A Special Treasure

1. We have always been for God 

• 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”
• From the beginning of Time, our existence and purpose is directly connected to our creative purpose that God ingrained within us from Creation. 
• Genesis 1:26-27 – “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule….So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
• We are made in the -Imago Dei (Image of God):
• This truth is central to our understanding of ourselves and our relationship with others and God
• 2 Peter 1:4 says-  you may be partakers of the divine nature, WE ARE GOD’S OFFSPRING
• Embracing the truth of the ‘Imago Dei’ is understanding that God made us like him and for him. 
• Revelation 4:11 – “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
• This The nature of creation is that like produces like. We are his offspring therefore we have inherent value. We share in certain aspects of God’s nature. rationality, morality, creativity, and the capacity for relationship-
• God’s divine imprint is upon humans- Why animal worship and nature worship is idolatry. 
• They are not made in God’s image, we are made in God’s image for HIM. And we find our value in who we are in HIM. By Him for him and IN HIM
• Augustine of Hippo – “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” (Confessions, Book 1, Chapter 1)
• Irenaeus of Lyons – “The glory of God is a human being fully alive; and to be alive consists in beholding God.” (Against Heresies, Book 4, Preface)
• When God is speaking to Moses and the Israelites, he’s reminding them- I delivered you and set you free from the bondage of the Egyptians, which did benefit you, but it was for ME that I did it
• You are mine. I am yours. God is saying. He’s fixing to give them some direction here, but he’s reminding them- You’re mine. You belong to me. 
• Isaiah 43:7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
• Those of you who are sitting here and know God, may have forgot, but those of you who refuse to come to him? I’m telling you- You didn’t will yourself to live. He brought you forth for HIM
• How does that change your outlook on your life? Who’s plan? Who’s desires? Who’s purpose? Changes your value on yourself. Why you live and who you live for. 
• Today is mothers day- “I brought you in I can take you out”. No. No you didn’t. God did!
• The barrier to your satisfaction on this side of heaven is understanding WHOSE you are!
• There is not one part of your being that you are entitled to yourself. None of it. 

2. We must obey the one who brought us to himself. 

• It’s very interesting that God’s prelude to the demand for obedience is his establishment of ownership of the Israelites. 
• Exodus 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.
• Since we belong to God, he brought us to himself and we were created by him we obey. 
• Somehow, this idea of no-obedience has crept its way into Christianity. 
• I don’t understand it. Over 150 times the word “obey” is in the Bible. 
• Keep: keeping God’s commandments or statutes. (450+) Follow: following God’s laws or His ways. (250+) Heed: careful attention and compliance with commands or advice. (150+) Observe: Similar to “keep,” it involves adhering to laws or observances. (95+) Submit: place oneself under the authority or will of another, (15+) Fulfill: Often used in the context of fulfilling God’s law or commandments. (100+) Over 1000 times some utterance! 
• But people will say “obedience is OT we’re under grace” This is a teaching that is from the depths of Hell itself that will lead you into licentiousness, debauchery, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like;
• God demanded that the nation of Israel would OBEY and it’s not a four letter word. 
• How do we live? (lay down)- Just going to lay here- meditate- Wait- that’s legalism!
• Believing is a command! Over 250 times! Is that OT? Is it a work to believe??? NO 
• Remember- Same yesterday, today and forever. Grace based obedience is still obedience
• I love knowing what I need to do! Makes life so much easier! Obedience is easy!
• Your relationships, careers, house, car, health, All obedience. Principles of life
• My car? I needed to OBEY what made it well. Oil, tires, tune ups. Not legalism. 
• God’s natural law requires food and water. You are obedient to it or you die. 
• Do you know where this teaching comes from? Someone who doesn’t want to obey. 
• Obedience doesn’t make you saved, doesn’t secure your salvation or keep it. You just do it
• I’ve said this before- I cannot be any more married than I am, but the activities of marriage are in direct correlation with my heart, intimacy and fulfillment of the relationship. 
• “Well I don’t want to obey”- Go back to the Cross and be changed. Remind whose you are. 
• 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” They may be difficult in my flesh, but not a burden!
• There’s promises in obedience! Many people don’t experience the blessings because they don’t walk in the clearly defined statutes of the Lord! What were you saved from and to who?
• Blessings of obedience: Lev 26:3-4 rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, Dt28:1: set high above all nations of the earth Isa 1:19: eat the good of the land; Mt 6:14: You will be forgiven Jn 8:31-32: the truth shall make you free. Jn 14:14: “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.1 Jn 1:9: He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins Ro 8:13 put to death the deeds of the body, you will live Rom 10:9 you will be saved. Jas 4:8 He will draw near to you. Luke 11:9: “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
• God is setting up the Nation of Israel to take inheritance of the promise land and if they want to get there they must obey and once they get there they have to obey. 
• Don’t ask- If I don’t obey am I a Christian, ask if I’m a Christian, why don’t I obey?
• Sidenote- parents- If you aren’t demanding obedience from your children, they are not going to obey God either. Teach your children. (story of kid in room- admitted- we haven’t demanded)