Our Sunday School teacher continued the study in James with James 1:19-21. James was telling the people to seek wisdom from God and to control temptations. In this morning’s verses the message is to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. Anger operates similar to an uncontrolled fire which is destructive, or a controlled fire which can provide maintenance.
Anger is natural, but people need to find a positive way to express their anger. There is too much anger present in our society today. Human anger doesn't produce justice. Righteous anger produces just action. Stay in your lane. Exercise Control.
Today’s sermon was based on Matthew 6:33 and could be titled “The Right Priorities”. Matthew 6:25-33.
Even if we don't plan it, we all have priorities. Pastor reminded us of the movie Up where the dog, Dug, would be totally distracted by the squirrel. Believers shouldn't be distracted by the things of the world.
Believers need to be eternally minded. Matthew 6:19-21.
God knows what we have need of. He takes care of the plants and birds who do what they are designed to do. He will take care of His people, but we too need to do our work. Matthew 6:25-32.
Sometimes we say I need something when it's really a want. Believers should not be preoccupied with earthly matters. “Your Will be done” is the first thing we are told to pray after recognizing God as our father who is entitled to worship. Matthew 6:5-15.
We need to seek His Kingdom, Peace, and Joy. We get entangled with things of the world that take our attention. But if we seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, then everything else will follow. Seeking God is putting emphasis on the right relationship. Asking “God lead me”.
Seek peace by being in right relationship.
Seek joy though the Holy Spirit.
Make God’s Kingdom a priority and blessings follow. God provides for and rewards his followers. Submit to God and let the “Main thing be the main thing.”
This song came to mind right away: First Thing First:
A Verse for Today:
Matthew 6:33 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Lord, Help me submit to You, to Seek You and Your Kingdom!
I enjoyed my Sunday morning with church family. We shared prayer concerns and then our Sunday School teacher continued the study of Revelations discussing Chapter 14 and the witnesses.
We enjoyed praise and worship and then our Assistant (Youth) Pastor (AP) preached a good sermon titled ‘Distractions’. AP noted that he ha always loved video gaming and was on a serious PG team a few years ago although he never earned money through gaming. AP was called into the ministry to serve God. He was not called to professional gaming.
After sharing a side screen of Mario Brothers (with the accompanying background sounds), AP pointed out that gaming for him, and the side screen that was on, are distractions. The enemy knows how to distract us. We need to be diligent in recognizing our own distractions before they become a problem.
AP shared the parable of the sower and the seeds from Mark 4:1-8. He again noted that the enemy has those obstacles and distractions ready that can side-track believers.
How do we navigate through the distractions? When any item takes president over spiritual growth there is trouble.
The world tells us it is normal. The enemy makes you think it is fine and pull you away from studying the word. Time is limited and precious for each of us.
Why does the enemy distract us?
1. Satan, the enemy, distracts us to hinder our individual spiritual growth.
2. When we get distracted, we lose our God-given purpose.
3. Distractions inevitably cause us to stray from God.
It is distractions that lead us out of God's plans and move us out of His hands.
These are primary fields of distractions to be aware of.
A. Work. Why do we put such emphasis on a job if it is not promoting God? We need to put spiritual issues first.
B. Materialism. If we are intent on getting the next best thing, then we are focusing on the wrong goal.
C. Relationships. Relationships with those around us and in our lives are important but the most important relationship is our relationship with our Creator, God. Where is our focus?
D. Social Media. Records indicate that there are 4.2 billion cell phone users, and the tech platforms are working hard to reach every one of them. Compare the efforts of the tech companies to the Christian efforts to spread God’s word around the world. There are still 7000 unreached people groups in the world.
E. Religion. The rules of organized religions can be a distraction to a personal relationship. This is a point of personal Faith (belief and trust) versus systems of rules. The Bible even speaks to future where there is deceitful teaching. 1 Timothy 4.
The Christian Church is a body of believers working to share God's message.
F. Yourself. When we are focused inward, we may lose our focus on God.
How do we combat all of these distractions? It is crucial that we stay connected with God. Give yourself to God first. Make Him your primary focus. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33.
Gather with other Christians and surround yourself with friends who will help you stay in the word and strengthen your relationship with God.
Don't let day to day distractions keep your focus off God. It isn’t necessarily easy but we must try each day to Focus on God.
I found several song videos I liked today. This is the one I choose for the message: The More I Seek You
Verses for Today:
Matthew 6:33 (ESV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
1 Timothy 4:13-16 (NIV) 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
This morning we celebrated graduation of our high schoolers. It is remarkable that many of them already have a year of college from dual enrollment and one had received her associates degree (two years) before completing high school. I would have loved that in high school and it is a shame that they are making the dual enrollment program more difficult by putting the cost burden on the school districts.
I enjoyed our pastor’s brief comments based on Paul’s encouragement to Timothy, a young follower.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
He further encouraged the graduates to use all they have learned through life after first seeking the Lord. Matthew 6:33. Continue to stay connected to God because when we know more of God, then we know better how to live our lives. Psalm 1:2-3. Then he urged them to continue to surround themselves with Godly people who encourage growth and living for God’s glory; and to work and serve with grace. He noted Mr. Walgreen’s commitment to a Godly life and exhorted them to live as above average Christians.
This is a nice version of Seek Ye First
Verse for Today Matthew 6:33 (KJV) 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Lord help me to take this message to heart each day: first seeking You, then serving You by sharing your love with others and living as an above average Christian.
