Deeper in the Word

Treasure the Word

Auction Game

Over the next month, I’d like to talk about what y’all would want to talk about in Scripture.

Maybe there is a topic you’d like to discuss and you want to know what the Bible says about it. Let’s talk about that.

Maybe there is a book of the Bible you’d like to study, let’s discuss that as an options.

So tonight and over the next week this is your homework:

Any questions about God, the Bible, or something related, send it to me.

If there is a book of the Bible you’d like to discuss together as a group, send it to me.

If you’ve ever had questions about God, the Bible, a certain topic from Scripture, let’s dig into that.

If there is a book of the Bible you’d like to study together, let’s do that.

*I’d love to dig deeper in our chronological reading, and we will do some of that tonight, but to be honest with you, over the next month, Leviticus and Numbers just don’t strike me as the best way to encourage one another to dig deeper into the word.

The goal here is to dig deeper into the truths of God’s word

I talk often about the different messages you guys are confronted with daily And how these messages more often than not are contrary to God’s word.

Every day we have a decision to make,

Am I going to treasure God’s Word over the world?

Matthew 6:19-21 “19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

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

What does that mean?

Maybe you had a valentine yesterday, maybe you didn’t

One day you will.

How will you treasure your valentine?

Give me some examples of ways you will spoil your woman?

What this last verse says is that what you treasure, your heart will love.

If you love success, your heart is going to pursue success.

If you love your job, your heart might love your job over your family.

Success, a job, all these are good things. Things we should pursue.

But we must keep them in perspective.

We can’t lose sight of what these things are…

Your success, your job, your sport, your talents, your physical abilities, these things can be taken away from you in the blink of an eye.

IF you treasure those things too much, what will your heart do once those things are gone?

What you love in your heart, you pursue.

You love. You value. You spend money on. You spend time on.

The questions being brought up here in Matthew 6 really is, Are we treasuring what matters most?

So let’s break this verse down from the beginning.

When you believe Jesus is your treasure, you will put everything into that basket.

To say it another way, the word believing means that you go all in,

Like the game we played today in the auction.

If Jesus comes up, you lay all your money down on Jesus because you believe in Him.

Whatever he offers, you want to be all in for it.

That’s what it means to believe.

To give everything you have to Jesus.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.

What does that mean?

Why should we not do that?

2. Where Moth can destroy.

What do moths destroy?

3. Where Rust can destroy?

What does rust destroy?

4. Where thieves break in and steal.

What can a thief take from you?

Any possession.

It can also take away your security.

The feeling you have at home of your comfort, safety, and security. Knowing a thief came in behind the locked doors and took what rightfully belongs to you, that’s going to mess with your head.

A thief not only takes your physical property, but it also robs you of your joy.

2. So what is my treasure?

1 Timothy 6:17 “17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

Matthew 6:24 “24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Earthly treasures bring no individual satisfaction.

How do we distinguish between earthly treasures and heavenly ones?

Earthly treasures = anything moth, rust, or thieves can take away from you.

Heavenly treasures = neither moth, nor rust, nor thieves can take away.

Heavenly treasures can’t be removed by any earthly means.

One way we do that is by remembering 4 things:

1. We are not just saved from somewhere, we are saved for somewhere.

2. We are not just saved from someone, we are saved for someone and by someone.

3. We are not just saved from hell, we are saved for heaven.

4. We are not just saved from Satan, we are saved for Jesus and by Jesus.

JESUS IS THE TREASURE.

Jesus <- the treasure moths and rust cannot destroy and thieves can’t steal.

Jesus <- the anchor of our faith, the hope of our salvation.

Jesus <- the foundation of our faith. The rock upon which all else is built.

Jesus <- the one who gives value, and whom all go to to find their value.

Jesus <- cannot be ignored, because the heavens declare his glory and the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Jesus <- can be enjoyed because he created us for relationship.

Jesus <- our groom and we are His bride.

Jesus <- worth giving everything for because He gave everything for us.

Jesus <- experienced everything we did so we can approach his thrown with boldness and confidence expecting to receive grace and mercy (Heb. 4)

Are you treasuring Christ above all else?

I’ll read you a story from our scripture today of someone who didn’t.

If you are still keeping up with the chronological reading you read from Leviticus 10 today.

It says this:

Leviticus 10:1–4 NIV

1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: “ ‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’ ” Aaron remained silent. 4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.”

Verse 1 of Leviticus 10 says that they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, “Contrary to His command.”

In other words, it seems clear they knew what they should be doing, and they chose to do something different.

As a result, and a bit shocking and harsh to us, they died.

Why?

How could a loving God do this?

How could the same God who we just discussed wants us to remember our treasure is Him and People.

How could he do this?

Because God demands holiness.

You can’t experience the grace and love of God without first knowing the holiness of God.

Before God could reveal his grace, mercy, and love to the world, His people who had seen him every day, had to know God’s holiness and how serious God takes sin.

If you’ve been reading, since Israel left Israel, they have seen God in a cloud and fire depending on it being day or night.

They have seen the presence of God in the giving of the 10 commandments.

Now for us, we may still have lots of questions about this situation, but one thing also speaks volumes.

In vs. 3 it says, “Aaron held his peace.” Or the version we read today, “Aaron remained silent.”

His sons just died, why wouldn’t he speak on their behalf?

Because even though we have questions, Aaron seemed to know here that God’s justice was upheld.

He raises no objections to the action God has taken.

And this brings me to my point today.

When Jesus is your treasure, you trust Him.

Like we discussed already, we may still have questions about our day.

We may have questions about things Jesus allows.

Let us not get so distracted by the answers to life’s difficult questions, that we miss Jesus right in front of us.

That Jesus wants to know you, and that Jesus wants you to make Him known to those around you as you treasure Him.

I pray we do that.