4/12/23

Treasures of God, Episode 30

Treasures of God

Ex. 19:5 – Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant; then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

1. The Hebrew word for treasure (Cgullah) – means ‘to shut up;’ wealth (as closely shut up); valued possession

• This speaks of God intentionally guarding and protecting hand upon our lives.

• It also speaks of a clear distinction between those who belong to God and those who reject Him.

2. A Description of God’s Treasured People is found in Titus 2:14 and I Peter 2:9 –

• Titus 2:11-15– For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

o Peculiar/Special people that are:

 Redeemed by grace, taught by God, living righteously while looking heavenward with hope at His appearance, and are zealous/passionate about good works.

• I Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

o Peculiar/Special People are:

 Chosen by God

 A royal, or kingly, people – kings have offices of authority and rulership

 Holy (separated to God for His purposes and pleasure)

 Proclaim the praises can be restated: proclaim/declare the excellence of God’s character.

 Who are no longer under the influence and bondage of dark powers in the world.

 This is how God views us as well as how He has positioned us to live for Him.

Characteristics of God’s Treasured People:

1. Deut. 33:19 – they offer up sacrifices of Righteousness

• Righteousness (Tsedeq) – the right – natural, moral, legal, justice –

o They conduct themselves in what is just/right in business, government, in a case or cause, in speech, in ethics, in controversy, in Covenant / relationship, and with what is done and said in the name of Jesus.

o A sacrifice of Righteousness delivers from death – Pro. 10:2

2. God’s Chosen people serve Him by –

• praising His name,

• stand in attendance in His house and in His courts to declare His goodness because it is pleasant to be His chosen special and precious people.– (Ps. 135:1-4).

• Deut. 7:7-9 – The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Therefore know that the Lord your God, His is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.

o They know God’s love for them and return that love to Him.

o They have experienced deliverance and now walk in freedom/liberty.

o They find pleasure in keeping His commandments because love keeps them from being a burden (I Jn. 5:3).

3. They walk in the Fear of the Lord – Is. 33:6 – the fear of the Lord is His treasure.

• A result of walking in respectful awe of God is the stability that comes from His wisdom and knowledge of His Word and of Him (v.6a). They walk in His strength

• Pro. 21:20 – there is a desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise… We have at our disposal an depository of delightful riches in Christ Jesus.

• Is. 33:6 – wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of their times, strength of salvation; and the fear of the Lord is his treasure.

4. They lay up treasures in heaven, not just on earth –

• Mt. 12:35 – A good man out of the good treasure (depository) of his heart brings forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure (depository) brings forth evil things.

o Speak / do good things of the heart; words of life not death.

o Values both new and old – Mt. 13:52 – Then He said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.’ - This includes wise principles of living from both the old and new testaments of scripture.

o Holds much treasure because of Righteousness – Pro. 15:6a – In the house of the righteous there is much treasure…

5. Demonstrate the power of God – II Cor. 4:7 – But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

• We are dispenses of God’s grace and carriers of His power.

• He indwells us; therefore He flows through our lives in power to do what we cannot do without Him.

• We boast in Him, not in what He allows us to partner with Him in.

6. Walk in wisdom and knowledge of God the Father and of Christ – Col. 2:3(Amp) – In Him (Christ Jesus) all the treasures of [divine] wisdom, [of comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God], and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.

• He promises to give us His wisdom whenever we ask, abundantly (James 1:5).

• He gives us insight, the reasons behind His ways, and the strategies needed to carry out His purposes with

• All the knowledge given by revelation that others don’t understand.

• The more we know Him, the more we come to understanding.

Gal. 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

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Stepping into Blessing, Episode 29