WEBVTT 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:24.079 Well, greetings, everyone. 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:35.520 It's a real joy to be here to have an opportunity to speak to you this morning. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:41.200 What a privilege for me to be able to speak today. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:45.520 But before we do, let's bow in prayer. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:57.439 Father, how precious you are to us for the privilege of being in a country that we can come and worship you together. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:10.799 Lord, we pray that as we look into your word today, the Spirit of God will move that we might realize the preciousness of Jesus Christ. 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:14.959 We commit this to you in Jesus' name. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:15.920 Amen. 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:26.719 Well, I don't really call myself a senior anymore. 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:31.359 Actually, I'm beyond that. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:37.040 I'm what you call an old old fogey. 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:46.799 I looked up the meaning of fogey, and uh and the answer was the person with old-fashioned ideas. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:57.439 And and my ideas, our old-fashioned goes right back to the Word of God a few thousand years ago, and I'm thankful. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:02.159 But today I want to ask you, how precious is Jesus? 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:06.879 Really, how precious is he in your life? 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:16.560 This past year I've had the privilege of teaching this choice group of people about the life of Peter. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:22.400 I'm so glad that uh Peter was chosen to be a disciple of Jesus. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:28.560 He was a man who boasted that he would was ready to die for Jesus. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:34.560 But when Jesus was taken to be crucified, he denied him three times. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:36.080 He blew it. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:52.319 Yet Jesus knew his heart and had told him earlier in the gospel, Simon, Satan demanded to have you to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:58.960 And when you have turned again, strong, strengthen your brothers. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:03.439 And Peter did change after the resurrection. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:09.280 Jesus appeared to him personally there in 1 Corinthians 15. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:21.120 And then in John 21, uh when he went back to fishing with six others, Jesus asked him three times, Peter, do you love me? 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:25.199 The first time Jesus said, Do you love me more than these? 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:28.800 Uh what did these mean? 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:33.680 Did it mean, Jesus, do you love me more than these other disciples? 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.039 Or do you love me more than the disciples love me? 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:47.599 Or Peter, do you love me more than the 153 fish that you uh caught and was piled up there? 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.960 Do you love me more than you love fishing? 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:57.680 And uh and at that time he was restored. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:10.000 This can this was great encourag can be of great encouragement to anyone who is here today, who've wandered away, or who's struggled about the Christian faith. 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:23.519 Some of you might be going through these struggles in your faith, but he still loves you and desires the best for you if you are open to confess and submit to the Lord's leading. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:29.920 Simon gradually changed from being a crumbling rock there. 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:34.160 He became a solid rock. 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:41.040 Remember John chapter one, there uh Jesus called him Peter and changed his name. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:50.399 And the Lord later said to him, Peter, on this rock, really Christ, I will build my church. 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:55.279 And he became a real rock there. 00:04:56.319 --> 00:05:28.399 Jesus in the uh Peter in the book of Acts spoke to the in chapter two to the Jews, and many came to Christ, then in chapter eight to the Samaritans, then chapter ten to the Gentiles there in Caesarea, and he fulfilled the mandate that God gave to him in in Acts 1.8, and to us as well. 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:36.319 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:44.079 Notice in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and to the ends of the earth. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:48.720 And we see that spreading in the book of Acts. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:58.959 Jesus Christ became the center of Peter's life, and he was the apostle to the Jews as Paul was to the Gentiles. 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:12.399 And later, when Peter wrote his two epistles, one thing stands out in my mind as I read 1 and 2 Peter, that Jesus became very precious to him. 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:16.319 And he wanted others to know and to grow in Christ. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:26.480 And once he wrote to those being tested, he says, Your faith is more precious than gold that perishes. 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:32.160 He goes on to say to his readers, though you have not seen him, Jesus, you love him. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:38.639 And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with joy. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:47.040 He also writes that Jesus is the living stone, rejected by men, but precious to God. 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:54.480 Then he tells them that we are living stones in the spiritual structure that God is building. 00:06:54.800 --> 00:07:07.920 He quotes Isaiah 28 by saying, Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:15.519 And even though he was rejected by others in the sight of God, he was chosen and very precious. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:30.160 Then he goes on to say in his writings, showing that we have been redeemed, notice, not with perishable things, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:46.399 And everything about Jesus is precious because Peter mentions in 1 Peter 1:4 that the Lord has granted to us his great and precious promises so that we could be partakers of the divine nature. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:08:01.680 And although different Greek words are used in these passages, the main idea is that Jesus Christ is to be highly honored, esteemed, and he's beyond our wildest dreams. 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:07.199 So I ask you today, how precious is Jesus to you? 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:09.519 Do you treasure him? 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:13.360 Does he really have a place in your life? 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:20.720 As I look out at this congregation, I know that Jesus means so much to many. 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:26.319 Jesus is with you in the driver's seat of your car, spiritual car. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:26.959 Okay. 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:31.199 You are studying the scriptures, growing in Christ. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:45.039 But then there are others who love the Lord and spend a little time to get a daily snack of spiritual bread in your busy life, but he sort of takes a back seat. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:50.000 He's important, but not in charge. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:56.960 And then I'm wondering today if there are some here who have placed Jesus in the trunk. 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:06.639 You have been brought up as a in a Christian home, but the Christian faith does not seem relevant in this modern day. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:14.159 The place is crowded out, the world has crowded out God in your life. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:17.039 I was wondering, does he have a place? 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:22.399 But there may be some here, but God is even outside of the car. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:26.320 You've never gotten to know the Lord. 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:36.320 And I trust today, wherever you're at, you may understand that the preciousness, that Jesus is a treasure. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:43.120 And so today I want you to know that Jesus is the greatest treasure that you could ever have. 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:58.240 Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4, but we have this treasure in earthen vessels or he says jars of clay to show the passing power belongs to God and not to us. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:07.919 And then I love what we read about Moses in the book of Hebrews, chapter 11. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:19.440 When Moses was in Egypt under Pharaoh's daughter's supervision, notice, no doubt preparing perhaps to become one of the next pharaohs. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:24.159 We read this in Hebrews 11, 24. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:31.200 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:41.039 Notice, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeing pleasures of sin. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:52.159 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking for his reward. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:11:04.879 And I'd like to look this morning to the two brief parables in the Bible that were read to you from Matthew 13, 44 to 46. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:11.519 These two parables deal with the same subject from a little different perspective. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:15.759 The first one is the parable of the hidden treasure. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:24.240 It will be put up again on the board, I believe. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:30.480 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:36.559 Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:45.440 Have you ever discovered a treasure or found something valuable unexpectedly? 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:47.679 I did once. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:12:00.960 While planting City Center Baptist Church in Mississauga, we purchased a two-acre prop property for$330,000 with a house on the property. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:08.480 And that was a lot of money in those days, and especially for a fledgling church about 42 years ago. 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:13.120 Before we moved in the house, we had a lot of work to do. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:16.080 Remove carpet from the kitchen. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:17.759 Have you ever thought of? 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:35.919 Or removing a wooden frame around a lovely stone fireplace, removing ugly wallpaper, and also trying to cut down the bushes around the windows so that light could come in and the sun as well. 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:44.240 But uh after the renovations, what a change in the house. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:53.840 In fact, uh the people we bought the house from were Christians, and I invited them back to see the renovations that had taken place. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:13:00.480 But uh when we got in, I decided to clean the fruit cellar. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:07.200 And as I dust the shelf, I found a package of aluminum foil come out. 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:10.960 And I opened it up, there was a thousand dollars. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:16.399 There was another aluminum one that had$90 in. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:19.679 And there was uh in this other package. 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:25.360 And that money, by the way, helped us to connect the house to the city water. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:30.320 The former people had been on a well, and it was unreliable there. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:37.919 And what a difference to have running water from the city come into that house. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:41.360 But uh it was a big relief. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:48.480 However, so I could identify in a little way to the man in this particular parable. 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:53.120 This man in the parable found a treasure in the field. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:58.559 And when Jesus told about this man finding a treasure, we must remember certain things. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:07.519 One, because Israel was in constant conflict with surrounding nations, the common thing in that day was to bury treasures. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:11.120 I mean, they weren't banks in those days as well. 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:21.440 And when you read the Old Testament, you know that Israel was often at war with the Philistines, the Edomites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, and so on. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:27.840 They had to flee under the Assyrians and under the Babylonians as well. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:33.039 So they they buried their treasury valuables, hoping to retrieve them later. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:36.960 This was a normal practice in that day. 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:48.240 And as Jesus gives in Jesus the parable of the talents, the man here received a talent. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.840 He went and hit it. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:56.799 And we know that Achan, uh, in the book of Joshua, what he did he did. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:06.399 He buried all the lovely things of beautiful Babylonian garments, silver and gold there uh at that day. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:16.639 So treasure in the field didn't, but the treasure in the field at this person, with this person, uh, it didn't really belong to the owner. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:23.120 It had uh, if it had, he would have come and sold it and taken it. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:27.440 But likely a former owner had died and was there. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:34.080 And we are not told why he was in the field, was he ploughing or doing some things for the owner? 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:37.279 But the thing is, he stumbled upon it. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:48.639 Rabbinic law stated that if a man finds scattered fruit or scattered money, these belong to the finder. 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:55.519 So anyone listening to Jesus here would not think he was in the wrong. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:01.039 As we read this, though, we find that this man was really an honest man. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:05.600 He could have taken the money or liquidated a part of it to purchase the field. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:09.759 But it says he sells all that he had to buy the field. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:16.799 And even though Jewish law gave him the right to claim it, he knew the right way to get the treasure. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:25.679 And the point in this parable is he found something so valuable that he sold everything to get it. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:32.799 He was so ecstatic finding the treasure that he was willing to do whatever was necessary to get it. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:41.679 So when it comes to discovering Jesus Christ as precious treasure, there are some who stumble upon it too. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:53.039 In fact, there are some who may not be interested or even be against the faith of Jesus Christ, but they find him in a special way. 00:16:53.679 --> 00:17:10.960 And one example in scripture is that of Saul of Tarsus, who was on his way to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus when a light shone from heaven and he heard Jesus say, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.799 I am Jesus. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.680 I am Jesus. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:19.599 And this was the changing moment in Saul's life. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:21.359 And what a change. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:27.920 It took a while for the disciples to connect with him because of his past hatred. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:35.839 For the Christians, Barnabas had to bring him to them and tell about the conversion of Saul. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:47.039 But then we read what Paul later wrote in the book of Philippians, and it would be put, I believe, up on the overhead. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:54.480 If anyone else thinks he has reason to for confidence in the flesh, I have more. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:14.000 Circumcise the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as to the law of Pharisee, as to zeal persecuting the persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:27.359 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:34.720 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of this surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ, my Lord. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:39.599 For his sake I suffer the loss of all things and count them as rubbish. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:57.279 Rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes from faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:03.519 And he found true righteousness that comes from God by faith. 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:06.079 I think of a scale. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:23.839 Here was Paul, all that he could have under and as a Jew, circumcised, under the uh the special uh tribe of Benjamin. 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:27.359 He was blameless as a Pharisee. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:31.920 He thought he had made it, but then he found Christ. 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:40.720 Oh, this is rubbish! Rubbish! What a difference Christ made in in his life. 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:49.200 And what a joy it is to uh see the difference that came. 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:52.480 Then we come to the next parable. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:57.279 The parable of the pearl of great price. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:05.920 Well, this parable has the same meaning, but notice I'll just read it again. 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:19.680 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who on finding one pearl of great value went and sold all that he had and bought it. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:25.599 This parable has the same meaning, but with a different twist. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:31.200 The difference is that this man is looking intently for pearls. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.599 He doesn't stumble upon it. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:38.240 Here we meet a merchant who specializes in pearls. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:46.160 Pearls in the ancient world were considered the loveliest of all possessions, a symbol of perfection. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:50.720 And the man in this purple did not find the pearl by accident. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:56.799 His life was one long search for the finest pearls. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:59.519 Jesus warned about casting pearls. 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:06.799 Remember, before swine, he contrasted the lowliest to the jewel that was most precious. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:19.279 And John had a vision in Revelation 21, 21 of Jerusalem, which revealed that each gate was a pearl there. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:22.960 In ancient world, pearls were very precious. 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:31.279 But one thing a smart investor would not normally do, to invest all that he had in one thing. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:34.480 But that is exactly what this man did. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:38.160 This expert merchant knew his pearls. 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:47.599 And many would be imperfect, but when he came upon this unblemished pearl with an iridescent luster, he went all out to get it. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:58.160 So the kingdom of heaven is at such value that one needs to embrace it with total abandonment of anything that would deter. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:05.359 I thought of anyone in scripture to illustrate this particular parable. 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:18.400 I thought of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8, verse 27 to 35, speaking to Philip here. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:25.279 And by the way, an angel led Philip here. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:34.160 It's interesting as Cheryl is going to be speaking of angels, but angels could lead people as well in those days. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:36.400 And he rose and went. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:47.359 And there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:58.480 He had come to Jerusalem, notice to worship, and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:03.279 And the spirit said to Philip, Go over and join this chariot. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:11.680 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, Do you understand what you are reading? 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:16.960 And he said, How can I unless someone guides me? 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:20.640 And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:24.880 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:36.720 In his humiliation, justice was denied him. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:39.039 Who can describe his generation? 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:42.000 For his life is taken away from the earth. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:49.359 And the eunuch said to Philip, About whom I ask, about whom I ask you, does the prophet say this? 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:52.319 About himself or someone else? 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:54.640 Then Philip opened his mouth. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:24:01.200 And beginning with this scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:06.640 You know, he must have spoken, he must have said a lot of other things. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:11.920 We're just getting a glimpse of what happened here in the Bible. 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:20.480 But this man had traveled all the way from Ethiopia to Jerusalem trying to find his spiritual pearl. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:27.359 He was a Jewish proselyte and came to Jerusalem to worship the God of Israel. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:32.559 In his search, he was reading the Hebrew scriptures there. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:37.680 And this is when Philip was sent to him and told him about Jesus. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:49.440 No doubt he said, Oh, we like sheep have gone astray, we've turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all there in Isaiah 53. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.839 And he was saved. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:57.920 And he wanted to be baptized in order to be a true disciple. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:05.039 You know, a true proselyte Jew, if he wanted to be a Jew, would have to be immersed called the Mekbah. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:08.960 Immersion was so important. 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:13.920 And here he now wanted to be immersed in the Christian faith. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:17.599 What a wonderful example of this parable. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:30.319 And now we have two parables showing that entering the kingdom of heaven is having our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and He's the greatest treasure, he's the greatest pearl. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:36.000 However, I want to give you a warning, a caution. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:42.960 This treasure or pearl is not in any way connected to the prosperity gospel. 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.720 Remember that. 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:51.839 Some people have the idea that if you trust in Jesus, you'll be prosperous and have a successful life. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:26:00.960 I once witnessed to a neighbor a few years ago, and I told him about Christ. 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:04.160 He says, Well, I tried it and that didn't work. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:11.200 He thought that everything you trust Christ, everything will be honky-dory. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:13.519 But that's not the case. 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:21.599 And you know, some of you are going through much uh trouble and and uh and hard situations. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:43.200 And in many countries of the world, people who believe in in the Lord are severely persecuted, some are abandoned by family and friends, many are uh forbidden to worship publicly, and as we as they trust in the Lord, things personally become even worse sometimes because of persecution. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:50.640 I think of Jesus in John chapter six. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:27:02.160 We have uh the John's uh rendering of the feeding of the five thousand, plus women and children. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:08.319 And uh by the way, it's the only miracle that's in all four gospel. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:15.359 But uh Jesus, when Jesus fed all these people from a boy's lunch, what did they want to do? 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:17.839 They wanted to come and take him as king. 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:24.720 And he gets away and they go on on the uh water. 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:44.079 But the next uh the next day, Jesus was talking to the people about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, and uh how there was to be uh a commitment along to following him. 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:47.839 And it mentions a lot, left him. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:51.599 Jesus had to come to the disciples, what about you? 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:55.119 And Peter said, You are the one that has eternal life. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:59.920 You know, uh, it's not always easy to follow the Lord. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:02.480 And there's a cross to bear. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:07.759 But despite all this, Jesus is the greatest treasure and friend. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:15.279 He promises to be with you wherever you go to meet your needs and to have you with him for all eternity. 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:17.200 Isn't this worth it? 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:28.640 As I conclude my sermon today, I want to share with you a personal person who came to Christ through my ministry. 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:31.599 Some of you may remember this. 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:38.960 I've done it, said it a long, long time ago, but I believe the Lord would have me tell it again. 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:54.799 In 1977, we moved from Windsor to Bradford to begin Bradford Baptist Church, and I found out that there was a lady in the community who wrote news articles in the weekly Bradford Witness newspaper. 00:28:55.119 --> 00:29:05.519 So I contacted her uh almost weekly to give her uh thoughts about this new church starting in Bradford. 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:15.759 And uh Carol, by her name, was very accommodating and was interested in to include what I gave her each week. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:20.480 She lived in the Holland Marsh with her husband Andy. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:25.119 And uh he grew vegetables to take to market. 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:36.640 And during these visits that I made to their home, I discovered Carol was already a Christian and attended the Anglican church in town. 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:40.480 But Andy had a negative feeling towards Christians. 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:47.359 However, during my frequent visits, we had some very interesting conversations together. 00:29:49.200 --> 00:30:01.599 To my surprise, when Father's Day came that year, the Simonis came to our church, meeting in the school. 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:12.240 And that Sunday, I don't even remember what I preached on, but I was giving the importance of the importance of the father in the home. 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:21.359 And God spoke to Andy that particular Sunday, and when they went home, Carol led him to Christ there. 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:28.640 And he started to come regularly to church and went home. 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:43.680 And as they began regularly, I sought to disciple him, uh going through the uh fellowship uh share program at that particular time to disciple him. 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:47.920 And it was a joy just to see Andy growing in the Lord. 00:30:48.400 --> 00:31:07.039 Well, each week in the new church, we had a lot of children, and uh I would include a children's special and uh during the service, and one week I used a yo-yo, this this yo-yo right here. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:08.480 I still have it. 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:11.440 And uh I won't do any tricks on it. 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:25.519 And uh as I uh did a few tricks and said to the boys and girls, listen, if you want to be a good yo-yo player, you need to practice. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:27.920 Keep at it, keep at it. 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:38.319 And if you want to be a good Christian, it's important to keep reading the word and regularly each day so that you could grow in Christ. 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:43.680 And uh so that was my children's special that particular week. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:55.759 Well, a few days later, Andy and uh uh uh Sarah, Andy uh the Simonis went to Niagara Falls. 00:31:56.880 --> 00:32:02.000 And they brought back a gift for me, and it was this, a yo-yo. 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:07.519 To the for the executive, the man with pole. 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:10.480 This just goes up and down. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:13.839 So they gave it. 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:17.039 This is a very precious gift to me now. 00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:21.680 So it was interesting uh when they gave that to me. 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:26.640 And each week I would include this children special. 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:37.359 But then every summer we planned a day camp for our children, and we would go to the provincial park close by. 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:43.440 But one day it rained, and we had to meet in the gym of the public school. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:33:05.039 And while we were there, a neighbor, an OPP officer, Grant Housley, who got to know, rushed into the school, and he informed me that Andy was out in the field during the rain to get his cabbages to take to market, and he was struck by lightning. 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:12.400 I immediately went to the New Market Hospital, but Andy never recovered. 00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:17.920 This was quite a shock to the whole community and to our church. 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:33.279 And at the funeral service, I was able to read this testimony that I had been working with, that I had him write out, that he had written just prior to his death. 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:37.119 And here is just a part of what he wrote. 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:40.720 I was always against Sunday Christians. 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:45.440 I found them to be hypocrites who did not live what they pretended. 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:48.880 Some cheated on the job and in the business world. 00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:55.839 I always thought that I was perfect and never committed any sins because I never did not murder or steal, etc. 00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:59.759 The God I had heard about was dead, as far as I knew. 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:01.839 I never even read the Bible. 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:08.719 All I saw was that people who professed to be Christians could not even agree with each other. 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:16.719 Then I met a few Christians who were seven-day a week Christians, who were not hypocrites. 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:21.599 To them, Christ was alive and lived what they professed. 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:24.719 Their lifestyle was more believable. 00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:29.599 I also saw God work some miracles in the lives of those close to me. 00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:32.480 My stepson was healed of epilepsy. 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:34.239 God answered prayer. 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:39.519 Seeing these prayers answered really helped to make me believe. 00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:47.840 Also, living with a Christian wife really hammered home some truths that I had not been aware of. 00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:54.719 Then some changes occurred when I found that campaign conversations were going around. 00:34:55.039 --> 00:35:01.519 The Lord used all these things to help me decide to accept Christ into my life. 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:04.400 Now I have new life in Christ. 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:09.599 And I see more seven-day a week Christians who have the joy of the Lord. 00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:14.320 People appear to be fulfilled and living their faith day by day. 00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:26.400 It was the unity of the Christian church being stressed that really made being made me a member of Christ's family so important. 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:36.159 And I want to tell others, with my mouth, Romans 10 and 9, that Jesus Christ is my Lord. 00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:39.920 And Romans 10 and 9 meant so much to him. 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:49.119 If you confess with your mouth the Lord, that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:56.480 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 00:35:56.880 --> 00:36:00.800 And so it was quite a shock there. 00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:06.960 But his testimony left a real impact on all who were there. 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:10.320 And Jesus became a real treasure for him. 00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:15.679 He believed in Christ, beloved, before it was too late. 00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:27.360 And if you're here today and have been holding off, why not trust right now in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? 00:36:27.679 --> 00:36:34.000 Believe in your heart and tell him with your mouth, and you will be saved. 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:38.480 I'd like us just to bow in prayer. 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:49.760 And for just a moment, as you've been listening to me this morning, I'm just wondering, is God speaking to you? 00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:55.039 To trust in Christ. 00:36:55.760 --> 00:37:00.079 If you're not saved, it's the time you're dead right now. 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:06.400 And I trust God is speaking to you if He's in the trunk of your car. 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:12.000 You haven't been opening up your life to Jesus. 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:14.719 Trust in him right now. 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:16.800 He's the greatest treasure. 00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:20.480 The loveliest pearl you'll ever have.