4-28-24 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns Over Our Future 4-28-24

LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns Over Our Future 4-28-24

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Today is the final day of our sermon series Love Reigns. We have been challenging ourselves to allow the love of God to reign in every area of our lives. The first week, we celebrated the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter. We celebrate because the resurrection is the proof that Jesus is the true King of the world who has authority over all things. When we obey Jesus, we experience the life he has for us. The second week, we looked at how God’s love reigns over our past. Though our mistakes and sins can be a heavy burden on us, we embrace the love of God that forgives us our past and offers us a fresh start. Last week we discovered that God’s love gives us promise for our present. We can make choices that create healthier patterns in our lives and renew our minds to live in obedience to God. This final week of our series I want to speak about allowing the love of God to reign over our future.

 

Story: I remember as a kid having a little toy that was supposed to help us know what the future held. It was a Magic 8 Ball.  I used it for all kinds of questions I had about the future. You would shake up that mysterious little triangle floating in the blue liquid inside. I’d ask it about whether my middle school crush would like me. Oddly enough, it always gave me the answer “Don’t Count On It”. I’d ask about how my grades would turn out and the answer would be “Better Not Tell You Now”. I’d ask about my future career to which it would respond “Ask Again Later”. This little toy that actually came out in 1950, is a tell-tale sign that our culture has a keen interest in the future.

 

We all have wondered from time to time about what the future might hold for us. Sometimes we wonder because our current situation is painful and we want to get on the other side of the difficulty. Sometimes we wonder because we are excited about the possibilities before us. Either way, our curiosity about the future can sometimes slip into an unhealthy obsession with what is to come that is commonly called worry.

 

Illustration: I want you to take the piece of paper and pencil you were given on the way in the room today and I want you to take a moment to write down one worry in your life about the future right now. Once you write it down, keep it near you until the end of the message today.

 

Worry is an all-consuming use of our time, energy and attention on things that we cannot control. We worry about our finances, we worry about our family, we worry about our job, we worry about getting sick, we worry about everything. The problem is that our worrying does not improve our situation at all. The only true way to cure this sickness of worry is to trust in the love of God and let is rule in our lives.

 

Jesus spoke to this struggle with the future in Matthew 6.

 

”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? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?“

        Matthew 6:25-27 NIV

 

Even though this passage of scripture was written nearly two thousand years ago, it is so applicable to us today. It also shows me that human nature is to sense anxiety about our future.

 

I.  GOD SEES YOU

 

           A.  You are important to God.

 

”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?“

       Matthew 6:26 NIV

 

Jesus tells us not to worry about our life. Don’t worry about your daily needs. Don’t worry about your daily wants. The reason he gives is because our lives are made up of more than just our physical desires. God offers proof for his ability to provide for us. He points to the birds of the air. These tiny winged animals are not anxious about their needs for tomorrow, but God still provides their needs for today.

 

If God takes care of the sparrows of the world, surely he can take care of you. Jesus reminds us of our incredible worth. He sees us. We are loved by God and therefore he will provide for us today. Our future is in good hands when our future is under God’s control. We must allow ourselves to trade what we don’t know about the future for what we do know about the love of God for us. Worry is not worth it because it does not add any hours to your life, if anything, it takes hours away.

 

It reminds me of the line in the Lord’s Prayer that is prayed in churches all around the world each and every week. We pray, “Give us this day our daily bread”.  Give us what we need today God. Not too much so that we might forget about trusting you for our future. Not too little that we are tempted to take matters into our own hands. Just enough for today. It is how we learn to trust God, even when we do not know what is around the corner. Trusting God for the future instills deep hope that He is there before we ever get there.

 

Story: Many years ago, I found myself reading articles, listening to programs, and following Facebook threads about daily events in the world. At first it was no big deal, but eventually I began to notice myself feeling anxious about the things that had just been discussed. They would talk about political divisiveness, the struggling economy and potential wars. It became too much for me to handle. I experienced true anxiety for the first time because everything seemed so out of control. I became anxious about the future. I had to stop reading, turn off the radio, and get rid of Facebook that I began to feel normal again.

 

           B.  God knows your future.

 

I had to remind myself that God sees me. God sees every single person on earth and He has a great plan for you. He will take care of you. You can trust him. One of the most quoted scriptures of all time is from Jeremiah 29:11. It is a promise given to the Jewish people, but I believe it is something we can hold onto today as well.

 

”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.“

        Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

 

           C.  We need to pursue God’s future for our lives.

 

God has a preferred future that he longs for you to live into. We experience it when we begin to let go of trying to control everything and we start to submit to him and follow his lead. Worrying about the future does not have any positive effects. It only causes us to become paralyzed by fear.

 

The question is how do you know when opportunities in the future are God’s plan? There are three simple questions you can ask yourself to help you determine God’s leading in your life.

 

1.     Does this opportunity align with scripture? Would you be violating some kind of direction that has already been given to us in God’s word? If so, there is a good chance that is not a part of the plans God has for you.

2.     Will this opportunity make me more like Jesus? If you take part in the activity or make this decision, will it make you more Christ-Like? If it will help shape you and mold you into the person God desires for you to be, then there is a good chance this could be a part of God’s plan for your future.

3.     Will this opportunity benefit others? Will this decision result in the blessing of other people around you? God is always looking to use willing people to help serve others in need. This may be a good indication that this thing may be a part of God’s plan for your life.

 

To discover God’s plan for your future is to live into the purpose for which you were born. This is the future that we want to experience. As Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days of your life are the day when you are born and the day you find out why.” Your future is tied to your purpose and God’s plan.

 

II.  SEEK GOD FIRST

 

        A.  Godly priorities keep us connected to God’s future for us.

 

Jesus give us a way to ensure that our future falls in line with his will for our lives. It is about priority. Some of us have our priorities focused on the wrong things because we are nervous about the future.

 

 ”“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.“

       Matthew 6:28-34 NIV

 

         B.  Godly priorities put issues other than God’s future in their proper place.

 

Verse 33 says that we should seek first the Kingdom of God. This should be our priority. Living to see the Kingdom of God come to earth should be the defining aspect of our lives. Rather, many of us are more focused on increasing our popularity and status on social media, finally getting that house on the lake or finding true love. These things are not bad within themselves, but they can cause us to veer off track as our life progresses. Jesus says if we seek God first that everything else will have a way of falling in place.

 

When we seek god first, when we come across a new relationship, they are most likely the kind of person that God would want for us. When we seek God first, we live life with humility and that become what we are known for. When we seek God first, the wants and desires look more like the things God would want for us.

 

Illustration: It is like this glass jar is our future. (Have two large glass jars on stage. Have enough small pea-gravel and larger stones to fill the jars.) Some of our lives are filled first with the worldly wants and desires… all the little things that are not priorities. (Pour in the pea gravel into one jar.) But what can happen is that our life become so cluttered that we do not have space for all the things God wants to bring into our life in the future. (Try to put a few of the larger stones in the same jar. Some stones will be left outside the jar.) However, if you were to fill your life with the priorities and most important things first, they have a way of all fitting. (This time fill the jar with the larger stones first. Then pour in the pea-gravel so the spaces between stones are all filled.) This is why Jesus says to put the Kingdom of God first. Everything else will be added.

 

So, don’t worry about your future. It is in God’s hands. Besides, Jesus says, today has enough things to be concerned about anyway without worrying about things that don’t exist yet. Most of the things that we spend our time worrying about never come to pass anyway and yet so much of our energy is spent on it.

 

III.  USE YOUR TIME WISELY

 

           A.  We only have so many days.

 

We all only have so many days in our lives. Our future must be stewarded well. The author of Psalm 90 had this concept in mind when he wrote verse 12.

 

 ”Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.“

           Psalm 90:12 NIV

 

The author is writing a prayer. He is asking for awareness so that he uses the days of his life in a manner that honors God and honors people.

 

           B.  We need to make choices about how we use our time.

 

Story: A survey years ago reveal some astonishing information about how people spend their lives. In a lifetime the average American will spend:

 

Six months sitting at stoplights
Eight months opening junk mail
One year looking for misplaced objects
2 years unsuccessfully returning phone calls
4 years doing housework
5 years waiting in line
6 years eating

(Survey of 6000 people polled in 1988, US News and World Report, January 30, 1989, pg. 81)

 

           C.  We must use our days wisely.

 

As you live your life it is important to ask yourself if the places that your time, energy, attention and affection are going the most important places they could possibly go. I have heard is said before that the only thing that will matter one hundred years from now will be people’s relationship with God. If this is the cause, then we need to use our future to ensure that as many people come to experience and trust God as possible. As the psalmist said, living wisely means realizing that we only have so many days in our lives and we must use them wisely.

 

CONCLUSION

 

God sees you.  Seek God first.  Use your time wisely.

 

Take the piece of paper from the beginning of the message and flip it over on the side without the written worry. Now, I want you to write a prayer about how you want to spend your time and how you want God to turn your worry into worship.  Turn your worries into prayers and trust in God’s plan for your life.

 

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life. 

4-21-24 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns Over Our Present 4-21-24

LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns Over Our Present 4-21-24

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Welcome, Church. We are so glad you have chosen to worship with us today. We believe God has you here for a reason, and we pray that you experience him in a fresh and new way today. We are in the middle of a sermon series called “Love Reigns”. We began on Easter, when we discovered that though Jesus was mocked by being called King of the Jews, the clearest proof of his authority was not in avoiding the cross, but in defeating the cross and resurrecting from the dead. Last week we were encouraged to know that when we are united with Christ through faith in Him, we become a new creation. Our past no longer defines us. It is the love of God that caused Jesus to endure the cross, and it is the love of God that forgives us our past. Love reigns in our lives. Today we continue this series by taking a look at how love reigns over our present. Because of God’s great mercy, we can live lives that honor Him.

 

Story: When we were kids, we all used to play the game Simon Says. If you do not remember, let me quickly refresh your memory. When I say “Simon Says”, you respond by doing that thing. If I give you an instruction without saying Simon Says, then you should not to do it. Let’s give it a try. Simon Says – clap your hands. Simon says – stop. Simon Says – blink your eyes. Simon says – stop.  Simon Says – stomp your feet. Simon says – stop. Simon Says – look up and down. Stop. Oh no. Some of you stopped, and I did not say Simon Says. But you remember the game, right? Simon Says was a test of your willingness to listen to instruction or to decide to ignore it all together. It is a test, because we all have been given a will of our own. This will consists of our own desires and convictions.

 

As we live day to day, we make thousands of decisions. We are constantly having to weigh out options and choose what we think is best. Sometimes our decisions are influenced by things that we are told to do. We find ourselves being obedient to voices around us that do not have our best interests in mind. However, God’s love for us gives us another option. That is to listen for his voice to listen to in order to make the best decision possible right now, today.

 

I.  OUR CHOICES REVEAL WHO REIGNS IN OUR LIVES

 

    A.  Humans are followers.

                      1.  We follow our heart.

                      2.  We follow our desires.

                      3.  We follow our conscience.

                      4.  We follow.

 

          B.  Who we follow determines who reigns in our lives.

 

           C.  We must choose God.

                      1.  We must choose a new perspective.

 

”Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.“

          Romans 12:1 NIV

 

Story: Paula and I went to western New York last week.  We stayed in Erie, PA.  We stayed on the 8th floor of the Sheraton Bayfront Hotel.  The bay was beautiful from the ground, but it was magnificent from the top floor.

 

                      2.  We must see our lives “in view of God’s mercy”, His sacrifice.

 

”Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.“

           Psalms 51:6-7 NIV

 

                      3.  We must allow God’s perspective to become our new perspective.

 

”Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.“

          Romans 12:2 NIV

 

II.  CHANGING OUR PATTERNS WILL CHANGE OUR LIVES

 

           A.  We need to understand the patterns of our lives.

 

Illustration: Shapes Pattern Recognition worksheet

 

           B.  We need to choose to follow God’s patterns, not ours. 

 

III.  TRADE OUR WILL FOR GOD’S WILL

 

A.  Submission

 

 ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.“

        Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

 

Story: Being a parent has not always been fun and games. I certainly enjoy our son, but there has been a fair share of struggles and difficulties along the way. My son has a will of his own, and often that will and desire is in direct conflict with my will and desire for him. The most difficult thing to teach him is that he can trust me because I love him. When I say no to something, instruct him in some way, or even punish him, I am doing it all because I love him and I want what is best for him.

 

          B.  Trust

 

Trust is a hard thing to teach and even harder thing to learn. But if we are going to live the full life God has for us, we must trust his love for us and let that love reign in our lives and over our present.

 

CONCLUSION

 

Our choices reveal who reigns in our lives.  Changing our patterns will change our lives.  Trade our will for God’s will.

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.