1. THE QUESTION OF PRIORITIES
Good morning! It’s pretty early, and in preparing for this, I want to realign our focus today on what's most important.
The question that came to my mind through a conversation with somebody here is: Are you making time for God?
Are you not only making time for God, but are you moving your schedule around?
Are we prioritizing what's most important in our lives?
This is something where we might get into the groove for a while and God becomes the main priority, but then there are times where God is put on the back burner, right? Temporarily, we stop prioritizing what's most important.
There should be some corrections in the church about this because, statistically, how many people are reading their Word on a regular basis or attending church?
We are in a faith that John Wesley would describe as a "heart religion."
In Greek, the word for heart is kardia. It refers to emotions, desires, fears, hopes, romance, and dreams—all these things connected to our inner self.
It’s not just the cardiovascular physical heart we think about today, but a deeper, philosophical heart expressed in Scripture.
Misalignment happens with God when our hearts aren't aligned with Him—when we haven't given Him our full attention, our full desires, and full affection. That directly affects how we live out our faith.
2. SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 17:5–8
Let’s go to Jeremiah chapter 17, verses 5 through 8:
"Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit.'"
When we are worshiping God, the Bible says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord." Trusting God, giving Him our attention, and living our lives leaning on Him—that is a pure form of worship.
3. SCRIPTURE: LUKE 19 (THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY)
Let's turn to Luke chapter 19, starting at verse 28:
"When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, 'Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, "Why are you loosing it?" thus you shall say to him, "Because the Lord has need of it."'
So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, 'Why are you loosing the colt?' And they said, 'The Lord has need of it.' Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.
And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'
And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, 'Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.' But He answered and said to them, 'I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.'" This motivates me, if I don’t do what I’m created to do something or someone else will step in my place. God will be glorified!
Jesus here is fulfilling the prophecy of the Messiah coming on a donkey in Zechariah 9:9. Notice what He says: if His disciples don't cry out and worship Him, even the stones will cry out!
4. RELIGIOUS PRACTICE VS. HEART RELATIONSHIP
Think about other cultures and religions. For example, Muslims pray three times a day incrementally—the same structured religious practice every single day. But how is Christianity different?
In our youth group this past September, we did a discipleship challenge where every day we would:
Pray
Read Scripture
Say something we’re grateful for
Live out our faith
Some of us did it, some of us didn't. But the point is that these practices are what I like to call similar to breathing. The reason I say it’s similar to breathing is because my relationship practices are essentials in my life. I have mandatory relational religious practices.
The key difference between a strict routine and our relationship with God—where we are called to pray without ceasing—is that we have a heart religion.
Let’s look at James 1:26–27:
"If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
We often hear the phrase: "Christianity isn't a religion; it's a relationship." But James gives us context. Verse 27 obviously calls us to practical religious action—caring for orphans, widows, and keeping ourselves clean from worldly influence.
However, verse 26 warns that if you don't bridle (control) your tongue, you deceive your own heart, making your practices useless.
Throughout Scripture, God places a huge emphasis on our heart posture. It’s relational! The greatest commandments are relational: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. As Christian’s all of our religious practices are relational so why do some Christian’s have this goal of succeeding by themselves when we are called to be connected. Maybe because it’s easier to keep to yourself than to rely on and give authority to people around you.
5. APPLICATION: BUILDING BRIDGES IN OUR COMMUNITY
We have Muslim neighbors who come play on our playground around our church. Yet sometimes there feels like a lack of relational connection or even tension in bridging that gap.
How do we go further? How do we look at these problems in our city and let God use us to build bridges, practice our true religion, and build genuine relationships? How can we begin to pray for a move of the Spirit of God to empower our community? An Illustration from the Road
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9, ESV
(Personal Story)
I remember one day I was driving, slowing down at a stoplight. Suddenly, I hear persistent honking behind me—beep! beep!
The honking got louder, and then I felt a tap on the back of my car. I looked in my mirror, and a lady got out of her car visibly angry, yelling and cussing at me. She stepped right up to my window, just going wild.
I looked at her with genuine concern and said, "Hey... first off, I just want to see if you're okay."
She kept venting her frustration, and I asked again, "No, but are you okay? Is everything alright with you?"
She completely paused in her tracks—stunned. She turned around, walked back to her car, and drove off!
I share that because as Christians, our reactions matter. Our heart posture is called to align with God's will, not our natural impulses. My first reaction could have been anger, but having authority or the ability to react harshly doesn't mean we should. We are called to be imitators of Christ.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5: 7 ESV
6. SCRIPTURE: PHILIPPIANS 2 (THE MIND OF CHRIST)
Let’s go to Philippians chapter 2, starting at verse 1:
"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Let each of you look not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12, ESV
CLOSING
Jesus did not cling to His status, but humbled Himself as a servant.
Think about us: God has already blessed us so much. But we are called to imitate Christ—how He lived, how He died, and how He rose.
When we deny our prideful desires for self-glory and choose to glorify Christ instead, God works through us. When we submit to Him:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God
Let’s turn to 1 Peter 4:18–19:
"Now 'If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?' Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."
My religion has been used to purify and sanctify my heart. I go before the throne of God daily and sometimes it’s a reminder that God is sovereign and he keeps my heart meek. When we begin to be led by the Spirit of God we begin to realize that we are ineffective without him. When we are honest with ourselves and with God and we surrender all things to him our hearts will be made pure and we will see God.
Lastly let’s think about our inheritance, Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth. When we recognize that we are sinners in need of a savior, and we go before God surrendering our lives and directions to him we shall receive an earthly and heavenly inheritance. If you recognize your sin and desire to surrender your life to God we have our Pastors and Elders in the front. If you are wanting to recognize Britton Christian Church as your church home we are ready to receive you and pray with you in the front. Lets Pray.
