Odunayo  Ketiku

We shall be addressing the question of identity in our discuss today.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9 “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed”. Hallelujah to God for this great inheritance.
Let’s address the fact that we are God’s treasure.
A lot went into our making because God had a purpose at the back of His mind before making the man. In Genesis 1: 27 – 28, we saw that man came on the scene to govern for Him, to rule for Him, to take charge of this place for Him. To Manage His investment of five days for Him.
Treasures are something unique. Something valuable. For God’s purpose to come to pass, He made you in His image, in His likeness. For that likeness to be sustained, He made Himself available for fellowship with Adam – Genesis 3:8 “When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the lord God among the trees.” This confirms the fellowship of God with man. When the fellowship became broken because of the fall of Adam, He made a way of escape. This is exciting. Why didn’t God leave us alone to rot under the weight of sin? Man is His Treasure. I am really His treasure, how could a sinless God die for me, the worst offender. He gave His life a ransom for my soul. He reconciled me back to God through the most agonising death ever known in history just for me to receive the love of God. The love of God couldn’t have reached me if Jesus had not died in my place. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” He died so that I can be a king and priest .1 Peter 2:9″But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” Jesus died to make me complete in Him. Colossians 2:10 “So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”
He sent Jesus to die for me so I can be divinely directed by the Holy Ghost. I don’t have to struggle with prayers, He does it -Romans 8:26
Because Satan separated me from my creator through sin and because I am important to God, Jesus died so that I can be saved, justified, healed, secured, protected and gifted. Hallelujah. Galatians 4:7 “Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
Now hear this, Romans 8:28-30 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.” Sweet Jesus!! It seems so unbelievable but that is what Jesus died to make out of us. Peradventure its hard for our minds to accept all these. It is because we have this treasure packed in a jar of clay. We are molded clay. God knows this and so He assured us in Hebrews 4:15 that we have a high priest who has gone this way before. Hebrews 4:15-16 “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most”. If He also came in a clay of jar so He could go through the same temptations with us and He still fulfilled destiny, what then were His secrets. How did He go through so much pain without giving up on His Vision? We can only do what He did if we look up to Him and follow His example.
Hebrews 12:2
“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”He was obedient in spite of suffering. Disappointments made Him stronger.
1. He endured the pain of the Cross. If the Bible says He endured, then its not a comfortable zone. He was disgraced like a common criminal. Isaiah said there was no beauty to behold in Him. Isaiah 53:2,5,7 “My servant grew up in the lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.” He allowed Himself to be persecuted. He did not have to do it but our Value to God and His love for us made Him do it.
Sweetheart, if this treasure will come out, we must see beyond what is happening around us. Can it be that the pressure is coming on us so we can be stronger? Sweetheart, this pressure is not to kill you, it is to make you. Your perfume can only come out when you are pressed. Allow the word of God to build thatone that can fulfill the Master’s purpose in you. We can pray with Genesis 45:13 – 20 but who wants to go through the pit, Potiphar’s house and the prison. Hey, are you in the pit now, look up, help is on the way. Genesis 45:13 – 20 is the reason for the pit, Potiphar’s house and the prison. You are too important to be forgotten in the pit. But won’t you work on yourself so that the treasure can come out? See Joseph in Genesis 45:2, he cried when his brothers came to him. It was a cry of genuine love and forgiveness. Inspite of the past pain, he could still forgive. Can you burst out in praise and thank Him for bringing you this farand even for the pain? What is qualifying you for this pressure? This pressure is an evidence that you are important to God. Celebrate His love. Come on, do it well.
Father Lord, I refuse to give up on you. I will not give up on myself.
God of all Grace, open heaven upon me now and shine forth Your grace and mercy.
Hear me, the devil knows who we are, we may find it difficult to believe who we are but not the devil. He knows with God on our side, he is not a match, so he tries to pit us against God. So you will declare that every arrangement of hell to make you loose your glorious destination in Christ is shattered now.
For you to go through it all and manifest God’s glory, you need the Life that only Christ gives. Receive that life now by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. The Treasure in you must not be swallowed up by the pressures of the land. You must not be part of the graveyard treasure. Your generation is waiting for you so you must develop your spiritual muscles. How? Start feasting on the Word of God. Allow the Holy Spirit to indwell you in power. Speak in tongues in the place of prayer. You need the fellowship of other believers so you can be encouraged. Kindly look out for Christlike Assembly, opposite Akure South Local Government Secretariat, Ilesa Road, Akure. Services hold on Sundays (7-8.45, 9-11.45am). I can assure you that your spiritual needs shall be met.
Till we meet again, please REMEMBER …… You are a Treasure in God’s hands.
Shalom