Treasured Posession

Tension

Do you ever think “Why am I here” | Do you every have trouble understanding your value? | We know we are loved, Our identity is in Christ, We are in the light, but do you ever wonder “What does that actually mean” “Why should I be fulfilling His Purpose?” | If God is all powerful, all knowing, why did he Choose us to fulfill things on Earth, He is God

If I’m being brutally honest, sometimes, it may feel like “Does God even care? He knows the end” What am I to him?” and because I know me that no one sees, sometimes it’s like “Why would God use me, I am terrible” - If you ever feel insecure, a failure to God, this message is for you. w

If you are full of Confidence, Got it all together, God can still save you.

Deuteronomy 7:6 ESV

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Intro

Brand new Message Series | Treasured Posession | What we are going to do is spend 4 weeks looking at Who we are as God’s People | What does it mean to be made “In His Image” | Why did He die for us | Why we go through REFINING | What is the real purpose that we are still here?

Today is going to be a really long intro to that series |

Title: What to do when you feel usesless.

My Hope: God will speak to you in a way that you will feel loved | Valued | Important to Him | And it will give you Purpose, every day of your life.

*Prayer*

Truth

Where are we? Old Testament - Context | God had just shown his Power in the Plaques in Egypt | Angel of Death has passed over the houses | God’s people have left Egypt | God delivered them not once but twice by parting the Red Sea | They have gone into the wilderness | They nestle at the Base of the mount Sinai | Must be wondering “What is Next?” | Moses, goes up the mountain, and God says this;

Exodus 19:4–6 ESV

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Sounds similar to what happen to us | Let us not forget | God’s people Cried out in Egypt, God delivered | We cried out for salvation, God delivers | We actually have to get to the point of Crying out, Why? free will, God loves us so much he wants a real relationship |

God says | If you obey my voice | Keep my covenant | Treasured Posession | They are sitting here, thinking what’s next, and God says, Gosh I’ve got so much more for you | About to recieve “ the Law” | Torah = LIFE GIVING INSTRUCTIONS

“Treasured Posession” - Segullah = Segullah - more than just a posession when stuck on a shelf, this was extremely valuable | Have you ever had a treasured posession?

My Brother and his Dog

David, when giving the temple to Solomon and he gave his gold, and his silver it says: 1 Chronicles 29:3

1 Chronicles 29:3 ESV

Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God:

Same word, treasure, it’s precious, Adored, Valued and something that he does not want to part with | This is how God sees you | He wants to own every part of your being. In fact Peter puts it this way

1 Peter 1:18–19 ESV

knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Paul said it this way;

Titus 2:14 ESV

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

We don’t do good works because it’s in the Law, we do good works because we understand and feel the love of our father.

What does it mean to be bought? It means that God has a Job for you | Buy a Lawnmower for a Specific Purpose | You have a specific Purpose |

Owning Wealth doesn’t make you wealthy | Being owned by God mkes you wealthy, makes treasured by God, because God wants to use YOU. You are his, and he has a job for you.

Image of God

If we understand that we ARE his TREASURED posession, Then What makes US his TREASURED POSESSION, why? | Let;s have a look

Genesis 1:27 ESV

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Made in image | Walking around Eden | Then what happens? Sin enters the world | Fall | And what is the result? We are born of Sin. It’s in us | Everything bad, Every suffering, Every hurt, is because of one decision | The price too great | We could not pay it | We needed a Sacrificial Lamb | Perfect Lamb | Jesus to Pay for our Sin | To bring us back into relationship | He wanted to buy back his Posession and create a new covenant with us | The Price = Jesus Christ.

God sends himself to die for us | And then sends himself in the Spirit to live inside us | Help us in our brokeness | Something else going on here

Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

In Fact, in Corinthians | Paul talking about the veil over Moses eyes and even his Eyes, Isrealites couldn’t see the Glory of God | In complete contrast we read this;

2 Corinthians 3:16–18 ESV

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

What’s happening here? | Turn to Christ | Behold His Glory, viel removed | “Unveiled Face” = katoptrizomenoi = The verb = katoptrizo = “to behold oneself or something as in a mirror” = observe, know, understand His Glory and knowing, understanding this glory are transformed into His image, through, understanding, that HIS glory HIS TRUTH, HIS Holiness, is so much better than the world | or anything I can conjure up | Spirit is so much better than me | Instructions are so good for me | For it comes from what? HIS SPIRIT and HIS SPIRIT lives INSIDE YOU.

**Pray for this, pray to understand his glory, to see his hand**

Where else does Paul say transform?

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And we are called to what? to imitate Christ | Reflect Christ

1 Corinthians 15:49 ESV

Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

The more you transform, the more you will REFLECT the IMAGE OF GOD.

Something I want you to understand;

We have the Holy Spirit within us to help us yes, but also t oreflect God to the world. You can’t reflect, if you don’t recognise God’s Glory within you.

When we pray “Less of me, more of him” = It’s for us. but it’s also because God’s will is that no one shall perish.

Every time you do something contradictory to the world, you reflect God - The world sees and experiences God through YOU. You are the modern day temples, you are to take Jesus to people, you are to REFLECT JESUS.

Every time someone hops on stage and hits a note, God.

Forgives the Unforgivable | Cooks a meal out of kindness | Show’s someone grace when they deserve Truth | Show’s someone Mercy when they deserve JUSTICE | Show your spouse patience, when they deserve to stack every dirty dish they forgot to stack in the dishwasher - World experiences GOD.

We will recognise, so that we can reflect, the glory of God

You have a responsability

What does it look like to refelct and be His Treasured Posession?

First = Know you are loved, set apart, plucked from the darkness - Know without a shadow of a doubt Christs Death is enough | Jesus doesn’t want you to feel guilt, shame etc.

Second; Know, you have been bought at a price | A covenent has been cut for YOUR LIFE | God wanted you back, and he paid the ultimate price for it

Third: Know that you are to reflect, God to the world, so more may see God

fourth (important): Accept the responsability God has given you. It’s not about works | It’s about getting to know his Goodness | Love | Glory | Being obsessed over the one who saved

Out of that place | You will not have the choice but to serve him |

Inspo and CLose

What does this look like in your life? to truly know you are HIS treasured posession | That he owns you | That he is For you...

Well, you might come to understand;

No weapon formed against you will prosper

Peace in the middle of the Storm, in the middle of the FIRE

Purpose in the middle of the PAIN

You’ll understand that the trial your in right now, might be for a testimony later

Understand the ONLY reason that you are this side of HEAVEN is because GOD is not DONE USING YOU FOR HIS GLORY

You will meet your creator, and the only thing you should want to hear “Good and faithful Servant”

**Maybe you want to know God Better** - Maybe you don’t know how, well we, as a Church will get to know God better | If you felt something just then, Holy spirit..Stand

**Prayer**

**Altar Call for CHRIST*

*Song*