Bible Study - Transformed (4) - Transformed in My Plans - Matthew 6:25-34 - June 26, 2016

Bible Study – Transformed (4) – Transformed in My Plans – June 26, 2016

This is lesson (4) in our series entitled “Transformed: My Life in GOD’S Kingdom.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 6:25-34.

GOD is able to provide all I need.

What do people need? In general, we need food, water, clothing and shelter to sustain us physically but are these sufficient? GOD made mankind with a Spiritual void that needs to be filled. We, as humans, try to fill that void with religion, gathering things, careers and socializing. These are good things but what is GOD’S desire for the human race? What is JESUS’ purpose? ONLY JESUS can fill the Spiritual void in our lives. Let’s explore!

Let’s read Matthew 6:25-30:

The Cure for Anxiety – Trust in GOD’S Care

25 "This is why I tell you: Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothing?

We studied verse 24 in our last week’s lesson, "No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.” In whom do you place your trust and have become a slave, GOD or wealth and self-sufficiency? Having wealth is not the problem but the question becomes which controls your life. I have known very wealthy people who love the LORD with all their hearts and were obedient to HIS call.

JESUS continued HIS teaching. When you place your trust in GOD and  choose to be GOD’S slave or bond servant over self-sufficiency and the things the world has to offer, this leads us to beginning of verse 25, “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry –.”

The Greek verb translated “worry” can have positive or negative implications. It can mean “concern for” or to “care about.” Worry embraces “fear” which is the opposite of faith in GOD. “Faith expresses confidence in GOD’S care while worry expresses doubt about GOD’S care.”

Some of us think that worry expresses care. Worry is different from concern. Christians can be concerned and do what they are led to do as they trust in GOD to intervene according to HIS knowledge and power. Worry can be debilitating and result in creating anxiety and it distracts from the will of GOD. “Loving concern allows others to see our trust in GOD while worry causes others to doubt our trust in GOD.” [Pages 48, 49, 50 and 51, Advanced Bible Study, summer 2016, LifeWay, Nashville, TN, Rev. Lane, pastor, West Side Baptist Church, Greenwood S.C.]

The key words are “don’t worry.” JESUS was not saying “not to plan” but to keep your eyes focused upon what is important and critical in your life.

JESUS used the word “life” which is translated from the Greek word “psyche.” “Psyche” refers to the entire human being and its needs to sustain itself. JESUS focused on the human needs for food, drink and clothing. Physical needs are important but there is a much more important need and that is our Spiritual need. JESUS acknowledged the need for the physical but the human need for an intimate, loving relationship with GOD is greater. Can we trust GOD?

JESUS continued HIS teaching by using a form of instruction the rabbis used which was referred to as “light to heavy.” That is JESUS used an example that was true in a lesser degree which helps us to understand that which is true in a greater degree. We see this as we continue.

26 Look at the birds of the sky: they don't sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they?

GOD cares for the helpless of HIS creation, the birds. That is, if HE cares for the birds, “How much more will HE care for you,” thus the lighter to heavier. JESUS was saying in essence, “Now think about what I am telling you, aren’t you worth more than the birds of the sky?” The response should be a resounding “YES!” Where is your faith in GOD, Who cares for the birds? 

Don’t you think you are of greater value to GOD? JESUS continued with another example.

27 Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying?

Does worry get you anywhere? No! A cubic referred to the distance from the elbow to the middle finger or about 18 inches. Bottom line, worry cannot change that which is fixed. Only GOD can change that which is fixed and accomplish the impossible.

28 And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don't labor or spin thread.

If worry does not help, then why worry but take a lesson from nature.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!

King Solomon could adorn himself in splendor and grandeur but human effort pales when compared to GOD’S adornment. Consider nature and its beauty which is a reflection of the love of GOD. When we, as humans, abide in CHRIST, GOD is making and molding us into the image of HIS only Son, JESUS. The great reveal will be the instant we step from our earth suits into the presence of JESUS, GOD and all who have gone before us. GOD does not make junk! That instant will be the great reveal for all in heaven to see what GOD has done in the life of every Christian.

30 If that's how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won't He do much more for you-you of little faith?

GOD provides for our needs. HE does not provide for our excesses or our desires but our needs. HE will not give us things that will harm us. We must keep in mind that JESUS is referring to those who have placed their faith in HIM.

Life offers many storms and angry waves but our focus must be upon the ONE Who can calm the storms and the angry waves. It does not mean that we test GOD and go head long into an obvious storm but to trust in the leadership of GOD as we journey through life, trusting HIM.

Let’s read Matthew 6:31-32:

Trust in GOD’S Knowledge

31 So don't worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'

Those who have placed their faith in GOD through the example of JESUS are not to worry about their physical needs. GOD always provides. Worry does not provide but action as GOD leads does.

32 For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

The word “idolaters” means “nations” or “Gentiles.” The Jews used the term to refer to anyone not born in the ancestral line of Abraham. Does that leave us non-Jews out? No! What made Abraham acceptable to GOD? It was his faith. Romans 4:9:

9 Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.

It is our faith in JESUS that GOD makes us righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we (those who place their faith in JESUS) might become the righteousness of God in Him.

GOD made humans and HE knows what they need to sustain them physically and Spiritually.

Those who worship false gods seek the things of the flesh and the things the world has to offer.

The gods worshiped by non-Jews were fickle, capricious (given to sudden changes) and unpredictable but the One True GOD of the Israelite's is trustworthy. HE said what HE means and means what HE says.

In whom have you placed your trust? Have you placed your trust in The One True GOD and Father of the LORD JESUS or something else? JESUS said it best in John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Place your faith in JESUS. Now is your opportunity for salvation. JESUS gave HIS sinless life just for you to have forgiveness for your sins and to have eternal life. It is a free gift to you but as with any gift you must reach out and accept it. Will you? The choice is yours to make.

Christians are not to worry but we do. What does that reveal about our core belief in GOD? It reveals our true relationship with GOD through CHRIST. There is still work that needs to be done in our lives. We must confess our lack of trust in HIS ability and capability. Something has blocked our trust in GOD’S ability to carry us through these times in our lives. The angry waves speak louder than the still small voice of GOD.

We studied in last week’s lesson about the “eyes of the heart” and the things that can either help us to see truth or rob us of seeing truth and responding to truth.

JESUS continued HIS teaching. What is HIS advice to Christians?

Let’s read Matthew 6:33-34:

Trust in GOD’S Provision

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

34 Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

It is all about setting priorities. Ground zero is choosing who we will serve. In last week’s lesson, JESUS told us that we cannot serve two masters. HIS desire is for those who chose to follow HIM to be hot and not lukewarm. Every Christian must make that choice of being either hot or cold because lukewarm makes GOD sick.

When Christians choose to seek the fullness of CHRIST in their lives and to obediently serve GOD ass guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit, you will encounter Satan. Satan does not want you to obediently serve GOD. But all Christians must keep in mind as recorded in 1 John 4:4 “Greater is HE that is in us than he that is in the world.”

JESUS makes it plain that when our priorities are right, all the things needed to sustain both our physical and Spiritual lives are provided.

How do we know that? Study GOD’S word and see the number of times GOD provided for HIS children. Consider the times that GOD provided for you and your family in the past. GOD’S desire is for Christians to walk with HIM daily. 

The past is just that and the future is yet to be.

So what do we have? We have the present and JESUS tells us that “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Christians are to plan for tomorrow but act upon the present as GOD directs us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. When GOD created the world what HE created each day was created to support what HE planned to create the next day.

The key question is whose plan, whose life plan are we following - GOD’S or ours? JESUS gives us the answer, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

GOD’S desire is for every person to trust HIM by asking JESUS to forgive him or her for his or her sins and ask JESUS to come into his or her life. Salvation is the foundation upon which we partner with GOD to obediently serve HIM and build with HIM upon that foundation. What has happened in the past is gone. The future is yet to be. The present is now. Who will you serve? Who will you trust? What will you seek? What will you worry about? Blessings!!!