heart surgery that’s always successful “guard yourselves and keep free from…(the…greedy...

HEART SURGERY THAT’S ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL

“Guard yourselves and keep free from…(the…greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life … is not derived from, possessing overflowing abundance, or that which is]over and above his needs.” (Luke 12:15, The Amplified Bible).

“Don’t pile up treasures on earth…But [invest] your treasure in Heaven [in My priorities]…For wherever your treasure is, you may be certain…your heart will be there too!”

(Matthew 6:19-21, J.B. Phillips version).

Recognize: Stuff Is Actually ‘Junk,’ Disguised As Happiness

Why “…moth and rust [diminishes and spoils things]…” (Matthew 5:19). And so Paul admonishes in 1 Corinthians 7, “… [Don’t] buy something as if it [was yours] to keep… [don’t become fascinated by] the things of this world… engrossed in them. For this world…is passing away…”

(1 Corinthians 7:29-31).

Invest Decisively In Christ’s Priorities, And Mission.

“Jesus Christ is the same

yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).

“…It [is] not with perishable things…that you [are] redeemed …but with the precious blood of Christ… [who is timeless] …chosen before the creation of the world…”

(1 Peter 1:18-19)

“I don’t have any bread, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug.” (1 Kings 17:12).

But God kept speaking: “”Don’t be afraid…make… bread…For this is what the Lord…says, “The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry…” (1 Kings 17:14) And sure enough the widow “…went away and did as she was told. [And bingo]…there was food every day [not only] for Elijah – [but also] for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord…” (1 Kings 17:15-

16).

Acknowledge: The Only Remedy For Economic Dis-ease Is Spiritual Medicine.

And so Jeremiah buys a field in Anathoth (Jeremiah 32:9). Why? Because God promised: “houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land…” (Jeremiah

32:15) -- out of great giving will come great blessing! For “I am the Lord, the God of all…” God says to Jeremiah. “Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:26).

“Don’t pile up treasures on earth…But [invest] your treasure in Heaven [in God’s priorities]…For wherever your treasure is, you may be certain…your heart will be there too!” (Matthew

6:19-21, J.B. Phillips version).

For “…it [is] not with perishable things…that [I am] redeemed …but with the precious blood of Christ…”

(I Peter 1:18-19).

“Jesus…is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).