THESIS: To show that "The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just..."
INTRO:
A. DO YOU EVER WISH that you didn't have to worry about the prices at the supermarket?...the Dept. store?...the restaurant?
B. DO YOU EVER WONDER why... ❓you drive a used car while your unsaved, alcoholic neighbor drives a brand new Cadillac?... and... ❓you live in a old Levit-towner and can't even afford the taxes or put a new roof on your house while the local porn store owner lives in Yardley, overlooking the River, has his yard landscaped, a full time gardener, maid and spends the winter in the Bahamas?
C. DON'T FRET...things will soon change, "WHEN THE WILL IS READ"! ▶We are Joint-heirs with Christ and since the "earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof..." ▶we will soon possess our possessions. "THE WEALTH OF THE SINNER IS LAID UP FOR THE JUST!"
ILLUS: 😉That Rolls Royce they are driving will soon be yours! 😉Their yacht will soon have its title transferred to you! 😉The banker down the street is simply taking care of your money for a while! 😉That ritzy lady shopping in the exclusive stores and sporting a 2 carat diamond is getting your ward robe ready and is just wearing YOUR ring for now. 😉Soon the farms, ranches, oil wells, summer homes and world tours will all be yours! "THE WEALTH OF THE SINNER IS LAID UP FOR THE JUST!"
ILLUS: 📣Hey...murdering, liquor-loving, lady-loving, liberal Sen. Ted Kennedy, take good care of our mansion in Hyannis Port! 📣Hey...whoremongering, lustful, filthy-rich and filthy Hugh Hefner, take care of you jet-plane, Playboy empire...for you wealth will soon be ours! 📣Hey...sensual, sexy, sinful Bo Derek, your beauty and looks will soon fade, but every saint will be a "perfect 10!" 📣Hey...all you bankers, oil-rich shieks, movie moguls, filthy and filthy rich porn peddlers, get ready to move out...for we are all going to move in! For"THE WEALTH OF THE SINNER IS LAID UP FOR THE JUST!"
I. POOR NOW - RICH THEN:
A. Our Riches Are Invested:
1. We are not poor, our riches are just tied up now! 2. The wealthy will soon forfeit their wealth to God's people.
I Tim. 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
3. The wealth of the sinner is simple invested for the saint.
ILLUS: 🔸As Laban's wealth was invested for Jacob. 🔸As Joseph stored up grain and food during the years of plenty and later, during the famine had great wealth to share with his brothers, so will our "Joseph" share the riches of the ungodly with his brethren!
B. Our Wealth Is In Storage:
1. We are not insolvent, we simply have our wealth invested in long-term notes! 2. We are just waiting for our "bonds" to mature. 3. We are just waiting for the stock to go up! 4. We are just waiting for THE WILL TO BE OPENED AND READ!
Ex. 12:35-36 35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
ILLUS: As the wealth of Egypt became the Israelites, so "THE WEALTH OF THE SINNER IS LAID UP FOR THE JUST!" 🚗Drive thru the rich neighborhoods and see if the landlords are taking good care of your property! Josh. 24:13 And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which ye planted not do ye eat.
ILLUS: As the wealth of Caanan became the Israelites, so "THE WEALTH OF THE SINNER IS LAID UP FOR THE JUST!" They didn't have to work for it, the Lord delivered it into their hands.
a. The unsaved have to enjoy their riches now because they will soon leave it behind. b. The saved seem to be poor now, but the Lord is their inheritance now...like the Levites.
Num. 18:20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
c. The saint seems to be impoverished now, but as long as Jesus lives and the promises of God stand, we have a bright future, for "THE WEALTH OF THE SINNER IS LAID UP FOR THE JUST!"
ILLUS: Luke 16:25 😆The rich man may laught today but soon he will "lift up his eyes, being in torments" and will be reminded that "thou in they lifetime receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things, but NOW he is comforted and thou are tormented." 😆Haman laughed too till his wealth became Esthers and Mortdecais!
d. The believer appears worthless now but he is an "heir and joint heir" with Christ!
ILLUS: WHEN THE WILL IS READ and 🏆the rewards are handed out the tables will be turned and the rich will be poor and the poor will be rich! 🐮He not only owns the cattle on a 1000 hills...He owns the hills...and He will share His wealth with us! I have it in writing! He has given us His "last will and Testament" and sealed it with His blood!
II. RIDICULED NOW - RESPLENDENT THEN:
A. Now We Are Rejected, Then We Will Be Respected:
1. We are looked down 😒 upon now, but will become respected then. 2. Things are backwards now, but true believers can rejoice in spite of circumstances:
Luke 6:22-26 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in thelike manner did their fathers unto the prophets. But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
3. Things are unfavorable for us now...but the saints will yet receive respectability:
a. As the inheritance is laid up for the "children" so the wrath of this world is Christ's and His children. b. We will return to earth (in as little as 7 years) with the King of Kings to "reign on the earth" as Kings and Priests!
Mt. 19:27-30 27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hun-dredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. B. Now We Are Repudiated, Then We Will Be Recognized:
ILLUS: 👿Satan, in conjunction with the NCCC, WCCC, RCC and Charismatics are now building the kingdom which God's people will inherit for 1000 years.
Lk. 19:17-19 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. 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.
C. Now We Are Resented, Then We Will Be Rich:
II Cor. 6:9-10 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
1. We are the unknowns of this world...but are known by God and the angelic hosts as the truly wealthy. v.9a 2. We appear mortal now but are truly immortal. v.9b
ILLUS: 💰The world is seeking after FORTUNE, FAME AND IMMORTALITY by being or doing something great. 🎁But we who are saved have found all three by knowing Someone great!
3. We are persecuted ("chastened") now, but cannot be killed. v.9c 4. We look 😢"sorrowful" now but inside we 😊rejoice. v.10a 5. We are considered "poor" now but we alone have riches to share! v.10b 6. We have "nothing" now as the world counts riches, yet we possess all things worth possessing.
CONCL: Don't "throw in the towel" - the best is yet to come! Instead of 😓worrying about food bills, economics, what you don't have now, think of that great day "WHEN THE WILL IS READ!""Eye hath not seen..." ⭐If you are unsaved whatever you have will be taken and given to us! ⭐Better get saved and bear a little reproach now ⭐and lay up for yourselves "treasures in Heaven" and eternal life, fame, fortune and immortality! 🙏Get saved today!🙏