Hello, and welcome to Faith Chapel. 00:00:31.55\00:00:33.13 My name is Kenn Dixon. 00:00:33.14\00:00:34.99 Let's begin with a word of prayer. 00:00:35.00\00:00:36.72 Father in heaven Lord, we thank you 00:00:37.61\00:00:38.90 for this beautiful day which you 00:00:38.91\00:00:40.14 have given to us. Lord, we ask that 00:00:40.15\00:00:42.29 your Holy Spirit would come and 00:00:42.30\00:00:43.53 abide with us. Speak to our hearts Lord. 00:00:43.54\00:00:46.27 We ask that you would show us the 00:00:46.28\00:00:48.21 things in your scriptures in which 00:00:48.22\00:00:50.05 we can take to heart and it would 00:00:50.06\00:00:51.65 draw us closer to you. 00:00:51.66\00:00:53.12 We pray this in your name, amen. 00:00:53.13\00:00:55.10 Our message today is called, 00:00:55.98\00:00:57.76 'If you knew what I know.' 00:00:57.77\00:00:59.40 And we're gonna go right into the 00:01:00.28\00:01:01.25 scriptures in Matthew chapter 13, 00:01:01.26\00:01:03.70 the Bible speaks of something. 00:01:03.71\00:01:04.91 It says in verse 44, "Again, 00:01:04.92\00:01:06.98 the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure 00:01:06.99\00:01:09.36 hidden in a field, which a man found and 00:01:09.37\00:01:12.28 hid, and for joy over it he goes and 00:01:12.29\00:01:15.88 sold all that he has and buys that field." 00:01:15.89\00:01:18.82 You know, when I first read this, this, 00:01:18.83\00:01:21.10 this little passage in the scriptures I 00:01:21.11\00:01:23.68 thought it was amazing because I pictured 00:01:23.69\00:01:26.15 a man that is digging in a field. 00:01:26.16\00:01:28.09 And as he is digging in the field he finds 00:01:28.10\00:01:30.39 a costly treasure in that field. 00:01:30.40\00:01:33.15 He was not looking for a treasure, 00:01:33.16\00:01:35.15 he was just minding his business, 00:01:35.16\00:01:37.39 digging in that field. Maybe plowing 00:01:37.40\00:01:38.61 it for a new crop and he finds a 00:01:38.62\00:01:41.35 treasure in that field. Now, in those 00:01:41.36\00:01:43.50 days generally they would hide their 00:01:43.51\00:01:46.26 treasures in the field. And sometimes when 00:01:46.27\00:01:49.69 they would do these things, either they 00:01:49.70\00:01:51.35 would die or they would forget where 00:01:51.36\00:01:53.26 they buried them and someone else 00:01:53.27\00:01:55.20 would come along and purchase the 00:01:55.21\00:01:56.42 field and dig it up and find this 00:01:56.43\00:01:58.21 treasure or would be working in the field 00:01:58.22\00:02:00.61 and find the treasure. Well, this man 00:02:00.62\00:02:02.44 was in there and he was working 00:02:02.45\00:02:03.79 in the field and he found this treasure 00:02:03.80\00:02:05.98 and when he found this treasure, 00:02:05.99\00:02:07.63 he covers it back over, hoping that no 00:02:07.64\00:02:10.02 one saw him find it. And he runs back 00:02:10.03\00:02:12.14 home and he tells, he tells his family, 00:02:12.15\00:02:14.68 family we're selling everything. 00:02:14.69\00:02:16.41 Now, if your family is anything like 00:02:16.42\00:02:19.29 my family. They would think that 00:02:19.30\00:02:21.26 I lost my mind, if I came home and I start 00:02:21.27\00:02:24.31 selling everything to buy a field 00:02:24.32\00:02:27.52 with nothing in it. Well, the reason 00:02:27.53\00:02:30.67 this man was doing all of this and selling 00:02:30.68\00:02:33.36 all that he had is because he knew 00:02:33.37\00:02:35.78 something that his family did not know. 00:02:35.79\00:02:38.60 So, he ran home and said, everything 00:02:38.61\00:02:41.53 must go, he is taking although the 00:02:41.54\00:02:43.25 jewels and all of the, the China and 00:02:43.26\00:02:46.03 everything and selling it. And the 00:02:46.04\00:02:47.62 family's saying, daddy has lost his mind, 00:02:47.63\00:02:50.32 but he was saying, if you only 00:02:50.33\00:02:52.81 knew what I know. His family think that 00:02:52.82\00:02:57.02 that he, he, he had become mad. 00:02:57.03\00:02:59.06 They did not understand that this 00:02:59.07\00:03:01.57 man had found something far greater 00:03:01.58\00:03:03.71 than anything that they had 00:03:03.72\00:03:04.69 already possessed. They had, he had 00:03:04.70\00:03:06.93 found something in that field that was 00:03:06.94\00:03:09.03 gonna change not only his life, 00:03:09.04\00:03:10.77 but the life of his family. 00:03:10.78\00:03:12.47 This man did all that he could. 00:03:13.57\00:03:16.26 It is not natural to sell everything that you 00:03:16.27\00:03:18.45 have without discussing it with your family. 00:03:18.46\00:03:20.77 I'm very familiar with that because, 00:03:20.78\00:03:22.28 if I so happen to go to the store and 00:03:22.29\00:03:25.00 I know that men can agree with me on this. 00:03:25.01\00:03:26.36 You go to the store, one of those electronic 00:03:26.37\00:03:28.10 stores and, and you see the latest gadget 00:03:28.11\00:03:30.78 and you walk and then you look 00:03:30.79\00:03:32.41 at the gadget and you, you start doing 00:03:32.42\00:03:34.45 a mental calculation of how much money 00:03:34.46\00:03:37.11 you have and how much you can spend 00:03:37.12\00:03:39.55 without your, your, your wife knowing 00:03:39.56\00:03:41.68 that you've spend it. And so you start 00:03:41.69\00:03:44.15 doing the mental math and you, 00:03:44.16\00:03:45.65 you start working this thing out 00:03:45.66\00:03:47.00 and you said, okay well you know, 00:03:47.01\00:03:48.03 I can do this and I can, I can, 00:03:48.04\00:03:49.60 I can possibly sell this and get the 00:03:49.61\00:03:52.08 money from that and it'll all workout. 00:03:52.09\00:03:53.92 And so, you up at the checkout counter 00:03:53.93\00:03:55.66 and you say, you, you, you, you 00:03:55.67\00:03:57.56 buy the thing and then you go home 00:03:57.57\00:03:59.24 and you try to explain it. Well, it doesn't 00:03:59.25\00:04:00.95 work quiet like that. So, imagine this man 00:04:00.96\00:04:03.96 coming home and saying we're selling 00:04:03.97\00:04:05.46 everything we have. So, I can 00:04:05.47\00:04:08.06 purchase a field. They were would 00:04:08.07\00:04:10.90 think that he was crazy. It is not natural 00:04:10.91\00:04:13.05 for him to do that. He needed to discuss 00:04:13.06\00:04:15.08 these things with his family, 00:04:15.09\00:04:16.41 but you know I'm reminded of some 00:04:16.42\00:04:18.93 more people in the Bible that were crazy. 00:04:18.94\00:04:21.53 I call them crazy people in the Bible 00:04:21.54\00:04:23.76 that did some crazy things in order to 00:04:23.77\00:04:26.59 obtain something that they knew that 00:04:26.60\00:04:30.21 someone else did not know. 00:04:30.22\00:04:31.21 If you look in your Bibles in Hebrews 00:04:31.22\00:04:33.23 chapter 11, we look at our first one. 00:04:33.24\00:04:35.38 Hebrews chapter 11, verse 31 it says, 00:04:35.39\00:04:37.13 "By faith the harlot Rahab did not 00:04:37.14\00:04:39.36 perish with those who did not believe, 00:04:39.37\00:04:41.79 when she received the spies with peace." 00:04:41.80\00:04:44.70 See, Rahab was one day sitting around 00:04:44.71\00:04:48.96 the wells. And I can see the chatter and 00:04:48.97\00:04:52.40 the, the, the buzzing of the, the caravans 00:04:52.41\00:04:54.89 that would come and water. 00:04:54.90\00:04:56.16 And Rahab's job was to entertain she 00:04:56.17\00:04:59.96 was a harlot, so therefore she did some, 00:04:59.97\00:05:01.86 some things to entertain those that 00:05:01.87\00:05:04.16 were weary travelers. And I can see her 00:05:04.17\00:05:06.90 standing there in her, in her, in her harlot 00:05:06.91\00:05:10.10 clothing, dressed and trying to find the, 00:05:10.11\00:05:13.75 the next client. And as one of these caravan 00:05:13.76\00:05:16.81 comes, there is a buzz and people are, 00:05:16.82\00:05:19.77 are talking about strange thing that 00:05:19.78\00:05:22.61 happened. A strange thing that 00:05:22.62\00:05:24.72 happened to the Egyptian Army. 00:05:24.73\00:05:26.13 The water of the Red Sea came upon 00:05:26.14\00:05:28.99 the side and the Israelites came 00:05:29.00\00:05:30.89 through and as they came through 00:05:30.90\00:05:32.60 they prayed and then the water 00:05:32.61\00:05:35.02 came back down on the Egyptians 00:05:35.03\00:05:36.64 and swallowed the whole army. 00:05:36.65\00:05:38.17 And I can imagine Rahab stopping 00:05:38.18\00:05:42.57 you know, her, her, her normal train 00:05:42.58\00:05:44.66 of thought is to sell her body, 00:05:44.67\00:05:46.86 but now she is, she's trying to figure 00:05:46.87\00:05:49.35 out what they are talking about. 00:05:49.36\00:05:50.53 And she starts hearing more-and-more 00:05:50.54\00:05:52.27 about the God of Israel. And so she, she, she, 00:05:52.28\00:05:55.44 she runs back home and she begins so wipe 00:05:55.45\00:05:58.94 the stuff off of her face. She begins to 00:05:58.95\00:06:02.27 take things off of her and, and she changes 00:06:02.28\00:06:04.90 her clothes and her, her family is looking 00:06:04.91\00:06:07.33 at her like you know, what's going on he 00:06:07.34\00:06:09.36 says you know, I, I heard some news 00:06:09.37\00:06:11.67 about something in a, I'm not sure and 00:06:11.68\00:06:13.87 I'm not feeling comfortable. And later 00:06:13.88\00:06:15.95 on these, these spies came and they 00:06:15.96\00:06:19.46 made their way through the city of 00:06:19.47\00:06:21.86 Jericho and they found Rahab and Rahab 00:06:21.87\00:06:23.76 kept them and, and, and hid them. 00:06:23.77\00:06:26.20 And the Bible says the reason why 00:06:26.21\00:06:27.90 she is mentioned in this chapter is 00:06:27.91\00:06:29.73 because she hid the spies. And after 00:06:29.74\00:06:33.77 doing so, the Lord send blessing to 00:06:33.78\00:06:37.06 her home. Her family thought she was 00:06:37.07\00:06:39.05 crazy for what she was doing. She, 00:06:39.06\00:06:40.93 they didn't think that she, she was, she was 00:06:40.94\00:06:42.98 working with a level head. They didn't think 00:06:42.99\00:06:45.13 she was doing what was right because 00:06:45.14\00:06:47.45 for one minute she is out there selling 00:06:47.46\00:06:50.50 her body and the next minute she's 00:06:50.51\00:06:52.10 taking everything off and hiding strangers 00:06:52.11\00:06:54.67 in her home. And God blessed her for that, 00:06:54.68\00:06:58.41 the family did not know, but she knew 00:06:58.42\00:07:01.56 something that they did not know, 00:07:01.57\00:07:03.17 if you only knew what I know. You know, 00:07:03.18\00:07:06.95 the Bible speaks even more about some, 00:07:06.96\00:07:08.25 some more crazy people I'm thinking 00:07:08.26\00:07:09.71 about Abraham and, and when you 00:07:09.72\00:07:12.03 look at Hebrews chapter 11, 00:07:12.04\00:07:13.19 starting of verse 8. The Bible says, 00:07:13.20\00:07:15.42 "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was 00:07:15.43\00:07:17.35 called to go out to a place where he 00:07:17.36\00:07:19.63 would receive as an inheritance. 00:07:19.64\00:07:21.67 And he went out, not knowing where 00:07:21.68\00:07:23.92 he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land 00:07:23.93\00:07:27.44 of promise as in a foreign country, 00:07:27.45\00:07:29.34 dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, 00:07:29.35\00:07:32.11 the heirs with him of the same promise; 00:07:32.12\00:07:35.24 for he wanted, he waited for the city 00:07:35.25\00:07:39.20 for which has foundations, whose 00:07:39.21\00:07:41.67 maker and builder was God." 00:07:41.68\00:07:44.15 Here Abraham was crazy, here's a man 00:07:44.16\00:07:48.64 that has all sorts of money, just making all 00:07:48.65\00:07:53.23 sorts of money and, and doing well and 00:07:53.24\00:07:56.39 he is living in a place that all of the sudden 00:07:56.40\00:07:58.83 God tells him, Abraham, get up 00:07:58.84\00:08:02.28 and go to a place well I tell you afterwards. 00:08:02.29\00:08:05.08 And you are gonna live in tents while 00:08:05.09\00:08:07.42 you are doing it. Can you imagine 00:08:07.43\00:08:09.30 Abraham coming home and, and telling 00:08:09.31\00:08:11.34 his wife, dear we're moving. And she is 00:08:11.35\00:08:15.78 probably like, oh great where we going? 00:08:15.79\00:08:17.63 The Lord will tell us when we get there. 00:08:17.64\00:08:19.62 Excuse me, you're saying that we're 00:08:20.56\00:08:22.99 gonna up root our whole family, 00:08:23.00\00:08:24.51 we're gonna dwell in tents and we'll know 00:08:24.52\00:08:28.18 when we get there because God 00:08:28.19\00:08:29.49 will tell us afterwards. Yes, you're crazy, 00:08:29.50\00:08:34.06 but, but, but dear, if you only knew 00:08:34.07\00:08:36.53 what I knew. If you only knew what I know, 00:08:36.54\00:08:39.69 if you only knew what I know. He said, 00:08:39.70\00:08:42.41 well I don't care what you know, but we, 00:08:42.42\00:08:44.55 where are we going? God has given 00:08:44.56\00:08:47.34 us a promise. He said, there is a city 00:08:47.35\00:08:49.14 where there is the, where, where, 00:08:49.15\00:08:51.20 that the maker and builder his God. Okay, 00:08:51.21\00:08:53.42 I will follow you. So, she follows him, 00:08:53.43\00:08:56.53 but his family must of thought he was 00:08:56.54\00:08:58.56 crazy to carry them out into the desert, 00:08:58.57\00:09:01.42 to carry them out into the wilderness, 00:09:01.43\00:09:03.69 to live all family and friends and everyone 00:09:03.70\00:09:06.81 behind and I need to say that sometimes 00:09:06.82\00:09:09.88 God has to take you from where you are 00:09:09.89\00:09:11.75 to get to you where you need to be. 00:09:11.76\00:09:14.51 Sometimes he shows things just a glimpse 00:09:14.52\00:09:17.66 of heaven and you want it so bad that 00:09:17.67\00:09:20.60 you would do whatever it takes. 00:09:20.61\00:09:21.98 And people don't understand they think 00:09:21.99\00:09:24.07 you're crazy. They think you have lost 00:09:24.08\00:09:25.35 your mind, but let me tell you. 00:09:25.36\00:09:26.69 When God says get up and go, go. 00:09:26.70\00:09:29.14 Because the place where He's sending 00:09:29.15\00:09:31.26 you is better than where you are. 00:09:31.27\00:09:32.73 His family thought that he had, he 00:09:32.74\00:09:34.99 had been out in the sun too long and he's, 00:09:35.00\00:09:36.68 he's crazy and he was heading for a place 00:09:36.69\00:09:38.81 that he do not know where he was going, 00:09:38.82\00:09:40.14 but then soon God would tell him. 00:09:40.15\00:09:41.53 You know, that's just, this is a crazy 00:09:41.54\00:09:43.90 thing to think of, but I think of another 00:09:43.91\00:09:46.30 crazy person Moses. Moses was one of 00:09:46.31\00:09:50.36 these kind of guys that you know grew up 00:09:50.37\00:09:52.27 in the limelight. He grew up having 00:09:52.28\00:09:55.35 everything right at his beck and call. 00:09:55.36\00:09:57.93 He, he was adopted into the Egyptian 00:09:57.94\00:10:01.52 family and the Pharaoh's son and, and 00:10:01.53\00:10:04.28 now he was living in the lap of luxury. 00:10:04.29\00:10:06.78 Everything was going well for, for Moses. 00:10:06.79\00:10:09.54 And, and everything was fine, but then all 00:10:09.55\00:10:12.48 of a sudden God grabbed a hold of him 00:10:12.49\00:10:15.32 and God took him and God changed him. 00:10:15.33\00:10:17.71 And instead of being in the, in luxury and 00:10:17.72\00:10:20.73 being in the palaces of Egypt he now 00:10:20.74\00:10:22.99 was going to be with the people whom 00:10:23.00\00:10:26.20 in which the kingdom were have enslaved. 00:10:26.21\00:10:28.83 The Bible says in Hebrews chapter 11 00:10:28.84\00:10:31.94 and verse 24. "By faith Moses, when He 00:10:31.95\00:10:34.96 became of age refused to be called 00:10:34.97\00:10:37.13 the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 00:10:37.14\00:10:38.63 choosing rather to suffer affliction with 00:10:38.64\00:10:40.85 the people of God than to enjoy the 00:10:40.86\00:10:44.24 passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the 00:10:44.25\00:10:47.16 reproach of Christ greater riches than the 00:10:47.17\00:10:49.57 treasures in Egypt; for he looked to 00:10:49.58\00:10:52.75 the reward." It was Moses desired 00:10:52.76\00:10:56.93 something greater, Pharaoh was 00:10:56.94\00:11:00.22 the richest man in the world. 00:11:00.23\00:11:02.23 The greatest nation in the world. 00:11:02.24\00:11:04.25 Moses had the, the, the opportunity 00:11:04.26\00:11:08.73 to be one of the greatest men and 00:11:08.74\00:11:11.52 Pharaoh in, in Egypt. He had the 00:11:11.53\00:11:13.62 opportunity to, to become great and, 00:11:13.63\00:11:17.11 and all the, he could have been 00:11:17.12\00:11:18.36 embalmed when he died and held in 00:11:18.37\00:11:20.87 one of the tombs, in one of the, the, 00:11:20.88\00:11:23.35 the pyramids, he could have had the 00:11:23.36\00:11:25.28 greatest things happen to him in the world, 00:11:25.29\00:11:29.02 but he choose rather to suffer with the 00:11:29.03\00:11:31.51 people of God than to enjoy sin for a season. 00:11:31.52\00:11:34.54 You know, it's interesting that when 00:11:34.55\00:11:36.09 you think about it? He would rather go 00:11:36.10\00:11:38.85 with slaves than with the leaders. 00:11:38.86\00:11:41.92 He would rather follow those that were 00:11:41.93\00:11:43.64 being suffered for Christ sake than those 00:11:43.65\00:11:45.70 that will doing the suffering. It is 00:11:45.71\00:11:47.92 amazing what God will do. 00:11:47.93\00:11:50.02 If you only knew what Moses knew? 00:11:50.03\00:11:53.31 You know, I think about so many different 00:11:53.32\00:11:55.69 things and as I contemplate all of 00:11:55.70\00:11:58.78 these different things and, and, and 00:11:58.79\00:12:00.41 speaking about the, the man digging 00:12:00.42\00:12:01.95 in the field and finding the treasure that 00:12:01.96\00:12:04.22 he was not searching for, but he found 00:12:04.23\00:12:06.27 it in the field. It reminds of what the 00:12:06.28\00:12:08.83 Bible continues to read in 00:12:08.84\00:12:10.10 Matthew chapter 13, starting with verses 45, 00:12:10.11\00:12:13.20 it says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven 00:12:13.21\00:12:14.68 is like a merchant seeking beautiful 00:12:14.69\00:12:16.97 pearls, who when he had found one pearl 00:12:16.98\00:12:19.64 of great price, went and sold all that he 00:12:19.65\00:12:22.20 had and bought it." The Bible speaks about 00:12:22.21\00:12:24.65 this man who had found and who was seeking 00:12:24.66\00:12:27.42 after a beautiful pearl he had seen many 00:12:27.43\00:12:29.49 ordinary pearls here and there. 00:12:29.50\00:12:31.16 He would look at them and handle 00:12:31.17\00:12:32.91 them and say, this is not that one, 00:12:32.92\00:12:34.32 this is not that one, this is not that one. 00:12:34.33\00:12:36.57 So, many different pearls out there, 00:12:36.58\00:12:38.47 but he did not find the one that he 00:12:38.48\00:12:40.70 wanted until one day he found the pearl 00:12:40.71\00:12:43.26 that he was looking for. The beautiful pearl, 00:12:43.27\00:12:45.19 he was out for an earnest search for 00:12:45.20\00:12:47.01 this pearl and when he found it, 00:12:47.02\00:12:48.49 he sold all that he had to obtain 00:12:48.50\00:12:51.15 that pearl. He did not go out looking 00:12:51.16\00:12:55.07 for any ordinary pearl. He wanted one 00:12:55.08\00:12:58.03 particular pearl in particular. 00:12:58.04\00:12:59.89 And once he found it he goes back 00:12:59.90\00:13:02.25 and sells all that he has to obtain it. 00:13:02.26\00:13:04.95 The best things in life or sometimes 00:13:04.96\00:13:08.57 not on the surface. Sometimes you have 00:13:08.58\00:13:11.08 to dig a little deeper. 00:13:11.09\00:13:12.78 The precious pearls that are in the 00:13:12.79\00:13:14.65 scriptures, you have to dig a little deeper. 00:13:14.66\00:13:16.78 You can't just take the, you know, 00:13:16.79\00:13:18.79 I'm gonna wake up in the morning and 00:13:18.80\00:13:20.30 read my one text and carried me 00:13:20.31\00:13:21.78 through the day. You think about that 00:13:21.79\00:13:23.19 for a second. You take one simple text 00:13:23.20\00:13:26.02 and you say, you read that text and 00:13:26.03\00:13:28.93 you say that's good enough for the 00:13:28.94\00:13:30.05 day for me. And then you go about your 00:13:30.06\00:13:31.68 day and for the next 23 hours you're 00:13:31.69\00:13:38.73 spending with the devil bombarding you, 00:13:38.74\00:13:41.43 but if we would take sometime to dig 00:13:42.31\00:13:46.19 a little deeper into the scriptures, 00:13:46.20\00:13:47.74 to search for that precious pearl 00:13:47.75\00:13:50.08 that is there. We would find that we 00:13:50.09\00:13:52.19 would be blessed. Our lives will be 00:13:52.20\00:13:53.97 changed; this man knew that it would 00:13:53.98\00:13:57.26 take something different. He couldn't 00:13:57.27\00:13:59.11 just go out and accept any, any old pearl. 00:13:59.12\00:14:02.35 He had to find the pearl that he wanted. 00:14:02.36\00:14:05.79 The man before him went out digging 00:14:05.80\00:14:08.24 in the field and when he found the treasure. 00:14:08.25\00:14:09.77 He did not say, well this is just any 00:14:09.78\00:14:11.82 ordinary treasure, I don't need to sell all 00:14:11.83\00:14:13.97 that I have. I can just sell a little bit and 00:14:13.98\00:14:16.00 keep a little, no he realized that the 00:14:16.01\00:14:17.84 treasure was that important to him. 00:14:17.85\00:14:19.32 And he sold all that he had just like 00:14:19.33\00:14:21.67 this man that found the treasure or 00:14:21.68\00:14:23.19 the man that when searching for 00:14:23.20\00:14:24.58 the pearl the price is the same, 00:14:24.59\00:14:26.25 the price is the great price of Jesus 00:14:26.26\00:14:29.48 and his kingdom 'cause let me tell you, 00:14:29.49\00:14:32.16 heaven is a beautiful place, 00:14:33.19\00:14:34.60 but heaven would not be heaven, 00:14:35.67\00:14:37.36 if Jesus wasn't there. It would just be 00:14:37.37\00:14:39.48 like any other place, if because Jesus 00:14:39.49\00:14:42.01 is there that makes it heaven, 00:14:42.02\00:14:43.52 if Jesus wasn't there what's the point? 00:14:43.53\00:14:47.55 You know, the Bible tells us that, 00:14:47.56\00:14:49.53 Jesus is the word of God. 00:14:50.46\00:14:52.91 He is the word that was made flesh 00:14:52.92\00:14:55.08 and dwelt among us. 00:14:55.09\00:14:56.28 It is the word of God. We can obtain 00:14:56.29\00:14:59.07 and experience heaven through the 00:14:59.08\00:15:01.25 word of God. Open the scriptures you 00:15:01.26\00:15:04.07 know, it, it doesn't make sense saying 00:15:04.08\00:15:05.84 that you know I enjoy and I know Jesus 00:15:05.85\00:15:08.31 and I love Jesus when we don't open 00:15:08.32\00:15:10.44 the scriptures, that makes no sense 00:15:10.45\00:15:12.63 because what we're saying is that we 00:15:12.64\00:15:14.60 know and we love someone that we 00:15:14.61\00:15:16.51 don't really know. Imagine if you were to 00:15:16.52\00:15:19.97 wake up one morning and turned and 00:15:19.98\00:15:21.47 looked at a person next to you, 00:15:21.48\00:15:22.49 if you're married and you see someone 00:15:22.50\00:15:24.55 lying in the bed with you and you 00:15:24.56\00:15:26.31 don't know them. How would you feel? 00:15:26.32\00:15:28.25 Would you say, oh dear thank you I, 00:15:28.26\00:15:29.68 you know, good morning. No, you would 00:15:29.69\00:15:31.15 probably call the police. Well, if you 00:15:31.16\00:15:33.28 don't know Jesus how can you say 00:15:33.29\00:15:35.96 you love Him? And how can you know Jesus, 00:15:35.97\00:15:38.81 if you're not studying His word? Finding out 00:15:38.82\00:15:41.51 what he is all about. What he wants 00:15:41.52\00:15:44.01 for our lives? These men understood this. 00:15:44.02\00:15:46.15 The only way that this treasure can be 00:15:46.16\00:15:50.05 appreciated is by seeking more of this 00:15:50.06\00:15:53.61 precious treasure in our hearts. 00:15:53.62\00:15:55.47 In Jeremiah chapter 29 and verse 13, 00:15:55.48\00:15:58.80 the Bible says, "And you will seek Me 00:15:58.81\00:16:01.77 and find Me, when you search for Me 00:16:01.78\00:16:04.26 with all your heart." When we search for 00:16:04.27\00:16:06.78 Jesus in all of our hearts? When we go 00:16:06.79\00:16:08.89 after the scriptures and we dive 00:16:08.90\00:16:10.55 into them and I must say that when we 00:16:10.56\00:16:13.59 study them line upon line and precept 00:16:13.60\00:16:15.96 upon precept here a little and there 00:16:15.97\00:16:17.93 a little, don't try to eat the whole thing, 00:16:17.94\00:16:19.82 take it slowly, take your time with it. 00:16:19.83\00:16:23.22 A relationship takes time and as 00:16:23.23\00:16:25.86 long as you continue to cultivate this 00:16:25.87\00:16:27.42 relationship it will strengthen the 00:16:27.43\00:16:29.26 relationship, it will be a better 00:16:29.27\00:16:30.73 relationship. And as you do this, 00:16:30.74\00:16:32.72 you will find that Jesus will become 00:16:32.73\00:16:34.97 more and more real to you in your life. 00:16:34.98\00:16:37.85 You know, the searching for the 00:16:37.86\00:16:40.64 treasure is one in which many 00:16:40.65\00:16:42.56 people will start. They will start on the 00:16:42.57\00:16:45.12 journey and they will go and they 00:16:45.13\00:16:47.56 will do those things, they make 00:16:47.57\00:16:48.54 New Year's resolution and they say, 00:16:48.55\00:16:50.51 that they will do this and they say 00:16:50.52\00:16:51.70 that on my birthday, on my 25th birthday, 00:16:51.71\00:16:53.44 on my 50th birthday I will do 00:16:53.45\00:16:54.72 this, but they only go half way, 00:16:54.73\00:16:56.47 this search is one in which that we 00:16:56.48\00:16:59.19 must go all the way. They desire only, 00:16:59.20\00:17:02.39 only a little bit. They, they find a 00:17:02.40\00:17:04.56 little bit of the what the Bible says, 00:17:04.57\00:17:06.13 and they take that and they say, 00:17:06.14\00:17:07.89 this is all I need. I don't need anything 00:17:07.90\00:17:09.12 else, but that's not the precious search 00:17:09.13\00:17:11.89 that we need. We need the one 00:17:11.90\00:17:13.44 in which we'll go past our feelings and 00:17:13.45\00:17:15.69 our desires. We need to go past 00:17:15.70\00:17:17.63 what we feel and what we want, 00:17:17.64\00:17:19.33 and what we, what we think is right, 00:17:19.34\00:17:21.00 we need to find out what God says, 00:17:21.01\00:17:22.83 and go that extra mile and go, 00:17:22.84\00:17:25.01 and be willing to lay aside every 00:17:25.02\00:17:27.21 weight and the sin that does so easily 00:17:27.22\00:17:29.41 be set us. God is wanting us to go 00:17:29.42\00:17:32.61 further-and-further and to His son. 00:17:32.62\00:17:34.74 The real treasure is going and 00:17:34.75\00:17:38.46 finding of the savior and making him 00:17:38.47\00:17:40.01 part of our soul. You know, and 00:17:40.02\00:17:42.15 there are many people that have eyes, 00:17:42.16\00:17:43.92 but yet they see not. 00:17:43.93\00:17:45.27 And they have ears, but they hear not. 00:17:45.28\00:17:47.41 They see things in there and they say 00:17:47.42\00:17:50.27 you know, I've had many people come 00:17:50.28\00:17:51.33 to me and say you know, 00:17:51.34\00:17:52.31 I see it in there, but it doesn't really 00:17:52.32\00:17:54.01 matter, if it's in there it matters. 00:17:54.02\00:17:56.39 It's not about our opinion and I've 00:17:56.40\00:17:58.68 this saying over the years. 00:17:58.69\00:18:00.19 Sometimes your opinion really, 00:18:00.20\00:18:01.71 when it comes to the scripture your 00:18:01.72\00:18:03.12 opinion doesn't matter. It's what God 00:18:03.13\00:18:05.82 wants for you because he knows 00:18:05.83\00:18:07.50 what's best. Well, in First 00:18:07.51\00:18:10.09 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 14, 00:18:10.10\00:18:12.40 the Bible says, "But the natural man 00:18:12.41\00:18:14.39 does not receive the things of the 00:18:14.40\00:18:15.94 Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; 00:18:15.95\00:18:18.48 nor can they know them, because they 00:18:18.49\00:18:21.09 are spiritually discerned." I remember 00:18:21.10\00:18:23.09 a time that when I was at the 00:18:23.10\00:18:25.23 University of Michigan and I was working 00:18:25.24\00:18:27.96 there that I had many people that 00:18:27.97\00:18:30.69 will come to me and that would say, 00:18:30.70\00:18:31.91 you know, what? I don't think you know, 00:18:31.92\00:18:34.06 I don't, I don't see it in the Bible or 00:18:34.07\00:18:35.85 you know, the, you know, it doesn't, 00:18:35.86\00:18:36.83 I don't see why I must do this or 00:18:36.84\00:18:39.25 I must you know, not do that. 00:18:39.26\00:18:40.69 I don't see it you know, that's, 00:18:40.70\00:18:41.69 that's your interpretation of it. 00:18:41.70\00:18:43.00 And you know, the Bible clearly says 00:18:43.01\00:18:44.67 that they don't see it because the 00:18:44.68\00:18:48.31 things of scriptures are foolishness 00:18:48.32\00:18:50.33 to them. People will wake up in the 00:18:50.34\00:18:53.07 morning, and they see no need for Jesus. 00:18:53.08\00:18:56.13 People will go throughout the day and 00:18:57.13\00:18:58.24 they see no need, but they make it 00:18:58.25\00:19:00.70 a point to say I cannot start my 00:19:00.71\00:19:02.95 day unless I have my coffee. 00:19:02.96\00:19:04.51 I cannot start my day unless I, 00:19:04.52\00:19:07.12 I watch this, this news program. 00:19:07.13\00:19:09.53 I cannot start my day until I check 00:19:09.54\00:19:11.48 my stocks. Well, you should not start 00:19:11.49\00:19:15.85 your day unless you've made Jesus 00:19:15.86\00:19:18.08 the first thing in your life. 00:19:18.09\00:19:19.99 The first thing when you wake up, 00:19:20.00\00:19:21.97 finding that pressure, that treasure 00:19:21.98\00:19:24.39 in the morning is what God wants. 00:19:24.40\00:19:26.36 And if you, if you look at the Bible 00:19:26.37\00:19:28.48 and you're saying, you know, I don't really it's, 00:19:28.49\00:19:30.54 it's boring and ask the Lord to touch you 00:19:30.55\00:19:33.19 and to give you the treasures that are 00:19:33.20\00:19:35.42 there because you will find yourself 00:19:35.43\00:19:37.42 saying after all is said and done you'll 00:19:37.43\00:19:40.09 be willing to sell all that you have 00:19:40.10\00:19:41.76 and people will call you crazy and 00:19:41.77\00:19:43.68 you will tell them, you don't know 00:19:43.69\00:19:45.47 what I know. And if you knew what 00:19:45.48\00:19:48.22 I knew, then you wouldn't be saying 00:19:48.23\00:19:50.49 what you are saying? And I will tell you 00:19:50.50\00:19:51.82 that God loves us so much that he 00:19:51.83\00:19:54.54 is willing to give us all the treasure 00:19:54.55\00:19:57.19 that are in a scriptures. You know, 00:19:57.20\00:19:58.74 there was a story about a young man. 00:19:58.75\00:20:00.10 This young man wanted a sports car 00:20:01.25\00:20:02.76 he desired a sports car and he told 00:20:03.65\00:20:05.45 his father said, dad, I want a sports car. 00:20:05.46\00:20:07.79 And his dad was up in the age and he said, 00:20:07.80\00:20:10.17 son you know, I wanna give you a sports car, 00:20:10.18\00:20:12.43 but I really want you you understand the, 00:20:12.44\00:20:13.94 the real meaning of life and the different 00:20:13.95\00:20:15.83 things in life and the most precious 00:20:15.84\00:20:17.26 things in life. He said, dad, I don't 00:20:17.27\00:20:19.39 care, I'm young. When I get older, 00:20:19.40\00:20:22.63 I'll go and I'll follow and do these different 00:20:22.64\00:20:25.52 things, and but right now I want a 00:20:25.53\00:20:27.82 sports car. All my friends have it, I want 00:20:27.83\00:20:30.19 a sports car. Give me a sports car, 00:20:30.20\00:20:32.21 his dad said, I cannot do that. 00:20:32.22\00:20:33.63 Well, this went on for years and years 00:20:34.47\00:20:36.39 and years and finally the older man, 00:20:36.40\00:20:38.40 the father died. And the son was 00:20:38.41\00:20:41.37 distraught and he was upset and 00:20:41.38\00:20:42.91 very upset not because his father 00:20:42.92\00:20:45.56 died, but because he did not get 00:20:45.57\00:20:47.44 the sports car. Well, they called 00:20:47.45\00:20:50.59 him in, and, and they told him that 00:20:50.60\00:20:53.44 he needed to bring the Bible that 00:20:53.45\00:20:57.44 was given to him as a youth. 00:20:57.45\00:20:58.86 He needed to bring the Bible that 00:20:58.87\00:21:00.86 was given to him by his father many, 00:21:00.87\00:21:03.15 many years ago when he was teenager. 00:21:03.16\00:21:04.83 And he said, I don't want to bring, 00:21:04.84\00:21:06.55 he said, bring it in. So, he finally brought 00:21:06.56\00:21:08.41 the Bible and he went into the Attorney 00:21:08.42\00:21:10.03 office and he sat down and the Attorney 00:21:10.04\00:21:12.19 took the Bible from him and he said, 00:21:12.20\00:21:14.10 you need to look at such a, 00:21:14.11\00:21:16.65 such a passage in the scriptures. 00:21:16.66\00:21:18.44 And he said, I don't want to, I've never 00:21:18.45\00:21:20.00 looked at the Bible, there is dust on 00:21:20.01\00:21:21.34 as you see, I don't study it. 00:21:21.35\00:21:23.08 He said, son, take this Bible, look at the 00:21:23.09\00:21:26.11 passage, so the son takes the Bible 00:21:26.12\00:21:28.93 and he is upset because he doesn't 00:21:28.94\00:21:31.58 really want to look at this thing. 00:21:31.59\00:21:33.07 And he opens the Bible to a certain 00:21:33.08\00:21:35.93 passage and taped in the Bible is a key 00:21:35.94\00:21:39.93 to a sports car, a brand new sports car. 00:21:39.94\00:21:43.25 Well, the son started crying and he 00:21:45.53\00:21:48.16 read the note from his father said, 00:21:48.17\00:21:49.37 son I wanted you to realize the precious 00:21:49.38\00:21:52.27 treasures that are in the word of God. 00:21:52.28\00:21:54.14 It has life eternal, but you did not 00:21:54.15\00:21:57.61 want to do it. I have, I wanted to share 00:21:57.62\00:22:00.13 so many things with you while I was alive, 00:22:00.14\00:22:01.75 but you desired to do what you wanted to do. 00:22:01.76\00:22:04.72 So, if you would have read these scriptures, 00:22:04.73\00:22:07.27 if you would have followed what the Bible 00:22:07.28\00:22:09.17 has said, eventually you would have 00:22:09.18\00:22:11.10 gotten that sports car because 00:22:11.11\00:22:12.52 I taped the key here for you, 00:22:12.53\00:22:14.26 but the son never picked up the Bible. 00:22:14.27\00:22:17.31 You know, sometimes when we have 00:22:18.43\00:22:19.96 Bibles on our shelves and we never 00:22:19.97\00:22:21.88 look at them. We never realize the 00:22:21.89\00:22:24.18 treasure that is hidden there. 00:22:24.19\00:22:25.88 We may desire some things in life. 00:22:25.89\00:22:28.29 We may want some things in life, 00:22:28.30\00:22:30.21 but the Bible says, you know seek 00:22:30.22\00:22:32.18 first the kingdom of God. 00:22:32.19\00:22:33.54 And all these things shall be added 00:22:33.55\00:22:35.38 unto you. God knows what's best for us. 00:22:35.39\00:22:37.90 He knew that if you would have given 00:22:37.91\00:22:39.00 that young man that sports car, 00:22:39.01\00:22:40.70 when he wanted him. He would have 00:22:40.71\00:22:42.07 never opened the scriptures; 00:22:42.08\00:22:43.29 he would have never studied the scriptures. 00:22:43.30\00:22:45.19 Sometimes God will not give us the things 00:22:45.20\00:22:47.47 we want immediately because 00:22:47.48\00:22:49.06 he knows it, if we do it we will forget 00:22:49.07\00:22:51.20 about him and we will have no time for him, 00:22:51.21\00:22:53.20 but God wants us and to love him, 00:22:53.21\00:22:55.93 he wants us to spend time with him, 00:22:55.94\00:22:57.61 he wants us to form that relationship 00:22:57.62\00:22:59.84 that is so meaningful at this point, 00:22:59.85\00:23:02.30 in this junction. You know, 00:23:02.31\00:23:03.80 there is another story that, that is, 00:23:03.81\00:23:05.89 that is spoken of in the Bible. 00:23:05.90\00:23:07.97 And this story speaks about a young man, 00:23:07.98\00:23:10.41 a rich man. And this rich man basically 00:23:10.42\00:23:13.55 he had everything and he came to 00:23:13.56\00:23:15.89 Jesus and he said, you know, 00:23:15.90\00:23:17.02 how can I obtain eternal life? 00:23:17.03\00:23:18.33 And Jesus explains it to him in, 00:23:18.34\00:23:21.10 in Mark chapter 10 and verse 21. 00:23:21.11\00:23:23.09 Jesus tells him, he says, 00:23:23.10\00:23:24.73 "Then Jesus looked at him and he loved him. 00:23:24.74\00:23:27.70 and he said to him, 'One thing you lack: 00:23:27.71\00:23:29.78 Go your way, sell whatever you have and 00:23:29.79\00:23:34.53 give it to the poor, and you should have 00:23:34.54\00:23:36.91 treasure in heaven and come, 00:23:36.92\00:23:40.60 and he says take up the cross and follow Me." 00:23:40.61\00:23:44.20 You know, Jesus is talking to this 00:23:44.21\00:23:46.56 young man. And he doesn't just say 00:23:46.57\00:23:48.67 to him. You know, come and hang out with us. 00:23:48.68\00:23:50.72 He says, go first and sell all you have 00:23:50.73\00:23:53.10 because there is a treasure within me 00:23:53.11\00:23:55.35 that is greater than anything else. 00:23:55.36\00:23:57.45 There is a treasure that your money 00:23:57.46\00:23:59.67 cannot buy. There is a treasure that 00:23:59.68\00:24:01.54 if you take this treasure you will 00:24:01.55\00:24:03.15 find life's greatest blessings. 00:24:03.16\00:24:05.58 And the young man was blinded by 00:24:05.59\00:24:08.06 the fact that he had so much that 00:24:08.07\00:24:10.33 he could not sell them. He said, 00:24:10.34\00:24:11.98 I can't sell it, I have so much. 00:24:11.99\00:24:14.82 And Jesus is saying to him, first of all 00:24:14.83\00:24:17.26 the Bible says, he loved him. 00:24:17.27\00:24:18.81 Jesus loves all of us, whether be 00:24:18.82\00:24:21.71 rich or poor. He loves all of us. 00:24:21.72\00:24:23.31 He says, go, sell all you have give 00:24:23.32\00:24:26.12 it to the poor, and then take up your 00:24:26.13\00:24:29.23 Cross and follow me. 00:24:29.24\00:24:30.98 He's given him something that Jesus 00:24:30.99\00:24:33.73 did not give very many people in 00:24:33.74\00:24:35.29 the Bible. He says come be one of 00:24:35.30\00:24:37.59 my disciples. Be one that will stand 00:24:37.60\00:24:39.76 next to me in this ministry. 00:24:39.77\00:24:41.15 Be one that will stand next to me 00:24:41.16\00:24:42.74 in preaching the gospel. 00:24:42.75\00:24:43.87 And this man said, I can't do it, 00:24:43.88\00:24:46.45 I have too much. I cannot give up 00:24:46.46\00:24:49.57 all that I have and do this. 00:24:49.58\00:24:51.43 And he went away the Bible says, 00:24:51.44\00:24:53.73 very sorrowfully. You know, so many times 00:24:53.74\00:24:58.66 God is speaking to us and He tells us so much, 00:24:58.67\00:25:02.21 and He wants us to give up so many different 00:25:02.22\00:25:05.15 things in our life, but we hold on to them. 00:25:05.16\00:25:07.74 We don't want to give them up. 00:25:07.75\00:25:09.43 We don't want to give up certain 00:25:09.44\00:25:11.37 relationships. We don't want to give 00:25:11.38\00:25:13.12 up certain jobs. We don't want to give up 00:25:13.13\00:25:15.24 certain friendships because we feel 00:25:15.25\00:25:17.16 that that is what makes us who we are? 00:25:17.17\00:25:19.60 But God is saying that let me, 00:25:19.61\00:25:22.39 let me make you who you are? 00:25:22.40\00:25:24.94 I made you once, let me remake you 00:25:24.95\00:25:27.18 and to something new. Let me change 00:25:27.19\00:25:29.87 the things that you desire, let me 00:25:29.88\00:25:32.43 change the life that you once live, 00:25:32.44\00:25:34.25 and to a life that will be great for the 00:25:34.26\00:25:36.91 kingdom. You know, that man that's 00:25:36.92\00:25:39.30 searching through that field and 00:25:39.31\00:25:40.97 found that treasure was willing to sell 00:25:40.98\00:25:43.47 everything. He was willing to go home 00:25:43.48\00:25:46.56 and be considered a crazy man, 00:25:46.57\00:25:48.77 but he obtained the great price that 00:25:48.78\00:25:52.78 was in the field, the treasure, 00:25:52.79\00:25:54.86 the kingdom of heaven. That merchant 00:25:54.87\00:25:57.55 that went out and search for that 00:25:57.56\00:25:58.88 beautiful pearl. They searched and 00:25:58.89\00:26:01.10 searched and searched not settling 00:26:01.11\00:26:03.30 for just anything, settling for what 00:26:03.31\00:26:05.64 God told them. He, he, he had his 00:26:05.65\00:26:08.28 mind fixed on what he needed, he had 00:26:08.29\00:26:10.22 his mind fixed on what he want it and 00:26:10.23\00:26:12.08 that's what he found. And once he 00:26:12.09\00:26:13.87 found it, he was willing, when they told 00:26:13.88\00:26:15.82 them the price he said; cheap enough 00:26:15.83\00:26:17.89 I'm willing to sell everything. You know, 00:26:17.90\00:26:21.29 Jesus wants us to do that very same thing. 00:26:21.30\00:26:23.42 Listen this, "There are those who 00:26:23.43\00:26:26.35 seem to always be seeking for the 00:26:26.36\00:26:28.72 heavenly pearl. But they do not make 00:26:28.73\00:26:31.07 an entire surrender of their wrong habits." 00:26:31.08\00:26:35.73 There, there is a, there is no dying 00:26:35.74\00:26:39.69 to self that Christ may live in them. 00:26:39.70\00:26:42.46 Therefore they do not find the 00:26:42.47\00:26:45.05 precious pearl. "There is a need for, 00:26:45.06\00:26:48.30 for us to take up our Crosses and 00:26:48.31\00:26:52.35 follow Jesus, there is a need. 00:26:52.36\00:26:54.46 Almost Christian yet not fully Christian, 00:26:55.89\00:26:59.85 they see near the kingdom of heaven, 00:26:59.86\00:27:02.84 but they can enter here. 00:27:02.85\00:27:05.63 Almost but not wholly saved means 00:27:05.64\00:27:10.13 to be not almost, but wholly lost." 00:27:10.14\00:27:14.23 God is trying to do whatever He can 00:27:14.24\00:27:16.17 to save every last one of us. 00:27:16.18\00:27:18.90 He's given us the treasure and the 00:27:18.91\00:27:21.37 precious pearl. He loves us with an 00:27:21.38\00:27:23.98 everlasting love. And God wants to 00:27:23.99\00:27:27.45 save us. Let's pray now that God 00:27:27.46\00:27:29.71 will come into our lives, even now 00:27:29.72\00:27:31.99 and make our lives what He wants 00:27:32.00\00:27:34.77 us to be. Father in heaven Lord, 00:27:34.78\00:27:36.87 we thank you for this time, we thank you 00:27:36.88\00:27:39.05 for the precious, precious pearl and 00:27:39.06\00:27:41.72 the, the treasure. We ask that you 00:27:41.73\00:27:43.61 would please make it real to us Lord 00:27:43.62\00:27:46.06 as we seek out those things that are 00:27:46.07\00:27:49.25 found above. We pray this to in 00:27:49.26\00:27:51.01 your name, amen. We want to thank you, 00:27:51.02\00:27:53.23 thank you for joining us at 00:27:53.24\00:27:54.79 Faith Chapel, God bless. 00:27:54.80\00:27:56.27