II.   Setting   Priorities

                                                  deciting to follow Jesus


           Again, the kingdom of heaven

          is like a treasure hidden in the field,
          which a man found and hid;

          and for joy over it he goes and sells all
          that he has and buys that field.

          Matthew 13:44   NKJV


              O u t l i n e :

            A. Goal
            B. Issues to consider deciding to walk with Jesus
            C. Introduction

            D. Searching for the treasure or pearl
            E. Our texts in context
            F. The value to search for the pearl

            G. The price to know God
            H. Consequences for not searching for it
            I.  Going Deeper [ Bibliography ] / Notes

        A. Goal

          Deciding to walk with Jesus

        B. Issues:

          Who or what holds your affection?
          What or who holds first place in your life?

        C. Introduction:

        • This teaching wants to reach those who are searching for
          The Pearl or The Treasure; and those who are not searching
          for anything, who have not set priorities and those who have.
          Do you realize in which group you are? We will find out in a
          little bit.

        • For Lee Atwater, it took a brain tumor and see what is
          truly important.   Bourke 80

        • The hardest lesson that I had to learn was that a believer
          must take time to grow spiritually. It took me 10 years.
          Mainprize 28

        D.   Searching for the Treasure or the Pearl

        • The treasure is hidden in the field
          how did the farmer find the treasure?
          It was sheer luck or by chance = was hidden not visible
          the treasure was hidden in the field to give the poor
          a chance to find the treasure

        • The pearl is found at the store
          how did the merchant find the pearl?
          He looked for it

          The pearl was available in the store
          to give the aristocrats the chance to find it
          sincerely desiring truth

        • The pearl = the blessing of redeeming love of our Savior
          = Christ Himself is the pearl of great price
          Now, do you know to which group you belong?!
          You better. We better!

        • Searching for the pearl and still not finding it.

          ....some seam to be always seeking for the heavenly pearl.
          But they do not entire surrender of their wrong habits.
          They do not die to self that Christ may live in them.
          Therefore they do not find the precious pearl.
          They have not overcome unholy ambition and their love for
          worldly attractions.. COL 118

          the Kingdom of God = the love of God is hidden and must be
          searched for the worth of the kingdom for the individual

        E.   Our Parables in Context [ Matthew 13:44 ]

        • Our Lord is no longer with the multitudes v36
        • now He is with His disciples alone,
          because they have difficulties in understanding

        • these parables to receive the inner aspects of His message.
        • "Why do You speak to them in parables?" v10

        • Jesus would like you identify either with the merchant or
          the farmer - why?
        • stress the worth of the kingdom of God to the individual
          Lockey 196 - 204

        F.   The Value to Search for The Treasure or The Pearl

        • Renunciation of all things for Christ
          "And sells All"

        • Leaving home and friends
          Then Peter began to say to him,
          "See, we have left all and followed you."   Mark 10:28

          "So when they brought their boats to land, they forsook all and
          followed him."   Luke 5:11

        • Leaving business
          "After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named
          Livi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to Him, Follow Me...
          So he left all, rose up and followed Him."   Luke 5:27-28

        • A condition of discipleship
          "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has
          cannot be my disciple."   Luke 14:33

        • Reward promised
          "But what things were gain to me
          these I have counted loss for Christ.
          Yet indeed I also count all things loss
          for the excellence of the knowledge of
          Jesus Christ, My Lord, for whom I have suffered
          the loss of all things...."   Philippians 3:7-8

          "All that we are, all the talents and capabilities we possess, are
          to be consecrated to His service. When we thus give ourselves
          wholly to Him, Christ, with all the treasures of heaven, gives
          Himself to us. We obtain the pearl of great price."   COL 116

          "To know God or our Lord takes everything we have and effort /
          sacrifice. The two [ parables ] are each the complement of the
          other; so that under one or the other, as finders either of the pearl
          or hid treasure, may be ranged all who become partakers of the
          rich treasures of the Gospel of Christ."   Trench

          At this point you probably know to which group you belong?!
          You better. We better!

        G. The price to know God

          D

        H. Consequences for not searching for it

          D


          Hymns Are Also Prayers

          "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" # 93   Song
          "I Will Follow YOU My Savior" # 623   SDAHy
          "Take My Life and Let it Be" # 330   SDAHy


        I. Going Deeper [ Bibliography ] / Notes

        • Bourke, Dale Hanson. Turn Toward the Wind; Embracing
               CHANGE in Your Life.           Zondervan, 1995.   BV 4908.5 .B68 1995
               248.4   ISBN 0-310-41170-X

        • He is Our Song. Review, 1988.   [ Song ]   783.9   ISBN 0-82800440-4

        • Lockey, Herbert. All the Parables of the Bible. Zondervan, 1963.
               BS 680 .P3 L6   ISBN 0-310-28110-5

        • Mainprize, Don. How to Enjoy the Christian Life. Zondervan, 1966.

        • The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal. Review, 1985.   [ SDAHy ]
             M2131 .S48 1985   264     ISBN 8280-0307-6

        • White, Ellen G. Christ's Object Lessons. Review, 1941. [ = COL ]

      Wolfhard Touchard, M.L.S.   Retired Reference & Database Librarian
      Andrews University - October 2015