November 5-6, 2005, Selected

HEART CHECK$!
MONITOR YOUR PRE$$URE!

*** Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [NIV]

TO HAVE A HEALTHY SPIRITUAL HEART YOU HAVE TO PASS THE TREASURE TEST!

HOW CAN WE LOWER OUR FINANCIAL PRESSURE FOR SPIRITUAL HEART HEALTH?

1. BY DEALING WITH POSSESSION OBSESSION!
*** Luke 12:15b “...a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
[New International Version]
A DIRECT CONTRADICTION TO THE MESSAGE OF TODAY’S MEDIA AND SOCIETY!

*** 1 Tim. 6:9-10 “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” [New Living Translation]
*** Luke 18:22-27 “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me." But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich. Jesus looked at him and said, "It is very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." When the people heard this, they asked, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus answered, "God can do things that are not possible for people to do."
[New Century Version]
“God, help me to hold lightly the things of this world!”

2. BY OVERCOMING THE ILLUSION!
*** Phil. 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ….” [NIV]
*** Hebrews 11:13-14 “These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. And quite obviously when they talked like that, they were looking forward to their real home in heaven.” [Living Bible]
*** Matthew 6:19-20a “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….” [NLT]
*** Luke 12:21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." [NLT]
“God give me the wisdom to live my life knowing I can’t take it with me, but I can send it ahead!”

3. BY LEARNING CONTENTMENT!
*** 1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” [NIV]
THE OPPOSITE OF CONTENTMENT - THE NEED FOR GREED!

*** Ecc. 5:10, 15 “Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness! [15] People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born.” [NLT]
*** Phil. 4:11-13 “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” [NIV]
*** Heb. 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." [NIV]

THE SECRET TO CONTENTMENT IS JESUS CHRIST AND THE SALVATION HE BRINGS!

“Lord, teach me how to be content in You!”

4. BY IMPROVING OUR MANAGEMENT!
*** Proverbs 27:23-24 “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful
*** Proverbs 14:15b “…The wise think about what they do.” [NCV]

A. BY ESTABLISHING A REALISTIC BUDGET!
*** Pr.21:5 "If you plan and work hard, you will have plenty….” [CEV]

B. BY GIVING TO GOD FIRST!
*** Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns…and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.” [LB]
*** Deut. 14:23 “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.” [LB]

C. BY LIVING ON LESS THAN YOU MAKE!
*** Proverbs 13:7 “One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.” [NIV]
*** Pr.13:18 "He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored." [NIV]

D. BY GETTING OUT OF DEBT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!
*** Proverbs 22:7“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” [NIV]

E. BY SAVING SOME AMOUNT REGULARLY!
*** Proverbs 21:20 “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.” [LB]

10 GIVE - 10 SAVE - 80 LIVE ON PLAN!

F. BY INVESTING WISELY FOR THE LONG TERM!
*** Proverbs 13:11 “Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow.” [NCV]
*** Proverbs 21:5 “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” [NLT]

____________________ THESE PRINCIPLES WILL LEAD TO
SPIRITUAL HEART ______________________!