasures? [06:48]

2. Consider the metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure your focus is on things of eternal value rather than temporary distractions? [10:49]

3. Jesus calls us to seek first the kingdom of God. What specific actions can you take this week to prioritize God's kingdom in your daily life? [21:48]

4. Think about a time when you felt torn between serving God and pursuing worldly desires. How did this affect your peace of mind, and what changes can you make to align your loyalties more closely with God's will? [13:34]

5. The sermon mentions the importance of trusting in God's provision. Is there an area of your life where you struggle to trust God fully? What steps can you take to deepen your trust in Him? [23:32]

6. Reflect on the idea of throwing yourself into the hands of the Father. What fears or anxieties might be holding you back from fully trusting God, and how can you address these in prayer and action? [23:32]

7. How can you apply the teaching of Romans 12:1-2 to transform your mind and reduce anxiety by aligning your thoughts and actions with God's will?

Devotional

Day 1: Knowing God as Our Heavenly Father
Understanding God as our heavenly Father is crucial in overcoming the plagues of hypocrisy and anxiety. Jesus teaches that knowing the Father delivers us from these spiritual ailments, offering a long-term cure for our anxieties. When we truly grasp the nature of God as a loving and caring Father, it transforms our perspective on life. This understanding helps us to see beyond the superficial practices of religion and the worries that often consume us. By recognizing God’s fatherly care, we can find peace and assurance in His provision and guidance. [01:24]

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15, ESV)

Reflection: How does viewing God as your Father change the way you approach your daily worries and spiritual practices today?


Day 2: The Power of "Therefore"
The word "therefore" is a pivotal link in Jesus' teachings, connecting His insights on treasures, the eye, and serving two masters to His guidance on anxiety. Recognizing this connection helps us understand the root causes of our anxiety. Jesus uses "therefore" to draw a line from our misplaced priorities to the anxiety that results from them. By understanding this link, we can begin to address the underlying issues that lead to our anxious thoughts and feelings. This insight encourages us to examine where our treasures lie and how our focus might be contributing to our stress. [04:37]

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)

Reflection: What are the "therefore" moments in your life where you can see a direct link between your priorities and your anxiety? How can you begin to realign these priorities today?


Day 3: Misplaced Treasures and Divided Loyalties
Misplaced treasures, unhealthy eyes, and divided loyalties are symptoms of anxiety. When our focus is on earthly possessions and divided between two masters, we create a breeding ground for anxiety. Jesus calls us to realign our priorities, urging us to store our treasures in heaven rather than on earth. This realignment requires us to evaluate what we truly value and to ensure that our loyalties are not divided between God and worldly pursuits. By doing so, we can find a sense of peace and purpose that transcends the temporary concerns of this world. [06:48]

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: What earthly treasures or divided loyalties are causing anxiety in your life? How can you begin to shift your focus to heavenly treasures today?


Day 4: Seeking First the Kingdom
Jesus prescribes the gospel as the cure for anxiety, urging us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. By doing so, we trust in the Father's provision and experience the peace that comes from aligning our lives with His reign. This call to seek the kingdom first is a call to prioritize God's will and purposes above all else. It is an invitation to trust that as we align our lives with His kingdom, He will take care of our needs. This trust in God's provision allows us to live with a sense of peace and assurance, free from the anxieties that often plague us. [21:48]

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7, ESV)

Reflection: What does seeking first the kingdom of God look like in your daily life? How can you make this a priority today?


Day 5: Trusting the Father's Care
Embracing the Father's reign requires a leap of faith, akin to throwing ourselves into His hands. This act of trust diminishes anxiety, as we learn to rely on the Father's care and provision, experiencing the fullness of life in His kingdom. Trusting God in this way means letting go of our need to control every aspect of our lives and instead resting in His sovereignty. It is a call to live with open hands, ready to receive what He provides and to trust that He knows what is best for us. This trust leads to a deeper sense of peace and fulfillment as we experience the reality of His kingdom in our lives. [23:32]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust God? How can you take a step of faith today to trust in His care and provision?

Quotes

"Knowing God as our heavenly Father not only delivers us from hypocrisy, but in verses 19 to 34, Jesus is teaching us that this is the cure for our anxiety. If hypocrisy is a plague among religious people, then it is certainly true that, especially in our own time, anxiety is an almost universal plague in the Western world." [00:01:19]

"There is another big word I want you to notice that appears in this passage, and in some ways it is a key to this passage. It is the word 'therefore.' You will notice at the beginning of verse twenty-five, it links together these two sections, verse 19 to 24 and then verse 25 through to the end of verse 34." [00:02:44]

"So this whole section, when you see that there is this link, 'Therefore,' He says, 'Do not be anxious.' He is really referring back to what He has already said, and if you understand what He has already said you begin to see what it is that delivers you from anxiety." [00:04:37]

"The first symptom is this; you see it in verse 19 to 21. It is putting your treasure in the wrong storehouse. So He says, '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.'" [00:06:50]

"When I have misplaced the real nature of lasting treasure, then that is a recipe for anxiety. The more you have, the more insurance you buy and the more you get, the more anxious you become." [00:09:17]

"And so if my eye is focused on things of passing value then at the end of the day He says my body is going to be full of darkness, and I am just not going to know where I can find lasting treasure. And so, I will bounce from one thing to another to another in order to find lasting treasure, and it is a recipe for anxiety." [00:12:11]

"This, above all things, creates anxiety that we trying to serve two masters. We would like the blessings of the gospel, but we simply cannot let go of other things. The superglue of this world is so strong that we just cannot be free from, we depend on this, and Jesus is saying, 'You understand what the problem here is?'" [00:13:36]

"Now He is saying all of these things will produce anxiety in our lives, and part of the reason is because we are not thinking clearly about the gospel. That is where this 'therefore' comes in in verse 25, 'Therefore' He says, so listen to the physician now, 'Sir this is the situation, this is the sickness; therefore, I am about to give you the only remedy that will cure you.'" [00:16:22]

"He calls us to understand the gospel. He calls us to understand what it means to be able to call God your heavenly Father. And you will notice how He does it; 'Therefore,' He says, and here is the first aspect. He says, 'I have couple of prescriptions for you. The first is this, you need to think through the implications of the heavenly Father's reign in the world.'" [00:17:48]

"And the only way you can be delivered from this is to understand that is a bad master, but the Father who reigns over all things is the best of all possible masters. And He tells us how this so. He says 'Look, just think about it. Life is more than food and drink and clothes,' verse 25." [00:19:55]

"These famous words in verses 33 and 34, He says, 'Do not be anxious about tomorrow.' How not? 'By seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.' Is that not a promise?" [00:21:48]

"And that is how it is here, throw yourself into the hands of the Father, and anxiety will begin to diminish. That is the way to live." [00:23:32]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?