Set Free Give Up

Woke up worrying

Matthew 6 and 7

How does worry And anxiety Interfere with your life?

Does God want it That way?

I have come that you Might have life And have it to the full - Jesus

That your joy May be full - Jesus

We write these things That you may fully share Our joy - 1 John

The way of the Kingdom is to Entrust yourself to God's care The way of the Kingdom is to Entrust others to God's care

Matthew 7

Do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you - Jesus

Cuz…that was a real Temptation

Giving…to be seen by men Praying…to be seen by men Fasting…to be seen by men

…they have received their reward

Giving…Father will reward you Praying…Father will reward you Fasting…Father will reward you

But we don't serve In order to get a…?

Reward- Apodidomi= give back, recompense, restore

Reward- Apodidomi= give back, recompense, restore Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's

Reward- to gain what is already Yours in Christ That which is lost by Giving, Praying, Fasting To be seen by men

Some made their living By doing these things

Some made their living By doing these things Giving= Trust God! Praying= Trust God! Fasting= Trust God!

Quit trying to control The outcome and instead Trust that God will Meet your needs

Don't lay up treasures on earth… You can't serve God and money

The issue is Trust Versus Control

God wants more For you Than you want For yourself

Identity is in Christ You carry a cross Because you're dead

What do dead people Control?

When a believer lives out of his or her identity, there's peace and a changed life

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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?

God provided life God provided a body Do you really think God can't provide the rest?

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Do you really think God cares more for birds Than for people made In his image?

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Do you not know Just how little control you have?

And why are you anxious about clothing?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these

They don't worry But they still wind-up beautiful

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?

For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you Repetition: continually add

Reward: Living in What's already yours

But seek first… and all these things will be added

Either I trust Or I try to figure out How to get my own needs met An forfeit what's mine In Christ

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God Run after as a primary concern

Live out of who you are Run after Eternal Things

Live out of who you are Run after Eternal Things: Love, serving, sharing, becoming Following, worshiping, forgiving

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble

I am only anxious I am only worried When I'm in control or think I should be because I don't trust The one who is

Your Father will provide because - He can - He knows - You're not an orphan - You are valuable to Him

I trust Jesus! (My Plan B has nothing To do with this!)

Living out of your New Identity Means entrusting yourself To God's care There is no Plan B

Judge not, that you be not judged…

"Judging" is condemning, marginalizing, showing contempt and disfavor as a way to control

Maybe I/we can shame you, distance you, correct you so you'll change Judge- control through negativity

That's not our job… At best, behavioral changes At worst, they'll hate our Christ

Living out of death produces death. Living out of new life produces life

The way of Jesus means Understanding that only God Can change hearts So we don't show disfavor In order to control people

Giving, Praying, Fasting Controlling the outcome By getting rewards from men

Storing up money Controlling future security Rather than living by faith

Worry and Anxiety Attempting to figure out needs And control life Rather than trusting God

Judging is Attempting to control people By condemning and showing Disfavor

Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs…

A pearl is not a bad thing A pig is not a bad thing

Giving a valuable thing To that which is unable To appreciate it

"If I give pearls The pigs will appreciate them And become what I want"

Attempting to control With good things

Throwing scripture In an argument with Someone who doesn't believe

Christian School

The way of Jesus means Understanding that only God Can change hearts So we don't give good things In order to control people

Following Jesus is about Trusting God with your Physical needs so that You live without worry or anxiety

Following Jesus is about Trusting God with the people In your life so you that You live without control And manipulation

The way of the Kingdom is to Entrust yourself to God's care The way of the Kingdom is to Entrust others to God's care

When a believer lives out of who he or she used to be, it produces conflict and pain

Living out of new life Produces life

- I trust God fully - I need to trust God more - I don't trust God much at all

"God, I believe. Help my unbelief…" "When I attempt to control- Remind me to trust you instead"

"I'm tired of trying to control I'm ready to trust Jesus"

Work Day, Noon to 6 PM

Ink Wars Winners! - Lindy, 1 st Place - Steve, 2 nd Place - Jeremy, 3 rd Place

Invite: Easter= 9, 10, 11 AM Egg Hunts each service 10:15 Meeting Today