Dig it up!
Parables; Kingdom of God • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 76 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
English Standard Version Chapter 13
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
English Standard Version Chapter 13
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Intro
Intro
Intro
Intro
What brings you joy? Family, friends, job, etc . . . ?
Life is filled with discouragement at times. Often we lose hope and think there is no joy.
As a matter of fact the world (culture) in which we live tries to make us believe that true joy - is in many things. Material objects, self reliance, freedom and independence, etc . . . .
But, the Christian is to find their joy in the Lord
Joy of the Lord:
English Standard Version Chapter 8
Nehemiah 8:10
10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
The joy men receive actually comes from God in his Kingdom.
But, how? Jesus explains.
Intro
Intro
Parables:
Kingdom of Heaven: Matthews phrase for the Kingdom of God
God rules his kingdom which includes the physical and spiritual
Drama
Drama
Parable: A story providing an analogy of something true or real.
Kingdom of Heaven: Matthews phrase for the Kingdom of God
Jesus uses this parable to describe a few things:
During times of war the Israelites would hide their treasures from being taken by their enemies.
They would go to great lengths to bury it with the hope of one day coming back to find it.
Often men would come back and buy land with the hopes that they could dig and find treasure
In Palastine during Jesus time, men were day laborers waiting for work. Often it was for little pay. So, they would go around and dig up treasure to se if they could - win the lottery.
Some would even plant small treasures to sell useless land. They would plant treasures for people to find and buy the land thinking it was useful.
Illus: One day I was eating dinner at a restaurant and I saw a man come in and sit down at the bar to have a drink. He came in with a ton of lottery tickets. He sat there one by one and opened each one. After a few he took a few sips of his drink and then went back and got more. I imagine this man spent well over $500 in purchasing these tickets. Each time he sat there and threw the remains in the trash.
His search must have been in vain because there were no shouts of joy. As a matter of fact, he left dejected and as sad as he was when he arrived.
Illus: Forst Finn
Jesus uses this parable to describe a few truths:
Doctrine
Doctrine
The Kingdom of God has a hidden aspect
The Kingdom of God
God’s Kingdom that he rules and works in
spiritual and physical
There is a mystery to much of this
Yet, we know God is in control of all aspects
In God’s Kingdom he often works in the hidden
The Kingdom of God contains what men are looking for that brings joy
Men search for this treasure that is buried
Illus: One day I was eating dinner at a restaurant and I saw a man come in and sit down at the bar to have a drink. He came in with a ton of lottery tickets. He sat there one by one and opened each one. After a few he took a few sips of his drink and then went back and got more. I imagine this man spent well over $500 in purchasing these tickets. Each time he sat there and threw the remains in the trash.
His search must have been in vain because there were no shouts of joy. As a matter of fact, he left dejected and as sad as he was when he arrived.
His search must have been in vain because there were no shouts of joy. As a matter of fact, he left dejected and as sad as he was when he arrived.
The world is seeking joy - the joy of the Lord, yet not everyone will find it.
The treasure is not what we think, it is actually different
It is spiritual and not physical
It is the gospel of Jesus Christ
One Pearl - is the gospel
It is faith in the work of Jesus Christ
Only this can transform men and bring true joy
knowing that God has brought me into his family, his church, by something as simple as faith brings joy
Knowing that death is not the end and I have eternal rest and life in him
That is the only thing that can bring the JOY of the LORD
The Kingdom of God brings such joy that we will do whatever we need to to not lose it
There is confusion often in the church
We think that somehow this Gospel is too easy
We become scared that our faith is not enough - The faith of a mustard seed
We become concerned that maybe we are not saved
We don’t feel joyful, therefore we must not be a Christian
The truth is the gospel is very plain, ordinary and easy
There is nothing you do to earn it. It is free. A gift.
In both instances the men go out and sell everything to buy it.
This seems to be an analogy for putting a high priority on the gospel in ones life.
Doxology
Doxology
Illus: Forrest Fenn Treasure
Art dealer who has hid his fortune in the Rocky mountains
Est. Over 1 million dollars
People from all over are looking at clues and seeking to find this money.
Somewhere in the Rocky mountains, in the roughly 1,000 miles between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Canadian border, may be a hidden treasure chest whose contents are worth millions. The man who claims to have hidden the fortune back in 2010 is Forrest Fenn, now 86, a former Vietnam fighter pilot and art dealer.
Fenn estimates that as many as 350,000 people have gone hunting for the treasure, he tells CNBC Make It , adding that there is no way of knowing whether anyone has actually gotten close. “It could be found soon or 1,000 years from now,” he says.
“No one knows where that treasure chest is but me,” Fenn told NPR in 2016. That includes his wife. “If I die tomorrow, the knowledge of that location goes in the coffin with me.”
Why? They believe it would bring them joy. They believe it would change their life.
Men are always looking for something that will change their life.
Jesus is teaching that the Kingdom of God offers the one thing that will provide men Joy - That treasure is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What priority have you placed on the gospel in your life? Are you daily walking with God?
Conclusion
Are you applying the truths of Scripture and the gospel to your own life?
The irony in the Forrest Fenn story is this - no one knows if the treasure is even there.
As Christians we believe that the treasure has already been obtained and is offered to us through the work of Jesus - yes through faith.
Are you looking for joy in the right place? Are you seeking joy in the things that this world offers? or are you seeking joy in the only thing that can bring you joy - the gospel of Jesus Christ.
App: If you are stop! Stop going around and digging up stuff that will never bring you joy. No, rather, look to Christ. Even with the smallest of faith, turn to him. If you are here today you have some small amount of faith.
There is nothing to buy. Nothing to purchase. Fall on your knees and ask him to continue to build faith in you as you search for joy.
App: If you are here because you answered the call long ago, and you have received the good news of Jesus by faith and you are seeking joy in other things, STOP. Look only to Jesus.
Fall on your knees for putting your hope in other things and ask him to bring you the joy of the Lord.
What brings you joy? Is it Jesus and what he has done in saving you, or is it something else?
Why are you still digging for treasure, when it is clearly offered in Jesus Christ.