March 3, 2013
Morning Service

Matt. 13:44-53

 

Review:

1.    Greg shared with us the teaching on the Mount.  Matt. 5-6-7.  Almost any question you have can be answered in this teaching.  However, N.T. church structure, and things of this nature will  be answered by the Apostle Paul in his writings of the N.T.

2.    Jesus went from this discourse with His disciples, to performing miracles, that the people in tune with God would know that He was speaking in all authority from God the Father.

3.    Then He began teaching in parables, fulfilling the Scriptures, “seeing they will see, hearing they will hear, but not understand.”  God was preparing the way for mankind to be saved, and be a part of the family of God.  Not just the Jews, but all mankind.

4.    Just as sure as we are gathered here this morning there is coming a day when Jesus will return for His church.  For those who have prepared for His coming a glorious day, but for those who are not prepared a terrible time.  For then it will be too late to get saved.

5.    Jesus began teaching in parables with the SOWER.  The lesson was that all that hear the Word of God will not believe, and be saved.  Only 25% according to the parable.

6.    Then the wheat and the tares.  The lesson:  There will be good seed, and bad seed grow up together in the church, and at the end time they will be separated, wheat into heaven, the tares in the lake of fire to be burned.

7.    Then the mustard seed.  The lesson:  The Kingdom of God had a small beginning but will fill the earth with its doctrine, or teaching.  It has done that.

8.    Then the parable of the leaven. The lesson:  same as that of the mustard seed.  The teaching, or doctrine of Christ will spread throughout the world.  It has.

 

This morning we want to look at the four remaining parables in chapter 13.

 

Parable of the hidden treasure.

Mat 13:44-53  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 

Pearl of great price.

(45)  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  (46)  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 

·         SIMPLE LESSON: In these first two parables the Lord is telling us how valuable, or important it is to enter the kingdom of heaven.

·         Treasure hidden in a field.  A person will give everything they have to obtain that field.

·         Finding a pearl of great price.  Again, one would sell all he has to obtain it, knowing it would be worth more than what he had.

·         His words of encouragement in the sermon on the mount was to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and then everything we need in life will be given unto us.

·         As we set priorities in order, it has got to be in our hearts, that the things of God are first, and foremost in our lives.

Jesus said, “what shall it profit a man should he gain the whole world, and lose his soul?”

In Luke 18, a certain ruler ask Jesus concerning eternal life.

·         FOR YOU TO PREPARE YOUR HEART TO WANT MORE OF GOD IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE. 

 

 

 

 

SO HOW MUST I DO THIS?

1.       Remember the admonition in the sermon on the mount.  Seek, knock, and you shall find. 

2.      SEEK MEANS TO, Pray without ceasing.  Let God know that this is your desire.  To draw closer to Him in every way.  KNOCK, which means to be persistent in your prayers.  Cultivate good prayer habits in your life.  Then you will FIND, God will give you your heart’s desire, because it is in His will.

3.      Then read the Word of God by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is my responsibility as a Minister of the Word, to point you to the Lamb of God, the Word, the Holy Ghost, so that He can teach you the same thing He teaches every child of God.  You don’t need me to explain the Word to you.  I will as long as need be, but I will continue to point you to Him.  He will teach you, and it will be right.  Listen to Him.

1Jn 2:26-27  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.  (27)  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.      Just as He will teach you, He will always be with you.

Jesus said;  Luk 12:11  And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: Luk 12:12  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

As you read, and study the Scriptures, He will reveal to you that He is always with you, and will never leave, nor forsake you.  This you will learn to believe, and trust.

THEN HE GIVES REASON FOR SEEKING FIRST THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

The dragnet.

(47)  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:  (48)  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.  (49)  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,  (50)  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

·        This is the picture we get from all the end time parables.  The bad, those that have not prepared themselves for His coming, will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death.

·        No matter what parable He uses to express this truth, it will happen like He says.

The householder.

(51)  Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.  (52)  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.  (53)  And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

·        Every Scribe, or teacher of the Word of God, must bring forth the treasures that are found within the pages of this inspired Book, both of the old, and new testament, the rich treasures of the things of God. 

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE LIGHTLY.  OUR FRIENDS, OUR LOVED ONES, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN, AND EVEN OURSELVES, DEPEND ON OUR SEEKING THIS BLESSED PRIZE, WHICH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

 

DROP WHATEVER YOU ARE PURSUEING, AND GIVE YOURSELF WHOLE HEARTEDLY TO SEEKING, AND KNOCKING, AND FINDING THIS GLORIOUS TREASURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TOO.  THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

 

MAY GOD SPEAK TO YOUR HEART THIS MORNING, AND DIRECT IT INTO HIS WILL.