Because He Lives Pt2: Living Like Heaven is Real | Pastor Mario Hauser

Devotional

Day 1: Moths, Rust, and Unshakable Treasures

Jesus sat on the mountainside teaching crowds who chased security. "Don’t store treasures on earth," He said, pointing to moths devouring cloth and rust corroding metal. Thieves could steal what glitters—but heaven’s vaults hold what lasts. He anchored their wandering hearts: "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." [00:53]

Jesus exposed misplaced trust. Earthly wealth decays; heavenly investments outlive crises. He didn’t condemn provision but challenged fixation. When disciples fixated on bread, He said, "Seek first the kingdom." Temporary things crumble—eternal things anchor.

You check bank balances more than prayer journals. You stress over retirement accounts but neglect spiritual deposits. What if you audited one area of spending this week? Does it fuel temporary comfort or eternal impact? When your hands grip earth’s fading gold, what slips through your fingers?

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
(Matthew 6:19-20, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal one earthly treasure you’ve overvalued. Confess it as a rival to His kingdom.
Challenge: Write down three ways to invest time/money this week in someone’s eternal growth.

Day 2: Anchored in Resurrection Power

A storm-tossed ship drifts without an anchor. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit—Heaven’s stabilizer—to disciples facing life’s squalls. "I won’t leave you orphans," He said. The Spirit grounds us when culture’s winds scream, "Chase more! Climb higher!" Resurrection power steadies hands shaking with anxiety. [33:11]

The Spirit isn’t a vague force but a Person directing believers. He corrects misaligned priorities, whispers truth in chaos, and fuels courage to reject temporary fixes. Like Solomon’s empty wealth, self-made stability rusts. The Spirit’s anchor holds through layoffs, breakups, and graves.

You’ve white-knuckled control while the Anchor waits unused. What crisis makes you reach for distractions instead of kneeling? Where have you said, "I’ll handle this myself," then drowned in overwhelm? The harbor is open—will you drop the Anchor today?

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
(Luke 10:19-20, NIV)

Prayer: Thank the Holy Spirit for three specific ways He’s stabilized you this year. Ask for sensitivity to His nudges today.
Challenge: Text one person struggling with chaos: "The Holy Spirit sees you. Let’s pray together at 7 PM."

Day 3: Your Name in Heaven’s Ledger

Solomon built palaces and married princesses but called it "meaningless." Jesus rewrote the ledger: "Rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Heavenly registration outlasts promotions, followers, and plaques. When disciples returned celebrating demons’ submission, Jesus redirected their awe to eternity’s roll call. [44:10]

Earth measures worth by productivity; Heaven measures by surrendered identity. Satan knows your name but shudders at its heavenly authorization. You’re not a consumer of blessings but an ambassador—a walking embassy of Christ’s kingdom. Your interactions issue eternal visas.

You introduce yourself by job titles, not "Kingdom Ambassador." What conversation this week needs you to lead with Heaven’s authority? When someone asks, "How are you?" dare to answer, "Living registered!" Whose name will you write into your prayers today?

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
(2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV)

Prayer: Confess three moments you’ve hidden your ambassadorial role. Ask for boldness to represent Christ unapologetically.
Challenge: Share one verse with a coworker/neighbor today, prefacing it with, "Heaven’s embassy has a message for you…"

Day 4: Go: Discipleship as Daily Bread

Jesus didn’t say, "Attend." He said, "Go." The resurrected King handed disciples a mission, not a membership card. Making disciples isn’t a program—it’s daily bread. Like fish and loaves, your testimony multiplies when broken open. The Great Commission runs on surrendered lunches, not grand plans. [59:49]

You reproduce what’s been sown in you. If you’ve consumed sermons without sharing the feast, you’re malnourishing others. The checkout clerk, the rebellious teen, the grieving widow—they’re not projects. They’re your "nations" awaiting baptism in hope.

Who’s following your Jesus? When did you last say, "Let me pray with you" instead of "I’ll pray for you"? What if discipleship looked less like a class and more like grabbing coffee with someone drowning? You have authority—will you delegate it to programs or deploy it in the produce aisle?

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
(Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)

Prayer: Name one person you’ve avoided discipling. Ask God for a specific step to engage them this week.
Challenge: Invite someone outside your faith circle to a meal. Listen first—then share how Jesus changed you.

Day 5: Thy Kingdom Come, Today

Jesus taught prayer as warfare: "Thy kingdom come." Kingdom prayers draft Heaven’s blueprints over broken neighborhoods, marriages, and addictions. You don’t beg—you announce. Like Esther revealing her identity, you declare, "I’m Heaven’s representative here," and hell’s plots unravel. [50:58]

Surrender isn’t passive—it’s aligning with active victory. Daily surrender sounds like, "Break my plans for Yours," and "Bankrupt my pride for Your glory." The Kingdom comes when you tithe time before checking emails, worship before worrying, and bless enemies before blocking them.

What meeting, errand, or conflict today needs a kingdom declaration? Will you whisper "Thy will" over a diagnosis or curse the darkness? Heaven’s agenda waits—will you stamp "APPROVED" on it through your choices?

"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
(Matthew 6:10, ESV)

Prayer: Pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly. Pause at "Thy kingdom come"—name one area where you’ll enforce it today.
Challenge: Post "Thy Kingdom Come" on your mirror. Every morning, point to it and state one way you’ll manifest it.

Sermon Summary

Jesus' reading of Matthew 6:19–21 frames a call to reorder life around heaven's values rather than earthly accumulation. The text insists that whatever claims a person’s time, attention, and resources also claims the heart; possessions prove priorities. The resurrection supplies the reason and the power for a different life: because Jesus rose, believers receive the Holy Spirit as an anchor, authority, and present source of kingdom power. That power does not produce ease without cost but enables obedience, healing, deliverance, and persistence in the face of opposition.

The challenge insists on practical signs of change. Celebrating resurrection without changing daily habits betrays a divided allegiance; genuine resurrection life produces fruit, generosity, and kingdom-minded decisions. Earthly success can feel fulfilling yet remain hollow if it serves self instead of God’s mission; Solomon’s wealth and wisdom illustrate the emptiness of pursuing temporary goods without eternal intent. The gospel reframes every choice by asking not only whether something is good but whether it will last into eternity and advance God’s kingdom.

The Holy Spirit both stabilizes and empowers. Believers possess authority over spiritual opposition because their names are known in heaven, and that authority calls for engagement, not retreat. Living as kingdom ambassadors means representing heaven in ordinary places—work, neighborhoods, barbershops, and stores—so prayer, kindness, and simple gospel words become the means of discipling others. The great commission remains the operative mission: go, make disciples, baptize, and teach obedience, confident that Jesus accompanies and equips.

Practical application moves from posture to practice: begin each day with surrender, ask what best reflects Jesus in immediate circumstances, seek one person to impact daily, and audit priorities regularly to ensure goals align with kingdom purpose. The conclusion presses a decisive response: the resurrection marks people to live differently now, to stop consuming the faith and start reproducing it, and to carry the kingdom into everyday life with courage, humility, and authority.

Key Takeaways

1. Treasures reveal the heart's priorities Where time, money, and energy go is the clearest litmus test of devotion; moral claims matter little when daily habits point elsewhere. Reorienting stewardship and attention toward what lasts exposes hidden loyalties and reshapes the life toward generosity and eternal impact. Make choices that show where the heart truly rests rather than defend merely good intentions. [11:20]
2. Live with an eternal perspective Eternity reframes immediate urgency: the right question asks how long this will last and whether it advances God’s kingdom. Decisions made for temporary comfort often cost eternal fruit; choosing kingdom investments may require sacrifice now but yields lasting return. Allow eternity to govern ambition, relationships, and resource allocation. [19:09]
3. Tap into resurrection power now The same Spirit that raised Christ anchors and empowers believers to overcome sin, fear, and spiritual attack; power requires connection, not more striving. Accessing that power changes identity and capacity—obedience, healing, and authority emerge as lived realities when the Spirit leads. Stop defaulting to weakness; plug into the source. [31:51]
4. Be a kingdom ambassador daily Representation matters: every ordinary interaction becomes diplomatic work for heaven when it carries love, truth, and humility. Being an ambassador means making disciples, not just attending services; small acts of prayer, blessing, and witness reproduce what has been freely received. Evaluate character and conduct by whether they point others to Christ. [49:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - Scripture reading Matthew 6:19–21
[02:20] - Series subtitle: Live like heaven is real
[03:01] - Who Jesus addresses: believers
[07:28] - Resurrection should change lives
[11:20] - Principle: where your treasure is
[24:43] - The limits of earthly gain (Solomon)
[31:51] - Holy Spirit as anchor and power
[43:16] - Authority and heaven's registry
[49:40] - Kingdom ambassador: mission and prayer
[59:38] - The Great Commission and sending
[68:35] - Practical steps: surrender and daily habits
[75:20] - Invitation and response

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

1 John 2:17 (ESV)
“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Observation Questions

In Matthew 6:19-21, what two contrasting locations does Jesus use to describe where we should store treasures? What reasons does He give for prioritizing one over the other?
The sermon mentions Solomon’s wealth and wisdom as an example of emptiness. What specific details from his story illustrate the danger of pursuing temporary things without eternal intent? [24:43]
According to 1 Corinthians 15:58, what attitude and action are believers called to embody in their work for the Lord?
The sermon states, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” is a “litmus test” of devotion. What daily habits or choices were highlighted as indicators of true priorities? [11:20]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus connect the location of our “treasure” to the state of our hearts in Matthew 6:21? How might earthly success still leave someone unfulfilled, as seen in Solomon’s life?
The sermon argues that resurrection power is meant to produce “obedience, healing, deliverance, and persistence.” How does the Holy Spirit’s role as an “anchor” (as described in the sermon) enable this kind of life? [31:51]
1 John 2:17 warns that the world and its desires are temporary. What might it look like practically to prioritize “what will last into eternity” in areas like career goals or relationships?
The sermon challenges believers to act as “kingdom ambassadors” in ordinary places. How does this idea align with Jesus’ command to “make disciples” in Matthew 28:19-20? [49:40]

Application Questions

What does your current use of time, money, or energy reveal about your heart’s priorities? Name one practical adjustment you could make this week to “store up treasures in heaven.”
The sermon urges starting each day with surrender: “Lord, have your way in my life.” How might this posture change your response to a specific challenge or decision you’re facing right now? [41:15:20]
Identify one person in your daily life (e.g., coworker, neighbor, family member) whom you could intentionally encourage or serve this week as a “kingdom ambassador.” What simple act of kindness or truth could you offer them?
The sermon warns against being a “consumer” of faith rather than a “reproducer.” What step could you take to disciple someone else, even in a small way (e.g., praying for them, sharing a Scripture, inviting them to church)? [01:03:24]
Reflect on a goal or project you’re pursuing. How could you audit it through the lens of eternity by asking, “Will this advance God’s kingdom or just serve my own interests?”
The Holy Spirit is described as a source of power over fear, sin, and spiritual opposition. What area of your life feels “powerless” right now, and how could you intentionally “tap into” His strength through prayer or Scripture this week? [40:49]
The sermon challenges believers to represent Christ in “ordinary interactions.” What specific trait (e.g., humility, generosity, courage) do you need to cultivate to better reflect Jesus in your workplace, home, or community?

Sermon Clips

54s

#ShareYourFaith

“I follow Jesus. I do. Who's following you? Oh. I'm just consuming that. I haven't freely given what was freely given to me. I haven't given it away. I just sit on it. Sunday after Sunday. I just I just keep this all to myself. When was the last time? And don't vote. Don't raise your hand. Ask yourself this question. When was the last time you legitimately told someone about Jesus? And I'm not talking about, you know, something grand. Just simply, hey. Jesus loves you.”

42s

#ResurrectionPower

“Jesus didn't just get up. He didn't just walk out of the grave. He didn't just show himself to be alive after death for forty days so that we can sit back and say, well, that's that's a dope story. That's that's a pretty dope story. Inspirational. No. He got up so that, ultimately, he would do what? Release power. Power to what? Power to overcome and and power to make it through, power to heal, power to to deliver, power to be set free, power to be made whole, power to do what God has called you to do.”

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Because He Lives Pt2: Living Like Heaven is Real | Pastor Mario Hauser | Sunday April 19th, 2026