Hope Church's Church
11.16.25 Sunday Morning Worship
  • 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)
  • Holy Forever
  • Psalm 34 (Taste And See)

      • Matthew 6:25ESV

      • Matthew 6:26-28ESV

      • Matthew 6:29-30ESV

      • Matthew 6:31-33ESV

      • Matthew 6:34ESV

  • Intro

    I would dare to say, there have been moments in all of our lives when we have felt anxious, worried, maybe fearful.
    When we think about the world we live in today, when we look around us, all this stuff in our lives is intended to some degree, to make us less anxious. A washing machine to ensure cloths get done quickly, an electric car that calculates miles to empty, internet access to the news so i can know what is going on, refrigerators to keep food from going back, oil and propane tanks to ensure we don’t run out of fuel for winter, grocery stores everywhere to ensure we don’t run out of food, amazon to order whatever i need whenever i need, medication, doctors, and pharmacies to ensure I get whatever i need when i need it for my health care, a phone that is attached to me so that I can always call or text whomever I need.
    But what is interesting, is with all of these securities, anxiety and worry is on the rise.
    Think about the wealth of the world that we live in. Even if you are poor in America, you are better off than the majority of the world. American’s make more money than ever before, and yet we have more anxiety than ever before about our finances.
    Think about how we have more government aid, more charities, more programs to help all the issues in our life that cause us worry, but anxiety is still on the rise.
    We are more connected in relationships through the internet, and greater access to transportation has allowed us to meet far more people than ever before, but we are still anxious about who we will marry.
    Kids that move out of the house, or are still living at home, have been given more means for success than ever before! But some parents anxiety as they want the best life for their kid.
    We have been given more access to more jobs and have more opportunities than ever before, yet anxiety about work only continues.
    And once we have a job, we have so much opportunity and benefits, more than anyone in history, and even with all the benefits and opportunity, we are still anxious!
    We have more data about anxiety, more books, more research, more psychologists, more councilors for anxiety than every before, and yet, it is still on the rise. The numbers aren’t going down.
    The generation currently in college, and the teens coming up are the most anxious generation of all.
    Erika and I just recently watch King Author together with Russel Crow. We don’t watch a lot of movies together, but I learned she hadn’t seen this one and we had to watch it together.
    One of the big themes of the movie is tyranny. King John and King Richard both are portrayed as tyrant monarchs, one good, one back. But both of them want to instill fear, anxiety, and worry continue in their subjects to ensure they remain under his control. The character of Robin Hood tries to persuade the king to take on a role where people would serve and be a part of his kingdom because of their love for a great king.
    And just like these tyrants, many of the things in our life seek to make us dependent. To keep us in fear, anxiety, worry. And I’m not talking about people here. I’m talking about careers, money, family, cell phones, social media, the internet, all of it. These things are tyrants in our life that demand, whether we like it or not, anxiety, fear, and worry.
    But Jesus is a different kind of ruler. We’ve been learning together what it looks like to be a part of Jesus’s kingdom. To serve him as our king.
    Today, Jesus tells us that to be a part of his kingdom is a step towards an un-anxious life.
    He does not keep us in fear, worry, and anxiety as a tyrant. In his grace, he offers us peace.
    Jesus in his grace invites us into his kingdom and in his love, does not want us to live in worry and anxiety.
    Main Point: In Faith, we trust Jesus through worry and anxiety in our life as his disciples.
    Of all of the subjects I have discussed with you, this one, I am probably most qualified of all to speak on to you. And not because I have mastered it, but because I struggle with anxiety and worry most of all.
    This is not something that I have mastered and can tell you how I have mastered it. But it is something that I can say, look at what Jesus has said, lets walk toward the savior together.
    What I want us to see today, is 10 reasons Jesus gives us for living an un-anxious, non-worrying life. I am not saying that if you believe these 10 things, or pray these 10 things, all our anxiety will go away.
    But Jesus gives us these 10 reason, 10 truths to show us his grace in our lives. I hope we will take these 10 truths, Matthew 6:25-34, and remind yourself of them now, so that they would be a help to you through your worry and anxiety.
    Speaking of worry and Anxiety, I want to talk about what they are.
    Are worry and anxiety the same? Are the different? Is anxiety sinful? Is worry Sinful? Are both of them? How are they related?
    As I’ve been thinking about this topic this week, anxiety and worry are different.
    We might think of anxiety as a uncontrolled mental problem, and worry as a mental action that we can choose to do or to stop.
    You might not like have I have defined these, but thats okay. Simply, anxiety is uncontrolled, worry is a choice.
    These two are not unrelated through. I believe they are connected. Sometimes, clinical anxiety is not related to anything. But sometimes, it is intertwined with our worry.
    If I am worrying about the upcoming conversation I need to have with my boss, or a performance review, I am worried because I don’t know what is going to happen. But that might then lead me to go through moments that I feel like I can’t move. It might lead me to wake up in the middle of the night and then be sleepless. So worry might lead into anxiety.
    I want to address another issue today. There is a non-Biblical view that disguises itself as ultra-Christian. It’s called “Just have more faith.”
    I grew up in Baptist churches that believed this way. I also had the opportunity to speak with a Christian scientist in town that would also promote this idea. Even if this idea is not said aloud, it can be a subtle understood idea in Christianity that we should have so much faith that medical care and medication is not needed. This understanding that medication is bad, just have more faith.
    At Hope Church, we do not take this view. The earth that we live in is broken and corrupted by sin, this affects not just our spiritual state, but also our bodies and the world we live in. The world and our bodies are broken and falling a part. We are thankful that in his grace, God has given us medicine and doctors to help us with these ailments.
    When someone is having an asthma attack, no reasonable person would walk up to them and say “you need to just have more faith.”
    If someone has diabetes, we don’t say “have some faith that you won’t die early.” We encourage medication as a gift from God for our broken world.
    Remember Paul to Timothy in the epistle letters? When Timothy is struggling with a prolonged stomach illness, Paul does not tell Timothy his faith is to weak. He tells him to take some wine.
    We would see anxiety medication in a similar light. We are thankful that God has allowed medical science to advance and allowed for medication to be an aid for people struggling with clinical anxiety.
    If you are here today and on medication, I want you to hear this. You should never feel like less of a Christian, or lacking faith to be on medication. Accept it as God’s gift to you as a help, and continue to look to Jesus as your ultimate hope on these issues.
    Mike talked last week about God’s will. Jesus in our passage today, is telling us that his will is for his disciples not to worry, and not to be anxious. And here are the reasons why.
    While Satan’s will is to center your life on worry and anxiety and keep you from action, Jesus encourages us and calls us to rely on him.

    I. Your Grace is Greater Than my Worry. v25a

    I’ve phrased these all as statements to pray, maybe they can be an encouragement to you this week as you pray them to God. Think of the Lord’s prayer, we aren’t telling God to take action, we are reminding ourselves that he will take action.
    First today, Jesus, your grace is greater than my worry.
    Notice the therefore at the beginning of verse 25 connecting this idea of not being anxious to the idea of choosing a master. There is a break in the text, but these two passages are connected.
    Will you serve God or money? Will you serve the one who is offering you grace or the system trying to enslave you.
    We already said that the kingdom Jesus is inviting us to be a part of is full of grace, not tyrannical fear. Peace, not filled with anxiety.

    II. You Have Made Us More Than Food. v25b

    Second, You have made us more than food. We see this in the middle of verse 25.
    Jesus’s words come at a slight disconnect for us. Think about the audience Jesus had in their context. He is talking to disciples who would follow him into itinerate ministery, dependent on others providing for their needs. But his point is that he will take care of them, just like he will take care of us.
    We must remind ourselves that though our bodies need food, we are not summoned up in what we eat.
    Remember that phrase “you are what you eat”
    Jesus is saying “you are not what you eat as my disciple because my disciples are about far more than this physical life.”
    We are not simply machines, we are body and soul creatures. Mind and heart creatures. Being a part of Jesus’s kingdom is a reminder that we are spiritual beings.
    This is why fasting is so important. Remember Jesus expecting his disciples would fast back in verse 16? Fasting is a reminder that I am more than just the food I eat. More than just my body, my soul is connected to Christ.
    1 Corinthians 15, giving us hope beyond this life, reminds us that the physical body makes a way for us to understand our spiritual soul. The physical body is pointing us toward our soul.
    We remind ourselves that food and what our bodies need is not the pinnacle of our existence.
    If we are believers, the core of who we are now is found in our relationship to Christ. Our connection to Him.

    III. You Have Made Us More Than Cloths. v25c

    Third, You have make us more than cloths.
    You know the phrase “I can read the book by the cover.”
    This isn’t a true statement. And it certainly is not true for Jesus’s people. You may not afford the best cloths or dress the ones you love the best. But what matters is what’s on the inside, your connection to Christ!
    Think of the what is true today, was even more true in the first century. Someone could be known by the cloths they wore. Who they were was tied to their outside clothing.
    The application here, is I should care far more for my spiritual life, and the spiritual lives of others, than myself.
    Here is a practical application that we we were working through in our kids meeting last week.
    I’m going to push the boundaries of “clothing” a little and make application to our outward appearance.
    Parents today want to ensue that the “cloths” of their kids are great. The best education, the best extra-curricular activities, the best sports, the best schools to get into. This becomes an anxiety for many parents.
    While it is good for us to want the best for our kids in life, they are more than “cloths.” They are more than the outward achievements. They have a soul. And more importantly than all of that, my primary responsibility as a parent is to disciple them in God’s Word and connecting their heart to Christ.
    Me worrying about their outward achievements may help them be a better person on the outside, may help them get into colleges, may help them for the next few decades with a career. But by reminding myself that they are more than cloths is a reminder that their eternity is at stake.
    And guess what, their connection to Christ does not need to be something to make me anxious. Rather, I obediently disciple them, and rely on God’s grace in their life. Guess who saves their soul? Not me! Jesus. But, Jesus wants me to be faithful concerning the truth that we are more than cloths.

    IV. You Value Us More Than Birds. v26

    Fourth, Jesus, you value us more than the birds.
    This is not a trivial phrase to remind ourselves of. The phrases Jesus gives us are stunningly simple, but undeniably applicable to our lives. Jesus knows that we need simple reminders.
    Jesus points us to birds that do not sow nor reap, nor gather into barns. They are daily dependent upon God for their needs. John Piper says that God is sovereign over ever berry getting to the birds mouth.
    And notice the active action of our heavenly Father, the one who belongs to us, not the birds, provides even for them.
    God love his children so much more than the birds, we are infinitely more valuable to him than they are.
    Think of the creation narrative. Birds are made on day 5. God is building up to the pinnacle of his creation, humans. They are the climax of his creation. How much more does he care for them?
    Martin Luther says “God provides food for the birds, he doesn’t drop it into their beaks.”
    A reminder that God providing for us doesn’t mean we sit on the couch and do nothing. But that we work and labor inside of God’s provisions for us. Remember the proverbs instructing us to consider the ant and be wise who works for his food.
    When we think of storing up food in barns, Jesus is not condemning a full fridge or pantry. For even the ones with a full fridge still struggle with anxiety and worry. The point for us is to remember that we don’t trust in our provisions, we work inside of God’s provisions for us and trust him, not our own efforts.

    V. You hold control Over My Life, I Do Not. v27

    Fifth. Jesus, you hold control over my life. We see this in verse 27. If you were going to see a center point in Jesus’s reasoning, this would be it.
    Jesus says Matthew 6:27 “27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?”
    All the worrying in the world will not extend your life even a tiny bit. In fact, the data shows anxiety and worry shorten life! So why worry about your life?
    Am I really accomplishing anything with my worry? It’s good for us to take a step back, in moments of worry, and remind ourselves of this.
    To take a step out of the situation, and think, does me worrying myself to death, staying up fretting about this problem in my life, this job, this relationship, this bank account, this bill, accomplish anything? Whether i worry for 10 min or 10 hours, whether my anxiety meter is at 10% or 90%, whether it keeps me awake at night, or I choose not to do anything in my day because of it, my life is not lengthened. God is in control of my life. Me worrying does not change that truth.
    Our lifespan is a gift from God, worrying about life doesn’t change my life. Worrying affects my life negatively.

    VI. You Make Us To Outlast the Flowers. v28-30

    Sixth, Jesus, you make us to outlast the flowers and grass. We see this in verses 28-30.
    You have to read this whole section, verses 28-30 to understand the point Jesus is making. The point is not magnificence, but survival.
    We are told that the flowers and grass does not toil or spin, but is clothed by God. He even takes care of the flowers that doesn’t last but a short season.
    God cares more to cloth them in magnificence than Even Solomon, the wealthiest man to ever live could cloth himself.
    This week Elon Musk was approved for a 1 trillion dollar potential pay package. We drop our jaw at this, and then see how Elon cloths himself with a Tshirt and sports jacket. We think he is the riches in the world, but Solomon still has him beat. Solomon was worth what some estimate to be 3 trillion by todays moneys. An amount of wealth that no one can compare to. People would come from all over the world to see in person how Solomon clothed himself in wealth. But now where is solomon’s wealth? Completely gone.
    God continues to cloth flowers year after year, But Jesus is telling us that we outlast them! If God cares about something that will pass away, he certainly cares about you who will join him for all of eternity!
    It is in this small phrase “Won’t God cloth you even more?” that we embrase the gospel for our lives. Think about the rest of the world. What hope do they have through clinical anxiety or even paralyzing anxiety? Here is some medication you can be on the rest of your life? Here is some lifestyle changes you can do to maybe help? But this anxiety is something that you might have for the rest of your life. Here to live here and deal with and struggle with for your entire life? That is bad new!
    The gospel is that there is more for you beyond this life! Your hope in Jesus outlasts this life. Your hope is a new body, a glorified and perfect one that does not have to struggle with anxiety anymore.
    Those of you in anxiety in this moment in this season of your life, let your hope look to that day, when the things of earth grow dim in the light of glory and grace.
    Faith in Matthew means the confidence that God can and will act on his people’s behalf. Without that, however much a person may “believe” intellectually, they are faithless.
    Hope beyond this life, found in Jesus is what we put our faith in. The small amount of faith we have through anxiety and fear and worry, we put in our hope of glory. This hope is not “ah, i wish for this thing to happen.” But an expectant assured hope made true and validated in God’s love through Jesus sacrificing for us on the cross for our sins, securing a relationship with Jesus.

    VII. You have Given Us a Relationship that Unbelievers Don’t Have. v31-32a

    Seventh, Jesus, you have given us a relationship that unbelievers don’t have. We see this in verses 31-32a.
    Therefore, don’t be anxious about what to eat or wear, because this is what the gentiles do.
    This is how godless people think. They concern themselves with temporary wants rather than the glory of God and his kingdom.
    We might ask ourselves, “Are we satisfied with the same worldly things that the world is satisfied with?” Do we feel like we must have these things in our lives to be content? Or is God enough for me as Psalm 73 says.
    Bill Mounce, a great greek professor says that worrying is practical atheism and an affront to God. This is the same idea of lacking faith. Worrying about food and clothing is to live practically like we don’t believe in God.

    VIII. Heavenly Father, you know our needs. v32b

    Eighth, Heavenly Father, you know our needs. this one i changed from the one we pray to being Jesus, this one remembering ho we have a heavenly father. Remember in the Lords prayer. Our heavenly father, transendent beyond us, yes still personally in relationship with us.
    Transendent and heavenly, beyond earth. In Psalm 24 he is describes as the being who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the earth, and everything in it. He has infinite wealth, and he is our father.
    We might be tempted here to object to this one and say “God hasn’t given me what I need!”
    He is not a disconnected father, but he knows our needs. The comfort in this statement. We have a father who knows us and knows what we need, and outside of our reality and limited view of what is best for us, knows not what we think is best for us, but what he knows to be best for us.
    God has and will give us all that we need to best glorify him with our lives.
    Paul says Philippians 4 that in times of need and times of abundance, satisfied or going hungry, have plenty or nothing, I am content because of Christ who strengthens me.

    IX. We find our needs met in your kingdom. v33

    Ninth, Jesus, we find our needs met in your kingdom. We see this in verse 33. Jesus tells us how we can curve the worry and anxiety. This is his persecription for us. Seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness.
    And don’t just seek it like you might look for casually don’t the grocery like another item on your list. Look for it FIRST. First as in primary. Seeking God’s kingdom and Jesus’s righteousness is the preeminent occupation of our time and life.
    This seeking is a constant preoccupation influencing our life decisions everyday. How can I better align my life to God’s word and will? Think about the Lord’s prayer. Pray like this jesus says. Pray seeking God kingdom here on earth, in our lives. Not seeking earthly kingdoms to be made much of in our lives.
    Our deepest desire and longing is not for what we want, but to live God’s way in the way Jesus has called us to.
    And guess what, even with all of our effort, we remember that God’s kingdom and his righteousness is given to us as a gift. It is the gift of God, not of works. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.
    Why not pursue the kingdom we already have instead of fretting for the kingdom we don’t have?
    All these things that you think you need will be provided for you.

    X. You have given us grace for today, and promised us grace for tomorrow. v34

    Tenth, and finally, Jesus, you have given us grace for today, and promised us grace for tomorrow.
    Verse 34 can seem fatalistic. Get through today’s troubles, there will be more that happen.
    Don’t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will have enough to be worried bout. And the next day, and the next day after that.
    I struggle with fatalistic people. When Erika and I were about to get married, we had some people say “ah, the old ball and chain now, get ready for all of your life and freedom taken away!” Ah! Why even say that? When we were Avenleigh was just born, we had people say “ah, just wait till they are keeping you up at all hours of the night.” Or when you are enjoying the sweet moments as a toddler someone says “ah, wait till they get to be teens and all the problems you will have.” terrible things to say to someone.
    Jesus is not being fatalistic like this here. He is giving us grace and hope in this final statement. In all of these statements, i have spend the last week holding onto this final one the most tightly.
    What’s the worst thing you can call someone who is anxious, worrying, stressed out?
    “It will all work out.” “You’ll get through this.”
    Jesus is saying the opossite. To the one anxious, worrying, and stressed out, Jesus is giving you a reality check and truth. Our lives will have troubles.
    Jesus is not promising to remove us from life’s hardships and trials. He isn’t promising to remove all the anxiety if you just have a little more faith.
    Jesus doesn’t say that living as a kingdom disciple is a promised picnic. There will be troubles, and maybe we could even say, there will be daily troubles. Being a follower of Jesus is not a temporary promise of healing from anxiety.
    Put aside all the things you are stressed about, worried about, anxious about, and think of this present moment right now. Is God taking care of you? Has he given you sustaining life? Yes. And even if this life were to pass, to die is gain for to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. In the twinkling of the eye, we will be changed into incorruptible bodies.
    But right now, in this moment, Jesus is enough for me and God has provided for my present needs. Find comfort in that. Stop looking at the future and think about God’s grace for us in this moment, right now. He is sufficiently providing for us.
    He doesn’t promise to remove the troubles, but promises to care for me and my survival in them.
    Rather than being worried about the future, i reflect on God’s care in this moment of my life, and remind myself that he will care for me in the future as well.
    If God has given me enough grace in this moment, he will give me enough grace tomorrow, the day after, the next month, in six months, in 6 years, in 6 decades.
    We remind ourselves like Jeremiah, your mercies are new every morning. That verse gets plastered all over the internet, walls, home decor and pillows. Do you know what is not plastered all over on the accompanying pillows? the rest of the chapter. Do you know where that verse is found? In lamentation. Lamenting. Jeremiah is talking about homelessness, bitter life situations, depression, no hope of escape, being bullied and mocked, physical pain, trapped in life, stuck in life, darkness, defrauded, slandered. And through that, Jeremiah reminds himself Lamentations 3:22–24 “22 The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. 23 They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant! 24 “My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him.”

    Beyond the Walls (Grace and Growth)

    If you are here and are not yet a follower of Jesus, we talked about hope beyond this life. If this life is all there is, life seems so meaningless. But Jesus came to give you abundant life in this life, and the one to come. You can trust him today, his finished work on the cross for rescue from your present state. You can put your hope in him both for right now, and life to come.
    Believers here, Lets think about some practical ways for us.
    We might be tempted to think anxiety is sin. We would say no. But what are you going to do with anxiety and worry? Run to Jesus with it and embrace his grace.
    Hebrews reminds us to fix our eyes on Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith.
    Will you be defined as a victim of anxiety or will you be defined by the grace of God?
    When you feel anxious, rather than be immobile, what will you choose? Will you run to instagram, netfex, youtube, hulu to drown out your problems. Or will you embrace Jesus through his word, prayer, other believers to sustain you through anxiety and worry?
    I said it at the beginning and I will say it again. The things of the world want to keep you coming back in your anxiety like the tyrant King Richard. But Jesus wants to give you his love and sustaining grace through troubles.
    Let’s respond to the Word together today.
    Our Heavenly Father, thank you for meeting our needs.
    Our Lord Jesus, help me to prioritize and seek your kingdom instead of my own.
    Holy Spirit, help me to not be anxious this week as I embrace Jesus as my hope.
  • Resurrender
Hope Church's Church
hopechurchmaine@gmail.com
207.886.1191
http://hopechurchmaine@gmail.com
6 members