2020.09.04 The Wilderness Experience – Treasures of the Kingdom.
William Akehurst, HSWC
As partakers in the ministry of sharing JESUS, what is it that you treasure in this life?
Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
While this scripture represents the times in which it was written, it applies to us today.
• Moths – Clothes of purple were one’s prized possession representing high status, Appearance & Pride.
• Rust – Metal, Shields and Swords, representing Power.
• Thieves breaking in – represents our homes, estates, property, wealth and simply our possessions, specifically Our Desires, Possessions, Security, Goals in Life, Status.
We are not to lay up these as our treasures. While these things are nice, they are NOT what should be our ultimate goal in life.
The word Treasure comes from the Latin word Thesaurus, which represented an ancient treasure, such as a Temple, and is also defined as a storehouse, repository, or treasury, even a treasure chest if you will.
Heaven is the Ancient, Current and Future Temple of GOD, a storehouse and treasury of GOD’s possessions, and provision for every believer. When we pray, THY WILL BE DONE on Earth as it is in HEAVEN, we are calling down GOD’s provisions, blessings, from HIS STOREHOUSE, THE TREASURY.
But what does it mean to Store UP Treasures in Heaven?
2 Corinthians 4:1-7 (KJV)
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
“We have this treasure”…I believe that this treasure is the GOOD NEWS of JESUS. And storing up treasures in Heaven, is when we share this GOSPEL to others. When those receive THE TRUTH, and find THE WAY, and LIFE in JESUS, by our testimony…we are storing up Treasures in Heaven. I understand it is HOLY SPIRIT who moves the hearts to repentance, but we are to do our part. “seeing we have this ministry”.
GOD’s Treasures are those who ASK, SEEK and FIND HIM. And by HIS Saving Grace, and Mercy, we enter into the KINGDOM of GOD by Faith in JESUS. Thereby making us, HIS TREASURED POSSESSION.
Deuteronomy 14:2 (NKJV) For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
While this scripture represents the Jewish people, I also believe that we as believers are part of GOD’s TREASURED POSSESSION.
So how do we Store up Treasures in Heaven? By sharing the LOVE of GOD to the world around us.
2 Timothy 4:1-8
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Mark 16:15-16
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15
13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 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.
We don’t always know who is being affected by our lives, or by our testimony. But, imagine this for a moment, you enter Heaven and are greeted by someone who says to you, “it was by your testimony that I am here”. How amazing that would be!
I remember a gentleman who I had witnessed to, but never seemed to make a difference. At a low point in his life, I gave him a pocket testament from the Gideons, which gives an invitation to Christ within its pages. He received JESUS from reading those words and was totally changed. He asked me, why didn’t you tell me this before now? I had witnessed to him countless times before, but also knew he wasn’t listening. My response, “You weren’t ready then, but now is the day of Salvation”.
Are you storing up Treasures in Heaven?
Who is waiting to hear your testimony of how JESUS changed your life?
Come let us “Answer the Call”.
