Pursuing What You Possess | Matthew Watley | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Pursuing What You Possess

Concord Church Dallas • Jun 28, 2026 • 36 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this powerful sermon on Luke 4:1–13, Rev. Matthew Watley challenges believers to stop chasing after things God has already provided. Drawing from Jesus' wilderness temptation and the opening chapters of Genesis, Pastor Watley explains that God has already blessed us with provision, prosperity, power, purpose, and peace. Rather than wearing a false identity or using illegitimate means to meet natural desires, we are called to stand on God's Word, embrace authentic worship, and recognize that pursuing God causes His blessings to chase us.

Themes

Identity in ChristSpiritual VictoryTemptation and TruthThe Power of God's WordAuthentic WorshipContentment and Provision

Key Points

1.
We exhaust ourselves trying to maintain a false self or 'avatar,' but true fulfillment is found only when we embrace who God created us to be.
2.
The classic story 'The Wiz' illustrates how people exhaust themselves searching for qualities and blessings they already possess in Christ.
3.
From creation in Genesis, God established believers with provision, prosperity, power, purpose, and peace.
4.
The wilderness is not a sign of God's abandonment, but the testing ground where spiritual character and identity are proven.
5.
Sin is defined as attempting to fulfill a legitimate need through an illegitimate means.
6.
God bestows gifts and blessings on us so that His grace can flow through us to be a blessing to others, not for selfish consumption.
7.
Feasting on the Word of God brings enduring satisfaction and spiritual authority that worldly pursuits can never replace.
8.
Believers are created to be authentic worshippers; genuine worship connects us to God and fills every empty gap in our lives.
9.
Satan cannot destroy a believer under God's hedge of protection, so he attempts to trick us into self-destruction.
10.
You do not need to chase blessings—when you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, His blessings will run after and overtake you.

Sermon Moments

“The Whiz Illustration: The Tin Man, Lion, Scarecrow, and Dorothy spent their entire journey desperately searching for qualities and keys they possessed all along.”

“The False Self/Avatar: We spend inordinate time creating a representative mask for the world because we struggle to accept who God made us to be.”

“Definition of Sin: Sin is trying to meet a legitimate need with an illegitimate means.”

“Blessings Flow Through You: God didn't bless you for you; God sent the blessing to you that it might go through you to bless someone else.”

“Wilderness vs. Mountaintop: Character is proven in the valley and wilderness when resources are thin, not on the comfortable mountaintop.”

“One Word From God: One word from God will change the trajectory of your destiny and bring lasting fulfillment.”

“Satan's Trick to Jump: The enemy knows God's hedge of protection stops him from destroying you, so he tries to trick you into jumping and destroying yourself.”

“Chase God, Not Blessings: You don't have to chase after blessings; seek first the Kingdom of God, and your blessings will run after and overtake you.”

This Week

Lay down your false mask or 'avatar' this week and commit to being transparent and authentic before God and others.

Identify any legitimate physical or emotional needs you are attempting to satisfy through illegitimate or harmful habits, and surrender them to God.

Dedicate deliberate time each day to reading and meditating on Scripture rather than consuming media.

Use the resources, skills, or blessings God has given you to serve someone else in need this week.

Reframing current trials or 'wilderness moments' as opportunities to demonstrate faith and rely on God's strength.

Cultivate daily moments of unhurried, sincere worship, focusing on praising God for His character and faithfulness.

Stop striving for worldly applause or validation, resting instead in the approval God has already spoken over you in Christ.

Remember This

Stop exhausting yourself chasing what God has already given you; when you pursue God and His Word, His blessings will follow you.

A Challenge for You

Stop pursuing what you already possess. Stop hungering for worldly applause and approval, and learn to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Chase Jesus, seek His kingdom first, and trust that His goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.