This message was preached by Adrian Tan at His Sanctuary Singapore on Sunday, 23 January 2011. He shared about the importance of renewing one's mind, the meaning of choosing to serve God and what such service looks like.

1. Serve One Master Thoughts from Matthew 6

2. A Man’s True Worth Life, faculties, production--in other words, individuality, liberty, property -- this is man. And in spite of the cunning of artful political leaders, these three gifts from God precede all human legislation, and are superior to it.

3. Common Aspirations of People Self-preservation and self-development are common aspirations among all people. And if everyone enjoyed the unrestricted use of his faculties and the free disposition of the fruits of his labor, social progress would be ceaseless, uninterrupted, and unfailing.

4. A Fatal Tendency of Mankind But there is also another tendency that is common among people. When they can, they wish to live and prosper at the expense of others. The annals of history bear witness to the truth of it: the incessant wars, mass migrations, religious persecutions, universal slavery, dishonesty in commerce, and monopolies.

5. Origins of this Fatal Tendency This fatal desire has its origin in the very nature of man -- in that primitive, universal, and insuppressible instinct that impels him to satisfy his desires with the least possible pain. Claude Frédéric Bastiat (30 June 1801 – 24 December 1850) was a French classical liberal theorist, political economist, and member of the French assembly.

6. Matthew 6: 22,23 (NASB) The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

7. INTERPRETATION: THE EYE IS THE DOOR WAY TO THE MIND

8. Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB) Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be.

9. CONTRASTS – Matthew 6:1-18 Treasures on Earth Making a loud spectacle when giving (v. 2) Draws attention to self when praying (v. 5) Prays repeatedly for personal needs (v.7, 31,32) Unforgiving, tormented (v.15) Makes a show of fasting SELF-CENTRED Treasures in Heaven Left hand don’t know when the right is giving (v.3) Seeks an audience with God alone when praying (v.6) Prays the prayer of the Kingdom Forgiving and set free to be (v.14) Looks normal & well kept GOD-CENTRED

10. Matthew 6:24 (NASB) No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (Mammon). * Wealth is beyond just money.

11. To Serve God is: To Acknowledge God as Father & the Agenda of Heaven (v.9, 10) in our lives To ManifestGod and Heaven on Earth (v.10-13) – provision, forgiveness and deliverance. To Give God full ownership of what is rightfully His (v. 13) – kingdom, power & glory. Stop becoming a worrier & start being a warrior (Matthew 6:25-34) – SEEK FIRST

12. LUKE 4:18,19 THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.