Listen to this Sermon: 01062013BeNotAnxiousLuke12.22-34DonRuhl
Download the Notes: 01062013BeNotAnxiousLuke12.22-34DonRuhl
Be Not Anxious For Your Life
Luke 12.22–34
Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • January 6, In the year of our Lord, 2013
Prelude:
- Some May Think Problem Revealed In 12:31-21 Is Not Theirs Because They Do Not Have Abundance.
- Only concerned with just getting by.
- But there is a danger in this also.
Persuasion:
- Be Not Anxious For Your Life (Luke 12:22,23).
- Be not anxious about even the necessities—12:22.
- Connection with 12:13-21.
- Being anxious for life draws a person away from God.
- Seeing selfish goals only.
- Placing faith in self not God.
- Life is more than food and clothing—12:23.
- Cf. verse 15.
- Food and clothing are simply necessities of this world.
- Life goes deeper than food and clothing.
- Romans 14:17.
- 1 Corinthians 8:8.
8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse (1Co 8.8).
- God gave life and the body, so he can supply the lesser.
- Be not anxious about even the necessities—12:22.
- The Lessons Of Nature (Luke 12:24-28).
- Consider the ravens—12:24.
- They do nothing to provide for themselves.
- They wait for a carcass.
- They are invited by others (see Natural History, 02/89).
- They do not starve because God feeds them.
- We are more valuable than birds.
- We provide for self.
- This is God’s method.
- So if a bird does not provide, but eats, then humans who do provide, plus God’s providence (rather God’s providence works through our efforts) we will surely be filled.
- They do nothing to provide for themselves.
- The futility of anxiety—12:25,26.
- Can we live longer by anxiety?
- Probably live shorter.
- If longer, they are miserable because of anxiety.
- Anxious people are:
- Rarely happy, contented.
- Fearful of future.
- Sick frequently.
- Anxiety does not provide the little things (food and clothing), why be anxious concerning the rest (like adding to life)?
- Do not excuse self: “I know it is wrong, but…”
- Saying, “That is the way I am” does not answer Jesus’ question.
- Why do we insist on anxiety?
- Thoreau—pp. 82,83,87 (Modern Library edition).
- We are not happy because our wants are more than God’s promises.
- Can we live longer by anxiety?
- Consider the lilies—12:27.
- They grow freely.
- Without toiling and spinning they multiply.
- They provide food for bees, deer, et al.
- Solomon’s glory does not match one lily.
- 1 Kings 4:10.
- Nothing man creates excels God’s creation.
- Man cannot create a flower.
- Man imitates God’s flowers rather than vice versa.
- They grow freely.
- There is greater providence for us—12:28.
- God is willing to beautify the momentary grass, which we burn later (for heating).
- Man can become eternal; God naturally will beautify us.
- Anxiety is faithlessness.
- Consider the ravens—12:24.
- Prioritize (Luke 12:29-34).
- Do not seek the flesh first—12:29,30.
- Do not seek as though God cannot supply.
- Christians should excel the concerns of the nations.
- We have greater goals than they.
- We have higher purpose than meeting our physical needs.
- Let the Father’s knowledge of us move us to have confidence in him.
- We have a Father they do not.
- Our view of life should reflect this fact.
- Seek the spirit first—12:31.
- Give your energy to the kingdom.
- Our aim in life is greater than food and clothing—cf. verse 23.
- We are more than mere animals.
- The kingdom is a spiritual quest.
- Seek entrance.
- Seek its promotion.
- God will take care of the other matters for you.
- God knows what we need.
- We do not lack.
- Give your energy to the kingdom.
- The gift of the kingdom—12:32.
- He will not leave us empty.
- With pleasure gives the kingdom.
- Make heavenly treasure—12:33.
- Separate yourself from your possessions.
- This makes us uncomfortable.
- Cf. 6:20-27; 9:59-62; 14:26.
- No possessions—9:3; but possessions—22:35,36.
- Absolutely nothing is to stand in the way:
- Of Kingdom possession.
- Of faith.
- Luke 14:33.
- This makes us uncomfortable.
- Build heavenly treasure.
- There is no greater investment.
- It is not subject to earthly problems.
- Selling and giving we learn—Acts 20:35.
- Separate yourself from your possessions.
- Your heart is in your treasure—12:34.
- Treasure captures us.
- Our attention.
- Our affection.
- Where is your attention and affection?
- Remember 10:38-42.
- Remember 8:14.
- Treasure captures us.
- Do not seek the flesh first—12:29,30.
Exhortation:
- Isaiah 55:1,2.
- Haggai 1:2-11.
- Which is greater: food and clothing or the treasure in the heavenly kingdom.
Related Articles
- Anxiety (blackrose181.wordpress.com)
- Ravens, Lilies and Moneybags (rejoicingrebecca.com)
- “But Seek First His Kingdom…” (thelivingwordministries.wordpress.com)
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