The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 5

 The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 5

Subject – How to Start the Journey of Generous Giving

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--Pastor Rick, I want to start this journey of generous giving but I am not sure how to get started. As always, let’s go to God’s Word and see what He says.

Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)
³⁰  "'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.

--I love the story about the interesting soldier and politician Sam Houston. He came to Christ and after his baptism he wanted to pay for half of the local pastor’s salary. Someone asked him why?

Houston – My pocketbook was baptized too.

--The meaning of the word “tithe” is “a tenth part.” Ten percent was to be given (brought to) the Lord. There were to be freewill offerings but the tithe belonged to God and was mandatory. 

--Some argue this was just for the farmers but in 2 Chron. 31:5 it says the people of Israel brought a tithe of everything. We are to give to God first, not last.

Proverbs 3:9 (NIV) ⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 

--When God’s children were not giving as they had been instructed listen to what God said to them:

Malachi 3:8-10 (NIV)
⁸  "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.
⁹  You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me.
¹⁰  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 

--But, Pastor Rick, everything you have read has been Old Testament. Let’s see what Jesus said about tithing:

Matthew 23:23 (NKJV)
²³  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

--There is much debate about whether tithing is for us today or not. Even websites dedicated to speaking against it. All examples of life in the New Testament actually went beyond the Old Testament. NT is harder. Example.

Matthew 5:21-22 (NLT2)
²¹  “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’
²²  But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! 

1. Giving in the Church

--Maybe you are one of those people who believe that each of us should only give what we feel in our hearts we should give. You may feel the early church fathers were wrong when they said the tithe was the minimal. 

Alcorn’s Prayer – “God, do you really expect less of me---who has your Holy Spirit within and lives in the wealthiest society in human history---than you expected of the poorest Israelite?”

--The truth is, the majority of Christians do not believe in or practice tithing, but instead, embrace “grace giving,” whether or not they use that term, let’s consider what that looks like for real.

--Most of the studies done over the last several decades indicate that American Christians give an average of 2 or 3% of their income to the church. One out of 4 protestants give no money at all, not even a token offering.

--What is troubling to me is that in such a wealthy society like ours, that our giving amounts only to a fraction of the First Covenant Standard (a tenth) and the Word of God.

--Sounds like to me if you want to call your giving “grace giving” that many do not have an appreciation for the amazing grace of God that has been poured out on us. How can we not be givers when God gave His Son Jesus?

--Could it be that what we have been teaching about giving (tithing and offerings) is either not true or the message is not getting through to a generation who says they depend so much on God’s grace?

--Tithing is God’s biblical and historical means of getting His people on the path of generous giving. It is only the gateway. It’s unhealthy to think tithing is a place to stop but instead, a place to start.

--Tithing is not the ceiling; it is only the floor of giving. It’s not the finish line, it’s the starting blocks. Tithing can launch us into a beautiful mindset and habit of generous giving.

--Nothing I read indicates that God has changed His mind about our giving. In Malachi 3:8 it indicates the Israelites were robbing God not only with the mandatory tithe but with freewill offerings too.

--The Apostle Paul talked about volunteer giving but he also indicated it was to be done in obedience. God still has expectations of us even when the offerings are viewed as voluntary. 

2 Corinthians 9:12-13 (NIV)
¹²  This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
¹³  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

--Don’t ever worry that you do not give the same amount as someone else but He wants us to give in proportion to how He has blessed us. I have always said, not equal giving but equal sacrifice.

Deuteronomy 16:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you.

--I have heard preachers tell people and I have heard people say I will start with 5%. Remember robbing God? It is like saying I used to rob six banks a week but now I will only rob three. It is still stealing.

--The point is not to rob God less; it is to not rob Him at all. People would be giving more by the 5% and the church could benefit from it. Don’t forget God doesn’t look at just what you give, He looks at what you keep. 

--If you would talk to as many people as I have talked to who have found the joy of living a generous life style, you would catch the heart of giving. It’s fun to bless God and people.

2. Don’t Throw Out Tithing.

--Tithing is often the means God uses to help people see how much they could truly be blessed. Because of how blessed our family has been from generous giving, it is hard to understood the animosity toward it.

--Yes, tithing has been abused but don’t throw out the baby of tithing with the bathwater of a few who abuse it. People abuse cars by driving reckless and speeding but I have no desire to walk or ride horses. God said…

Malachi 3:10 (NIV)
¹⁰  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

--It is ironic, many people say and suppose they can’t afford to give precisely because they are not giving and experiencing God’s blessings. What did God say to people when they failed to give.

Haggai 1:5-6 (NIV)
⁵  Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways.
⁶  You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.

--God didn’t allow their money to go far because they were stingy and disobedient to His commands of giving.

 Haggai 1:9 (NIV) ⁹ "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.

3. Obedient Faith Can Bring Breakthrough. 

--When we put God first (bringing the firstfruits – tithes and missions first), we invite the blessings of God to help us with our own finances and debts we owe. 

--How much of our harvest (our money) is blown away because we don’t make giving to God, to missions, and to others a priority? No wonder we don’t have enough. It’s a vicious cycle, it takes obedient faith to break out.

--If you say you cannot afford to tithe, think about this…If all of a sudden your income was cut by ten percent, would you die? It is possible with our new leadership. If your answer is no, you admitted you can afford to tithe.

--I say this to people quite often, is it better to live on 90% of your income with God’s blessings or on 100% of your income without God’s blessings. Truly, it all belongs to Him so why not have obedient faith. 

Leviticus 27:30-31 (NIV)
³⁰  "'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
³¹  If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it.

--Tithing is like a toddler’s first steps: they aren’t his last or best steps, but they are a good start. Pastor Rick, I am a New Testament giver! I am no longer under the law. Ok, let’s look at NT giving.

Acts 4:32& 34-35 (NIV)
³²  All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
³⁴  There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
³⁵  and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 

Book of James – Chapter One - 4

 Book of James – Chapter One - 4

The Way to Conquer Trials & Temptations - 2

By Bob Yothers

James 1:5-12 

   To overcome and conquer trials and temptations we must ask God for wisdom, rejoice in our position, and remember the reward for persevering is a crown of life.

   ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.⁹ Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.¹² Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ESV.

   To overcome and conquer trials and temptations we must rejoice in our position: VV9-11.

   

   Revelation 3²¹ The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. ESV.

   

   Romans 8¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. ESV.

 

   Matthew 19³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and the last first. NLT.

   To overcome & conquer we must ask God for wisdom, rejoice in our position and remember the reward for enduring is a crown of life - V12. 

   

   D.L. Moody described heaven this way: The paradise of Eden was as nothing compared with [heaven]. … Think of a place where temptation cannot come. Think of a place where we will be free from sin; where pollution cannot enter, and where the righteous shall reign forever. Think of a city … without griefs or graves, without sins or sorrows.³ 

   The Fellowship of the Unashamed

   "I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals. 

   "I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power. 

   "My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. 

   I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. 

   "I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. 

   "And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16.⁴

   We can overcome and conquer as we ask God for wisdom, rejoicing in our position, remembering the reward for enduring is a crown of life.

The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 4

 The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 4

Subject – We Should not Live for the Dot but Live for the Line

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Luke 12:15 (NIV)
¹⁵  Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 

--Why is it that so many people have roadblocks to giving? We know Christ commands us to give and we know He promises great rewards for giving. Maybe we even believe that giving brings happiness.

--So why is it so hard to give? The roadblocks can be unbelief, insecurity, pride, idolatry, and a lack of trust in God. Our culture and even some of our churches make it normal to keep more than we give. It’s my money!

--It appears that the greatest deterrent to giving is the illusion that this earth is our home. We must understand that Heaven and the future New Earth, not this earth, is our home.

--Think about it…the Bibles says we are pilgrims, strangers, aliens on Earth. We are just ambassadors here.

Hebrews 11:13 (NIV)
¹³  All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV) ²⁰ We are therefore Christ's ambassadors…

Philippians 3:20 (NIV) ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 11:16 (NIV) ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 

--Where we choose to store our treasures depends largely on where we think our home is. Let’s say America is your home but you are in Spain doing work and staying in a hotel for three months. 

--You are told you cannot bring anything back with you on the airline but you can make money and send it back home by making deposits. Would you buy expensive furniture for your hotel room?

--Of course not, you would only spend what you needed in your temporary residence, sending your money (treasures) ahead so they would be there waiting on you when you got home in America.

--The Bridegroom is getting ready for us by building us a place in Heaven. Everything we do for Him, everything we send on ahead, will be waiting for us there. Treasures in Heaven. 

--Jesus was a builder by trade. Can you even imagine what kind of place He has been preparing for us for the last 2000 years? We need to stop trying to furnish our temporary hotel room and send more to our eternal home.

1. We Should not Live for the Dot but for the Line.

--Think about this…everything that we put so much emphasis on will all be burned with fire. It will disappear.

2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

--Consider this…Our houses, cars, boats, motorcycles, phones, computers, furniture, private jets, everything will burn and be gone. We have heard, he who dies with the most toys wins. This is more accurate:

Alcorn – He who dies with the most toys still dies—and leaves his toys behind. When we die after devoting our lives to acquiring things, we don’t win—we lose. We move into eternity, but our stuff stays behind, filling junkyards.

--Think about your lives in terms of the dot (0) and the line. Our lives have two phases: one a dot, the other a line. Our present life on earth is the dot. It begins. It ends. It’s brief.

0------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ETERNITY

James 4:14 (NIV) ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

--From the dot extends a line that goes on forever. That line is eternity, which Christians will spend in Heaven.

--Right now we are living in the dot but what are we living for? The shortsighted person lives only for the dot. The person with the right perspective lives for the line…eternity. Which are you living for?

2. Giving is Living for the Line.

Matthew 6:20 (NIV) ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…

--All of us will part with our money. The only question is when. We have no choice but to part with it later. But we do have a choice whether to part with it now. Say what?

--We can keep our earthy treasures for the moment and we may be getting some temporary enjoyment from them. But if we give them away, we’ll enjoy eternal treasures that will never be taken from us. 

Missionary Jim Elliot – He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

--If you hear those words and think Elliot was just one of those super spiritual types who did not think about gain, you missed the point. Re-read. 

--Gain was exactly what he was talking about. He just wanted the gain he could not lose. He wanted his treasure in Heaven not here on earth. He was living for the line not for the dot. 

--People get caught up in living for the dot. Moms and dads spend about six times more time shopping than they do playing with their kids. More people in America file bankruptcy than graduate from college. 

--Listen to people whose treasures were in the dot and their responses, very sobering:

W.H. Vanderbilt – The care of $200 million is enough to kill a person. There is no pleasure in it.

John D. Rockefeller – I have made millions, but they have brought me no happiness. 

Andrew Carnegie – Millionaires seldom smile. 

John Jacob Astor – I am the most miserable man on Earth.

Henry Ford – I was happier doing a mechanic’s job.

--There have been shows on TV telling us about the misery of lottery winners a few years after they won. 

--We think we own our possessions, but too often they own us. Nothing makes a journey more difficult than a heavy backpack filled with nice but unnecessary things. Pilgrims travel light. Please know, money is not evil.

A.W. Tozer – As base a thing as money is, it yet can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor; it can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality. 

--If America being blessed with so much wealth is the disease, what’s the cure? If materialism is the poison, what’s the antidote? Paul answers:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)
¹⁷  Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
¹⁸  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
¹⁹  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

--Paul brings us back to what we have been trying to share about laying up treasure in Heaven. The giving of our resources here on this earth is laying a solid foundation in Heaven for us. A great retirement plan!

--Paul says that being “generous” and “rich in good deeds” allows us to “take hold of the life that is truly life.” This is the abundant life Jesus promised, in contrast to the superficial, money centered life that leaves us empty.

3. Giving is the Cure for Materialism.

--The very act of giving is a vivid reminder that life is all about God, not about us. It’s declaring that I am not the point, He is the point. He does not exist for me. I exist for Him.

--God’s money has a higher purpose than my material comfort. Giving is a joyful surrender to a greater Person (God) and to His greater agenda. Giving takes me off the throne and exalts Christ. It breaks the money god.

--As long as I have something in my possession, I’m tempted to believe I own it. But when I give it away, I relinquish control. Remember:

 Psalm 24:1 (NLT2) ¹ The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. 

--When we give what we have away we recognize God as owner, ourselves as servants, and others as those He wants us to bless. I shift having my treasure here on earth to storing up treasure in Heaven. 

--I understand money is not all we can give. Time, wisdom, and meeting felt needs are all wonderful too. When we give these things out of love, these things will no doubt result in treasures in Heaven.

--Giving is the cure for materialism. Again, listen to Paul speaking to all of us who have been blessed:

1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NKJV)
¹⁸  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
¹⁹  storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Missionary Jim Elliot – He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 3

 The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 3

Subject – My Heart Always Goes Where I Put God’s Money

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--If you were to go to Cairo, Egypt, and find your way down one of their allies you would find an overgrown graveyard for American missionaries. You would find a name…William Borden 1887-1913.

--Borden was a Yale graduate and heir to great wealth. He rejected a life of ease in order to take the gospel to Muslims. He even refused to buy himself a car and gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to missions.

--After only four months on the mission’s field in Egypt he contracted meningitis and died at the age of 25. As you dust off the epitaph, after talking about his love and sacrifice for the Muslim people the inscription said:

Epitaph for William Borden – Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for such a life. 

--If you leave the graveyard you can drive to an Egyptian Museum where King Tut was buried. He died at the age of 17. He was buried with solid gold chariots and thousands of golden artifacts. 

--His gold coffin was buried within gold tombs within gold tombs. Ancient Egyptians believed that you could take your earthly treasures with you into the afterlife. 

--But all the treasures that were intended for King Tuts enjoyment in the afterlife stayed right there where they were buried for more than 3000 years until Howard Carter discovered them in 1922. 

--What a contrast of two graves. Borden’s grave was obscure, dusty, and hidden off a back street littered with garbage. Tut’s grave glittered with unimaginable wealth. Yet, where are these two men now?

--One who lived in opulence (luxury) and called himself a king now lives in eternity without Christ. The other lived modestly in service to the true King of kings, is enjoying his everlasting reward in Jesus’ presence.

--Tut’s life was tragic because he discovered too late that you can’t take it with you. Borden’s life was one of triumph because instead of leaving his treasures, he sent them on ahead. 

1. Our Eternal Rewards 

--If you think Heaven is just a place where you sit on a cloud and strum a harp for eternity, you will probably dread going there. Maybe laying on the cloud and sleeping for about a hundred years would be good. So tired.

--But on the other hand, if you read the Word and believe it, Heaven will be an exciting place of worship, of relief from pain and sorrow, of receiving rewards for our faithfulness, and most of all, seeing Jesus. Wow!

--Think about this; Jesus notices everything we do in His Name. God keeps very good records of all we do.

Matthew 10:42 (NIV)
⁴²  And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Malachi 3:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ …A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored His name. 

--Try to imagine this…someone in Heaven has the responsibility to record the things you do here on earth to be a blessing. That bike you gave, the extra money you gave a waitress, money to missionaries, all recorded.

Luke 16:9-10 (NLT2)
⁹  Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
¹⁰  “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. 

--This blows my mind…the people I help on this earth through random acts of kindness or through my mission’s giving will welcome me into their homes in Heaven. They will be my friends for eternity. Wow!

--Yes, we will celebrate and worship Jesus as our eternal reward but we will also have fellowship with those we have blessed financially and those we have led to the Lord. Heaven will be so exciting.

2. Store Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--You cannot understand what Jesus is trying to say in this passage as long as you think it is wrong to value treasure in Heaven. You must believe it is right to do what Jesus tells you to do…Store up for yourselves…

--People often say that they believe it is wrong or ungodly for us to want rewards even if it is in Heaven. The Word is filled with promises about rewards for those who are faithful to God. 

Alcorn – If it were wrong to want rewards, Christ wouldn’t offer rewards as motivation. Rewards are God’s idea, not ours. Love for God, love for people, and compassion for the poor are all vitally important. But these motives for giving are in no way contrary to the fact that God calls us to be motivated by rewards. 

--Sometimes we want to give to people who can give us something back. If we give to those who can’t reward us, Christ guarantees He will personally reward us with treasures waiting on us in Heaven. Verses please!

Luke 14:12-14 (NLT2)
¹²  Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward.
¹³  Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
¹⁴  Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

--I believe this includes helping those who are poor but also those who are poor spiritually, giving to missions.

3. Our Hearts in the Right Place.

--God promises us wonderful rewards in Heaven and on the New Earth free from the curse…no more tears, sorrow, pain, or even death. We will be with the One Who gave Himself for us!

--Even though this is absolutely true, many Christians dread the thought of leaving this world. Why? We have stored up so many treasures here on this earth. Each day brings us closer to death and closer to losing our…

--I remember my father-in-law sitting on our porch out in the country and saying something, in light of this sermon, that was powerful and sobering. “Why would you want to ever leave this and go to Heaven?”

--How tightly are we hanging on to the things, the treasures, of this world? How many treasures are we laying up in Heaven by our extreme generosity? Why is that important? It shows us where our hearts are.

Matthew 6:21 (NIV) ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Alcorn – My heart always goes where I put God’s money.

--Yes, Pastor Rick, my heart goes toward the 10% (tithe) I give and the amount I give to missions. Please, let me remind you a couple of verses from last week. All your money is God’s money.

Psalm 24:1 (NLT2) ¹ The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. 

Haggai 2:8 (NIV) ⁸ 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty.

--What we do with our money doesn’t simply indicate where our hearts are, according to Jesus, it determines where our hearts go. Our hearts follow our treasure…show me your financial records and I can show you where your heart is. 

--Imagine you invest in or buy shares in GMC or Ford, what happens? You suddenly develop an interest in what happens with those companies. If you hear their names on the news, you perk up.

--On the other hand, let’s say you are investing in Impact Africa or Missionary Ann Steward through your mission’s giving, and you hear about those countries you pay attention. Where your treasure is your heart goes...

--As surely as the compass needle follows north, your heart follows your treasure. This is such a remarkable truth. If I want my heart somewhere, all I need to do is put my money there. 

--People say they want more of a heart for missions and seeing the lost come to Christ. Jesus says the easy solution is to put your money (your treasure) into missions and your heart will follow.

--If you want your heart to gravitate toward eternal things, then, reallocate some of your money, a bunch of it, from temporal things to eternal things and your heart will follow your investment. Souls are eternal investments.

Matthew 13:44 (NIV)
⁴⁴  "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

--In his joy he got rid of all his worldly wealth and treasures to gain a better eternal treasure. God is looking for disciples who for the sake of eternal treasures are investing their money, time, and prayers where they matter…

Hebrews 11:24-26 (NIV)
²⁴  By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
²⁵  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
²⁶  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

--If we believe each places us closer to the time we leave all our treasures behind, we will be miserable. If we believe each day we live moves us closer to our eternal reward and treasure, we will have joy.

Alcorn – My heart always goes where I put God’s money.

The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure - 1

 The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure - 1

Subject – Finding God’s True Treasure

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 13:44 (NKJV)
⁴⁴  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

Psalm 119:162 (NKJV)
¹⁶²  I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. 

--Imagine with me a Hebrew man walking along with staff in hand headed to the city for business. To make his journey shorter he cuts through a field. This was permitted. 

--The field is uneven so he thrust his staff into the dirt to balance himself. He keeps walking and thrusting the staff into the ground when all of a sudden there is a thunk. What could that be? Didn’t sound like a rock.

--He bends down curiously and begins to wipe away dirt and he sees a box possibly lined with silver and gold. It looks like it has been there a long time. Hands shaking, he finally unlocks the chest.

--Oh wow! Gold and silver coins, jewelry, precious stones. A fortune! Some wealthy man must have buried it quickly when he was in danger or something, and then, died before he returned to get it.

--The landowner evidently has no clue it is there. The traveler buries the treasure and marks the spot. He heads home with a new spring in his step. Probably riding the staff like a stick horse.

--The law of the day was specific, whoever owned the field assumed ownership of everything in it. But how can I afford a big piece of property like this? I will sell everything, my farm, my crops, my oxen, my tools, all of it.

--From that moment on, everything the man does is with his new treasure in mind. This has transformed his world. Every decision he makes; he has the treasure on his heart.

--Many believe this passage talks about people finding the treasure of Christ. Some believe it speaks of Jesus giving His life for the treasure of people.

--Either way, it certainly portrays the joy of finding eternal treasure with such value, catch this, that far surpasses whatever it cost to get it. 

1. The Bible and Our Connection to Money.

--This parable of the hidden treasure is just one of many references Jesus made to money and possessions. Jesus referenced 15% of His teaching to this topic. More than the topics of heaven and hell combined.

--Why did Jesus put so much emphasis on money and possessions. Because there is an essential connection between our spiritual lives and how we handle money. Jesus sees them as inseparable. 

--We won’t take time to read it but in Luke 3 three different groups asked John how they should prove their repentance. V.11 clothes and food with the poor. V.13 Tax collectors don’t cheat. V.14 Soldiers don’t extort.

Randy Alcorn – Our approach to money and possessions is central to our spiritual lives. 

Luke 19:8-9 (NKJV)
⁸  Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."
⁹  And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;

Acts 2:44-45 (NKJV)
⁴⁴  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
⁴⁵  and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Acts 4:32-35 (NLT2)
³²  All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
³³  The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.
³⁴  There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them
³⁵  and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. 

--Maybe you have forgotten this but even one of our Distinctives as a church is Generous Giving. Jesus commended the poor widow who out of her poverty put in everything she had in the offering.

--In contrast Jesus spoke of the rich young ruler who spent all his wealth on himself. Do you see the money connection? Jesus called him a fool. He was rich but not rich toward God.

--The rich young ruler pressed Jesus about how he could obtain eternal life. Watch for the money connection.

Matthew 19:21 (NLT2)
²¹  Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 

--Jesus knew he could not serve two masters. Sadly, he chose his wealth. Sadly, he chose the lesser fading treasure walking away from the treasure that was eternal.

2. Smart or Stupid

--Watch this…the rich young man wasn’t willing to give up everything for a greater treasure, and the traveler in the field was. Why? Because the traveler understood what he would gain. 

--Should we feel sorry for the traveler? What he found cost him everything he owned. No, we do not pity this man, we envy him. What he sacrifices doesn’t even compare with what he gains. His reward is great.

--The traveler made short term sacrifice for long term reward. I hope you are understanding. It cost him everything he had but he gained far more than he lost.

Key – If we miss the part of the verse where it says “for joy” he sells everything he has. This was not begrudging sacrifice; it was him being a joyful giver. Lord, help us!

--In this parable Jesus is appealing to what we value…temporary, earthly treasure compared to eternal, heavenly treasure. The treasure in the field represents finding Jesus, the gospel, and the Kingdom of God. The best by far!

--Any earthly treasure we part with to obtain that far greater treasure is well worth the exchange. The sacrifice we make for missions is well worth it when you think of the souls who are being saved. Listen to Jesus:

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--Jesus says Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth. Why? Because earthly treasures are bad? No, because they won’t last. 

Proverbs 23:5 (NIV)
⁵  Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. 

--When Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth, it is not because wealth might be lost, it’s because wealth will always be lost. Either it leaves us while we live, or we leave it when we die. No exceptions.

--According to Jesus, storing up earthly treasures isn’t simply wrong. It’s just plain stupid. No eternal sense. 

3. A Treasure Mentality and Principle.

--Jesus doesn’t just tell us where not to put our treasure, He also gives us the best investment advice ever, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

--God is not against us storing up treasure, He commands us to do it. He’s just telling us to stop doing it in the wrong place and start storing it in the right place!

--Store up for yourselves…almost sounds strange that Jesus would tell us to do something that is best for own self interests. Seems selfish. He wants us to live to His glory, but what is to His glory is always to our good. 

John Piper – God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

--When we serve God and others, we store up treasures in heaven. Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Why? Because it is the right thing to do. Why? Because you can’t take it with you. Hearse with a U-Haul truck.

--Jesus shares a profound truth with us which is a part of the Treasure Principle. You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead of you.

Alcorn – Anything we try to hang on to here will be lost. But anything we put in God’s hands will be ours for eternity. If that doesn’t take your breath away, you don’t understand it. 

--If we invest in the eternal instead of in the temporal, we store up treasures in heaven that will never stop paying dividends. 

--Whatever we store up on earth will be left behind when we leave. Whatever treasures we store up in heaven will be waiting for us when we arrive. 

Alcorn - You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead of you.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--Where is your treasure and where is your heart?

A Quest for Intimacy - 5

 A Quest for Intimacy - 5

Subject – T.I.M.E.

By Rick Welborne

Philippians 3:7-14 (NKJV)
⁷  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
⁸  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
⁹  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
¹⁰  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
¹¹  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
¹²  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
¹³  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
¹⁴  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 3:10 AMP                                                                                                                                         [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [the power it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death.    

--Today we conclude the series “A Quest for Intimacy” but hopefully this is not the end of our quest to be intimately acquainted with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

--If we will experience the transformation that we need and if we will ever be what our world needs us to be to reach them, it will be from getting more intimate with our God. That I might know Him.

--Today I want to use an acronym for the word TIME. Hopefully Holy Spirit will teach us the truths we need to know about how to get more intimate with Jesus. 

1. T – Time

--Wow, Pastor Rick, that is so profound. I actually believe that with our world in this hectic spiral of quickly going nowhere fast that it is profound.

--If we will have this intimate relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it will definitely take time. Paul said it in the amp version. That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him.

Progressive – happening or developing gradually or in stages proceeding step by step.

--I am sorry to be the one to break the news to you but if you will get close to God and have this wonderful intimate relationship, it will take time. You have to be intentional. 

--The disciplines (we love that word) we discussed will take time to develop. The discipline of simplicity, silence, solitude (my least favorite), and surrender (trust).

--Many of you (I have heard you) have said “I would really like to get in shape. I would love to drop 30 pounds. If you are sincere, it will take discipline and time. We would rather take a pill. Listen to Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 3:1&11 (NIV)
¹  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
¹¹  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

--Solomon is trying to help us understand that if we will draw near to God that it will take time. He even tells us that there are depths in God that we can’t even comprehend. They are revealed to us by Holy Spirit.

Romans 13:11&14 (NLT2)
¹¹  This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
¹⁴  Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

--There is only so much time and that time is running out. Let’s face it, we make time to do the things that are a priority to us. In your extreme busyness, what is it you make time for? That is your priority. 

Lamentations 3:25-29 (NLT2)
²⁵  The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. 
²⁶  So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.
²⁷  And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline:
²⁸  Let them sit alone in silence beneath the LORD’s demands.
²⁹  Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may be hope at last. 

2. I – Intimacy 

--Obviously this is an invitation for closeness. Time alone with God is a crying out to God…Into Me See! The discipline of solitude is a welcoming of God to be close.

--That closeness reminds me of the mirrors you ladies use that magnifies your face about a 1000 times. I did that once and I thought I was looking at the surface of the moon. Craters!

--When we draw near to God in His presence and draw near to Him by reading and studying His Word, we begin to see ourselves for how we really look. Why I have trouble with prideful spiritual people.

James 1:23-25 (NIV)
²³  Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
²⁴  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
²⁵  But the man who looks intently into the Perfect Law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

--If these mirrors are not bad enough you women use, some sick person decided to put extremely bright lights all around them. Every blemish is high-lighted and you wonder if there is any hope at all. 

--When I get as close to God as I possibly can and I am in the light of His glory, I see what a wretched sinful person that I am. The Word bears this out again and again.

--John the Revelator, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, and the Apostle Paul experienced what I am talking about. They were not filled with pride but humility and surrender. That intimacy brought obedience. Example please.

Isaiah 6:1-8 (NIV)
¹  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
²  Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
³  And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
⁴  At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
⁵  "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
⁶  Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
⁷  With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
⁸  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 

3. M – Meditation

Meditation - to focus one's thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over. The act or process of spending time in quiet thought.

--Meditation, in its self is not wrong, it all depends on what we are thinking about. To be intimate with God is a process whereby we find ourselves thinking about Him all day long. This psalm sums up everything:

Psalm 4:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
²  How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah
³  But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
⁴  Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.
⁵  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD. 

--Meditating on God is not a denial about the enemies you have. It is awareness that God is for you. Meditating on Him is being still and knowing He is God. It is drawing so near that you know you can trust Him. 

4. E – Evolution

Evolution - A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form.

--Intimacy with God can become the process where we evolve into something better. Our intimacy causes cleansing from sin and the effects of this nasty world. Again, let’s allow the Apostle Paul to sum up:

Philippians 3:10 AMP                                                                                                                                         [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [the power it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death.    

--If you find yourselves not liking the word “evolution”, replace with “evangelism”. If you are intimate with God on a regular basis you will have the same attitude Isaiah had. 

Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
⁸  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 

Never Stop Praying – 8

 Never Stop Praying – 8

Subject – Praying is Planting

by Rick Welborne

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT2)
¹⁷  Never stop praying.

Exodus 20:2-6 (NLT)
²  “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
³  “You must not have any other god but me.
⁴  “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.
⁵  You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.
⁶  But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. 

--Pastor, I have not received my miracle yet. I have not received everything I am praying for yet, so I keep praying and I keep believing until the walls fall. Honestly, I will be praying and believing until I get to heaven.

--About a month ago I preached a message about praying for walls to fall and talked about hyperlinking our faith and our prayer to God’s Word and to prayer…I knew then that I would re-visit this subject.

--Tonight I want share with you how we can hyperlink to the generations who will come after us. The blessings we are experiencing today are connected to pastors and saints who came before us.

--Again today I honor people like Harriet Browne, Pearl Rockefeller, Naomi Larson, the Ickers, and pastors who laid the foundation…Pastor Ward, Pastor Browne, and Pastor Dykes…many others. 

--Don’t you ever believe that all that God is doing is because your present pastor and staff and people have it so much together that we have done this…we were blessed to come after those who cared about future generations.

--So how do we pray blessings on future generations?

1. Praying is planting.

--A man was walking down a dirt road and he saw a man planting a carob tree. The man asked…How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?

--The man replied it would be 70 years. The man asked him if he thought he would be around for another seventy years to eat its fruit? Perhaps not he said.

--The man said when I was born into this world there were many carob trees that I found that had been planted by my father and grandfather. Just as they planted trees for me I am planting for my children and grandchildren. 

--This changed the way the man prayed…in a moment of revelation…praying is planting. Each prayer is like a seed that has been planted…it disappears for a season but eventually bears fruit for future generations!

--In fact, our prayers bear fruit forever. Even when we die, our prayers don’t. Each prayer takes on a life, an eternal life of its own. There are people at Life Church who have been saved by the prayer of loved ones gone.

--Kevin and Nicole Johnson are here, not so much because I challenged them at Kevin’s grandmother’s funeral but because of Sister’s Hood’s prayers…her prayers outlived her…her prayers are still chasing people down.

--Prayer is the inheritance we receive and the legacy we leave. The prayer we do now may save a generation but the seeds we plant can save others. Future generations. 

--Think about how exciting this is…when we pray our prayers have no expiration date on them. We never know when those prayers are going to re-enter the atmosphere and bless future generations.

--Think about all the people who have ever attended Life Church and think about all of those people praying and planting seeds of revival…someday that bowl in heaven is going to be filled and tip over…Revival!

--Never under estimate God’s ability to show up anytime, anyplace, anyhow! He has infinite answers to our finite prayers…our problem is we want immediate answers…forever is good but we want instant answers. 

--Are we willing to be planters for future generations…are we willing to die to ourselves for future children and grandchildren? Jesus is our ultimate example.

John 12:23-25 (NIV)
²³  Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
²⁴  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
²⁵  The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 

--Jesus being planted has brought forth wonderful fruit for 2000 years…His prayers for us on this earth and His prayers at the right hand of the Father are bearing much fruit. 

--Are we willing to be praying, planting, and to be planted (willing to die to ourselves so we can bring forth fruit). That’s when you are the most effective.

2. We have to be patient in planting and in praying.

--Russian Comedian Yakov Smirnoff immigrated to the United States and he said his favorite thing about being in America was the grocery stores.

Smirnoff – I’ll never forget walking down one of the aisles and seeing powdered milk; just add water and you get milk. Right next to it was powdered orange juice; just add water and you get orange juice. Then I saw baby powder, and I thought to myself, What a country!

--We live in a quick fix get the answers right now society…just google it or bing it. We don’t want to just have our cake and eat it too, we want the instant brand…give it to me now!

--Because we are surrounded by technologies that make our lives faster and easier we have a tendency to look at God and His promises the same way. Some TV evangelist tell us to give that vow and it comes right back.

--I don’t want to disappoint anyone today but when it comes to God’s promises and miracles they are mostly understood in agricultural terms. We want the speed of light but we get the speed of the seed.

Luke 8:15 (NCV)
¹⁵  And the seed that fell on the good ground is like those who hear God’s teaching with good, honest hearts and obey it and patiently produce good fruit.

--Did you hear it…it patiently produces good fruit…it means that you have to wait for it. NIV says that by persevering you produce a good crop. You have to be patient.

--When we plant seeds, when we pray, when we invest in future generations, God does wonderful things...text:

Exodus 20:2-6 (NLT)
⁵  You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.
⁶  But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. 

--When we are patient in planting (when we do not think it is all about us) God will lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations. 

--How great for your family to be looking on Ancestry and find out that their faith started with you and they give thanks to God for your faith from a hundred years ago. Paul speaking to Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:5-6 (NKJV)
⁵  when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
⁶  Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 

3. We must think long and in terms of eternity. 

--Instead of thinking about our own lives and our own time, we must think in terms of eternity. Instead of us thinking about ourselves, we must think in terms of our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. 

Isaiah 57:14-19 (NLT)
¹⁴  God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.”
¹⁵  The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
¹⁶  For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away— all the souls I have made.
¹⁷  I was angry, so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way.
¹⁸  I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn,
¹⁹  bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the LORD, who heals them. 

--Our job today is to remove obstacles out of people’s lives so they can return to the Lord but since God lives in eternity, we pray and plan to remove obstacles of those coming after us. Those both near and far.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
¹¹  Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.