Protecting the Precious

Precious – of high or great value – highly esteemed spiritually.

There are some things in our lives that are precious – we value them greatly – we hold on to them – we treasure them.

My two girls and my wife are precious to me, they are valuable to me and I will protect them.

If something happens in my presence you better believe that I am throwing caution to the wind and I am going to protect my ladies! Why? Because they have great value to me and things that have great value are worth protecting.

I don’t think that you sit there and count the value when something that is precious to you is under attack. I think things that are precious, just cause a reaction that happens and you don’t think about it you just react in protective mode.

There are some things that are precious to the people of God – to the people that are called out

Peter said we have Precious Faith

2 Peter 1:1 NKJV

1Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained like precious faithwith us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:[1]

Without Faith it is impossible to please God – Hebrews 11:6 –

Faith is precious. Why? It is what God is looking for, in you.

Paul said I have kept the faith I have finished my course – you ought to protect your faith

We have Precious Promises

4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that isin the world through lust.[2]He has promised to supply every need we have. The Bible says: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. That’s Philippians 4:19.

Now notice, God has obligated Himself only to the extent of our needs. That would include food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and salvation thru Jesus Christ. It would not include the multiplicity of luxuries that we have come to think of as needs.

God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us. (II Corinthians 12:9). in fact, He has made provision for our salvation by His grace through faith. Read Ephesians 2:8. It is through an obedient faith that we have access into the grace of God according to Romans 5:2.
God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. Instead, He assures us that a way of escape will be provided. This promise is recorded in I Corinthians 10:13. Jude wrote: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude v 24). Darius, King of the Medes, said to Daniel, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee” (Daniel 6:16). He did deliver Daniel from the den of lions.
God has promised us victory over death. Jesus’ resurrection ensures us of our own resurrection.
Peter said: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3,4). Later on he adds: “but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:57).
God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28). It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised it, and He will deliver.
God has promised that those who believe in Jesus and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins will be saved. (Read Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38).
God has promised His people eternal life (John 10:27,28 you need to live your life so that the promises of God will be yours.

Here are some other promises of God in his word for you

Jer 1:12…….. “I am ready to perform My Word.” (NKJV)

Jn 16:24……. “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (NKJV)

Mt21:22………”…whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (NKJV)

Jer 33:3……… “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things…” (NKJV)

Jn 14:14…….. “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (NKJV)

Jn 16:23…….. “…whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” (NKJV)

Jas 5:16…….. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (NKJV)

Job 22:27…… “You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you…” (NKJV)

1Jn 5:14…….. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (NKJV)

1Jn 5:15…….. “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (NKJV)

Jn 14:13…….. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (NKJV)

Isa 55:11……. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (NKJV)

Jn 15:7………. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (NKJV)

Mt 18:18…….. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (NKJV)

Mt 18:19…….. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” (NKJV)

Jn 15:16…….. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” (NKJV)

Jer 29:12…….. “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” (NKJV)

Isa 65:24…….. “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they are speaking I will hear.” (NKJV)

Ps 91:15…….. “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.” (NKJV)

Ps 141:2……… “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” (NKJV)

1 Peter 1:7 KJV

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more preciousthan of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

NLT

Matthew 11:28-29

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

NLT

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired,

and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

NLT

Philippians 4:19

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

NLT

Romans 8:37-39

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NLT

Proverbs 1:33

But all who listen to me will live in peace,

untroubled by fear of harm.”

NLT

John 14:27

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

NLT

Romans 10:9

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

NLT

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

NLT

The Word was Precious and the Word is precious: because as it was in the days of Eli and Samuel there is not much word going on in our world. Nor is there much Godly vision happening, so when God speaks it is precious! The word has been replaced by what we feel, it was been watered down to make it approve of lifestyles that are against His word, it has been relegated has a piece of literature instead of life giving manna from Heaven.

1 Samuel 3:1 KJV

3 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 15:10

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.) How do we show our love for God? By being a hearer and a doer of the Word.

God’s Word Never Changes

Ps 119:89

89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

Ps 119:105

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Matt 24:35

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

The things of God ought to be precious to us.

We ought to have respect for our elders and our parents

“Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,” Exodus 20:12.

“Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,” Deuteronomy 5:16.

“Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father . . . ,” Leviticus 19:3.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,” Ephesians 6:1-4.

“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged,” Colossians3:20-21.

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother,” Proverbs 1:8.

“A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother,” Proverbs 15:20.

“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers,” and, “A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him,” Proverbs 17:6, 25.

“A foolish son is the calamity of his father,” and, “He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach,” Proverbs 19:13, 26.

“Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old,” Proverbs 23:22.

“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul,” Proverbs 29:17.

“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth,” Hebrews 12:6.

The Man of God is precious

Heb 13:7

7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of theirconduct.[3]

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.[4]

Luke 10:8-16

8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”[5]

Sodom rejected the warning by Lot – and the people of these cities are committing a more heinous crime by rejecting the gospel and the men who preach the gospel –
They wiped the dust off to show that they were not even offered water to wash the dust off but rather had to wipe it off themselves.
But Jesus proclaimed it this way, that if a man of God speaks peace over you then it is not charity rather it is justice that you honor that man and take care of that man
On the flip side if you won’t honor the man of God or the message that he has been required to deliver then you should not expect the blessing of Peace to be on you and your home.
He said of these people who would not honor the man of God that it would be worse for them than Sodom and he destroyed Sodom for their idolatry.
You want your family to be healed than receive the man of God and then the Kingdom of God will be near.

Rom 10:13-15NKJV

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lordshall be saved.”

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those whopreach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!”[6]

Mark 6:2-6 NKJV

2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Himwere astonished, saying, “Where didthis Man getthese things? And what wisdomisthis which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.[7]

The Blood of Jesus is Precious

1 Peter 1:19

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.[8]

I believe there are three things contained in the Blood of Jesus – forgiveness, deliverance, and protection. Most Christians only know about the first one – forgiveness. Very Few Christians stand upon the other two things available to them that will enable them to live a victorious and overcoming life in the Lord while living down here on this earth.

1. Forgiveness

As Christians, we all know there is definitely forgiveness in the Blood of Jesus. This is the basic, central message of true Christianity – that God sent His one and only begotten Son Jesus Christ to the earth in the flesh to physically die on a cross in order to save us and give us forgiveness for our sins.

Without Jesus dying and shedding His blood on the cross, there would be no forgiveness and there would not be remission of any of our sins. The Scripture lays out perfectly the power that is found in the blood for forgiveness of sins.

“For this is My bloodof the new covenant, which is shed for manyfor the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgivenessof sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have beenmadenear by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood … for it is the blood thatmakes atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus 17:11)

Through those verses it lets us know; that the blood that Jesus personally shed for us on the cross is what leads all of us to be able to receive eternal salvation, the forgiveness of all of our sins

2. Deliverance

We know that the Enemy of our soul is a legalist, He stands before the court of God and accuses the Brethren (Rev12:10).

So in light that he is a legalist then we must use the Testament the will of God. Which is the legal authority to counterattack the onslaught of the enemy. Now where do we find the Scriptural ground that gives us the legal right to be able to use the blood of Jesus when taking on the attacks that come our way? We need to be aware of the power of the blood of Jesus that entitles us to to go on the offensive against any adversity that may come our way.

When Christ shed his blood on Calvary it was not just for the forgiveness of sin and the redemption in the future but also in the present… I want to remind you of John 10:10 that the enemy of your soul, that thief the Devil will not be in heaven, so the works of the devil, and what he is trying to steal, kill, and destroy is here in this life. And through the blood of Jesus you can have an overcoming life here and now. So when you hear these scriptures remind yourself that once we get to heaven the finality of the devil will be accomplished but he has been rendered powerless here in this world as well. How is rendered powerless you ask?

“… that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14)

“He has delivered us from the power of darknessand translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:3)

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamband by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”(Revelation 12:11)

What defeated Satan and all his dark powers? The physical death of Jesus on the cross. And what did Jesus do when He died that day on the cross for all of us? He shed His Blood!

This is why Pleading the Blood of Jesus works so well in real-life situations. It really is needed to defeat attacks that are coming against us from the enemy that wants to sift you as wheat.

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, andover all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)

This verse states we have God’s power over all the power of our enemies, not just against some or part of their powers.

“Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power andauthority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1)

Time and time again we are told that He gave us power over the enemy, over all demons, and power to cure diseases, and to heal the sick.

“… but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out greatexploits.” (Daniel 11:32)

“Knowing their God”means that we have spent good, quality time in establishing a good, personal relationship with the Lord. If we do this, then this verse is telling us that God will strengthen and empower us when we need His power to be able to carry out great exploits for Him.

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to showHimself strongon behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”(2 Chronicles 16:9)

God is actually looking for people that He can anoint with His power and show Himself strong through, but the verse implies that God is having to search over the earth time and time again to find someone, anyone, that is willing to utilize the power that he is freely giving to the people that have been purchased by his blood.

3. Protection

If the scriptures show us that we have power to Plead the Blood of Jesus against any attacks that may have already come our way, then I also believe it only stands to reason that we can also go one step further with the Blood of Jesus – and that is to use it for protection before any kind of actual attacks could come our way. In this case, you simply Plead the Blood of Jesus on whatever you want God’s full protection on before any attacks could possibly come your way.

Though the weapon be formed, it shall not prosper.

In the Old Testament, God had it arranged with His chosen people, that in order for them to be able to enter into a covenant relationship with Him, they had to have some kind of temporary covering for their sins.

The law that God gave established the sacrifice of blemish-free animals such as bulls, goats and lambs. Their blood had to be shed once per year on what was called the Day of Atonement. The shedding of these animals blood was what gave the People of God a temporary covering for their sins so they could then enter into a personal relationship with God.

This is why Jesus is called the “Lamb of God.” He is an extension of the lambs used in the Old Testament to give the people a temporary covering for their sins. Once Jesus had come to shed His own blood on the cross, there was no more need for any more animal sacrifices. His death on the cross had completed and fulfilled what had started in the Old Testament with the sacrifice of these animals.

In the shedding of the lamb’s blood on the Day of Atonement, there was a temporary covering for the sins of the people. Then Jesus comes in the New Testament, and the shedding of His blood now gives all believers complete and total forgiveness for all of their sins.

In the story of the Passover, God had sent Moses to bring the children of Israel out from their captivity to the Egyptians. God sent ten plagues to the Pharaoh in an effort to try and get him to release His people from his rule.

One of those plagues, God tells Pharaoh that He is going to allow an angel of death to come through their camp to kill all of their firstborn children. However, before God sets all of this up to occur, He tells His own people to shed the blood of a blemish-free lamb and to put that shed blood on the door posts and lintels of their houses.

God tells His people that the angel of death will bypass their house if he sees this shed blood put on their door posts and lintels. This angel of death will thus not kill any of the Israelite’s firstborn – but only if he sees the blood properly applied to the door posts and lintels of their houses.

In other words, the blood of this blemish-free lamb was being used for divine protection beforethis attack would ever come their way. Had each person not properly applied this blood on their door posts, their firstborn children would have also been killed, along with the rest of the firstborn children of the Egyptians.

If the shed blood of the Old Testament lambs used for the temporary covering of sins eventually leads to the shedding of Jesus’ blood for permanent and total forgiveness of all of our sins –then the shed blood of the lambs used in the Passover for divine protection could also lead to the shed Blood of Jesus having divine protection in it?

Protect the Precious

2 Kings 20:13 KJV

13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his preciousthings, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not

Hezekiah had been hacked we forgot that the things that are precious are worth protecting

When prophecies were made about Jesus, Luke says Mary pondered them in her heart (10:19). There can be great damage done when a person opens himself up indiscriminately. In the multitude of words, “there wanteth not sin” (Proverbs 2:19). Let every man be quick to hear and slow to speak, James wisely counseled (1:19)

Why is it so important to protect the precious – because the precious is what protects you

[1]The New King James Version. (1982). (2 Pe 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[2]The New King James Version. (1982). (2 Pe 1:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[3]The New King James Version. (1982). (Heb 13:7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[4]The New King James Version. (1982). (Heb 13:17). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[5]The New King James Version. (1982). (Lk 10:7–16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[6]The New King James Version. (1982). (Ro 10:13–15). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[7]The New King James Version. (1982). (Mk 6:2–6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[8]The New King James Version. (1982). (1 Pe 1:19). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that isin the world through lust.[2]He has promised to supply every need we have. The Bible says: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. That’s Philippians 4:19.

God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us. (II Corinthians 12:9). in fact, He has made provision for our salvation by His grace through faith. Read Ephesians 2:8. It is through an obedient faith that we have access into the grace of God according to Romans 5:2.
God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. Instead, He assures us that a way of escape will be provided. This promise is recorded in I Corinthians 10:13. Jude wrote: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude v 24). Darius, King of the Medes, said to Daniel, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee” (Daniel 6:16). He did deliver Daniel from the den of lions.
God has promised us victory over death. Jesus’ resurrection ensures us of our own resurrection.

Peter said: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3,4). Later on he adds: “but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:57).

God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28). It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised it, and He will deliver.
God has promised that those who believe in Jesus and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins will be saved. (Read Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38).
God has promised His people eternal life (John 10:27,28 you need to live your life so that the promises of God will be yours.
Here are some other promises of God in his word for you