Spiritual Treasure Hunter

Spiritual Treasure Hunter

09.11.22

Message…

Geocaching - may or may not be a term you are familiar with. I was watching a show that mentioned it (“Escape from the Country”).

Geocaching is treasure hunting with a twist.

You use a GPS or you can download an app on your phone.

There are containers/boxes (big or small) people have hidden in places all over the world.

The app will give you the map/location/coordinates and then you search for it. Once you find it you record that you found it. If there is stuff in it, you can take something and leave something. It’s just something fun to do while you explore the outdoors!

It’s been around for 20 years as a thing. However, I was unaware. So, I was amazed to discover that there are several hidden geocaches all around here!

There is one hidden less than ½ mile from my house! A treasure out there just waiting to be discovered!

And, I didn’t even know it!

>>>>>>>

Proverbs is such a great book. If you do not yet read the book of Proverbs, add it to your daily reading. Just read a chapter a day. Whatever day it is, read that chapter!

It is full of all kinds of hidden treasure!

Today we have an incredible hidden gem in scripture that was never meant to be kept hidden. It's just waiting and wanting to be discovered…

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Proverbs 25:2

On our way home from Virginia a few weeks ago, my wife and I were listening to a Message Podcast about this verse.

There was some amazing insight from…

Pastor Bill Johnson of Bethel said that God “hides things for us not from us”! *(Bethel Sermon of the Week Podcast - 08.14.22; The Beauty & Wonder of Hope, Bill Johnson)

What God has for us, what He hides for us is ours for the taking!

It is ours when we are willing to search for what God has hidden along the way in our life of faith!

Think about that - God has something for you…but, He isn’t just going to give it to you. He wants you to search for it! He wants you to seek it out!

“seek” - attempt to find ...desire to obtain ....ask for

Matthew 7:7-8

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Ask, Seek, Knock

All three of those things are actions on your part for God to release to you treasure, wisdom, provision, protection, favor, blessing, direction, understanding, healing, restoration, peace…all things that are His part!

?Even the order that He gave you this instruction in His Word has a hidden treasure of emphasis!

Ask

Seek

Knock

Psalm 14:2

The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

Hebrews 11:6

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.

1 Chronicles 16:11

Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Psalm 9:10

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

There seems to be a common theme running through those verses…

The Lord wants to be pursued/sought out!

The Lord rewards those that pursue Him!

When was the last time you looked for God?

When was the last time that you passionately pursued His will, or His ways?!

When was the last time that you truly tried to understand what God’s Word was saying to you? Is God’s Word a treasure to you?

Is your faith a burden or an adventure?! (repeat)

Matthew 14:22-29

22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that His disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while He sent the people home.

23 After sending them home, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. Night fell while He was there alone.

24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.

26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”