SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Matthew 13:44) (44) "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."
(Matthew 13:45-46) (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."
(Matthew 6:19-21) (19) "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:" (20) "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" (21) "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
(Colossians 2:2-3) (2) "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;" (3) "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
PREFACE SUMMARY
This message explores two insightful parables that illustrate the idea of discovering something of great value and the lengths one might go to secure it. The first parable depicts a man who is walking through a field when he stumbles upon a hidden treasure buried in the ground. Realizing the immense worth of what he has found, he carefully hides the treasure again to keep it safe.
Understanding the importance of owning the land where the treasure lies, he then sets out to locate the field's owner. With determination and a sense of purpose, he makes arrangements to purchase the field, fully aware that this investment is worth every sacrifice he must make.
The second parable revolves around the concept of the pearl of great price. In this story, a merchant who specializes in fine pearls comes across one that is exceptionally valuable, unlike anything he has ever seen before. Recognizing its worth, he decides to sell all of his other pearls and possessions to buy this singular, magnificent pearl.
Both parables convey a powerful message about the pursuit of true value. They emphasize that when one encounters something of great significance, it is worth sacrificing everything else to obtain it.
There is a valuable lesson in these two parables, and there are two ways to interpret them. However, I believe the Lord has settled my mind that the treasure is not only his free gift of salvation but also the valuable gifts within us, just waiting to be discovered.
Notice how the first parable is followed by another parable speaking of the value of a precious pearl discovered by the merchant looking for pearls. Both parables talk about something valuable that had to be sought because they were treasures waiting to be discovered.
There are numerous ways to analyze and interpret these parables. For instance, in the first parable, one might consider whether the field represents the world as a whole or perhaps a more specific aspect of it. This raises the question of what the field signifies in relation to the broader narrative.
In the second parable, centered around the pearl of great price, it is important to explore what the pearl signifies in this context. What is the man searching for when he seeks this precious pearl? Is it a representation of ultimate truth or spiritual fulfillment?
It may be insightful to consider whether both parables communicate the profound value of a single soul in God's eyes. This interpretation suggests that we, as individuals, are the treasure being sought after. In this view, Christ embodies the seeker who is willing to sacrifice everything to redeem lost and broken humanity, ultimately restoring our relationship with God. This exploration invites us to reflect on themes of value, sacrifice, and redemption within our own spiritual journeys.
Did you know that many have grown up in lives marked by words telling them that they will never be or accomplish what others have, for they simply are not smart or good enough to be anything but a failure? Beloved, would you consider pausing to see if this holds in your life?
Many precious people have filled early graves and died with talents, gifts, ideas, and maybe even breakthroughs that could have changed the hardships we face today. They fell prey to the enemy by listening and believing what people said over their lives, that they would never accomplish anything other than being normal people.
Consider how Mr. Borglum and his son envisioned Presidents' faces protruding from the granite walls towering over Mount Rushmore. Could you have imagined that when their work was completed, it would become a towering beacon of hope, representing one hundred fifty years of freedom, as it displayed the American dream to peoples and cultures worldwide?
Beloved, can you imagine somebody with a creative mind seeing a sculpture such as an animal or beautiful bird as they viewed parts of a tree trunk that was left standing in someone's yard? Sadly, to some, the tree trunk would be viewed as an eyesore that they would want to be uprooted and moved.
This timely message explores the parables found in Matthew's thirteenth chapter. The parables discuss discovering a treasure lying hidden in a field and a pearl of great value, demonstrating to us that something very valuable needs to be sought. When it is found, it will be worth more than the price of the field in which it lies, where it is just waiting to be discovered.
We should embrace the understanding that we are uniquely designed by God, each of us a special creation with distinct qualities and abilities. Within us lies a vast potential, filled with endless possibilities just waiting to be uncovered and developed. By recognizing our worth and the individuality we possess, we open ourselves up to new opportunities for growth and fulfillment. This perspective encourages us to explore our talents, pursue our passions, and ultimately contribute to the world in meaningful ways.
Throughout our lives, many of us embark on a profound journey to uncover the powerful treasures that reside within us. These gifts, thoughtfully instilled at birth by a benevolent creator, are woven into the very fabric of our being. With each experience and challenge we encounter, we gradually learn how to access and harness these innate strengths and talents.
In summary, the Christian life is a process marked by exploration, self-discovery, and growth, which reveals the intricate plan that our creator designed for our lives from the very beginning. Understanding this purpose often requires years of reflection and learning, but the rewards of tapping into these treasures can lead to fulfilling our true potential and living a life rich with meaning and significance.
THE CLASSROOM PLAY
(Matthew 13:44) (44) "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."
Did you know that both the parables about the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price are very sentimental to me? Beloved, I actually chose to use the parable of the hidden treasure in a play skit while attending classes at an event called "The Eumaeus Walk" sponsored by a church organization in Kentucky.
In this event, I was a team leader assigned to a small group with specific projects to complete. On the first project, the elders decided to test our group by giving us a failing grade, which did not sit well with me. Not knowing that they had done this on purpose, I became very upset and decided that my group would never receive a failing grade again.
Beloved, our group's next project was to act out a parable from the Bible, and we chose the parable of the hidden treasure. Under my guidance, our group made a great effort to bring out the details of the parable by acting out in real life the scene of a man walking along in a field and discovering a treasure that did not belong to him.
In our little play, we had the man who was played by me, find the treasure and then look around suspiciously to see if anyone had seen me with the treasure. When I was convinced that I was all alone in the field, I hurriedly covered up the treasure and started making attempts to find who owned the parcel of land.
After discovering that a rich man we called Mr. Goldfinger owned the field, I made an appointment with his secretary to begin negotiations with the land owner to buy the field, including the mineral rights.
During our negotiations, I convinced the land owner to sell the land to me, and even though the price was very high, I knew in my heart that the prize buried in that field was worth more than the price of the field.
In acting out our play, I tried every attempt to convince the land owner that the land was not only an eyesore but, because being left unattended for a long period of time, would require a lot of work to make it useful for development.
The landowner refused to lower the price, citing as an excuse that the property had been in his family for several years and that he was not very interested in parting with it. I played this with everything I had, and in our play, and acted out that I was willing to spend every penny I had to purchase that property, including my earthly inheritance from my parents.
In our play, I sold the greater portion of my earthly possessions, but at the same time, beloved, I kept trying to get the property owner to reduce the price we had originally negotiated. Regardless of my many attempts, the property owner stood firm on his price.
I was determined to have the priceless treasure that I knew was buried in the field. I proceeded to sell everything that I owned, including my parents' inheritance, which consisted of auctioning off livestock and farm equipment. I also made several trips to the stock market to get the money needed to buy the field.
Beloved, I am now broke, and all I have is a shovel to my name, but I am happy as I stride to the location of my new property to claim my hidden treasure. I had not gotten far until an old friend caught up to me saying, “I can’t believe that you have bought this ugly piece of ground that has been unattended for years and I certainly cannot believe that you gave up your house, your inheritance, and everything you own just to purchase this rundown piece of property that a rabbit would refuse to run cross.
The elders in our class had dimmed the lights, and while acting out our play, I replied, " Old friend, you don’t understand. I have found a great treasure hidden on this property that is now mine.” My old friend, in acting out our play, loudly replied, “That doesn’t belong to you; it belongs to the man who sold you the land.”
After making the pretense that I was digging up my treasure, I joyfully argued that the deed plainly stated that all things on and in the field were now mine. Beloved, when I reached for the costume jewelry basket, which represented the treasure I had found, I discovered that the elders had replaced it with my Bible.
When my hands touched that Bible, the preacher in me manifested, and I began to preach to the class with such enthusiasm that I caught myself walking with my hands through the rafters, which were open because the builders had not finished nailing sheetrock to the ceiling.
Beloved, during this time, as the Spirit of God descended upon all in the room, my friend, whom we call the Intimidator, who was boxed in by other classmates, stood up in a chair, jumping up and down with excitement.
I began to preach about an experience many individuals encounter when they enter a service: the profound conviction of God's presence touching their hearts. In that moment, they may feel a powerful urge to transform their lives and seek a deeper relationship with Him. However, rather than approaching the altar to surrender wholeheartedly, some individuals hesitate. They cling to certain aspects of their lives, believing they can negotiate or bargain with God for their salvation.
Yet, the truth is that God has a clear and unwavering price for salvation; it requires complete dedication and total surrender. To truly embrace salvation, one must be willing to let go of everything that holds them back, allowing God to take full control of their life. Only then can they experience the fullness of His grace and the transformative power of a committed relationship with Him.
I want you to know that during this time, I had just undergone hernia surgery, and it would be physically impossible for me to jump up while preaching with all my body weight dangling from these rafters without tearing loose some of my stitches. God protected me and demonstrated to my classmates that this was a manifestation of God’s power which left me with no pain and no damage to my stitches.
The elders went out of the building to discuss this playwright skit that we had put on and soon returned with their grades for our project. As the elders walked into the room, one of them turned the lights off. The main leader shone his flashlight on the floor to where the buried treasure was supposed to be, and he began preaching under the Lord’s anointing, pointing to the little basket representing the hidden treasure.
That night, the living God allowed his Holy Spirit to descend upon all of us, causing us to be in total awe and worship as the Living God took charge of the service. It did not come as a surprise when my group received an A+ grade on our project.
THE HIDDEN TREASURE
(Matthew 13:44) (44) "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."
In this part of the message, I want to expound on the parable of the hidden treasure, which the Lord uses to reveal spiritual truth to his disciples concerning the hidden treasure that was discovered by a man in a field. Notice that after discovering the treasure, the Lord describes the man as quickly burying it and leaving the field to find the rightful owner of the field.
Jesus was known for using ordinary events of his day to reveal spiritual truths to his disciples. Notice that the man is out walking in a field and discovers a treasure. Notice also that after he discovers the treasure, he hides it until he can find the owner of the field. Therefore, the man could not be Jesus looking for a treasure in a field that was not his.
If we take this parable as it was written, we will discover that the man represents a broken, weary man or woman who is struggling through life, looking for meaning and a reason to live. Notice how, after he discovers the treasure and hides it, he goes to find who owns the field and, after negotiating a price, sells everything that he has to buy the field.
Beloved, I want to ask you to take a few moments to reflect on how you responded when you first heard the gospel message. I can look back at the many times in my life when something deep inside me was telling me that the preacher was right and I needed to respond to the altar call that was given and many times I can recall when it was extended in hopes that someone would take that first step to say that they are not pleased with their life and they have a hunger and desire to know more about God.
Think about the many times people under conviction had their hands in the treasure but chose to hold on to their seats as the minister informed them that they could not clean up enough on their own to come to God, and God wanted them just like they were.
God loves sinners, and he has a set price for us to be saved. He will not take less, nor will he allow us to hold on to some pet sin. But the song that says, "Just as I am, without one plea, and that thy blood was shed for me, O Lamb of God, I come."
Beloved, the truth of the gospel message is that we must be willing to come to Christ in complete surrender and allow his amazing grace to transform our lives. Did you know that the salvation that God offers through his Son Jesus, will cost us everything?
Just like the man in the parable who sold everything to purchase the field that hid the valuable treasure, the question presented to us through this message would be, after the Holy Spirit has convicted us of our sins and made us aware that we are sinners in need of a savior, "What are we going to do with Jesus?"
We cannot clean up enough for God but there is a vast treasure in knowing that "He that knew no sin, was made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) When we accept his free pardon of sin and his free gift of salvation, we give up the rights to our life and give him entrance with permission to live his life through us. (Psalms 34:18) that "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."
Beloved, God says that all who call upon his name shall be saved. Just like the man in my playwright who not only purchased the field but also the mineral rights concerning it, we have God's Holy Word, which is his constitution to his people. This gives us a "written guarantee" that his promises are true, for he watches over his word, which he honors above his name to perform.
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
(Matthew 13:45-46) (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."
When I read this parable, I think of some stories I read as a young boy, which described a family making every attempt to convince the man of the house to attend church services with them. The man had high regard for God and just could not accept the fact that a perfect being who is perfect in all his ways would humble himself to walk in human flesh and give himself as a supreme sacrifice to save his greatest creation, mankind, who is made in his image and likeness, from their sins.
The story describes a rough winter night when the family invited the man to attend the church Christmas play. Once again, the man declined the offer and decided to stay home, but God had plans that night to visit the man and answer his family's prayers. The story goes that sometime during the late evening, the wind got up, blowing snow everywhere, causing a blackout. Suddenly, the man started hearing thuds on his picture window. The man discovered that some birds had lost their way in the storm and blindly flew into his window, injuring them and causing them to no longer be able to fly.
When the man went to investigate the noise, he discovered frightened birds hopping around, leaving blood trails in the fresh snow. The man showed sympathy for the birds and made an attempt to feed them but they would not allow him to get near them and would injure themselves more in an attempt to get away.
The man gathered some bread and attempted to leave a trail of food in the snow, but the birds did not have any part of it. In a last attempt, the man opened the doors to his nearby barn and turned the light on as if to attract the birds to the warm shelter of the barn.
Watching the birds reject his acts of kindness, he thought that to the birds whom he meant no harm, he was just a monster that could not be trusted. Unless he could become one of them, they would never understand that he only wants what is best for them.
As these thoughts flooded through the man's mind, the chapel bells started ringing at the church where his family was enjoying the Christmas play. This caused the man to understand and catch a glimpse of a perfect and Holy creator in love with his creation.
The man began to understand that to man, God was like a monster, and unless he could become a man and came down on their level, he would not gain their trust, for to fallen man, a perfect Holy God would be viewed as an unapproachable God.
Beloved, did you know that this happened to a man who had a long-time friend getting up in age that he wanted to introduce to the gospel, like the birds, the man kept rejecting the invitation for him to have the chance to share the gospel message.
One day, as the man was making an attempt to lead his friend to Christ, he asked the friend to wait as he went to get something he wanted to give him. When the man returned with the largest, most beautiful pearl known to man, the friend informed him that he could not and would not accept the gift, for it was the last point of contact that the man had a memory of concerning the tragic death of his son.
The man and his son, who was an experienced navy diver, often went on trips with his son, diving for pearls. This pearl was found by his son, who sent him back to the boat but drowned before he could get back to be with his father. All the father had was the large pearl that had been handed under the sea to him by his son.
The friend informed the man that this item was priceless and he could never receive this gift from his friend, but beloved reader, I want you to know that the offering of this man's priceless gift caused the Lord to soften the friend's heart giving him understanding concerning a bible verse he had heard from his youth that is found in (John 3:16) "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish but have everlasting life."
Beloved, in this parable, you can draw your own conclusions whether you believe that the pearl of great price is lost humanity and the merchant is Christ, but one thing that I believe we can all agree on is that the gospel message of the kingdom is the greatest news on earth, telling the story of a loving creator providing a way for his greatest creation to be rescued from Satan's rebellion.
The central theme of this message is that God's love for humanity is profound and unconditional. In His great compassion, He made the ultimate sacrifice by giving His only begotten Son, who took on the weight of the world’s sins to atone for all of mankind. This Son, whom I hold dear to my heart, is considered a pearl of great price, an invaluable treasure. Through His sacrificial act, He created a pathway for God to establish a family of believers who share in His divine glory. This family is made up of many adopted sons and daughters, each welcomed into His royal family, where they can experience love, acceptance, and eternal fellowship with their Creator.
MY CONCLUSION
Beloved, I will never forget that warm Sunday morning when I understood the salvation message and accepted Christ into my life, making him my Lord and my Savior. Just like the man who discovered the buried treasure in a field that he did not own, I heard the gospel message and saw my sinful condition as a lost sinner deserving of hell, and I received Christ as the Lord and King of my life.
When I began studying the Word and applying its truths to my life, I discovered that as I surrendered to the prompting of His Holy Spirit, Christ was getting more and more of me. This caused such a hunger in my life for the things of God that I surrendered to the prompting of His Holy Spirit and made him not only my Savior but also my Lord and King.
It was not long before I found that I could not save the world. I soon succumbed to the trials and pressures of everyday life, giving in to temptation, which caused me to backslide and grow away from church attendance. During this time, I got educated on men's characters as I learned that mankind was not as forgiving as God. This beloved, is when I met God's amazing grace.
I was not living a surrendered life and became like the man who had his hands in the treasure but failed to see the need to give up everything and buy the field. When I finally realized that the price of the field that concealed the buried treasure was going to cost me everything, I spiritually bought the field and discovered a wonderful Lord interceding on my behalf to restore me to the right relationship with Him.
The law says that I am guilty before God of breaking his laws, and because of the sin mankind inherited through the transgression of Adam, I was found guilty and sentenced to death without any hope of being spared, but beloved, the blessed treasure that can be found in the gospel declares that our Lord stepped down from his bench of Judgement declaring before all creation that He could find nothing in His law that would forbid Him from serving man's sentence of death.
God wants you to know that you are special and just like money that has become misplaced or lost, but when it is found beloved, it never loses its value because it is backed by its value in gold by the constitution and government of the United States treasury, and beloved, just like the money that never loses its value, you too can never lose your value before God because no matter what people may think or say about you, just know and understand that they are not the ones that will be signing your report card.
Beloved, your reputation is what man has heard and attempted to define you with, but your character is what God already knows about you. Our sovereign God knew beforehand, yes, before creation, just how bad we were going to mess up in life, but he chose to call us anyway because he looks at the heart.
One day soon, we will be with Him and our loved ones in our glorified bodies, celebrating our deliverance from the bondage of sin and being with him forever throughout he ceaseless ages of time, singing songs such as "I'm Redeemed and Worthy is the Lamb." A-Men
MY CLOSING PRAYER
Dear Lord, I come to you this day in Jesus' mighty name and in His shed blood, recognizing His great sacrifice at Calvary. Dear Lord, I pray that your honor & glory be manifested in this work, and may your countenance smile through it to strengthen the redeemed and to add souls to your kingdom. LORD, I ask that your hand be upon it, and may Your HOLY SPIRIT'S presence anoint this work of faith. Father, I ask you to charge your ministering Angels as posted guards, removing any hindrances that would come against this work.
Father God. I pray you to use this work to show the people that you are the unchanging God, for your word declares it, and what you were yesterday, you are today and will be tomorrow! Lord, please help us to not be careless and prideful in our Christian Walk, or resemble a bunch of used body parts, but help us realize Lord, that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves; that we are a part of your glorious body as sons and daughters in your royal family and kingdom.
Dear Lord, my prayer is that you stir us up and burden our hearts for true revival, yes Lord, in every country throughout the world and demonstrate to the people in these countries that you are the Unchanging God, for your word declares it, that what you were yesterday, you are today, and will be tomorrow! (Hebrews 13:8)
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you bless each one who has taken the time to read this message and humbly surrendered their life more to your purpose. I ask that you intensify the work that you have begun in their lives and ministries in Jesus' mighty name.
Father, I ask that you bless them spiritually, financially, physically, relationally, and emotionally so that their life may be blessed to enrich the lives of others, and dear Lord, I ask that your will, your purpose, your word, and your Spirit will have free course in their life and everyone that they meet.
Father, I pray that all curses and words spoken against them will be broken, and I ask that you stand up in them in these last days and make their lives count. Dear Lord, I ask you to awaken the gifts and talents that were placed in them at birth so that they may become unified in the faith with other believers, realizing the need to work together in harmony like a fine-tuned orchestra in the master's hands.
Father, I pray that if any reading this prayer should need deliverance from some oppressing spirit, including some illnesses that may be attacking their body, Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit would raise up a standard against these attacks and set these people free. Lord, I pray that the power of your written and spoken word be activated through the authority that is made available unto us that is in the name of Jesus, and we apply the following scriptures to our prayer.
(John 16:23) "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." and (Psalms 34:15) "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."
Father, we close our prayer believing that you have heard and answered us according to your divine will and purpose, for it is in Jesus' mighty name we pray and ask these favors. A-Men
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
