Seeking To Grow Faith
Jesus gave a teaching on overcoming the anxieties of life. This teaching is recorded in Matthew 6:31-34. "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat? or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves.' "For all these things the gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." This teaching is an antidote to the parable of the sower, regarding the seed that was sown among thorns. This was the one who hears the word, but the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choked out the word, making it unfruitful.
Jesus said don't be anxious about those things. He knows that being anxious about those things, will choke out the word. Faith in the Kingdom of God works opposite of how the fear in the world system works. The world system, based on lower level focus, says to focus on the needs of the day, such as larger houses, bigger and faster cars, the food you'll eat, or where your next paycheck is coming from.
Jesus was saying faith based on focusing on things above, rather than below, is the standard for the Kingdom of God. For you and me, as citizens of the Kingdom of ,God, our focus is to be on seeking the Kingdom first.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." This teaching is an antidote to the parable of the sower, regarding the seed that was sown among thorns. This was the one who hears the word, but the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choked out the word, making it unfruitful.
Jesus said don't be anxious about those things. He knows that being anxious about those things, will choke out the word. Faith in the Kingdom of God works opposite of how the fear in the world system works. The world system, based on lower level focus, says to focus on the needs of the day, such as larger houses, bigger and faster cars, the food you'll eat, or where your next paycheck is coming from.
Jesus was saying faith based on focusing on things above, rather than below, is the standard for the Kingdom of God. For you and me, as citizens of the Kingdom of ,God, our focus is to be on seeking the Kingdom first.
Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who came up with his famous hierarchy of human needs. His chart is on the left above. Basically Jesus, with His teaching regarding the Kingdom of God, turned Maslow's hierarchy upside down. Maslow had, what he called, self-actualization as the highest point on the pyramid, after the other needs were met. One's physiological needs, such as food, housing and clothing were at the bottom of the hierarchy as representing man's basic needs and the ones with the highest priority. His "higher" needs would be met as the lower needs were met.
Jesus turned this upside down. He said to seek the Kingdom and its' righteousness first. As one did this, the other needs would be met as well. Maslow's hierarchy was turned upside down in one other significant way. In Maslow's model, one is responsible for having one's own needs met. In other words man is the source. Jesus said God is the source and man should seek His Kingdom first. He isn't only to seek the Kingdom, but its righteousness as well.
Jesus turned this upside down. He said to seek the Kingdom and its' righteousness first. As one did this, the other needs would be met as well. Maslow's hierarchy was turned upside down in one other significant way. In Maslow's model, one is responsible for having one's own needs met. In other words man is the source. Jesus said God is the source and man should seek His Kingdom first. He isn't only to seek the Kingdom, but its righteousness as well.
Seeking Turns To Looking
As we begin to seek the Kingdom of God, we start looking and focusing. Remember, what we focus on expands. If we look on the things of the world, our fear will expand. But, if we look on things above our faith will be fed. Jesus said some important words regarding looking. "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes on Him may have eternal life" (John 3:14-15). It is very important that we know where we're looking.
Are we looking at ourselves as our source? Are we looking at our past failures or at our successes? Are we looking upon circumstances or upon things above? We can spend our entire lives looking upon the wrong thing.
The most tragic example of looking upon the wrong thing was Eve. It said in Genesis 3:6, that she saw the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye. As a result, she desired the fruit and ate of it. Looking at the wrong thing can have far reaching consequences. The whole world was affected by Eve looking at the wrong thing.
Another example is King David. He committed a tragic sin by looking at the wrong thing. Instead of focusing on being with his men and leading them in battle, as he had always done, he stayed behind in Jerusalem. While he was on the roof, he looked down and saw Bathsheeba taking a bath. His seeing, caused lustful desire to rise up within him. He laid with her, getting her pregnant. In trying to cover up his sin, he tried to get Bathsheeba's husband, Uriah, to sleep with her. Being the honorable man he was, he refused to do so, wanting to be with his men. The result, was David committed murder by sending Uriah into the heat of battle, knowing he would be killed, which he was.
What we look at is very important. We must look at Christ, and His Kingdom, along with His righteousness.
Are we looking at ourselves as our source? Are we looking at our past failures or at our successes? Are we looking upon circumstances or upon things above? We can spend our entire lives looking upon the wrong thing.
The most tragic example of looking upon the wrong thing was Eve. It said in Genesis 3:6, that she saw the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye. As a result, she desired the fruit and ate of it. Looking at the wrong thing can have far reaching consequences. The whole world was affected by Eve looking at the wrong thing.
Another example is King David. He committed a tragic sin by looking at the wrong thing. Instead of focusing on being with his men and leading them in battle, as he had always done, he stayed behind in Jerusalem. While he was on the roof, he looked down and saw Bathsheeba taking a bath. His seeing, caused lustful desire to rise up within him. He laid with her, getting her pregnant. In trying to cover up his sin, he tried to get Bathsheeba's husband, Uriah, to sleep with her. Being the honorable man he was, he refused to do so, wanting to be with his men. The result, was David committed murder by sending Uriah into the heat of battle, knowing he would be killed, which he was.
What we look at is very important. We must look at Christ, and His Kingdom, along with His righteousness.
Look At The Forgiveness of Your Sins
There is no one without sin. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). It's a matter of degree. We all have been born with the sinful nature inherited from Adam. But, the symptoms will be different from person to person. But, rest assured, we all have been born with it.
Just as you have inherited genes from your parents. every person is born into sin because everyone inherits sin from Adam. This sinful condition becomes deeper and stronger as one commits more sin after birth.
When one goes to see a doctor for strep throat, there may be differing symptoms between people. But, they all have the disease. One can't be rid of the disease by treating the symptoms. The doctor must treat the cause of the disease.
The only cure for sin is to look at Jesus Christ, who died on the cross. When you look at Him on the cross you begin to have peace and joy, knowing your sins are forgiven. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). As you move along in your walk from fear to faith, keep your eyes focused on Jesus and the deliverance He provided through His death on the cross.
Just as you have inherited genes from your parents. every person is born into sin because everyone inherits sin from Adam. This sinful condition becomes deeper and stronger as one commits more sin after birth.
When one goes to see a doctor for strep throat, there may be differing symptoms between people. But, they all have the disease. One can't be rid of the disease by treating the symptoms. The doctor must treat the cause of the disease.
The only cure for sin is to look at Jesus Christ, who died on the cross. When you look at Him on the cross you begin to have peace and joy, knowing your sins are forgiven. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). As you move along in your walk from fear to faith, keep your eyes focused on Jesus and the deliverance He provided through His death on the cross.
Look At The Fullness of The Holy Spirit
When you look at Christ crucified and bleeding on the cross, you can experience the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When you are born from above, your body becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit. He comes to dwell with you and live within you.
When you look upon the cross and look at Jesus Christ, the fullness of the Holy Spirit will come upon you as it does to all that are forgiven.
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, both your heart and mind become fertile fields. If your barren heart and mind become fertile, whatever you plant through prayer will result in a harvest 30, 60 or 100 times greater.
Your heart and mind become more fertile as you allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit to grow more and more. Your character becomes more and more like that of Jesus. As your mind and heart grow more and more to be like Jesus, you'll be more sensitive to the voice of God and your faith will grow. For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
When you look upon the cross and look at Jesus Christ, the fullness of the Holy Spirit will come upon you as it does to all that are forgiven.
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, both your heart and mind become fertile fields. If your barren heart and mind become fertile, whatever you plant through prayer will result in a harvest 30, 60 or 100 times greater.
Your heart and mind become more fertile as you allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit to grow more and more. Your character becomes more and more like that of Jesus. As your mind and heart grow more and more to be like Jesus, you'll be more sensitive to the voice of God and your faith will grow. For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Look At Divine Healing
Before being nailed to the cross, Jesus was given 39 lashes. Those lashes were given according to the law and customs of that time. He probably bled profusely as his flesh was torn badly from the lashes. I've often asked why did Jesus have to endure such pain and suffering. Then I'm reminded of the scripture in 1 Peter 2;24. "By his wounds you have been healed."
Jesus went through such suffering to provide us with health. No matter the illness. It could be mental illness, physical illness or spiritual illness we're facing. You and I need to look at the injured, bleeding and torn body of Jesus. He is the source of our health.
Jesus went through such suffering to provide us with health. No matter the illness. It could be mental illness, physical illness or spiritual illness we're facing. You and I need to look at the injured, bleeding and torn body of Jesus. He is the source of our health.
Look At Wealth
Jesus was hung on the cross to redeem us from circumstantial and environmental hardship. He lived in poverty His whole earthly life. He even began His life in poverty, being born in a manger in a stable. He lived a poor life and had no place to lay His head until the day He died on the cross.
I've heard the question asked as to why did Jesus live in such poverty. A scripture in 2 Corinthians 8:9 gives the answer to that question. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."
If poor parents worked and saved money for their children but the children would not spend the money because they thought they should follow the example of their parents and live in poverty, this would not be the will of their parents.
In Deuteronomy 8:18, God's people were given a very special and powerful promise. "But, remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
That was a very powerful statement. The Israelites were told to look at their ability to get wealth. But what was the reason they were told that? So they would remember the Lord their God. I found that to be incredible. God used their ability to produce wealth as a means of remembering God.
Yet, today we often think of God as a God who's desire it is for us to live in poverty. But, it isn't. What do we look at? What do we look to? To whom do you listen? Too often, we focus on the world's system and think of poverty and lack.
But, God says to remember Him for your ability to produce wealth. Too often, believers say and think that money is the root of all evil. It is not! "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (2 Timothy 6:10).
God wants us to prosper not only financially, but to be wealthy also in health and spirit.
As we look to the cross and the provisions of God's word, we will grow more and more into faith. That faith is produced by not having a lower level focus.
I've heard the question asked as to why did Jesus live in such poverty. A scripture in 2 Corinthians 8:9 gives the answer to that question. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."
If poor parents worked and saved money for their children but the children would not spend the money because they thought they should follow the example of their parents and live in poverty, this would not be the will of their parents.
In Deuteronomy 8:18, God's people were given a very special and powerful promise. "But, remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
That was a very powerful statement. The Israelites were told to look at their ability to get wealth. But what was the reason they were told that? So they would remember the Lord their God. I found that to be incredible. God used their ability to produce wealth as a means of remembering God.
Yet, today we often think of God as a God who's desire it is for us to live in poverty. But, it isn't. What do we look at? What do we look to? To whom do you listen? Too often, we focus on the world's system and think of poverty and lack.
But, God says to remember Him for your ability to produce wealth. Too often, believers say and think that money is the root of all evil. It is not! "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (2 Timothy 6:10).
God wants us to prosper not only financially, but to be wealthy also in health and spirit.
As we look to the cross and the provisions of God's word, we will grow more and more into faith. That faith is produced by not having a lower level focus.
Look At The Hope of Heaven
We are all pilgrims here on earth. None of us will remain here forever. "Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14). At some point, we must all leave our bodies behind. We won't live in them forever.
Those who accept Jesus Christ and follow His commands, will receive eternal life. But those who don't accept Him and follow His commands will receive eternal death. When Christ comes again, those who believe in Him receive eternal life to be resurrected in glory and to reside with Him forever.
Plant the faith seed of looking. As we continue to look upon Christ and all that He's done for us, He'll heal our spirits and bodies in addition to blessing us. It's like a small taste of Heaven. We must live with the hope of eternal Heaven.
The life looking toward Heaven will drive away despair and disappointment. Instead, it will attract joy and gratitude.
Continue to look (set your mind) "...on the things above, not on the things below". As you grow, the faith seed of looking, you will be nurtured and continue to walk from fear to faith.
Those who accept Jesus Christ and follow His commands, will receive eternal life. But those who don't accept Him and follow His commands will receive eternal death. When Christ comes again, those who believe in Him receive eternal life to be resurrected in glory and to reside with Him forever.
Plant the faith seed of looking. As we continue to look upon Christ and all that He's done for us, He'll heal our spirits and bodies in addition to blessing us. It's like a small taste of Heaven. We must live with the hope of eternal Heaven.
The life looking toward Heaven will drive away despair and disappointment. Instead, it will attract joy and gratitude.
Continue to look (set your mind) "...on the things above, not on the things below". As you grow, the faith seed of looking, you will be nurtured and continue to walk from fear to faith.
