Well, it's good to be back. Had
a good trip. I'm thankful to be back. Would
you turn with me to Genesis 43? I'd like to read verse 23. Of
Genesis 43, and I believe that You'll be able to see the gospel
in this first scripture. I've entitled this message Hidden
Treasure. And he said this is the steward
of Joseph's house, the. Sons of Israel are scared to
death at this time. And the steward of Joseph's house
said peace be to you. Fear not, your God and the God
of your father, Jacob, hath given you treasure in your sacks."
I had your money and he brought Simeon out unto them. Now let me refresh your memory
of what was taking place The eleven sons of Jacob were very
afraid. They were scared to death. They've
gone down to Egypt with Benjamin this time to get some more food.
You'll remember that Joseph had told them they didn't know he
was Joseph. They didn't know he was their brother. And he
told them, you're not going to see my face except you bring
your younger brother to prove that you're not spies. So they
had gone back to the land of Canaan. They ran out of food
again, and they go back to Egypt in order to get more food with
Benjamin. And they are very nervous. Do you remember what happened
when they got back with their food the first time? Do you remember
how they opened up the sacks of food and they found all their
money had been returned to them? They hadn't paid a dime for this
food. That made them very nervous. Look over in chapter 42. Verse
35. And it came to pass, as they
emptied their sacks, that behold, every man's bundle of money was
in his sack. And when both they and their
father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. They thought,
we're going to be in trouble over this. Didn't we pay for
our food? This is going to end up biting us. And Jacob, their
father, said unto them, Me, have ye bereaved of my children? Joseph
is not, and Simeon is not, and you'll take Benjamin away? All
these things are against me." They were all frightened. Now,
the first time they went down to get food, they go back home,
and now they're going again. And they're coming this time
with double money, so they thought they're trying to make up for
perhaps this oversight that took place, and they're wanting to
make sure that they're not in trouble about stealing food,
and they're afraid of being accused of stealing food. Now, let's
pick up reading in verse 15 of chapter 43. And the men took
that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin
and rose up and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.
And when Joseph saw Benjamin, now this is the first time that
he'd seen his brother in twenty some years. And he's very excited
about seeing him. He said to the ruler of his house,
bring these men home and slay and make ready for these men
shall dine with me at noon. You know, I see Benjamin as a
type of Christ there, don't you? Joseph was going to have these
men in his house. because of seeing Benjamin. And
the men did as Joseph bade, and the man brought the men into
Joseph's house. And the men, the sons of Israel,
the sons of Jacob, were afraid. They didn't feel good about being
in his house. Because they were brought into Joseph's house and
they said, because of the money that was returned in our sacks
at the first time, or we brought in, that he may seek occasion
against us and fall upon us and take us for bondmen and our asses.
Now, they didn't feel good about being in Joseph's house, did
they? Remember, once again, they didn't know who Joseph was and
they were scared to death. And, you know, when I see their
response, they're afraid they don't have enough sufficient
payment. They're afraid something unjust took place and that they're
going to be accused of stealing this money. They're afraid Joseph's
intentions toward them is bad. He wants to turn them into slaves.
He wants to take what they have. He even wants to take their donkeys
and all their goods and turn them all into slaves. Isn't that
pretty much the way most men look at the Lord? He doesn't
have good intentions toward us. He wants to turn us into a bunch
of slaves. He wants to take what we do have. Oh, they had they
had such a a wrong view of what Joseph's intentions were. Joseph
had nothing but intentions of good for them, but they didn't
know it. They were scared to death and
they were very suspicious. Verse 19, and they came near
to the steward of Joseph's house. This is before Joseph has sat
down to eat with them and they're trying to Find out what they
can do to get out of the trouble they think they might be in.
And they come near to the steward of Joseph's house and they commune
with him at the door of the house and said, oh, sir, we came indeed
down at the first time to buy food and it came to pass when
we came to the end. That we opened our sacks, and
behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, and
our money in full weight. And we've brought it again in
our hand, and other money have we brought down in our hands
to buy food. We cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. We
don't know what happened. And here's the steward's answer
to them. And I see the gospel of Christ in this verse so clearly.
Here they are, scared to death. And he said, Peace be to you. Fear not. Your God. And the God of your father had
given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money. All your money
was paid. There was nothing unjust about
this. And he brought Simeon. Remember, Simeon had been put
in jail until they came back. And when they come back with
Benjamin, he brings Simeon out to them. Now, the gospel message
begins, and hear me, it begins with peace. It doesn't begin
with a formula you need to do in order to get this peace. It
doesn't say if you do this, you'll have peace, or if you do that,
you'll have peace, or if you keep from doing this, you'll
have peace, or if you believe this. Nothing like that. It begins
with a declaration of peace. Now, they didn't do anything
to get this peace. They're scared to death, and yet the man says,
Peace be unto you. Don't you want to hear the Lord
say that to you? I mean, if I say peace to you, it doesn't really
mean anything, does it? Because that doesn't necessarily mean
you have it. But if God himself says, peace be unto you. Now, that's the declaration of
the gospel. Peace be unto you. It begins with peace. Now, they're
in turmoil. They're fearful about what's
going to take place. And the steward says, peace. A declaration
of peace, nothing you have to do to make this peace, just peace. Be to you. Now, that almost seems
too easy, doesn't it? I mean, they're in turmoil. They're
in conflict. They're scared to death. And
this fellow just says, before he says anything else, peace
be to you. Now, how is that? Would you turn
with me for a moment to John chapter 16? John chapter 16. Verse 28. The Lord says. I came forth from the father.
And then come into the world again, I leave the father and
I leave the world and go to the father. And his disciples said
unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest
all things, and needest not that any should ask thee? By this
we believe that thou camest forth from God." Boy, they're talking
pretty big, aren't they? Talking pretty big. Well, we
believe you now. You're not speaking figuratively
now. I mean, you're finally speaking
plain. He'd always spoken plain. I love what the Lord says to
them in verse 31. Jesus answered them, Do you now
believe? Do you really? Behold, the hour cometh, yea,
is now come, right now, that you shall be scattered, every
man to his own, and you'll leave me alone. You say you believe
in a very short time you're going to get out of here and you're
going to deny that you even know me. You're going to play the
coward. That's what you're going to do.
You're going to get out of here. You're going to leave me alone.
So much for your faith. You're going to leave me alone.
That's what you're going to do. You talk big, but here's what you're
going to do. You're going to leave me alone. Yet, I'm not alone
because the Father is with me. Now, these things have I spoken
unto you That in me, you might have peace. Now, I want you to
hear what our Lord says to these fellows. You're going to forsake
me. You're going to leave me alone.
You're going to play the coward. Everything you do is going to
be wrong. You talk about your faith, you
talk about how now you believe. You're going to deny that you
even know me. Now, these things have I spoken unto you, that
in me, not in the fact that you say, I believe, now I have peace.
No, these things have I spoken unto you, that in me, you might
have peace. Now, in the world, you're going
to have tribulation, you're going to have trial, but be of good
cheer. Our Lord says, He tells them
even at this time, even after He tells them, you're going to
leave me alone. Yet, he says, be of good cheer.
I have overcome the world. Now, here's where peace is found.
You want to know where this peace is? He says, in me. In me. I love that preposition
in. In me, you might have peace. Turn with me for a moment to
Ephesians chapter one. What is this thing about in Christ you
might have peace? You know I love this, thinking
about this. I just love it. My peace is in the Lord Jesus
Christ. It's not in me. It's not in my experience. It's
not in the stuff that I know. It's in the Lord Jesus Christ. And that rejoices my heart. That
gives me peace. When I talk about this, I'm always
stressed about something. But when I talk about this, it
makes my body relax. I feel loose. I feel happy. In me, you have peace. Look in
Ephesians 1, 3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath blessed us. Not who will bless us if, but
he hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings and heavenly places
in Christ. Every blessing that God has for
the sinner, the sinner already has in Christ. He hath blessed
us. Now, it can't get any better
for you. You can't get any more love. You can't get any more
acceptance. You can't get any more blessed than you are right
now. Do you believe that? Do you believe
it? Do you really believe it? The
Word of God says it. He hath blessed us. with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as
He hath chosen us, verse 4, in Him before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy. Now, if He chose me before
the time began to be holy, you know what that means? It means
I'm holy. and without blame before Him, in love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ Himself according
to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Now, where is my peace? It's
in the blood. He made me accept it. Nothing
I did to get it. This fella announces peace. He
didn't say you'll have peace if you do this or if you believe
that. He said peace be to you. Turn with me to Romans chapter
4. Romans chapter 4. Verse 25, last verse. Who was delivered for our offenses,
this is talking about his death on the cross, he was delivered,
delivered up by God for our offenses. They became his and he was raised
again for our justification. Therefore, That should read,
having been justified. It's in the past tense in the
original, having been justified. By faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, because I'm justified, I've
already been justified. This is not something I got to
work my way into. It's something that's already
done. Having been justified, that means I'm not guilty. I
don't have anything to feel bad about. I don't have anything
to be in turmoil about. And I believe this. Sometimes. Sometimes I don't, I reckon,
but oh, I love it when I do and I'm enabled to just believe the
gospel. I don't have anything to feel guilty about. I'm justified
in God's sight. without guilt, therefore, having
been justified. Do you believe that when Christ
Jesus walked out of that tomb, the justification of the elect
was already accomplished? Now, do you believe that? Well, what do you have to be
in turmoil about if you really believe that? Your salvation
is already accomplished, having been justified, By faith, we
believe this. By faith, we have peace. Peace with God. Peace with God. God's at peace with me. He's
not mad at me. He's at peace with me. Somebody says, well,
I don't believe that. Well, then He didn't do it for
you. That's it. See, faith is the evidence of
things hoped for. If you believe God, you believe
that what He did is enough to make you perfect in God's sight.
That's the evidence that He did it for you. Therefore, having
been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ. Now, you think of this, a salvation
already accomplished. Our good cheer comes from what
He did. Be of good cheer. Why? Because I have overcome the world. Does that enough make you a good
cheer? Let me show you another scripture that will verify this. Turn to John 13. Verse 36. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord,
whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I
go, thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me
afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee
now? I'll lay down my life for thy
sake. And Peter meant that from the
very depths of his heart. He was very sincere. No question
about that. He really believed he would.
Jesus answered him, wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake?
You know, any time we make a statement about what we do, Going a step
too far, aren't we? Will you lay down your life for
my sake? Will you really? Verily, verily, I say unto you,
the cough shall not crow till you have denied me three times. Let not your heart be troubled. Now, how is that? You know that chapter division
was put there by men. You're going to deny that you
even know me three times. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe God? Believe also
in me. In my Father's house are many
mansions, and I go to prepare a place for you." Now, when he's
talking about going to prepare a place for you, he's talking
about going to the cross. I go to the cross. Here's where your
peace is. Here's why you don't need to
be troubled. I go to the cross to prepare a place for you. It was not, Peter, you'll have
peace if you don't deny me. But, Peter, you will deny me.
Let not your heart be troubled. Isn't that scary even saying
that? But it's true. I mean, this is just so true. What if I said the only way you
can not be troubled is if you don't deny it. Well, you'd be
in trouble, wouldn't you? But this is the Lord's words, not
mine. Peter, you're going to deny that
you even know me. Let not your heart be troubled. I'm going
to make peace for you. Turn over to Colossians 1. Verse 20. And this is why the
steward could just. Declare this peace. Verse 20
and having made peace. Through the blood of his cross,
all listen to me. Somebody says if you made your
peace with God, no, I haven't. Jesus Christ, the Lord made my
peace with God. having made peace through the
blood of His cross by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself.
By Him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in
heaven, and you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body
of His flesh through death to present you. This actually, I don't know why
I translated this, but this actually is having presented you. You see, this presentation has
already taken place when he ascended back up into glory after his
resurrection and his ascension to the right hand of the Father.
That's when this presentation took place. And it's in the past
tense. Having presented you, it's already done. I mean, it's
already done. This is history. It's historical
facts. It's already accomplished. Having presented you holy and
unblameable and unreprovable in the very sight of God, peace be to you. Is there anybody thinking, well,
this is great. This means, if he's already accomplished
my peace, that I can leave here and go out and sin all I want
and do all kinds of wicked things. I won't have to suffer any consequences
for it. Is everybody thinking that? No believer would. Now, a goat
would. I have no doubt that a goat would take this and use it as
an excuse for sin. But I'm not worried about the goats. Nothing
I can do about them anyway. I'm not a bit worried about goats.
Let them do what they want. But the sheep won't. A sheep will say, Lord, love
so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. Now, he begins with a declaration
of peace. Now, go back to Genesis 43. You know, they weren't expecting
this, were they? They were coming up with all
these things that they were going to do and all that they were going
to pay and how this must have been an oversight. They had no
idea that this is what they were going to hear. Peace be to you. Fear not. Fear not. They were so afraid that Joseph
was going to make them slaves and to take what they had, but
these were all groundless fears. You have nothing to be afraid
of. And, you know, thinking about this, the reason they feared
the way they did is they thought the Lord was a lot like they
were. That's what they would do. You know, how you are is
how you are. I think of that scripture in
Psalm 50, which says, Thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as
thyself. And that's whatever natural man's guilty of thinking
God's this way. Well, he's not like you. Aren't you glad? Aren't
you glad Lord's not like me? I can get an amen out of that,
I bet. I'm glad he's not like you, too.
He's not like us. He's altogether different. Fear not. And look at this phrase,
and here's why we don't have to fear. You're God. You're God. Not God against you. Now, that's how they've been
thinking. Look back in Genesis 42, 21. Now, they were already feeling
terrible about what they'd done to Joseph. They were thinking,
God, you know, what we did is coming back to haunt us. And
they said one to another, we're barely guilty concerning our
brother and that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought
us and we wouldn't hear. Therefore, this distress come
upon us. This is why this is taking place. Look in verse 26. And they laded their asses with
the corn, and departed thence. And as one of them opened his
sack to give his ass provider, in the end he has spied his money.
For behold, it was in a sack's mouth. And he said unto his brethren,
My money is restored, and lo, it is even in my sack. And their
heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another,
What is this that God hath done to us? Look down in verse 36,
And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have you bereaved of
my children? Joseph is not, and Simeon is
not, and you will take Benjamin away. And all these things are
against me. They were thinking the Lord was
against them. But he says, You're God. I will be to them a God. and they will be to me a people."
Now listen to me. You can say this just as truly
as I can if you're a believer. God, the God of glory, the God
of the universe, the God of creation, this God is my God. I love what Thomas said to the
Lord as the Lord made Himself known when He said, reach hither
your finger and put it in my side and in my hands and feet.
He bowed down before Him and He said, what? My Lord and my
God. What this is talking about is
God for you. Not God against you. If God be
for us, who can be against us? Your God. In Matthew chapter 1, verses
21 through 23, we read, Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for
he shall save his people from their sins. All this was done
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the
prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall
bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Immanuel, which
being interpreted is God with us. Your God. Your God. God is your God. Your God. And look what he says
next. The God of your father, Jacob.
He identifies clearly who he's speaking of. The God of your
father, Jacob. How is God identified most in
the scriptures? I told you this before. Do you
know the name that he goes by more than any other name is the
God of Jacob? Jacob was a sinful man He was
a weak man. He was a deceptive man. You could
go on and on talking about all of Jacob's I mean Jacob Jacob
was a mess. He was a mess. I mean he His
life was a mess continually. So one thing after another and
he got himself yet Jacob have I loved is what God said The
God of Jacob The covenant God. He's the God of Abraham, of Isaac
and Jacob. The God who saved sinners like
Jacob. Remember how he changed Jacob's name to Israel. Jacob
means supplant or cheat, deceiver, heel. And he changed his name
to Israel as a prince. I'm looking at some princes right
now. As a prince, thou has power with God. God listens to what
you say. And you've prevailed. The God,
your God, the God of your Father, the Covenant God. Now, look back
in our text in Genesis 43. He said, Peace be to you. Fear
not. Your God and the God of your Father hath given you treasure
in your sacks. Now, remember when they opened
up and found all their money restored to them? He says, your
God has given you this treasure in your sacks. This word is actually
hidden treasure. Your God has given you this hidden
treasure in your sack. Well, who hides it? God does. You remember how our Lord said,
I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
you have hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed
them unto babes. God is the one who hides. You know, a natural man can read
the Bible. He might be the smartest man
alive. He might be the most educated man alive. He might know all
the Hebrew and all the Greek and be able to read it fluently,
but the gospel is hidden from him. He can't figure it out. He can't, can't stop by searching,
find out God. No, you can't. You know, the
Lord, as a matter of fact, the Lord states things in his word
in such a way as an unbeliever is going to be confused. They're
going to be stumble at the word. They're not going to be able
to receive it. God hid these things from the wise and prudent,
but he's revealed them unto babes. Now, it's true that the gospel's
hidden, but I know where the treasure's hidden. I know where
to look. If you know where to look for
the treasure, you know where it's at. Where do you look for
this treasure? It's in Christ. Turn to Colossians chapter two
for a moment. Colossians chapter two. Verse two. That their hearts
might be comforted, being knit together in love unto all the
riches of the full assurance. Of understanding. to the acknowledgement,
the embracing, the loving embrace of the mystery of God and of
the Father and of Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge. Now, do you know where to look
for the treasures? Remember, he said, these things have I
spoken to you that in me you might have peace. Now, let's
go on reading verse four. And this I say, lest any man
should beguile you with enticing words, for though I be absent
in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding
your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ as you
therefore have received Christ Jesus, the Lord. And let me remind
you, how did you receive him? How did you receive him? I know
how I received Him. Now I do. I can tell you exactly
how I received Him. When I received the Lord Jesus
Christ, I received Him with an empty hand. I didn't have any
experience to look to. I didn't have anything to have
assurance in. I didn't have any works to look
to. Totally empty handed as a beggar. needing His mercy. That's how
I received Him, gratefully. Can you remember when you first
were made? You might not be able to remember
it, but just remember the last time you were made to see the
complete forgiveness of sins you had from Christ Jesus. The
freeness of His grace. His love, His pity, His God.
Do you remember? As you received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk ye. in him. That's how you walk,
the way you received him. That's the way you walk. Let's
go on reading. Rooted and built up in him, established in the
faith as you've been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving,
that you'd beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy
and vain deceit after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of
the world and after Christ. Now, here's the treasure we have
for in him. dwelleth all the fullness of
the Godhead bodily, and you, every single believer, the weakest
believer, doesn't matter who you are, you are complete. Now, as far as the way I feel,
I always feel like him. I do, I feel, I just feel lacking. But what does God's Word say? I am complete in Him. Now, is that a treasure? Do you find this a treasure of
the infinite wealth? The fact that you're complete.
All God's treasure is in Him. This is that hidden treasure.
I know where to find it. It's in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, God had given you hidden treasure. We have this treasure
in earthen vessels, but it's a treasure. And the treasure
you have was miraculously given to you by God Himself. Back to
Genesis 43. This is a gift freely given. Verse 23, Peace be to you, fear
not. Your God and the God of your
father had given your treasure and your sacks. I had your money.
You don't have to worry about anything coming back to haunt
you. All the debt has been completely paid. There's nothing unjust
about this. You don't have to worry about
something going to come back up and bite you. Not at all.
All the debt's been paid. And he brought Simeon out unto
them. Now Simeon is released. There's
freedom in this. And the man brought the men into
Joseph's house and gave them water. And they washed their
feet. And he gave their asses provender.
And they made ready the present against Joseph. It came at noon,
for they heard that they should eat bread there. And let me read
the rest of this chapter. And when Joseph came home, They
brought him, the present which was in their hand, into his house,
and they bowed themselves to him to the earth. You know, how
many times do you reckon Joseph remembered that dream he had?
These fellows bowing down before him. Here they are bowing again.
They did a lot of this bowing and scraping, just like God said
they would. And he asked them of their welfare, and he said,
Is your father well, the old man of whom you speak? Is he
yet alive? And they answered, Thy servant, our father, is in
good health. He is yet alive. They bowed down their heads and
made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes and
saw his brother Benjamin and his mother's son and said, Is
that your younger brother of whom you spake unto me? And he
said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste. For his bowels did yearn upon
his brother. And he sought where to weep,
and he entered into his chamber and he wept there. Do you know? This is so hard to believe, but
it's still true. Do you know the Lord Jesus bows
and yearns over every one of his people? Can you imagine him
yearning over you? Yearning? But it's the truth. He washed his face and he went
out and refrained himself and said, sit on bread. And they
set on for him by himself and for them by themselves and for
the Egyptians, which did eat with him by themselves, because
the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that's
an abomination of the Egyptians. And they said before him, the
firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to
his youth, and the men marveled one at another. Now, can you
imagine? He set them in the direct order of their ages. He knew
them all together. They didn't know who they were. And he took and sent messes unto
them from before him. But Benjamin's mess was five
times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry
with him. Let's pray together.