Seeking Wealth in Heaven..Craig Denison Ministries

 Seeking Wealth in Heaven

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

The biblical concept of being poor in spirit is foundational to every aspect of the Christian life. Foundational to salvation is a heart-level acknowledgment of our need for a Savior. Foundational to experiencing God’s love is acknowledging our great need of love. Foundational to heavenly peace and joy is an acknowledgment that this world truly offers us neither. If we want all that God in his grace offers, we must pursue a lifestyle of being poor in spirit. May you experience more of the depth of God’s love this week as you discover God’s heart to minister to those desperate for him.

Scripture:“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Devotional:

To be poor in spirit is to seek wealth in heaven rather than in the things of the world. Jesus says in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” We have no reason to be poor in spirit if we’re after the world. The world does not reward those who acknowledge their weaknesses. The world does not revere and honor those who are open and honest about their brokenness. But God says in Proverbs 29:23, “One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” Seeking wealth in heaven and honor from the One, True God requires us to live in light of the fact that we are dust. God rewards only those who obey his command to be poor in spirit.

Scripture is clear that our actions here on earth affect our eternal life. Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, 24,

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. . . . No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

What Jesus is not saying in Matthew 6 is that we are not to have any form of money here on earth. God knows our needs, and in the very next section of Scripture he tells us not to fear for them because he promises to provide (Matthew 6:31-32). What he is saying is summed up in in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

To be poor in spirit on earth is to be rich in heaven. God honors and blesses those who live according to his commands rather than seeking pleasure in the world. Psalm 113:7-8 says, “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.” When we seek earthly wealth, it dies with us. But when we live in truth, acknowledging that we are dust and that all the worldly pursuits are fleeting and folly, all that’s left is to give our heart to God.

Take time today to assess whether you are pursuing the things of the world or if your heart is solely devoted to God’s kingdom. Assess whether you are seeking fulfillment for your spiritual need or attempting to fill the voids in your life with earthly success. And commit your heart to the Lord alone that you might receive heavenly reward that will satisfy you for all eternity. God longs to bless his children. He longs to provide abundantly for all your needs both here on earth and in heaven. But the gateway to both is narrow and requires you to be poor in spirit. May your heart be entirely God’s today as you seek satisfaction and provision in him alone.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the value of seeking the kingdom of God above all else. Allow Scripture to inform the posture of your heart toward being poor in spirit.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

2. In what ways are you seeking the things of the world over the kingdom of God? In what ways are you attempting to appear spiritually rich rather than poor in spirit? In what ways are you seeking wealth here rather than in heaven?

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward." Matthew 6:5

3. Take time to confess any pursuits of the world to God and receive his forgiveness. Ask him to show you how your work and relationships fit into seeking his kingdom first. Commit all your finances, friends, and family to him.

The Bible speaks so strongly about earthly wealth because it can be so tempting, and because it carries with it a false sense of satisfaction. It’s so easy for our hearts to become wrapped up in the things of this world when they’re readily available to us. Earthly success and wealth are so enticing. But if we make time to discover the wealth of affection, satisfaction, joy, peace, and purpose that are found in seeking God’s kingdom alone, the things of this world begin to come into a correct perspective. What is wealth here in comparison to eternal reward given to us by God himself? What is worldly pleasure in comparison to honor and blessing from the King of kings? Make space to simply enjoy God today in order that all other pursuits might fall into place in light of his unconditional love and desire to bless you.

Extended Reading: Matthew 6

The Essence of Thankfulness..Meg Bucher

 The Essence of Thankfulness

By Meg Bucher

“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.” - Philippians 3:7 NLT

The mint green box with flowers on it collects all of the dust bunnies under the bed. Its contents hold the memories of a season of life. We attach sentiment to things on this earth. Things become especially meaningful to us when they symbolize something much greater than the craving for the physical object. It’s sad to box up a season of life once treasured. 

Paul wrote to the Philippians about the true value of things. The Greek translation for things is hostis, and the word is defined as “whoever, whatever, who.” One of the definitions for things in the English language is “anything that is or may become an object of thought.” Our earthly selves love to be loved, and comfortable. We love the assurance someone will never leave us, and slowly forget there is only One who never will.

“When Paul speaks of these things, he is referring to his credentials, credits, and successes,” the NLT Bible notes explain, “After showing that he could beat the Judaizers at their own game (being proud of who they were and what they had done), Paul shows that it is the wrong game. Be careful of considering your position or past achievements so important that they get in the way of your relationships with Christ.” Add to achievements our relationships and how tempting it is to hold people to standards in this life they can never fulfill for us. Paul continued to write:

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:8 NLT

Christ Jesus is the only One who can fill the gaps in our human hearts, which automatically ache for assurance, comfort, and companionship. Everything, and everyone, will fail to fulfill this desire in our lives because our hearts were created to crave Him. “Gaining Christ is described in three ways:” The Moody Bible Commentary explains, “first, it is found in Him …second, it is not having one’s own righteousness …third, it is having the righteousness which comes through faith in Christ.” 

The author of Hebrews reminds us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NLT.) 

Paul wrote to the Romans: “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed- a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” Romans 11:17 NLT

The desire to put our hope in whoever or whatever ends up in a box collecting the dust bunnies under our beds. Our souls were created to put our hope in one person: Christ Jesus. Through Him, we come to the Father. In Him, we find peace, joy, love, and purpose. By His death, we get to live ours to the full here on earth and eternally with Him in heaven. Paul continued:

“For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” - Philippians 3:8b-9 NLT

 Intersecting Faith and Life:

Faith isn’t an object we own or the level we achieve in life. Faith is a living and breathing part of who we are, constantly being molded into the image of Christ Jesus as we follow Him through our daily lives. Paul’s letter continued: 

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” Philippians 3:10-11 NLT 

Though it seems some seasons in our lives are unrelatably painful, Christ gets it. The box of memories collecting dust bunnies means something to Him because it means something to us. God does not meet us with a pep-talk; he meets us with compassion. He says, “let’s go through this box together …bring it to me.” He sees us, He knows us, and He longs to comfort us in the times we need to remember most …whoever or whatever is nothing in comparison to the complete peace, restoration, love, and joy we experience in Christ Jesus. Nothing …nothing …compares to who He is. 

Father,
You are so faithful. Every day, Your mercies are new. Great is Your faithfulness! We can be sad, and we can cry out to You, God. Thank You for who You are. Your compassion saves our lives over and over again. We confess our misplacement of people and things in our lives. We confess our focus on achieving over abiding in You. We love You with our whole hearts. Help us to understand how to grow in our love for You. Let it overflow out of our lives and onto everyone around us, Father. 

Further Reading:

• Philippians 3
• Hebrews 11

4 Things We Can Learn about Prayer from Elijah..Dena Johnson

 4 Things We Can Learn about Prayer from Elijah

By Dena Johnson

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” - James 5:17-18

Over the last few years, Elijah has become one of my favorite biblical characters. But as I read through the stories of his life yet again, I began to reflect on the biblical truth that Elijah was a man just like us. And yet, his life was so powerful!

What was it about Elijah that made his prayers, his life, so powerful and effective? What can we learn from the life of Elijah to help our own prayer lives?

Here are 4 things we can learn about prayer from Elijah:

1. Elijah learned to be completely dependent on God.

Elijah was in hiding from the evil King Ahab. He had no way to meet his own needs. He was completely at the mercy of God himself, doing his best to walk in obedience. And God, Jehovah Jireh, provided as only He can.

Even when the brook dried up, Elijah had no need to fear. His source of provision dried up, but His God’s faithfulness didn’t. He went to the widow of Zarephath, completely convinced of God’s faithfulness to provide for his needs. And, as before, God did what only He could do.

2. Elijah prayed boldly for God-sized miracles.

“Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!” 1 Kings 18:36, 38

Elijah was bold. He asked with incredible faith, believing that God was able. And, without fail, God answered those audacious prayers. He poured out His power repeatedly, giving Elijah opportunity to proclaim God’s greatness.

3. Elijah’s prayers pointed the world back to God.

O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” 1 Kings 18:37

Yes, Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume the water and the sacrifices not for his own glory, but so others would know that Yahweh is God and there is no other God in heaven or earth. Elijah’s prayers were about pointing the world back to God.

4. Elijah prayed fervently until he saw the answer.

Elijah had prayed the drought into existence. Now, it was time for the drought to end. He began to petition the God of the universe for rain. Not a little rain, but enough rain to quench the thirst of the land. He asked. No response. He asked again. Still no response. Seven times he asked and sent his servant to look for an answer. He prayed expecting an answer.

Finally, after seven times, a small cloud began to form. Even just a small indication that God had heard his prayer was enough. He knew a small cloud indicated God was moving in response to his prayers. And, God did exactly what he asked. He ended the drought. He sent rain on the land.

Elijah prayed through until he received an answer.

We must remember that it is God’s faithfulness that we are calling on, his character. It’s about a God who longs to connect with us, to help us in our time of need. We must have faith that He is willing and able to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine.

We must remember prayer is about ordinary people calling on an Omnipotent God. Will you join Him?

A Prayer for Gathering When Relational Tension Is High ..Ashley Moore

 A Prayer for Gathering When Relational Tension Is High

By Ashley Moore 

"For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:12, NLT

I recently called one of my siblings to ask about holiday gathering plans. I wanted to know if he’d be okay with having the thanksgiving meal at our house this year. The conversation was going great until we began to go over the guest list.

For most, if not all of us, sometimes the holidays can be a source of contention rather than a time of gratitude and joy. Maybe we have wayward loved ones who won’t make it home this year for fear of judgment? Or perhaps we have divorced parents who can’t stand to be in the same room with each other?  Or do political opinions seem to snuff out the holiday spirit, creating a divide in guests?

Families can often be a huge source of relational tension, and the stress of the holidays seems to exacerbate the issue. But what if we started this holiday season off differently by laying some ground rules and adjusting our expectations? What if, as far as it depended on us, we attempted to live at peace with our family like Paul encouraged the church in Romans 12:18? 

My counselor taught me to keep the relational tension scale in mind when making holiday plans. Relational tension is measured on a scale from 1-10. Healthy relationships and normalcy can occur between two people if the relational tension is anywhere between 1-3, or maybe 4 at most. Conflict will occur if either party agrees that the relational tension is a 5 or above. 

Think about those you will engage with this holiday season and decide if conversations and conflict resolution need to occur before the holidays. If the tension is at 5 or above, then it’s safe to assume, if those conversations don’t happen beforehand, the holidays risk becoming an unhappy memory in the making. On the other hand, when considering relational tension, if the conflict exists at a 2 (for both parties involved), we can expect that things might get a little tense, but maybe not enough to ruin the entire gathering. 

With those things in mind, we can never completely ensure that our holiday gatherings will go perfectly because let’s face it, we live in a broken world with broken people who are tainted by sin. But this holiday season, even if you don’t know what precautionary measures to take when it comes to your family’s relational tension, commit to praying before you gather. 

We have a very real adversary who is committed to destroying families (John 10:10). Satan hates to see God’s children enjoying and worshiping God by gathering, rejoicing, and celebrating. But God has given us victory over the enemy, and we need to fight back with our spiritual weapons while remembering our battle is not with flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). 

This holiday season if you do nothing else, remember that your family members are not the enemy and put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to stand firm against our real enemy’s attacks. Finally, pray at all times and on every occasion! (Ephesians 6:13-18).

Let’s pray:

Jesus,
Thank you that you have promised and secured for us perfect union with you and our brothers and sisters in Christ for eternity. Lord, help us put on every single piece of your spiritual armor while we live in this broken world full of relational tension. Help us stand our ground by putting on the belt of truth and breastplate of your righteousness. Lord, let our feet be ready with the good news of peace your gospel provides. God let us take up our shields of faith to protect us from the fiery darts of our enemy. God, help us put on our helmets of salvation and to wield our swords of truth (Ephesians 6:13-17). 

Lord, help us remember that our battle is not against our family. Lord, we pray that you protect our family, guide our conversations, and make this holiday season glorifying to you! Jesus, will you give us the wisdom to navigate the holidays with grace and kindness that reflects who you are to our family and those onlookers who watch how we interact and wonder if you are worth following. Thank you for the holidays and reminders to take the time to give thanks for all the blessings you pour out on your people.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

When Do You Thank God?..Anne Peterson

 When Do You Thank God?

 By: Anne Peterson

Today’s Bible Verse: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

God tells us godliness with contentment is great gain, but being content is not always easy to do (1 Timothy 6:6). It’s often difficult because we’re looking around at others, wondering if what we have compares with what they have.

Paul said he learned how to be content in whatever state he found himself (Philippians 4:11). Paul didn’t just talk about it, he showed us. There he was in prison, all shackled up, and what was he doing? Having a pity party? No, he was singing praises to God. Too often we choose to praise God after he has answered our prayers. And while there’s nothing wrong with thanking God for answered prayer, we miss out, if that’s the only time we praise him with thanksgiving. God is good. It’s impossible for God to be anything less than good. It’s his character. 

I often think of when Jesus visited Mary and Martha after their brother, Lazarus died. Even though Jesus went there after Lazarus was already dead, he still had a plan. 

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” - John 11:41-42

I always found it interesting that Jesus thanked God for hearing his prayer before Lazarus took one step. Years ago, I made a mental note of that. God is worthy of praise. We don’t have to wait to see if God delivers on something we ask him before we thank him. And if God chooses to say, “No,” that doesn’t mean God is less worthy of our praise.

God’s Word tells us it’s impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). When we choose to be thankful and praise God at all times, we are exercising faith. We are praising God because we know God is capable of doing everything we ask and then so much more. When we thank God, we are pleasing our heavenly Father.

God is worthy of praise. Just because he’s God. It pleases God when we praise him ahead of time because we’re saying, God, whether or not you choose to answer my prayers, I praise you for who you are. I thank you for all you’ve given me. And Lord, even when you choose to say “no” to my requests, I know you have your reasons. You know the beginning from the end. Your thoughts are much higher than my thoughts and your ways are higher too (Isaiah 55:8-9). And Lord, if you withhold something I’m asking you for, then maybe the thing is not good for me, or the timing is not right.  I know it’s not good because you’ve said you will not withhold any good thing from me (Psalm 84:11). God, I trust you.

We can choose to be thankful in all things. Simply because God is all wise and he allows what he does with his wisdom. And when things look like they will never work out, those impossible times are God’s specialty. The things that are impossible with man are possible with God (Luke 18:27). I love it when God does what seems impossible, because there’s no question at all who did it. And when we get discouraged because of our circumstances, God promises that in all things he can work for the good, for us (Romans 8:28).

We can rejoice always because we know the Almighty God, the everlasting Father. We can pray continually, because he invites us to bring our cares to Him, because he cares for us (1Peter 5:7). And we can give thanks in all circumstances because it is God’s will. We also know none of God’s plans can be thwarted (Job 42:2). I’m pretty certain that when Paul sang to the Lord from behind bars, it was one of the most beautiful praises ever heard. And we can do the same.