V E R T I C A L L I V I N G Luke 12:22-34
It is not uncommon for the people hearing a sermon to be thinking about things which have nothing to do with the sermon
Lk. 11:37 12:12 "[Foolish or Unprepared] is the man who [only] lays up treasure for himself [on earth], but is not rich toward God." GREAT TRUTH!
"For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for {your} life, {as to} what you shall eat; nor for your body, {as to} what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; and they have no storeroom nor barn; and {yet} God feeds them; how much more valuable are you than the birds!
And which of you by being anxious can add a {single} cubit to his life's span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why are you anxious about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these.
But if God so arrays the grass in the field, which is {alive} today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more {will He clothe} you, O men of little faith! And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.
But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Life can only be understood backwards (looking back), but it must be lived forwards.
If you will: The Bible was written to explain life backwards, so that we might successfully live it forwards.
I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Thy precepts.
While the Christian Life may only be experienced HORIZONTALLY (under the sun, on earth), (for it to a glory to God) it must be lived VERTICALLY (with God holding FIRST PLACE in everything).
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of {the} divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
1) Do not be anxious for {your} life 2) Life is more than food, and the body than clothing. 3) Consider the Ravens how much more valuable you are than the birds!
"Every day the Church is becoming more and more like the world it supposedly seeks to change."
This year Americans will spend over $110 billion just on fast food ALONE, (more than they ll spend on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined). They will also spent another $ 82 Billion on clothes
"Isn t life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (vs. 25).
1) Can you add a {single} cubit to his life's span? 2) Consider the Lilies won t God clothe you, O men of little faith! 3) Do not keep on worrying.
Meteorizo (meteor-id'-zo); [ Think Meteor ] to suspend in mid-air, i.e. (figuratively) to be anxious): KJV-- be of doubtful mind. *30 "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.
Worry is worthless, particularly about things you cannot change.
1) Seek for His kingdom (of God) 2) Make yourselves purses which do not wear out... For Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 3) Be dressed in readiness, and {keep} your lamps alight.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
Things are only earthly objects and have no value after this life Material things should not, MUST NOT occupy GOD S PLACE in our hearts. Our lives as Christians should to be marked by freely giving and sharing according to Jesus' teaching, and our lives should be both simpler as well as less bound by material things even as we grow in Him. V E R T I C A L HORIZONTAL
Today, if you are still focused on material things HORIZONTAL THINGS as your foundation, rather than using these things as tools to serve the Master, then you are falling far short of His commands in Luke 12:22-34, and you are NOT LIVING VERTICALLY, but are still living horizontally in this world. V E R T I C A L HORIZONTAL
1) One that Sets their Minds on Things Above; on Heaven & It s Values. 2) Treasure what God Treasures. 3) Seek first God s Kingdom, Keep First things First.
Celsus once asked the question of a Christian, "What has Jesus given to the world that that no one else has given?" The Christian answered, "Himself!"