Do Not Worry

Rev Gideon Lee

How many of your know God is a practical God?

Matthew 6:25-34

"Do Not Worry

6:25-33pp – Lk 12:22-31

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 important than food, and the body more important 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 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies 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, O 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."

Put your finger here while we turn to the book of Philippians. We are studying this book at the cell. 

Philippians 4:1-9

"​1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Exhortations

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

We cannot rejoice with a sour face. It says here let people see you rejoicing.

After the World War Two, the world entered another phase of its history. How many of you remember what's the Cold War? Russia and USA was in an arms race. They were ready to create World War Three. They were ready to launch nuclear missiles at one another. They had this thing called MAD, Mutual Assured Destruction. People build nuclear shelters and bunkers out of fear. 

There was a magazine launched then. MAD Magazine. You remember that? And the tagline was Alfred E. Neuman's, "What? Me Worry?", the guy on its cover. This magazine was launched to help people become more light hearted with its humour. The magazine poked fun at situations then. This tagline should belong to the Christians. Because the Lord says to us do not fear. It is not the absence of fear but fear not. 

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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

God has given us more important things than clothing and food. Life is more important than that. Don't worry about the none essentials. 

We all like new clothes but if we don't have good health or don't bath ourselves we will still smell. And we all know we like food but there are other things that are more important. The life that God has given us is more important. Our physical health, our spiritual health. 

God has provided us with food and clothing, don't you think he will take care of what's important in your life? Everything that comes our way God has taken care of us. He will do that. 

We need to have a heart of thanksgiving and count our blessings. As we recount the goodness of God, we will rejoice. 

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? 

We are more valuable than birds. Yet some of us behave like chicken. We need to know our position of who we are in Christ. Worrying is useless and counter productive. 

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?

When we worry our blood pressure goes up and we can't sleep. Worry is never productive. It's useless. God knows how to take care of his children and God wants to. 

When we worry it is because we have little faith. The root of worry is unbelief. I pray that we will not be someone of little faith. If we continue to worry we will be like the pagans. But we know God cares for us. We have a God unlike the pagans. We are not like the pagans and behave as if we do not have a God. 

Worry is like sitting on a rocking chair. It keeps you busy but you are going nowhere. 

I used to keep birds. This bird is "Murai", long tailed bird and it sings very well. My house was like a zoo. It was said that when Noah released the animals, I was there to collect them. It's expensive and sings so well. I no longer keep them. I used to live in Klang and apart from "bak kut teh" are have lots of crows. So there are expensive and cheap birds like the common sparrows. There are parrots that cost a few thousands and God says we are more valuable than these birds. 

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

The remedy is to seek the kingdom of God. What pleases or touches the heart of God. All these things will be added unto you. He is not the gift. He is the giver. God is saying if you mind his business, he will mind your business. 

Let's not worry. Paul in Philippians was in jail. How many of you have been into prison before. I know bro Vive was in prison before, not that he went in but visited. 

I went to a prison in Cambodia before. It was a maximum prison for the worst of the worst. They have no parole and will probably die in there. And in there were inmates dying of HIV. 

The government didn't know what to do with them. This church, or rather a cell there would bring gifts to these HIV inmates. One can of rice, two or three eggs, salt and sugar and a can of sardines. For about thirty to fifty of them. Dying and wasting away in prison. This person found favour with the warden and he allows him to go and help. They were not even segregated so the disease could easily spread. And this man raised funds to build walls to segregate them. And many came to the Lord. 

Prison is not a nice place and Paul was in there yet he rejoiced. Paul tells them to rejoice always and yet again rejoice. He didn't say sometimes or when things are going well. He said always. What does always mean? Always. 

What did Paul see? What did he understood? The first thing we need to know is that the Lord is near. Sometimes in the midst of our problems we think that God is far away. God is where he was. God was with him. Why worry? God understood this. After this he was on his way to Rome to be executed. Not freedom. He was on his way to martyrdom. Yet he rejoiced. He trust that he knows what God is doing. That his God is near. This is something simple yet we often don't see it. It may seem hopeless but it not, as God is near. 

Second thing is that we need to focus on the good and not the bad. 

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

He can look at the worst of his circumstances yet he is able to look at the good in his circumstances. It's like we look at a cup whether it's half full or half empty. As we change our perspective, the situation begins to change and turn around. In every circumstances there is always good and bad. But as human beings we often look at the negatives.

This morning they collected car parking for those without stickers at RM2 per hour. I was a bit upset because I said they did not inform me earlier. But bro Tommy said pastor, look at the bright side. It's a good thing because now everybody will get a sticker and put it on and everybody will know TOP. If we focus on the negative we will just be giving in to worry. 

Same goes to our church. Is there a perfect church? No? If we look at the negatives, we will have many things to say. But if we talk about what's good and praiseworthy and things that are right and admirable, the church will take off. I know that there are many things that needs to improve but let's look at the bright side. Who will build the church? He will build the church. I look at our worship team and I think they're one of the best. I like our tambourine dancers. Some say it's old fashion but I think they're awesome. I like our third floor and I look forward to the fourth floor. I am imagining our sanctuary facing this side. With the mother's room at this end. And to raise the ceiling. Dare to dream with me. Let's look at what's good. 

Remember that God is near. To focus on the good things. 

Last but not least, trust in God's promise and provision. 

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Paul didn't miss anything. He asks us to put it into practice. Everything that we have learned put them into practice. 

5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

With thanksgiving. We need an attitude of gratitude. We need to learn to develop that. That's what is meant to count our blessings and name them one by one. With prayer and supplication we bring everything to God. And I like verse 7, the peace of God. Not the power or the strength of God. A peace that transcends all understanding even in areas where we should be worrying. 

Whatever is happening to you, the battle starts in your head and heart but we can come out victorious. We need to stop worrying and let God take over.