What are the treasures that we store up in heaven? We know we can’t take our earthly treasures with us—so what are our heavenly treasures? In the past I’ve always taught that our treasures in heaven are the people we help get there. In essence we store up treasures in heaven when we invest our earthly treasures in helping people get there. While I still believe that people are treasures in heaven, our treasure in heaven is not people, but a person, Jesus.
How do we store up Jesus as our treasure in heaven in this life? Verse 21 gives us the answer: “Wherever your treasure is, the desires of your heart will also be”. Jesus is calling us to make him the desire of our heart in this life and as we do that we will be storing up treasures in heaven for the next life.
So why does Jesus warn against storing up earthly treasures here? Jesus speaks out against storing up earthly treasures because he knows how easy it is for these things to become the desire of our hearts. Jesus knows only too well how quickly we can start looking to our earthly treasures to give us things that only he can provide.
We look to our bank balance for the security that only Jesus can provide. We seek to validate our self-worth through our net worth. Jesus says “You are worth so much that I died for you.” We look for meaning and purpose in the accumulation of earthly wealth and the things we can use it to indulge our desires in. Jesus says, “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.” Whatever we think storing up our treasures on earth will give us, Jesus our heavenly treasure offers so much more.
If Jesus is our treasure in heaven, then how can people also be treasures in heaven? Every person who goes to heaven is Jesus’ treasure in heaven. That’s right you and I are Jesus’ treasure. You and I are the treasure that Jesus bought through giving his life on the cross. As we receive Jesus as our treasure we become his treasure. The deeper we allow this to sink into our hearts the easier it becomes for us to let go of our earthly treasures because they can never give us what we have as Jesus’ treasure!
So how does this shape the way I use my earthly treasures? How do I use them to store up heavenly treasures? If Jesus is our treasure and we are his treasure then using our earthly treasures to help others hear this incredible news and receive it still remains the best eternal investment of temporal wealth that I know of. Generously giving away our earthly treasures to support the spreading of the gospel also helps keep the desire of our hearts focussed on Jesus, our heavenly treasure.
Pastor Noel
This week’s message is “Why rules are not enough (Set free from the chains of God’s law)” as we continue the series “Set Free to Live Free” (Galatians)
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
Bible Readings: Matthew 5:17-22, 27-28, Galatians 3:1-14
2nd Nov – 16th Nov – Workshop sessions (kids rehearsing/preparing for the celebration service)
23rd Nov – Full dress rehearsal in the gym – parents pick up at 12 noon from the gym
30th Nov – Kingdom Kids Celebration Service at 10:30am
7th Dec – Family Advent Movie Night at the church – more details to come
Baby Zone and Kindy Zone will run as normal during the term and be learning a song with actions each week to lead worship during the Celebration Service. Baby Zone will run as normal in the Baby Zone room during the term
Beth Einthal
Children and Family Team Leader
Prayer Requests:
Prayer requests are not included in the weekly news. If you would like to view the current requests refer to the email that alerted you to this weekly news. If you have a prayer request please email churchequiries@paravista.org.au with your request.
A prayer support team for Maranatha Health
Maranatha Health is seeking to establish a prayer team to offer prayer support and protection to Michael and Kim and their family and the work of Maranatha Health. It is envisaged the team would meet monthly. If you would like to be a part of this important work please contact Catherine Carr – clcarr@internode.on.net
Christmas Luncheon
Hosted by PVLWF members for our Good Shepherd Community, is to be held on Tuesday, 2nd December at 12noon in the Church Hall. We invite you to book by Sunday, 23rd November with Ruth Oster on 8265 0221 or kroster@senet.com.au. We have a maximum number of approx 80 for whom we will be catering. We have engaged THE BORDERERS as our guest artists’. They will entertain us with brackets of songs and lead our carol singing after lunch. The Borderers are well known to our community and we look forward to their musicianship on this day. The cost of the luncheon is $12 pp, payable on the day at the entrance door. (Booking is necessary for our catering)
Christmas card Stall
Cebu Mission Fundraising Team will be holding our usual Christmas Card Stall on Sundays 9th and 23rd November and the final one on Sunday 7th December. Good quality cards to give to your family and friends, at a very cheap price. Thank you for supporting Cebu Mission.
Good Shepherd School Quiz Night
On the 8th November 2014, Good Shepherd School Parents are hosting a fundraising quiz night and silent auction, in an attempt to raise much needed funds for our school. This is the school’s main fundraising event for 2014. We have been lucky enough to secure a sponsor, Garden Grove, who will be covering all the costs for the evening. What this means is that all monies raised will go directly to our school. The funds raised will be going towards outdoor furniture and shade sails. If you are free on the 8th November grab a few friends and get a table together (tables of 8-12). It will be a great night with lots of prizes and auction items. Together let’s support our school and have a great night.
Tickets are $20 and are available from Sharon in the front office. If you can’t get into the office give Sharon a call (8264 7966) and secure a table. Your tickets can be paid for on the night.
Half Yearly Meetings
The half yearly meeting of the church, school and village will be held on Sunday 23rd November commencing at 12.30pm. Written information will be available on Sunday 16th November and will be emailed in the week prior to the meeting. BBQ Lunch will also be available before the meetings.
Christmas Trees from Holy Cross, Birdwood
High quality trees at $35 each available for purchase again this year.
Trees will be delivered to a nominated location on the morning of Saturday 13th December 2014. Please place your order, including preferred height of tree, by contacting the church office churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 8263 5087 by 30th November.
Proceeds will go towards supporting chaplains in local schools.
International Gospel Centre (IGC) is seeking someone with a passion for the under privileged and marginalised to fill the role of Development Manager on either a 0.8 or 1.0 basis. IGC is an Australia wide non-profit gospel agency that exists to develop supportive relationships with the underprivileged and marginalised, so that they are transformed by the love of Jesus, and share Jesus with others. The focus of this position is to assist the IGC Board to manage and develop the supporting ministries indicated in the position summary on a ‘day to day’ basis.
Details and full position description are available on the IGC Website: http://www.igcfoundation.org
Payroll Officer
Lutheran Disability Services currently has a vacancy for a Payroll Officer. For a Job Description or further information please contact LDS directly at admin@ldssa.org.au
Lutheran Community Care Vacancies
Placement Support Worker Two positions available - 1.0FTE and 0.6FTE
Opportunities exist to provide support to foster carers with children in their care. These roles will require occasional visits to foster carer homes.
• Full-time position to commence immediately
• 0.6FTE position to commence February 2015
Alternative Care Worker 1.0FTE
This position will recruit and assess foster carers throughout the service area. Position to commence mid-January 2015
Please apply on-line through the LCC website only by 8.30am Monday 3rd November 2014
For a Job Description and online Application Guide please visit: www.lccare.org.au
God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Numbers 23:19
