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In the beginning…

Genesis 2 :The Planting of the Garden

 

10And a river went out of Eden to water the garden;

and from there it was parted,

and became into 4 heads.

 

…in the end

Revelation 4 : The Throne in Heaven

 4And round about the throne were 24 seats: and on the seats I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

 

 6And before the throne there was a sea of glass like to crystal: and in the middle of the throne, and round about the throne, were 4 beasts full of eyes before and behind

Gods THRONE and Footstool

is the HEART which

is used to describe the CORE,

or CONTROL CENTER, of a person

in the Bible

Leviticus 17 :

11For the life of the flesh is in the blood:

and I have given it to you on the altar

to make an atonement for your souls:

for it is the blood that

makes an atonement for the soul.

 

 

 

Life is in the BLOOD

which FLOWS from

 the4 chambers of our HEART

which is surrounded by24 ribs…

which is called our CHEST 

 

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

was a CHEST 

 

 

THE MERCY SEAT was the COVER

that sat ABOVE the ARK/CHEST

 

 

The 10 COMMANDS were IN the ARK/CHEST  

UNDER the MERCY SEAT

 

 

This imagery served to FORESHADOW

Jesus writing the LAW onto our HEART

which resides in our CHEST,

through His Holy Spirit, 

where He now rules OVER

and establishes his THRONE and authority

when we place our FAITH

in His righteous BLOOD that was shed

to COVER OVER and ATONE for our sins 

 

 

 

The ARK which contained the commands resembled a TREASURE BOX

 

Luke 15 :THE PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN

8Either what woman having 10 pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?  9And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.  10Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.

10 pieces of silver alluding to the 10 commands

 

Matthew 6 :Treasures in Heaven (Matthew 13:44-46)

19Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures ^[g2344] in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure ^[g2344] is, there will your heart be also.

Where your HEART is, there your TREASURE will be.

CHRIST is the TREASURE

 

 

 

Riches, abundance, wealth, and treasures in Christ

are always related to relational wisdom, knowledge,

and understanding of Him in our HEART.

 

Do we VALUE and TREASURE

His WORD and INSTRUCTIONS

more than GOLD and SILVER?

Colossians 2 :Built Up in Christ (Revelation 3:14-22)

1 For I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;  2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures ^[g2344] of wisdom and knowledge.

From Rob Sweet’s sermon: Jesus Christ, the Treasure (11/17/2019) 

 

Paul is saying here is a treasure that’s worth all that you have to find it

and its not worth you trading for anything. 

Once you find it, treasure it above all else. 

 

Wisdom was a huge deal to the Hebrews and in the OT. 

Wisdom is the highest end in OT literature. 

It is the great value worth giving everything for.

Wisdom is an incredibly valuable commodity

because it teaches you how to live life that leads to fullness.

Proverbs 2 : The Benefits of Wisdom

1My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with you; 2So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3Yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; 5Then shall you understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. 7He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8He keeps the paths of judgment, and preserves the way of his saints. 9Then shall you understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yes, every good path. 10When wisdom enters into your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul;   

 

  In the board game LIFE, the most important thing in the box

is not the currency, houses, or cars, the most valuable thing in the box

is the instruction manual because it teaches you how to play the game.

 

 

The LAW (torah)

was the instructions given to Israel

which were kept in the Box (Ark)

 

God created us and designed us. 

Wisdom is living according to the way

God called you to function so you will thrive. 

Jesus is the embodiment and incarnation of God’s wisdom. 

The word became flesh.  So if you want to know how to live

and thrive and be full of joy, look to KNOW and FOLLOW Jesus.    

 

He is the great treasure.

 

 

Paul is building the case that there is no limit to what you get in Christ and that 

 you found him, so don’t trade him for anything and lean into him. 

He is of infinite value and inexhaustible wealth. 

Open yourself up to him and mind yourself into the depths of his knowledge. 

 

The more you dig in and start pulling out jewel by jewel and start to see all

that’s in the treasure chest that is Christ and your relationship with him,

the more valuable he becomes to you.

 

Paul is saying Jesus is the most valuable possible possession you could have,

there is not nee to look anywhere else and it is not worth trading for anything else,

so don’t be fooled.  

 

Christianity is knowing and following Jesus. 

 

There should be no component of who we are, or any cause or issue

that we take on or engage that does not pass through Jesus at the center of all things.  

 

Jesus is the treasure and our relationship

with him is the most important thing we have. 

 

He is worth everything. 

 

He is worth all that we are and he asks of everything from us. 

He asks for all we have and all we are. 

This makes us uncomfortable because we don’t actually think

what we get is worth it.

When Jesus calls someone, he calls all of them, all of who you are. 

We have nothing to lose by giving ourselves to him.  Go all in. 

Put all your chips on the square. 

Don’t hold back time, money, or habits. 

 

Do we see the treasure that is our is Jesus Christ?

Matthew 13 : The Parables of the Treasure and Pearl 

44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to treasure ^[g2344] hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Why would he sell all he has with joy? 

 

The only way he can do that is because he knows that what he is getting

 is so much greater than what he is giving up. 

 

He knew in an instant that the treasure was worth infinitely more

than anything he had.

 

~ end of sermon notes~

Christianity is KNOWING and FOLLOWING Jesus.

 

Those that work Lawlessness, he will profess to them,

I NEVER KNEW YOU, DEPART FROM ME

Matthew 7 :The Narrow Gate (Luke 13:22-30) 

 WE DO KNOW HIM

and ARE IN HIM,

IF we KEEP his COMMANDMENTS

 

If we are IN HIM we ought to

FOLLOW HIM and

WALK as He WALKED

 

FOLLOW ME

 

 

To FOLLOW

means to Listen to his voice 

and FOLLOW HIS ORDERS

or COMMANDS (OBEDIENCE)

 

 

 

I

AM

THE WAY

THE TRUTH

&

THE LIFE

 

No man comes to the Father

except through me

 

SHEEP’S EYE’S

 

FIXED ON THE

SHEPHERD’s Staff

(Scepter)

 

 

forms the CROSS

 

 

“There is NO OTHER WAY, 

EXCEPT TO TRUST & OBEY”

 

 

PATTERN:  RELATIONSHIP comes before OBEDIENCE

 

 

We OBEY and keep his COMMANDS

in response to what he did for us.

 

Old Testament:

Israel was redeemed out of Egypt,

then they were given the LAW and were told to obey it

 

Epistles format: 

Here’s what God has done for you and how he has saved you,

now here’s what you should do in response. 

Hebrews 2 : Run with Perseverance (2 Timothy 2:1-13)

1Why seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 Let us lay aside every weight and sin that besets us

and let us run with patience the race set be fore us

Philippians 3 : Press on Toward the Goal

 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

He is our PRIZE and he rewards those who diligently seek Him

 

 

We don’t have a relationship with Him,

because we obey,

we obey,

because he has made a relationship with us.

 

 

FAITH  = SALVATION

which leads to

obedience and good works

which is the

EVIDENCE of OUR FAITH

 

We keep his COMMANDS because we have HEARTS

that perceive how great His LOVE for us is 

 

 

Greater love has no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his friends

John 15 : Jesus the True Vine

 8Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.9As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken to you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.

We bear fruit to God and ABIDE in HIS LOVE

by keeping his COMMANDS

 

We must first LOVE GOD,

through keeping his commands,

before we can ever LOVE OTHERS 

because LOVE does not ENVY

 

Matthew 19 : The Rich Young Man

16And, behold, one came and said to him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  17And he said to him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments. 

To ENTER INTO LIFE,

KEEP the COMMANDMENTS

 

1 JOHN 1 : OVERCOMING THE WORLD

We LOVE GOD by

KEEPING his COMMANDMENTS

and HIS COMMANDS are not grievous

 

 

From the beginning,

in the garden of Eden, God created us

to be in relationship with Him and to be

His image bearers and to bear fruit unto him.    

 

 

Woman (Eve) was formed

from the RIB of man

 

 

 

but she was deceived by the serpent

and disobeyed the VOICE of God

so they were kicked out of Garden.   

 

 

Relationship was broken. 

 

Ever since Eve’s transgression, God has been working to

restore His Seed,  and ultimately a restored Garden of Eden

with His new Bride who is formed from CHRIST dwelling in our HEARTS

 

 

Just as clay that is molded by the hands

of potter as it spins in a circle.  

 

 

He is the potter and we are the clay.   

 

We are the works of His Hands, predestined

to bear His image of Righteousness. 

 

He is Crafting, Shaping and Molding our HEARTS

 until His Image is formed in us

 through the work His Son did for us on the cross.  

 

 

 

The WOMAN is given WINGS

so she might fly to the wilderness

from the face of the serpent

 

 

 

RUTH was REDEEMED and SET FREE

because she trusted in the God of Israel

“under whose Wings ^[h3671] she came to trust.”

 

Ruth 2 : Boaz Shows Favor to Ruth

 

12The LORD recompense your work,

and a full reward be given you of the LORD God of Israel,

under whose wings ^[h3671] you are come to trust. 

 

This alludes to her willingness to be obedient

to commandments that God had given

to Israel and therefore abiding

under the protection of His Wings.

 

We find grace, mercy, and favor from God

when we abide in his covenant, 

UNDER the WINGS of God’s MERCY SEAT and THRONE of GRACE

 

 

 

The voice of the HARPER’S

sing a new song before the THRONE

 

 

The Lamb stood on Mount Sion with 144, 000. 

 

DAVID in PSALM 144 mentions singing a new song

on his  HARP/LYRE which is described as having 10 strings

 

Psalm 144 :Blessed Be the Lord, My Rock

 

9I will sing a new song to you, O God: on a psaltery and an

instrument of 10 strings will I sing praises to you.

10It is he that gives salvation to kings:

who delivers David his servant from the hurtful sword

 

10 strings of HARP alludes to the 10 commands  being in our HEART

 

 

 

David, was a man after God’s own HEART, who loved GOD’S LAW

and sought Him with his whole HEART

 

PSALM 119  

 

10With my whole heart have I sought you:

O let me not wander from your commandments.

11Your word have I hid in my heart,

that I might not sin against you. 

 

97O how I love your law!

it is my meditation all the day.

98You through your commandments

have made me wiser than my enemies:

for they are ever with me.

Blessed are they that do his commandments,

that they may have right to the tree of life,

and may enter in through the gates into the city.

 

 

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