HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
SERMON STARTER
Lois reminds me about a current event that occurred in March of 1953 when she was a little girl in the fifth grade. She and her classmates built a large topographical map of the United States with mountains and rivers depicted. Lois and her classmates gathered around the map, looking at it and listening to her teacher. He was interpreting the event of Stalin's death as a major event of the century. He had the children bring in current event news items and made her aware for the first time of the larger socio-political world around them.
One of the things Lois' teacher reminded his young charges about was how life-changing things can happen in a single day. In the discussion that followed, the teacher made the statement that many of us would be alive in the year 2,000. Lois heard a clear word from God that she, personally would be alive in the year 2,000, but things would be different.
Lois heard a clear Word from God at that moment. He told her that there would be uncertainty going on around her and after the turn of the century everything would change. She was not to be afraid, however, because she would be OK. God would take care of her.
Sheepfold Ministries - August 14, 2011
Pastor Phil Roland
HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
Matthew 6:26-33
"Jesus is implicit on anxiety and worry. He is in control of us and our future. We are in His hands. We are to trust Him about EVERYTHING." Pastor Phil <><<
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Verses 1-18 - Spiritual Fasting / Prayer - How to Pray from the Heart
Verses 19- Reject Materialism - Seek the Kingdom
I. ANXIETY AND WORRY ARE USELESS ACTIVITIES - v. 25
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?"
A. Anxiety is Fear that Involuntarily causes an Adrenal Response
1. Definition: "Perceiving a threat where there is none"
2. Provokes the "Flight or Flight" Adrenal Response"
3. ANXIETY won't promote anything but Panic Attacks
"Anxiety is the interest paid on trouble before it is due"
B. Worry is an Addiction to Power and Control
1. Comes with the sudden realization you're not in control
2. Look in the mirror, remind yourself,
"I'm NOT the Master of the Universe!"
3. Look into the same mirror and slowly repeat,
"God's in Control!"
C. Jesus said it clearly that Worry is Useless - Luke 12:25
"And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"
D. Can Worry Add a Single Hour to your Life? v. 26
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his/her life?"
1. Anxiety Root Word = "To Divide;"
"To draw into different directions"
2. Roland's Interpretation: To be Torn about Something
3. Worry's Base is always Fear and Unbelief
HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW, cont., p.2
II. ANXIETY AND WORRY ARE NEEDLESS ACTIVITIES - v. 31
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'"
A. Worry can Help only 2% of your Issues
1. Business Researchers Study
2. 40% of your Worries Never Happen
3. 35% of your Worries Can't be Changed
4. 15% of your Worries become better than you expect
5. 8% of your Worries are on Useless, Petty Things
B. What do we worry about?
1. Raising or paying Interest on the National Debt?
2. Children we cannot Control
3. Money and what it buys
4. Jobs
5. Relationships. . .
6. Our Parents
7. Our Health
8. Our Future
C. Ask Yourself these Questions:
1. Do your children worry about having enough food?
2. Do they worry about what they will wear tomorrow?
3. Why would you think that God wouldn't provide for your needs?
D. POEM:
THANK GOD FOR DIRTY DISHES
Author Unknown
Thank God for dirty dishes;
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
We're eating very well
With home, health, and happiness,
I shouldn't want to fuss;
By the stack of evidence,
God's been very good to us.
III. ANXIETY AND WORRY ARE GODLESS ACTIVITIES - v. 32
"For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them."
A. People with no God in their Lives Run After these Things
1. Obsessed with Materialism
2. Acquisition of "Stuff" / "Things"
B. The Problem THEN and NOW is Wrong Values
1. World Runs after their own Needs and Desires
2. People lust after and long for things that don't last
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;" Matthew 6:19
HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW, cont., p.3
C. Charismatic Faith Movement Misses the Mark
1. FAITH misinterpreted as enabling ability to own/possess worldly stuff
2. The more STUFF you have, the more Faith you have
3. Appeal is to Lust and Greed
4. No God in this Approach, it is Godless - Psalm 39:6,7
"Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them. 7 "And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You."
D. Work for Jesus' Kingdom does not require ANXIETY or WORRY
"I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added
to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before
"Him.
E. POEM: "Overheard in an Orchard"
Overheard In An Orchard
Said the Robin to the Sparrow
"I would really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so."
Said the Sparrow to the Robin
"Friend I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."
--Elizabeth Chaney - 1859
“His Eye Is on the Sparrow.”
Have you ever wondered what the meaning behind a song is? This week we will take a look at different versions of one of the favorite “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” is a Gospel hymn. Although today it is a staple of African-American worship services, the song was originally written in 1905 by two white songwriters, lyricist Civilla D. Martin and composer Charles H. Gabriel. The song is most associated with actress-singer Ethel Waters who used the title for her autobiography.
The theme of the song is inspired by the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible, “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?” (Matthew 6:26) and “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).
http://praisecharlotte.com/inspiration/praisecharlotte/behind-the-song-his-eye-is-on-the-sparrow
HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW, Text
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Lyrics to His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Words By: Civilla D. Martin, 1905
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
Psalm 102:7 (NKJV)
7 I lie awake, And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.
Matthew 10:29-31 (NKJV)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
