25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:25
Last week we talked about our treasures. The question was asked, where do you focus most of your effort and attention? Is it on the physical things of this world or is it in our future life with God in heaven?
Today, we will continue with this theme. Jesus made it perfectly clear that he loves us and wants the best for us. He made it very clear that he knows what we need in this life. He himself came down to this world to experience it. He said to put our focus on the things of heaven but that creates anxiety for us who believe that we ourselves must care for our futures here. Matthew 6:25 is telling us the exact opposite. Jesus, knowing our needs, is promising that we will have our futures here secured even if we put our focus on the heavenly things first. This is where true faith is experienced and challenged. Do not worry! That is the core theme of Matthew 6:25. Do not worry, not because you will win the lottery and not have to worry about but, but because God will always provide your needs in this life. Notice I say needs here and not wants.
It is the difference between needs and wants that our true struggle rests. God promises our needs will be met but the world offers us wants to fill our joy, desire and fulfilment. The wants of this life truly are appealing. Who wouldn’t want a big fancy home, expensive car, pool, world vacations and more? This world can be very hard and stressful and that vacation can really be a benefit sometimes. The struggle however is what is more important to you? Will you put that ‘want’, whatever it may be above what God is trying to give or lead in your life?
The problem with wants is that they are never satiated. You can always have room for more and in fact an old want quickly loses its appeal and something bigger is desired. Wants can easily become more and more important in someone’s life. It can quickly rise up in the pyramid of importance you create for yourself. If not restrained and controlled, it can even take the spot of God.
Don’t get me wrong. There is no problem in having a big home, fancy car, pool, enjoying a luxury vacation or other expensive things. Wants, in of themselves, are not sinful just as money itself is not sinful. Sin begins when those things begin to take control of a person’s mind and life. When you begin to worry, not about your needs but your lack of wants, it is a sign that you may be going down a dangerous path.
Do not worry. It’s a simple message from God. Are you following it?
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Corinthians 15:50
Someone reading this verse, especially out of context might believe that we will not have flesh and blood in heaven but that is not what is being stated here. Verse 42 clearly says, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.” We will have bodies in heaven. What this verse was saying is that it’s not through our flesh and blood that we can be saved. Your old self is not suitable for heaven. You must be born again and become a Spirit filled new life. Verse 44 clearly shows that, “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
The big question is this: Do we get brand new bodies when we accept Christ, get baptized and receive the new ‘spiritual bodies’ (that is a person who now is connected to God through the Spirit and sets his mind on spiritual things)?
The simple answer is no. How do we know this? Well, the Bible explains very clearly when we receive new and perfect physical bodies.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Our perfect bodies only come to us at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Only then can we be truly perfect in all our parts- physically, spiritually and mentally. It is only at the Second Coming that we receive our full reward as expressed in Revelation 22.
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
Revelation 22:12
As hard as you may try, you will never be able to perfect your flesh or body. That can only be done at the return of Christ. What you can achieve is a mind and character that wholly focusses on God through the Spirit. That is what God desires for us.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
https://brontesda.com/allfiles/2018/01/bronte-new-logo.png00adminhttps://brontesda.com/allfiles/2018/01/bronte-new-logo.pngadmin2021-04-17 18:29:442021-04-17 18:29:44Adult Bible Study – Death
https://brontesda.com/allfiles/2018/01/bronte-new-logo.png00adminhttps://brontesda.com/allfiles/2018/01/bronte-new-logo.pngadmin2021-04-09 16:32:072021-04-09 16:32:07Wednesday Revelation Study – 7th Seal
Don’t Worry
/in Pastors BlogDon’t Worry
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:25
Last week we talked about our treasures. The question was asked, where do you focus most of your effort and attention? Is it on the physical things of this world or is it in our future life with God in heaven?
Today, we will continue with this theme. Jesus made it perfectly clear that he loves us and wants the best for us. He made it very clear that he knows what we need in this life. He himself came down to this world to experience it. He said to put our focus on the things of heaven but that creates anxiety for us who believe that we ourselves must care for our futures here. Matthew 6:25 is telling us the exact opposite. Jesus, knowing our needs, is promising that we will have our futures here secured even if we put our focus on the heavenly things first. This is where true faith is experienced and challenged. Do not worry! That is the core theme of Matthew 6:25. Do not worry, not because you will win the lottery and not have to worry about but, but because God will always provide your needs in this life. Notice I say needs here and not wants.
It is the difference between needs and wants that our true struggle rests. God promises our needs will be met but the world offers us wants to fill our joy, desire and fulfilment. The wants of this life truly are appealing. Who wouldn’t want a big fancy home, expensive car, pool, world vacations and more? This world can be very hard and stressful and that vacation can really be a benefit sometimes. The struggle however is what is more important to you? Will you put that ‘want’, whatever it may be above what God is trying to give or lead in your life?
The problem with wants is that they are never satiated. You can always have room for more and in fact an old want quickly loses its appeal and something bigger is desired. Wants can easily become more and more important in someone’s life. It can quickly rise up in the pyramid of importance you create for yourself. If not restrained and controlled, it can even take the spot of God.
Don’t get me wrong. There is no problem in having a big home, fancy car, pool, enjoying a luxury vacation or other expensive things. Wants, in of themselves, are not sinful just as money itself is not sinful. Sin begins when those things begin to take control of a person’s mind and life. When you begin to worry, not about your needs but your lack of wants, it is a sign that you may be going down a dangerous path.
Do not worry. It’s a simple message from God. Are you following it?
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto
Perfect Flesh
/in Pastors BlogPerfect Flesh
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Corinthians 15:50
Someone reading this verse, especially out of context might believe that we will not have flesh and blood in heaven but that is not what is being stated here. Verse 42 clearly says, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.” We will have bodies in heaven. What this verse was saying is that it’s not through our flesh and blood that we can be saved. Your old self is not suitable for heaven. You must be born again and become a Spirit filled new life. Verse 44 clearly shows that, “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
The big question is this: Do we get brand new bodies when we accept Christ, get baptized and receive the new ‘spiritual bodies’ (that is a person who now is connected to God through the Spirit and sets his mind on spiritual things)?
The simple answer is no. How do we know this? Well, the Bible explains very clearly when we receive new and perfect physical bodies.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Our perfect bodies only come to us at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Only then can we be truly perfect in all our parts- physically, spiritually and mentally. It is only at the Second Coming that we receive our full reward as expressed in Revelation 22.
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
Revelation 22:12
As hard as you may try, you will never be able to perfect your flesh or body. That can only be done at the return of Christ. What you can achieve is a mind and character that wholly focusses on God through the Spirit. That is what God desires for us.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto
Wednesday Revelation Study – 1st Trumpet
/in Pastoral, Sermon, VideoAdult Bible Study – Death
/in Adult Bible Study, Pastoral, VideoWednesday Revelation Study – 7th Seal
/in Pastoral, Sermon, VideoAdult Bible Study – Creation
/in Adult Bible Study, Pastoral, VideoWednesday Revelation Study – Ch 07
/in Pastoral, Sermon, Video