Treasuring Treasure
Solomon said in Eccleastes, there is nothing new under the sun. The devil is up his same old tricks. He has propagated the same lies ever since the Garden of Eden. However, the one true God is the God of new beginnings… when we are born again of His spirt, old things are passed away, he makes all things new.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus set up a new attitude.. the beatitudes are God’s attitudes. According to Matthew 7:15-23 Jesus continued his sermon on the mount and warned the people about false prophets who did not speak for the true God:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
God created Adam and Eve as three part beings… Body, soul, and spirit. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, their spirit died that day. The mind is a part of the soul of man. This is where the will of man affects the reasoning and the decisions of life. Men usually base their decisions on feelings. However, feelings will deceive us…. Feelings are part of the wisdom of this world. This type of wisdom is earthly, sensual, and devilish. If you’re in the darkness but think you are in the light, how great is that darkness. In Matthew 7 Jesus said, not everyone who calls out Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. Even though you cast out devils and healed people in my name, I’ll say, depart from me, I never knew you.
Jesus had taught the multitude in Matthew 6 that the material things of this world are only temporary. Therefore do not store up treasures on earth. Instead treasure treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. What is it that you treasure… what in this life do you hold dear? What do you value most? The devil will distract you to value your feelings, the lust of the eyes, and the lust of the flesh. He appeals to the over-desires of this world… the things we lust for over our love of God… the things that blind us to the truth of the Word of God. Through the eyes of the flesh, men of this world think that the devil’s lies are true. The devil has convinced them that wrong is right and the righteousness of God is wrong. The devil’s purpose is to steal, to kill and to destroy.
The battlefield is for the minds and hearts of men. In this spiritual battle Ephesians 6 says…. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. According to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are not of the flesh. Instead they are spiritual (empowered by the spirit of God in Christ in us) for the pullling down of the devil’s spiritual strongholds. How do we fight back against the spiritual powers of the darkness of this world? We do this by casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Christ, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Jesus Christ is the truth of the word of God made manifest. He alone is our standard for truth.
Man’s attempts to justify the lusts of their flesh, and the desires of their evil hearts are futile vain attempts to rationalize sin. Sin separates our hearts from God’s heart. Those who lust after sin run away from God. According to John 3:19…. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
However the next verse says that those who love God and treasure treasures in heaven, run toward God: But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Those convicted of the lies of the devil attempt to cancel those who speak the truth of the Word of God. How do you respond to those who attempt to enforce the cancel culture? Paul said to Timothy, refuse foolish speculations. Don’t get discouraged by the lies propagated by those who are controlled by the god of this world whose eyes he has blinded lest the glorious gospel of truth should shine unto them. For the Lord’s bond servant must not strive… he must not be quarrelsome. The battle is not against flesh and blood… it’s not against the people whom the devil uses as his mouthpiece. The battle is against the devil and his lies, deception, and accusations. Therefore do not retaliate and recompense evil for evil. Instead counter the evil with gentleness, kindness, mercy, love and grace. As Paul said in Romans 12, be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The light is That which illuminates, makes things clear, and reveals the truth. The light of Christ illuminates the truth of the Word of God and dispels the darkness of the devil’s lies.
The job of the Holy Spirit is to afflict the comfortable and to comfort the afflicted. Before a person can repent, he must be convicted of the sin, the missing of the mark of truth. We are called as light-bearers… let your light (of Christ) shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. For those whom God has chosen, the light will defeat the darkness of the devil’s focus on sin, guilt, shame, and having missed the mark of Christ. Then when a person comes to Christ with a heart of repentance, turning from sin and unto the Lord Jesus Christ, a broken and a contrite heart, God will not forsake.
It’s easy to focus on sin… on guilt and condemnation. How do you turn from sin?… Sin is missing the mark. The Greek word for sin is “hamartano.” It’s made up of two words, “missing” and the “mark.” The emphasis of this word is not on the missing but on the mark. The devil focuses on missing. How do you not miss the mark? You aim at the mark instead of the missing. Therefore set your affection on things of God…. Treasure treasures not on the things of this world but instead treasure treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also…. As Paul said, “I press toward the mark of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus”….
…. In treasuring heavenly treasures we also press toward the mark of Christ so that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
