Sermon Cloud

“Jesus Said”

What Jesus said about the Father

“His Provision”

Michael Wiley

January 18, 2009

 Teaching Notes

Introduction:

A great philosopher once said:
Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy......
Ooooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo ooeeoo, ooeoo ooeoo, ooooeeoo eooe oo
Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The land lord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy
Look at me I am happy
Don't worry, be happy
Here I give you my phone number
When you worry call me
I make you happy
Don't worry, be happy
Ooooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo ooeeoo, ooeoo ooeoo, ooooeeoo eooe oo
Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
Ain't got not girl to make you smile
But don't worry be happy
Cause when you worry
Your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry, be happy (now).....

There is this little song I wrote
I hope you learn it note for note
Like good little children
Don't worry, be happy
Listen to what I say
In your life expect some trouble
But when you worry
You make it double
Don't worry, be happy......
Don't worry don't do it, be happy
Put a smile on your face
Don't bring everybody down like this
Don't worry, it will soon past
Whatever it is
Don't worry, be happy [1]

Ooooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo ooeeoo, ooeoo ooeoo, ooooeeoo eooe oo

Of course Bobby McFerrin was really no philosopher, but he was very correct in his summation of a happy life.

Transition:

Happiness is not based on the condition of your life, but the condition of your heart.

Grab your point guides, turn them over to the back and let’s get to work.

Today we want to look at Matthew chapter six and see what Jesus said about happiness, or a better word would be contentment c--- first slide

Introduce and review the “Sermon on the Mount”

I can’t jump into the middle of what we know as, “The Sermon on the Mount” without making some comment.

The SOM includes the most in-depth and challenging teaching of Jesus. Thousands of books have been written on this one sermon alone.

John Stott said, “It is the nearest thing to a manifesto he ever uttered.”[2]

Now we come to 6:19

There are several ways to prepare a sermon or teaching, Expository, Textual, Topical, etc.

The teaching itself can be a narrative, segmented, etc.

I have some of my own descriptions I have developed over the years to help me explain, or understand what I am doing in a teaching.

Today we are going to look at what Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-34.

There are several ways to identify a message. I call this message of Jesus a “build” and a “wrap.”

A build is when the speaker opens up with a statement and then builds on it. He ends his message with the same statement but phrased in a clearer and more forceful way.

A wrap is when the speaker opens and closes with the same statement or illustration even if worded differently.

Expound on the text

Matthew 6:19

19-21 --- Key word there is Treasure. Dictionary says, A Treasure is, wealth or riches stored or accumulated -- Something greatly valued. [3] The context here is saying a treasure is something you value, and you should value heavenly treasures over earthly treasures

22-23 – If you take this teaching too literal it makes sense but not in the sense it needs to in this story. We believe Jesus is simply pointing out here, that when you have an eye focused on greed and lust of things, What the Hebrews and The Near Easterners called an “Evil eye”, then your heart will be full of darkness

24 Verse 24 Jesus reminds us that he is still talking about our Life’s focus

“Therefore” here is the beginning of the build

25-27   Therefore (Conjunctive Adverb), Greek = “because of this” NAS - For this reason I say to you

28-32 READ

33-34– Focus on God and what He wants – His kingdom – Let Him worry about your needs

What He is not saying:

Jesus is not saying “Don’t plan for tomorrow.”

            Remember a few weeks ago we looked at Proverbs 6:6, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! (NIV)”

Jesus is not saying “You can’t be wealthy.”  It’s not the amount of money you have but the contentment of your heart and whether or not you are using your wealth for God’s kingdom or your own.

There have been and still are many wealthy Christians who use their wealth to glorify God.

I  think of Truett Cathy and the rest of the Cathy family who founded and own the over 1,200 Chick-fil-A® restaurants here in America. You may have or have not been to a Chick-fil-A® Truett is credited to introducing the chicken sandwich concept to the fast-food restaurant. We enjoyed them in Louisville, KY where I grew up. The closest one to us here is in the Regency Mall in Racine WI,  48.84 miles away

Here is Chick-fil-A's® Corporate Purpose:  “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A. ®”

Truett established the WinShape Foundation, Inc., with the goal: to help “shape winners.”

The Foundation supports a variety of programs, including a long-term foster care program, a summer camp for nearly 1,800 kids each year, a scholarship program. and marriage enrichment retreats.

Since day one the Cathy family has refused to allow their restaurants to be open on Sundays.

Here is what Truett Cathy had to say about that on Fox news (Show video clip here)[4]

I think of John Schnatter, founder and CEO of PAPA Johns Pizza Restaurants.

He is a member of South East Christian Church in Louisville KY. After Hurricane Katrina, he called my wife’s uncle (owns a commercial electrical business), and asked him if he would follow him and his team to Louisiana, to wire his ovens. So, John Schnatter himself caravanned all the way to Louisiana, with my wife’s uncle following to use his money to help people.

Let’s bring this test home, Shall we?

In his book “The Power Zone” Larry Calvin says, “Jesus is giving us five questions we can ask ourselves in order to deal with our worries appropriately.” [5]

Let’s ask ourselves these questions:

1. What is really important?

Much of what we get bogged down with in life is not really important if you really look at it closely. We get involved with things that at the time seem important, but are time wasters. Our life gets out of focused. Jesus asks us to focus on what is really important in life.

2. How much control do I have over those things that worry me?

When you look really close at what you typically worry about, you find that you worry about two primary things: 1. What you can’t do anything about, and 2. What you can do something about. Let’s look at the second one first. If you look up worry at Disctionary.com the first definition is, “To torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret [6]”  WORRY is very unproductive. If you can’t do anything about it—why worry about it? AND, If you can do something about it, don’t worry. Role your sleeves up and change things.

3. How are others fairing in worse circumstances than mine?

When you look at the poor little birds picking up bread crumbs in the parking lot, or you see the grass and flowers in the scorching sun, don’t worry about them – God will take care of them and he will you too. And, when your in the midst of worry, turn on the news, check out a web news blog, you’ll find a lot of people much more worse off than you.

4. Isn’t it best to live in day-tight compartments?

Much of our worries are about things that happened yesterday that can’t be un done or things that might happen in the future that might no come to be. Jesus says, “We will be far better off if we take it one day at a time.

5. Isn’t our God big enough to handle the toughest situations anyway?

 The big answer? YES

Phil 4:6-7

6          Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7          And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

 Conclusion:

I know there are people that suffer from anxiety disorders. You have a more difficult time with this passage than others. But it does not mean that this passage does not apply to you or that Christ lets you off the hook. It means you have to work harder and pray more to get the junk off your plate and get it over to God.

Jesus Said

Matt 6:33-34

33        But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34        Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

(NIV)