The Father Knows
Jesus teaches us to trust God with our tomorrows, seeking his kingdom and righteousness first, and giving our future to him.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that Jesus calls us to live without anxiety about the future, reminding us that our heavenly Father knows our needs. He encourages believers to seek God's kingdom first, assuring us that God will provide for our needs as He does for the birds and flowers. Wilkerson highlights the futility of worrying about 'what if' scenarios, urging us to trust in God's faithfulness and provision. He challenges us to surrender our tomorrows to God just as we do with our pasts, recognizing that true peace comes from relying on Him rather than our own plans.
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Jesus calls us to a way of living that gives no thought about tomorrow and puts our future wholly into his hands: "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" (Matthew 6:31-34).
Jesus doesn't mean that we are not to plan ahead or do nothing about our future. Rather, he is saying, "Don't be anxious or troubled about tomorrow." When you think about it, most of our anxieties are about what might happen tomorrow. We're constantly harassed by two little words: What if?
"What if the economy fails, and I lose my job? How will I pay the mortgage? How will my family be able to survive? And what if I lose my health insurance? If I get sick or have to be hospitalized, we'll be ruined. Or, what if my faith fails me in trying times?" We all have a thousand "what if" anxieties.
Jesus interrupts our "what ifs" and tells us, "Your heavenly Father knows how to take care of you." He tells us further, "You don't need to worry. Your Fathers know you have need of all these things, and he won't ever forsake you. He is faithful to feed you, clothe you and take care to supply all your needs."
"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, not gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.... Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin...even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (Matthew 6:26, 28-30).
We gladly give all our yesterdays to the Lord, turning over to him our past sins. We trust him for forgiveness of all our past failures, doubts and fears. So, why don't we do the same with our tomorrows? The truth is, most of us cling tightly to our future, wanting the right to hold on to our dreams. We make our plans independent of God, and then later ask him to bless and fulfill those hopes and desires.
Sermon Outline
- I. Jesus' Teaching on Trusting God
- A. Don't worry about tomorrow, God knows your needs
- B. Seek God's kingdom and righteousness first
- C. God will provide for your needs
- II. The Problem of 'What If' Anxieties
- A. We worry about what might happen tomorrow
- B. Jesus interrupts our 'what ifs' with trust in God
- III. God's Faithfulness and Provision
- A. God feeds and clothes the birds of the air
- B. God clothes the lilies of the field
- C. God will much more clothe you, O ye of little faith
Key Quotes
“Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” — David Wilkerson
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, not gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.” — David Wilkerson
“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We should trust God to provide for our needs, rather than worrying about tomorrow.
- We should seek God's kingdom and righteousness first, rather than making plans independent of him.
- We should give our tomorrows to God, trusting him to fulfill our hopes and desires.