Opening illustration: Play the video clip km_lasting treasures (available from sermoncentral.com).
Introduction: Every person who’s growing up is dying to live his life. But as people get older, instead of dying to life, they start living to die. What are you really dying for?” No matter how far we run or how hard we try, none of us will escape this question ever in life. When my days on earth are over, will I discover that I have wasted my life on meaningless things that have no lasting and eternal value?
Most people are living for four things: fortune, status, power or pleasure. Just as there are four false reasons for living our lives, there are four true, meaningful and satisfying reasons for living, and for dying. These give purpose and value to our lives, so that we can know our lives have eternal significance. Today, what are you investing your life in? The results of all this would matter and show up during eternity. Jesus’ statement was: “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” Starting here, let us walk the plan for how to invest in a life that truly matters, and to leave a legacy that never dies.
What did Christ invest in?
1. Things!
(a) Teaching about God and His Kingdom
Matthew 5 ~ Beatitudes and the Kingdom of God
Matthew 19: 23 – 24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.”And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
While talking to the Pharisees, Jesus says in Matthew 21: 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”
Mark 10: 15 ~ our heart and attitude of a child in order to enter the Kingdom.
John 3: 3 - 5 ~ born again, born of water and the Holy Spirit in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
The central message of Jesus Christ was the message of "the Kingdom of God." This message, when understood, is the most relevant message for the needs of humanity. This message must once again become the central theme of preachers and teachers in these last days. For with the proclamation of the Kingdom comes the power of the Kingdom. Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 4:20 "for the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power". Anyone who dares to produce theological tones on the subject of the Kingdom of God without demonstrating something of the reality the power of the Kingdom has missed the mark and does not know as they ought to know. The Kingdom of God is not in word but in power. John the Baptist, Paul and all the disciples preached ‘The Kingdom of God’ with authority and power. Do we? How many preach salvation and the Kingdom of God today? It doesn’t seem appealing, attractive or dramatic. Are we faithful?
Jesus says in Matthew 6: 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
(b) Practiced His giftings (evidence of the FOS is necessary): In Jesus’ entire healing and miraculous ministry, He always exhibited the ‘Fruit of the Spirit.’ Jesus starts His gifting ministry by turning the water into wine at Canna, raises a widow’s son from the dead and stills the storm. He miraculously feeds the 5,000, restores sight to two blind men and raises Lazarus from the dead. He removed evil spirits from a number of people throughout His ministry. The list could go on endlessly but we know that His ministry was filled and moved with the power of God Himself. Is ours? Do we invest in practicing our giftings for the benefit of others?
© Pursuing God’s Heart: What is God’s greatest desire for you ? God sees you as a precious treasure, and He longs to have a close relationship with you. More than anything He wants you to have an intimate love relationship and friendship with Him. God wants you to spend time with Him and intimately communicate with Him, to enjoy fellowship with Him, to trust and follow Him, and to give your life meaning and purpose. Jesus spent a lot of time with His father in prayer and communion with Him on a daily basis. Mark 1: 35 tells us, ‘Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.’ Do we? How can we really pursue God’s heart?
2. People!
(a) Disciples: In Mark 3 and Luke 6 we see Jesus choosing the 12 disciples and then investing and out-pouring His life in these rowdy fishermen. It becomes a pain to juggle more than 2 kids at a time. He had 12 to grapple with. Just unimaginable! But in all the ups and downs; squabbles and friendly times, Jesus was patient with them and loved, corrected and encouraged them from time to time. Will we take up the challenge to mentor and disciple people God has given into our hands?
Illustration: Articulate how my mentor and we discipled people during our ministry.
(b) Common people (and those who were rejected): Jesus poured Himself out to people no matter who they were. He was caring and loving to those who were rejected and unloved. The woman by the well, the widow in the temple, restoring Mary Magdalene and the centurion’s son. He even went down to the dirt to put upon the eyes of a blind man who was healed. Many people think that ministry starts at home ~ well it doesn’t line up with scripture as whenever Jesus went to His hometown, he could never preach or heal them. Even His brother James was skeptical about Him. Later on He came around after Jesus’ earthly ministry was almost over. How Jesus must have struggled with family and people at His hometown! Anyway that did not hold Him down but in fact freed Him to minister to others in need.
Application: Do we reach out to unknown people with compassion? Are we worried what others will say? Are we afraid that we will be allegated for not taking on family responsibilities? Are we fearful of rejection in life and ministry? ~ Apparently that is what life and ministry is all about. We just need to stay focused on Christ and His Kingdom; the rest will just fall in place. God is faithful!
© Enemies: Would any of you be willing to invest in your enemies? A hard and challenging situation but not impossible! Jesus had a number of encounters with the Pharisees and Sadducees in the gospels. What was Jesus trying to do with them? Was He really hitting them hard or was it something else? Apparently when we look at the scriptures closely we see that Jesus was trying to get them on track. They already knew the scriptures, so there was no need to start at the grassroots. He was exemplifying to apply the scriptures in the right context with them. He was discouraging them to follow rituals but to be true and have an authentic heart towards God. He pushed them to discard their hypocrisy and be faithful in their leadership. A man by the name of Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night and becomes His secret disciple.
3. Legacy!
(a) From a Carpenter to the Cross to being resurrected
Matthew 10: 38 ~ “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”
1 Corinthians 1: 17 & 18 ~ “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Romans 8: 35 - 36 ~ “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
2 Timothy 3:12 ~ “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
Jesus was born in a carpenter’s family and according to culture and tradition had to follow His father’s profession. But He knew who He was and what His mission was. His focus was the cross for the redemption of our sins. It did not waver even once. Fortunately it did not end at the cross. His resurrection paid it all and gave us a new life. What are we investing in? Is our life reflecting the cross and the resurrection of Christ? He left a legacy for all of us to adhere and follow.
(b) Miracle worker / Healer: The Bible records about 40 miracles and healings of Jesus during His earthly ministry. In the name of Jesus, Miracles and healing are still going on during the 21st century. We just can’t keep a record of that, but could be an indefinite number. His life revolved around reaching out to others in power and exhibiting God’s love. What kind of legacy are we leaving behind? Is it of the power that revolved around love, compassion, faithfulness, kindness, holiness, truthfulness and purity? To be more precise, do we exhibit the ‘Fruit of the Holy Spirit’ in our lives which apparently determine whether we are alive or dead Christians. Do we operate the ‘Gifts of the Holy Spirit’ which apparently edify Christ and His Body? They also exhibit the working power of God in our lives.
© Soul-winner: Was Jesus really a ‘soul-winner?’ A number of people came to Jesus asking about the ‘Kingdom of God’ and He would explain things to them elaborately. Nicodemus, the man who wanted to follow Christ but couldn’t leave the world around him to do so … are some examples. Jesus offended a number of people and at the same time conviction was borne in a number of people who were challenged to follow Christ. And a number of them were women.
In fact Jesus lays down the mode of evangelism and outreach in the ‘great commission’ found in Matthew 28: 17 – 20 “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.”
Conclusion: Jesus had left a profound and moving legacy. What are we really investing in? Are we running after money, houses, live the American dream, stacking bank balances, building a fleet of expensive cars, having a status quo, earthly powers, pleasures and the list could be endless.
Jesus left us a very profound example on what we all should be investing in ~
Let us take time to reflect and see whether we are:-
• Teaching about God and His Kingdom
• Practicing our giftings
• Pursuing God’s Heart
• Discipling and mentoring others in Christ-likeness
• Pouring our lives into strangers and the ones who are rejected
• Loving our enemies so that the Spirit of God will stir and convict them
• Leaving a legacy of being in Christ-likeness, exhibiting God’s love, grace and compassion with power by using the Spiritual gifts and being a soul-winner for the ‘Kingdom of God.’
