Episode 003: Handpicked: I AM CHOSEN

In this episode we explore the profound theme of being chosen by God. We see the importance of understanding our identity as chosen individuals, called to live a holy and blameless  life. Through biblical scriptures, we discuss the roles of royal priests and the significance of  living a life that reflects God's goodness.

Today's Scripture:

1. ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭

2. 1 Peter 2:9

3. Numbers 3:5-13

4. Leviticus 11:44

5. 1 Corinthians 6:20

6. Exodus 19

Today's Guided Notes: 

Season 1 Episode 3: Hand-picked-IAM CHOSEN

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VIEW TRANSCRIPT:

00:03

Hello, ladies. Welcome to Treasures in Heaven Academy, where we teach, inspire, encourage, and support women on their journey to living a peaceful, joyful, kind life the way God intended them to live their lives biblically. I'm your host, Samantha, and I'm excited to take this journey with you. Let's begin.

00:34

I want you to imagine with me for a little bit. I want you to think of one of the most remarkable stories you ever heard about love and redemption. Can you feel the love? Can you almost feel and see the full story of redemption? Now, what if I told you

01:02

that you were one of the characters of that story, chosen to feel that love, redemption, and so much more. That's it. You were chosen. We will explore a few scriptures that explain how we were chosen and chosen to do what.

01:32

So we're going to look at our first verse from the book of Ephesians. Grab your Bibles if you can. If not, come back to these verses later. So Ephesians 1 verse 4. And the NIV translation says, for he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

02:02

The NLT translation says, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. He chose us. Let's meditate on that for a bit.

02:26

So often we believe lies like, I'm not worthy enough. I'm not qualified. My past mistakes are too much or I'm too broken. I can't be the mother these children need. I can't be the wife or the woman God wants me to be. Are there any other lies you are believing that makes you question the fact that you were chosen?

02:54

But we see that before we even took our first breath, God wrote us into his precious story. Before he put the stars in the sky, he decided that you were his. We didn't have to earn it. We didn't have to decide whether or not we deserve the gift of salvation. We didn't have to pass a test or get an A plus in the class.

03:20

It says, before he made the world, he chose us. Now let's look up in the strong concordance the word chosen. And it says, of God choosing whom he judged fit to receive his favors and separated from the rest of mankind to be picked.

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peculiarly his own and to be attended continually by his gracious oversight. Wow. Let that sink in a bit. You were deemed fit to receive all of that.

04:10

He separated you from the rest of mankind and we will be attended continually by his gracious oversight.

04:26

But he chose us. But for what? Why did he choose us? So far, we know of two reasons why we were chosen. He chose us to be holy and blameless. What does it mean to be holy? We'll examine what it means to be holy in the next verse. But let's look up what the word blameless means in the Strong's Concordance.

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It means without blemish. So we were chosen to be without blemish. OK, now let's look at the next verse, 1 Peter 2, 9. It says, but you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests.

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a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

05:42

So we also see from this verse that we are royal priests.

05:49

What was the priest's job in the Bible? In the Old Testament, we see that the job of the priest was to be a mediator between the people and God. But that shows us that we now have direct access to God, no mediator needed. Let's take a look at Numbers 3, verses 5 to 13. And the Lord spoke to Moses saying,

06:17

bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest that they may serve him. And they shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the Tabernacle of Meeting to do the work of the Tabernacle. Also, they shall attend to all the furnishings of the Tabernacle of Meeting and to the needs

06:47

of the children of Israel to do the work of the tabernacle. And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are given entirely to him from among the children of Israel. So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and attend to their priesthood. But the outsiders who come near shall be put to death.

07:14

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Now behold, I myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel, firstborn, who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be mine, because all the firstborn are mine. On that day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified

07:44

to myself all the first born in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be mine and I am the Lord.

07:55

So you see that there were two jobs here. The first was to guard the tabernacle from intruders, and the second was to minister at the tabernacle. If we are chosen and we are royal priests, then let's think about what we should be doing in our lives.

08:20

As a royal priest, how can we be serving God?

08:26

1 Peter 2 9 also says that we are a holy nation. We are called to live our lives in a holy manner, just as God is holy. What does a holy life look like? Living as best as we can without sin. That's what a holy life is. Live a life of goodness and love, following God's way.

08:56

And again, we're doing this the best way that we can. It doesn't mean that we won't be tempted. It doesn't mean that we won't fail, but it does mean that we try our very best to be holy. God says in Leviticus 44, for I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves and you shall be holy for I am holy.

09:25

neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So you see, we have to be holy the way that God is holy. But not perfect, but we have to strive to do our very best. Lastly, in 1 Peter 2, 9, we God's possession. We belong to him. The word possession in this verse

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means one's own property. And as 1st Corinthians 620 says, for we were bought at a price glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. Okay, so we belong to him. He purchased us with the ultimate price. And our purpose is to show others God's goodness.

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We are to testify and tell people about how he has brought us through these things. We are chosen and let's not forget we were chosen for a purpose. You were placed where you are for a reason. So let's walk confidently and know that we are chosen princesses with a royal task with chosen princesses.

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with a royal task that is of great honor.

10:59

Okay, so now it's time for us to reflect. I you to reread our scripture for today. I want you to read Exodus 19 and see what similarities you see between the Old Testament wording and Paul's wording. Read Numbers 3 to get an idea of what the Levitical priests were in charge of. And there's other sections if you want to

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dig deeper into what the Levitical priest did.

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How do you see yourself differently now that you know you were chosen on purpose or a purpose? Think about the different areas of your life where you can declare his praises, where you can talk about his compassion and his goodness. Okay, so this week's challenge. This week, I want you to write down a praise report.

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Write down all the ways that God is working in your life. Start off with at least five things. You might be able to get more, but no pressure. I want you to just do at least five. There are surely things you can be grateful for. Keep an eye out on them. Next, I want you to be bold and share your praises and testify of God's goodness. Tell your spouse,

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your children, your coworker, your family, or your friends. Be even bolder and share it to all those people in your group. I know some of you might be saying, but I'm an introvert. Trust me, I know, I'm 100 % introverted. But when God places something on your heart, you can't help but make a move.

13:02

Okay, I want you guys to remember that you are a chosen princess with a royal assignment. Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your daughter that is listening. Thank you for all the things that you are doing in her life, all the things that she can see and she cannot see. During this week, bring to her mind all the things that you are doing.

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Show her that everything is working for her good and that nothing you do is ever voided. Help her to be bold enough to share about your goodness with those that she is closest to and those that she knows. Please remind her and keep her safe throughout the week in your mighty name. If this message has blessed you, please share with someone.

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They deserve to know who they belong to also. See you next week, ladies. Until then, remember who you are.