How We Grow: Implementing Spiritual Disciplines "Lessons from the Lilies: Trusting in Christ”

 How We Grow: 

Implementing Spiritual Disciplines 

"Lessons from the Lilies: Trusting in Christ”

Opening Illustration:

Good morning brothers and sisters. Today we are in the 3rd week of a new series entitled “How We Grow: Implementing Spiritual Disciplines” I want to ask you a question this morning. Who is the most disciplined person that you know? Maybe it was a parent. Maybe it is a friend. Maybe it is someone that you have admired from a distance. Seriously, who is the most disciplined person that you know? Over the years, I have met some very disciplined people. I have met military generals who have displayed tremendous discipline over the course of their lifetimes. I have met doctors who have modeled discipline to me. I have met some entrepreneurs over the years who have time and again revealed to me their example of discipline. Do you know what they all had in common? Sure, they were all disciplined people. Beyond that though. Do you know what they had in common? Generals, doctors, entrepreneurs, to the person they are all some of the most successful people that I have ever met and know. These men and women were willing to do things that most people are not willing to do and because they were disciplined with their time, disciplined with their work, disciplined with their pursuits, they were all super successful in life. They were not only financially successful, they were also less stressed, less worried, and less anxious than other people that I know. Again, because of their discipline, they had more successful relationships, and successful marriages. Their discipline unlocked their ability to serve in the church. It unlocked their ability to give generously, go on mission trips, and it allowed them to attend church more…worshipping the Lord. I had a pastor tell me a long time ago, “Stuart, if you learn to lead a disciplined life, your life will require less discipline”. 

Make sense?

That pastor was telling me a deep truth. Either way, discipline was coming my way. I could deploy the lessons of discipline that I have learned through the characters in the Bible or I could choose to go my own way, chart my own course, call my own shots, and receive discipline from God. Which one did I want to choose? God’s loving discipline that sometimes hurts on the back end or the temporary pain of discipline learned from Holy Scripture on the front end?

David was disciplined on the back end of his life through the prophet Nathan. David was living an exceedingly undisciplined life. His life was out of control. He slept with Bathsheba which led to an unplanned pregnancy, which led to the murder of Uriah. Nathan, sent by God, came to David and pulled him back into God’s will through the pain of Godly discipline. 

What about the prodigal son? The son was living an exceedingly undisciplined life. His life was out of control. He demanded his share of the inheritance. He went to the city where he spent his fortune on wild living. His actions led him to the mud and the muck. Finally he comes to his senses after being disciplined by the pig trough. 

Oh friends, there are so many examples of disciplined characters in the Bible. Characters who did what God wanted, who gave God their best, who followed God the right way. Our top example of course is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ led a perfect life. A life of perfect Godly conviction and perfect Godly discipline. One thing that I have learned from Jesus’s life is that He does not want you to live a life racked with fear, with worry, with concern, and with anxiety. That is not the life that Jesus lived. In fact, that is what this sermon is about this morning. Lessons from Jesus’ life that help us move beyond the obstacles of fear and worry. 

Do me a favor this morning, fill in the blanks under “Today Thoughts”. Calm your fear! Cancel your anxiety! Christ will carry you. 

Do you believe that this morning? Do you believe that Christ will carry you through life with life gets tough? I do. He promised us that He will. It reminds me of the poem “Footprints in the Sand”.

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you." 

Brothers and sisters, God did not and does not intend you to carry the heavy burden of anxiety and fear though this life. In fact, in 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul tells us that God did not give us a spirit of fear. Much of Jesus’ ministry dealt with people that were struggling with stress, worry, fear and anxiety. God does not want you to be stressed or worried because at the end of the day, worry is sinful. Did you know that? It’s true. Worry is akin to sin. Worry is really just another form of doubt. Worry is doubt manifested in your life that tells you that God will not take care of you, that God will not provide for you, that God doesn’t really love you. I was reading a book the other day entitled Called to Persevere, Overcoming Pain, Disease, and Disappointment with God. Listen to this quote on being worried and embracing fear. 

“Jesus is saying that worry demonstrates a lack of faith in God. Therefore, worry is actually a sin! Worry demonstrates a lack of trust in God's love because it implies that God doesn’t really care about our needs. It shows lack of faith in God’s wisdom because it implies that God doesn’t know what he’s doing. It shows a lack of trust in God’s power because it implies that God isn’t able to provide for my needs. It’s a sin to distrust God’s love, wisdom and power — and that’s exactly what you’re doing when you worry. So Jesus turns to us in verses 28-30 and says, “Trust God, and don’t worry!”

In a room with well over 400 people in it, I can guarantee that someone in here is dealing with worry, dogged by stress, damaged by fear, or dragged down by anxiety. Chances are worry, stress, fear, and anxiety have pushed you to try to find peace outside of Christ. The world tells you to pop that pill, drink that drink, or stress eat. Do that! It will make you feel so much better. It is not until after you have done those things that you realize that you don’t feel better. You feel worse. 

So what can we do? 

Well, what did Jesus do? That is what we are going to discover this morning. Jesus is our ultimate model of the disciplined life. What can we learn from Him this morning? How did He handle anxiety, stress, worry and fear? 

Today’s Thought:

Calm Your Fears! Cancel Your Anxiety! Christ Will Carry You!

Today’s Quote:

“Jesus is saying that worry demonstrates a lack of faith in God. Therefore, worry is actually a sin! Worry demonstrates a lack of trust in God's love because it implies that God doesn’t really care about our needs. It shows lack of faith in God’s wisdom because it implies that God doesn’t know what he’s doing. It shows a lack of trust in God’s power because it implies that God isn’t able to provide for my needs. It’s a sin to distrust God’s love, wisdom and power — and that’s exactly what you’re doing when you worry. So Jesus turns to us in verses 28-30 and says, “Trust God, and don’t worry!”

Rev. Dane Davis 

"Called to Persevere: Overcoming Pain, 

Disease and Disappointment with God." 

Today’s Scripture:

Open your Bibles to Matthew 6:25-34 this morning. Before we read out of Matthew’s Gospel, I want to set up the scene for you. I want to give you the background and the context of today’s passage. 

Background and Context:

Matthew 6:25-34 is a very relevant passage of Scripture for us this morning. I really believe that it's going to speak right into the hustle and heartaches of our everyday lives. 

Picture this: Jesus, in the early days of His ministry, is on a mountainside, surrounded by folks just like us—people looking for hope, direction, and answers to life's big questions. This is part of what we call the Sermon on the Mount, which is like Jesus’ big, keynote speech on how to live a life that's truly aligned with God's kingdom. It's His way of saying, "Hey, let's talk about a better way to live.”

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus addresses a universal human experience: worry. He knows we get anxious about our needs—food, clothes, the future. And in a world where it feels like we're constantly bombarded by pressures and expectations, His words are like a breath of fresh air.

Jesus starts with, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life..." He’s not just throwing out an unrealistic command; He’s inviting us into a life of trust and dependence on God. It's as if Jesus is saying, “Do you know who will always be there for you, who will never leave you, never abandon you? God The same God who dresses the lilies and feeds the birds is looking out for you."

But here's where it gets real. Jesus isn’t just saying, “Don’t worry, be happy.” He’s challenging us to rethink our priorities. He asks us to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness. It's like He's saying, "Instead of obsessing over what you think you need, focus on what really matters—your relationship with God and the work He’s doing in the world."

What Jesus is laying down here is revolutionary. He's not dismissing our needs; He's putting them in perspective. He's calling us to live in the freedom of God's care, to replace our anxiety with faith, and to trust that when we put God first, He’ll take care of the rest.

So, let’s dive into God’s Word together this morning. 

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect. 

Scripture:

Matthew 6:25-33 ESV

"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? [26] 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? [27] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] 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? [31] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“This Is The Word of The Lord”

“Praise His Name, Praise His Holy Name”

Why Worry? Follow the Way of Christ!

I. Pause and Pray

This morning I want to try to answer the question, “why worry”? I want to answer that question by following some practical examples from the life of Jesus Christ. After all, Jesus is our ultimate model for all that we do in this life. Before I start with this first point, I want you to be honest with yourself. Are you struggling with stress? Are you whipped by worry? Are you anxious? Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Do you feel that you have no one to talk to, no one that that you can run to? Are you feeling like you have to carry everything, all of life’s burdens on your shoulders? If that is you, and it has probably been all of us at some point in our lives…if that is you, that is not God’s will for your life. In Matthew 6, Jesus dedicates a great deal of His Sermon on the Mount to finding relief for the weary soul. The people of Jesus’ time were burdened at every turn. They were burdened by the religious rites and rules of the Pharisees. They were burdened by the occupation of Rome. They lived meal to meal, paycheck to paycheck. Everyday was a test of survival and instinct. Imagine living that way. Imagine not knowing if you were going to be arrested, your job taken from you, your home stolen. Imagine not knowing if you could feed your family that day. Imagine the constant worry of getting sick and knowing that there was no medicine, no doctor, and no hospital to back you up. That was the daily life for the people living in ancient Jerusalem and Galilee. It was a tough existence. 

That is the crowd that Jesus was dealing with. So Jesus, in Matthew 6, tells these people not to worry. He tells them…”Therefore do not be anxious”. The Greek word for “anxious” is mer-im-nah'-o (Mare-ah-nah-oh). It means to be troubled, to be weighed down with life’s sorrows. Have you ever felt that way? I know for certain that I have. I have said it before, but I would say about 80 to 90% of all the pastoral counseling I do is related to fear, worry, stress, and anxiety. Brothers and sisters, I will share with you yet again that this is not Jesus’ will for your life. He wants to set you free from frustration. He desires to help you overcome what overwhelms you. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us to “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

So this morning, we are going to look at some practical examples from Jesus’ life. We are going to examine some scenes and scenarios from the life of Christ, where He was tempted to give way to those anxious feelings. We are going to look deeply into Christ’s behavior and discover how He defeated these emotions that tear us apart. 

Let’s start this morning by filling in this first blank. Roman numeral one. Why worry? Follow the way of Christ! Pause and pray. Jeremiah 5:16 reminds us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Friends, when you are feeling overwhelmed by life, by the daily troubles of our existence, you really only have two choices: go it alone or go to the lone place that can help you. You can choose to carry the burden on your back or you can give it to the one who has your back. 

Luke 5:15-16 AMP

But the news about Him was spreading farther, and large crowds kept gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their illnesses. [16] But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion].

We know from Jesus’ life, when He was feeling weak, drained, and fatigued, Jesus would withdraw and pray. In Mark 1:35, we see Jesus waking early, before daybreak, to go to a solitary place to pray to His Father. We see in Luke 5:16 that Jesus would pray throughout the day, withdrawing from the demanding crowds, to pray to His Father. Again, in Luke 6:12, Jesus closed His day in prayer. In that very chapter and verse Jesus retreats into the night where He spends the entire evening in prayer. That’s right, anywhere from 6-8 solid hours of prayer. In that instance, Jesus was about to make a massive decision. He was about to choose His twelve disciples. He wanted to make the right choice so He dedicated Himself to prayer. How many of you, before you make a critical decision, spend that sort of time in prayer? Speaking of His disciples, Jesus modeled prayer to them in Luke 11 and Matthew 6, the very chapter that we are reading this morning. From rising in the morning to withdrawing from the crowds during the day and spending entire nights dedicated to prayer, Jesus exemplifies the importance of regular communion with God through prayer. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed and overcome this morning, start with prayer. It’s not hard, speak to God as a friend. Tell Him your troubles. Cry out to Him for help. Remember what the psalmist says in Psalm 34:17, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all of their troubles.”

Why Worry? Follow the Way of Christ!

I. Pause and Pray

II. Peer Into The Passages

So, pause and pray. Our next point this morning is equally important. Peer into the passages of Scripture. Pour over God’s Word. Have you ever wondered where all this worry and stress emanate? Where does it all start? Well, simply put, sin! Our sin is the fuel for these emotions and feelings. Think of it this way, the less we sin, the less we will feel stress, worry, and anxiousness. Scripture even says so. Psalm 119:11 states, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Hiding God’s Word in your heart is a safeguard against sin. If you are tired of feeling overwhelmed by guilt, overwhelmed with the emotion of worry, the key is to stop sinning. The key to stop sinning is to outfit yourself with God’s Word. Read it. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Deploy it in moments of trail and temptation. Ephesians 6 tells us that the Bible, God’s Word, is a sword. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that it is not just any sword, it is a double edged sword. Have you ever wondered why Hebrews calls God’s Word a double edged sword? Literally, a double edged sword is a sword that has two sharpened edges. A double edged sword can be very handy in battle but you better be careful. That same sword can also cut you. When you are wielding a double edged sword, you have to be careful that you don’t cut yourself when trying to swing it at an opponent. Do you see the point that the author of Hebrews is making? The Bible is a defender. It can be wielded against our advisory the Devil. That’s good. The Bible also serves another purpose. It can be used to cut us too. the Bible has a unique way of cutting out darkness, cutting out wickedness, and cutting out sinfulness that exists in our spirits. If you are not careful, reading that Bible might just very well change your life. Im saying that tongue in cheek obviously. People have had their lives radically changed by just reading the Bible. My life is radically different today because of the time that I have spent in God’s Word. God’s Word convicts and changes people. God’s Word reorients and renovates people. God’s Word impacts and inspires people. You’ll never defeat the anxiety and stress that you are feeling today apart from Holy Scripture. 

I’m reminded of the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. Remember that passage from Matthew 4?

Matthew 4:3-4 AMP

And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." [4] But Jesus replied, "It is written and forever remains written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"

If you go back to Matthew 4 and read the entire chapter, Jesus is tempted not once, not twice, but three times by Satan himself. Satan comes to Jesus in a moment of weakness. A moment where His physical health was questionable. He was hungry. Tired. Ever been there? I have. In every moment of temptation, Jesus responds by speaking Scripture. Claiming God’s Word as His weapon. Three times Jesus says, “it is written” and then responds with a Bible verse. Jesus didn’t just know God’s Word, He knew how to apply God’s Word to the moment. 

Friends, let me challenge you this morning to start reading the Bible daily. If you are a Bible novice, start with the John’s Gospel. Read James’ letter. Read a Proverb that corresponds with the date. Pray. Read God’s Word. If you just do these two things, model these behavior from Jesus’ life, then you see dramatic changes in your life.  

Why Worry? Follow the Way of Christ!

I. Pause and Pray

II. Peer Into The Passages

III. Pursue Godly People

Pray. Read God’s Word daily. Next, purse Godly people. 

[31] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 

“For even the Gentiles seek after all these things”.  Have you ever noticed that the people that you hang out with, the friendships that you pursue, have a powerful impact on you? It is hard to stop drinking when all the people you spend time with drink. It is hard to stop worrying when all the people around you spend their time spinning their wheels worrying. It is hard to stop gossiping when everyone around you gossips. It is hard to stop overeating when everyone around you overeats. It is hard to embrace being positive when everyone around you is negative. The list goes on and on. 

I have a question for you this morning, who were Jesus’ friends? Most of us, if we are being honest, will say one of two answers. The first answer is the disciples. The disciples were Jesus best friends. I will come back to that in just a moment. The second answer is “I don’t know”. We know that Jesus was an exceptionally winsome person. People loved Jesus. They followed Him. He was engaging and personable. Jesus was a talker. He was not an introvert as much of His life was surrounded by people. I would maintain that Jesus loved the disciples, that is clear. Jesus was friendly with the disciples, that is clear too. However, the relationship with Jesus and His disciples was that of a Rabbi and His students. No where in Scripture do the disciples refer to Jesus as their “friend”. They call Him “Master” and “Teacher”. Again, we know that Jesus had a special relationship with the disciples but Jesus did not most likely view them as His friends, not in the same way that we view our friendships. Jesus chastised the disciples often for their little faith or their weak faith. The relationship that Jesus had with the disciples was that of a mentor and mentee. He may have been encouraged by them but He did not draw strength from them, that came from God…Jesus’ Father. 

So, who were Jesus’ friends if not the disciples? The answer is Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Jesus made His home base of ministry in Bethany where Lazarus, Mary and Martha lived. Jesus would often visit with those three, eating with them, fellowshipping with them. We know that Jesus loved them because when Lazarus fell ill, Mary and Martha called out to him with the message, “Lazarus, your friend, has taken ill, come quickly”. When Lazarus died and Jesus was at the tomb, what happened? He wept…the shortest verse in the Bible. After Lazarus’ resurrection, we see Jesus talking, laughing and reclining at Lazarus’ table. Think about this, the last week of Jesus’ life, He spent that week in Bethany, with that family. Jesus had such a great friendship with Lazarus, Mary and Martha, that He accepted Mary’s worship as she washed His feet. Jesus spoke plainly and directly to Martha with no fear of rejection. Jesus drew earthly encouragement from these three. He loved them, cherished them, and counted them as His true friends. Don’t believe me, listen to John 11:5. 

John 11:5 AMP

Now Jesus loved and was concerned about Martha and her sister and Lazarus [and considered them dear friends].

Brothers and sisters, do you have a friend or friends like this? My best friend is my wife. Angela and I have been through a lot together. Lots of ups and downs. Good days and hard nights. There are no secrets between me and my wife. I know that I could turn to her in my worst moments and hardest battles. I have other friends in ministry. Some of you fit in that category. Jesus was looking at the cross and His death, where did He turn? He turned to His father and His dearest earthly friendships. He drew strength from them. Where will you go? To whom will you turn?   

Why Worry? Follow the Way of Christ!

I. Pause and Pray

II. Peer Into The Passages

III. Pursue Godly People

IV. Practice Praising 

Pray.

Read Scripture.

Find Godly Friendships to encourage you. 

Next, practice praising. Worship. Be thankful and grateful. Make thankfulness a daily habit. We know that Jesus spent a great deal of time in the temples and synagogues. Jesus was clearly a man of deep and sincere worship. 

One of the most classic example of anxiety in Jesus’ life was when He was in the Garden, just hours before His death. He knew that He would be beaten and nailed to the cross. So severe were His concerns that He sweat droplets of blood. That is some intense stress. What did Jesus do? He prayed. He retreated. He worshipped. In perhaps one if not the greatest example of worship found in Scripture was that in Luke 22. 

Luke 22:41-42 ESV

And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, [42] saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

Worship is really just communion with God. It is just embracing the relationship that we can all possess with God. Worship can be done anywhere, at anytime, and with just about any means. God accepts our prayers, He accepts our songs, He accepts our acts of service, all as worship. 

The other day I did a simple Google search on the impact of worship on the human body. Listen to what the secular search engine says, “Worship Can Increase Feelings of Connectedness and Reduce Stress. Especially in difficult times, where stress and uncertainty is high, worship might help people create meaning out of the chaos and find a sense of purpose.”

If you are feeling overwhelmed, like Jesus, then spend time worshipping God. Sing praises to His name. Ask God to reveal to you some reasons to be thankful. 

Why Worry? Follow the Way of Christ!

I. Pause and Pray

II. Peer Into The Passages

III. Pursue Godly People

IV. Practice Praising 

V. Prioritize God’s Kingdom

[33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

That is our last point this morning. Prioritize God’s Kingdom. 

Most of us spend so much time trying to build for ourselves our own little kingdoms that we stop thinking about the one Kingdom that will last forever…God’s Kingdom. 

Why prioritize God's Kingdom? First and foremost, because it aligns our lives with God's will and purpose. When we put His Kingdom first, we're saying to God, "Your will is more important than mine. Your plans are better than my plans." This alignment brings peace, joy, and a sense of fulfillment that the world cannot offer.

Prioritizing God's Kingdom also means we're investing in something eternal, something that will last beyond our time on earth. It's like building our houses on rock instead of sand – when the storms come, and they will, our lives will stand firm because they're anchored in God's eternal Kingdom.

Moreover, when we focus on God's Kingdom, we become beacons of light and hope in a world that desperately needs it. We live out the values of love, justice, peace, and compassion, which are so central to the Kingdom of God. By doing so, we not only draw closer to God but also invite others to experience His love and grace.

Now, I know this isn't always easy. Life gets busy. Worries, responsibilities, and even pleasures can distract us from what truly matters. But here's the good news: God doesn't expect us to do this perfectly. He knows we'll stumble and fall. What He looks for is a heart that desires to put Him first, a heart that, despite its imperfections, yearns for His Kingdom.

So, how do we do this? It starts with small, daily decisions. Choose to spend time with God each day, whether it's through prayer, reading the Bible, or simply sitting in silence, listening for His voice. Let His love and Word guide your decisions, big and small. Look for opportunities to show God's love to others, whether it's a kind word, a helping hand, or a listening ear.

Friends, I want to take a moment to pray for you. Would you bow your head with me this morning? Would you be honest with me today, if you are feeling overwhelmed, if you are feeling worry, feeling like you may be at your end, would you simply put your hand in the air and let me know so that I can pray for you? Do that now. 

I want to remind you this morning that Jesus offers you a better way. Pray. The Bible is available for you. There are friendship awaiting you here, today, now. Spend time praising God and put His Kingdom above yours. I promise you, if you do these things, you will see a dramatic change. 

Let’s pray. 

Remember, Jesus Offers A Better Way!