WEBVTT 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:21.760 Today's scripture reading comes from Matthew 13, verse 44 to 46. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:27.359 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:32.159 Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:41.119 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. 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:42.560 And so read God's word. 00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:54.159 Over eight years ago, I asked Becky to marry me, a lucky woman, on the 2nd of November 2013. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:55.840 She probably wouldn't remember that. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:57.759 She's not the romantic one I am. 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:02.960 And we were both on a beach digging in the sand to find this chest. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:05.599 Digging to find this chest. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:08.959 Now it's obvious that it didn't just happen. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:15.760 We're not those people who are going along the beach with those little metal detectors looking for things. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.079 No, I had planned it all. 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:22.079 Up to this moment, I had planned every step along the way. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:24.239 We had set off that morning from York. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:27.519 That's where Becky's from on a car treasure hunt. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:34.560 And she thought it was for her dad because to see whether it would work as a church activity, silly woman. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:38.239 But Becky, Becky didn't realize what was happening. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:53.599 And it was around two hours that we were going along, stopping at different locations where I had planned for little clues to be along the way, leading us to the next location, to the moment, to the final moment to find this chest. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:02:13.439 And inside this chest were a number of things that I had I had organized to put in things that were significant to us, that meant things to us, that had significance about our relationships, that pointed to many moments that brought us to this very moment. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:18.879 That is when I asked her to marry me. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:25.759 Now, when you think about that, when you think about that story, you could ask Duncan, why did you bother? 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:30.000 Why did you go to all that effort, try and spend all that time? 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:36.159 And if I responded by just saying, Well, I just thought that's what I should do. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:39.680 It felt like the right thing to do. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:42.800 That would seem a bit weird and odd. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:46.560 It would seem strange if that was my response. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:49.439 It doesn't show the value I have for Becky. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:52.639 It doesn't show the value I place upon our relationship. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:59.680 If it was all just about, I guess this is what I should do, I've got to do this. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:05.840 It doesn't show anything of my affection toward her. 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:16.159 The reason I did it, the reason I spent nearly two months planning and sorting the ring and getting it all ready was because how I view Becky. 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:22.080 How I view our relationship, the joy of being able to call her my wife. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:31.120 The love I have for her, the longing I have to show and display my love for her. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:36.319 It was one of the best days of my life. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:43.599 Yet, even though that moment was such a big moment in my life, it does not compare. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:51.120 It doesn't even come close to the moment I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:56.560 It doesn't come close to the joy in which he gives me. 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:09.199 What is plain from both of these parables is that he is of supreme worth compared to anything else this world has to offer. 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:14.319 The problem is how often we lose sight of that. 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:22.399 How often we easily forget the joy he gives, the joy he gave. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:36.639 That moment of excitement and joy. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:46.560 Because when we consider our relationship toward God, we can act as though it's just merely functional. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:51.680 As if we are here just to fulfill a duty. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:54.000 This is what I need to do. 00:04:54.480 --> 00:05:02.240 Maybe you are even here, sat here right now, and you're sat here because you're like, this is what I do. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:06.879 This is part of what I should be doing. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:12.240 We go through the motions with little to no affection toward him. 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:23.040 And yet for us as Christians, our faith is not primarily about just a right choice, but rather about hearts captured by him. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:44.560 How beautiful, how good he is, reminded of even that first moment, when it seemed so easy, when we just overflowed with joy. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:06:01.040 Or maybe if you're here and and you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, my prayer has been for you that you might today see him, truly see him for who he is, not just as someone who's been written about, but a personal savior for you. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:10.959 So simply let us consider our journey to Christ, our experience of Christ, and our response to Christ. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:15.279 It is obvious to say people are different. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:19.439 Even we've mentioned that today, that in this room we are different. 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:30.800 We have different experiences, we come from different places, we have different and unique characteristics, and yet, with all the difference, there are also similarities. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:36.000 And this is also true when we think about how we have come to faith. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:37.600 The journey to Christ. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:45.759 Right now, if you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, you can think about that time, that journey that led you to knowing him. 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:52.480 And in these two parables, I think we have two examples of that journey. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:57.360 What I like to call is the stumblers and the searchers. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:01.040 See, in verse 44, we find the stumbler. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:07.439 We find this man in this field who, to me, is part of my story. 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:09.199 I'm more of a stumbler. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:10.720 That is what happened to me. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.120 Coming to faith was just like this man in this field. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:15.120 And you can imagine him that day. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:16.480 He just headed out. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:18.079 It was a normal day. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:21.120 Nothing different about this day, just a normal day. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:24.079 He didn't have a clue what was happening, what was about to come. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:31.839 And he walks along in this field and he trips up and he's like, oh, and he goes to look and he expects to see a rock on the ground and he's like, oh, that's weird. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:32.800 It's not a rock. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:34.879 That looks like wood, like a corner. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:35.839 What is that? 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:44.720 And he begins to dig and and he he suddenly realizes there's a box and he brings it out, and to his amazement, it is filled with treasure. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:55.360 He could have been in another field, he could have walked a different way in that field, and yet here he is with his chest full of treasure. 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:58.639 The excitement, the joy, you could just imagine it. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:03.199 If you were like me, this is what happened to you. 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:07.839 You were just doing your thing, living your life. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:13.279 You weren't really thinking about Christ and the implications of what he has done. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:16.480 And suddenly you heard the gospel. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:24.560 Suddenly you heard the gospel and you were not expecting it, but you found yourself being captured by him. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:30.319 You found yourself seeing him for who he is. 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:37.360 You didn't have all the answers, but you knew I need him. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:42.720 You knew in that moment everything had changed. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:46.480 This happened when I was four. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:51.919 So funnily enough, at four, I wasn't a rebel. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:54.159 I wasn't going out every night, you know. 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:58.240 But I had not met Jesus. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:03.279 I had not seen him for who he is. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:10.320 And one Sunday, just like any other Sunday, I was there in church, there for the children's address. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:16.720 We used to come up the front, and I was sat there and I saw him. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:21.120 I realized who he was. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:23.759 It was very simple, it wasn't complex. 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:29.279 I probably couldn't answer many doctrinal questions at that age. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:31.600 But I knew I needed him. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.960 There was no other option for me. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:40.720 That was the day that I came to faith in Jesus Christ. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:43.200 Over 27 years ago. 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:49.679 Now, you might be sat there and thinking, I did not grow up in a Christian home. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:51.679 That was not my experience. 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:54.080 I had zero knowledge of Jesus. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:59.039 And you were just doing your thing, living the dream, and suddenly you heard the gospel. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:00.639 Maybe it was a friend. 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:07.279 Maybe you found yourself at an evangelistic event and you heard the gospel. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:13.759 And as you heard about the love of God for you in Christ Jesus, you could hardly believe your response. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:16.799 You're like, I actually think this is real. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:19.440 You didn't think you would. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:24.960 But you knew in that moment you were gonna follow him. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:28.240 That he was yours and you were his. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:32.559 It felt like a U-turn in your life. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:42.320 Now I know in this room there are some stumblers among us, but from one stumbler to another, let me tell you about those searchers in the room. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:47.279 Because those searchers were probably listening, being like, what a bunch of weirdos. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:50.000 Oh, you heard the gospel and just believed. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.399 Oh, it's so simple. 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:58.080 Because for the searchers, they think, you know, no, you needed to ask more questions. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:02.799 There were things that you should have pursued before you accepted. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:07.120 And for the searchers, they they are like this merchant. 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:20.399 They don't just stumble across it, the kingdom of heaven, but rather they have been searching, searching for answers, longing, longing to find the answers that they desire to know. 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:27.360 And they have been considering the big questions of life, wanting truth. 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:42.639 For many of the searchers, you would have looked into maybe other worldviews, other philosophies, and and longing to see what is true, and you began to consider Jesus, to consider the Christian faith. 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:51.759 And the further you pressed, the further you pushed upon Jesus, the more you saw, oh, he does have the answers. 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:56.240 The more you saw him to be true. 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:09.200 You might even not know what happened, but you began to really grow a firm foundation upon him, upon Christ Jesus Himself. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:16.639 And the questions that you asked have become such a foundation of confidence for you. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:25.279 Having asked those questions because you believe him, but not just out of belief, but also because you believe it's true. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:29.120 You see that he is true. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:33.360 These parables speak to both groups. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:40.639 Those who are stumblers, those who are searchers, and the journey to saving faith might be different. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:47.600 But whether we're a stumbler or a searcher, we have all come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:51.840 Come to know that He is enough. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:58.080 If you're here and you don't know that, if you don't know Him as Lord and Savior, we're so glad you're here. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:03.519 We're so glad you're asking questions, and we want to be a place where you can ask those questions. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:11.440 So I just invite you to continue to ask, continue to pursue, continue to realize that you're not alone. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:14.720 People sat around you were in that position. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:19.840 Just continue to consider Jesus. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:25.120 Because for us, our journey might be different, but our Savior is the same. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:31.919 We have encountered the one who causes the dead to rise to life. 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:37.840 The one who, spiritually speaking, has given life to us in him. 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:42.639 And we can testify he is the one you long for. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:46.320 Each of us have come to Christ. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:48.960 This has been our experience. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:54.559 Our experience of Jesus Christ, of Christ Himself, has been transformative. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:14:02.799 No matter the path you came to him, no matter the experiences that led you there, you have come to truly see him. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:10.879 And in our narrative, both are wanting us to know the value and worth of Jesus. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.879 That is the purpose. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:17.519 To see him for who he is, to realize what he has invited us into. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:27.039 Right now in this cinema, in this moment, is he truly still your treasure? 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:33.440 Do you still see him like that one-of-a-kind pearl? 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.399 Or have you lost sight of him? 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:43.200 Has your heart become dull toward him? 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:48.000 It's so easy for us to forget. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:50.879 I know that in my own life. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.879 And I know that's true for you. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.559 We can reflect on the moment when we came to fate. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:01.440 And we think, oh man, I wish I had that joy again. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:08.159 We can reflect and think, oh I was just so passionate about it. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:10.080 So passionate. 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:17.679 If you meet someone who's come to fate recently, they don't shut up about them. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.519 They just go on and on. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.960 Okay, okay. 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:24.320 It's so natural, it's so easy. 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:32.879 Ultimately, what is being revealed in those moments, in this moment, is we've taken our eyes off of him. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:39.279 We have lost our true view of him, our true view of ourselves. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:44.399 Because when we come to Jesus, he brings a clear need of our need. 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:49.679 We don't come to Jesus in a position of strength. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:54.399 We come to him in a position of utter poverty. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:59.360 This is what we hear from Jesus in Matthew 5. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:06.320 What he declares, he says, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.639 Not the strong. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:15.519 To be someone who is poor in spirit is not talking about someone who's down, someone who's negative. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:18.399 No, it is talking about our posture before him. 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:21.600 Before God Himself. 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:35.039 How we come, how we see Him, realizing and recognizing with utter clarity our need is so great that there's nothing we can do about it. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:38.960 We so easily push ourselves up at times. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:53.840 We so easily think we're better than we are, and we bring God down, the holy one down, to think that we're not as bad as we truly are, to think God is not as holy as he truly is. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:58.159 The Bible brings clarity and correction to us. 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:05.119 Here in Matthew's gospel, but also we see this in Isaiah 64. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:09.519 How does Isaiah describe the good things that we do? 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:20.480 He describes it like this we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like polluted, polluted garments. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.960 Think about that. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:31.839 Before God, without his grace, any good we do is like a poo-stained clothing. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:36.960 This morning I was in our room and I was like, Becky was like, get me a vest. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.880 I'm like, okay, got a vest. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.839 And I dropped it. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.680 It's disgusting. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:50.799 No matter how many times I see it, I will always be repulsed from it. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:53.519 It is revolting. 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:58.480 And when we look at this, when we see this description, it is not subtle. 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:03.680 This isn't a passage that is having a complicated interpretation. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:06.160 God brings true sight to us. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:15.599 The Spirit illuminates our desperate need, our desperate standing before the Holy God. 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:30.960 But what is key, what is so important is if you think about that, if you think about all the wrong, all the sin, all the bad, that you do not allow to yourself to be just captured by that. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:36.640 Our sin is so serious, it is so disgusting to a holy God. 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:44.880 His desire, though, is to reveal it to us in order that we might not be crushed. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:56.799 In order that we might not just feel sorry for ourselves, but rather we might turn to him that we might realize and wonder at what he has done. 00:18:57.359 --> 00:19:03.440 To see him for who he truly is, to truly appreciate him. 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:13.359 To appreciate Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, to know he is our treasure. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.240 And there is no greater. 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:20.079 To know that without him we are lost. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:24.240 Without him, we are without hope. 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:28.400 It is vital that you hear this. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:31.200 Jesus is our savior. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:35.759 Jesus is your savior. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:42.079 Do you right now in this moment appreciate that? 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:49.200 Do you in this moment truly know the sort of savior he is? 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:54.079 Do you see that he delights? 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:56.799 He delights in being able to save you. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:02.720 Do you really know that he is not tired? 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:05.039 He's not fed up. 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:09.599 Strung out thinking, oh I gotta go again. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:11.279 Have to save them. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:19.039 Can you appreciate that our Savior did not have to save, but he chose. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:23.680 He chose to lay down his life for us. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:34.000 For all the brokenness, all of your sin, you can right now think of the deepest, darkest parts of you. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:36.400 Parts that no one else can see. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:42.480 Parts that when you think about it, it makes you feel sick. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:47.200 He is a savior that came to save that. 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:51.519 He doesn't save us in part. 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:58.559 He came to bring complete salvation, and there is not a moment in which he is unwilling to save. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:04.000 But rather he constantly is calling to us Come. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:06.720 Come to me. 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:11.200 Constantly reminding us I've done it. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.079 I've done it. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.279 I am the one you need. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.400 Brother, sister. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:20.720 Have you lost sight of him? 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:27.440 Are you being diligent in seeking to be reminded constantly? 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:29.519 Constantly of your Savior. 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:33.519 About who he is and all that he has done. 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:37.599 George Muller said this. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:53.200 We need to fight for that. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:56.400 We should not take it lightly. 00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:04.079 Brother, sister in Christ, when you Begin to speak about your faith in terms of duty rather than delight. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:09.119 It's clear that spiritually you are in need of encouragement. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:15.039 In need of the gospel to be reminded once again. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.519 This is what we all need. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:21.680 We never part away from the gospel. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:27.200 He calls us back time and time again, inviting us again and again. 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.720 You did not deserve anything. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:35.119 You did not, I did not deserve anything. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:38.079 Yet you he saw you in that pit. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:45.759 And he saw you and decided and chose to come to save. 00:22:47.200 --> 00:23:02.319 The more you are able to embrace your need, the more that you are able to be like, I don't have anything, the freer you will be, the more you can fling yourself upon him. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.559 Delight in him. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:14.640 When we allow our hearts to be captured by entitlement, by thinking we deserve, joy will be far from us. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:30.160 But when you know, when we know the undeserving, how undeserving we are, his goodness, his beauty, his love, his faithfulness, his grace become overwhelming to us. 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:35.759 This should make our heart rejoice and to sing. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:40.799 Rejoicing with David in Psalm 16. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.960 Hear these words. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:45.440 Make these words your words. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:52.960 I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:56.880 Therefore, my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:00.640 My flesh also dwells secure. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:08.400 For you will not abandon my soul to shoal, or let your holy one see corruption. 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:14.240 You make known to me the path of life. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:18.640 In your presence, there is fullness of joy. 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:22.720 At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:26.880 This song is our song, brother, sister in Christ. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:30.160 If you are in him, this should be your song. 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:45.759 A song in which we declare with everything that is within us, he is faithful, he is with us, he is for us, he gives us life, he brings fullness, fullness of joy. 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:55.680 Because what we find in these parables is a glimpse in how those who are in the kingdom respond to our King. 00:24:56.880 --> 00:25:09.119 That when we see Him, when we become see Him and put Him and place Him as the one who is supreme over all, there is no greater treasure for us than Him. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:13.440 Because this is our response to Christ Jesus. 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:16.319 It is our joyful sacrifice. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:19.839 Both of these parables reveal this. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:24.000 That the response is to sell all. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:27.680 A heart that is captivated by Him. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:38.640 It isn't reluctant, it isn't unwilling to lay down our possessions, to lay down our relationships, our money, our experiences, our popularity. 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:43.680 But rather joyfully doing that. 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:51.039 In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 00:25:53.119 --> 00:26:00.480 We need to be so clear that as Christians, there is nothing more valuable, nothing more precious than him. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:06.559 The question for you, the question for me is do we see him? 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:13.920 Are you willing to lay anything down in your life in order to make him your treasure? 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:21.359 Are you willing to accept when other things take his place? 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:32.480 Right now, if I were to ask you, what do you fear losing most in this life? 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.519 How would you respond? 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:41.440 Because what we fear often reveals a lot about our heart. 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:47.519 Brother, sister, you you need to consider where your treasure is. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:55.440 Jesus says in Matthew 6, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:01.519 What you can be sure of is that Jesus is not going to compete. 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:09.279 Jesus isn't here, oh please, please make me make me important. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:12.880 No, he doesn't place second place. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:31.920 Whether it is that relationship or your money or success or experiences or being liked, whatever it might be, if you seek to place these things as your treasure, if these are more supreme than him, you are in grave danger. 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:40.240 And we will face extreme disappointment because they will never give you what you want. 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:48.319 There are things in my life I need to be careful about that I need to keep a watch on. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:53.839 When I answer that question, what do I fear losing most? 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.880 It's easy. 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.839 My family. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:08.880 And I hope you know how much I love them, but the truth is I could easily make them my treasure. 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:16.319 It could easily become that I believe my joy rises and falls with them. 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:26.079 To begin to subtly allow my heart to believe they are more precious than anything or anyone else. 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:34.880 But the fact is that will be crushing for them and utterly devastating for me. 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:40.880 Because they are not able to meet the longings of my soul. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:47.920 Because they are not able to meet the longings that I have, they are not able to complete my joy. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:52.960 In no way are they able to fulfill my hopes and my dreams. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:58.640 Because the truth is, I was not made for them, and you were not made for them. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:03.279 But rather, I was made for my God just as you are. 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:08.960 Made to know him, made to enjoy him, made to worship him. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:15.759 To realize and appreciate that he is the greatest treasure I could ever know. 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:18.079 That I don't deserve it. 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:20.240 I don't deserve him. 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:26.400 I don't know what you are going through. 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:31.039 I don't know how you see Jesus in this moment, where how you've come into this room. 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:36.160 We've all come into this room from a different perspective. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:41.920 But I know that there is nothing greater, nothing better than him. 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:46.240 And all I can do is say, look at him. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.720 Come to him. 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:58.400 My favorite verse in the Bible, not that you should have favorites in the Bible, is to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain. 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:18.160 For me, those words from Paul are just so clarifying, so helpful to consider my life and realize that me living for anything else other than Christ is worthless, is pointless. 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:24.079 It will leave you just empty. 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:33.440 Brother Sister, as we conclude, this time together, let me invite you to treasure Jesus. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:36.799 Let me encourage you not to look elsewhere but to see him. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:31:52.000 Jesus, the eternal one, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son of God, God made flesh, the righteous one, the holy one, the faithful one, the one with all authority, the beginning and the end, the righteous judge, the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus, who is brought us from death to life, who gives joy everlasting, who makes an orphan a child of the living God, who quenches and satisfies the longing of our souls, who treats us with compassion and gentleness, who brings healing and restoration to the brokenhearted, who deals with all our guilt and shame, who brings wholeness to the empty, who shows love that is unwavering, who is our guarantee of our future, who is who leads us in each moment of our life, who is bringing us home, Jesus, our suffering servant, dying for his own, dying for you, risen and reigning, defeater of sin and death, Jesus. 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:55.839 Do you see him? 00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:59.359 Where else will you go? 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:02.559 Why would you go anywhere else? 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:05.440 Come to him. 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:08.079 He is the one we need. 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:10.319 He is our treasure. 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:15.680 Let us enjoy and rejoice in Jesus together. 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:21.599 That he might be magnified and glorified through us.