YAHWEH, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, IS WITH US!

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins ...”
(Isaiah 58: 1)

Treasures of the Kingdom

Treasures of the Kingdom

Reading: Matthew Chapter 13: 44-52

Introduction

Just like the precious metals and gems of the physical world, many of Yahweh's spiritual treasures lie hidden from human view. To possess them, we must dig deep and search. When we find them, there is still work to be done - refining, shaping, polishing and finishing - before their eternal value can be fully appreciated. Yahweh has organized a spiritual Treasure Hunt for mankind and all of us are taking part in it. He has extremely good things available for His people; but, His best treasures are always hidden or camouflaged.

Matthew 13: 44: Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45: Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47: Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49: So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50: And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51: Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

These parables teach us several basic truths about the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us examine four of them this Sabbath.

1. The Worth of Yahweh’s Kingdom

The Kingdom of Heaven is the most wonderful and powerful Kingdom in the entire universe. Its spiritual resources are endless and its moral wealth incalculable. The Kingdom of Heaven, also called the Kingdom of God, is in fact, the subject of most of the Savior's sermons. He came to earth to preach the Gospel of The Kingdom of God. In this passage, the worth of the Kingdom of Heaven, and particularly of its King, is likened to an inestimable find. The structure of this Kingdom may be briefly described as follows: Oh yes, the Kingdom of Heaven is a priceless treasure! No voice can do it justice, no brush can paint it and no pen can adequately describe its matchless worth. Only when we enter it, will we know.

2. Temporarily Hidden from Our Eyes

The Kingdom of Heaven is currently invisible to the human eye. Even though everything about it is more lasting than the things we can see, the fact is - the Kingdom of God is currently hidden from human view. Indeed, Yahweh has purposely hidden it. It is as it were ‘buried in a field.’ To find this hidden treasure, it requires effort on one's part. One must diligently search for it. Consider these verses about searching for hidden things:

Matthew 6: 31: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32: (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 7: 7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Colossians 3: 1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

It is vitally important that everyone accept the Almighty's astonishing offer of salvation. It is free! Take up His offer and become a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven - Now.

3. Recognizing Value

“The owners of Mount Morgan, in Queensland, toiled arduously for years on its barren slopes, eking out a miserable existence, never knowing that under their feet was one of the richest sources of gold the world has ever known. There was wealth, vast, undreamed of, yet unimagined and unrealized. It was theirs, yet not theirs.”

Are you in a similar state? Going through life as a spiritual pauper; when God is offering you wealth untold?

Before beginning any search, one must be able to recognize things of value and also identify the things that are worthless. Oh, how often people exchange things of great worth for valueless trifles and trinkets. They exchange:

Unlike the experienced merchant man seeking goodly pearls, they are unable to recognize a valuable thing when they see it. They barter away their most precious possessions for worthless junk.

4. Total Commitment Commanded

Though entry, to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, is freely obtainable through Jesus Christ, a believer must put forth some effort to realize available benefits. Both parables stress the important point of total commitment.

At All Cost:
Matthew 13: 44: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
The Pearl Merchant:
Matthew 13: 46: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Total commitment is not simply an ideal, which believers may or may not strive for. It is commanded.

Deuteronomy 6: 5: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 10: 12: And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Deuteronomy 11: 13: And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
Matthew 22: 37: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

There are, of course, millions of believers, who do not render this kind of service. They believe, but only just. They serve the Most High, but with a subdued fervor and a restrained commitment. Most start off very well; but many - too many - slump back into a kind of half-hearted service. Their results will not be good. It is a sad truth, but they will be the eternal losers in the long run.

5. The Judgment

Make no mistake, at the end of our lives we will all be judged. It is a good idea to keep this sobering fact in mind.

1 Peter 4: 16: Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18: And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19: Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Matthew 13: 47: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49: So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50: And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

6. What Makes a Good Fish?

The Bible says, all have sinned - all of us. What makes one fish good and another bad? The answer is faith in Jesus Christ. Good fish are good because they have faith in God and His Son. Fish are reckoned as ‘bad’ because they lack faith - they disbelieve. These primary actions of the mind - faith or doubt - determine, who is reckoned by God as ‘good’ and who is ‘bad.’ There is also the fact, faith must subsequently exhibit itself in good behavior, else it is presumption. The following analogy defines this essential.

1 Corinthians 3: 11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13: Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14: If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15: If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17: If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

7. Success

Totally committed believers will have great success in the Treasure Hunt of Life. They will recognize clues and find treasures which others pass by. They will find Yeshua (Jesus) and salvation. They will recognize the value of Yahweh's law and will keep His holy commandments. They will put everything they have into making life a success and will build spiritual houses of the finest materials. With the Almighty's help, they will stand the test of time. At the judgment, they will hear those wonderful words. Well done, good and faithful servants; enter into the joy of thy Lord! Aim to be one of those servants. We can do it with the Savior’s help - if we really want to.

AMEN

In The Son's Name, For The Father's Glory

A Voice In The Wilderness - USA
www.avitw-usa.org