MATTHEW 6:25-34
For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
This passage from the Sermon on the Mount reveals four important things for the believer in Jesus to know: (1) Our top priority in life is seeking His kingdom and His righteousness (2) We are not to live our life filled with anxiety and worry over our needs in this world being met (3) We are not to be fearful about our future; or what tomorrow holds (4) Our heavenly Father knows the things we need in this world and He will cause these things to be added unto us.
The word confess (confession) in the Greek (homologia) means to speak the same as; to agree and be of one mind. Deny (denies) in the Greek (arneomai) means to say no, to refuse, to disagree with. Understanding the full meaning of “confess” and “deny” – consider the following verses:
MATTHEW 10:29-32
“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not not of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Therefore everyone who confesses (says the same as) Me before men, I will also confess (say the same as) him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
LUKE 12:6-9
“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. And I say to you, everyone who confesses (says the same as) Me before men, the Son of Man will confess (says the same as) him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
What we believe in our heart (faith); how and what we think in our mind (mindset); and what we speak with our tongue (words) – together, greatly impact our lives for good or evil. As I shared with you on Sunday, the words we speak (our confession) are extremely important in releasing the power of the kingdom (including the angels) on our behalf, here on the earth. The angels are “voice-activated” – for they obey the “voice” (sound) of His words (Ps 103:20)! Jesus, our Intercessor, speaks (confesses) the words we speak (confess) before our Father and before the angelic hosts!
MATTHEW 12:35-36
“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Our words are either going to bring us into greater faith and confidence; or they will bring us into fear, doubt, and condemnation. Again, it is important what we believe in our heart, what we think in our mind, and what we speak from our mouths! Consider again what Jesus said in Matthew 6:31; “Do not worry then, SAYING, ‘What will we eat?’ – The doubts and questions we speak with our mouths, will actually “bring worry” to us! Give voice to His word – be prophetic – and faith will come to your heart! “For faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”.
Meditate on these passages this week, and ask yourself these questions: Am I living a worry-free and fear-free life? Do I confess the promises of God or cause worry and fear to arise by asking doubt-filled questions? Do I really believe – in my heart – that my Father not only knows what I need, but will add these things unto me? Do I really think of myself as “in Christ Jesus” – as a new creation, and therefore “righteous” before my heavenly Father; or do I think of myself as still a sinner who is merely forgiven and unchanged? Are my words “releasing” the power of the kingdom and the holy angels into my life, or are they “holding back” the power of the kingdom? Am I living in peace and joy; or in worry, fear, and anxiety? Am I living my life as one who practices righteousness and as one who is always seeking to to release the kingdom or am I distracted with the cares of this life and other things? Are my words releasing life or death?
The Father wishes to bring us fully into His kingdom; to see and enter into all that He has for us! In the kingdom we live in “right standing” with our heavenly Father, and we have His peace and joy – unspeakable and full of glory! “Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows!” The Father “values” you! The value He places upon you has been clearly shown by the giving of His only begotten Son, Jesus, to pour out His life on Calvary; so that we could be redeemed and have life everlasting in the kingdom! Have faith; believe Jesus’ words; and begin to confess Him before men (here on the earth) and the attention of the kingdom (the Father, Jesus, & the angels) will be toward you!!
Blessings,
Pastor Rick
