DATE: 26th July, 2020
THEME: SEARCH FOR THE HIDDEN TREASURE
SCRIPTURE READINGS
1 Kings 3:5-12
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13: 44-52
Psalter: Psalm 128:1-6
INTRODUCTION
Pretend with me for a moment that, Jesus has returned to judge the living and the dead….and now you stand before him and see him with your own eyes. And as you stand before him you fully understand why he is the most valuable treasure you have in all of life for your eternal destiny of eternal life or eternal damnation will be sealed. For Jesus says: “The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Part of our joy is knowing that we will not be thrown into that fiery furnace of damnation. We will live, and by his grace alone, attain heaven’s riches. At that moment, nothing – NOTHING – else will matter, nothing but our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
THE PARABLE EXPLAINED
A man finds a treasure hidden in A field, which he hides in THE field; he then proceeds to BUY the field. He then sells everything he has in order to buy the field, but does so gladly in anticipation of the treasure that will then be rightfully his.
So what is the meaning of the parable, D A Carson’s explanation is. “The kingdom of heaven is worth infinitely more than the cost of discipleship, and those who know where the treasure lies joyfully abandon everything else to secure it.”
What distinguishes this parable from the one following is that it describes the value of the kingdom to one who accidentally finds it though not purposely looking for it, its value is immediately recognized.
As William Hendriksen put its, ’we should grasp its one important lesson, the incalculable preciousness of salvation for those who discover it and obtain possession of it without even looking for it!’
BODY
I. WHAT ARE WE SEARCHING FOR?
What do you long to see and experience more than anything else in the entire world?
Have you ever thought to yourself: “I would give anything for that?” If so, what was it or what is it?
The letter to the Hebrews admonishes: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross.”
SALVATION AND LIVING A LIFE OF LOVE IS THE GREATEST TREASURE IN ALL THE WORLD.
Giving everything we have in order to be in relationship with Jesus Christ—with our Creator is the greatest JOY. It completely transforms our lives.
II. THE APOSTLE IS AN EXAMPLE
Paul discovered the “treasure” unexpectedly, it was on the road to Damascus, and he was going to persecute Christians – Ac 9:1-2, he thought it was the right thing to do –Ac 26:9-11. But once he met the Lord, and learned the will of God, he did not hesitate to carry it out even at great cost to himself –Ac 26: 19-23.
He had estimated that what he had found was worth giving up all for if necessary – Ph 3:4-11, in 2 Col: 4-7 Paul refers to it as a “treasure” and writes of the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” that are found in Christ – Cor 2:1-3. Clearly Paul considered Christ and His kingdom a “treasure” worth giving up all one had if necessary to obtain. What is there about the kingdom of Christ that makes it so valuable?
III. YOU CAN HAVE THE TREASURE
So what is a treasure? The dictionary tells us it is a thing of HIGHLY ESTIMATED VALUE. That thing could be money, gold, jewels, land, or other possessions; it could even be a memory. But there are some things that carry an even greater value.
In our rush to survive and get on in this world, we tend to lose sight of the real treasures and the strange thing is all of these are available to each and every one of us. — Love, honour, truth, and integrity and wisdom. There is one thing though that surpasses them all and that is God’s love, this great love is free and never ending and the only requirement from us is our response to that love.
IV. PRICELESS TREASURE
In Jesus’ parables, notice that the “treasures” were in places where anyone could have “found” them – the “treasure hidden in a field” was apparently found “by accident;” and “the pearl of great value” was found by a merchant searching.
In Jesus’ parable, “a man” – “any person” – found the treasure. He probably stumbled upon it while working the field. Sometimes this is how God brings people to saving faith.
We have the example in Acts, of the Ethiopian official, returning home after going to Jerusalem… Philip pointed to Jesus in the Scriptures and this foreigner, “found” Jesus, the “priceless treasure!” In great joy, he asked and received, Holy Baptism and “went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39).
God still works in this way today – especially with church members who may simply be “going through the motions” of worship and church membership; having been raised and confirmed in the church, but lacking the real joy and meaning to life that is a result of having the treasure.
Then, one day, in Bible Study or in worship, the “discovery” is made and there is great rejoicing in their “new life” in Christ!
Do you have this “treasure,” or is it still “hidden?” Does your life reflect the great joy of being a part of The Kingdom of Heaven?
Notice that in BOTH of Jesus’ parables, Jesus says, “in his joy, he went and sold all he had” in order to have “the treasure.”
Jesus FULLY PAID THE GREATEST PRICE – He lived, died and rose again in perfect obedience to His Father’s will, so that OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN and so that we might have life – not just the temporary, unfulfilled life in this world, but “abundant life” (John 10:10) / “eternal life” beginning right now!
APPLICATION
We see Jesus who finds the church lost in the world, He hides it until He can pay the ultimate price in order to posses it. Acts 20:28
The thought also applies to us more than to Christ. That is to say we the people of the world who go into the field, [the field in this case is the Bible] and as the truths unfold themselves and we become more able to understand the written scripture, we begin to feel joy and excitement and are able at this point to understand our lost condition and what we must do to be saved.
CONCLUSION
Precious One! Let’s continue to search the Scriptures for experience and encounter the hidden TREASURE in a special way. Enjoy the service. Stay BLESSED.
PREPARED BY
VERY REV DR. SAMUEL YAW DUA DODD
CALVARY METHODIST CHURCH
ADABRAKA-ACCRA
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