2017.1.8 礼拝

2017.1.8 礼拝

2017.1.8 Matthew 6:24-34 “Making God your No. 1 Priority in a New Year”

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

It is God’s will to bless us, who believe Jesus is the savior and put God as first priority. God promises to satisfy our daily needs. It is not right to come to church on Sunday just for atonement of our sin or due to feeling of sin.

It is not right to do something good or right just because we want our sins to be forgiven or receive blessings, but because of our faith. Sunday (the Lord’s Day) = Sabbath. Jesus did not oppose nor deny Sabbath.

➀ “Make the Lord’s Day your priority”

Exodus 35:1-2 1Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the Lord has commanded you to do: 2For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.

・ Give one day to the Lord　

・ Not for “own convenience” but make it “the Lord’s Day”　

・ Take a rest = no work.　(a natural need for the body)

Is coming to church on Sundays mean we are being bound by law (legality)? No!

”Legality” is to try to win God’s righteousness through deeds (works of law).

Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law,

Unless God judges us righteous, we cannot be righteous through works of law. Therefore, we need to obey God’s words. But the main point is to believe that Jesus saved us and our daily needs are provided.

・Followers of legality observes the Sabbath to be approved as righteous by God. (Obligation)

・Those who are faithful observe the Sabbath to love God. (Joy)

The problem with legality is not doing the “works of law” but with the motivation of the work.

・For example, a person is not called a “follower of legality” even if he puts priority in spending the day off together with the family.

・However, a person who puts priority on work or his hobby disregarding his family would be considered having no love of his family.

People who observe the Sabbath: There were those who observed the Sabbath out of obligation while many did so through faith.

People who do not observe the Sabbath: They are insincere to law and faithless to the love of God.

➁　Understand the trick of temptation

Matthew 4:8-10 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9”All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

・Satan does not like when we are loyal and worship God and making it our priority to serve the Lord.

Matthew 6:24 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. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Satan is not the only reason why we cannot or do not put God first but because we are sinful by nature.

➂　Continue to seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness = Make worship on the Lord’s day the priority = Keep loving the Lord.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.