“Treasures of the LORD's House...”

Tonight I want us to consider the “treasures” of the LORD's House. Israel worshiped the LORD and maintained their relationship with Him through the Tabernacle and later the Temple. The utensils used in their walk and worship of the God of Israel were valuable and precious, not just because of the materials they were made from, but for the holy use they were dedicated for.

Consider the following:

~They were SACRED to the Lord and to His People

1 Chronicles 22:18-19 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 5:1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.

~They were Often STOLEN by conquerors... The Adversary

2 Chronicles 25:23-24 And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 24 And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

Daniel 1:1-2 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

~They were always Profaned by the SECULAR... The Godless and Ungodly

Daniel 5:2-3 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. ~At times they were SOLD OUT by the compromising The Gutless?

The actions of King Asa are both sad and baffling! This king was a GOOD MAN. He had seen God deliver him in a time of great distress. God heard his cry and delivered into his hand the Ethiopian army of a MILLION MEN (II Chronicles 14:9-12). Yet now, when threatened by his Adversary Baasha of Israel, he SELLS OUT!

1 Kings 15:17-19 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 19 There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

~They were eventually RESTORED by the Mighty Hand of Almighty God!

Ezra 1:7-11 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods; 8 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 9 And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, 10 Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand. 11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

We must Conclude!

As we consider the things described to us that happened around the treasure of God House on the Old Testament we ask ourselves. “So what, what does all this have to do with us?” Today the House of God is the Church! The treasures of this house are not made of gold and silver. These treasures are rather very earthen, with they CONTAIN the highest of all riches! WE ARE the treasure!!!

~The identity of God's House today is the CHURCH!

1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

What is your standing today as far as the church is concerned? Have you indeed been saved? If so, have you followed the Lord's command to be baptize? Have you acknowledged your obedience to Him and taking up your place in the church? ~The Treasures of His House today are Her MEMBERS!

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Colossians 1:27-29 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“glorified” = (Gr.)“edoxazo” or “to exhibit one's glory”

If Frankford, Philadelphia is going to see the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, they are going to see it in exhibition (on display) in the life and testimony of THIS CHURCH!!!

~The Dispensation maybe different, yet the Sacredness is not diminished!

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Just as the treasures of the House of God were dedicated for the LORD, WE brethren ought to be wholly dedicated to the Lord in our hearts and minds...

What portion of my life right NOW is off limits to the Lord???

~The Need today is very much the SAME

1 Thessalonians 4:4-7 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Our problem is not what we don't KNOW, but what we KNOW that we neglect to DO!!!

The need is Personal ~ “every one of you”

2 Timothy 2:19-21 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

It is the individual in this passage that PURGES himself, while it is God that PREPARES them, SANCTIFIES them, and makes them MEET (fit).

The need is Corporate ~ “Let us...and one another”

Hebrews 10:22-25 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

WE are members one of another (Ro 12:5; Eph 4:25). WE indeed have a profound effect upon each other...

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.