God’s Market Place

ByJacob Sparks Uncategorized

We have all purchased something or at least known about, a market place where fruits and vegetables are placed in bins, such as lettuce, tomatoes, grapes, cabbages, apples and such things that we need for a healthy body. At God’s market place there are also many things available which are necessary for a good and healthy spiritual life; and they are found in the church, the kingdom of God’s dear son; Jesus Christ.

FAITH, TRUTH, KNOWLEDGE, HOPE, RIGHTEOUSNESS

In Revelation 3:18, Christ speaks of his market place as a place where you can receive all things that are necessary for a healthy spiritual life. Isaiah 55:1 “Ho, everyone that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye buy; and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk with out money and without price.” In addition to these things needed for a healthy spiritual life, God also offers clothing such as becometh saints. Isaiah 6 1:10 He says he will supply our clothing, the garments of salvation! He will cover us (Christians) with the robes of righteousness for we read in Revelation 19:8 that the bride of Christ will be clothed in white linen, and the bride of Christ we know to be the Church.

II Corinthians 11:2 the apostle Paul said of the Church. “I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” It is obvious that these people had a problem in seeing (to perceive the meaning; their vision was not clear.). So they are told by Christ to anoint their eyes with eyesalve so they might see more clearly, and understand the truth. There is only one salve that could help in this dilemma. That is found in I John 2:20. John says “ye have an unction from the Holy One and ye know all things.” So if we have faith in Him, if we desire to be clothed with the garments furnished by God; the white robes of salvation, and a firm desire to see clearly, we will do as Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 2:15. “Study to show ourselves approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Also we are admonished in Ephesians 5:17 “wherefore, be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Therefore if we will accept from God the things offered at God’s marketplace, then we will be accepted of God as those people who will make up the Church, the bride of Christ, and be clothed with white raiment. We will be looked upon by God as great treasure; as those people who have been influenced by those things purchased (with no money) from God’s Marketplace. We will be as precious to God as gold tried in the fire.

Now let us examine this precious metal called gold. Gold will not burn up, it will not tarnish; no matter what you do to this element, it remains the same. The melting point of gold is a little under 2,000 degrees F. The hotter you get it, the more impurities will come to the top as dross, which is then skimmed off and thrown away. Gold that has been in the ocean and exposed to salt water for hundreds of years is still just as bright and shining as it was the day it was left there.

So, like precious gold, the true Christian will be able to withstand the trials and tribulations of this world, as the apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:38, 39; “for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 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.”

God’s desire for everyone is to add to their faith the righteous virtues that he has made available at his marketplace. This is where you need no money; just a yearning desire to know the truth. Jesus was asked by Pilate, “What is truth?” At the time Jesus did not answer Pilate. In His prayer for the Apostle John 17:17, Jesus said: “Sanctify them through thy truth…

“”THY WORD IS TRUTH”

God’s marketplace offers to His people that truth and it is to be found in Christ’s Church, the one Church where God Himself adds to it “such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47; Acts 5:14). The great benefit of being added to the church by God Himself is that our names will be written in the book of life. Revelation 20:12 reads; “I saw the dead small and great stand before God; and books were opened: and another book was opened which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

Therefore, it behooves us to remember how precious the Church is in the sight of God and also how precious the Church is to us who look and wait for the coming of Lord Jesus Christ. The Church is God’s marketplace, where we must receive those virtues which will mold us into a great treasure in the sight of God.

  • THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

  • THE CHURCH IS THE PLACE WHERE WE PARTAKE OF THE LORDS TABLE

  • THE CHURCH IS THE PLACE WHERE WE CAN EDIFY ONE ANOTHER

  • THE CHURCH IS THE PLACE WE LIFT UP OUR VOICES IN SONG TO THE LORD

  • THE CHURCH IS THE REFUGE FOR THE SOUL

  • THE CHURCH IS WHERE WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER

  • THE CHURCH IS WHERE WE CAN GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD BY STUDYING HIS WORK TOGETHER

So if we accept those things that God offers at His marketplace, we will be to Him a great treasure and if we let these things develop our character and conduct in this present world; He will add each and every one to His treasury. Malachi 3:16, 17 says; “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon His name. And they shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”

~ Jacob Sparks