Treasures
• My Treasure
o I have here a very valued treasure. Many men have died for this treasure. It is usually buried deep in the earth. It is…
• Coal (Hold up a Bag of Charcoal)
o About coal
Coal remains an enormously important fuel and is the largest single source of electricity world-wide.
In the United States, for example, the coal power plants generate 50% of the electricity produced
o Common Christians – Common Christians are probably fueling more than 50% of the world.
Consumed easily
problems come they fail with
attitude
actions
it kills there witness
Cheep
they come a dime a dozen
speak the name but deny the power
anyone can "say" I’m a Christian
Can’t be cleaned
not willing to be changed
“our righteous is like filthy rags”
Easily broken
discouraged easy
depressed easily
the enemy comes along you are easily broken apart
• Diamonds
o About 130 million carats (26,000 kg) (57 pounds) are mined annually; with a total value of nearly USD $9 billion.
o This 20 lb bag of Charcoal I hold, if it were diamonds, would be worth…
o About 3 Billion dollars
o But because it only coal, it’s worth… about 3 bucks.
Let’s take a look at why.
Diamonds are formed by prolonged exposure of carbon bearing materials to high pressure and temperature. On Earth, the formation of diamonds is possible because there are regions deep within the Earth that are at a high enough pressure and temperature that the formation of diamonds is thermodynamically favorable.
High Pressure
Allow God to send things your way
let Him test you
High Temperature
Turn up the heat
This is when a bad situation goes worse
Under continental crust, diamonds form starting at depths of about 150 kilometers (90 miles), where pressure is roughly 5 gigapascals and the temperature is around 1200 degrees Celsius (2200 degrees Fahrenheit)
Your ministry begins in places no one will ever see
Then it’s like all of a sudden God notices you
(More research on diamond formation at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond )
Diamond formation under oceanic crust takes place at greater depths because of higher temperatures, which require higher pressure for diamond formation. Long periods of exposure to these high pressures and temperatures allow diamond crystals to grow larger.
If you are willing to go even deeper God can do greater things with you
this takes longer and requires more pressure
• The 3 value measures
o Cut
God will begin to remove things in your life
Friends
Books
Games
Attitudes
Words
o Carat
the diamond does not weigh a lot
your idea of a important person may be different than what God thinks of as an important person
o Color
How pure are you
I could have a beautiful shirt, but if there is only one black spot on it. Everyone will be looking at that one spot.
If a diamond perfect, but a cloud is located in one spot the value decreases
o Clarity
Make sure it is clear who you serve
How do they know you are a Christian
A T-shirt
A bumper sticker
a key chain
just because you say so
OR...
your attitude
lifestyle
way you speak
the friends you keep
Conclusion:
It’s time we stop being common. Let’s be worth something to this world. Let’s be pure, and just. Let God work on us, the way He wants to work on us. Stop taking short cuts.
