Jesus Our Treasure
Mission Statement
Together, we gather to encounter God’s presence, be transformed into the image of Jesus, and carry His light to reflect His glory to the world.
Opening Questions
Do you desire to be transformed more into the image of Christ?
What keeps you from being transformed into the image of Christ?
Where We’re Going
Wherever you find yourself in this journey - the starting block, in the middle of it, or making some headway - let’s see how we get from the point we’re at to this image in Jesus we’re predestined to become, according to Romans 8:29.
Seeking Treasure
Think of this journey like going after a buried treasure.
This treasure we’re looking for is buried in Christ.
Now when you’re looking for treasure, you need a map.
The map we have is the Bible.
The Bible leads us to this treasure of being transformed into the image of Christ.
Traps
On this journey, we’re going to encounter traps.
Traps are places along that way that keep us from finding this treasure.
Who doesn’t want us to be conformed to the image of Christ? Satan.
Why? Because he knows when we are transformed into the image of Jesus, he’s doomed.
The Trap of Pride
The biggest trap of all is pride
Every single one of us is susceptible to falling into the trap of pride
Satan is the father of pride and tries to get humanity in this pit as well
Isaiah 14:13
You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;
After that expulsion, he tries to get Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden
Genesis 3:5
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Pride begins with questioning God’s authority and replacing it with our own desires.
Humanity got worse after this.
Genesis 6:5
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
Other supernatural beings followed in pride
Jude 1:6
And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—
After the flood, in a reset from God for humanity, we see mankind falling once again into the trap of pride set by the enemy.
Genesis 11:1-4
[1] Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. [2] And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. [3] And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. [4] Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”
Understanding Pride
So how can we avoid these traps of pride along the way?
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
What is pride? It means to exalt yourself above God.
What does it mean by destruction? The literal definition is to fracture.
When we have pride, something has been fractured.
Haughty spirit refers to the idea of not looking where you’re going.
Pride brings destruction to our life and it’s the result of the haughty spirit.
Proverbs 18:12
Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
Pride is being in the pit, but a haughty spirit is what led to that fall there.
3 Forms of Haughtiness to Avoid
Self-Exaltation
At Babel:
The Babylonians sought to “make a name for ourselves” and this was driven by a desire for fame, recognition, and glory.
Rooted In our lives today:
Haughtiness here is rooted in insecurity—a failure to trust that our worth comes from God, not from what we achieve.
Solution:
Remain humble.
We don’t build for ourselves, we build for God.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him
Avoiding Failure, Achieving Success:
When we build for God and do all things for His glory, we avoid falling into the pit of pride and keep our focus on Jesus, being transformed more into His image.
Self-Preservation
At Babel:
The Babylonians feared being “scattered” across the earth. Instead of trusting God’s plan for humanity to “fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1), they built a city and tower to protect themselves.
Their self-preservation reflected a lack of trust in God’s ability to care for them.
Rooted In our lives today:
Haughtiness here is rooted in fear—believing that we must rely on ourselves because God’s ways cannot be trusted.
Solution:
Let go of control.
What have you taken from God’s control and are trying to control today? Your marriage? Your career? Your finances? Your struggle to overcome sin?
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Avoiding Failure, Achieving Success:
Recognize that our way is not the way we should be led by.
Our way leads to death.
We must be trusting of God, His ways, not our own and put down our fears, trusting that His Word is true when it declares that He will direct our path (Proverbs 3:6)
Self-Empowerment
At Babel:
They built a city and tower to empower themselves.
Rooted In our lives today:
Self-empowerment starts in a haughtiness rooted in ego— a refusal to submit to God’s authority and an insistence on self-rule.
Solution:
Submit to God and His commands.
Romans 8:7
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
Avoiding Failure, Achieving Success:
Kill the flesh. The flesh must die.
Galatians 5:24
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Do you have an ego that feeds your flesh or have you crucified that flesh?
Call to Action
Take a moment today to reflect on where you’ve fallen into these traps.
Are you building your own kingdom or God’s? Are you holding onto fear or trusting God’s way? Are you empowering yourself or submitting to His authority?