Newsletter #332 June 2006 - by Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/
God has always had a group of people that He holds peculiar. In the Greek language, “peculiar” can mean either “one’s own”, or “being beyond what one would expect, or very loyal”. In the Hebrew language, ‘peculiar’ means “closely shut up in the sense of being very precious”. God cares for and watches over His Own. Let’s begin our study in Titus. We are going to be reading about things we should acquire.
Titus 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you
If you stick with God’s Word, your credibility and credentials are beyond reproach.
Titus 2:9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
This means workers should not frivolously question their bosses causing problems in the work place.
Titus 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Purloin means to steal. Can you imagine someone who claims to be a Christian stealing from their employer? Avoid these things that you may put on the doctrine, or truth, of God as you would a garment. Wear the Word of God honorably and with respect.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, v12 Teaching us that, denying unGodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly, in this present world.
You don’t have to wait for God’s blessings. You can receive them even in this present world, if you do things God’s way. You become peculiar to God, and He keeps you as a treasure from the ways of the present world.
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God an our Saviour Jesus Christ; v14 Who have Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Are you one that He can call His own? If you seek sound doctrine and wear that doctrine well, you are a peculiar person to our Father.
Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Teach the truth of God’s Word, and don’t let anyone try to stop you with nonsense. Hang on to the truth. Be a peculiar person to God. This is not some new thing. Let’s turn to the Book of Exodus as we continue.
Exodus 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; v4 ‘Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself.
Just as a mother eagle swoops under one of her young that begins to falter, God took care of and protected the children of Israel as they come out of Egypt.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shalt be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people, for all the earth is Mine.
God owns everything, and He wants to share it with His children that serve Him. God has a message He wants carried to all of His children that will listen. Can Father count on you? If He can, you are a peculiar treasure.
Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation, These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
We are a nation under God. This nation is not the super power of super powers by accident. This nation receives the blessings of God. Do your part to ensure this nation continues to serve God and receive His blessings. Turn with me to the Book of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 26:15 Look down from Thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which Thou hast given us, as Thou swearest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
Do you live in a nation that flows with milk and honey? With God’s blessings we have it pretty good. Look around the world, if you disagree.
Deuteronomy 26:16 This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
Pleasing God should be your top priority. He is the source of all blessings. Not only in this earth age, but in the eternity, as well.
Deuteronomy 26:17 Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in His ways, and to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and to hearken unto His voice.
This is how you please God. Be a doer of His Word.
Deuteronomy 26:18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be His peculiar people, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all His commandments;
Did God promise to protect and keep everyone as He would a hidden treasure? No. There was a condition. You should keep His commandments. Don’t anyone go off on a guilt trip on me. We all fall short. When you fall short, repent. The slate is wiped clean.
Deuteronomy 26:19 And to make thee high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as He hath spoken.
Many might say, “God scattered Israel. How would we find them today?” You would find them in a nation that loves and serves God. You would find them in a nation that enjoys the blessings of our Father. A nation much like this one. Let’s go to Ezekiel 37 which begins with the dry bones. What were the dry bones? They were the whole house of Israel, an they were spiritually dead. God told Ezekiel they could be brought back to life, if he would teach them the Word of God. Many of you are helping accomplish this today. Let’s pick it up where we are foretold Israel and Judah will be rejoined.
Ezekiel 37:14 And shall put My spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it saith the LORD.
The Lord accomplishes this through His peculiar people.
Ezekiel 37:15 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, v16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
At this time the house of Judah, and the house of Joseph, meaning the ten tribes of Israel, are split. They will be rejoined as one peculiar people unto God.
Ezekiel 37:17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. V18 And when the children of thy People shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
This happens in the future, but I believe it will happen in this the generation of the fig tree. Pay attention.
Ezekiel 37:19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in Mine hand. v20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
We are talking about the tribes of Israel being joined again into one kingdom. When does that happen? A kingdom needs a King. The sticks will be joined, when Jesus Christ returns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Ezekiel 37:21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; ‘Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: v22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
How much of the earth is God’s to give? We just learned earlier, all of it. It is difficult for many to understand this Scripture, because they don’t know that Judah and Israel are split at this time. But they will be joined back together as one peculiar people. In conclusion, let’s return to the New Testament and learn what it is all about to be precious to God. Turn to I Peter with me.
I Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking,
God’s peculiar people should have nothing to do with any of these things. If you don’t have something good to say about members of the family, just don’t say anything.
I Peter 2:2 As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
Earnestly seek after the unadulterated Word of God. Don’t get side tracked with the traditions of men.
I Peter 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Once you have tasted His love and His blessings, how could you ever settle for anything less?
I Peter 2:4 To Whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
They rejected Jesus. They crucified Jesus.
I Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Have you noticed this is the second time in reference to peculiar people that they are called priests? You might not thing of yourself as a preacher, but your ministry could be something as simple as being a blessing to others because you care about them.
I Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is considered in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.”
The chief corner stone is Christ. He is the Living Word. If you learn the Word, you will never be confused.
I Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone Which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, v8 And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Christ will be a Stone of stumbling to those who claim to be Christian, and then they worship the antichrist.
I Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:
You, beloved, see the light. Because you know and hang on to God’s truth, you are a peculiar people that Father is proud to call His Own. He treasures you.
In His Service,
Arnold Murray