Treasure These

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Date: 28 October, 

Text: 

Title: Treasure These

Introduction:

 ill. I mentioned on Wednesday that I had been listening to the book of Jeremiah while I was out running this week. There was a phrase that I began to meditate on as I was running....

Jer. 31:16  Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

 def.  reward: compensation, benefit,...

 Matthew Henry - "The reward of thy work:—Thy suffering work shall be rewarded. The comforts of the deliverance shall be sufficient to balance all the grievances of thy captivity." God makes his people glad according to the days wherein he has afflicted them, and so there is a proportion between the joys and the sorrows, as between the reward and the work. The glory to be revealed, which the saints hope for in the end, will abundantly countervail the sufferings of this present time, Rom. 8:18."

Romans 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

exp. God would give them grace in their time of captivity, but would also wonderfully restore them and REWARD THEM AS HIS PEOPLE.

God had a great future plan for them.

13  ...for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

14  And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

17  And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

25  For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.

 exp. They had present difficulties - but God promised that it would be worth it all in the end if they would submit to His plan and trust His goodness.

"THY WORK SHALL BE REWARDED" - it's not in vain you are enduring these things.

exp. God would remind us this morning that OUR WORK SHALL BE REWARDED 

- if we treasure the things that are eternal things.

1 Corinthians 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

exp. The truth is - we can live our life for things that God says "your work will be rewarded" eternal things or we can live them for things that will burn up.

 ill. Jesus said - 

Matthew 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

exp. If we live for this life - it's corruptible. 

ill. spate of cars being stolen in Midlothian. They haven't touched my Jazz, but rust did - new exhaust put on this week.

 app. The things of this life are corruptible.

20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

exp. We are to invest in things eternal. (That is the focus of our consideration this morning.)

21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 exp. WHAT YOU TREASURE IS WHAT HAS CAPTIVATED YOUR HEART.

You ought to treasure eternal things. (Only those things are eternal treasures.)

(What has captivated your heart? What's your treasure?)

Prayer:

I. Treasure salvation.

 ill. Have you ever seen a raffle - many names put into a prize draw,  someone's name is drawn out and they are rewarded. BUT NOT IF THEY ARE NOT THERE. You have to be there to claim the prize otherwise it will be given to someone else.

exp. Obviously - you won't reap anything in eternity if you are not in Heaven. 

(TREASURE SALVATION)

A. Obtain Jesus' inheritance.

1 Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

note: salvation is to be "begotten again - by God's mercy - by faith in Jesus death and resurrection.)

 ill. For me - as a child I went down to my dad's study - prayed in faith for Jesus to forgive me of my sin and save me - THAT IS WHEN I BECAME A CHILD OF GOD.

3 ... begotten us again unto a lively hope.....

4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

app. Now - if you have been born again - God has put you into the will. You are now have an inheritance in Heaven. 

B. Obtain Jesus'priviliges.

Romans 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

exp. Jesus has entered into an amazing reward for His faithfulness to God the Father in purchasing our redemption. He has all the glory of Heaven and the glory of the Kingdom of God.

 note: If we SUFFER WITH HIM - identify with Him - we will also partake of His glory.

 ill. When someone gets saved - they are to follow the Lord in Believer's baptism - identifying themselves with Him and His church.

 exp. Some people are scared to do that - they are afraid to suffer for Jesus - but if they will enter into His suffering, they will enter into HEAVENLY REWARD.

ill. I was handing out literature Monday evening in Edinburgh - "haughty scorner" young lady who is an atheist. I said, "Well, God still loves you and He still exists." She gave me a blank stare. I said, "Well, you can take it or leave it."

exp. Later I was thinking - I am handing out tickets to Heaven from Jesus (purchased by His death on the cross) people do not treasure this truth and THEY SHOULD.

 app.  If you want to be rewarded - you had better obtain salvation and identify yourself with Jesus and His work.

transition: Treasure salvation - and your work shall be rewarded.

II. Treasure doing God's will.

exp. Salvation is the beginning - you have now been given a stewardship use it wisely.

 ill. Jesus parable of the talents - each man given a different amount of money to invest for his master. Two servants doubled what was given them - the other did not do the master's will and instead buried the talent.

Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

 app. Now that we are saved - we need to treasure doing God's will.

A. Do God's will carefully.

1 John 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

exp. God has a plan for your life as a believer - the plan is called - THE WILL OF GOD. Satan tries through temptation to get you out of the will of God.

 notice - what is rewardable in these verses.

- Live for the world and lust - "The passeth away, and the lust thereof."

- Live for God and do His will - "He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (reward)

 ill. In competitive sports - you want to keep your opponent from being rewarded.

- football - you have a goalie and defensive players to keep them from rewards.

- In rugby - you are guarding the try zone - preventing the opposing team from getting a try.

 note: Satan wants Christians to live their life for things that are valueless and things that destroy.

 ill. I mentioned C. T. Studd - on Wednesday night - He lived his life for the will of God.

- He was a professional cricketer - but that has no reward in eternity.

- He was a son of a wealthy family - and could have gone into business.

 poem by C. T. Studd - "Only one life twill soon be past, only whats done for Christ will last."

 exp. If God calls you into secular work - you can do that work to the glory of God

IF IT IS GOD'S WILL AND YOU LIVE FOR ETERNITY. 

Ill. Church Treasurer - at Charlotte St. chapel - preserved the church.... godly lay people are the backbone of the church. THE POINT IS LIVE TO DO GOD'S WILL CAREFULLY.

 app. Satan wants Christians living for wicked and wasted desires that will not be rewarded.

B. Do God's will robustly.

1 Corinthians 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

exp. The reward you will receive is proportional to your OWN labour.

 ill. Kay Lee is loving Ambassador - the professors and class work. One of her professors is known to tease home schoolers. (A large portion of the student body are home schooled.) He has a home school mum apron - that he'll wear to class just to make the students comfortable.

  exp. He's just teasing the kids - they have obviously made the grade and are making the grade because they had good parents that REALLY MADE THEM DO THE WORK.

 note: But, imagine a parent who did everything for the child and the child refuses to do their work.

WHEN THEY GET TO UNI - IT WILL BE EVIDENT - they will be reward for their own work.

 exp. As a church we are working. (Making decisions, coming together to worship, doing evangelism, seeking to build the church numerically and physically....) 

IT TAKES AN INVESTMENT OF TIME AND EFFORT. WE CAN ALL TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT GOD IN HIS GRACE IS DOING THROUGH US - in this life.

 app. But, when we stand before God - our reward is not based upon what our church did - it is according to OUR OWN LABOUR. I'm saying to us today - ROBUSTLY - do God's will and you will have a significant reward.

 transition: 

If you want a reward, treasure eternal things - treasure salvation, treasure doing God's will. 

III. Treasure heavenly affections. (Colossians 3)

 exp. Our main text from Jesus sermon on the mount says - FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO.

app. You will not be rewarded if your affection is on things of this earth.

A. Do not love earthly things.

Colossians 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

exp. If you are saved, God says DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

1. Kill that which brings God's wrath.

Colossians 3:5  Mortify (put to death) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

question: To whom is Paul writing - the church of Colasae - believers....

 exp. Kill sinful passions that have origins in your heart.... God's wrath is upon these.

 ill. Did you see the video in the news this past week - of an attempted robbery at a petrol station. Former Marine - turns around slaps the gun away - punches the guy - 2 gatorades, 2 energy drinks

 exp. The man was awarded the other  man was put behind bars.

  app. If we want a reward, we need to kill that which brings God's wrath.

2. Cast off the old man and his deeds.

Colossians 3: 7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

exp. You used to have these wicked passions in your life, and wicked deeds. (anger, cursing, lying...)

 ill. Prisoner professed faith - always skeptical - conversion looks good on your record - this guy said, "I cheated - I had to apologize. I cursed - I had to apologize."

 exp. He was casting off the old man and his deeds.

 app. When you got saved - the old man died with Jesus. The new man can be rewarded the old man can not. (Cast him aside and get rid of his lifestyle.) DO NOT LOVE EARTHLY THINGS.

B. Love being made into the image of Jesus.

ill. Jim Berg - Dean of Men at BJU when I was a student - wrote a book - Changed into His image.

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

exp. Love Jesus and HIs image being seen in your life.

Colossians 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

exp. Your identification used to be earthly - Scottish, South African, American.... it could have been religious.... a believer's identification is JESUS. (You are a new Creation in Christ.)

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 ill. The great men and women of faith all lived as if they were not from this world.

Hebrews 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

 app. Are you living in life as a pilgrim or as a citizen? Are you like God's people or the world?

YOU CAN TELL BY CONSIDERING YOUR AFFECTION - loving the world?/Jesus?

"Set your affection on things above - not on things on the earth!" Treasure heavenly affection.

transition:

If you want a reward, treasure eternal things 

- treasure salvation, treasure doing God's will, treasure heavenly affection.

IV. Treasure sacrifice.

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 ill. try something this week - if you take a bus - when you get on - say....

- let's hear it for our bus driver - ask him to step out and take a bow - maybe reach in and blow the horn so everyone can see what an exceptional job the driver is doing driving the bus.

exp. I'm thankful for bus drivers and give them my thanks as I exit the bus - but they are simply doing their reasonable service which you expect from all bus drivers.

exp. God says in his word - THAT PUTTING YOURSELF ON THE ALTAR

- while you are living.

- in holiness 

- in a way that is pleasing to God.

 app. Is not commendable - it is expected of EVERY PERSON WHO IS SAVED. 

(treasure sacrifice)

A. Die to live.

Mark 8:35  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

exp. We don't like sacrifice.

 ill. I'm trying to be disciplined and do some work outs - push ups - 3 sets - I don't like to do it.

 exp. If it's painful - we have to make ourselves do it.

 question: Do you make yourself do anything out of obedience to God?

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

app. You won't be rewarded if you DON'T SACRIFICE and deny yourself and take up the instrument of death.

B. Forsake to receive. 

Mark 10:28  Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

30  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

exp. This person does not earn their salvation - but God clearly says THERE IS A BIG REWARD in life and in eternity for those who leave family to follow Jesus.

  note: This could be somebody risking a relationship to obey Jesus - get saved, baptized, church....

This could be somebody physically moving away to another area for the purpose of God's will....

 app. IF GOD CALLED YOU WOULD YOU GO? IS GOD CALLING YOU, have you gone?

transition:Do you want a reward....

- treasure salvation, treasure doing God's will, treasure heavenly affection, treasure sacrifice.

V. Treasure investing in eternity.

 ill. I have some financial investments in retirement accounts. I'm also a home owner and am investing in equity in our property. (These are earthly investments that are not unwise.)

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS ARE ETERNAL.

exp. Our starting text is about financial investment in God's work.

Matthew 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (this is obviously financial)

20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

app. Our primary financial investments ought to be in God's work.

A. Do not give to please men.

Mat 6:1  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

 exp. Jesus assumes that God's people will give to God's Work - but forbids them doing that to please men.

 ill. Ananias and Saphira - wanted to be seen of men.

app. We are to give what we give for God and for His glory.

2Co 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

(Do not give to please men....)

B. Do give to God's work. (Luke 16) 

1. Your investment in God's work impacts the Kingdom of Heaven.

Luke 16:9  And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

 ill. If you have given to missions - those who get saved in Romania (Calins), Northern Scotland (Olmsteads) ministry - will shake your had in glory. If you have given to God's work here - those who get saved through our ministry (many we will never meet) will shake your hand.

 app. Your financial investments impacts the Kingdom of Heaven. (That's rewardable.)

2. Your investment in God's work is your smallest stewardship.

10  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

11  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

exp. This is the least, but is shows whether God can trust you with greater things. Why would God give greater stewardships to those who can't rightly handle what they have been given.

ill. Parable of the talents.

Mat 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

app. We desire eternal reward - we need to be faithful stewards to gain them.

3. Your investment in God's work reveals your future reward.

12  And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

 ill. In the parable of the talents - the servants were put over cities.

app. Our finances are given to us by God. We only have them because God is good. We get our own in eternity. (We need to use his properly to be rewarded.)

4. Your investment in God's work reveals your master.

13  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

exp. Some people live for money - other people live for God.

ill. C. T. Studd - lived for God not money - gave up his inheritance to go as a missionary, ""If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.""

app. Do you treasure investing in eternity? You can tell what you love by what you spend.

conclusion: 

God said to Israel through Jeremiah, "Your work shall be rewarded." It will be worth it all.

question: What do you have today - gold, silver, precious stones - wood hay stubble?

WHERE IS YOUR HEART TODAY?

1.) Do you treasure salvation? (surely you will get saved today.)

2) Do you treasure doing God's will? (Carefully, robustly....)

3) Do you treasure heavenly affection? (Love the world? Love Christ likeness?)

4) Do you treasure sacrifice? (Dying to live, Forsaking to receive?)

5) Do you treasure investing in eternity? (Does your bank statement agree with you?)

- Who will welcome you into glory?

- Is it your money or God's money?

God help us to live our life for THAT WHICH SHALL BE REWARDED.