As we focus on joy this week, let’s all realize it’s not that which is seen that is the true source of joy.
The best portion of your life will be the seemingly insignificant moments spent smiling with people who matter to you the most.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. NKJV
The Bible says the child is born, but the Son is given. This is because the Son existed before the child was ever conceived. Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8). You actually existed before you existed because the Bible explains how before you were conceived in the womb God knew you (Jeremiah 1:5)
Since you existed before you existed you were actually fixed before you were broken so no matter what mistake you’ve made you stand before God without excuse.
Paul says there is a natural and a supernatural (1 Corinthians 15:44). There truly are two realms into which we are called to function. If you can see the invisible you can do the impossible.
2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. NIV
The things that matter the most are not the tangibles. They’re the intangibles. It’s not what you ate but who you ate with. You can have a magnificent bed shipped in from overseas and still lay in bed awake at night not able to sleep knowing something is lacking deep in your existence.
Dion Sanders was asked why he became a Christian. He explained that it happened the night they won the Superbowl. He ordered a Lamborghini that evening and went to bed. After lying in bed thinking about having achieved everything, he’d ever wanted to achieve he realized just how empty he truly was. That was the night he got on his knees and gave his life to Christ saying only God was big enough to fill his heart.
World famous novelist Jack Higgins has a net worth of $85,000,000. He was asked in an interview for words of wisdom, “What is it you now know that you wish you’d known as a younger man.” Higgins didn’t even hesitate as he responded, “I wish I had known that when you get to the top there is nothing there!”
Mr. Higgins is describing a life that the Bible would define as “meaningless.” Meaningless does not come from being weary of pain. Meaningless comes from being weary of pleasure. This is when you have exhausted your last dream and it has left you barren and empty.
I heard a pastor describing a conversation he had with a millionaire businessman who lived in an incredible mansion, had a yacht that cost more than most people’s homes, secure corporate position, privileged children racing toward great success themselves, a beautiful wife who was unsuspecting about his younger and even more beautiful mistress who would join him on “business trips” to his summer home in Maui or his condominium in the Colorado mountains. It seemed he had everything you could imagine anybody could pursue in this world, yet he requested this meeting desperately asking for help because he wanted to kill himself.
King Solomon actually wrote about his vain pursuit of pleasure referencing everything this life has to offer “under the sun.”
Everything under the sun is actually a Hebrew expression that literally means “outside of God”.
When the pursuit of your life is limited to that which is seen you are missing the most significant pursuit life has to offer. The pursuit of God.
Having everything under the sun means they have everything the world has to offer. The problem is the world never offers inner peace or joy so acquiring everything but that which is meaningful leaves this life lacking meaning and purpose.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given... NKJV
Jesus came to get our attention so the Father could capture our affection. God is trying to lift our countenance and raise the level of our perspective to the place of God’s original design.
Psalm 24:7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. ESV
This is where we discover fulfillment and stop living in want. “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.”
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Every day this week ask the Holy Spirit to help you fix your eyes on the unseen things and then search for them throughout your day.
TRUE TREASURE: THE TREASURE OF THE UNSEEN
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Kingdom Treasure is found in a deeper pursuit of the things that truly matter. This true treasure of God’s Kingdom is central to the understanding that we are blessed to be a blessing!
We want to start our group meetings making room for conversation that brings confirmation that God is speaking to us all as we discuss what we are hearing from the Lord as a family:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
The four week focus on Advent is hope, peace, joy and love. When hope is inspired peace will arise, joy emerges and love abounds. This week the focus was joy.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
2. What are some unseen things that bring joy to your life?
Christmas can be a focus on the things that truly matter if we are willing to move past the commercialized
perspective to something more meaningful.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. NKJV
Jesus has come to release God’s presence in our lives. We were designed by God to experience the enriching presence of God as a way of life. Christmas really is about celebrating this reality in a way that relationships that matter are truly enriched.
The things that really matter in life, are not the tangibles. They’re the intangibles. It’s not about what you ate but it’s all about who you ate with.
The best portion of your life will be the seemingly insignificant moments spent smiling with people who matter to you the most.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
3. What memory comes to mind that reflects this idea of a recent time you spent smiling with people you care about?
Conclude by praying in agreement to be able to effectively walk out the action point for the week. We are believing for the Holy Spirit to help us bring God’s presence to real life (GP2RL) by asking the Holy Spirit to help us fix our eyes on the unseen things every day this week and then search for those unseen things throughout the day.