Scripture referenced 2 passages
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
-
Galatians 5:1 quoted to remind listeners that Christ came for freedom: 'It is for freedom that Christ has set us free'
1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Keep this verse
Luke 12:13-34
the main passage read aloud and expounded, covering the parable of the rich fool, warnings against worry, and the call to seek the kingdom
13 One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”
15 He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”
16 He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly.
17 He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’
18 He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’
21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
22 He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.
23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!
25 Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?
26 If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?
29 Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.
30 For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.
31 But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.
32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
33 Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
Carl brought a message from Luke 12:13-34 on what it looks like to seek God's kingdom above everything else, with greed and worry as the two joy-robbers Jesus warns us about along the way. The throughline was not a list of rules but an invitation into a rich, living relationship with God, one that makes those joy-robbers lose their grip naturally.
What was said
Carl opened by playing a short video clip about sanctification, in which the speaker described his own approach: flood your life with things that stir your affection for Jesus, and cut away the things that rob you of it. The alternative, the clip argued, is discipline without delight, a begrudging submission that short-circuits over time. Carl landed on that phrase and stayed near it for the rest of the message.
The passage starts with someone in the crowd trying to get Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute. Jesus doesn't take the bait, but he uses the moment to get at something deeper. Beware, he says, guard against every kind of greed, because life is not measured by how much you own. Carl was careful to say that stuff itself is morally neutral. The problem is when accumulation becomes self-focused, when we fix our eyes on what's created rather than on the Creator.
The parable of the rich farmer makes that point sharp. Carl identified exactly where the man's thinking goes wrong: he turns inward. "I'll sit back, take it easy, eat, drink, be merry." The farmer has no one else in view, and God calls him a fool, not for being prosperous, but for storing up earthly wealth without a rich relationship with God.
Jesus then turns to his disciples and warns them against worry using the same logic. Carl pointed to verse 25 directly: can all your worries add a single moment to your life? He said he had never once heard anyone say they stayed up worrying all night and felt fantastic in the morning. Worry doesn't help, doesn't add years, and doesn't make anything better. Casting cares on God simply makes more sense.
What Carl kept coming back to was the generosity of God throughout the passage. The birds don't plant or harvest, and God feeds them. The flowers don't work, and God clothes them more beautifully than Solomon. And then verse 32, which Carl said was one of his favorites in the text: "Don't be afraid, little flock, for it gives your Father great happiness to give you the kingdom." He underlined the words "great happiness" and asked the congregation whether they were actually experiencing that in their everyday lives.
Carl was straightforward that this message was not a rebuke of First B. He said the church is already generous, already racing to meet needs, and this was a reminder and encouragement to keep going. The practical shape of seeking the kingdom, he said, is not complicated. It goes back to the basics: trusting God, depending on him, loving your neighbor. Looking up and looking out rather than navel-gazing. Living with an open hand rather than a closed one.
He closed by reading a quote he said came in a text from someone named Florine: don't worry about anything, seek God with all your heart, love people, and enjoy good Christian music. The note he left the congregation with was the same verse he had been returning to all morning: seek the kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything that you need.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
- Carl talked about sanctification as a pursuit of joy in Jesus, flooding your life with things that stir your affections for Him and cutting away the things that rob you of those affections. What are some things in your own life, even morally neutral ones, that you have noticed pulling your affections away from the Lord?
- Carl said that following God becomes 'discipline without delight' and 'begrudging submission' when it is not rooted in a loving relationship with God. Have you experienced that kind of joyless obedience at some point in your walk with Christ, and what did it feel like?
and 3 more questions in the guide
Read the full transcript 5,455 words
0:00
Do that. That's not the song we're gonna sing, but I love that song. You wanna stand up? And as we start singing, maybe a few more snow shovelers will wander in. And, yeah, we know where they're at.
0:14
There was there was like cobwebs on my snow shovel out there as I went to grab it this morning. Really strange. It's great to see you all. You're all from up here, you really look scattered. I'm not going to make you all gather in here close.
0:29
So you're gonna have to sing out and worship. I was thinking about worship this morning and how we come in and and and get our minds in tune with where God wants us. Our creator, our maker, the guy that the the guy, the the
0:43
the maker the
0:43
of heavens and earth, he is so much above us and above our ways. And so as we gather together today, let's honor him with getting our minds in line and our hearts will follow as we get up, make our voices make a noise, joyful noise. Okay, let's sing. Grace greater than all our sin.
1:27
There where the blood of the lamb was spilled. Grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that impart on and cleanse within grace grace God's grace grace that is greater than our sin Sin and despair like the sea waves rolls, threaten the soul with infinite loss. Grace that is greater yet grace untold points to the refuge the mighty cross here we go grace grace God's grace grace that will pardon and cleanse within grace grace God's grace grace that is greater than all our sin dark is the stain that we cannot hide what can veil to wash it away there is flowing a crimson tide wider than snow you may be today. Here we go.
3:06
Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace God's grace grace that is greater than all our sin Amen. Something to think about.
3:32
There's another verse in there. I think we'll go on to the next one. We just had that look on a lot of your faces. Now, keep standing. Rock of Ages is an old classic now.
3:44
We, we expect you to really belt it out because we're all in this together. Bob and I are winging for for Ray this morning. So, he's traveling. I think he's in Salt Lake. And, we miss his big voice up here.
3:58
So sing it out. Sing it out. Rock of age. Here we go. Classic traditional song right here.
4:10
Rock of ages, clap for me. Let me hide myself in thee. Let the water and the blood from the wounded side which flowed. Be of sin and double cure, save from wrath and make me pure. Could my tears forever flow?
4:43
Could my zeal no longer know these for sin cannot atone thou must save and thou alone in my hand, no price I bring, simply to the cross I cling, while I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes are closed in death when I rise to worlds unknown and behold thee on thy throne rock of ages cleft for me let me hide myself in thee
5:40
Amen. Have a seat. Mike?
5:46
Good to see everyone this morning. How was digging out? Gosh. That was a lot of snow. I'm glad to see you guys here.
5:54
A couple of announcement for us. Monday nights at first b tomorrow night down the hall, we are gonna have a message from James. We'll have a meal music and message. We're gonna be talking from James about prayer. So if you feel inclined, come join us for that.
6:09
Awana, we do not have Awana tomorrow night, so keep the kiddos at home with you because no Awana tomorrow night. Youth group, we've got a high school breakfast tomorrow morning that we invite the high schoolers to come and join us for. That's gonna be at 09:30 in the morning. Then on Tuesday night, instead of having our normal, we're gonna move our youth group meeting from Tuesday night to Wednesday night. Because tomorrow on Wednesday on Tuesday night, I'm sorry, we're gonna have a basketball game at the high school.
6:40
So we're gonna go support our students there at the high school. So youth group will be Wednesday night, 06:30 to eight this week. Guatemala's coming up. We've had a tremendous turnout. I think we've got 35 people signed up to go to Guatemala that we're gonna be sending from this church this year.
6:56
So that's huge. Exciting things coming up is we've got a yard sale coming up this weekend. So we're asking everyone to kinda go through your closets, go through your garage. Anything you're not using, bring it by. Drop it off in the sanctuary here on Wednesday or Thursday, and we will get it ready to sell on Friday night and Saturday.
7:17
So, bring your stuff by. Drop it off anytime on Wednesday and Thursday. We've got our baby bottle campaign is still going on. So fill up those bottles full of, donations and change and bring them back by, and we'll get them dropped off at Turning Point. We had discovery class earlier today.
7:37
That's always gonna be the third Thursday. So if you wanna learn more about the church or becoming a member, join us for discovery discovery class third Thursday of every month. For all other announcements, check your bulletins. And if you guys wanna jump up and greet each other, we'll bring you back together with some more singing. Thank you.
9:33
I'll have to meet that. Yeah. There is a redeemer. We'll start singing. You can all find a place and find the music as we get started here.
9:53
Own precious lamb of God messiah holy one thank you oh my father for giving us your son and leaving your spirit till this work on earth is done
10:50
father, for giving us your song and leaving your spirit. You,
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work on earth
11:07
Great words in that song. I love that song. Freely, Freely. This is a this is a good song too with some good words. Let's receive it as freely as he gives it so that we can give it as freely as we receive.
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Amen? Free.
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God forgave my sin in Jesus name I've been born again in Jesus name and in Jesus name freely, freely, you have received, freely, freely give. Go in my name and because others will know that I live good words all in Jesus name I come to you to share his power as he told me to said freely freely you have received freely freely give go in my name and because you believe others will know that I live.
13:33
Carl, we got the frontline team coming forward.
13:40
Alright. You all can have a seat, and I would love to, take a moment and pray, and we'll give thanks for these these offerings here. Lord, those words are so true. You have freely given to us and in in such a generous, generous way. And for that, we are very, very grateful.
14:01
Thank you God for giving your life as the last and and final sacrifice, an offering to take away our sin. That God is the most generous gift of all. So thank you God for that. And thank you God for just showing your generosity in in practical ways. I think of of just the amount of of pain and and suffering that that people, are going through specifically, in in Florida this week.
14:34
And yet, Lord, I know that your light is pushing back the darkness. I know that there are Christian church the Christian church and representatives of of this faith, are surrounding those who are hurting right now. And I pray God that out of tragedy and out of pain and suffering can come your marvelous light, come forgiveness and redemption that we see the big the big picture. But Lord, please do your good work and use these resources by all means. Use these resources to touch the lives of people, not just here in Jackson, but all over the world.
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In Jesus name, amen.
16:01
Cry
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while on others thou art calling me by. Trusting only in thy merit. I seek thy face. Come and heal my wounded broken spirit. Save me by thy grace.
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Cry while on others thou art calling.
18:12
Do
19:09
When I think about sanctification, I think a couple of things immediately pop into my head. One one is how slow it actually is. I mean, I think everybody wants kind of the silver bullet to make sanctification, you know, move like a super highway rather than the dirt path it is. But I think probably by and large, the the greatest single kind of asset in ongoing sanctification is a serious pursuit of joy in the face of Jesus Christ. And so for years, you know, I I tried to figure out, okay, how how what's the best way for me to flourish in my relationship with Christ?
19:45
And and and when all said and done, I I just learned if I'll fill my life with things that stir my affections for Jesus, then and if I'll pay attention and I'll kind of keep away from my heart the things that rob me of my affections, even if those things are morally neutral. Right? It's not I mean, I'm a pastor. I'm probably not gonna get jammed up with black tar heroin, but I can care about sports too much. And I'm not saying sports are evil.
20:08
Sports are awesome. But if I care too much, then that for me, man, that that'll rob me of affection. It'll take affection that I have for the Lord, a zeal I have for him, and it'll it'll it'll navigate it to a different place. And so really for me, wanna be very serious about the pursuit of my own joy in Jesus Christ. And and so I wanna flood my life with things that stir my affections for him, then I wanna be very serious about cutting things out of my life that rob me of those affections.
20:36
And so I I think if you're not doing it that way, and this is pure it is the puritans, mortification, vivification. But if you're not doing it that way, then there's a lot of self, there's a lot of just discipline without delight, and and then you get into, you know, begrudging submission and and that doesn't honor God, you don't enjoy it, and the whole thing begins to short circuit, and I think you're no longer walking in what Christ came to set you free for, which is freedom. You know, it's for freedom that Christ has set you free. So you've been set free towards something, and that towards something is freedom. The the freedom to pursue your joy in him.
21:13
I I think that's really well said. You know, the title of that clip is filling life with joy in Jesus. And and the question that Matt had asked himself is, you know, how do I flourish in my relationship with Jesus? And I really think he's spot on by saying, I wanna flood my life with things that stir my affection toward Jesus and and cut away the things that don't. Otherwise, following God is just discipline without delight.
21:41
It's a it's a begrudging submission without a loving relationship. And I mean, married folks, we know that begrudging submission is not the way to go when it comes to a flourishing relationship. But that loving relationship is really what makes it go. And and we're reminded why Jesus why Jesus came in in Galatians five. He came for freedom.
22:12
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. And I just want to remind us of that and put that in front of us and put it on our radar once again that Jesus came to bring us freedom. Freedom from sin. Freedom from condemnation. Freedom from anything that would rob us of the joy that's found in him.
22:35
And fortunately for us, Jesus is very gracious. I've been seeing the the just the how generous God is to warn us of things that would rob us of our freedom and joy in him. Two examples that we're going to see today are greed and worry. But you know, greed and worry aren't even the focus of the text this morning. That would be like just zeroing in on the problem rather than the solution.
23:04
I believe the solution here and the focus of the text is this right here. To seek the kingdom of God above all else. That's where this passage is going. Because when we seek his kingdom above all else and we gain that rich relationship with him, joy robbers like greed and worry, they begin to take a back seat. They begin to fall away in light of something much, much richer.
23:37
So let me show you where this is coming from. Luke twelve thirteen to 34. And what I'd like to do is just read it through first. It's on the screen. And and then we'll make some observations afterwards.
23:48
Okay? So here's what it says. Then someone from the the crowd called from the crowd, teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me. Jesus replied, friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that? And then he said, beware.
24:09
Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own. Then he told them a story. A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, what should I do?
24:23
I don't have room for all my crops. And then he said, I know. I'll tear down my barns and I'll build bigger ones. Then I'll have enough room to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, my friend, you have enough stored away for years to come.
24:39
Now take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, you fool. You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?
24:50
Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth, but not have a rich relationship with God. Then turning to his disciples he said, this is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life, whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear, for life is more than food and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens, they don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
25:26
And if worry can't accomplish little things like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown in the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
25:54
And don't be concerned about what to eat and drink. Don't worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world. But your father already knows your needs. Here it is.
26:05
Verse 31. Seek the kingdom of God above all else and he will give you everything that you need. So don't be afraid little flock for it gives your father great happiness to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven, and the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes.
26:28
Your treasure will be safe. No thief can steal it, nor a moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be. Let's pray on that. Okay?
26:40
God, thank you again. You're gracious to to to put this in front of us. And you're generous. You're generous that you are happy to give us your kingdom. We don't buy it or earn it.
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You give it to us. I pray that we would find the joy of yielding to your life giving spirit. And avoid those joy robbers that would take it away. In Jesus name. Amen.
27:13
Alright. Again, the message in in in just a sentence is seek his kingdom above all else. I'll tell you what, this this has been working on me for a while now. I'm I'm going through Luke in in Monday nights. This was a message from a couple weeks back but I keep returning to it over and over again.
27:29
So I thought this is the one I want to share on Sunday. And because the more that I read it, the more I see God's love and generosity just flood flood the pages. The Bible is so much more than a list of do's and don'ts. I think this is something that that scripture is teaching me that the Bible is so much more than a list of do's and don'ts. It's full of life giving truths.
27:58
And it's an invitation, really. The the whole thing is an invitation to enter into relationship with with with Almighty God that he would even do that just baffles me. But the God of the universe desires a relationship with little old us. You know, sometimes I'll read scripture, okay, I should do this, shouldn't do that. You know, in this in this particular case, don't be greedy.
28:23
Don't worry. Do give to don't to those in need. Yes it says that. But like Matt said in that video, if it's all discipline without delight, it'll eventually short circuit. If it's all begrudging submission without an ongoing loving relationship, that will short circuit.
28:46
A relationship is what's necessary to continue on over the long haul. But I believe that this text really is aiming us at delighting in God and pursuing his kingdom because it is richer and longer lasting than the pursuit of stuff. So verse 15 is the warning. Beware, guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.
29:14
Isn't that so true? If I were to ask you this right here, what is life about? Just in your mind, what kind of things begin to pop up? What are you thinking? I think as you're looking at this question right here, what you wouldn't start telling me is, well, my house, my car, my boat, my my this, my that.
29:38
Not even skiing in Jackson on a day like today. Right, Jackson? Right? I would however accept hockey. As a Minnesota boy, I had to say hockey.
29:52
Yeah. But really life isn't about those things. Even the things that we really enjoy doing material stuff or activities. Sure we enjoy them but they're they're not what life's about and the more it seems that we accumulate specifically for selfish gain. I believe that's what this is what that's what it's aiming at.
30:15
Not just the accumulation of stuff but stuff for selfish gain. The more we begin to worry about what happens to those things. So backing up, the reason that Jesus says this in the first place, someone calls to him says, hey, tell my brother he's got to divide our dad's estate. Go ahead. Tell him Jesus.
30:36
Well, Jesus doesn't bite that hook. But while the subject is on the table, he gets right to the heart of it. This is about accumulating stuff. And it's not that stuff is bad. And we know that.
30:54
It's morally neutral in and of itself. Let me be clear. Okay? This morning, Carl's not saying your stuff is bad. Don't have stuff.
31:03
I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is, what matters is, how do we use it? How do we view it? Do we see it? Are we honing in on the creation or the creator?
31:24
It can strengthen our relationship with God or it can stand in the way of it. But real quick, I wanna encourage you because I was just thinking and praying on that this this week. I thought, God, good are you? First b, we're a generous church. A loving and gracious church.
31:44
I mean, I can't even begin to count the ways that you go above and beyond when it comes to generosity. It just blows me away. There are always needs here, and it's like you race to be the first ones to help. And so I just wanna encourage you in this. This isn't a this this sermon, is not a rebuke.
32:02
That's for sure. In fact, thought in the middle of it, I thought, why am I even saying this? Why why am I bringing this one up above? It's really just a reminder and encouragement. Let's keep doing what we already know.
32:17
To be generous from a loving, joyful heart that's delighting in God. That's a seek the kingdom of God first attitude that I believe that we're we're doing here already. But it's good to be reminded of it. Back to that parable. It's like we can pinpoint where the rich farmers thinking starts to go astray here.
32:39
And it's verse 19. I'll sit back. I'll say to myself, my friend, you've got enough. Store away for years. Take it easy.
32:46
Eat. Drink. Be merry. Again, joy isn't wrong. The pursuit of pleasure is not wrong.
32:53
But we've got to ask ourselves, who is it for? What is it for? I think an even better question is, what is it in? What is it in? Is it in just the created stuff or is it in our creator?
33:11
Recognizing that he is the God who's created anything that we do enjoy. And so our adoration and our affection goes toward him and not just what he's created. Verse 21, I think this makes, this makes the point. Yes. A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.
33:35
That rich relationship with God, the seeking of his kingdom, the caring about others around us, that's God's design. Ray often uses the term navel gazing, looking down right here at her belly button, rather than looking up and looking out. I believe that's really what it is. It's the looking up and looking out. Stuff is stuff.
33:57
It comes and goes. And we know that. We know that. We've all had stuff we're absolutely excited about. And that novelty wears off.
34:08
It's stuff. It comes and goes. What matters is how we use it. How do we view it? There's a good reason that Jesus warns us against greed and worry.
34:21
And I believe it's because they're relationship busters. They're an enemy of our joy. And our lifespan. Look at this again. Verse 25.
34:31
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? I know we have all tried this. Right? We've all tried it. Well, maybe this will work.
34:43
I'll just worry about it all night. The bottom line is worry doesn't help. It doesn't add to a better night's sleep and it doesn't add years. Have you ever met anyone who said, you know what? I know I I I sometimes just ask people, how did you how did you sleep last night?
35:07
Just as a conversation starter to be more specific. That might actually not be a great conversation starter because people think it's kind of weird like, do you care about how I sleep? But anyway, sometimes I'll lead off with, oh, how did you rest? Just to be specific. But I've never heard any person once say, you know what?
35:24
I stayed up all night worrying last night. And this morning, I feel fantastic. Not once. And you have neither because no one has said it ever. Casting our cares on him just makes sense.
35:41
It does. Seeking his kingdom above worry and greed just makes sense. But look at the rest of it. Seek the kingdom of God above all else and what? He will give you everything you need.
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He didn't say everything you want. Didn't say everything you want, but he'll give us what we need. We're not promised a problem free life. But you know what? At least we'll have peace in our problems.
36:16
And consider this, you're sitting here right now because he's provided for you up to this point. Why would he stop? What stood out to me is the love and the generosity of God in this passage. Look at verse 24 again. Look at the birds.
36:37
They don't plant or harvest or store away food and barns. You think about just how beautiful creation is. Just how beautiful nature and a wildlife you are in Jackson Hole. And you are far more valuable than any bird. Would you hear that this morning?
37:04
Because that's being said to you and I. Verse 28. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today, they're gone tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Would you just take that in today? I I feel like that is such a powerful powerful verse and one that we need to be reminded.
37:31
He will certainly care for you. One of my favorites though in in this text is verse 32. Don't be afraid little flock. He's speaking to his disciples, they're gathered around and I can just kind of imagine this happening. And he says, don't be afraid little flock for it gives your father great happiness to give you the kingdom.
37:58
I underline the words great happiness. But do you see that? And are you experiencing that in your life right now? The love and the generosity of God. And it's not a cosmic kill joy out to, you know, don't do this, don't do that.
38:15
But he's warning us of these things for our freedom, for our joy. And it gives him great happiness to give us his kingdom. That's just astounding. To give it away, we don't buy it, we don't earn it, we receive it by grace. That's God's unmerited favor toward us through faith.
38:42
Belief and the work of his son. And then think about this. What everything that goes on top of that. Freedom, joy, peace of heart, peace of mind, all those intangible things. They're not even material things.
39:01
But all those things that that God only by his spirit, only because of of what he offers, we have them internally. Hear the warning though. Greed and worry can choke them out to where we're only looking at this little kingdom right here rather than God's eternal kingdom. I think this picture right here. This this to me sums it up.
39:39
We cannot take our things with us when we die. It just makes sense. Right? I mean, how ridiculous would this be? How ridiculous?
39:53
At the end of our lives, we say, make sure you put everything in a U Haul. You you carry that stuff behind that hearse, okay? And bury it with me.
40:05
Oh,
40:07
it just makes sense, doesn't it? To invest in what's eternal, not just what is temporary. How do we do that, by the way? How do we do this? We go right back to the basics.
40:22
We we go right back to with all we are, loving God and loving others through Christ. In practice, this is how we seek God's kingdom. To trust God, to depend on him, to rely on him, to yield our will to his. That's what it means to to love God. And then to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
40:45
Like I said, the navel gazing to just looking right here and only me is only gonna cause more worry. But to look up and to look out, that's that's the sweet spot in life. I really like that analogy of just living life with an open hand rather than a closed one. But I can just see and the fruit of it here at first B is incredible because people really are being loved and cared for and sent out. And really enjoying God.
41:24
That was probably one of my biggest takeaways of this text. That God is the source of our joy and our freedom. He is not an enemy of it. And a rich relationship with him far exceeds any material thing that we could have. Because a relationship with him, it doesn't spoil, and it doesn't fade, and it doesn't wear out.
41:50
It lasts forever. I think this quote says it well here. And if you weren't made to be satisfied with stuff, You were made for satisfaction with God. And so again, my simple encouragement today is to seek God's kingdom above all else. It truly is in our best interest.
42:12
And in the words of Florine, here I've got a quote. He sent a text one day and I thought, I'm gonna use this one. If there's one thing that I'd like to suggest to you, it's this. Please don't worry about anything. It's not worth it.
42:24
Seek God with all your heart, love people, and enjoy the good Christian music music, which does the good to the heart. Amen. You wanna come on back and and we'll sing another song and let's let's stand up together and I I'd really like to pray on on what we heard. Okay? Jesus, I do thank you for life and life to the full measure.
42:47
For freedom, for joy, for peace, for all these these intern internal things that they're not even material, but they're things that we can experience and have in our everyday living. I I pray that those would be the things that people notice about us. Not our stuff, but the joy and the freedom that we have found in you. God, would you help us? We contend to lean toward worry and toward things that are selfish.
43:16
I know I can. And I'm asking God that, you would help me and us and we to see that that seeking seeking your kingdom first really is the the sweet spot in life. In Jesus name. Amen.
43:33
Amen. What a blessing Carl is to this church. Amen? Amen. Thank you, Carl.
43:39
Let's, where he leads me, I will follow. I was thinking about the words of that and remember when Carl came out here years ago, he was he knew he had God in his heart. Scott Eichen saw God working in his heart and said, hey. We need a youth pastor. Could you come he followed what God was leading in his heart, and now he's become such a strong anchor for our church and you do so much for us.
44:02
So, thank you. We are blessed. It's what happens when you follow where God leads and just keep that in mind while we're praising God with this song where he leads me
44:12
on the phone. I can hear my savior calling. I can hear my savior calling. I can hear my savior calling. Take thy cross and follow, follow me.
44:47
Where he leads me, I will follow. Where he leads me, I will follow. Where he leads me, I will follow. I'll go with him, with him all the way. I'll go with him through the judgment.
45:23
I'll go with him through the judgment I'll go with him through the judgment I'll go with him with him all the way. Where he leads me, I will follow. Where he leads me I will follow where he leads me I will follow I'll go with him with him all the way he will give me grace and glory He will give me grace and glory. He will give me grace and glory. And go with me, with me all the way.
46:43
Where he leads me, I will follow. Where he leads me I will follow where he leads me I will follow I'll go with him with him all the way. What
47:12
a great song. Can I leave you this before we part? To seek the kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything that you need. Take that with you this week. Amen.
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