Mars Hill Fellowship

Misdefined By A Low Appraisal

SERIES |

Navigating Through The Ups and Downs of real.life

SCRIPTURE |

Matthew 6:19-21; 6:25-34

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.   To appraise means “to evaluate the worth, significance, or status of” something (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

1. The consequence of a low appraisal is that we do not have an accurate picture of our identity and we respond to circumstances based upon our appraisals.
2. Recent studies show the end results of an incorrect appraisal of the life that God intends for us.
1. American Psychological Association – Stress in America Survey 2012 noted the top sources of stress include money (69 percent), work (65 percent), the economy (61 percent), family responsibilities (57 percent), relationships (56 percent), family health problems (52 percent) and personal health concerns (51 percent).

II.  Worry enters into our hearts when we have a low appraisal of our value in God’s sight

1. Worry rejects God love towards us. We are too busy trying to solve the issue rather than receiving God’s love THROUGH our issue.
2. Worry underestimates our value to God and to the kingdom of God. We rationalize that if God truly valued us, we wouldn’t have to go the circumstances that we are facing.
3. Worry destroys faith and places our circumstances above God’s sovereignty. We see our way out of the circumstance as the only viable option and lose faith in God’s ability to do the impossible.
4. Worry causes us to make distorted actions based upon survival rather than our God-ordained purpose. We make idols out of our need for comfort rather than our submission to the will of God.

III.  In Matthew 6, Jesus identified three sources of anxiety:

1. Our bodies: We worry over the length of our lives and the state of our health. Will our day-to-day life provide a meaningful existence?
2. Our food: We worry over what we will eat and drink. Will God sustain me and my dreams?
3. Our clothes: We worry about being in fashion or out of fashion. We fall into the comparison trap and wonder whether we are accepted.

IV.  Lessons from God’s creation

1. The birds of the air: birds do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them (Verse 26)
2. Lilies of the field and grass of the field: The lilies of the field do not labor or spin. Yet, Solomon in all his splendor was not as beautiful as one of the lilies of the field.
1. Jesus instructs us to learn carefully from the grass of the field which is here today and gone tomorrow yet beautifully arrayed by God.
3. Jesus is not encouraging laziness but providing us with the proper means to appraise our value in God’s sight.  God’s providence and care are abundantly rich for His creation.

VI.   Jesus concludes this discourse by reminding his hearers: “Are you not much more valuable than they [the birds and the lilies of the field]?”

1. Our value to God is not derived from what we have done for Him but on the basis of His great love towards us.
1. Titus 3:3-8  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
2. What metrics does God use to appraise our value?
1. We are the only part of creation that bears His image in the earth. (Genesis 1:26-27)
2. We are twice bought. Even though we already belonged to God through creation, Jesus paid the price to ransom us from the grips of the prince of this world. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
3. We are adopted. We are part of the family of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:4-7)
3. These metrics have nothing to do with performance but everything to do with accepting and receiving Christ as our Savior.

VII.  A fundamental flaw that can creep into our theology is the belief that if God values and cares about us then He will never allow us to encounter difficult situations or circumstances that may potentially cause us anxiety.

1. God cares SO MUCH for us that he doesn’t allow areas to remain in us that tarnish the beauty of his glory.  He refines us BECAUSE of his great love and care.
2. John 16:33 reminds us that “In this world [we] will have trouble. But take heart! [Jesus has] overcome the world.”
3. Knowing our value in Christ helps us to walk in faith during the ups and downs of real.life.

Sermon: Misdefined by a Low Appraisal