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."
(2 Corinthians 4:7) "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
(Proverbs 2:3-5) (3) "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;" (4) "If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;" (5) "Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God."
(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."
(Isaiah 33:6) "And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure."
PREFACE SUMMARY
Dear reader, this message is about a man out walking through a field and discovered a hidden treasure who when discovering the valuable treasure, hides it and goes to find the owner and purchase the field.
Beloved, there is a valuable lesson in this parable and there are two ways we can look at it but I believe the Lord has settled my mind that the treasure is not only his free gift of salvation but the valuable gifts within us just waiting to be discovered.
Dear reader, notice how the parable is followed by another parable speaking of the value of a precious pearl that was discovered by the merchant looking for pearls and notice that both parables speak about something very valuable that had to be sought for because they were treasures waiting to be discovered.
Saints, there are several ways we can look at these parables such as, is the field the world, or are both parables speaking of the value of one soul before God, which would make us the treasure and Christ the one seeking the treasure that gave his life to redeem lost broken humanity back to God?
Beloved, I invite you to join me as we glean some precious insights from the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price.
Beloved reader, did you know that many have grown up in life marked by words spoken over their lives 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, and dear reader may I ask you to pause for a moment and see if any of this holds true in your life?
Dear reader, did you know that many also have filled early graves that died with talents, gifts, ideas and maybe even breakthroughs that could have changed the hardships we face today but they listened and started believing what people spoke over their lives that they will never accomplish anything other than being a normal person?
Beloved, have you conducted a study concerning Mr. Borglum and his son as they envisioned faces of Presidents protruding out of the granite walls towering over Mount Rushmore which is a towering beacon of hope representing one hundred fifty years of freedom as it displays the American dream to peoples and cultures around the world?
Dear reader, can you visualize in your mind somebody with a creative mind seeing a sculpture such as an animal or beautiful bird as they viewed a parts of a tree trunk that was left standing in some ones yard but sadly to some, the tree trunk would be viewed as an eyesore that they would want uprooted and moved?
Beloved reader, the bottom line is that we need to see ourself as a special creation of God with unlimited possibilities just waiting to be discovered.
Beloved, the truth is that some of us have had to spend a lifetime to discover how to tap into these powerful treasures that were placed in us at birth by a wonderful creator who planned our life the end from the beginning.
Dear reader, this timely message explores the parables found in Matthew the thirteenth chapter which speaks about discovering a treasure lying hidden in a field and a pearl that was of great value demonstrating to us that something very valuable needs to be sought and 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.
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."
Dear reader, did you know that both parables speaking of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price are very sentimental to me because beloved, I actually chose to use the parable of the hidden treasure in a play skit where I was attending classes at an event called "The Eumaeus Walk" that was sponsored by a church organization in Kentucky?
Beloved, in this event, I was a team leader assigned to a small group with specific projects to complete and on the first project, the elders decided to test our group by giving us a failing grade which did not sit well with me.
Dear reader, not knowing that they had did this on purpose, I became very upset and made up my mind that my group would never receive a failing grade again.
Beloved, the next project for our group was to act out a parable from the Bible, and we chose to act out the parable of the hidden treasure.
Dear Saints, under my guidance, our group took great effort in bringing out the details of the parable by acting out in real life the scene of a man walking along in a field and discovered a treasure that did not belong to him.
Beloved, in our little play, we had the man which was played by me to find the treasure then look around suspiciously to see if anyone had seen me with the treasure, and 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.
Dear reader, 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.
Beloved reader, during our negotiations, I proceeded to convince the land owner to sell the land 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.
Dear reader, in acting out our play, I tried every attempt to convince the land owner that the land was not only an eyesore, but because of being left unattended for a long period of time, would require a lot of work to make it useful for development.
Dear reader, the landowner refused to come down on the price using as an excuse that the property had been in his family for several years and he really was not all that interested in parting with it.
Beloved, 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.
Dear reader, 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 negotiated for but regardless of my many attempts, the property owner stood firm on his price.
Beloved, I was determined to have the priceless treasure that I knew was buried in the field and proceeded to sell everything that I owned including my parents inheritance which consisted of auctioning off live stock and farm equipment including making several trips to the stock market to get the money needed to buy the field.
Dear reader, I am now broke and all I have is a shovel to my name but I am happy and as I stride to the location of my new property to claim my hidden treasure.
Beloved 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.
Beloved reader, the elders in our class had dimmed the lights and while acting out our play, I proceed to reply, “old friend, you don’t understand, I have found a great treasure that is hidden on this property that is now mine.”
Beloved Saints, 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.”
Beloved, after making 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, and 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.
Beloved Saints, 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 for the builders had not finished nailing sheet rock to the ceiling.
Beloved, during this time as the Spirit of God descended upon all that were in the room. my friend we call the Intimidator who was boxed in by other classmates was standing up in a chair jumping up and down with excitement.
Dear reader, 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 lose some of my stitches.
Beloved, 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.
Dear Saints and fellow peers, the elders went out of the building to discuss this playwright skit that we had put on and soon returned with their grade for our project.
Beloved, as the elders walked in the room, one of them turned the lights off as the main leader shinned his flashlight on the floor to where the buried treasure was supposed to be and began preaching under the Lord’s anointing as he pointed to the little basket representing the hidden treasure.
Beloved, 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 and beloved, 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."
Beloved reader, I want to expound on the parable of the hidden treasure as the Lord uses the parable to reveal a spiritual truth to his disciples concerning the hidden treasure that was discovered my a man in a field.
Beloved, notice that after discovering the treasure, the Lord describes the man quickly buries the treasure and leaves the field to find the rightful owner of the field.
Dear reader, did you know that some people have made attempts to explain these scriptures as being many things but beloved, Jesus was known for taking ordinary events of his day to reveal a spiritual truths to his disciples.
Beloved, notice that the man is out walking in a field and discovers a treasure and notice beloved that after he discovers the treasure, he hides it until he can find the owner of the field, therefore beloved reader, the man could not be Jesus looking for a treasure in a field that was not his.
Dear reader, I believe that taking this parable for the way it was written that we will discover that the man would represent a broken weary man or woman that is struggling through life looking for the meaning of life and a reason to live.
Dear reader, notice how that after he discovers the treasure and hides it that he goes to find who owns the field and after negotiating on a price, sells everything that he has to buy the field.
Beloved, I want you to ask you to take a few moments and reflect back on your own life of how you responded when you first heard the gospel message?
Dear reader, I know I can look back at the many times in my life when something deep inside me was telling me that the preacher is right and I need to respond the the altar call that was at times beloved 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.
Beloved, think about the many times they had their hands in the treasure but chose to hold on to their seat as the minister informs them that they cannot clean up enough on their own to come to God and God wants them just like they are.
Saints, and fellow peers, God loves sinners and he has a set price for us to be saved and 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 life.
Dear reader, did you know that the salvation that God offers through his Son Jesus, will cost us everything and beloved reader, just like the man in the parable that sold everything to purchase the field which hid the valuable treasure, the question presented to us through this study 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?"
Beloved, we cannot clean up enough for God but there is 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)
Dear reader, 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."
In closing beloved, God says that all who call upon his name shall be saved and just like the man in my playwright that not only purchased the field but purchased the mineral rights concerning the field, we have God's Holy word which is his constitution to his people which gives us a "written guarantee" that his promises are true for he watches over his word which he honors above his name to perform it.
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."
Dear reader, when I read this parable, my mind reflects on some stories I read when just a young boy which described a family making every attempt they could to convince the man of the house to attend church services with them.
Beloved, the man had a 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 which is mankind that is made in his image and likeness from their sins.
Beloved reader, the story speaks of a rough winter night when the family had invited the man to attend the church Christmas play, but beloved, once again the man declined the offer and decided to stay home but beloved, God had plans that night to visit the man and answer the prayers of his family.
Beloved, the story goes that sometime during the late evening the wind got up blowing snow everywhere causing a black out when all of a sudden the man started hearing thuds on his picture window.
Dear reader, the man discovered that some birds had lost their way in the storm and blindly flew into his window injuring them causing them to no longer be able to fly.
Beloved, when the man went to see about the noise, he discovered frightened birds hopping around leaving blood trails in the fresh snow.
Beloved reader, 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.
Beloved, the man gathered some bread and attempted to leave a trail of food in the snow but the birds were having no part of it.
Saints, the man in a last attempt, 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.
Dear reader, as the man watched the birds reject his acts of kindness, the thought entered his mind that to the birds whom he means no harm, he is just a monster that cannot be trusted and unless he could become one of them, they would never understand that he only wants what is best for them.
Beloved, as these thoughts flooded through the mans mind, the chapel bells started ringing at the church where his family was enjoying the Christmas play which caused the man to understand and catch a glimpse of a perfect and Holy creator in love with his creation.
Dear Saints, the man began to get understanding that to man, God was like a monster and unless he could became 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 but like the birds, the man kept rejecting the invitation for him to have the chance to share the gospel message.
Dear reader, 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 but 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 memory of concerning the tragic death of his son.
Beloved, the man and his son who was an experienced navy diver often went on trips with his son diving for pearls and 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 and all the father had was the large pearl that had been handed under the sea to him by his son.
Dear Saints, 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 mans priceless gift caused the Lord to soften the friends 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 and that 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 the rebellion of Satan.
Dear reader, the bottom line to this important message is God loves mankind enough that he gave his only begotten Son to become the supreme sacrifice for all which beloved to me became a pearl of great price that made the way for God to have a family sharing his glory that is consisted of many adopted sons and daughters into his royal family.
MY CONCLUSION
Dear reader, in the fullness of time we see the Word of God clothing himself with the flesh of man coming to this planet being born of the virgin Mary to fulfill the plan and purposes of God.
Beloved, God's plan was for him to be born into poverty, to grow up as a man, and be tempted in all points like us that he may become the example of how we should approach God.
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.
Beloved reader, just like the man that discovered the buried treasure in the field that was discovered in a field that he did not own, I heard the gospel message and saw my sinful condition as being a lost sinner deserving of hell, and received Christ as the Lord and King of my life.
Dear reader, 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 which 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.
Beloved, it was not long till I found that I could not save the world and soon succumbed to the trials and pressures of every day life giving in to temptation which caused me to backslid and grow away from church attendance.
Beloved reader, during this time, I got educated on the characters of men as I learned that mankind was not as forgiving as God and this beloved, is when I met God's amazing grace.
Beloved, before this time, 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.
Dear reader, when I finally realized that the price of the field that concealed the buried treasure was going to cost me everything, I bought the field and discovered a wonderful Lord interceding on my behalf to see me restored back into right relationship with Him.
Beloved, 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.
Beloved, one day soon, we will be with Him and our loved ones in our glorified bodies celebrating our deliverance from the bondages of sin and be with him forever throughout the ceaseless ages of time singing songs such as "I'm Redeemed and Worthy is the Lamb." A-Men
Beloved, I want you to know that there are some powerful PDF book manuscripts that can be download for free from our website. (www.witheredhand.org)
Dearly beloved, 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, because beloved, our sovereign God knew before hand, yes before creation, just how bad we were going to mess up in life, but chose to call us anyway because he looks at the heart.
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 and 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 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 apart 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 heart 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 move to bless each one that has taken time to read this message and have humbly surrendered their life more to your purpose and I ask that you intensify the work that you have begun in their life and ministry in Jesus mighty name.
Father, I ask that you bless them spiritually, financially, physically, relationally and emotionally 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 would be broken and I ask that you stand up in them in these last days and make their life count. Dear Lord, I ask you to awaken the gifts and talents that was placed in them at birth, 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 masters 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
