How To Recognize And Utilize Treasure As Jesus Did

1. Jesus said, "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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." (Matt. 13:44-46) The Lord Jesus knew that there are great riches to be discovered in the kingdom of God and we can never exhaust its rich reservoir of bounty.

2. Jesus knew that the kingdom of God (The reign of God) makes everything else appear to be relatively unimportant. People who really grasp the richness of what they possess in being a part of God's kingdom will want to sacrifice everything for the sake of telling others about its limitless benefits.

3. Jesus knew the greatness of the kingdom of God brought internal and external benefits to its members. The Lord knew that those who were willing to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness would be promised all other necessities of life since their pursuits would be at the top of God's priorities.

4. Jesus knew that true treasure is best measured through the quantity and quality of individuals that make up God's kingdom. The Lord Jesus knew that people were the most valued possession of all God's creation. The Lord wants us to continually invest more in people than any other thing. It is in the people of the kingdom where our investments will pay the greatest eternal dividends.

5. Jesus emphasized the urgency for the need of becoming a member of the kingdom of God through saving faith in His substitutionary sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. The Lord knew that all those who fail to become members of the kingdom of God will remain as members of the kingdom of Satan for all eternity in hell where there will be weeping an gnashing of teeth in the fire that is never quenched.

6. Jesus taught that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, humility, and those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness characterize the kingdom of God. Where there is envy, strife, unrighteous anger, selfishness, idolatry, rudeness, jealousy, unbelief, fear and doubt, the kingdom of God is either absent or lacking in some dimension of maturity in Christ.

7. Jesus went throughout every town and village (Urban and rural area), teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom_ (Matt. 9:35) We are to be involved in every means possible to see that the good news of Christ's kingdom is preached and taught through all 18,800 people groups of the world. We are to strategically use disciples in every ethnic group to reach their own people with the treasurers found in Christ's kingdom and blessings. Our best resources, people and energies should be concentrated on expanding His kingdom in quantity and quality.

8. Jesus focused prayer on the spreading influence of His kingdom when He prayed, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6) Our prayers and the prayers of our intercessory supporters can make a huge impact on the advancement of the kingdom and its enriching ministries.

9. Jesus taught that doubt, worry, and misplaced priorities would plague people if they did not seek first His kingdom's interests. Christ said, "For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." (Matt. 6:31) When you sense overwhelming worry or confusion it may be an indication that you are either running ahead of God or falling to far behind His plans for your life.

10. Jesus has great plans to use church and para-church groups to expand His kingdom. Even Paul wrote, "I have become all things to all men that by all means I may save some." (I Cor. 9:19-23) Do not ever underestimate or try to disqualify anyone who is determined to see the kingdom of God's treasurers offered throughout the world in the way that the Spirit of God and the word of God are directing.

11. Jesus knew that the kingdom of heaven would not just be manifested in talk but in powerful deeds. Allow the Lord to use you in ways that produce good works that give powerful testimony to the kingdom's powerful riches to bring great blessings in healing, changed lives and Christ like maturity.

12. Jesus knew that the kingdom of darkness would always wage spiritual warfare against His kingdom. The Lord urged His followers to arm themselves with all of the spiritual weapons of warfare to be able to fight the good fight of faith. Soldiers of the kingdom must be willing to suffer and be wounded in the battle if they are to prove worthy of His higher callings and greater conquests.