The Pearl Of Great Price - Frank Brancato

As we mentioned, just briefly a moment ago that in the parable

that was before this one that being the parable of the hidden

treasure, we find that Jesus depicts the value of the Kingdom

to one who accidentally find it. Binds it that the Kingdom of

Heaven is like unto a treasure. That was hidden in a field, and

when a man found it, he went and sold everything that he had in

order that he might buy the field.

And when we search the scriptures regarding all of the

conversion stories, especially those that we find in the book

of Acts, we find no greater example, as we've brought out

from time to time. Then that of a man named the

Apostle Paul, there is no greater example of a man that

was respected and honored and looked up to by his peers.

Have you ever stopped to consider what exactly Paul gave

up that he might Jesus Christ, you remember that?

This was a man that was looked up and looked upon by his peers

as a man of great respect. He was for sake of the, of a

better term, the very Hired Gun of the Sanhedrin when he would

go out and he would persecute the Church of God.

And as he said, he wasted it, he was the one that was there.

When the Martyr Stephen, the first one that would die for his

faith, in the 8th chapter of the book of Of Acts where the Bible

says, when this man Stephen was stoned to death.

That those that through those rocks at him to his death, they

laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul, Saul of

Tarsus obviously beat later became the Apostle Paul.

He was a man, that was persecuting and binding, all

that would call upon the name of the Lord, but all of a sudden on

one very special day on one, very special day.

In the ninth chapter of the book of Acts, we find Luke's account

of exactly what happened to this man.

We know the story, I'll not go into it.

Any further. All we know is that Jesus speaks

to him. He blinds him with a blinding

light and all of a sudden, everything is about to change.

All of his former values are about to go by the wayside

things. He thought that were important

from time to time. No longer are important.

Aunt. He took himself and his social

standing and social status and he cast it aside to be one that

would be beaten one. That would be persecuted all the

days of his life. He would be one that would go

and have an infirmity In the Flesh.

Described simply as a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan

to Buffett him as the Bible says, yes.

He suffered much for the Lord and later we find that he was

behind. Did for his faith.

He gave up everything to obey Jesus.

I want us to listen to the words of Paul as found in one of his

letters in Philippians chapter 3 and we will read beginning there

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

in verse number 4. But I want you to notice the

assessment or exactly how Paul viewed the things that he must

of given up to be a Christian. He said though, I might also

have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that

he hath whereof he might Trust In the Flesh.

I'm or circumcised. The Eighth Day of the stock of

Israel of The Tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews as

touching. The law.

A Pharisee concerning Zeal persecuting the church touching

righteousness, which is in the law blameless, but what things

were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ.

Yay doubtless and I count all things but loss for the

Excellency of the knowledge of Christ, Jesus, my Lord, for whom

I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them.

But dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having

mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is

through the Faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of god

by faith that I may know him. And the power of his

resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made,

conformable unto his death. If by any means, I might attain

unto the resurrection of the Dead, you know?

Also, the Apostle Paul would say that in writing of the Gospel of

the glory of Christ, he would refer to it as a treasure, the

Apostle. Paul also said, in second,

Corinthians, chapter 4 and verse 7.

He said, but we have this treasure Measure in Earthen

vessels that the Excellency of the power may be of God and not

of us, he considered the kingdom, considered it beyond a

shadow of a doubt as a treasure and worth, giving up all that he

has anything. That is necessary in order that

he might obtain it. He clearly understood that the

kingdom was extremely valuable because the kingdom or in the

Kingdom. We find that it is a refuge from

the powers of Darkness. It is a domain of righteousness.

It is a domain of Peace, joy and safety.

It is unshakable in itself. And finally, the Apostle Paul

knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that one who is in the kingdom

and remains there is destined for eternal glory.

Well Jesus gave that Parable that Paul fits in and then at

that time and then he gives the one that we're going to discuss

from now on during the course of this study in that is the pearl

of great price. Here's the fellow that's looking

for it. You know, I would imagine if you

talk to people, I do. Everyone talks to folks

sometimes people look in their life and they think something's

missing, you know, every Walk of Life.

There's someone that has something in their life.

Life. That is just not, right?

Something that is missing or something that is lacking.

There's a lot of folks, I know a lot of folks or can read about a

lot of folks. And so, on Howard Hughes for

example, a man that was a billionaire but something was

missing. Money couldn't buy.

All of the happiness in the world and you know what

happened? When he died, what we find with

Howard Hughes, very shamefully and very sad.

He died with his fingernails with inches long.

Corkscrews, he died with rotting teeth and a sunken chest.

He died a billionaire, junkie. A drug addict, something was

missing, something was missing that all the money in the world,

all the fame in the world. All the power in the world could

not buy. Jesus pictures, though that

there's a man and he calls him a merchant man.

This is a man that's in the for sake of a better term.

Let's just say he's in the pearl business, you know?

I would just imagine in my mind's eye as Jesus pictures,

this Merchant, man, I can picture that he has all manner

of pearls, with all manner of price tags.

Oh, perhaps, he found some that didn't cost very much and then

maybe he cost. Others cost him quite a lot.

I don't know. All I know is is Jesus pictures

this man as an Goooal that has pearls.

That is his life business and then all of a sudden something

happens. The reason something happens is

his eyes were open. He was looking for something

that was greater. The Bible says that that which

is greater was the pearl of great price, you know, it's very

interesting to me as I look at this, Parable, this man does

not. What most of us would do in a

similar situation. You know, if I'm a coin

collector and I'm not, I don't know.

The I don't know the first thing about coins, but just say, for

example, I'm a coin collector, I would imagine that I would spend

my life and I would purchase various coins.

And as I got more and more coins, my treasure, if you will

or my, my, my hobby would grow and the price or the Value of it

would grow. Also as I added coins to it, I

would just imagine if I like coins or that was something that

was of interest to me that if I came across one that was

priceless or one that was of Great Value.

I wouldn't do what this man did I would imagine if that is my

hobby, what I'm going to do is I'm going to try to keep what I

have and then mortgage whatever's necessary or figure

out a way that I might be. Bullet come up with the

resources. In order that I might buy this

Priceless or this very expensive coin.

I'll tell you what, I probably wouldn't do if that's my hobby

or my business. It's not even a good business

decision. I wouldn't sell all of them or

trade all of them, because before I had all of these and

here is one chances are. I'm not going to give up all of

those in order that I might obtain.

Pain, just one coin. So understanding that.

That is the picture that Jesus portrays about this, man.

He said the Kingdom of Heaven is likened, unto a merchant, man, a

man that had spent his life collecting and having these very

valuable pearls. All of a sudden, he comes across

one that is of great, price of great value.

You know what he does? He sells it all. he gives it all

up, all of a sudden, every one of those other pearls and all of

his other possessions, all of a sudden Don't Mean a Thing The

only thing that means anything is, how can I get that one?

But this fella found this Pearl because this fellow was looking

for that Pearl and I hope we all understand as I'm sure we do.

We're not talking about pearls tonight.

Jesus is picturing in this Parable.

You know what a parable is a parable is laying alongside

another words, you take something that you know about

and you lay it alongside something you don't know about,

you can compare and you can understand the illustration and

therefore Jesus. I gave this sermon in these two

verses about this, man about the kingdom of heaven.

But you know, I think what most people want to do though is

figure out how they can keep all the old things too.

I think that's what a lot of people do today with regards to

the Lord, they want all the benefits of the Kingdom.

They want the benefits of forgiveness.

They want all of those things. They want an inheritance in

heaven. And by the way, I don't know if

I made the statement here or at another place in a sermon, I

don't remember. So if I have made it here bear

with me but let me just say this, I don't care what people

in the world say with regards to Satanic rituals and satanic

things and they don't believe in God and all that.

And they don't want to go to heaven and certain affiliations

that believe in in that heaven is not a place that you want to

go that you want to be on this Earth, if a person really

understood and a A person can really grasp what heaven is all

about and not just that but have an understanding of the opposite

of that and the alternative is an eternity in hell and know

what held is all about. I'm going to tell you something,

there's not a person in this world that has that

understanding that doesn't want to go to heaven.

If you really knew about hell and you really came to the

understanding that there's only two places, there's heaven, and

there's hell and both places regardless of where you end up,

it's for eternity and it will never change.

You will never leave that state. If a person really understood

that and really could grasp that there's nobody in this world

that would want to go to hell for all eternity.

But you know, I think sometimes people want to hold onto the

world and have the Beautiful Things That Heaven of Heaven.

That's pictured in the scriptures that the same time.

Jesus. So, beautifully pictures.

This Merchant man had a different attitude because this

man, when he found that pearl of the greatest value, he was

willing without reservation to get rid of all that he had in

order that he might obtain it. He was undeterred by the price

now. Do you remember?

Member a few weeks ago, couple weeks ago, we talked about

counting the cost the parable that Jesus portrayed about

counting the cost. You remember?

Jesus said this? That a man is in the kingdom is

likened unto a man that builds a tower.

And this man is to sit down first and count the cost to see

whether he has sufficient to finish it.

You remember also, what Jesus said, Jesus said, if you don't

love or you don't hate your father, Mother and all of that,

you cannot be my disciple. We talked about what that meant

Jesus was not teaching hate. We know that.

Jesus is the very epitome of love what Jesus was saying

there. That word hate means to love

less. All Jesus was saying, is this

unless you love less everybody in this world and everything in

this world, you cannot that work and not means impossible.

Okay, it's impossible. To be my disciple, sometimes we

get deterred by the price but we can't.

Jesus said, if you love father and mother more than me, you're

not worthy of me. Well, let's notice the meaning

of this Parable, really quickly in this Parable.

We find that the person that's described here, represents

someone who is on a mission to find that, which is of the

greatest value, he believes that there's something out there

that's worth looking for, or he would not be seeking it.

And when he finds it, he does without reservation immediately,

recognizing its value, he's willing to sell all that he has

in order that he might obtain it notice though.

I think this is important. And for us to understand at this

time because we're talking about buying and selling and Jesus is

referring or making reference to the kingdom of heaven, or

salvation. So, let me clarify this point

really quickly. Jesus was not suggesting in this

Parable, nor was he suggesting in the parable just prior to

this. That a person can buy his

salvation because the Bible says, it is a gift.

Gift. It is a gift and it's a gift

from God. I don't just leave it there.

We'll explain it a little bit further.

First of all, in Romans 6:23 Paul said this very interesting

Romans 6:23

how Paul pictured this by divine inspiration and by the way,

nothing that you can read about in the Bible is for the purpose

of taking up space. There's a reason for every

single thing that is written in this grand old book and It is

god-breathed. It is God's will it is God's

words. It is God's way keeping that in

mind. Through the inspiration of the

Holy Spirit. Paul wrote this, to Rome in

Romans, chapter 6 and verse 23, Paul said for the wages of sin

Romans 6 · chapter mention

is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus

Christ. Our Lord, there is a difference

between wages. Of sin and gift of Salvation.

Notice very briefly and very, very simply if I go out and I

work for a man for a certain wage for a certain amount of

hours. And we agree upon that, as long

as I perform that task or that Duty, he owes me a livable wage,

he owes me specifically what he agreed to pay me I can earn

that. Anybody that's ever worked for a

dime knows that you put the time in, you do your job tasks.

It is owed to you. That's what it's like in

reference to sin, know, if you live in sin and you don't get

sin out of your life. And by the way, sin is raining

in a person's life because of two things.

Number one, because the blood of Jesus has not been applied at

baptism, that person is still In sin because baptism is what

takes away the sin. It's what washes, our sins away

but also for the one that's the backslider for the one that

refuses to live in accordance with God's word.

For the one who is guilty that Jesus talked about of loving

other things in this world more than loving Jesus.

And by the way, the reason for that, if you love other things

more than you love, Jesus, He's the reason that that's a problem

is because the things that you decide to do the choices, you

make the decisions, you make will reflect that.

And Jesus said, I will be number one.

Jesus also would say that if he's number one, then in

essence, all of the decisions that we make in our life will

prove and demonstrate by obedient Works our faith.

Let's go a little step further, though.

And understanding this idea very Simply first of all, we talked

about wages of sin, I go out and I sin, I have what's coming to

me, you know, that little phrase that looks saying he got what's

coming to him. That's kind of what it's like

when you go out and sin you have to reap the benefit of that or

the lack thereof I go out and I sin and I reject the teachings

that are found in the gospel and my life does not coincide with

what's taught to me there. I've Got what's coming to me?

And I better just take it because that's what's coming

death, spiritual death for all eternity but I can't go to God

and that last, and final day before the Judgment seat of

Christ and say, look look what I've done.

Here's the checklist of all of the Good Deeds that I've done,

therefore I have earned my salvation.

That's not how that works. Paul said salvation.

And is a gift of God. But what about my obligation to

work? A lot of times folks, say, you

see, we're not saved by works, we're saved by grace.

How does this all work real quick?

Now, we are saved by grace through faith.

The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians, chapter 2 and verses

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

8 and 9, for by grace, are you saved through faith and not of

yourselves, it is the gift of God and not of Works, lest any

man should boast that. Just simply means that I can't

do enough Good Deeds to Warrant, or Merit or deserve the grace of

God. That's what that means.

But it doesn't remove me from my responsibility to demonstrate my

faith by my obedient works as James said, if I don't work, if

I don't obey, if I don't perfect my faith and that's what the

Bible says, we are seen. Our faith is seen.

By the way, we demonstrate that Faith by our works.

You can't go to heaven without works.

But I believe, with all of my heart that a person doesn't fall

in and out of Salvation, based upon their Works.

In terms of, I've done good today.

I've earned good. So, I mean grace tomorrow, I do

bad. So, I'm out side of Salvation

because I've not done enough. Good.

No, I believe we fall in and out of Grace, Because by the grace

of God, we have the gift of Salvation.

If we don't work, we fall from grace.

You know, it is only then that we have this Grace though.

Is when we submit to the working of God in our lives which takes

place when were baptized into Christ, Colossians chapter 2 and

Colossians 2 · chapter mention

verses 11 through 13. Paul said in whom also ye are

circumcised with the circumcision made without hands

in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the

circumcision of Christ. Buried with him in baptism.

Wherein also you are risen With him through the faith of the

operation, who hath raised him from the dead and you being dead

in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh.

Hath he quickened or Made Alive together with him having

forgiven you all trespasses. When are you forgiven your

trespasses? We got to do something about

this sin because of all the things in the world that are

cause a person to be lost. Did you know that there's only

one thing in this whole world that of keep you out of heaven?

Only one. And that's in.

If sins in your life, you've got to get rid of it.

You get rid of it by being washed in the blood of Jesus.

And that's done at baptism. Then we must stay with are

obedient Works in Grace all the days of our life, you know, in

this parable It describes how some people react to the kingdom

of heaven. When they know there must be

something out there, that's worthy of Great Value and have

been searching for it. You know, I'm looking very much

forward, 2007 in going to the Philippines, I'm really looking

forward to that. Because I tell you something,

sometimes we get carried away with all the hustle and bustle,

and modernization, and riches, and so on, and sometimes it's

challenging. Don't misunderstand me.

I'm not saying we have to go to foreign lands to save folks

because I don't believe that at all.

I believe that there's folks to save right here.

I believe that there's folks to save period or the Lord would

come back. I've always believed that I

still do but it's going to be wonderful to see folks.

That have nothing but they're searching for something better.

And all of a sudden they hear in the Bible, they hear in the

gospel. It's told to them, they can have

a mansion on a hill top one day they can live in a place with a

street of pure gold. They can go to a place and be

part of an institution being the church that they don't have to

have social standing or social status.

Nobody cares about how Much money they have no one's looking

at their credentials, the only thing they've got to have is a

good and honest heart. And that's all and they have to

have a willingness to serve God, that's it.

And that person does that is baptized for the remission of

his or her sins and then lives, according to God's will.

They're going to that place in heaven one day?

You know, there's some wonderful Bible examples of how there were

individuals that were searching and looking for something better

looking for the truth, many examples in the scriptures about

that. But you know what's very

interesting about these people? Unlike Paul Paul was not looking

Paul stumbled across it but there was others that were

looking for the truth. They were searching God's word,

they were doing something religiously that they were

trying to be better or find better or do better.

Notice very familiar story, I'll not go into it, but the story of

Ethiopian eunuch the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch in the

8th chapter of the book of Acts, I'll just say this.

Now we know the story, we know that Philip, the Evangelist went

there and preached unto him. Jesus.

We know he obeyed the gospel. We know they came to a body of

water. I know where they went down into

the water. We know that he was baptized.

We know that his sins were washed away that day and after

he was baptized for the remission of his sins.

He went on his way rejoicing and the spirit caught away Philip

that he saw him no more. Now there was no rejoicing

before baptism rejoicing only happened after they both came up

out of the water saying all that to say this.

You know, this man was going or he went to Jerusalem to worship.

He went to Jerusalem to worship under the Old Law.

That is a religious move or religious act.

In fact, when the angel of the Lord sent Philip to him, you

remember what he was doing, he was sitting in his Chariot

reading. The word of God, he was reading

from the prophet, Isaiah He was looking for something that was

better. We find also that his immediate

desire to be baptized shows his estimation of the value of the

Salvation offered through Jesus Christ. you know, sometimes

folks say well, Being a good person is enough.

I'm going to tell you something. Listen to me.

I know some wonderful people that I dearly love.

But they're lost according to God's word.

Because their own goodness is not going to save them.

Their obedience is what will save them.

Great example, we know when the church was established in Acts

2, that the Jews were first converted.

The gospel went to the Jews, we know that and Acts 2, on the day

of Pentecost, three thousand Souls were saved or added to the

apostles on that day as the first of the church.

We go all the way till acts 10 and no Gentiles were converted

before that time. Do you remember a man named

Cornelius? This was a good man.

This was a wonderful man. In fact, he prayed to God always

and gave much alms to the people.

That's wonderful things isn't it?

Aren't those good things? Those are good works.

But you know, his goodness his good deeds and his things that

he was doing in his life while he was an error, they weren't

enough to save him but he was praying.

He was looking for what was right?

He genuinely wanted to do that which was right.

So the Lord sent Peter to him to tell him what he must do and he

told him words, much like Philip told the Ethiopian eunuch on

that Chariot that day and he was baptized to for the remission of

his sins. You know, this coincides with

the promise of Jesus. As found on The Sermon on the

Mount, in Matthew Chapter 5 and verse 6, you remember what Jesus

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

said, he said, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after

righteousness, for they shall be filled.

God took note of his spiritual hunger and spiritual thirst and

sent Peter to take the gospel to him.

Lydia is also another occurrence that we find in the book of Acts

the 16th chapter and verses 11 through 15.

We find that she was converted to.

But what we find is her meeting with other women to pray

illustrates. She was searching spiritually

and upon hearing the things that were spoken by.

Bye, Paul. She and her household were

baptized. Yes, these are examples in the

scriptures that should remind us, that people are looking for

something people are looking for some purpose.

They're looking for some meaning out there that's worth diligent

search, and there are those that are willing to win, they find it

to turn their back on, whatever is necessary in order to have

it. You know.

I stood this not too long ago. One of the greatest challenges I

think it is is to know sometimes what to say, as not only a

preacher but a Christian to others to try to instill in them

the importance of putting the Lord first.

It's difficult, sometimes, it's challenging.

I often wonder when we preach on stuff like that.

I Watson wonder what goes through the mind of The

Listener. Now, I'll tell you this.

I can sure see how a person would want to.

On me off. I could see that right off the

bat, but I can't see someone turning their ear or turning a

deaf ear to Jesus, who said, I will be number one in your life.

And if you want to go to heaven, you make me number one.

I can't understand how someone would turn from those words from

him. Well, you know, I'll just tell

you this, I'm so thankful that my father was one, who was

diligently. For the truth.

He was I don't know how many years it was I was either a

little boy or even before I was born my dad was searching for

answers. He was searching for the truth

and what he would do is he would go and compare certain doctrines

and teachings to the Bible simple as that he didn't have

someone standing there telling him he was comparing it to God's

word. And all of a sudden one day he

found the Lord's church and I remember something that was I

remember this like it was yesterday.

I was a little fella and I remember in 1973.

I remember standing outside a church building on a Sunday

morning. I remember a preacher came up to

my father and said, don't you think it's time Don't you think

it's time to obey the gospel? Don't you think it's time to be

baptized for the remission of your sins?

My dad said he says, well, I'm coming around.

I'll get there and this fellow looking dead straight in the eye

and says know you're there. You need to go to heaven, you

need your sins washed away, and you need to do it right now.

My father, and my mother obeyed, the gospel that day.

My sister's, followed shortly thereafter.

When my sister, Louise? Who's married to Brett, hickey

that you all know. On the same day, we obeyed the

gospel together. I'm going to tell you something,

I'm standing before you today because my father was searching.

I'm not putting the emphasis or the credit to my father.

I'm putting the credit to what Jesus said.

He said, if you look for it, you'll find it period.

The Providence of God will make it.

So if you want the truth, you will find it.

That's beautiful to me because all that means is we got to be

people that are searching for, what's right?

We need to be searching for the pearl of great price.

Let's notice really quickly as we draw our lesson to a close.

How did they search? That's very important.

How did these people in the scriptures?

Search for that? Pearl of great price, we find

with the Ethiopian eunuch, he became a student of the Bible.

You know what else we find? And also that he applied the

scriptures to the best of his understanding, he was open to

what Philip the Evangelist had to say concerning these

scriptures. You remember, also those bereans

as evidenced in Acts 17 and verses 10 and 11, you remember

Paul said they were more noble than those of thessalonica.

You know why? Because with Readiness of mind,

they received the word gladly, that's what they did, but they

didn't just leave it there. Paul, praise them, Paul praise

them. You know why they didn't just

take his word for it. They went home and they searched

the Scriptures Daily to see if those things were.

So that's what a person has to do in seeking out the Lord,

that's what a person needs to do in their life but Also, apply

diligence that is Readiness of mind to grasp.

What others are saying about God's word.

But here's number three because I just said about others.

Speaking of God's word. It is God's plan that we preach

the gospel to the lost. That's true.

I want you to notice though, in the end, let the scriptures and

the scriptures only be final Authority.

Demonstrate that demonstrate that by your respect for God's

word. By searching the Scriptures

Daily to see if these things were so like the Ethiopian

eunuch, like those at Barea, like Cornelius, like Lydia and

many other religious people. It is possible to be lost in the

present state that we are in and it is it is possible to be lost

in our present understanding of God's word.

So let's search the scriptures. Let's find out exactly what's

found in God's word for us. us, let's seek after that pearl of

great price and then when we find it let's be willing to part

with all that we have if necessary in order to obtain it

You know, I would just imagine because we don't have trials

today. I it's almost embarrassing to

say that we have trials compared to those that we read about in

the New Testament. Oh, I think probably the Do the

hardest thing ever, I guess said to me was somebody laughed at

me? No one's ever beat me for

serving the lord. They've made fun of me for doing

it. I remember when I was growing up

going to rodeos. I remember if Sunday rolled

around, we turn my steer out and I wouldn't be there.

I remember I remember making fun of me.

Big deal. That's it.

It's about the worse. It gets right there.

I remember also, there was a young man, my dad baptized from

from my high school is about 4 years younger than then I was at

and will.i.am and at the time I was graduating and he was a

freshman. I remember this like it was

yesterday, his family said, this is wonderful.

It was wonderful that he went to the church to what the services

on a regular basis. That was wonderful until he

wanted to obey the gospel and take a stand for what was right?

Until he wanted to get baptized and you know what they told him.

They told this young man, the grandparents who had a lot of

wealth. Look him dead straight in the

eye and said if you get baptized, you're out of the will

You know what? This little fella said, leave me

out. He was willing.

To turn his back on whatever because I'll tell you something.

If you know about heaven and you know where the alternative is,

there's nothing in this world. That's more important.

I wonder if we could ask the Apostle Paul, that was beheaded.

If we could ask Peter, who was crucified upside down, if we

could speak to Stephen tonight that were stoned or even

polycarp, that was burned at the stake.

Before he was a judge to the Flames, they try to get him to

reject Jesus Christ and he said eighty and six years.

Have I served him and he's never done me wrong.

How could I possibly do it now? How could I possibly reject my

Lord and Master that saved me I'll bet you if we could talk to

every one of those tonight which we can't they would say it was

worth it. All one more thing and I'm going

to quit. Sometimes Christians though,

find The Pearl. But they don't realize the value

of it Mila straight at this way, there was a man about 20 years

ago. They call him a rock hound.

That's just a funny way of saying he like rocks.

And this guy, what he would do is he would go out on various

digs and he would dig into the Earth and come up with various

types of rocks. He would take them to collectors

or even jewelry makers and he would sell them and they would

take those stones those rocks and they would do whatever with

them. well, one day about 20 years ago, this fella he goes on

this dig, and he comes up with a blue rock that he simply refers

as A hunk of Bleu. That was it.

He thought, you know, this is kind of pretty weighs about a

pound. Looks pretty nice.

I'll tell you what I'm going to do.

See, he didn't know the real value of it because he would

leave that to those that would do that for a living.

The appraisers would do that, but he looked at it and thought

I would imagine this has some value.

He put a price tag on it. A $500 and tried to sell it, not

knowing what it was. He just tried to sell it for 500

dollars. Well, being in this business, he

loved this business had a little store doing this.

He loved the Business. But it didn't always pay the

bills. So he thought this I've always

got that Blue Rock. I want 500 but if I have to pay

the PG&E bill or whatever, I'll just lower the price.

He never could sell it. So we cast it into a closet or

under his bed and it stayed there for two decades.

Good thing though, good thing it was never sold because what he

did is he almost hawked for a few hundred dollars.

What turned out to be the largest and most valuable

Sapphire ever found, he abandoned that Sapphire to the

darkness of his closet. For a sapphire, that's called

the Star of David and it's worth 2.75 million dollars.

Don't we do that sometimes though.

I don't want to trivialize the church.

But sometimes we do that. We find The Pearl.

But we don't know what we found. And the reason is because we

have not placed the value on it. That is rightful for it to have.

How was it with you tonight? Have you found the pearl of

great price? The idea that we need to

understand is a person is saved when they hear the word of God,

believe in Jesus for whom, he is as the Son of God when they

repent of their past life and make the determination, I no

longer am going to head in the direction that I've been

heading. I'm going to make a change.

It's kind of like this Merchant man.

I'll give it all up for the Lord, because I know that if I

do that, I'm going to be saved. And then we confess the name of

Jesus as the Son of God, that is very simple.

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

That's all. And then baptized for the

remission of our sins. We thank you for listening to

our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.

Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional

information or you would like to receive a free Bible

correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at True

Church of Christ Bakersfield.com.

Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and

Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us.

We would love for you to be our honored guest.