WELCOME
HYMN– Glorious things of Thee are spoken
1
Glorious things of Thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for his own abode:
on the rock of ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
with salvation’s walls surrounded
Thou may’st smile at all thy foes.
2
See, the streams of living waters
springing from eternal love!
well supply thy sons and daughters
and all fear of want remove:
who can faint while such a river
ever flows their thirst to assuage?
grace, which like the Lord the giver
never fails from age to age.
3
Round each habitation hovering
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is near:
thus they march, the pillar leading,
light by night and shade by day;
daily on the manna feeding
which he gives them when they pray.
4
Saviour, since of Zion’s city
I, through grace, a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy name:
fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
all his boasted pomp and show,
solid joys and lasting treasure
none but Zion’s children know.
PRAYER
READINGMATTHEW 6: 19-34
Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 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.
SERMON – The Kingdom First
Jesus says that whatever we prize the MOST in our possessions, THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS!
In vs 25, He says that LIFE is more imp.
In vs 26, He says that YOU are more important
In vs.33, He tells us SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM (- more imp.)
There’s an old saying “He builds too low who builds beneath the skies.” And Jesus says to all of us – AIM HIGHER !!
Jesus says: DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME AND ENERGY STORING UP TREASURE HERE!
There aretwo reasonsfor this:
- (common sense) – There are such things as Moth, rust and thieves (i.e. they all perish)!
2)
(Spiritual sense) Jesus says “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also“. If you care for anything worldly, then that is where your heart will be – and where your heart is – there is your destiny.
Jesus kindly word is “DON’T WORRY” – or Don’t Be Distracted (cf. Martha) Phil4: 6,7 :
Do notbe anxious about anything, but in everything byprayerandpetition, with thanksgiving, present your requeststo God….
Jesus says it’s STUPID TO WORRY – if I look after the birds and flowers SURELY anyone can see I’m going to look after YOU EVEN MORE !
FAITH within us has to be WATERED (just like a seed). We must exercise our faith if it is to grow at all.
One very practical way we can do this is to REFUSE EVERY ANXIOUS THOUGHT.
Jesus tells us to seek HIS KINGDOM & His righteousness – OUR HEAVENLY AMBITIONS must NEVER BE MODEST –
Remember Paul’s words: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
PRAYER
HYMN – Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
1
Seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Allelu, alleluia.
2
Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Allelu, alleluia.
3
Ask and it shall be given unto you,
seek and ye shall find;
knock and the door shall be opened unto you.
Allelu, alleluia.
