IN THIS ISSUE OF OUR NEWSLETTER, I will be
looking at Matthew 6:19-34 concerning the great battle
each of us finds ourselves in.
The great battle of faith is between trusting in that which can be seen and
that which is unseen: the things of this earth and the Devil's kingdom versus
the unseen things of God and His kingdom.
Since the first man and woman were created the battle is waged. Eve chose that
which was pleasing to look upon, good for food, and good for making one wise�and
released sin throughout all creation. The battle, though the choices before us
my seem insignificant and trivial, is a serious matter to God. Since we do not
gather physical arms and travel long distances to enter face-to-face conflict,
we often overlook the seriousness and eternal consequences that waits patiently
to pounce on those choosing the things of this world above the things of God. We
must understand the battle: it is between anything that is seen, touched, and
felt, anything, though it may be harmless in and of itself; anything, though it may
be permitted for our use; anything, though it may be a necessity of life.
In this portion of Scripture Jesus teaches the seriousness of living unto God,
separated from that not of Him�regardless of the value we place on that which is
seen.
MOTHS, RUST AND THIEVES
Matthew 6:19-21
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also.
First, Jesus teaches that to live unto God is to Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon the earth. When he says, Lay not, it is clear that it is an
active pursuit of something we deem to be of value for our lives. He is clear
that anything in this world can be held as a treasure when he speaks of moths
and rust eating away at it and thieves breaking in to steal it. Is there
anything on earth that cannot be eaten by moths, corrupted by rust, or stolen by
thieves? There is nothing. And there is nothing on earth that can compare to the
value of entering the eternal kingdom. Even if a man were to own everything in
the world, it would seem as rubbish compared to the mansion that will be given
to God's people in the eternal kingdom.
The line is drawn in the sand. Jesus is making it clear that our heart's true
focus is where our treasure is. Examine yourselves as to what it is you truly
value: things, pleasures, and the pleasantries of life or the things which
cannot be felt or touched or heard and are in the unseen heavenly places?
AN EVIL EYE
Matthew 6:22, 23
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole
body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be
full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great
is that darkness!
Second, Jesus teaches that to live unto God is to be single minded, not striving
to hold onto both the treasures of the earth and the unseen treasures with God.
Our life is to be devoted toward one goal�God in all of our life: our books, our
videos, our entertainment, our clothes, our job, our family, or whatever is of
this earth that can be seen and touched and felt. When our life revolves around
things seen and we seek the best of both worlds, Jesus says we have an evil eye.
It is not possible to value anything in this world without it corrupting the
Spirit of God within us. When the Spirit of God becomes corrupted, any
perceptions of the things in heaven become unclear, very dark. People living in
darkness are people living without God.
The line is drawn in the sand. Jesus is making it clear that it is our
responsibility not to cross that line by living a life that is entirely
separated and focused upon Him. Examine yourself as to what it is you focus
upon, strive for, and value in life: the things which are seen and of this earth
or the things which are not seen and reserved in heaven for you.
GOD AND MAMMON
Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the
other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon.
Third, Jesus teaches that to live unto God is to remove anything that hinders
our being single minded toward God.
Jesus is clear that we cannot live under the rule of two masters. One will
always be in control. No matter how much we think we are governed by the Spirit
and light of God, a little darkness, just a little indulgence in the things of
this world will corrupt and darken any resemblance of Christ within us. It is
impossible, impossible to indulge in the things of this world and be a follower
of God.
The line is drawn in the sand. Jesus is making it clear that we are to live
entirely separated unto Him by removing anything that hinders us from being
single-minded toward God.
LET GOD
Matthew 6:25-30
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or
what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the
life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for
they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly
Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking
thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they
spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to
day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you,
O ye of little faith?
Jesus wants to make sure that we understand what he means concerning living
separated from everything this world has to offer. He breaks it down to the very
essentials of life: food, drink, and clothing. Without food and drink our life
on earth would cease. Yet when we go to the cupboard and find there is no food,
or we find there is no money to buy food or any way of obtaining food anytime
soon, this does not justify taking our thoughts off God and placing them on our
need.
We are not to value even the earthly things of food and drink above the things
of God. To do so is to live like Gentiles�people without God, without faith. God
already knows we need these things. We are to keep our focus on Him and let him
work it out to meet our needs.
DON'T LIVE LIKE PEOPLE WITHOUT GOD
Matthew 6:31-34
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?
or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles
seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for
the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day
is the evil thereof.
Fifth, Jesus teaches that to live unto God is to...
1. Not fill our mind with our present needs and troubles of this world, even if
they are necessary for our survival. (31)
2. Recognize that there is a God, He is real, alive and already knows that you
need these things and He will provide for you. (32)
3. Since God is well aware of our needs, we don't have to let them be a burden
or worry, they are in God's hands. We need only to focus on Him, the things that
belong to Him, and live a life pleasing to Him: He's got it taken care of, trust
Him. Worry and stress is the result of thinking we need to do something and not
being able to do it-- let go, let God. (33)
4. Since God will take care of tomorrow, we do not need to consider whether we
will have what we need. God's got it under control. Let go. Let God. (34)
In our twenty-first century, God is moving His people to live unto Him and Him
alone. He has called them out of denominations, out of schools, out of
workplaces, out of homes, and out of our present culture to seek Him wholly
through a separated life. No matter how much paycheck, status, and security
draws you, choose to be single-minded in your relationship with God and be ready
for an adventure as God moves in your life.
.
Until next time...
Be so much the more, as ye see the day approaching
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