"The Pearl of Great Price"
Matthew 13:44-52 & 1 Chronicles 13:8-14
MY HEART HAS BEEN EAGERLY AWAITING THIS TIME WITH YOU THIS MORNING TO SHARE A MESSAGE FROM GOD THAT CONTAINS WITHIN IT THE POWER TO TRANSFORM SOMEONE’S LIFE THIS MORNING. THE CHALLENGE WILL BE FOR YOU TO BEAR WITH ME EARNESTLY LISTENING FOR THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF GOD SPEAKING TO YOUR HEART. WE WILL BE IN BOTH TESTAMENTS OF THE BIBLE SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE PLACE ONE FINGER IN THE 13TH CHAPTER OF MATTHEW AND ANOTHER IN THE 13TH CHAPTER OF 1 CHRONICLES.
ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1995 IN A LITTLE BAPTIST CHURCH 13 MILES EAST OF AMITE LOUISIANA, ALMIGHTY GOD WALKED INTO AN EVENING WORSHIP SERVICE TO CALL OUT A PREACHER THAT IS SPEAKING TO YOU THIS MORNING. SINCE THAT TIME CHRIST JESUS HAS TAKEN AN EVIL AND VILE CREATURE BOUND UP IN SIN AND SET ME FREE TO PREACH THE LIFE CHANGING MESSAGE OF MY SAVIOR FROM THE HOLY GROUND I NOW STAND UPON. MY LIFE UNTIL THAT MOMENT WAS IN SHAMBLES AND MY FAMILY AND MY MARRIAGE WAS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. FRIENDS WHEN I TELL YOU THAT JESUS HAS THE POWER TO SET YOU FREE FROM THE CHAINS AND SHACKLES SATAN HAS PLACED ON YOUR SHOULDERS, I KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE FROM MY EXPERIENCE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE DID FOR ME.
(1) I MAY NOT BE THE BEST MAN WALKING THE FACE OF THE EARTH TODAY BUT PRAISE GOD I’M NOT THE MAN I USED TO BE
(2) MY HEART WAS MOVED SO GREATLY BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT I SURRENDERED ALL THAT I HAD AND ALL THAT I EVER HOPED TO HAVE TO BE USED IN THE HAND OF GOD FOR HIS GLORY.
(3) UNLESS WE GIVE GOD ALL THAT WE ARE AND PLACE HIM FIRST IN OUR LIVES, WE CANNOT LIVE A LIFE THAT PLEASES GOD.
IN THOSE FEW YEARS SINCE FINALLY SELLING OUT TO JESUS MY VALUES, MY PURPOSE, MY PLEASURE AND MY GOALS HAVE BEEN FOREVER CHANGED TO STRIVE SO THAT I MAY ONE DAY HEAR MY LORD AND MY GOD SAY,
"WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT"
AND YOU WILL NEVER CONVINCE ME THAT ANY GREATER REWARD EXISTS FOR A SERVANT THAN TO HEAR THE PRAISE OF HIS MASTER. IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 13 BEGINNING IN VERSE 44 WE SHALL BREAK THIS BREAD OF LIFE TO HEAR A MESSAGE ENTITLED "THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE" AND THAT IS A SUBJECT THAT HAS BECOME VERY DEAR TO MY HEART.
READ SCRIPTURE
MANY THINGS IN THIS WORLD TODAY THAT A MAN CAN CHASE SEARCHING FOR SIGNIFICANCE AND PURPOSE FOR HIS LIFE AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS NATION WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO PURSUE THINGS THAT BRING THEM PLEASURE AND A FALSE SENSE OF FULFILLMENT. MANY NAMES OF THE IDOLS THAT CONSUME US AS WE PLACE THAT FALSE GOD IN THE PLACE TO BE RESERVED FOR ALMIGHTY GOD, THE LORD JEHOVAH, THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
1. CAREER
2. WEALTH
3. FAMILY
4. SEX
5. DRUGS
6. RECREATION
JESUS SAID A VERY SUPRISING THING THOUGH IN THE TEXT WE HAVE JUST READ. THE SON OF GOD WHO GAVE HIS LIFE IN OUR PLACE ON CALVARY SAID THAT THERE WAS A MAN WHO HAD SEARCHED THE WHOLE EARTH LOOKING FOR GOODLY PEARLS AND ONE DAY HE FOUND THAT PERFECT AND MAGNIFICENT PEARL. WHEN HE FOUND THAT PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, HE REALIZED THAT IN ALL HIS LIFE IF HE SEARCHED THE EARTH UNTIL THE END OF DAYS; THERE WOULD BE NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT. HE DESIRED THAT PEARL MORE THAN ANY THING IN HIS WHOLE LIFE AND JESUS SAID THAT HE WENT AND SOLD EVERY EARTHLY POSSESSION THAT HE HAD IN ORDER TO POSSESS IT AND OWN IT.
WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A MAN COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR A PEARL, BUT I CAN DESCRIBE SOME THINGS THAT WILL MAKE IT RELEVANT TO OUR TECHNOLOGICAL ERA.
A. WE CAN GO TO ALMOST ANY CAR DEALERSHIP IN THIS NATION TOMORROW MORNING AND FIND SOMEONE OUT THERE WILLING TO GIVE ALL THAT THEY HAVE TO OWN A TOP OF THE LINE 3000 POUND HUNK OF STEEL TO DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
B. WE COULD GO INTO MANY COMPANIES AND PLACES OF BUSINESS TOMORROW MORNING AND FIND PEOPLE WILLING TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING THEY OWN AND HAVE TO CLIMB JUST ONE MORE STEP UP THE CORPORATE LADDER.
C. IF WE HAD A MIND TO, WE COULD GO TO WALL STREET AND THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE TO SEE EVIDENCE OF SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO RISK EVERYTHING THEY HAVE IN ORDER TO MAKE JUST ONE DOLLAR MORE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE SECURITY…
BUT IT IS MY SAD DUTY TO TELL YOU THAT IN CHURCHES ALL ACROSS THIS GREAT NATION GATHERED IN GOD’S HOUSE THIS MORNING, THERE ARE NOT MANY WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE GOD HIS TITHE MUCH LESS EVERYTHING THEY HAVE TO SERVE HIM. VERY FEW MEN AND WOMEN HERE TODAY WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE GOD ALL THAT THEY ARE AND LAY ALL THEY POSSESS AT THE NAILSCARRED FEET OF CHRIST JESUS TO BE USED FOR HIS KINGDOM. NOT MANY WHO ARE WILLING TO SAY TO THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, HERE I AM LORD, USE ME.
AND WE WON’T STOP THERE BY NOT BEING WILLING TO SERVE GOD OURSELVES BUT WE HAVE TO THROW STONES AT THOSE WHO DO GIVE GOD THE THRONE IN THEIR HEART. WE LABEL THEM A FANATIC!
· THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE IS FOR YOU TO BE SAVED AND THEN TO SERVE GOD WITH EVERY FIBER OF YOUR BEING. NOT MANY WILLING TO POSSESS THE GLORY AND BLESSINGS OF GOD. MAYBE WE NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME PRAYING FOR GOD TO BREAK US THAN TO MAKE US.
GO TO 1 CHRONICLES 13 BEGINNING IN VERSE 8 AND LET’S LOOK AT A MAN IN HISTORY WHO FOUND THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE AND GAVE EVERYTHING HE HAD TO STAY IN THE PRESENCE OF A HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS GOD
OBED-EDOM MET GOD FACE TO FACE AND HIS LIFE WAS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. MAYBE THAT’S WHAT WE NEED IS FOR JESUS TO GET A HOLD OF US LIKE OLD MARCEL LEDBETTER UP IN THE TREE FIGHTING A WAMPUS CAT.
THIS MAN WAS A GITTITE WHO LIVED IN THE PHILISTINE REGION AND IF WE WOULD LOOK DEEPER, HE WASN’T EVEN AN ISRAELITE BUT I’LL TELL YOU WHAT HE WAS, HE WAS A MAN WHO WASN’T AFRAID TO DO WHAT GOD TOLD HIM. NOBODY ELSE ARGUED WITH HIM THAT DAY TO LET THE ARK STAY IN THEIR HOME BUT WHEN A HOME WAS NEEDED FOR GOD TO TAKE RESIDENCE IN, OBED-EDOM STEPPED UP TO TOE THE LINE. GOD BLESSED HIM IN ALL THAT HE HAD AND ALL THAT HE DID AND IN ALL THAT HE WAS. SOMETHING HAPPENED BEYOND THE PHYSICAL THOUGH BECAUSE YOU SEE THREE MONTHS LATER, DAVID CAME TO TAKE BACK THE ARK. SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THE SPIRIT OF OBED-EDOM AND HOW HE RESPONDED SHOWS US HIS TRUE CHARACTER.
1. MOST OF US WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP WHEN THEY CAME TO TAKE THE ARK BACK AND WOULD HAVE LIVED THE REST OF OUR LIVES TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD OLE DAYS…
A. WHEN BROTHER SO AND SO WAS THE PASTOR
B. BEFORE ALL THOSE OUTSIDERS STARTED COMING TO CHURCH
C. LONGER IT GETS THE BETTER IT WAS
1. SAD DAY WHEN CHRISTIANS SELL OUT JESUS TO BECOME HINDU’S AND WORSHIP SOME SACRED COW. HINDU’S WORSHIP THEM BRAHMA COWS THINKING THAT IT’S SOME DEAR DEPARTED LOVED ONE. PEOPLE STARVING TO DEATH IN THE STREET ALL OVER INDIA WITH PLENTY OF MEAT ON THE HOOF. I COULD CURE THEIR HUNGER PROBLEM IN A DAY BY KILLING ALL THEM COWS.
2. PEOPLE STARVING TO DEATH FOR SPIRITUAL BREAD IN CHURCHES ALL ACROSS THIS NATION AND WE’RE JUST AS BAD AS THEM HINDU’S BECAUSE WE WON’T KILL OUR SACRED COWS EITHER. LITTLE AUNT ESSIE ALWAYS SAT ON THAT PEW AND THERE’S NO WAY WE’RE GONNA GET RID OF THAT PREACHER.
3. GOD’S PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE THAT PEOPLE’S ETERNAL SOULS ARE RIDING IN THE BALANCE AND WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO REACH THEM EVEN IF THAT MEANS CHANGING.
OBED-EDOM DIDN’T LAY AROUND FEELING SORRY FOR HIMSELF BECAUSE NOW THEY DONE GONE AND TOOK OUT THE ARK FROM MY HOUSE AND I CAN’T BE NEAR GOD ANYMORE… SNIFFLE… NO FRIEND HE LET GOD TOUCH HIM WHERE IT MATTERS MOST, IN HIS HEART AND HE FOLLOWED WHERE GOD LED HIM.
15:18,21,24 16:5,38 26:6,8,14 ALL TELL WHAT OBED EDOM DID AFTER HE HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH GOD.
· I BELIEVE THAT ONE MORNING WHEN HE GOT UP EARLY TO PRAY AND SLIPPED IN TO KNEEL IN FRONT OF THAT ARK, HE FOUND HIS LITTLE BABY CHILDREN KNEELING THERE WITH THEIR LITTLE LIFTED HANDS PRAISING GOD FOR THE CHANGE IN THEIR DADDY. THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING ME A DADDY THAT LOVES US AND PRAYS.
· OH FRIENDS I KNOW THE KIND OF DADDY I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IF I COULD HAVE HAD A CHOICE
· HE FOUND THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE IN HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND WHEN HE REALLY MET JESUS HE DIDN’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM SERVING GOD ANYMORE. HIS WIFE DIDN’T HAVE TO BEAT HIM OUT OF BED ANYMORE TO GET UP AND GO TO CHURCH. HE DIDN’T NEED NO PREACHER BEGGING HIM TO TEACH A CLASS FOR ALL THEM LITTLE BOYS BACK THERE IN SUNDAY SCHOOL WHO NEED A GOOD MALE ROLE MODEL IN THEIR LIFE.
HE FOUND THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND NOTHING COULD KEEP HIM FROM SERVING THE MOST HIGH GOD.
WHEW!!! HE MET JESUS AND EVERYTHING ELSE JUST FELL INTO PLACE A FAR DISTANT SECOND IN COMPARISON TO HIS RELATIONSHIP AND SERVICE OF GOD. FIND THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE AND YOU WON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM PUTTING JESUS FIRST EITHER. NO COMPROMISE WHEN YOU REALLY MEET JESUS MY FRIENDS AND I’M PRAYING EVERY DAY FOR GOD TO DO THE SAME THING IN OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES THAT HE’S DONE IN MINE.
ONE DAY THERE WAS A ROYAL PRINCE WHO LOOKED DOWN FROM HIS MANSION AND SAW SOMETHING THAT HE HAD TO HAVE, HE HAD FOUND HIS PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. HE CALLED FOR HIS SERVANTS TO COME AND HELP HIM TO PREPARE TO PURCHASE THIS GREAT PEARL BUT HIS TREASURE ROOM DIDN’T CONTAIN ENOUGH GOLD. HE HAD THEM BEGIN TO COUNT HIS MANSIONS AND HIS PROPERTY AND HIS MANY POSSESSIONS BUT STILL HE WAS UNABLE TO BUY THIS PEARL. HE SPOKE WITH HIS FATHER AND DECIDED THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS POSSESSION OF GREAT WORTH IN HIS EYES AND A DECISION WAS REACHED.
1. HE TOOK OF HIS GOLDEN CROWN AND IT WAS REPLACED WITH A CROWN OF THORNS TO PIERCE HIS BROW
2. HE TOOK OF HIS ROYAL ROBE AND A CAPE WAS GIVEN HIM TO COVER THE TORN FLESH AND PROTRUDING BONES OF HIS BACK
3. HE REMOVED HIS RINGS FROM HIS HANDS AND THEY WERE NAILED THROUGH THE PALMS WITH A SQUARE CUT NAIL TO A PIECE OF ROUGH HEWN TIMBER
4. HE SLIPPED HIS FEET FROM HIS ROYAL SLIPPERS AND THEY WERE NAILED TO AN OLD RUGGED CROSS
AS THAT HAMMER DROVE THE NAILS AND THAT WHIP RIPPED HIS BACK TO PIECES, HE WAS SPIT UPON AND HAD HIS BEARD RIPPED FROM HIS FACE AS HE GAVE HIS VERY LIFE TO PURCHASE THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE HE HAD SEEN FROM HEAVEN’S THRONE…
IN HIS EYES YOU AND I WERE THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE AND HE GAVE ALL THAT HE HAD TO PURCHASE OUR SALVATION AND WE WERE OF SO MUCH VALUE THAT IT TOOK THE BLOOD OF THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS TO BUY OUR ETERNAL SOULS.
· WOMAN WHO WAS HORRIBLY BURNED TO SAVE HER DAUGHTER FROM AN APARTMENT FIRE. The baby grew up and one day it was time for her to graduate high school and go on a senior trip. It had been a struggle for the woman to raise her daughter with the burns on her body but she had done all she could for that little girl who was now a young lady. The mother volunteered to chaperone the trip on a ship carrying all the seniors. She tried to stay out of sight but after a while the wind began to get cold and there was a mist in the air chilling the seniors to the bone so she went on the top deck to bring some warm wool blankets. After she had given the stack of blankets to her daughter seated with her friends, she heard one of the girls ask who that ugly woman was and her heart broke when her daughter said she didn’t know who that ugly woman was.
· WHAT DO YOU THINK OF A CHILD LIKE THAT?
