Where Is Your Treasure?

Matthew 6:19-21

19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Colossians 3:2

2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Where your treasure is there will the heart be also.

What is treasure?

Webster defines treasure as wealth that is accumulated or something that is very much valued.

Treasure can come in many different forms.  The old saying one mans trash is another mans treasure.  Many of us have things that we value and that are sentimental to us.  Where your treasure is there will the heart be also. 

The heart is known to be the seat of emotions or passions.   The heart in a figurative sense is your thoughts or feelings.   If someone were to attack your family, you would immediately begin to fight for them.   They are your treasure, and you are passionate about them.  Nobody is going to hurt them or do them any wrong.  And anything in life that is a treasure to you, your affections are going to be tied to it in someway.

Treasure is something that has captivated the imagination and desire of man since the beginning of time.  Many wars and battles have been fought over a countries wealth and possessions.  I want what you have, and if you will not give them to me, I will take it by force.

During world war 2, many countries did not at first realize the full intentions of the Nazi party. They would welcome them into their country with open arms, they wanted to pacify and appease them.  But little did they know that these men were after there treasure and wealth.  They wanted their paintings, and jewelry, carvings, and statues.They wanted their money, anything that was of value they were there to capture it.  They were consumed with a lust for wealth and power.

Throughout history we read of men obsessed with the idea and stories of great treasure.

He heard of it’s magical ability to restore the youth of a man.  The spanish explorer Juan Ponce De Leon set sail in 1513, searching for the Fountain of Youth.  His story said that he had grown dissatisfied with material wealth and must find something more appeasing.  But though he searched for it, though his passion for wealth and treasure drove him on, he never found it.

In 1541 Francisco Orellana and Gonzalo Pizarro began to search for the famous El Dorado.  The Seven Cities of Gold.   They had heard stories and legends of much gold, jewels, and wealth to be had in El Dorado.  But all they seemed to find was death, disease, and destruction.  No treasure to be found.

In 1518, Hernan Cortez left the Spanish colonies with the blessings of the king and Queen to seek out wealth for Spain.  He landed in South America in 1519.  He believed so much in the wealth that lay in that land, that when he landed he burned his ships so that they could not easily turn back.  He was going to have the treasure at all costs, though he would pay a high price for it.

One day three men began to journey in search of something they believed in.  They knew of the prophesies and the stories that were told of a baby that was to be born to become a savior to all nations.  They followed his star that was in the east of the sky, searching for him.  When they found the Lord Jesus they brought him gifts and worshiped him.

I’m here to tell you today that wise men and women still seek him.  I want to search for him, I want to find him.  I want to be where he is.

Acts 17:27

27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

I want to seek him.

Many men look for wealth and many places, but God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  He provides for all my needs according to his riches and glory.  His arm is not short, his promises are not slack.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  What he said he is going to do, he will do.

But where is your treasure?

The word of God says where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Today our treasure can lye in many places.  For some your treasure may be in your material wealth, the things that you have and possess.  I need a certain vehicle, or a certain house, or a certain standard of living.

Perhaps my treasure lies in my accomplishments.  Maybe it is hobbies or vacations.  Your treasure could be your desire to be noticed or your own vanity.  Or perhaps my treasure is that thing called time.

Is it sin that I am not willing to lay aside? 

Where are they?

Mar 10:17  And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 

Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 

Mar 10:19  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 

Mar 10:20  And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 

Mar 10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 

Mar 10:22  And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 

Mar 10:23  And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 

Sell what you have, take up your cross, and come follow me.  Wait, that’s what I have to do to inherit eternal life?  That’s what I have to do to be saved?  I thought it would be much easier than that.  I have much wealth and treasure.  I want to do this, but my heart is else where.

My affections are on things above, not on things of the earth.  I'm a stranger and pilgrim down here on this earth.

   This world is not my home I’m just passing through.  I’m waiting on that great catching away of the church.  God is returning for a bride that hath made herself ready.  I want to make sure I’ve laid up some treasures in heaven.  

   How about you?

"The Sound of Freedom"

Ok everybody, I'll now open with a classic blog opening.  I know it's been a long time since I've posted, so sorry.  JK.  I plan to post a more official post soon.  But I do want to post a poem that I wrote a few months ago.  Some of you may think ugh... Who likes poetry?  I do.  If you don't like poetry then go sort your sock drawer or something:)  If you like it, please leave a comment below and let me know what you think.  Here goes...  By the way I actually wrote this while deer hunting, anyways...

"The Sound Of Freedom"


 A stirring in the leaves
 A soft and gentle breeze
 The sun shines its golden hue
 And lifts the heavy morning dew
 The crow sounds it's morning call
 Among the colored leaves of fall
 The pale blue sky finally awakens
 And brings back the life that night has taken
 Oh to live in the midst of this paradise
 To see this place through my God's eyes
 No wonder the Lord said this was good
 When He gazed upon this wood
 How often we take for granted God's wondrous creation
 Caught up in the turmoil of this twisted nation
 But can we for a moment pause
 And hear the sound of freedom's cause
 The reason that men bled and died
 Over this land many tears they cried
 If we could remember again
 Our saviour's call and his mighty plan
 That we are the shining city on a hill
 That no cold wind of corruption can chill
 Now take a step back and hear the sound
 Of what freedom is really all about
 I've not heard that sound before
 Only the sound of man's awful war
 This sound is different that is for certain
 But let nature lift it's hidden curtain
 And hear the sound thats clear and true
 The sound that God made just for you
 It may be a soft and gentle breeze
 Or just a stirring in the leaves.

Hope you enjoyed it.  More to come soon.  Peace Out.

Put the Merry back into Christmas!

Merry Christmas eveybody!  I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season.  Things have been going well for me and God has been blessing.  We just got through with our christmas banquets here at PGPC in Sebastopol, MS.  I was able to help with the entertainment, one of my hobbies.  I'll try to post some pictures when possible.  I just wanted to take a moment to share this with you.

This is a time of year that is a happy and joyful occasion.  The mood is always light and people tend to be positive.  This time of year holds many great memories of christmas in the past.  Times that we gathered together with family.  For one single day, we forgot about all of our problems and cares, and it seemed that everything was right in the world.

But if you would take a moment and journey with me to another house not far from your's, or perhaps to the other side of town, maybe even on the other side of the world.  To the man that is down on his luck and work has long since run out.  He stumbles through the night wondering how he will ever make it in this cold and cruel world.  No one extends a helping hand or offers a word of encouragement.  Perhaps the only person that said merry christmas to him was the salvation army attendant ringing their bell.

I see a light glowing in an upstairs apartment window on the darker side of town.  A young mother sits with her child.  The husband and father long gone, unwilling to commit himself to being a provider.  This great burden has fallen upon her and she hardly seems to be able to withstand the weight of it.  She doesn't fit in her church.  The youth look at her like she is filth, the young couple's feel that she is not apart of their group.  While everyone lavishes in prosperity and happiness, she struggles to work two or three jobs to have a somewhat decent christmas for her little girl.  People pass her all day long, but in the midst of the crowd she feels alone and as an outcast.  There is nothing merry about christmas to her, just the worst pain and loneliness imaginable.

As the fog moves in on this cold december night, I see a man sitting alone on a park bench.  A street light shining above him.  While he speaks no words, one can feel that this is a somber and dark moment.  As he left work that afternoon, everyone in the office slapped backs and high fived each other, happy to be off work and talking about what christmas had in store for them.  No one seemed to notice how he hung back, out of character for this individual.  You see, it was hard for him to join the festivities, knowing that his boss just fired him.  He walks outside of the office.  His head swirling, his mind going a thousand different directions.  He has a wife and kids to think about after all.  It had been a hard year already, what would his wife say?  What would his kids think?  He left his car in the parking lot and started walking.  "If I can't do any better than this for my family, then what am I doing?  They don't need me!  What a failure I have been to them!!  I could just end it all, they don't need me any more!"

Up ahead on the distance, a subway car slows to a stop.  A father and his children climb aboard.  His kids seem rather rambuctious.  A man sitting across from the family seems annoyed by it.  The father sits there with a dazed expression on his face, oblivious to how his kids are behaving.  the kids just sem to be a little out of control.  People move away from them.  The father does nothing to stop them.  To everyone around he seems uncaring and unconcerened.  The other passenger sits there and bites his tongue as long as he possibly can, but his aggravation gets the better of him.  Hey speaks up "Sir, your children are out of control!  Can't you do something about it?!"  The father seems to awaken out of a fog.  He looks around at his children and says to the man, "I'm sorry sir, you see, there mother just died, and we were heading home from the hospital.  I guess none of us know how to cope with it just yet.  Please forgive us."

Perhaps you've encountered these people as you've shopped and joined the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  What did you do?  Did you have a kind word for them?  Or perhaps we were preoccupied with other things.  Christmas to some people is a horrible memory, and a dark and lonely time.  But let us rember one thing this Christmas season, that Jesus Christ is the only one that can bring joy and peace.  And if we are the light of the world, then let your light shine and put the Merry back into someone's Christmas.  

-God Bless

Crank Up The Heat!

I'm sure many of us have enjoyed the change in the weather recently.  Some of us have complained about the weather for months, but give it a week or two and we'll start complaining about the cold:)


It won't be much longer until the cold settles in for the winter.  (Of course this all depends upon where you live.)  As the temperature drops on the outside, it begins to affect the inside.  And unless your a tightwad or a mountain man, your gonna crank up the heat on the thermostat.  The colder it gets on the outside, will require some adjustment on the inside to keep the temperature the same.  


What we see going on in the natural, is also going on in the spiritual world and within the church.  As the days seem to go by more hastily, this world becomes more evil and corrupt.  I don't believe that there is any news that would shock us anymore, we've heard it all it seems.  The pressure is increasing and the temperature is dropping.    Spineless, emergent, compromising churches have already felt the shift in temperature and have done nothing to adjust the inside.  They are being frozen by the winds of apathy and complacency.


If there's ever been a time when the Apostolic church needs to take a stand for truth, righteousness, and holiness, the time is now.  We've got to kindle the fire on the inside to ward off what is stirring on the outside.  Now is not the time to follow the fad of letting down on holiness. 


 Hebrews 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
1 Peter 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.


When your full of the Holy Ghost and are striving to have a relationship with God, you should have some personal convictions.  Holiness must be more than standards and rules but we must pray for a spirit of holiness.  The condition of the heart will be reflected in the outward appearance and lifestyle.  


We must increase our prayer.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman still avails much.   Prayer is what makes the difference .  It is one of the main elements of revival and a move of God.  We must strive to pray in the Holy Ghost and enter into the Holy of Holies.  That is where things are broken in the spirit and prayers are answered.


And as the winds of comprimise and complacency grow colder we cannot leave spirit filled praise and worship behind.  We must remember that music in and of itself is not what creates an atmosphere for God to move, but it's our praise and worship.  David said I will enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.  When I step through the doors of the church I want there to be a praise in my heart and a song on my lips.  I won't be concerned if visitors are watching.  They need to see a red hot apostolic worship service!!  I don't want the devil to be comfortable in a cool, complacent environment.  


Prayer and worship are two close allies that support each other.  Without one or the other we cannot be a succesful revival church.


Evangelism has got to become important to us!  What a great time of year to tell somebody about Jesus.  The church must be a refuge to the people of our communities.  We are the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.  A beacon of hope to troubled souls, a lighthouse to those lost on the seas of life.  Everyone else can bow to pressure but in 2012 I'm believing God for mighty revival in our churches.  Why don't we crank up the heat a little and see the kingdom of God go fourth?