Brass or Gold?

2 Chronicles 12:9

1 Kings 14

1 Corinthians 3:9-15

Brass:

1. Inexpensive - no great value
2. Contains impurities
3. Does not retain its luster - it tarnishes

Satan desires to steal the "gold" from our lives.  Anytime he can make something of value less valuable, less glorifying to God, he will.  One of my favorite verses is John 10:10, which says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  The thief, of course, is Satan.  He is the Father of Lies, and he seeks to devour you (1 Pet 5:8).  Jesus Christ is the One speaking in the verse, and oh, how He desires to give us an abundant life, more wonderful and awesome than we can even imagine--if we will just learn to follow Him, trusting Him and obeying Him.  God's way is always best…you can count on it! 

Satan desires to steal the gold from:

1. Our Relationship with God

We ought to have that "abiding relationship," one which walks with God and is in close relationship to Him throughout the day in prayer, dependence, and power.  His Word ought to be supreme in our lives that He can speak to us about anything--and we will obey.  You see, it isn't how much of the Word we've read or memorize--the real question is, what are we doing with it.  James 1:22 says we're to "be doers of the word, and not hearers only."  Here's a thought: The brass of Reading the Word vs. the Gold of Feeding upon it!

2. Our Service to God

If we truly have an "abiding relationship" with Christ, then we will be as the branch and the vine, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us producing fruit for His kingdom.  Our lives ought to be glorifying to God: that is the only reason we are here on this earth!

3. In our Worship to God

Our worship ought to be real--golden, God focused.  Real worship magnifies God and it pleases God.  Are you all about glorifying self, or glorifying God?

4. The Power in our Lives

Real power of God is by His Holy Spirit--not by man.  We cannot muster up the real power we need in our lives--it must come from God.  When Jesus healed the boy who had the tormenting spirit, the disciples asked why they were unable to heal him.  Jesus said, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."  You see, whether it is healing from God that we need, or power in temptation, or power to be bold in our witness for Christ--whatever the case may be--that kind of power comes from God alone.  Man's power has to be kept working up--it cannot sustain like God's Omnipotence can!  Get a hold of the power of God, Christian!   Ephesians 3:21 says, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." 

5. Sanctification vs. Standards

or -- Holiness vs. Legalism

Sanctification doesn't worry about the standards; he lives above the standards.  He lives by the power of the Holy Spirit to change him--a desires to be like Christ, portraying Christ in everything he thinks, says, and does.  Wow!  If we could only get a hold of that, it would change everything in our lives!  Here's a thought: The brass of standards looks around; the gold of sanctification looks up!  Who are we trying to please and glorify??

There's so much that could be said for each of these subjects.  The point is are our lives producing true, valuable "gold" that will count for all of eternity,  or are we allowing self and Satan to produce the "brass" of less meaningful, less productive lives.

There's a quotation or saying that says this:

"Good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better best."

        

May we glorify God with 
the gold that eternally matters!

      Merle

The previous outline and points were taken from my previous Pastor, Bill Bryson of Pleasanton, CA, as preached on Sunday, January 11, 2009.