The Ultimate Treasure #3 - Serving

WHMBC VBS 2007 – Treasure #3 – Serving

Luke 12:16-21

The most effective preacher who ever lived was Jesus. He knew how to make his sermons interesting. He knew how to reach and capture the hearts and minds of men.

In this parable Jesus is speaking about those who thought more of the things of the world than the things of God. Millions of people today are giving all of their time and energy to worldly things and are forgetting God.

Remember last night we spoke about how these people are putting their effort into earthly treasures.

Look at this man for a moment. He had a good occupation.

He had planned for more success.

He did not waste his money on an expensive lifestyle.

What did God call him? A fool – Why?

I. Why was this man a Fool?

a. He was a fool because he forgot about God - Verses 17-19

He lived as if there was no God. (Psalms 14:1/53:1)

The biggest fool is not one who does not believe in a God; instead it is the one who believes, but lives as if God did not exist.

b. He was a fool because he forgot about Eternity - Verse 19

*Proverbs 27:1

The only treasures he possessed were on earth. Verse 19

c. He was a fool because he forgot about Dying - Verse 20

He had his retirement planned....but God said..."THOU FOOL"

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Well this rich man in Luke 12 had just one day to live. He spent those final few hours of his life grasping the things of the world and not looking up to God.

He thought of Gold - instead of God.

He thought of Pleasure - instead of People.

He thought of Ease - instead of Eternity.

II. Are you a Fool?

Now, if you knew that you had only one day to live, what would you do?

Have a Million Dollars to spend in Wall Mart?

Swim with dolphins

Go to Disney

Bat for the Cubs / Sox,

Let me tell you of several things that I believe you and I would want to do.

a. We Would Want To Be Sure Of Our Salvation. - Matt. 7:21-23

Are you sure of your salvation

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

The Bible declares three things about man:

Man is lost – He can’t find his way.

Man is blind – He can’t see the truth about God

Man is dead – He can’t feel or experience the life of God

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Man is lost – Jesus is the way.

Man is blind – Jesus is the truth he needs to see.

Man is dead – Jesus is the life

If we only had one day to live:

b. We Would Want To Witness To Someone About Jesus.

Can you think of someone right now who is not a Christian? What would you have to be afraid of in witnessing to them then?

Are you scared? Join the club – if you weren’t scared then there would be a problem –

You are in good company. If have been saved – we are called to be fishers of men. How is our Personal witnessing?

Do you get afraid? – Do you have any courage?

Act of courage is not done by those who feel brave when they do it, true courage is when they feel fear and do it anyway

Courage is not the absence of fear but the conquering of it.

Do you know that there are 4 qualifications to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ?

1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

Do you have the relevant qualifications to be a witness?

1. Not excellency of speech

2. Weakness

3. Fear

4. Much Trembling

If you meet these qualifications you have just joined the ranks of Moses, Gideon, Paul.

Paul says in verse 2 that he is determined….

Are we determined to be a true and faithful witness?

What would happen if you had $1000 for every person you witnessed to? There would be no problem – quick heaven / hell??

Conclusion

If you knew that people only had 12 hours to live, your friends, your loved ones etc.. You would witness to them