Behold the King: How to Center on Priorities.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 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! 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. 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? 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? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 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? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 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.

Prayer and Fasting

While fasting is not a necessary element of being a follower of Christ, it does have it’s place in seeking wisdom. Daniel fasted to have God’s Word revealed to him (Daniel 10:3). We have the completed Word of God so we do not need more revelation, but we do need clarification.

Most times in the N. T. the saints fasted for revelation, clarification of revelation, or for some religious discipline.

Jesus, here does not give specific reasons for fasting, but rather instructs upon the actions of fasting.

Isaiah 58:5–6 KJV 1900

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, And to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, And to let the oppressed go free, And that ye break every yoke?

Where do you put your desire?

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Matthew 6:19–21

There is a story of a wealthy woman who, when she reached heaven, was conducted to a very plain house. She objected. “Well,” she was told, “that is the dwelling-place prepared for you.”

“Whose is that fine mansion across the way?” she asked.

Her guide replied, “It belongs to your gardener.”

“How is it that he has a house so much better than mine?”

“The houses here are prepared from the materials that are sent up. We do not choose them; you do that by your faithfulness while on earth.”

This may be a story, but it bears a profound truth about the “treasures” we accumulate.1528

Proverbs 23:4 KJV 1900

Labour not to be rich: Cease from thine own wisdom.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV 1900

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Proverbs 23:5 KJV 1900

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Jesus is not saying it is wrong to work hard and earn monetary goods in order to provide for yourself and your family. But it is wrong to make that the chief priority of your life.

2 Peter 3:11 KJV 1900

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Galatians 1:10–11 KJV 1900

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

James 4:4 KJV 1900

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Trust in the providential care and Sovereignty of God

Philippians 4:6 KJV 1900

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

1 Peter 5:7 KJV 1900

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

God deeply cares for you, and He has already provided for you.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $2,200, and the average cost of living is 62% higher than the national average. - sekamoving.com

Raising a child costs more than $32,000 per year in these California and Massachusetts areas. In San Francisco, Santa Cruz and San Jose, it costs more than $33,000 annually to raise a child. Barnstable Town and Boston follow with a child costing above $32,000 per year. - Smatasset.com

1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV 1900

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Having a right view of God will help reduce stress and be able to produce a far better quality of work. This is because knowing God through faith in Christ settles our hearts and minds in a way that no other religion can produce.

Philippians 4:1–7 AV 1873

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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