The Treasure Trove Of Things Above - Pastor J. D. Howell 5-17-2026

Okay, then turn with me to the book of Psalm.

May I direct your attention of one nineteen and verse

number thirty seven. Psalm Chapter number one hundred and nineteen

and verse number thirty seven. Brother Nathaniel Colossians, chapter number

three and verse number two. Colossians Chapter number three and

verse number two, and Brother Jesse John chapter number three

and verse number sixteen. John Chapter number three and verse

number sixteen. Have but you appreciated the preaching of these

brethren of late telling you what has been wonderful, wonderful

praise the Lord. Brother Nathaniel, Colossians, Chapter number three and

verse number two, My brother, set your affections on things above,

not on things on the earth?

Amen? Is that hard to do? Is that a hard

thing to do?

To set your affection on things above and not on

the things of this earth? It is for some, not

for all, But it is for some, And I feel

like it is for some in this building. They have

a hard time setting their affection on the things above.

They'd rather set their affection upon things below. Okay, Brother

Jesse John, Chapter number three and verse number sixteen.

For God so loved the world that he gave his

only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

Aren't you thankful that the Father didn't lose focus upon

you and all of the people within humanity, that the

Father stayed or remained focused upon us. He saw us

in our lowest state, and he saw us in our

greatest times of need. He didn't lose focus on us,

even though we had put a distance between us and him.

I want to preach a message. The Holy go was

titled the Treasure Trove of Things Above, The Treasure Trove

of Things Above. Will you stand for the reading of

our golden text Psalm chapter number one, nineteen, verse number

thirty seven. The salmist wrote, turn away mine eyes from

beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way. Turn

away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me

in thy way. May we pray, Heavenly Father, we thank

you for the opportunity to be in service today. We

miss beloved sister Cheryl Harrison. Lord, we know that she

is rejoicing in Thy presence. For to be absent and

the body is to be present with the Lord. We

thank you that brother Dwayne Harrison is here with us today.

I pray that you would give him strength and comfort

him in a very special way, and comfort this church family,

for she was very dear to us, and we will

miss her greatly, but we look forward to being reunited

with her one day. I pray that you to know

at the ears of this thy people, and let them

have a guard set upon the entry of those ears.

Lord.

I pray God that they would hear the words of truth,

that they may be spoken from the words of thy

servant God. I pray, Lord, set a guard at my mouth,

and help me to say the things that thou would

have me to say. Nothing more or less. We pray

that the Spirit of God would help us in this

place in a very special way. We'll give you praise

and honor and glory, and may we depart this place

joyfully and not sorrowfully. In Jesus's name, in the church

said Amen, Looking again at our text Psalm one nineteen

and verse number thirty seven, turn away mine eyes from

beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way. Our

text is found in an Old Testament book of the

Holy Bible. The Book of Psalms is a collection of

Hebrew writings from various authors. In this collection we find prayers, poems,

and psalms. Look at you and say, hey, neighbor, did

you know the Book of Psalms is a collection of prayers, poems,

and psalms. In the Hebrew song Book, we can find

details concerning the various experiences of the nation of Israel,

the Israelites. There's information concerning the creator of those human beings.

There is information concerning the creation of the Creator, and

there's information about the Israelites throughout their national history. God

has a chosen people today, just as he did during

those times. God had a chosen people. Again, God had

a chosen people, and God has a chosen people today.

Those of you that know a little bit about the

Abrahamic Covenant, you know that God promised Abraham that Abraham's

offspring would be a chosen and a very special people.

And we know that Jews are a very special people

as well as Gentiles that have been adopted into the

family of God. And so since the days of Abraham,

God has had a chosen people. And during the time

before Jesus Christ arrived upon this faith of the earth,

they were awaiting the arrival of the Messiah. Again, the

nation of Israel. The Israelites were awaiting the arrival of

the Messiah. And just as the Israelites were expecting him,

we are expecting the Messiah to return any day or night,

with great anticipation and much excitement. We are looking forward

to the return of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We know that that group of people that had been

looking for the long awaited Messiah reject him when he

made his appearance. How could someone who had been watching

for him for so long overlook his appearance and his arrival.

How could somebody overlook the announcement of his appearance and

his arrival. We know that John the Baptist, the cousin

of the Messiah, was doing everything he could do to

be the voice of truth that heralded the arrival of

the Messiah, but people seemingly overlooked it. How could they

do such a thing the same way people today are

overlooking the signs of the times. We know that we

are nearing the time of the Lord's return, And so

just as they had looked for their long awaited Messiah,

he came.

And after he came.

In that set in spiritual darkness, even though they saw

great light, they rejected him. And I feel that there's

a lot of people sitting in pews in churches today

overlooking the signs of the times. We are living in

the very last of the end time. How many of

you believe that? So I'm looking for his appearance. I'm

looking for his arrival. And in recent weeks we have

heard the Holy Ghost as John did announce a promise

of his appearing. How could we, like these Jews, look past.

The Jesus Christ of the Bible.

How is it that people sitting in these pews today could

overlook the second person of the Godhead. How is it

could people in this building look past the extended arm

of God and look over that hand that has been

extended or reached out to them to offer help and assistance.

I suppose in the days prior to Jesus christ first advent,

they were busy doing other things. We know that in

the times of Noah they were given in marriage. We

know that they were celebrating that. We know that they

were having a great time. They enjoyed the pleasures of

this life even though they were temporal, and they overlooked

the judgment hand of God. They also overlooked the other

hand of God that had been extended as an opportunity

to help them escape the wrath of Almighty God. Simply stated,

those people were not paying attention to the signs of

the time. They were not paying attention to what the

Spirit of God was saying unto the church.

And I have put it in my.

Spirit recently that there are people of this generation, some

of which are in this building, not all or in

this building. Some are out there this morning somewhere else.

But they are not hearing what the Spirit of God

is saying unto the church. They're not aware of the surroundings.

They're not alarmed at all. They're unconcerned. They are dangerously distracted,

and they are overlooking things that are forthcoming.

Again.

The world population during the time of Noah overlooked the

extended hand of mercy and the other hand of judgment

of Almighty God. But nevertheless, judgment came. And I want

you to know here this morning that you better set

your affection on things above and not on things on

the earth. Again, I'm preaching a message the Holy Ghost

titled the Treasure Trove of Things Above. It has been

said you cannot hit what you do not aim at,

and when I looked at the definition of a treasure.

It is a valuable discovering all the value of an

arc of bull Russia's Moses's mother could say, all the

value of an arca built of go toward. The family

of Noah could say, all the value of Uncle Abraham,

the family of Locke could say, all the value of

a holiness preacher preaching at the Bethel Holiness Church. And

a congregation that has used to hear might say, but

for those that are losing their focus, that Noah is

down there a little ways building a boat that will

be used to the saving of his household. Or for

those that are sitting in a pew overlooking the fact

that the preacher has stirred in his spirit, and that

the Sunday school teacher has stirred in his spirit and listens.

Sermons are going forth, and people are not seeing what

they need to say, and they've got.

Ears that are dull of hearing.

Oh, that God would give them an ointment of ourselff

that they might be able to see the signs of

the times, and that they would unstopp or unplug their

ears and hear what the spirit of God is saying

to the church, and I suppose the psalmist that pinned

this lengthy psalm someone nineteen had a little bit of

an understanding of the nature of men, or how easily

we are distracted. I wonder how many people listening to

this message this morning have found yourself distracted. You can

talk to any businessmen, entrepreneur, sports star, celebrity, athlete, banker, oh,

come on, homemaker, or father or mother, and they would

tell you that in order to be successful, you have

to have a laser focus. I can tell you that

Abraham had a laser focus on the will of God

for his life. When he heard the Holy Girl speaker

into the corridors of his soul, it was not just

a voice bouncing through each chamber of his heart.

It was the voice of God. And he got a

hold of it.

And he knew it was a treasure trope, something that

he better get a white knuckle grip on, something that

should reprogram and reset his mindset.

And it was something that he had to get a

hold of.

And it caused this man, Abraham, just look for a

city that have foundations whose builder and maker is God.

All that we had the laser focus of Abraham, all

that we had the laser focus of Noah, even though

he was persecuted verbelieving and physically.

For building an arca.

They come on that were supposed to into the storms

and the floods of the world. There were people that

would say, it's never reigned here much less flooded, and Noah,

with a laser focus and a determination, continued with that

message of the mallet. Over the time that mallet may

contact with some board, somebody heard it echo through the neighborhood.

That Noah was laser focused.

He had a white knuckle grip on the treasure trove

of things above. So again Abraham was looking for a

city that have foundations, this builder and make them this God.

Abraham might have felt like her it was an earthly

kingdom that the Messiah were sit upon at the spirit field,

Son of God would sit upon.

The throne horive that we know.

The time would prove some thirteen to eighteen hundred years

later that when Jesus came, these people did not have

a focus on.

The fact that the Messiah was.

Walking upon this planet that he created. They overlooked to

the Son of God. I said, they lost their focus

on things that mattered the most. They did not pay

attention at all to the virgin born son of God.

They overlooked to the signs that have been given by

their own prophets.

They overlook to all.

In the numerous prophecies, had it been accorded and docummented.

And even though every one of them was being fulfilled

one day after another, somehow they lost your treasure trouth

those things above. I remember hearing the song some years

ago and the lyrics went like this, don't lose her

view for the old rugged Cross, for if you do,

your soul you'll be lost. I'm preaching the sun.

Here to day. If you are not hitting what you are.

You thought you would hit, it is because you have

not aimed yourself at it.

I said years ago.

If you want to go to the cross, so your

heart talking to the foot of the cross, and troll

of your heart.

If you want to go happ to the celestial city.

To your heart, across to the proligate line. Your heart

will lead your body to the so Leicester city. Follow

your heart. Will come on now, for where your heart is,

where your treasure will be.

Her soul will of the rain who lost his bride.

I'll tell you the best thing where that the rain

can do.

Is that a laser focus her sister, Sheryl.

And imagine in his mind his sister Cheryl is standing

at the polygator. He's saying, the rain, don't be dangerously

distracted her rain, her loser vision to the old rigicons

the rain, nor loser your vision of heaven.

I can't hear this morning that.

The better of Holiness Church, we'll have her more refined.

Her more did in the more tuned in. Whew, that's heaven.

After the departure of rs Sis Sir.

Amen again, it has been said, you cannot hit what

you do not aim at. The successful husband can tell

you that if he focuses upon the things that matter

most to his wife, he will live a happy life.

The successful entrepreneur can tell you that if he focuses

on the needs of the customer and satisfies those needs,

he will end up leading a successful life. You can

talk to a pastor, and a pastor, by God's grace

that has been successful. He can tell you if you

will make it about others and never about you, and

if you will be selfless and not selfish, and if

you will be a servant and not one looking for status,

remember my pastor of yesteryear, he had something on his

vehic call. It was the emblem of the Church of God,

and I'm not judging him for that. And besides that

emblem of the Church of God, he had a member

of a clergy. And I know that sometimes you have

to have certain stickers or logos on your vehicle in

order to maybe get the red carpet rolled out for.

You had a hospital.

But listen, I don't have to have a sticker on

my vehic call that says a member of clergy in

order to walk through security and tell them as I

walk away, I'm here to see a sheep of my food.

I'm here to help somebody that belongs to my congregation.

If you want to be a servant, come on now,

I'm telling you you will get a laser focus on

the needs of others. I said, if you want to

be a servant, you will see the treasure, troupe.

And things above.

When I first got here twenty years ago, I could

not have said that there were a lot of a

bethelot so to speaker that were over yonder that I heard,

but a Philip a little while ago, as they stood

there behind the sacred desk. Her started naming up to

about ten and then he stopped her. People that used

to just sit on that pill you're sitting on. People

that used to anchor a corner in this building, people

that used to stand there in the amen corner. I

tell you that that's what caused you to focus more

than you ever had before on your homegoing. I'm looking

for it, just seeing those that have gone on before us.

What a reunion that will be. I believe it's Noah,

this building, the arc. A lot of times Miss Noah

would go out there her so with them boys and

asked him a now, could you take a break? Could

you stop for a little while, could you have a

little back to eat? And knowing what's a the storms

are ruling, but knowing will thou see it? He said,

But I know God told me a storm is coming. No,

come on now, who is a heaven?

A gain? And there's a hell the sun?

You might not feel the flames of hell laughing at

your feet this morning. And if you lose your focus,

you will begin to feel you're drawing on this world,

and he will everruly leads you to the flames offire

found in an awful place the devil's hell Sabraham had

a laser focus on things above, a celestial city. It

wasn't just a spirit filled man ruling a spiritual kingdom

upon this earth, which Jesus Christ will one day said,

on his throne that's been called the Throne of David.

He'll sit upon his throne and he will rule.

Thank God for that.

Abraham, he saw the treasure trove in things above. Noah

saved eight souls, that's all. How many people lived during

the days of Noah. Many many drunken people, many and

drunken stupors, many celebrating weddings, many feasting, a lot of reverie,

a lot of debakri, a lot of sin going on

on every hand, imaginations that are evil, wickedness in people

through and through, Brother Philip, I'm telling you betrayal, lying spirits,

evil spirits, iniquity, gross and grave sins on every hen.

And Noah knew I better build this ark and I'm

gonna go.

To a place of safety. And I'm telling people.

In this beauty here this morning, you better not lose

your focus on him as so many have done before you.

And someone nineteen and thirty seven looking again how a

go and text the Bible, turn away mine eyes from

behold and vanity. That word vanity literally means things of

no value, things of temper value, fleeding, things that do

not that all really mean anything.

We know the Bible set beauty is vain.

You want to know why beauty is vain because after

the age of forty, you start looking at yourself and

a mirror differently, and you realize you're not gonna be

beautiful forever. I tell you, get to the age of

sixty or seventy, and every young person's beautiful. You know,

when you were fifteen and twenty and twenty five looking

for that special somebody, you were very picky, were you're not?

I mean, the.

Simplist of details mattered. You were so vain. You weren't

worried about what was on the inside. You were worried

about what was on the outside. You weren't worried about

being equally yoke to. You were just worried about her

being compatible on the exterior.

But as you get older, I'm telling you, there's some people.

In this building right now that could tell you there's

no such thing as an ugly young person. For the

most part, there's a few exceptions to the rule. The

sister reading. We know as we get older, we look

across the congregations, we looked throughout wal Martin, and we

can say truly being younger was a blessing from Almighty God.

And David said, I have been young, and now I'm old.

And David talked about some things that has seen and

some things that he had written. Used, I tell us

some things that I've seen. I've seen a lot of vanity.

I've seen a lot of vinglory. I've seen a lot

of selfishness. I've seen of her who who locked her

a stitch that just sends up into the nostrils of

Almighty God. Or what I wanna tell a handful of

people this morning is turn away your eyes from the

hold and vanity, and you'll notice the words of the Psalmist.

He did not say I will turn away mine eyes

in one place. He did say, I will walk within

my heart, within my house, with an upright heart. I

will set no wicked thing before mine eyes. But here

he's singing a different tune. There's some of you. You

tell me all the time, I'm gonna do better. I'm

not gonna do this. Ever, again he send me the

same text message. He send me the same text message,

you send me the same text message in me the

same text message. I wonder if the Psalmist has said,

you know what I said, I will walk within my

household with enough bright heart. I said, I will sit

no wicked too before mine eyes. That's a good thing

to say. But here is someone nineteen and thirty seven.

He's asking God to turn away with his eyes from

beholding vanity. He's asking God to clicking him in God's way.

And that's what I'm telling you here today. Like Noah,

Roy Abraham, Rock the Samis, like David, like Peter, you

need to ask God to open the eyes, help your heart.

You need to ask God to crick in your stead.

Ay man, Sister Molly, how long have you been here?

March eleventh? Since March eleventh? This is what May eighteenth

a little over too much. I believe it was three

or four days ago. She text me. She said, Pastor,

while you were exhorting, she said, I felt something to

come over me from the top of my head to

so on my feet. And she said, what I just

kept feeling my spirits say, was he is speaking the

words of truth. He is speaking the words of truth.

I know Sister Molly ain't talked to Sister Crystal about this.

But when Sister Crystal came from South Georgia, we didn't

know her. She wasn't doing good spiritually. She suddenly certainly

wasn't playing around and playing games with God.

She meant business.

But she come down here to visit some people and

ended up visiting our church. And she said when she

heard the exhortation that particular night.

She visited, she said something to hold of her.

She said, I felt something from the top of my

head to the soul of my feet, the sord.

This man is preaching the truth. Listen.

I never said I'm preaching the truth. I never quoted

the scripture the Truth shall set you free. That was

a quickening of the spirit. And that's what the Psalm

has to saying here in the latter part of our texture,

quicken thou me in thy way, quicken thou me in

thy way. Order man's steps or ordered by the Lord?

I tell you, it's not just any man's steps or

ordered by the Lord. That's a good man that has

been clicking by the spirit of God. Oh, thank God

for the quickening of the spirit of God. Before I

ever received the Holy Ghost, I knew what it was

like to receive a quickening of the Holy Ghost. And

I'm telling you, if you feel the quickening of a spirit,

who want to say, thank God, praise the Lord, Hadelujah,

Oh God, teach me thy ways. But so many start

out well and they end up running well, but then

somebody hinders them. As the biblical author wrote, you did

run well? Who did hinder you? Who got in your way?

Who distracted you? Get the imagery of somebody that began

a marathon and that started strong, and somebody that ran

well for the first few laps, and people bent toward

distracting them, kept going by, kept going by, kept going by,

and they had that laser focus on the finish line.

Their heart was set and their heart was fixed that

I'm gonna finish, and I'm gonna finish well. I may

finish on my hands and knees, but I'm gonna finish

this race. But there's people on the sidelines that hindered them.

There's people on the sidelines hurt them, And eventually they

were dangerously distracted and deterred and lost their way. How

did the Jewish leaders and Israelites overlook the compelling evidence

of Jesus was their long away to Messiah. The crucifixion

of our Lord by the Jewish leaders as evidence for

us to see. They rejected the evidence that he was

King of kings and Lord of lords. Many, not all,

but most overlooked the miracles that he performed. They disregarded

his great wisdom and the knowledge that he had concerning

the sacred scriptures. They didn't seem to notice his concern

for the sick, the disease, and the press. Some simply

felled a threat to their positions. Some ft a threat

to their status. Some didn't want to lose their upper seats.

Some didn't want to stop praying their long prayers. Some

didn't want to trade in their linked to Rabbi Ropes. Oh,

come on now, They didn't want to lose at Us

and become a servant. Simply stated, a lot of people

turned their eyes away from him. Come here, brother Philip,

could you imagine Jesus approaching them. Truth himself has approached them,

Truth himself has spoken the word of God, God Incarnate.

He's standing there, and rather than looking at him like Nicodemus, did,

rather than looking at him like Joseph of Arimathea did,

rather than looking at him like Peter did. Oh, Peter

told him thou art the Christ, the son of the

Living God. You know how Peter reached her that determination

and maintained his salvation is because he learned the listen,

have you better not take your is of off of Jesus.

What happened to Peter when he was on the boat

and the storm of life came?

Happened to Peter when that natural disaster came?

What happened to Peter when that storm on the sea came,

when the winds beat against the sea, and the sea

responded with waves that were lushing out in anger. What

happened when Peter beginning to sink, he took his eyes

up of Jesus, I said, he took his eyes off

of Jesus. But as long has he had his eyes

or on the treasure trove of things, Abode, I said, that's.

Lone has he had his eyes.

On the things above. Some of you need to stop

her looking at the storm and look at the arc.

Some of you need to stop looking at your pastor

and look for that city a half foundation. Some of

you need to stop looking at at your trouble and

the storm has set your eyes. Oh Jesus, I feeling

in the bottom on the soul today. Better get to

laser focus on the things that matter. If you're gonna

hit the parly gates, who better aim at the parly gates,

I said, If you're gonna hit the poly gate, w

better aim at the pearly gate.

Amen.

Jesus can raise the dead and services nowadays, and people

are totally distracted from the fact that Jesus is working.

Jesus can cure cancer in services today, and people are

totally oblivious to the fact that he's working in the

midst and they say things like he's working in our

midst too.

Hey, brother Samuel, preach to us.

About them rejected replicas them chief imitation as the hold

the girst said, Oh, come on now, simply stated, a

lot of people have turned their eyes away from him.

Let that sink in.

A lot of people have turned their eyes away from him.

Could you imagine if a spouse turned their eyes away

from their spouse and started looking at another what would happen?

Eventually there would be something tragic happened. Is that not true?

Jesus said, no man, having set his hand to the

plow and looking back is not fit for the Kingdom

of God. Could you imagine a mother turning away from

her little baby boy, Brother Jesse preached to us about

Haygard that had been sent away by Abraham and Sarah.

And you know what, she got to the place she

couldn't take it anymore, seeing Ishmael suffer the way he

was suffering. And Brother Jesse, you spelled it out for

so well. You said, she ended up having to turn away,

not that she wanted to, but the suffering was so

great that she put him in a place of shade,

and she kind of just went and laid in the

desert dunes and was about to die, Brother Jesse. She

just didn't want to see the awful thing that was

about to happen. The Bible said, can a woman forget

her suckling child? Sister Route, I don't understand how a

woman can go into a rest area bathroom, squat down,

and bring a child into this world and put it

in the toilet and leave it there. I don't understand

how they can put it in the waste basket and

walk away with that baby crying I don't understand that.

Brother Nathaniel Old.

I can tell you is they have set their affection

on something blur. They have set their affection on things

a blur. They have set their affections on things on

the earth to either they want to run with a

drug dealer and his drugs, or either they want to

run with a pample and his drugs, or they just

don't want to deal with it. They don't want to

be selfless, they want to be supper. Somehow they lose

their focus on motherhood and they treat that baby like

a piece of trash. I tell you what's going on

at the Howell Householder. God's giving me another kitten. I

don't know if any of y'all planted it in the

tributary at my place or not.

I don't think you would do that.

But there's the prettiest little black kitten with the prettiest

white stripe down.

It's fact that I've ever seen in my life.

And I got hold the other night and I heard repeatedly, now, ma'am, now, ma'am.

I told sister House that that's a funny sounding bird,

and she was going on in the house. But it's

holding this preacher with this big heart. I thought, you

know what, that might not be a bird. That sounds

like a very little tiny kitty hey man. And so

I got to walking around out there and I looked

at what seemed to be a little black bird.

You know, here's the head and here's the town.

And I got to thinking, you know what, that ain't

no bird imitating a little cat?

That is that is a little kitty cat. And sister

haw put.

Some things down in the apartment. She come back and

she said, what is that little bird? She's looking at it?

Look at that.

That's a little birden. I brought to it by now,

and I just kept saying, no, she couldn't hear me. No,

that's a little kitty cat. I thought, I saw kitty cat.

I thought I saw I did, I did, I saw

kitty cat.

Amen.

And finally she said, look at that little black bird.

What is that thing doing there? It's letting you approach it.

And I said, you know what, that's a kiddy cat.

She said, a kenty cat. What's it doing there? Of

all places? And why is it playing peek a boo

with you? And why is it crying out to you

like that? What aognosia. I said, I don't know. Something

must have happened to mama. Mama must be dead or

something that is God who lost. But that little kiddy

cat has a laser focused brother Jesse. And so I

went to grabbing and took off and ran from me,

and I ran into the bushes and tried to catch it,

and I was just too slow. And then I went

back to go to the vehicle, and that little kiddy

cat came back, got in position again and sound it

off again, want my attention. And so I went up

there and played cat and mouse or cat and fool again,

and it fooled me.

It ran around, hid behind trees.

Jumped up in bushes, kept making that noise and wouldn't

let me catch it, Brother Nathaniel, And we did that

until I got sore. I'm telling you, started sweating, breathing heavy.

Somebody talked about breathlessness this morning. That thing made a

fool out of me. I still haven't got a hold

of it yet, but I know that thing has a

laser focus on me. If the buzzards hadn't got it,

or the coon or some other varmit hadn't killed it

by now, when I get back.

I know it'll be right there doing the same thing.

You had a focus, brother Jesse, that I was going

to give it by undivided attention. And so the louder

it screamed and cried, the harder I shook the kitty

food bag, and I told just to hell watch this.

I shook that kiddy food so hard that that kiddy

stopped all that crying and all that screaming and start

of staring at that bag. And I took a handful

of any food and threw it over there, and it

went to nibbling. And then when it got done with

a few pieces, and started screaming again. And I just

shake that bag a little bit, and Sister Wood, that

kept us screaming and a hollering because mama's daddy can't

get in the milk. It's a very very small kiddy cat.

I shook it again, and I said, I gotta do

the same thing again. I gotta make the food louder

than the cry. Come on there, I'm telling you. And

I shook, and I shook, and I should. I told

Sister House to watch them. If I shake this bag vigorously,

if I get louder.

And it's cry with the food.

It will focus on the food and forget about it's

anguish and it's words of the loss of life or mother.

And I'm telling us in this beauty, we have lost

a wonderful and a beautiful thing. His sister, show we

have lost something. Next you turn on. We ain't talking

about something vain. We're gonna turn our sight and our

vision and our view all things above. I said, I

believe my sister is a both. Just as the little

kitten got a laser focus on that bag of kiddy food,

we're gonna have to get to a laser tocus. So

on the poorly gate, on that poorly white smile on

the other side of.

That poorly gate. The time's gonna come.

You don't feel like getting up her Sunday morning, The

time's gonna come. Right, you don't feel like going to

church on Sunday evening, at her Wrisday evening. You're at

every excuse in the book, right. You can't move there

if you're not careful. What her bitchu yourliser to you,

what her bitchle what You'll lose your burden, her bitch you?

What your loisa focus?

I'm telling you you better sett her your affect her

horse takes her pop, I said, focus her thinks her

how bad? Just slaa baha it so cool? Yeah, this

so you he's a about oh by He said, that's so cool.

YadA, that's about that here. Yeah, I say, under thee

in my house there are.

Many mansions, many houses, many rooms, And I say, don't

lose sight of those things that I have prepared for you.

Come unto me and enter thou into the joys of

the Lord, Saith the Lord.

Amen? Amen?

How could somebody lose their focus? Brother Nathaniel by becoming distracted?

The Son of God walked on this earth in the

sandals of mankind. He lived and dwelt amongst them. He

did amazing things, and many, in fact, most chose to

overlook him. Most chose to overlook him. The author of

our Golden text understood this very thing, and he understood

how easily it can happen. And he said, turn away

mine eyes from beholding vanity. I'll tell you this, A

swamp buggy ain't more important than church.

Hunting.

Dogs ain't more important than church. Deer hunting on Sunday

during the open season, is it more important than church?

And there's a lot of men and even women nowadays

that are losing their vision of Calvary and their view

of Heaven through hobbies, through buddies. I want to tell

you at the end of this message, a lot of

people have lost their way because of buddies and hobbies.

Your buddy will call you and say, hey, I heard

you going through something. Let's go out in the woods.

The Ssawmist isn't having a private personal Pepperary in this moment.

Although it is good to encourage ourself in the Lord,

in this moment, the Psawmist is prayerfully begging God to

turn his eyes away from beholding vanity. You know, when

I come to church on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesdays,

I look past my boats, I look past my hobbies,

I look past my fishing poles. May every person in

this building today have the same request this Psalmist had,

Lord Jesus Savior, help me to stay focused on everything

that truly matters. Brother and sister. The student begins learning

and they learn the lessons of the teacher and the tutor.

And this is the thing the Holy Girl spoke to

me that inspired this message. They become the servant or

slave of the subject and their study. That's what the

Holy Girl spoke into my heart. They become the servant

or slave of the subject and their study. You buy

a bunch of bird dogs, and you polish up them

shotguns and shine the tires on them swamp buggies, and

start running in the woods on Sunday. The Bible said

that they that lived by the sword shall die by

the sword. You'll die out there in the woods with

a form of godliness, but without the power. We have

heard it said before old taste and see that the

Lord is good. How can you know how good he

tastes and how sweet his word is if you don't

come to church and taste and see. Our cotext was

Colossians three. To set your affection on things above, not

on things of the earth. Paul plainly told Christian people

that we are to put our focus on things above.

When you think of things above, what or who is

the first thing that comes to mind? Hopefully Jesus Christ.

He is above. And in closing, I want to give

you a few things to think about that are above,

first being that we can spend eternity with Jesus, for

he himself is above. Next being reunited with friends and family,

for they are above. And thirdly, heaven, Oh Heaven, It's

no longer a dream, it's a reality. And here in

this place of eternal rest, there's no more tears, no death,

no sickness, no pain, no curse or sting of death. Bethel,

focus on the treasure trove of things above. I say

this because there is a battle for your attention and affection.

And again I say these things because there is a

battle for your attention and affection. Brother Jesse, would you

come to the piano singers, would you come to the microphones?

May we stand, beautiful Bethel. I come today with a burden,

and I have preached the burden of my heart to you.

And I trust that I have obeyed the Lord. In

the Bible says eye hath not seen nor ear heard,

neither has it entered into the heart of man, the

things that God has prepared for those that love him.

I know a lot of people speak of that being

things above, such as the Father's house of many rooms,

where there's many mansions, many homes, many places of dwelling,

prepared places. And that's good. And you could say that's

in context. But most importantly that scripture is speaking of

things that are above, that are available for us on

this earth. And that is joy in the presence of

the Lord, fullness of life. For when you truly get

born again, you begin to live eternally. When you're truly

forgiven and set free and delivered, you have an unspeakable

joy and a great peace. There's things here on this

earth that are attainable that are heavenly, things from above,

like salvation, sanctification, in the sweet Holy ghost. Very few

people experience all of those things inclusive.

At home.

Most of them have to walk through the door of

a church and receive guidance and instruction. That's why God

gave us a pastor, and he gave us teachers for

the perfecting of the saints. How are you going to

be admonished? How are you going to be edified? Unless

you're at church? And I'd be lying if I said

anything different than this. There are more people today tempted

to stay home from church and stay out of service

than there has ever been. I remember, up until ten

years ago, before COVID, even independent holiness people felt nervous

about missing church. The treasure trove of things above, What

is most important in your life? What is of most concern,

what is of most value, hopefully eternal things?

Right?

If I gained the whole world and lose my own soul,

what it was that profited me? Could we bow our

heads close our eyes here today? Is there somebody in

this building that would come to the altar and say, God,

I want to make Jesus my priority, and I want

to refocus upon things that matter. I need to refocus

on things that matter, things of value, peace of mind,

peace with God, joy in the spirit, fullness of life, salvation, sanctification,

holy ghost field. I'm gonna say this some of you

and people are doing it everywhere nowadays. You send the

same same same text message, You sing the same song,

sing the same tune.

I'm gonna do better.

I'm gonna do better, But your prayer needs to be

Lord Jesus, turn my eyes away from vanity. I wonder

how many people get distracted by cellular devices. I wonder

how many people get distracted by this and that rather

than focus on things that matter. Anybody you want to

come to the altar today, anybody, just come on. There's

got to be a couple of you praise the Lord. Amen,

may we all just ask the Lord to give us

a laser focus on church attendance, Bible reading, a prayer life.

The Bible talked about our eyes and the need for

them to look straight on, straight forward, look straight forward, focus,

have a goal, have an objective. Anybody that's successful has

to say, I must be focused. My heart is fixated

up and you, Lord, my heart is fixed. Geez jesuses us, Amen, look.

Fool, and here's a wonder fool face.

Hearing the things.

Of her, you'll grow strangely.

Dim in the light of is go.

Scrap, turn your zo pond.

Geez Jesus, look fool his wonder full face, and the

things over we'll grow strangely dim in the light.

He's gory, angry, Oh so a you we we and

trouble the new lady, the darkness she.

They're a lie for.

Look at the saal and lad.

Abundant and free tur you rid thepongezus look fooly He's

wonder for thing, and the thing to grow s sleep

dim in the line of his glory, and a gray