By John Thiel, mp3

Whatever we give to God is already His anyway:

All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.

I gave My life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might’st ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead;
I gave; I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou given for Me?
I gave; I gave My life for thee,
What hast thou given for Me?

The true Christian is one who has been captivated by Christ. The amazing story of the gift of heaven to the human race produces in the hearts of those who open their hearts to that, a love bond with Christ and with the heavenly Father that affects everything in our life on this earth. The apostle puts it beautifully when he says, I want to know nothing among you but Christ and Him crucified.
Jesus is the pearl of great price; He is the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star, the fairest of ten thousand to those who open their hearts to what He has offered us.

I want to spend a bit more time in ascertaining the value of Jesus Christ so that He becomes the treasure in each one of our hearts. Let us contemplate together the value, the treasure, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Ephesians 2:1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins: 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

We realise how the children of wrath are creating the destruction on this planet. We can see it happening around us. We would be in the treadmill of that corruption if it would not be for Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

We are confronted the more we study the word of God with the immense riches that are contained in Jesus Christ that have been poured upon us. We would be in a hopeless condition if it would not be for these immense riches that continue to be unveiled before our mind’s eye. There is more and more to meditate in the riches of God’s grace. It was all through Christ that the riches are imparted to us. We contemplate these riches in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth. 34 Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

What shall we say to these things? In giving us Jesus Christ, what did He give to us?
It’s so easy to just say, yes He gave us all things, but what are all things? There is a vast area of meditation that is required of us to exercise our minds upon here. He has not only given us hope for the future, but He has given us riches.

When we meditate upon the gift of Jesus, Jesus is God and He has become one with us. In becoming one with us, we become heirs of God, joint heirs together with Christ so that Jesus could say he that overcometh will sit in my throne even as I also overcame and am sitting in my Father’s throne. There are all things that are available to us. Our hearts are being solicited to appreciate this reality.

The wonderful plan of redemption, which human beings cannot fully understand, shows that the Creator deals justly and loves mercy. Because He loved man, He gave His Son as a sacrifice for sin. The plan of salvation was laid open before the foundation of the world was formed. In counsel together, the Father and the Son determined that Satan should not be left unchecked to exercise his cruel power upon man. It is God’s will that all shall be saved, that not one shall perish; but He does not compel obedience. He leaves all free to say whether or not they will take advantage of His offer of mercy. In giving Jesus, He poured out all heaven in one gift, making it possible for man to come into possession of eternal riches. {18MR 345.5}

He has given us all things in Christ Jesus to become possessors of eternal riches because Jesus is the king of eternal riches.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

What has He begotten us into? A lively hope.

1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

It’s all in Jesus Christ, a relationship with Jesus who has come to this earth so that we can be in continual appreciation of all that has been imparted to us in Him in the great atonement. We are receptive of an inheritance. If you were told that somebody has left you an inheritance of $35 million and you knew it was yours, what would you be going through? This is much more than that. The gift of heaven to us is the entirety of heaven being poured out upon us in Christ Jesus. This is ours.

1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Jesus is the one who becomes everything to us because He represents to us the entirety of the riches of heaven. Not only the wonderful riches of the glory and wealth of the city with its streets of gold, but it’s the very essence of creativity. Whatever is needed, is created for us. Nothing is going to fall short of the riches that are imparted to us. The most important thing is that in those riches lies a vibrant healthy life, a connection with the King of kings. There in heaven our beloved has said, behold I go and prepare a place for you. He our treasure, Jesus the all-precious one, the pearl of great price, is there for us to contemplate preparing a place for us. His followers are to be there with Him now.

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Our conversation is with Jesus in heaven. He is there pleading our cases, making a place available for us there. We dwell with Him there in the heavenly sanctuary by faith.

This was the amazing story of the genuine Christians in 1844. When they lost sight of Him for a moment until they saw Him moving from the Holy place into the Most Holy place and they found their Saviour again. Then their hearts rejoiced again. Jesus our treasure in whom the whole wealth of heaven was poured out for us is there. We are to be there.

Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Is Jesus your treasure? If He is, that is where your heart will be; the treasury of your heart. We dwell there in heavenly places with Him; our hearts are absorbed with the treasury of heaven. Meanwhile, here on this planet earth, Jesus makes a wonderful connection. Jesus was our teacher here on earth to connect the heavenly things with the earth. Look how He does it.

Luke 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

While our treasure Jesus Christ is in heaven, in another country, we who are left behind as his servants are commissioned here on earth to occupy. He has left behind some wealth. He has given us wealth on earth to do what? To occupy until He comes. Ours are the riches of heaven but earthly wealth, earthly possessions are given according to this parable. What we have in possession here on earth has been given us of God for what purpose? To occupy until He comes.

Luke 19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Here on earth while Jesus is in heaven, we have been given goods and money to occupy. What was meant with occupy? To use it for a purpose.

Luke 19:16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

This was a parable that when Jesus comes back, what we have done with our possessions here on earth, will have something to do with what we will do in heaven.

Luke 19:18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

The one who kept it in a napkin didn’t occupy with the goods and he lost everything on earth and in heaven. Our occupation here from this meditation is a preparation to handle the riches of heaven. Our occupation here as to what we do with our possessions which are given us of Jesus, of God, is to handle those possessions in reference to how we would handle the riches of heaven.

Deuteronomy 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day.

Remember Him, remember what He has done for us and remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. It is a sign between you and me He says. Remember the riches of the heavenly glory. Did you see a connection here of the everlasting covenant with material wealth? His covenant is affected by the wealth given us and how it is used. God has given us wealth so that what we do here on earth with that wealth will prepare us to be able to handle the wealth of heaven accordingly.

Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

What is the mammon of unrighteousness? It says riches in the margin. Our everlasting habitations are connected with the kind of respect that we have for riches on earth. Make to yourselves friends of riches, the mammon of unrighteousness. Why?

Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

As I prepared my mind to share these things with you, the Lord opened up to me some important meditations for myself of how careless I have been in regards to the possessions of this planet. My heart ran out in concern that I have not learned very well how to govern my finances. It re-emphasises to me and I hope you can be benefited as I have been benefited here, that the way we handle the wealth on earth has to do with the way we will handle the wealth of heaven. This was well illustrated in the parable that in heaven the people who are faithful here on earth with their finances will be able to take care accordingly in heaven of the cities that He said we will have government over.

Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

These are profound meditations. What we have here on earth in reference to our possessions is the guiding post of our appreciation of the wealth of heaven.

Occupy Until I Come

1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

The everlasting covenant with the power that He gives us to gain wealth. If any man has the power to gain wealth, if any man has accumulated possessions, then remember that those possessions are not yours. What was the language there? He gave them ten pounds; whose was it? It was His. He is the one who gives us the wealth. If we cannot handle that which is not ours, how can we handle something that is going to be ours? We have nothing here on earth that is ours; it is all there for the passing. We will see as we proceed the fact is that which we have here is called the mammon of unrighteousness but it is given us as a channel of exercise by which we will learn how to deal with the wealth of heaven.

It is written not to be highminded just because there is a certain amount. You know what it is like when you have a few hundred thousand, or you have a few thousand. Maybe you have saved to purchase a house, now you have a house on freehold. How it has increased in value. When I bought a house I bought it for $75-80,000.00 and now if I would still have it, I would have $400,000.00. That is a lot of money. What to do with that amount of possession? What a thought that all we possess is inseparably connected with our heavenly treasury. The covenant that God makes with us in the gospel of Jesus Christ is inseparably connected with the wealth He gives us.

If men fail to render to God that which He has lent them to use to His glory, and thus rob Him, they will make an entire failure. He has lent them means which they can improve upon by losing no opportunity to do good, and thus they may be constantly laying up treasure in heaven. {1T 539.1}

The possessions we have here on earth are given of God that we might improve upon them by doing good with them, and thus they may be constantly laying up treasure in heaven.

I never used to understand this very well; the connection. As I was meditating, it suddenly struck me and it’s even striking me more heavily now that the connection between the use of my possessions here on earth has to do with laying up treasure in heaven. The more that I do here on earth with the treasure lent to me, is going to be a multiplication of the treasure in heaven that I am going to have as my own, because I have been prepared to handle wisely the treasure that will be given to me in heaven.

But if, like the man who had one talent, they hide it, fearing that God will get that which their talent gains, they will not only lose the increase which will finally be awarded the faithful steward, but also the principal which God gave them to work upon. Because they have robbed God, they will not have laid up treasure in heaven, and they lose their earthly treasure also. They have no habitation on earth, and no Friend in heaven to receive them into the everlasting habitation of the righteous. Ibid

I am sharing this message with you not like the common preacher that is trying to raise funds in the church, or the common preacher who is trying to extract from people money; this is not what I am motivated by here. I am motivated here by a lesson for myself that I want to share with you, by which I make the right connection in regards to the possessions we have here on earth. That is what we need to learn. The rest of it will take care of itself. It is our love for Christ the all absorbing theme that connects with our possessions. It is all His anyway and we are only giving back what is His. He gave His life, He left His Father’s house of light, He suffered much for me and He says, what have you done in regards to that?

True Christian benevolence springs from the principle of grateful love. {SD 264.2}

What we do with our possessions in benevolence springs from the principle of grateful love.

Love to Christ cannot exist without corresponding love to those whom He came into the world to redeem. Love to Christ must be the ruling principle of the being, controlling all its emotions and directing all its energies. Ibid

As my heart is wrapped in Jesus and I have possessions, those possessions give me a certain sense of well-being; I have some money behind me. Well that money, that affection for my money, the sense of well-being with the value I have behind me is an affection that is awakened by Christ and His love to deal with that money in a certain manner.

Redeeming love should awaken all that tender affection and self-sacrificing devotion that is possible to exist in the heart of man. When this is the case, no heart-stirring appeals will be needed to break through their selfishness and awaken their dormant sympathies, to call forth benevolent offerings for the precious cause of truth. . . . Ibid

This is why we do not have monetary appeals in this church. We don’t have to appeal to those who have the love of Jesus in their hearts. You don’t have to appeal, please give me money for the well-being of the church, for the well-being of the kingdom of heaven; it is not necessary because the love of Jesus is the motivating force according to what we have been meditating on.

Rightly directed benevolence draws upon the mental and moral energies of men, and excites them to most healthful action in blessing the needy and in advancing the cause of God. . {SD 264.3]

Put your money where your mouth is. It begins to affect your sense of monetary security. Now I am going to exercise benevolence to advance the cause of God, I am going to give of something that I have been very dependent upon for my security? Suddenly I realise, is the money my security? It is not; God is our security. That has been given to me as a loan; it is what I am doing with it that counts. As I begin to see my love for Jesus connected with this sense of security in finance I begin to become excited.

If those who have means should realize that they are accountable to God for every dollar that they expend, Ibid

I am accountable to God simply because I love Him and I am excited.

…their supposed wants would be much less. If conscience was alive, she would testify of needless appropriations in the gratification of the appetite, and in ministering to pride, to vanity, and to amusements, and report the squandering of their Lord’s money, which should have been devoted to His cause. Ibid.

This is profound; this speaks to every individual heart. These beautiful testimonies of Jesus that, when my heart is so totally wrapped in Jesus my treasure, then all my earthly treasure, earthly sense of security, is connected in a correct communication by which my life becomes thrilling, exciting, precious. Our love for Christ, our all-absorbing theme, becomes the guiding force with that which we rely upon for our sense of security.

I looked under the words riches and wealth, possessions in the Bible. I had them all in front of me and I saw how all this was connecting in front of my mind’s eye. In the light of what I have shared with you observe how profoundly these scriptures came together. The Lord was giving me a precious message.

Proverbs 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

Proverbs 8:18 Riches and honour [are] with me;

If wisdom is there, there are riches and honour there. What sort of riches?

Proverbs 8:18…[yea], durable riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver

Wisdom focuses on durable riches. It is better than gold, it is better than financial money because is that durable? No. Riches and honour are with wisdom, durable riches and righteousness are with wisdom. That which is not durable is not what wisdom depends on. It is dependent on durable riches.

Proverbs 8: 20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

What are we going to inherit? We are going to inherit durable riches, the inheritance of the heavenly wealth. If we have wisdom, durable riches will be consolidated. If we are faithful in little things, we will be faithful in the consolidation of the eternal. With me, says wisdom, is that and I will be their treasures.

Proverbs 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath; where does our mind go to? It goes to the day of wrath, the vials of God’s wrath that are going to be poured upon the planet. In the day of the vials of God’s wrath riches profit not. When do they profit? Beforehand? Indeed. If we arrive at the plagues of God’s wrath and if you are dependent on your riches and not on the durable riches, what will happen to them? When death comes your way and you still have lots of riches at death or when everything folds down around you and your wealth is no longer for you, what happens?

Proverbs 11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

When all the wealth of earth in the day of wrath is shattered, those who trust in those riches will fall. There will be a tearing apart of the sense of security. But those people who have possessions before the day of wrath but have their trust in the heavenly durable ones and have wisdom, the wealth that they have will no longer be a shattering experience to them when the day of wrath comes, because what have they done with their wealth? By benevolence they have been multiplying the treasures of heaven. The money and possessions we have had here will not be lost because we have actually invested those things in the heavenly wealth. When the day of wrath is come we have nothing to lose because it is all gone. It has all been used to invest in the heavenly durable treasures. This is wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 5:13 There is a sore evil [which] I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

The riches were kept, they were not distributed. When it comes to their hurt, what is mentioned here?

Ecclesiastes 5:14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and [there is] nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also [is] a sore evil, [that] in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

This is what strikes upon the hearts of people who have possessions and when the day of wrath comes, when everything is gone, they have laboured for the wind. If they have laboured to use their possessions to enrich the treasury of heaven, is it labour for the wind? Not at all, because then they will be received in everlasting habitations. They have been faithful in wise use of their finances, of their possessions.

Brother L is a steward of God. He has been entrusted with means and should be awake to his duty and render to God the things that are God’s. He should not fail to understand the claims that God has upon him. While he lives, and has his reasoning powers, he should improve the opportunity of appropriating the property that God has entrusted to him, instead of leaving it for others to use and appropriate after the close of his life. {2T 675.2}

This is interesting; all that we possess is to be appropriated according to God’s will not for somebody else to appropriate who is not going to appropriate your wealth for the heavenly kingdom. That is wisdom.

What to do with our possessions before the day of wrath? How close are we to that day? In the light of what we have been reading, what is our situation?

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

What do we do with our possession? It says give alms. Be benevolent to those in need, spend the money in the cause of God, so when the day of wrath comes we have spent it not working for the wind. There’s another beautiful proverb that I didn’t read here that says there is such a person who has nothing but is wealthy and there is such a person who has great wealth but is very poor. There is such a thing. Here is a perfect description of coming up to the day of wrath having done the correct thing with our possessions.

Psalm 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed [is] the man [that] feareth the LORD, [that] delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches [shall be] in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

Who are they? The seed that comes of God, the people of God.

Psalm 112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: [he is] gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5 A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

These are the people of God, they have wisdom.

Psalm 112:6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

When the day of wrath comes he is trusting in the Lord, his heart is fixed.

Psalm 112:8 His heart [is] established, he shall not be afraid, until he see [his desire] upon his enemies. 9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. 10 The wicked shall see [it], and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

What is the desire of the wicked? Wealth and that shall perish but the person who is of God, what does he do as the day of wrath arrives? He shall not be afraid, because he has dispersed, he hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. The treasury of heaven has been invested in, this is how we do it.

Houses and lands will be of no use to the saints in the time of trouble, for they will then have to flee before infuriated mobs, and at that time their possessions cannot be disposed of to advance the cause of present truth. I was shown that it is the will of God that the saints should cut loose from every encumbrance before the time of trouble comes, and make a covenant with God through sacrifice. If they have their property on the altar and earnestly inquire of God for duty, He will teach them when to dispose of these things. Then they will be free in the time of trouble and have no clogs to weigh them down. {EW 56.3}

I saw that if any held on to their property and did not inquire of the Lord as to their duty, He would not make duty known, and they would be permitted to keep their property, and in the time of trouble it would come up before them like a mountain to crush them, and they would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. I heard some mourn like this: “The cause was languishing, God’s people were starving for the truth, and we made no effort to supply the lack; now our property is useless. Oh, that we had let it go, and laid up treasure in heaven!” I saw that a sacrifice did not increase, but it decreased and was consumed. I also saw that God had not required all of His people to dispose of their property at the same time; but if they desired to be taught, He would teach them, in a time of need, when to sell and how much to sell. Some have been required to dispose of their property in times past to sustain the Advent cause, while others have been permitted to keep theirs until a time of need. Then, as the cause needs it, their duty is to sell. {EW 57.1}

Isn’t this profound guidance? As the need is there we begin to sell, we begin to disengage to supply the need. Not all at once but according to need; that is the way the Lord will give wisdom and understanding. As we go further on the need will rise up before us, the Lord will teach us and we will know how to dispose of our properties and how to put treasure in the heavenly sanctuary.

I saw that the message, “Sell that ye have, and give alms,” has not been given, by some, in its clear light, and the object of the words of our Saviour has not been clearly presented. The object of selling is not to give to those who are able to labor and support themselves, but to spread the truth. It is a sin to support and indulge in idleness those who are able to labor. {EW 57.2}

That gives us good counsel of wisdom.

Some have been zealous to attend all the meetings, not to glorify God, but for the “loaves and fishes.” Such would much better have been at home laboring with their hands, “the thing that is good,” to supply the wants of their families and to have something to give to sustain the precious cause of present truth. Now is the time to lay up treasure in heaven and to set our hearts in order, ready for the time of trouble. Those only who have clean hands and pure hearts will stand in that trying time. Now is the time for the law of God to be in our minds, foreheads, and written in our hearts. Ibid

You want to read this again and again and get the guidance from God in regards to our own personal circumstances and in regards to the cause of God.

I want to conclude in giving an example of people who have wealth and when the time of need came they spent it all and became poor, but because they did, when the time of wrath came they didn’t lose anything. These two men are Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Remember that the destruction of Jerusalem is a preamble for the end of the world. These people who were living in Jerusalem who were part of the disciples because they had opened their hearts, they did the following, and when it came to the destruction they didn’t lose anything.

With Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus had borne the expense of the burial of Jesus. The disciples had been afraid to show themselves openly as Christ’s followers, but Nicodemus and Joseph had come boldly to their aid. The help of these rich and honored men was greatly needed in that hour of darkness. They had been able to do for their dead Master what it would have been impossible for the poor disciples to do; and their wealth and influence had protected them, in a great measure, from the malice of the priests and rulers. {AA 104.2}

Now, when the Jews were trying to destroy the infant church, Nicodemus came forward in its defense. No longer cautious and questioning, he encouraged the faith of the disciples and used his wealth in helping to sustain the church at Jerusalem and in advancing the work of the gospel. Those who in other days had paid him reverence, now scorned and persecuted him, and he became poor in this world’s goods; yet he faltered not in the defense of his faith. {AA 105.1}

When the city of Jerusalem was destroyed, he didn’t lose anything. To spoil our possessions on the altar of sacrifice makes sense when we consider what we have considered here today.

I gave My life for thee, my Father’s house of light I left for earthly night; I suffered much for thee, of bitterest agony to rescue thee from hell. What hast thou given for Me? Hast thou left aught for Me? What hast thou borne for Me?

Well do the words of the apostle Paul summarise the message of this sermon:

Hebrews 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Amen.