Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

The Pearl of Great Price

TEXTMatt. 13:45-46

INTRODUCTION:

A.      A KINGDOM PARABLE - IMPORTANCE OF BEING IN THE KINGDOM.

B.      WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO US( Matt. 6:33 ).

I.      THE PEARL.

A.      THE IDENTITY OF THE PEARL.

          1.       The world's concept of precious things.

                   a.       Financial security - The rich life( Luke 12:15;  1 Tim. 6:7 ).

                   b.       Pleasures( Gal. 5:19- 21 ).

                   c.       Wisdom and Education( 1 Cor. 1:22-25 ).

                   d.       Prestige and prominence( Matt. 6:1 ).

                   e.       Health... good family life, etc.

          2.       These things can be had, but they must not be most important.

          3.       Our relation to God most important( Mark 8:35- 36 ).

B.      THE VALUE OF THE PEARL.

          1.       Peace of mind( Phil. 4:6-7 ).

          2.       True sustenance( Isa. 55:1;  John 6:35 ).

          3.       Eternal life( 1 John 2:25 ).

II.     THE MERCHANT.

A.      HE WAS DESIROUS OF BETTER THINGS.

          1.       One must be dissatisfied to desire better( Phil. 3:13 ).

          2.       Our faith is one of desire( John 7:17;  Rev. 22:17 ).

B.      HE WAS ABLE TO DISCERN VALUES.

          1.       He was able to tell the merely good from the best.

          2.       Some cannot discriminate( John 12:42-43 ).  Some can( John 3:1 ).

          3.       What was the difference( Acts 17:11;  Prov. 23:23 ).

C.      HE WAS DETERMINED TO OBTAIN.

          1.       He had his priorities - he knew the cost( Luke 13:24 ).

          2.       He allowed no distractions( Heb. 12:1-2 ).  "Focused."

          3.       He put out - worked at his goal!( 1 Cor. 15:58 ).

III.    THE PURCHASE.

A.      CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PURCHASE.

          1.       Immediate( Isa. 55:6;  2 Cor. 6:2 ).

          2.       Paid gladly( Rom. 8:18 ).

          3.       Costly - all he had.

B.      SO WILL IT BE FOR US.

          1.       Not in terms of dollars and cents, but in terms of sacrifice and self-denial

                   ( Rom. 12:1 ).

          2.       Peter's lament( Matt. 19:27 ).

C.      THE GREATEST TREASURE OF ALL - THE KINGDOM( Matt. 6:33 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      COULD BE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME DEAL( 2 Cor. 6:1-2 ).

B.      YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!( John 3:3-5 ).