What Are You Investing In?

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?