Psalm 119:11
The Treasure Chest
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:10)
  The Word of God is eternal. It will NOT pass away. It is UPHELD by the very word of the power of the Lord Jesus Christ for Christ upholds ALL things by the word of His power. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3) The Word of God has a greater value than gold or silver. It is worth more than all the treasures of the earth, even greater then the gems of diamonds and rubies. With this great value given to the Word of God should it not be equally valued as a great treasure to all the redeemed.
  Each and every child of God can hide this treasure in their own treasure chest. Of course, I am speaking of the heart. I give you the simplest of thoughts: if I fill my heart, my treasure chest, with the Word of God there will be no room for sin, and this is what the Spirit of God is relating to the redeemed. Since the psalmist saw this value in the Word of God, how much more should we, those of us in the church age, value the Word of God in our hearts?
  The Word of God has its own language. Why is this so? because it is discerned and related by the Spirit of Christ. To hide the Word of God in ones heart gives the heart and the Spirit of God a communion of the things of Christ. Let us fill our hearts with the Word of God that we might not sin against the mighty God, our Redeemer. When we have hidden the Word of God in our hearts, we have the oil of gladness to draw from, and we have the jewels of the Word of God in our treasure chest. When in conflict we have the Word of God, we have the sword of the Spirit, which IS the Word of God. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17) Before we continue, let this thought sink deep into your hearts, the Word of God, the Bible, tells us about God and man, but it also tells us about itself. Many times, through its pages, it speaks through the divine life of Christ. Many times, in its pages, the Word of God speaks and describes itself. This is because the Word of God also has life, and it has the very heartbeat of the Living Word of God: Jesus Christ.　Along with the Spirit of Christ, the Word of God is our personal connection with the heart of our Redeemer. Ephesians 6:17 declares the sword of the Spirit. This is a weapon against the evils of man, and against the evils of the world. It is the power of the Spirit of Christ first, as the sword of the Spirit, and with the power of the Spirit of Christ with His eternal and infallible Word we have the greatest power that is on earth today. Ephesians 6:17 shows us the inseparability of the Word and the Spirit of Christ. Many do not see this. They run the Spirit and Word together, notice that it is the Spirit of Christ that is the sword that maintains and upholds the word of His power: and the sword of the Spirit. The Lord Jesus has given His own Spirit, which is the Comforter, that He promised to His disciples and to His Church, and His Spirit speaks of the Lord Jesus and tells us that IN Christ is all truth. When I am reading the Word of God, I am not only reading, but the Word of God is SPEAKING directly to me. What a wonder! And through the Spirit of Christ, I can bring that Word and that voice into the treasures of my heart.
  What are some of the jewels that are found in the Word of God? for there are many. In Ephesians 6:17 we have a treasure, a jewel, that takes us within our hearts, to examine it by the Spirit of God, and make it part of our being. We have another jewel in Hebrews Chapter 4,v erse 12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Notice in this verse the power of the Word of God. It brings us to a point of self-examination. The Word of God is able to CUT the smallest imperfection out of the heart of the redeemed, and to lay it open before the Lord, and to restore fellowship with the Christ of God. If we own Him as Savior, we must also own Him as our personal Messiah, for He, in Himself, has fulfilled ALL for His redeemed.
  Another jewel that speaks loudly is found in the book of Jeremiah, Chapter 23, verse 29. Here the Word of God is like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces. The continued blow of the Word convicts the heart and leads men to a state of repentance. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Both the hammer and the fire are used in God’s conviction, He brings the heart to the state of conviction of sin, and continues to hammer out His truth to the heart of man until repentance, and hopefully salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone who has missed the nail with the hammer and hit the thumb instead can testify of the pain, and yes, when God is dealing with a soul, He must deal with the question of sin and sins, the Word of God hammers out conviction. The fire of the Word of God kindles the spirit of repentance and by His hammer, which is the Word of God, there is pain in the heart.
Lovest thou me more then these?
  Many times, as Peter, I have heard (in my conscience) the Lord’s words taken out of the treasure out of my heart, Lovest thou me more then these? I am not speaking of other Christians here, for we are exhorted by the Word of God to love the household of true faith. Lovest thou me more than these? are predominately the things of the world, the ways and actions of the world including the relationships of the world. Many times the very flesh upon our bones screams for attention in conflict with the Lord, and these words come to mind, Lovest thou me more than these. As the heart is smitten by conviction, we reply to the Lord, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (John 21:15)
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:16)
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)
  What is before us? The Spirit of Christ and the Word of God is bringing conviction to the heart of people. Peter remembered the word of the Lord prior to the Lord’s crucifixion. Peter was convicted of his three part denials of the Lord Jesus Christ when he stood before the fire warming himself as he said, I know him not.
And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. (Luke 22:55)
But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. (Luke 22:56)
And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. (Luke 22:57)
And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. (Luke 22:58)
And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. (Luke 22:59)
And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. (Luke 22:60)
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Luke 22:61)
And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:62)
Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. (Matthew 26:69)
But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. (Matthew 26:70)
And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. (Matthew 26:71)
And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. (Matthew 26:72)
And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. (Matthew 26:73)
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. (Matthew 26:74)
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:75)
  I am sure that Peter’s conscience in years to come recited that phrase from the Lord Jesus many times: lovest thou me more than these? This is a good measure for all the redeemed to value the Lord’s love and our love for Him above all others. That we would hide this Word in our hearts to remind us of the profound love that He poured out for us on Calvary’s cross. And every day let these words speak directly to our hearts out of our treasure chest as we cry out to God, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. As we open the lid to our treasure chest we continually see the many jewels that God has given to us.
The Wisdom of God
  In the days of Job, he was a servant of God above all the servants on earth, and he knew the value of the Word of God in his heart. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. (Job 33:3) The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. (Job 33:4) This tremendous understanding that Job had came from the wisdom of God who is the Word of God. Job had the knowledge of his Redeemer hid in his heart. Job knew the voice of wisdom, and where to find the voice of wisdom and understanding. Today, as in the days of Job, we find our wisdom and understanding in the Person of Christ Himself for it is the Lord Jesus who is made unto us wisdom. Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they shall slay and persecute: (Luke 11:49)
The Treasures
Wisdom — Righteousness — Sanctification — Redemption
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)
  This is a wonderful list of treasures, and the first in this list is wisdom, then righteousness, and then sanctification, and then redemption. Notice the sequence: it is from God’s side to us. The first voice to us is the WISDOM of God. (Proverbs 8) This is the divine counsels (the determinate counsels). It is Christ who is all wisdom. He is the embodiment of wisdom. He is the true manifestation of wisdom, and in His wisdom He is also the divine sacrifice to conclude and fulfill His wisdom. Wisdom, the wisdom of God, is our Redeemer. The second part of this verse is righteousness. God has to display ALL His righteousness to mankind by His own manifestation in the Person of Jesus Christ. He had to fulfill all righteousness BEFORE He could declare ALL the redeemed righteous.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (Romans 4:22)
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; (Romans 4:23)
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (Romans 4:24)
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
  The Lord Jesus has imparted His own righteousness unto us. God’s righteousness had to be completely upheld by His Son’s life, and by His Son’s death. All of the claims against us had to be satisfied by a righteous Man from heaven. When He satisfied God’s righteousness on the cross He then had the authority to be the Sanctifier of the redeemed. Therefore, the third in this list is sanctification, and our sanctification comes forth in His death. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14) And fourthly, we have redemption. At the end of the list He has joined us together with God in Himself. Very few have seen the sequence of this verse: of God starting with Himself in His divine plan for the redemption of His children: the redeemed of God. Our redemption is joined together by the Savior in His divine Person, for we are now part of the divine.
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:4)
  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7) The Word of God in our hearts is not to magnify us, but it is to magnify our Redeemer.
  These verses, these words are breathed by the Spirit of Christ. We hide them deep in our hearts where no man, no beast, or Satan can withdraw them. They have been planted in the treasure chest to bring forth fruit for our Redeemer.Â
The Summary of a Life Hidden in Christ
  In Psalm 119:11 we have a summary. This summary of words that the psalmist had hidden in his heart was not just one word, but of many phrases, and many precepts that God had given to him. It is a summary of a life hidden in God in Jesus Christ. And it is a summary of the Word of God hidden in one’s heart. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) The life that we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God who loved us, and gave Himself for us. We are dead to the world in our new birth, and our life is hid in God in Jesus Christ. We are hid by being translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son through the miraculous work of Jesus Christ in our new birth. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14) We have become part of the eternal God never to be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (Romans 8:38) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)
An Army of Words Always Ready
  With the Word of God hid in our hearts we can build a fortress around our treasure, with an army of words breathed by the divine Spirit of God. Within the gates of our heart this treasure is ready to support us in days of trouble. Ready to comfort us in days of distress. Ready to assure us in days of doubt. Ready to lift us up in days of failure. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
  Again, deep down in the hearts, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. And we are not alone for we have such a great cloud of witnesses.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)
Looking unto 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. (Hebrews 12:2)
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:3)
The Price of Faith Through History
  We have brethren whom we have never met; yet we know that like ourselves, they will have tribulation. All those who walk by faith, and have walked by faith, have suffered at the hands of this present and past evil world. Consequently, to remind us of the price of faith, we have the Spirit’s history lesson in Hebrews Chapter 11. Not only men walked by faith, but also women. We cannot pass the voice of the Spirit that through faith also Sarah received strength to conceive seed. This, through the mind of the Spirit and to the Word of God, takes us all the way to Bethlehem of Judah to the promised seed that was promised in the garden in Genesis Chapter 3. The Spirit of God tells us in the Word of God, and He clarifies to us that the seed that was promised was the seed from heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) Why is this verse in the book of Galatians so important? It confirms the Word of God. It confirms the prophetic value of the Word of God. And it confirms the determinate counsels of God that the Seed which was Christ was established before the foundations of the world that God in His foreknowledge promised the Seed of divine righteousness which He fulfilled in His beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ (the divine Seed) from heaven was prepared before the world was; therefore, in the fullness of time God came to earth and overshadowed Mary, and she conceived ‘that holy thing’ which was the divine Seed Jesus Christ — the Son of God. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) The supernatural power of God came upon Mary and the Seed of promise from on high had come to be the Redeemer of mankind. Later after the birth of the Son of God (the Lord Jesus Christ) Mary pondered all these things in her heart. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19) What a wonder, she (through the Spirit’s voice which had magnified this truth in the Word of God) pondered all these things.
  The Spirit of God has confirmed and preserved these truths so that WE can ponder these same realities of God in our hearts. This treasure chest of the heart has so many witnesses throughout the Scriptures, and even in our lives, we see the walk of faith in others as well as our own path of faith.
The Heart – The Chest Full of Treasures — The Treasure Chest
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
  The seat of affection is the heart. If you have deposited the things of Christ in your heart then you must set your affection on Him. For He is above all, and He sits upon the throne with all power in heaven and earth. The heart is comforted by the wisdom and knowledge of Christ. The wisdom and knowledge of Christ cause the heart to show forth affection of the object of its love, and that object of its love is above. The Lord Himself testified to His disciples that they would learn of Him. He stated, Learn of me. (Matthew 11:29) And where do we learn? We learn through the Word of God, directed by the Spirit of Christ. I call this heart of mine a treasure chest for indirectly the Lord Himself called the heart a seat of treasure. Consider Matthew Chapter 12, verses 35. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Look closely. There are two hearts: a good treasure, and an evil treasure. These are two separate hearts. There is one unto good, and one unto evil. The heart of redemption is a good heart, and within this heart the Word of God is hidden.
Two Different Hearts
  What we glean from the words of the Lord Jesus Christ is the reality of two different hearts in man. The first heart failed under Adam when he took of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. His heart was transformed into an evil heart, and the only thing that could change this is divine intervention to give man a new heart, a good heart, a heart ruled by God’s faith; therefore, God chose Abel as the first recipient outside of the garden to receive a new heart, a good heart. When we use the word ‘sin’ we cannot imagine or understand the depth of wickedness that goes along with sin. Sin was so dramatic that it brought death to all mankind. The Son of God, the Creator of all things, had to go into death to destroy death by taking the sin of the whole world upon Himself. He overthrew death to give life in a new man, a new Man in Himself, the Man from heaven, and now, the Man IN heaven.
  For out of an evil heart the natural man brings forth sin and death. And even without the written Word of God, the history of mankind testifies as a witness against him. For out of man’s evil heart he has brought forth EVERY imaginable sin; so much so, that man (in our day) has become SIN hardened with NO feeling of good or justice in his realm. He continues to think of new atrocities. His imagination has run wild with his demonic sin nature. The testimony of Genesis 6:5 and Matthew 15:19 is worth reading. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (Matthew 15:19) From these two verses it is not difficult to see the complete depravity of mankind. These two verses clearly show us the depth and the extent of the evil heart of man. The reality of our age is not seen in modern Christianity because they hide their faces from the complete depravity of mankind thinking that there is ‘some’ good in their evil hearts. This is why the Bible is not read by the average churchgoer for he has not seen the evil of his own heart. He is relying on an imaginary thought that his heart is good. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God has become just a by-phrase without reality in the heart. The Word of God must reign in the heart for one to know the truth. Truth has to come from the well of the Truth in both the Living and written Word of God. This is exactly why Satan and his ministers of death try so hard Sunday after Sunday to take away the Word of God from the children of God. Man, whether a preacher, or a prophet, or a teacher, or in any other position is NOT the authority over the Word of God. The Word of God is the authority over ALL. Â
  If you have God’s Word hid in the treasure chest of your heart, you will be able to discern between good and evil. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14) Notice that the Spirit of God uses the word ‘exercised.’ This is taking the Word of God and applying the Word of God to the world around you including family, friends, and yes, even preachers. One of the ways to spot the ministers of Satan is by examining them by the Word of God. Being exercised in the truth will give you discernment between good and evil. This is exactly why the Holy Spirit gave us this verse in Hebrews 5:14. If this was an impossibility, this verse would not be in the Word of God. If the Word of God is NOT in your heart you will NOT be able to recognize the ambassadors of Satan, and you will be blown by every wind and false doctrine by the imagination and wickedness of the heart of man. You will be listening to ministers of doubt and not ministers of reality and the faith once delivered to the saints.
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; (1 Timothy 6:3)
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, (1 Timothy 6:4)
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (1 Timothy 6:5)
But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6)
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:14)
  God gives us a conclusion when we read these verses; we are drawn to a reality that men of reprobate minds and hearts like to play their fantasy games with the things of God — this is called religion. God exhorts us to withdraw ourselves from their presence and from the presence of those who fantasize with them. This is the command of the Holy Spirit in 1st Timothy 6:5 from such withdraw thyself. If you go to the house of Baal, which is the religion of man, the religion of man is still the same as it was in the garden. Man adores himself, and deep down in the root of mankind, he wants to be as God. This is not the faith once delivered to the saints. True faith puts the children of Adam in their proper place. For they are without faith and without God in this world. Very rarely you hear this combination of words: true faith demands true obedience; therefore, the one who is continually disobedient to the Word of God still has the old heart of Adam, and they are on the path of disobedience to the Word of God. Why is there so much confusion and ignorance concerning the Word of God? I give you one word that gives you a complete understanding. The word is unbelief. Not having the knowledge of God in their hearts is unbelief. Our present age is FULL of lies from every branch of society, even religion. They would rather believe a lie than to believe the truth because the love of the truth is not in them. The Word of God is not in the hearts, for with the abominations of man, the evil thoughts, the wicked deeds and the wickedness around them there is no room in their hearts for the Word of God. Only a new heart will transform the unbeliever into a child of God. Only being born of the Spirit of God (through the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ) can cleanse the heart with a newness and desire to hide the Word of God within the heart.
  In the Lord’s day, when He walked among men, the religious leaders were dead men walking. They had no faith in God; thus, the Lord Jesus compared them to sepulchers saying that they were white and beautiful on the outside, but inside they were full of dead men’s bones. This is where religion leads you in the realm of death with the master of sin and to the final place of judgment before the Almighty God. The Word of God gives us so many views into the hearts of mankind.
  Think of the ministers of Pharaoh, Jannus and Jambres. They were both priests and magicians. Sounds familiar? We have the same today, however, through the Word of God and through the Spirit of God, Moses and Aaron overcame them with the power of God and the truth. At that point in history, all the sons of Jacob were in captivity. All twelve tribes were slaves to Pharaoh, and it took the blood of the lamb to set them free. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
  Those in bondage to Satan do not want mankind to be free in Jesus Christ. Man does not want his fellow man to be born again. Man wants ALL men to suffer the same fate as they are going to face. That is exactly why religion has so many spoken laws and unspoken laws. If you study the Word of God, you know exactly what I mean. You have heard the saying, Judge not, lest ye be judged. This saying is good and true in its proper setting. The Lord was speaking to hypocrites who were judging unjustly; however, with our verse from Hebrews 5 we see and understand that we are to discern between good and evil. So, judge everything by the Word of God and not by the rhetoric of man. Judge righteously with a measure of faith and the Word of God. And yes, to have that strong meat, to be able to discern between good and evil you MUST hide the Word of God in your heart.
  I remember one Sunday when I arrived at a church as a guest speaker that I was greeted by a couple of the leaders of the church. They informed me that they did not preach the blood of Christ in their church (church – loosely so called) – Never tell a servant of God how or what to preach or how long to preach for the Spirit of Christ has the message and not man. It is the Spirit of Christ who brings the true message of God. In situations like this I often think of Micaiah, and what he would have done.
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. (2 Chronicles 18:7)
And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla. (2 Chronicles 18:8)
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. (2 Chronicles 18:9)
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed. (2 Chronicles 18:10)
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. (2 Chronicles 18:11)
And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good. (2 Chronicles 18:12)
And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak. (2 Chronicles 18:13)
And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand. (2 Chronicles 18:14)
And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD? (2 Chronicles 18:15)
Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace. (2 Chronicles 1816)
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil? (2 Chronicles 18:17)
Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. (2 Chronicles 18:18)
And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. (2 Chronicles 18:19)
Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? (2 Chronicles 18:20)
And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so. (2 Chronicles 18:21)
Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee. (2 Chronicles 18:22)
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? (2 Chronicles 18:23)
And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. (2 Chronicles 18:24)
Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; (2 Chronicles 18:25)
And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace. (2 Chronicles 18:26)
And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people. (2 Chronicles 18:27)
  Well the Holy Spirit has given us the answer. Although Micaiah was told to preach a message that would be accepted he chose, however, to preach the message that he received from the Almighty God.
Side Note: There will come a day when religion and government will come searching for the Micaiahs to put them in prison, to take away their liberty because Baalism is reasserting itself in every aspect of society. You would be surprised (or maybe not) of the amount of Satanic worship that is going on, and the evil that is being done in darkness. Yet, it is glossed over like a glossy magazine cover with a false story. Our current Congress is as the government of Ahab (a cult) in the days of Micaiah. Political correctness/corruptness has removed the word ‘truth,’ and the word ‘integrity.’ There are very dark days ahead for this world, and consequently there are trying days ahead for the children of God because when you have one particular political party where both the politicians and their voters HATE the Almighty God and show their hatred every day for their fellow man, you KNOW that evil abounds. You can read the hate in their eyes, and in the deep lines in their faces. These are the same demonic rulers who obeyed the same rituals of Egypt of long ago. The ONLY solution to this evil is the blood of the Lamb. ♦ End of Side Note.
  I began that message that day by exposing the unbelief of the leadership, then for 1 ½ hours I preached the blood of Christ from Genesis to Revelation and in between. They were glad to see me go. And I was also glad to go. I knew in my heart, in my soul, and in my spirit that the Almighty had spoken that day. Many seeds were scattered and sown, and the Lord’s message was delivered by faith and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I might not be popular with man for the truth has a way of scattering away the goats.
TRUTH
Christ Speaks Expressly — The Spirit Speaks Expressly
  In the heart, in the treasure chest, is the Word of God. The most important part of this treasure chest is when Christ comes out in prayer. What a blessing to be able to speak to the Lord in prayer, and in worship, with His own words hidden in the heart and revealed by the Spirit of God. When one stands or kneels in the presence of God all alone with the Lord Jesus, what a glory it is when He comes in and sups with His servants, and His servants desire to hear His voice. He expounds the Word of God in things concerning Himself from Moses and the prophets, and the psalms plus the New Testament. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
  The Spirit of Christ speaks expressly. He is precise. He is accurate, and He is always to the point. Think . . . think . . . you have the very voice of your Savior in your hands, and you have the Spirit of Christ within you to speak expressly. These are the Scriptures that back these truths up, for all truth is IN Jesus.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (Ephesians 4:21)
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14)
  The resounding word in all of these Scriptures is ‘truth.’ Grace and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ. The TRUTH is in Jesus, and you have heard the word of TRUTH, and you are sealed by the Spirit of promise, which is the Spirit of Christ. This is the earnest of your inheritance until the redemption of your body conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice how the last Scripture ends: unto the praise of his glory. What assurance we have in the Word of God. It is hovered over by the Spirit of Christ, and by hiding His word in our hearts, the Spirit of Christ has the liberty and the where-with-all to call His word out of our hearts in times of need.
The Oneness of the Spirit of God
  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9) In Romans 8:9 we learn something wonderful about the Godhead: that the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of God. We see the Oneness of the Godhead bodily in all its fullness in Jesus Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9) Again in Romans Chapter 8, verse 1, we see the Spirit of God, and it is the Spirit of God in Romans 8:2 that has made us free from the law of sin and death in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Combining these two verses Romans 8:9 and 8:2 we see the unity of the Spirit of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the One who declares that He would send the Comforter (which is the Spirit of God) to lead us into ALL truth, and this is very important. It is not a fragmented truth, it is one truth centered in Him who is the truth, and this is the Lord Jesus Christ. He has sent His Spirit to teach us, and to show us things that the eyes of man cannot see unless man is born again.
Side Note: One instruction: when you read a verse, first see the whole verse, then look within the verse for jewels that only the Spirit of Christ can show you. Take your time, you only have one final destination, and this is heaven.
  Make the Word of God part of your very being, and you will see that the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ. And the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of God. And the Spirit of Christ has been given to us as an earnest of our inheritance. Hebrews 1:2 proclaims that Christ is the heir of all things, this is the inheritance that He has been given by God the Father. Romans Chapter 8 declares that we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We are part of His inheritance.
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14)
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)
The Summary of the Done Deal
  Now this is the sum of the things that we have been speaking about: your salvation is a done deal. When you were born again, you were SEALED with the Spirit of promise. You were given the Spirit of Christ, and this is one more marvel (one more jewel): the same Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead WILL quicken your mortal bodies. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11) These qualifications, these wonderful promises of God, these wonderful gifts that have been given to us qualify us as in Psalm 119:11 to hid the word of God in our hearts.
  Since God created mankind, His desire is that man would be obedient to the Word of God. God meant for His Word to be part of us (those who are redeemed). When Moses was given the Word of God he declared to ALL of Israel the wonder of the Word of God, and proclaimed to them that the Word of God should be in their hearts. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. (Deuteronomy 6:6) To be consistent, when Christ comes in His second advent, He will write His law in the minds of the children of Israel, and He will write them in their hearts when He confirms His covenant with the nation of Israel. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Hebrews 8:10) This is the same Messiah who has saved us. Should we be any different in our ability to hide the Word of God in our hearts? We have the Old Testament witness, we have the New Testament witness, and in the future we will have the millennial witness: that those who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ will be able, by His Spirit, to hide the Word of God in their hearts. Consider the following verses.
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:7)
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. (Deuteronomy 6:8)
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. (Deuteronomy 6:9)
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)
  In hiding the Word of God in the heart, one must take the written Word of God from its pages and put it within the heart with the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit of Christ will use your memory over and over — He will repeat those words. In doing this, it helps to involve the whole body to write these words down over and over and over as on the chalkboard in school (oh, I am dating myself). In my day, as a ‘ute,’ we would see one phrase or fact written many times, and this helped us to memorize this knowledge; therefore, whether on a chalkboard or on a piece of paper, the labor of writing over and over and over allows the memory and also the body to absorb these words. Remember, we are not dealing with the knowledge of man, we are looking into the supernatural knowledge of God. Some of the hardest verses that I have memorized have become the most important to my faith. I am able to return to these words even without the Bible in my hands.
  Now with the Word of God in our hearts, we go one step further. We seal that truth and the understanding of that truth by the wisdom of God, which is Jesus Christ. By being a soldier, who is fully prepared, Christ is able to retrieve that word in time of need. It was SIN that separated us from our God. Christ took sin out of the way, Now YOU, by your new birth are free from sin itself; however, you are not free from the flesh. Even though you are free from sin and death through the Spirit of Christ, you still have a conflict with the flesh. This is why the apostle tells us over and over to crucify the flesh, count it as already dead. For your life is hid IN Christ in God. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
  We have a life – our present life – is hid in Christ. And by hiding the Word of God in our heart, we realize more of this heavenly life, and the more we realize the deadness of our own flesh, the more the Spirit of Christ draws us to the heavenlies.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)
  Since we are part of the eternal body of Christ, we have a residence with Him in heaven. We are His, in Him, in the manifestation of God. We are dead to the world, but fully alive unto our God. These are very fundamental truths of our salvation. Our Savior Jesus Christ, the Man in heaven for us, has been given all power in heaven and on earth, and by the power of His eternal Spirit NO ONE can separate us from the love of God which is IN Jesus Christ. He has separated us completely from sin and death. He has separated us from our own flesh, and the world. He has separated us from the power of the serpent (that old serpent the devil). So . . . therefore, beloved, hide the Word of God in your hearts that ye may not sin against your God, Jesus Christ. And once again, I give you Psalm 119:11, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Amen
© Copyright 2019, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)