Things Above: A Dozen Years In

Our highest priority as believers is to focus on what is eternal, not what is temporary.

If you focus on the things you see, you’ll be distracted.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.1 John 2:15-17

If you chase the things of this world, you’ll be disappointed.

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.Haggai 1:6

Affection for heavenly things demonstrates genuine faith and a transformed heart.

If you live by the pros and cons list, you’ll miss God’s best.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.Hebrews 11:6

Faith doesn’t make sense on paper and it doesn’t make sense to those who aren’t walking by faith.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.1 Corinthians 2:14

When you prioritize the things above, your desires and goals will shift accordingly.

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:Matthew 6:20

Seeking the things above requires deliberate effort and vigilance.

Our heart is prone to drift, and we are overtaken by a creeping desire for comfort.

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.Hebrews 2:1

We are tempted to look for the easy path that requires little or no faith.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.James 1:2-4

Our affection for heavenly things leads to a life marked by hope, joy, and purpose.

Worldly gain no longer moves the needle of our desires.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;1 Peter 2:9-11

Advancing the Kingdom speaks of our allegiance to our true citizenship in Heaven.

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:Philippians 3:18-20

While we are thankful for 12 years of God’s faithfulness, we ask God for His continual blessing.

We must maintain a perspective of reaching our community for Jesus, not simply holding church services.

While we rejoice at what God has done at Huikala, reaching our city and the world is more than the work of one church. We must plant more churches and send more missionaries.

While you’re here in Honolulu, be fully present at Huikala.