THE PRECIOUS LIFE

"Since you were PRECIOUS in My sight, You have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life." [Isaiah 43:4]. 

This is one promise of God that is absolutely far reaching. What does God mean when he says that you are precious in his sight? Among other blessings it means that YOU SHALL NOT DIE CHEAPLY. Compare the following scriptures.

"And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, BE PRECIOUS IN THY SIGHT. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now BE PRECIOUS IN THY SIGHT"—2 Kings 1:13-14.

• He shall REDEEM their soul from deceit and violence: and PRECIOUS shall their blood be IN HIS SIGHT—Psalm 72:14.

• PRECIOUS in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints—Psalm 116:15.

Read on and understand what is in store for you this season.

PRECIOUS

The word PRECIOUS means all of the following and probably more:

• To be heavy with glory.

• To be valuable

• To make rare

• To be set by

• To be prized

• To be priceless

• Costly

• Esteemed

• Honored

• Honorable

• Beloved

• Dear

Whoever you are, wherever you are reading this today, God would have you to know that your life, your soul, is precious in his sight. That is something to be believed before you can tap into its riches. It is one thing for you to be precious in God’s sight; and it is quite another thing for you to know and believe that you are precious in His sight. That will determine whether you are precious in your own sight. It affects your response to the situation and circumstances of this life. 

GOD HAS MADE YOU PRECIOUS

You should understand that you are not just precious in His sight; God has restored your precious status. You are truly precious. You need to get the full picture from Isaiah 43 verse 1-3. 

“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "FEAR NOT, for I HAVE REDEEMED YOU; I HAVE CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME; YOU ARE MINE. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.” 

God says directly to you:

1. Fear Not!

2. I have redeemed you.

3. I have called you by your name. 

4. You are Mine.

Did you notice the opening two words “But Now”? In other words God is saying, now that I have redeemed you it is a new story of glory and testimony that you should expect. Do not fear the trials and temptations of life. I have redeemed you from their power to hurt you. Those God redeem become the property of God; and God alone has the right to name such a person. Do not let circumstances name you any more if you are the redeemed of the Lord.

GOD’S PROPERTY

The key to tapping into your PRECIOUS identity is understanding your redemption. To redeem means to deliver or save from captivity, bondage and oppression by paying a price. It means to pay a ransom for the release of another. That is why God has the right to name you because he owns you by redemption. Is that not a great comfort to know that you are now God’s property? He assures you that you have nothing to fear. He has redeemed you from destruction. You may now go through the troubles or trials of life. But they no longer have the power to harm you; because God has redeemed you from their power [see Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 2:14-15; Luke 10:19].

You have no immunity from the storm. But God has given you immunity in the storm.

STORM PROOF

How else can God prove that he has redeemed you from the power of the storm if you don’t pass through it with a testimony of victory? You are his witness that he has power to save from the storm. That is to his glory. There are makers of fireproof safes, waterproof watches and bullet proof vests and cars.

The only way to prove that a watch is waterproof is by passing it through water.

Likewise, the only way to prove that a safe is fireproof is by passing it through fire.

The only way to prove that a car is bullet proof is by putting it through the bullet test.

It's to the praise of the manufacturer.

Indeed the only way to prove that the redeemed is storm proof is by taking them unharmed through the storm to the glory of God: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” The level of glory and testimony determines the level of the test. 

But your enemy does not know it. If they know it, they doubt it. God will allow him to prepare the fire, he will allow them to take you through the waters; and their intention is to destroy you. But God’s intention is to give you a testimony and glorify his name. But because they have planned destruction against the redeemed, they will be destroyed in their own fire, swallowed up in their own waters; and buried in their own graves.

He did it for Daniel in the lion’s den.

He did it for the Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The furnace had no power over them. But the mighty men who threw them in were consumed.

He did it for Mordecai. Haman was hanged in the gallows which he built for him.

He did it for Peter in the prison. He was released and Herod was ultimately judged.

He did it for Joseph.

He did it for Israel in Egypt.

All these people were ransomed by God because their lives were precious. Because they were his redeemed. He visited their captors with His inevitable vengeance.

IT IS A ROAD MAP OF GOD’S VISITATION

Notice what God said; “WHEN you pass through the waters… WHEN you walk through the fire…” That statement can be re-written as follows: “AT WHAT TIME you pass through the waters… AT WHAT TIME you walk through the fire…” 

“WHEN” is a time measurement. It is God’s appointed time to honor and glorify the redeemed. God is actually giving the redeemed a road map of his visitation. At the time you pass through the waters or the fire, know that I want to show up to lift you up; to confuse and confound your enemies. I want to show up and judge your enemies and give you a testimony. I want to show up and do a new thing. There is no need to fear. I am the one running your life now. Your times and seasons are in my hands. I have redeemed you. If I have to, I will ransom you again and again to prove that I love you and that I am your Savior.

THE COMMITMENT OF GOD

Now this is where the beauty lies. You were precious in the sight of God. Because you were precious he committed himself to you by paying a precious price for your redemption. “Knowing that you were not REDEEMED with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with THE PRECIOUS BLOOD of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” [1 Peter 1:18-19]. 

Now the scripture is fulfilled which says; “(For the REDEMPTION of their soul is PRECIOUS, and it ceases for ever:) [Psalm 49:8]. The redemption of the soul of man is precious. It is an everlasting redemption. You are now worth the very life of God.

YOUR TRUE WORTH NOW DEPENDS ON YOUR FAITH

It is so important that you know this. It is more important that you believe it and appropriate it for your life. Ignorance and unbelief could be so expensive. It can turn the precious life to a worthless thing. That is why it is written; “A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish.” [Psalm 49:20]. Ignorance and unbelief can rob you of the blessing of this God given honor to all men. When you believe it your life becomes precious indeed. The following verses shows the place of faith in this precious life equation.

“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, PRECIOUS: and HE THAT BELIEVES on him shall not be confounded. 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” [1 Peter 2:6-7]. 

It is your faith that receives Jesus Christ as the precious life given in exchange for your life to make your own life precious now.

WHAT TIME IS IT?

“For THE DAY OF VENGEANCE is in My heart, And THE YEAR OF MY REDEEMED has come.” [Isaiah 63:4]. The day of vengeance and the year of my redeemed is referring to the same time. This is the year and season we are into. As God is releasing his people he will be judging the wicked—their enemies. Which side do you belong?

THE STATUS OF THE REDEEMED 

When you know it you can enforce the blessing of this new life by faith: “I will give men for you, and people for your life.” He has done it before. He will do it again and again. This happened in Egypt. As soon as Israel killed the Passover and applied the blood of the lamb they entered into the status of the redeemed. It was now illegal to continue to keep them in bondage and captivity. Egypt and Pharaoh did not know this. They were set up for God’s prophetic judgment. God’s appointed time of judgment had come. Even after the judgment of Egypt in the death of the first born, Pharaoh still did not understand what redemption meant. But Moses understood very well; he knew the ways of God. Pharaoh and his army foolishly pursued the redeemed [Israel] to the Red Sea with the intention to destroy them. But only one thing can happen. Egypt and Pharaoh must go in exchange for Israel. God parted the waters. Israel is saved. And Pharaoh and Egypt is judged by the same waters. “By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” [Hebrews 11:29].

THE YEAR OF MY REDEEMED HAS COME

Now every enemy pursuing you will be destroyed in your stead this season because you are the redeemed of the Lord. It will be a case of total restoration by the divine judgment of the enemy by God; spiritually; physically and economically. 

“He also brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes.” [Psalm 105:37]. 

This year God will beautify his redeemed with salvation. He will distinguish them.

He will glorify his saints through their trials bringing glory to his name.

He will give outstanding deliverances and do wonders to the praise of his holy name.

He will make a way in impossible places.

He will make provisions out of nothing.

He will humiliate the great and proud enemies.

He will heal fearful diseases.

UNLEASH YOUR FAITH

So fear not! You have immunity in the storm. According to Luke 10:19, He has given you authority over the storm which is one power of the enemy. Use your authority. He has called you by name! God names the Redeemed. You must reject by your faith every name that the mouth of the Lord has not named.  It is a new day. You must reject every name you answered before your redemption. 

You are now called Precious, Beloved, Honorable, Holy, Righteous, Overcomer, More than Conqueror, Blessed, Redeemed, Healed, Rich. Call yourself by the mouth of God. Praise the Redeemer. Make a big deal of the blood. Honor the blood in communion and singing. Treasure your redemption status. Celebrate it. It’s a year of the Josephs; the Daniels; the Mordecais; the Esthers; the Jacobs. Favor, honor, restoration  and promotions.

THE BIG QUESTION!

Are you redeemed? Until you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are not redeemed. For it is He who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver [or redeem] us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. [Galatians 1:4]. It's the mystery of substitution.

Therein lies your precious status and its blessings.

Praise God!