Treasure The Things of God :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: by RR7 Category:General Articles, Ron & Nathele Graham

What do you treasure? Gold? Silver? Jewels? We all have things we wouldn’t want to lose, but many of our treasures are “dust catchers” sitting on a shelf to be admired. That dust catcher might be a treasured family Bible that never gets opened, so the treasure to be found inside is never discovered. These doodads and knick-knacks mean a lot to us, even though they probably don’t have a high monetary value. It’s the sentimental value that matters with them. Maybe you have a token from a carnival where you fell in love on the Merry-Go-Round, or a scenic picture on your refrigerator of a field with a green sky and purple grass that was painstakingly drawn by a 5-year-old artist. We see these things as treasures.

The dictionary will usually define treasure in terms of valuable metals and jewels. But true treasure is found in heaven. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is very valuable.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matthew 13:44).

Do you value your eternal life? Do you treat your salvation like a figurine on a shelf that you take out occasionally and dust off? You cannot earn your salvation by working for it. Jesus paid the ultimate price for you to spend eternity with Him, but you can show your appreciation for what He did for you.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

Maybe you can show your appreciation by putting fear aside and sharing the Gospel with others, or maybe you can take a stand and roll out of bed in time to attend worship service with other believers. Sitting in a pew won’t bring salvation, but it will be a witness to others of your faith. Treasure your life in Christ and the things of God.

Scripture gives us a foundation for our faith, and we need to build our life upon the solid Rock that is Christ.

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved: yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

Paul wasn’t promoting a works-based faith but rather a love-based faith. Faith that does all things for the Lord with a happy heart. The treasure of gold, silver, and precious stones are things we have done for God with no thought of a reward on earth. The wood, hay, and stubble are things we have done for our own glory or comfort. A Christian’s works will be judged at the Bema Seat, and our works that were done with selfish motives will burn. Only the valuable treasure of works done for Christ will last, and they will bring eternal rewards.

James also understood that earthly treasures are temporary and not really all that valuable.

“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days” (James 5:1-3).

His words are true. Many people spend their lives buying things they don’t really need, such as over-priced cars, big homes, fancy clothes, and more. These things can make life more comfortable, but if this is what you live for, then you treasure the wrong things. You need to turn your focus to eternal things, things that cannot be corrupted in this fallen world. We do need things, but a vehicle that gets you from point A to point B is a lot more valuable than a Porsche that you’re afraid to drive because it might get rusty or dented. If you have the money to buy a Porsche, wouldn’t it be better to buy a car that is less expensive and then use the money you save to do God’s work? Maybe you could pick up an elderly neighbor and drive her to worship service or to a doctor’s appointment. That’s how you store up riches in heaven.

When Jesus walked among men, He showed us the example of how we are to behave, but He also taught us what we are to value. He didn’t gather to Himself wealth. His life and teaching about treasures should be studied by every “name it and claim it” teacher. It isn’t earthly treasure we should seek, but heavenly treasure.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

True treasure has nothing to do with monetary value, but it has everything to do with how you serve the Lord. After Jesus said to lay up treasures in heaven, He taught about how the lilies don’t worry about how they are adorned, but not even Solomon, who did store riches on earth, was arrayed with such glory.

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:31-33).

This doesn’t mean we aren’t to hold a job and earn a living. If you have a job and your bills are paid, that’s a blessing from the Lord. God provides for your needs and will open doors for you to earn a living. Just be sure your treasure isn’t in what expensive thing you can buy. Jesus walked wherever He went. He didn’t even have a pony cart to travel in. He treasured people and was more concerned for their souls than for His own comfort.

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

Treasure the things of God, not the things of this world.

How do we seek the kingdom of God? We submit ourselves to Him. We study Scripture, then apply it to our life. If we begin to covet what other people have, or if we place anything ahead of our love for God, then we need to stop and ask ourselves what we truly treasure. Do we treasure the kingdom of God and our salvation that He died to purchase for us, or do we treasure things that will be left to others when we die? Make no mistake, we all will die someday, and the only things that will matter to us then are the things we did for Christ. We are to be good stewards of the money God allows us to have, we are to love our neighbor, but we are also to honor God with our lives.

In the last talk that Jesus had with His disciples before His crucifixion, He said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Earlier in that same talk, Jesus told them, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

Do you hold to that commandment? If you love your fellow Christians, you will want to spend time with them. You will encourage them in their walk with Christ, and they will encourage you. This is treasure that cannot rust or decay. If your fellowship is with worldly people who do not honor God and who move you away from a right walk with Christ, then there is no value in that fellowship. Treasure the things of God and keep your heart turned to Christ.

What should you treasure? Treasure your salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Treasure the love of God and share it with others. Treasure the gift of life God gave you. Treasure the fruit from the Holy Spirit and cultivate it.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Treasure your brothers and sisters in Christ, and don’t forsake fellowship with them.

“And consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Parents influence their children, so take your children to Sunday school. Lead by example and show them your treasure is of God, not of the world. Fathers are a great influence over the children, but if the father in the household doesn’t move his family closer to the treasures of heaven, then the mother needs to step up and teach the children about Heavenly treasure.

Treasure the things of God.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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There’s a Great Day Coming :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: by RR7 Category:Daymond Duck, General Articles

 

I didn’t see a lot of prophetic news that I wanted to write about early this week, so here is my understanding of a famous Pre-Trib Rapture passage (I Thess. 4:13-5:9).

I have omitted the Chapter divisions because they were not in the original texts.

I have capitalized some of the pronouns because the verses are a contrast between believers and unbelievers; the saved and the lost.

“But I would not have YOU to be ignorant, BRETHREN, concerning them which are asleep, that YE sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (I Thess. 4:13).

  • God doesn’t want YOU, the brethren (believers; brothers and sisters in Christ), to be ignorant about what happens to those that have died (those whose body is in the cemetery; the word cemetery means sleeping place).

“For if WE [the believers] believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (I Thess. 4:14).

  • If WE believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, even though OUR body is in the sleeping place (the cemetery), Jesus will still bring OUR soul and spirit with Him.

“For this we say unto YOU [believers] by the word of the Lord, that WE [believers] which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep” (I Thess. 4:15).

  • Paul said we are telling YOU (the believers) what the Lord (Jesus) wants YOU (the believers) to know about these things.
  • We (the believers) that are still alive on earth when Jesus comes with the soul and spirit of those whose body is in the cemetery (sleeping place) will not prevent Jesus from raising deceased believers from the dead.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (I Thess. 4:16):

  • Jesus will personally come out of heaven and raise the deceased believers from the dead before He does anything about the believers that are still alive and on earth at that time (see Jn. 11:43; Rev. 4:1).

“Then WE which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thess. 4:17).

  • After Jesus has raised the deceased believers from the dead, all believers (those that have not died, and those that died but have been raised from the dead) will be caught up (Raptured) at the same time to meet Jesus in the air and be with Him forever (He doesn’t touch down on earth. Believers will fly away to meet Him in the air).

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (I Thess. 4:18).

  • Believers should discuss these comforting words with others.

“But of the times and the seasons, BRETHREN, YE have no need that I write unto YOU” (I Thess. 5:1).

  • Concerning when the Rapture is near, BRETHREN (believers), YOU don’t need me to tell YOU (the brothers and sisters in Christ) anything about that.

“For YOURSELVES know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (I Thess. 5:2).

  • YOU are well aware that the Rapture will catch some people by surprise.

“For when THEY [the unbelievers] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon THEM [the unbelievers], as travail upon a woman with child; and THEY [the unbelievers] shall not escape” (I Thess. 5:3).

  • When the unbelievers declare Peace and safety on earth, sudden destruction will come upon the unbelievers, and the unbelievers will not escape (they will be left behind to go through the Tribulation Period).

“But YE, BRETHREN, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake YOU as a thief” (I Thess. 5:4).

  • But YOU, the believers, are not in darkness so that day will not catch You by surprise (you have the Word, and you can see the day approaching).

“YE are all the children of light, and the children of the day: WE are not of the night, nor of darkness” (I Thess. 5:5; Matt. 5:14; Jn. 8:12; Col. 1:12-13).

  • You have been enlightened by the Scriptures, called out of darkness, and won’t be surprised like those that don’t believe (I Pet. 2:9).

“Therefore let US not sleep, as do others; but let US watch and be sober” (I Thess. 5:6).

  • Because WE (the believers) are the children of light, WE should stay awake spiritually, watch what is happening in light of the Scriptures, and use good judgment.

“For THEY [the unbelievers] that sleep sleep in the night; and THEY [the unbelievers] that be drunken are drunken in the night” (I Thess. 5:7).

  • Unbelievers are like people that sleep and get drunk at night.
  • They are not aware of what is happening in light of the Scriptures.

“But let US, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation” (I Thess. 5:8).

  • Let us, the children of light, use good judgment, have faith, love God and others, and cling to our hope that Jesus will come out of heaven to raise deceased believers, change living believers, give all believers a new body, and take us to heaven.

“For God hath not appointed US [the believers] to wrath [the Tribulation Period is a day of wrath; Zeph. 1:15; Rev. 6:16], but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess. 5:9).

  • God hasn’t appointed believers to go through the day of wrath.
  • God has appointed believers to be saved by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are some indications that a great day is coming soon.

One, on Jan. 27, 2022, it was reported that New Hampshire State Representative Leah Cushman, a registered nurse, has proposed a bill to permit pharmacists to dispense Ivermectin as an over-the-counter treatment for Covid-19.

  • Cushman believes making Ivermectin readily available will save lives.
  • She believes it will pass in New Hampshire and go into effect in 60 days.
  • A group of physicians called the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCCA) is advocating the use of Ivermectin, and a group of almost 2,400 physicians has endorsed this group’s recommendations.
  • A similar bill has been introduced in at least 3 other states.
  • Readers may want to ask their legislators to pass a similar bill.

Two, concerning deceit: it is not unusual to hear someone say they do not think Pres. Biden is running things in the U.S.

On Jan. 21, 2022, Biden’s Press Sec., Jen Psaki, was on “The View,” and Joy Behar said, “A little bird told me that you said you might be retiring, resigning the job this year. Say it isn’t so.”

Psaki replied, “I don’t know when I’m leaving. This is an honor and a privilege, and I love working for Pres. Obama—Biden.”

There is now so much deceit in Washington, it is difficult to know what to believe.

(More: On Jan. 30, 2022, a group called “True the Vote” released video of people allegedly putting thousands of illegal ballots in ballot boxes after midnight in Georgia. According to a spokesperson, this is the first video they have released, but the group has compiled evidence of organized voter fraud in 6 states.)

(More: On Feb. 1, 2022, it was reported that political commentator and filmmaker, Dinesh D’Souza, has joined “True the Vote” to produce a movie that proves widespread voter fraud. The movie will be released this spring. According to D’Souza, they tracked about 2,000 people that stuffed ballot boxes, and they have filmed one person that made 53 trips to 20 different ballot boxes.)

Three, concerning deceit and the Mark of the Beast: even though the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is on record as saying it will not change the definition of “fully vaccinated,” on Jan. 26, 2022, it was reported that the CDC will replace the words “fully vaccinated” with the words “up to date.”

A patient that has had two vaccinations and a booster shot and been deemed “fully vaccinated” in the past will not be considered to be “up to date” if the CDC orders more vaccinations or booster shots.

This is why some prophecy teachers believe the government will keep adding to or changing the requirements until their requirements turn into the Mark of the Beast.

Four, concerning world government, deceit, corruption, and betrayal of the U.S.: on Jan. 26, 2022, Tucker Carlson aired a video (on the Tucker Carlson Tonight TV program) that was caught on a police bodycam of a Biden administration contractor saying, “If this gets out… the government is betraying the American people.”

The man that made this statement was supervising a program to fly planeloads of illegal aliens into various parts of the U.S.

The contractor explained to the police officer on video that it is his job to keep the American people from knowing what the Biden administration is doing (probably because they are traitors for betraying the U.S. by breaking federal law).

Five, concerning the return of rain to Israel at the end of the age: on Jan. 27, 2022, residents of Jerusalem woke up with about 7 inches of snow on the ground that was expected to be melted by rain that would start later in the day.

Six, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: on Jan. 26, 2022, it was reported that Russia has recently taken 2 steps that are pro-Iran and anti-Israel.

  • Russian and Syrian military jets have started joint air patrols over the Golan Heights along Syria’s border with Israel (where the Battle of Gog and Magog will take place).
  • Russian special forces have started round-the-clock patrols of the Syrian seaport at Latakia where Iran is delivering advanced weapons to Hezbollah.

The co-operation between Russia and Iran is growing stronger.

The danger is that Israel must be careful not to shoot down a Russian jet over the Golan and not to kill Russian troops while trying to destroy Iranian weapons that are being unloaded at Latakia.

The death of Russians by the hands of Israelis could be used as an excuse for war.

(Update 1: On Jan. 26, 2022, it was reported that Russia has taken a third pro-Iranian and anti-Israel step by permitting Iranian planes to land at Russia’s airbase at Latakia.)

(Update 2: Joint air patrols by Russia and Syria over the Golan Heights have not stopped Israel from attacking targets in Syria. On Jan. 31, 2022, Israeli jets fired missiles from Lebanese airspace at targets near Damascus, the capital of Syria.)

Seven, concerning reprobate minds: Iran is financing the Houthis that are attacking Saudi Arabia, Hezbollah that is attacking Israel, Hamas that is launching rockets into Israel from Palestine, and terrorists inside Israel that are attacking Jews, but Iran is not paying her dues to the UN and is so far behind, the nation has lost its right to vote.

On Jan. 23, 2022, it was reported that the Biden administration just got $18 million of blocked Iranian funds released so Iran can pay its dues to the UN and start voting again (and the Iranians will continue to shout death to America).

Eight, concerning hyper-inflation and an economic collapse: on Feb. 2, 2022, it was reported that U.S. Treasury Dept. data shows that the U.S. national debt was $21.6 trillion when Biden took office, and it has now surpassed $30 trillion.

Biden’s spending binge is partly why the price of gasoline, food, lumber, utilities, vehicles, and everything else is soaring.

Biden has increased America’s national debt by about 8.4 trillion in slightly more than one year, and he has a $2 trillion Build Back Better Act stalled in the U.S. Senate because two Democrats won’t vote for it.

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com