Let me begin this by saying, �Praise God!� He is worthy of all our praise, all our love, and all of our energy and service. Without Him we would not be! Without Him we would not have breath in our lungs. He is everything and controls every storm! He knows exactly where the sun needs to be to provide for us and to protect us from too much cold or too much heat. God is in full control every second of every day. Nothing is mere chance � God is in control! He is Alpha and Omega! He started a work in man and He will finish that work! He has prepared a place for His children, with treasures that have no earthly compare. He has also prepared a place for satan, the angels that follow him, and for ALL that reject God! God�s children and the children of darkness (satan) both have a reward coming. Your service and worship today is deciding the reward you will receive. With every breath you and I come closer to death and receiving that reward. Matthew 6:21 says, �For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.� As I begin this message I ask that you search your heart, that you pray for spiritual understanding and honestly discover where your treasure or heart is. The title of this message is �Where�s Your Treasure?�
The Holy Spirit gave me this message about 2 months ago. When it came to me I didn�t know when He�d have me use it. I had no idea that we�d be tried so hard in this area. I think that I have had more spots to be removed in this area than Kim. Every message we put out is direct from the Holy Spirit and we have lived it by the time it reaches you. A lot of times we are still living it. Not long ago I preached, �Can You Preach When The Money�s Gone?� Only by the grace of God are we still preaching. We never know how the message is going to go out, or how the ministry is going to operate with no funds. What we DO know is that our treasure is in God. Many times lately we have reminded one another of Jeremiah 29:11, �For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.� When God calls, our treasure � our trust � can�t be in the bank, in a pay check, in money promised to us, or even in offerings! Our treasure has to remain in God. I want each of you to consider that and to ask yourself, �Where�s Your Treasure?�
Some people put their treasure in the praise they receive from man. That�s why when any of us get up to sing or testify it must be for the glory of God. When we give an offering it must be for the glory of God, and not for personal praise. That widow in Luke 21 gave the least but she did it out of her need, and secretly. She didn�t want any recognition from man. She knew that she was laying up treasures in Heaven. And don�t think that was the only reason either � it was out of love for God! If we do anything for man to see, that�s the WRONG REASON! Then we�re laying up treasures here in this world, and our heart is unclean with the wrong motive. I�ve seen people get up to sing and it be a perfect performance. I did say performance! God wants praise and worship, not a performance. Man likes a performance - to be entertained � but God rewards praise and worship from the heart. Where your heart is determines if what you do is truly in Jesus� name, or your own. Read Matthew 25 concerning the sheep and the goats at the time of separation. Each got their reward! Again I ask you, �Where�s YOUR Treasure?�
Now I�m probably about to offend, make some mad by the Word, although that is not my intent� I hope that where necessary you will receive correction and seek forgiveness. Let me drop a little bomb in your lap � what your HEART desires is your treasure and THAT also is your God! I�m sure some eyebrows are raised now. Look at Luke 14:16-24 and take account of all those that were invited to the supper having an excuse� When you are bid to come and use something or someone for an excuse, then you�ve revealed your treasure, YOUR god! Is it your spouse? When God calls and a husband or wife is afraid to quit a job and step out in complete trust of God, then they have another god! I love my wife and children, but God is first in all things without compromise. Recently I went through a rough time concerning my daughter. I�m talking about a heart-breaking time � but I could not slow down in my service for God. I had to give her to Him. I�ve got a news flash for you � your children, your spouse, your parents, your house and all your possessions belong to God, not you! They are on loan to us for the glory of God in His service! How you direct yourself, family and possessions for God�s glory reflects where your heart is and where your treasure lies. It reveals who your god is! If the heart is in the wrong place then all the treasure a person has laid up will be taken away at some point. They�ll see it happen in this world or they�ll stand before God and watch all fade away as they are cast into their reward of hell. Men and women work all their lives to lay up earthly treasures for the temporary pleasure it brings � they plan for retirement, for the future. They plan for a day they can enjoy it all. Anything without God can never bring true peace or enjoyment! Colossians 3:15a says, �And let the peace of God rule in your hearts...� Peace will never rule in your heart if your treasure is in the wrong place. There are so many examples in God�s Word of people with their treasure in the wrong places. Those people went off sad, brokenhearted and troubled like the rich young ruler in Luke 10. We have many examples, like the expensive alabaster box of ointment - the young woman washed the feet of Jesus with her hair and tears. That woman didn�t treasure the box of ointment. She knew who Jesus was and came humbly to give, serve and honor Him. Her motives were totally different from the Pharisee that wanted recognition in this world. I challenge you to read about it in Luke 7:36-50. That woman came seeking and she found treasure beyond compare that this world could never touch! I urge you to read John 12:1-8 and Luke 10:38-42� �WHERE�S YOUR TREASURE?�
As I close my heart is burdened for many souls tonight. So many have forgotten how to give offerings of praise and worship to God. So many have forgotten charity and how to give cheerfully to their church, to the poor, to missionaries and evangelists. So many pick and choose who the neighbor is they are to love! It is time for all of us to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us where our heart really is. Are we honoring God in praise, in worship? Are we giving all we can for God�s work and His glory? Who (or what) is truly the god of our lives? Self? Children? Spouse? Vehicles, boats, houses? When we meet someone, what is the first thing we speak of or show them? Family pictures? Home and possessions? Awards? Or do we tell them about Jesus and our desire to serve Him? We must come to God humbly and pray to Him! Sing to Him! Offer our time to Him! Offer our finances to Him! Everything we have access to we must offer to Him for His glory and use, to reach souls and not hold back. See Acts 5! �Where is YOUR treasure?�
In Christ�s Service, Bro. Don George
Note to All: If you don�t get a newsletter or hear from us for a while, please don�t give up on us. The newsletters are going out on time via the internet, but due to the current financial situation, you may receive hardcopy newsletters late or in groups of two months at a time. We�re praying about these things and at the time I�m writing this not all of the September newsletters have been able to be mailed. I do know that the Holy Spirit has led me to continue, and do this newsletter, and the next two months as well. It�s all in God�s hands, and I ask for your prayers as we fight this battle. We are totally dependent upon God. I trust in God and therefore haven�t and never will beg for finances. Don�t even like asking for prayer in this area, but we need prayer warriors to agree with us in this. If you discern that I�m called of God, sent of God, and that our ministry is doing a work for God, then please join with us in prayer. Thank you all!
Note from Kim: Please join me in wishing Don a blessed birthday on the 22nd of this month � praise the Lord for another year!
Thank you for praying for us! God Bless!
(Author Unknown)
I said a prayer for you today
And knew God must have heard �
I felt the answer in my heart
Although He spoke no word!
I didn�t ask for wealth or fame
(I knew you wouldn�t mind) �
I asked Him to send treasures
Of a far more lasting kind!
I asked that He�d be near you
At the start of each new day
To grant you health and blessings
And friends to share your way!
I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small �
But it was for His loving care
I prayed for most of all!
