The Treasure Principle Week of August 22-28, 2010

THE TREASURE PRINCIPLE (wk Aug 22-28, 2010)

‘Recession’ or ‘depression’: when you don’t have enough money, these words mean very little. It all adds up to having too much month for your money. But God intends for good to come out of any situation… even a recession. In a sermon titled :What Is the Recession For?” pastor John Piper suggests that, God has His own purposes:

1. To expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing.

2. To wake us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world, where there is always and only recession of the worst kind.

3. To relocate the roots of our joy in His grace rather than in our goods, in His mercy rather than in our money, in His worth rather than in our wealth.

4. To advance His saving mission in the world – the spread of the gospel and the growth of His church – precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it.

5. To bring His church to care for it’s hurting members and to grow in the gift of love.

God never wastes anything, even a recession and the dire circumstances of economic downturns. What He wants most of all is to teach us to trust Him. Here is a principle to remember: When God is all you have, you have all you need. The Bible reminds us that He who owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (Ps. 50:10) is not limited by an economic downturn. In times of financial woes and struggles that demand great trust in God’s promises, He will reveal Himself in ways we will never know during times of prosperity.


DEVELOPING A TREASURE MENTALITY

Matthew 6:19-20 (NPT) Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves.

GOD WANTS YOU TO ________________ OUT OF ___________________
Luke 12:15 (Msg) Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”

GOD WANTS YOU TO ___________THE ______________________
Philip. 3:7-8 (NLT) I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. [8] Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ.

THE TREASURE PRINCIPLE:
YOU CAN’T ___________________________________________, BUT
YOU CAN ______________________________________________...
Psalm 49: 16-17 (NIV) Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him,


FUFILLING THE TREASURE PRINCIPLE

KEY #1: ACKNOWLEDGE _______________________________
Psalm 24:1 (Living) The earth belongs to God! Everything in all the world is his!
Col. 1:15-17 (NLT) Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth…. Everything has been created through him and for him. He existed before everything else began, and holds all creation together.
Leviticus 25:23 (Living) Remember, the land is min, so you may not sell it permanently. You are merely my tenants and sharecroppers!
1 Cor. 6:19-20 (NLT) You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price…

KEY #2: MAKE A COMMITMENT TO ___________________________
1 Cor. 4:7-8 (Msg) Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need… you’re sitting on top of the world – at least God’s world…
Proverbs 27:23-24 (Living) Riches can disappear fast. And the king’s crown doesn’t stay in his family forever – so watch your business interests closely…
2 Cor. 5:10 (Living) For we must all stand before Christ to be judged and have our lives laid bare—before him. Each of us will receive whatever he deserves for the good or bad things he has done in his earthly body.

KEY #4: GIVE _____________________________________________
Deut. 14:23 (Living) Bring this tithe.. before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary… The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.
Give ___________________________ Lev.27:30
Give ___________________________ 2Cor.9:7
Give ___________________________ Mal.3:10
Give ___________________________ 1Cor.16:2

KEY#5: CULTIVATE
Eccles. 6:9 (NLT) Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind.
Philip 4:11-12 (TEV) I have learned to be satisfied with what I have… I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content….
Matthew 6:31-34 (Msg) Relax, do not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving… don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met…


For a copy of this sermon, (or answers to fill in the blanks) please email your request to prayers@allaboutthecross. Please note in the subject line “The Treasure Principle, Week of August 22-28, 2010”, and note if you prefer DVD or CD. (answers to fill in the blanks will be emailed) Don’t forget to include your mailing address. Thanks and God Bless!