Investing In Kingdom Currency

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Investing In Kingdom Currency</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id391.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Practice Religion Without Being A"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id393.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How To Deal With Anxiety"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"Investing in Kingdom Currency" </B></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, July 6, 2003am</B></div> <bR> <div>      Life on earth is short, compared to eternity in God's kingdom. Don't waste your life on earth, pursuing only the things of earth, such as money, possessions, pleasures, security. These things will fade away and become worthless. Think of the worst investment you can imagine. You would avoid putting your money into it. That is like investing your life only in the things of the this world, the things that will be gone when you are dead. If you are a part of the kingdom of God, you are called to a higher standard; you are called to live you life is such a way that you are investing in things that matter, both for life now and for life in the kingdom of God forever.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Loyalty to the king is expressed by investing your resources in his cause.</B></div> <div> A. Treasures, Visions, and Masters (<A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Matt+6:19-24" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U>Matthew 6:19-24</U></A>).</div> <div> 1. Two treasures (vss. 19-21).</div> <div>      What is in your heart? Moths and rust represent the effects of time. Cars rust over time. The value of a dollar decreases. Computers and cell phones become obsolete. Clothes wear out and styles change. Homes deteriorate and require repair. Even the best earthly investments will one day disappear.</div> <div>      Of course, preparing for the future is appropriate. Proverbs 6:6-9 says to consider the ant, which works hard and prepares ahead for times of need. But first and foremost, we must trust God and invest in his cause. Don't be so concerned with the temporary investments of earth that you miss out on investing in God's kingdom.</div> <div> 2. Two visions (vss. 22-23).</div> <div>      What is your focus? The eye is what lights up the world for us, so that we can see our way, figure out where we are going and how to get there. Jesus distinguishes between having a single focus or having double vision. Get corrected vision. Adjust your focus to center on God's kingdom.</div> <div> 3. Two masters (vs. 24).</div> <div>      These are not employers, these are owners. Who are you letting have control?</div> <div> B. Two Principles.</div> <div> 1. Being in the kingdom of God radically alters your priorities. "What's in it for me?" is changed to "what's in it for the kingdom of God?"</div> <div> 2. The level of your loyalty is revealed in how you use your money, your time, and yourself (vs. 21). How you use the resources God has given to you is a matter of who or what you are loyal to. Your God-given resources include everything you have and everything you are. You are a <I>manager</I> of what God already owns.</div> <div>      Consider an immigrant to this country who works hard in order to send money back home. We are "resident aliens" on earth who are working for a cause greater than ourselves.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. How can we invest our resources for the cause of Christ?</B></div> <div> A. Give of your money for the work of God through the church (God's instrument of planet earth).</div> <div>      You can invest in kingdom currency, no matter how much or how little resources you have. The Old Testament standard was at least 10%. Jesus hasn't yet lowered the standard; we must realize that it is all his to begin with. </div> <div>      2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." </div> <div>      We communicate that we are aligned with God's priorities, when we give what and when God tells us to give. We show that we have a loose grip on our "stuff," and that we are trusting him to provide for our needs.</div> <div> <I>     </I>Evaluate yourself. What percentage of your income do you give to God's work? George Barna has found that only 9% of evangelical Christians give 10% to their church.  Most Christian give less than 2% of their income to God's work. Increase it! You have to plan for it, as you would any long-term expenditure. Don't just give of what is left over at the end of the month. Believe God's word, that those who give generously will receive blessing generously. Believe God's word when he says that those who are stingy will miss out on God's blessing. Your choice in this big area of life will have consequences. Take it seriously.</div> <div>      Give away possessions that: a) you don't need; b) are costing you too much time and energy (controlling you); c) someone else could use more than you. Think of those possessions you "just had to have" that are sitting idle and useless, taking up space. Let them go.</div> <div>      How much money is one convert to Jesus Christ worth? Picture a sinking ship, while you sail by in your luxury yacht, ignoring the cries for help. Let go of some of your resources to help others find salvation through Christ.</div> <div> B. Give of your time for the work of God through the church.</div> <div>      Ephesians 4:11-12 says, "It was he [Christ] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people <I>for works of service</I>, so that the body of Christ may be built up ..." The people of the church are not consumers or customers, they are to be laborers who serve Christ. This demands time and availability.</div> <div> <I>     </I>Evaluate yourself. How much of your time do you spend pursuing things that benefit the kingdom of God? Or are you spending all your time trying to get ahead in this life? Get proactive about being involved in serving Christ through the local church. "I just didn't have the time" is not going to be a good excuse when God asks why you did nothing to further the work of the church.</div> <div> C. Keep yourself holy, to be used for the work of God through the church.</div> <div>      Romans 6:13 says that we are to offer our bodies as instruments of righteousness to God, rather than offering our bodies to sin for its use. God does not just want your money and your time, he wants you, and he wants you to be clean instrument for his work, and he will bless you and provide for you abundantly.</div> <bR> <div>      If you do not yet have a personal relationship with Christ, get in on his kingdom investment program by trusting in him today. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." He died in your place, because of your sin, to purchase eternal salvation for you. Accept his gift by faith.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2003, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>