2016.4.3 礼拝

2016.4.3 礼拝

2016.4.3 Matthew 6:24-34 “Experiencing God’s blessings in daily life”
Main verse – Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
A saying in Japan: “What fools think is like taking a break” which could have originated from an expression, “poor thought is like taking a break.”

In other words, when fools spend time to think up ideas, they are just wasting their time since they can only come up with useless ideas, therefore, they might as well be taking a break.

What can be done to avoid this foolish thinking? The best answer could be to just quit thinking and moreover rely on God.
Proverbs 3:4-6 – 4 Then you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.
6 Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.

① Believe the promise of Jesus (Matthew 6:33)
Put God first at all times, situations and wherever you are – be it at times of joy or at times of hardships.
Easter is another good reason to believe Jesus.

② Believe the way of Jesus (Matthew 6:33)
Specific way to practice “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”:

1a. How to use time – Matthew 6:24a
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.”
The first choice should be God and serve God first. If you have accepted God’s love, you will love God and will serve God. One way to practice this is to attend the Sunday service and worship God.

Joshua 24:14-15 14 Now obey the Lord and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and worship the Lord. 15 If you have no desire to worship the Lord, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom you ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord.

1b. How to deal with money – Matthew 6:24b “You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Serve God first. It does not mean you must be poor or you shouldn’t be rich but first serve God. God has promised spiritual blessings as well as physical and material blessings if you have faith.

Malachi 3:9-10 9 You are bound for judgment because you are robbing me – this whole nation is guilty.
10 “Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,” says the Lord who rules over all, “to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all.”