The Spiritually Rich Pastor Greg

(NLT) 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

16For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

STORY: A tax assessor came to a pastor one day to ascertain the amount of taxes he would have to pay.“What property do you possess?” asked the assessor.“I am a very wealthy man,” replied the minister.“List your possessions, please,” the assessor instructed.

A tax assessor came to a pastor one day to ascertain the amount of taxes he would have to pay.“What property do you possess?” asked the assessor.“I am a very wealthy man,” replied the minister.“List your possessions, please,” the assessor instructed.

“What property do you possess?” asked the assessor.

“I am a very wealthy man,” replied the minister.

“List your possessions, please,” the assessor instructed.

I have everlasting life

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

I have a mansion in Heaven

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

I have the peace of God which passes all understanding

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

7Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

I have joy unspeakable

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

8You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

I have divine love which never fails

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

8Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

I have a faithful wife

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”

10Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.

I have healthy, happy children

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

(NLT) 1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

“Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.

2“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise:

“That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

I have true, loyal friends (This Scripture will sound familiar, we read it last week)

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

24There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

I have songs in the night

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

“Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”

8But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

I have a crown of life

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

(NLT)

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

With a look of bewilderment, The tax assessor closed his tax collection book and said, “Truly you are a very rich man, but your property is not subject to taxation.”

AMEN

Billy Apostolon, Heart-Stirring Sermon Outlines, Dollar Sermon Library Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1975), 34–35.