1. What Do We Want Above All Else? Matt. 6:33 [By Ron Halbrook]

2. 2 Introduction Matt. 6:33 Have we 1. Matt. 6:33 Have we learned the first priority? But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

3. 3 Introduction What do we want above all else? 2. What do we want above all else? Importance of Undivided Loyalty to God Priority Settled by Question: What Is Life? Examples of Divided Loyalty to God Examples of Undivided Loyalty to God What Is Our Answer?

4. 4 I. Importance of Undivided Loyalty to God Matt. 6 Undivided Loyalty to God A. Matt. 6 Undivided Loyalty to God Danger of duplicity, hypocrisy, double mind Vv. 1-18 Alms, prayer, & fasting from the heart to please God not man Vv. 19-34 Emphasize undivided loyalty to God over material things

5. 5 I. Importance of Undivided Loyalty to God Matt. 6:19-24 Undivided Loyalty to God VS Pursuit of Riches B. Matt. 6:19-24 Undivided Loyalty to God VS Pursuit of Riches Vv. 19-21 The heart pursues what it values most: earthly riches or heavenly riches

6. Matt. 6:19-21 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

7. 7 I. Importance of Undivided Loyalty to God Matt. 6:19-24 Undivided Loyalty to God VS Pursuit of Riches B. Matt. 6:19-24 Undivided Loyalty to God VS Pursuit of Riches Vv. 22-23 The eye (heart) with a single focus (loyalty) on light (God) sees clearly (understands true values)— if distracted by darkness, it cannot see

8. Matt. 6:22-23 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! The evil eye (divided heart) covets riches & is filled with darkness (many sins).

9. 9 I. Importance of Undivided Loyalty to God Matt. 6:19-24 Undivided Loyalty to God VS Pursuit of Riches B. Matt. 6:19-24 Undivided Loyalty to God VS Pursuit of Riches Vv. 24 We can choose only one master: God OR riches, NOT both!

10. Matt. 6:24 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

11. 11 I. Importance of Undivided Loyalty to God Matt. 6:25-34 Undivided Loyalty to God VS Worry Over Daily Needs C. Matt. 6:25-34 Undivided Loyalty to God VS Worry Over Daily Needs Jesus gives 7 reasons to put total trust in God

12. Matt. 6:25-27 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 1. Life has greater concerns 2. God cares for lesser creatures 3. Worry accomplishes nothing

13. Matt. 6:28-30 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 4. God cares for lower creation

14. Matt. 6:31-34 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 5. The heathen worry over such 6. God knows our needs 7. Worry adds useless trials

15. 15 I. Importance of Undivided Loyalty to God Matt. 6:25-34 Undivided Loyalty to God VS Worry Over Daily Needs C. Matt. 6:25-34 Undivided Loyalty to God VS Worry Over Daily Needs Jesus teaches the right priority SINGLE Eye: lay up treasure in heaven ONE Master: serve God FIRST Seek: God’s kingdom

16. 16 II. Priority Settled by Question: What Is Life? Matt. 6:25 More Than Food & Clothes A. Matt. 6:25 More Than Food & Clothes Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

17. 17 II. Priority Settled by Question: What Is Life? B. Matt. 10:28 B. Matt. 10:28 More Than Physical Existence And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

18. 18 II. Priority Settled by Question: What Is Life? Matt. 10:39 C. Matt. 10:39 More Than All Earthly Ties, Bonds, Blessings, & Advantages Find his life: wholehearted love & loyalty to God He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

19. 19 III. Examples of Divided Loyalty to God Matt. 19:16-22 Rich Young Ruler & Many Like Him Today A. Matt. 19:16-22 Rich Young Ruler & Many Like Him Today

20. Matt. 19:16-22 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

21. Matt. 19:16-22 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

22. 22 III. Examples of Divided Loyalty to God 2 Tim. 4:10 Demas & Many Like Him Today B. 2 Tim. 4:10 Demas & Many Like Him Today For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,

23. 23 IV. Examples of Undivided Loyalty to God Matt. 13:44-46 Men Who See God’s Kingdom as the One Great Treasure A. Matt. 13:44-46 Men Who See God’s Kingdom as the One Great Treasure

24. Matt. 13:44-46 44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

25. 25 IV. Examples of Undivided Loyalty to God Acts 15:25-26 Barnabus & Paul Risked Their Lives to Uphold the Gospel B. Acts 15:25-26 Barnabus & Paul Risked Their Lives to Uphold the Gospel Risked reputation & life spreading it Risked reputation & life defending it Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

26. 26 IV. Examples of Undivided Loyalty to God Acts 7:54-60 Stephen Gave His Life to Uphold the Gospel C. Acts 7:54-60 Stephen Gave His Life to Uphold the Gospel

27. Acts 7:54-60 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

28. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

29. 29 V. What Is Our Answer? What Do We Want Above All Else? A. What Is Our FIRST Priority— What Do We Want Above All Else?

30. 30 V. What Is Our Answer? B. If God Is FIRST, All Other Commitments Fit Under This Priority Family Business Civil Government Education Recreation Friends

31. 31 V. What Is Our Answer? C. If God Is FIRST, Nothing Can Hinder Our Obedience to the Gospel Family Business Civil Government Education Recreation Friends

32. 32 V. What Is Our Answer? D. If God Is FIRST, We Must Grow, Worship, & Be Faithful Above All Other Things Family Business Civil Government Education Recreation Friends

33. 33 V. What Is Our Answer? E. If God Is FIRST, Teach Our Children This Priority Above All Others Family Business Civil Government Education Recreation Friends

34. 34 Invitation Matt. 6:33 Have we 1. Matt. 6:33 Have we learned the first priority? But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

35. 35 Invitation What do we want above all else? 2. What do we want above all else? Importance of Undivided Loyalty to God Priority Settled by Question: What Is Life? Examples of Divided Loyalty to God Examples of Undivided Loyalty to God What Is Our Answer?

36. 36 Invitation Seek first the kingdom of God now 3. Seek first the kingdom of God now Alien sinner: Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

37. 37 Invitation Seek first the kingdom of God now 3. Seek first the kingdom of God now Erring saint: Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.