A Kingdom of Comparisons

We join together in the worship of God by singing to his praise in Psalm 25 of the Scottish Psalter version.

Psalm 25, find that in the blue book on page 231.

We'll sing there from verse mark 4 down to verse mark 10.

A psalm that speaks of the individual, the psalmist himself, and we can also likewise echo what he says in our call for help as we gather to worship his name.

Show me thy ways, O Lord, thy paths, O teach thou me, and do thou lead me in thy truth, that in it my teacher be.

For thou art God that dost, to me salvation send, and I upon thee all the day expecting to attend.

We'll sing Psalm 25 from verse mark 4 down to the end of verse mark 10 there, when we'll stand to sing.

Show me thy ways, O Lord.

Amen.

Show me thy ways, O Lord.

Thy paths, O teach thou me,

And do thou lead me in thy truth, that in my teacher be.

For thou art God that dost, to me salvation send, and I upon thee all the day expecting you.

Thy tender mercy, O Lord.

Thy tender mercy, O Lord.

Thy tender mercy, O Lord.

I pray thee to remember,

And thy loving kindness is for thee, I'll be noble forever.

My sins and faults of truth,

My sins and faults of truth,

Do thou, O Lord, forget,

After thy mercy, O Lord.

After thy mercy, think on me, And for thy goodness claim.

God good and how bright is The way he'll sin and show,

God good and how bright is The way he'll sin and show,

The way he'll sin and show,

The way he'll sin and show, The way he'll sin and show,

The whole mass of the Lord are truth and mercy sure

To those that do his covenant keep and testimonies due

May we join together in prayer. Let us pray.

Our Father in heaven, it is to you this day that we come

And it is to you that we give thanks. You are one that does not leave us.

You are one who is that loving fatherly figure whom we can call to

And in the distress of our souls you hear our cry

And when we don't know the path to walk upon you show us the way

So as we come and draw near to you

Individually and as a gathered people

May we know the blessing of being here

And may you pour down by the power of your spirit

The riches known in Christ Jesus

And how we can be forgiven of our sins

And that we may walk following his example

A sure path to walk upon

And we pray for each that is gathered here

From the youngest to the oldest

We pray for the young that will go through next door

We pray for those who will be leading them

Bless them as they gather together likewise

That they in their young lives may understand and grasp

The wonder and glory and beauty

Of the man Jesus that died on the cross for them

And following him and his ways, his word and his paths

Will lead them upon sure ground and level ways

And though it may be difficult as we grow older

And it is difficult to hold fast

To the confession that we make in Christ Jesus

You are there to uphold us and sustain us

And so it is in that place we come

Looking for your upholding grace and guidance

As we gather together

To offer our worship to you

May it be acceptable and pleasing in your eyes

And may you bless us as we gather in your name

So be with us we pray

Watch over us and guide us at hearts and minds

In this short time that we meet together

Asking the forgiveness and confession of our sins

In Jesus Christ's name, Amen

Just like to say a short word to the young ones

That are here gathered with us

Before you go through and those who will stay with us

On Friday I was at a wedding at the castle

And we were standing outside

Myself and Fiona

We were waiting for

I think it was the bridesmaids to come out

She was always waiting for the bridesmaids to get ready

And I was driving them

Just to make that clear

And you were standing outside

And Fiona looked up

And she said

I've never noticed that before

Above the front door of the castle

I wonder does anyone know

What is written

There's three words written

Above the door

The main door of the castle

Does any young ones know what it is?

I've seen any hands go up

I didn't know

But when you look above the main porch of the castle

It is there written

In the sandstone

It is heart and hand

That's what's written

Heart and hand

It turns out

That's the motto of James Matheson

The Adams

Don't understand what it means entirely

That's what he had

Heart and hand

And when you think about that

Heart and hand

We love things with our heart

And we do things with our hands

And the things that we love with our heart

Are the things that we do

We love playing football

And that's what we do

We use our feet

Don't use our hands for football

If you're playing games

You might love playing different games

And that's what you do

You use your hands

To play different games

But you're standing there

And you think

Well

I wonder

Why that man

Put that there

He built that great castle

And he put

Heart and hand

Above the front door

I was thinking

Well it's usually kings

That live in castles

It wasn't a king that lived in that castle

But usually it is kings

That live in castles

And the greatest king that ever lived

Had a heart and hand

To do

And his heart

And great love

That he had

Was for his people

And that great love

And that great heart

That he had for his people

Meant that he came

And he did

Something great

For all of the people

That he had

A love for

And what Christ's

Greatest love

And the greatest display

Of his heart

Towards the people

That he loved

Was that he died

On the cross

Jesus

Our king

Has a heart

Has a heart

Of love

And that he

Brought himself

To do

The greatest

Display

Of love

That any man

Can do

John 15

Is a verse

That says

No greater love

Has anyone

That he would

Die for them

Or give his life

For them

Jesus

Is a man

That has

That great

Love

For each of us

Every single one of us

And he is

Our king

And he

Has a heart

And hand

To do

Abundantly

Good

And loving

Things

For us

So when you go to the castle

Next time

Above the porch

Look right up

It's right above

On the wall

High up

It's his heart

And hand

And remember

The heart

That Jesus Christ

Has for you

And what he

Did

Because of that

Great love

That he has

May that be

Blessed to you

Let us say

The Lord's prayer

Together

Our Father

Which art in heaven

Hallowed

Be thy name

Thy kingdom

Come

Thy will be done

On earth

As it is in heaven

Give us this day

Our daily bread

And forgive us

Our debts

As we forgive

Our debtors

And lead us not

Into temptation

But deliver us

From evil

For thine

Is your kingdom

The power

And the glory

Forever

Amen

Well thank you all

For listening

Now we'll continue

In our praise

Of God

By singing

In Psalm

145

Of the Scottish

Psalter version

Again

Psalm 145

The first version

You'll find that

On page 442

Of the blue book

Page 442

At the very bottom

Of that page

Verse mark 8

Psalm 145

Verse mark 8

The Lord is very gracious

In whom

Compassions flow

In mercy

He is very great

And is to anger

Slow

The Lord

Jehovah

Unto all

His goodness

Doth declare

And over all

His other works

His tender

Mercies are

We'll sing

Down to verse

Mark 14

Thy kingdom

Shall forever

Stand

Thy reign

Through ages

All

God raises

All that are

Bowed down

And upholdeth

All that fall

We'll sing

These verses

To God's praise

From verse mark 8

Down to verse mark 14

We'll stand to sing

The Lord

Is very gracious

In whom

Compassions flow

The Lord

Is very gracious

In him

All Compassions flow

In mercy

Is very great

And is to honor

His love

The Lord

Behold

The Lord

Jehovah

Unto all

His goodness

I'll declare

And over all

His other words

His tender

Mercies are

The all

Thy works

Shall praise

O Lord

And in thy

Saints

Shall bless

They shall

Thy kingdom's

Glory show

Thy power

Thy speech

To make

To make

The sons

Of men

To know

His acts

All nightly

And all

His kingdom

And all

His kingdom

Excellent

And all

His majesty

Thy kingdom

Shall

Johns

beaten

John

Try

Wake

language

Hung

wieder

upon earth all, upon.

We'll turn now to the Word of God,

and if we could turn to the Gospel of Matthew.

Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13.

Matthew 13 · chapter mention

And we'll read there from verse Mark 25.

The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13.

Matthew 13 · chapter mention

I'm reading from verse 25 down to the end of that chapter.

A passage that sets before us a number of parables

that speak about the kingdom of God.

May we hear God's Word.

Verse 24.

He put another parable before them, saying,

The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man

who sowed good seed in his field.

But while his men were sleeping,

the enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat

and went away.

So when the plants came up and bore grain,

then the weeds appeared also.

And the servants of the master of the house

came and said to him,

Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?

How then does it have weeds?

He said to them,

An enemy has done this.

So the servants said to him,

Then do you want us to go and gather them?

But he said, No,

lest in gathering the weeds

you root up the wheat along with them.

Let both grow together until the harvest.

And at harvest time I will tell the reapers,

Gather the weeds first

and bind them in bundles to be burned.

But gather the wheat into my barn.

He put another parable before them saying,

The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed

that a man took and sowed in his field.

It is the smallest of all seeds,

but when it has grown it is larger

than all the garden plants

and becomes a tree

so that the birds of the air

come and make nests in its branches.

He told them another parable,

The kingdom of heaven is like leaven

that a woman took and hid

in three measures of flour

until it was all eleven.

All these things Jesus said

to the crowds in parables.

Indeed, he said nothing to them

without a parable.

This was to fulfill

what was spoken by the prophet.

I will open my mouth in parables.

I will utter what has been hidden

since the foundation of the world.

Then he left the crowds

and went into the house.

And his disciples came with him saying,

Explain to us the parable

of the weeds of the field.

He answered,

The one who sows good seed

is the son of man.

The field is the world

and the good seed

is the children of the kingdom.

The weeds are the sons

of the evil one

and the enemy who sowed them

is the devil.

The harvest is the clothes of the age

and the reapers are the angels.

Just as the weeds are gathered

and burned with fire,

so it will be at the close of the age.

The son of man

will send his angels

and they will gather

out of his kingdom

all causes of sin

and all lawbreakers

and throw them

into the fiery furnace.

In that place

there will be weeping

and gnashing of teeth.

Then the righteous

will shine like the sun

in the kingdom of their father.

He who has ears,

let him hear.

The kingdom of heaven

is like treasure

hidden in a field

which a man found

and covered up.

Then in his joy

he goes and sells

all that he has

and buys in that field.

Again,

the kingdom of heaven

is like a merchant

in search of fine pearls

who on finding one pearl

of great value

went and sold

all that he had

and bought it.

Again,

the kingdom of heaven

is like a net

that was thrown

into the sea

and gathered fish

of every kind.

When it was full

men drew it ashore

and sat down

and sorted the good

into containers

but threw away the bad.

So it will be

at the close of the age.

The angels will come out

and separate the evil

from the righteous

and throw them

into the fiery furnace.

In that place

there will be weeping

and gnashing of teeth.

Have you understood

all these things?

They said to him,

Yes.

And he said to them,

Therefore,

every scribe

who has been trained

for the kingdom of heaven

is like a master

of a house

who brings out

of his treasure

what is new

and what is old.

And when Jesus

had finished these parables

he went away from there

and coming to his hometown

he taught them

in their synagogue

so that they were astonished

and said,

Where did this man

get his wisdom

and these mighty works?

Is not this

the carpenter's son?

Is not this

mother called Mary?

And are not

his brothers

James and Joseph

and Simon and Judas?

And are not

all his sisters with us?

Where then

did this man

get all these things?

And they took

offence at him

but Jesus said to them,

A prophet

is not without honour

except in his hometown

and in his own household.

And he did not

do many mighty works there

because of their unbelief.

Amen.

May the reading of God's word

speak to us

and be blessed to us.

May we draw again

to God in prayer.

Let us pray.

Our Father in heaven,

we give thanks

for the words

that we have read

and words

that portray

the beauty

of your kingdom

of heaven,

the riches of it,

the outworking of it,

but also

set before us

a stark warning

that there will be

a separation

of the kingdoms

and that

there is a place

where we fear

and tremble at.

And Lord,

we pray

that we would hear

and understand

these things

this morning.

That you would speak

to the heart

of everyone

that is gathered here

and everyone

that is listening online.

That your word

would go with power

and a great effect

convincing

and converting

souls that lie

in sin

to see the folly

of their ways

and how

futile and vain

the things

of the world are

and the things

which our heart,

if we are honest,

hold on to.

But we are inclined

to seek after

the riches

of this world.

We are inclined

to love them.

We are inclined

to set our hands

upon them.

But Lord,

set us apart

this morning

as your people.

People

adhere

of the

measurable

riches

of Christ Jesus

and what

the kingdom

that is prepared

for those

that believe

in him.

We pray

and thank you

for what you

have done

for us.

Things that are

inconceivable

in our minds

and understanding

yet such

is revealed

so that we

are not

ignorant

of it.

That we

may set

our hearts

towards you

and draw

near to you

and hold

fast

to you

confessing

our trust

and belief

in all

that Christ

has done

for us.

And it is

nothing of

ourselves

that we

bring

but it is

to the

glory of

God

and that

we glorify

God

as we

come

and worship

you.

May your

spirit

be active

amongst us

as the wind

that pathes

over the land

and we see

the trees

blow.

May it

have the

effect in our

hearts

that sways

us towards

you and

inclines us

in your

direction

and paths

that should be

followed that

are sure

and steady.

Lord,

we pray

that your

spirit would

come with

power today

in the

gatherings of

your people

and across

our nation

and the

proclamation

of your word

may be

faithful

by your

servants

to reveal

treasures of

old and

treasures that

are new

and reveal

the kingdom

of heaven

that has

been prepared

for the

people.

May we

seek after

this kingdom

the riches

of it

to be a

part of

it

that we

would be

welcomed

into it

we would

respond

to the

call

that is

set before

each of us

this morning

to come

unto Christ

to set

aside

the loves

and the

desires

of our

heart

to forsake

all other

loves

and cling

to him

we pray

that the

beauty of

Christ

would be

revealed

across our

nation

and that

we as a

nation

would not

leave

this great

treasure

forgotten

but that

we would

uplift it

and elevate

it and

share in

its riches

those that

seek and

find joy

in it

and others

can likewise

do so

we pray

for our

nation

and we pray

for those

who rule

us and

govern us

that they

may seek

after your

wisdom

and that

they may

read your

word

and come

under the

means of

your grace

and may

know the

grace

and love

of the

Lord Jesus

Christ

and that

they would

be people

to lead

us in

your ways

and direct

us in

your paths

as they

themselves

look unto

you and

keep their

focus upon

Christ

we pray

and ask

these things

and it

seems such

a great

ask

but you

are a

great God

who answers

people's

prayer

may we

as a

people

pray

great

things

holding

with great

expectation

that you

can do

them

faithfully

holding

on to

your

promises

faithfully

holding

on to

your

kingdom

Lord we

pray this

day

for those

those who

are in

turmoil

of heart

those

who are

uncertain

of what

lies ahead

the hearts

of many

gathered even

in this

building and

listening online

so vast

they are

but you

know every

one of

them

you know

the hairs

upon their

heads

and we

ask that you

would meet

us at our

needs

that we

would come

to you

us that

fatherly

figure who

knows what

is best

for us

confessing

the cries

of our

hearts

and the

groanings

of our

own

spirit

we pray

that you

would be

an aid

and a

strength

to those

who are

in need

those

who are

laid

aside

those

who do

not have

strength

of body

we pray

that you

would give

them strength

of mind

and soul

pray for

those that

look after

them

pray for

those also

who are

mourning the

loss of

loved ones

we pray

that you

would be

their comfort

and guide

pray the

memory of

those who

they have

lost

be blessed

to them

and that

the memories

that do not

part from

us

but leave

scars in

our hearts

bind them

in your

love we

pray and

uphold them

by your

hands

we just

ask that

you would

bless

the works

of our

church

and all

that we

do

here

locally

and

in our

nation

we pray

that you

would bless

every effort

that we put

our hands

to

that it

would be

for your

glory

we remember

the work

of the

camps

we pray

your special

blessing

upon them

and the

young that

gather

they

that they

may

leave

that place

that has

been set

aside

and see

what it

means to

be a

Christian

what it

means to

trust in

Christ

what it

means to

follow your

path

to go in

your ways

we pray

for the

young of

our

nation

and so

we just

ask as we

gather here

in your

name

that you

would be

pleased to

bless us

speak to

us we

pray

open our

eyes to

see

the ears

so we

may

understand

set our

minds upon

your word

without

distraction

keep the

evil one

from us

keep the

evil one

from the

seeds

sprouting

within

our

hearts

and yet

just

ask

and come

to you

confessing

all our

sins

and our

knowledge

that we

have drawn

away from

you so

often in

our lives

that you

are so

kind and

loving to

welcome and

to call us

back and

to redeem

us as your

people so

be with us

we pray

watch over

us guide

us and

keep us

in Jesus

name

amen

we'll

continue in

praise by

singing in

psalm 84

find out on

page 338

of the

blue book

sing from

the beginning

of that

psalm

scottish

psalter

version

familiar

words to

us

how lovely

is thy

dwelling

place

o lord

of hosts

to me

the

tabernacles

of thy

grace

how pleasant

lord they

be

we'll sing

from verse

and if we

could just

sing down

to the

3b

the end

of 3b

even

thine own

altar

where she

is safe

a young

one's

forth may

bring

o thou

almighty

lord of

hosts

who art

my god

and king

will just

sing down

to that

verse

there

3b

let us

praise god

and stand

and sing

this

together

how lovely

is thy

dwelling

place

how lovely

is thy

dwelling

place

o lord

of hosts

to me

the

tabernacles

of thy

grace

how

blessed

lord

may be

my

thirst

is

so

long

dim

and

he

gave

his

thy

court

scurge

my

very

heart

and

flesh

triumph

some

yang

h

and

The soul who also for herself hath purchased in Thine rest.

In Thine own altar, where she's saved, Thy young ones for favoring.

O Thou Almighty, Lord of hosts, who art my God and King.

If you turn back with me to the passage that we read together in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13.

Matthew 13 · chapter mention

And here in this passage is set before us images that explain and show forth the kingdom of heaven.

And we don't have time to dwell on the whole passage or every image that is set here.

So what I would like to do is take the smaller of these images and set aside the parable of the weeds,

if it is titled such in your Bible.

We'll take the mustard seeds and the leaven.

We'll take the treasure and the pearl.

And we'll take the parable of the net.

And we'll put these together, these five short Bible similes that show us what the kingdom of heaven is like.

And now if you are there listening to Jesus speaking these words,

I'm sure we'd all be excited to hear what he was going to say when he said the kingdom of heaven is like.

But we're not presented for the image as we might expect.

He does not describe a place.

When we describe for someone as some place as like,

if you were to describe this church, you'd say, well, it's full.

It's got wooden pews.

It's got a red carpet.

It's got blue walls and a pink ceiling.

And you may not quite have the image that is before you.

But the images that is presented by Christ here, they're kind of obscure.

They don't tell us really what the kingdom of heaven is like as a place.

It's not John's revelations that we have before us.

And yet it is an interesting point that we ask, well, why has he not explained it like that?

Why has he not explained the kingdom of heaven as a place?

It seems like there's more to it.

Does he mean, well, what does he mean when he speaks of the kingdom of heaven?

Initially we think, well, it's heaven in the heavenly realm.

But is it that or is it something else?

Funnily enough, when you read through these things, we get very little of what heaven is like as a place.

And we actually hear more of what hell is like as a place.

But as we look at these few parables and we put them together,

we must primarily keep in mind that they are all representing the kingdom of heaven.

What does a kingdom consist of in its most basic form?

Well, usually you have a king or a royal seat, a leader as such.

And the kingdom is of a certain territory, a certain area.

It is a place where the king sets out certain rules, certain ways in which the people are to live.

But the essence of the kingdom really is the people.

The people are the strength of the kingdom.

The people who abide by the rules of the king are the completing of the kingdom.

The kingdom of heaven has Christ as its king.

And these parables reveal the outworking of that kingdom.

And the coming of that kingdom, as we pray together in the Lord's Prayer.

Thy kingdom come.

The kingdom of heaven, then, is there not a descriptive sense of what the place is like.

But how this kingdom is outworked and the privileges that contribute to the gathering of the people of this kingdom.

That great effect that the gospel has upon the people.

And the spiritual outworking of that effect of the people that are set aside to be gathered into the kingdom of heaven.

By the work of the gospel.

And the effectual application of that Holy Spirit.

You see, the kingdom of heaven, it has a king.

We said that.

It has king.

Christ is its king.

It has a kingly order.

And means by which the king sets out for the people to live by.

We have that in the word of God.

And there is a place set aside that the king has set aside for the people.

All these things are in place already.

It is just the people that need to be gathered into the kingdom of heaven.

All those who are Christ's are the kings.

The Christian is a son of the king.

And a partaker of that kingdom of heaven.

Each of us are receivers of the kingdom of heaven.

If we believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

And it is hard to get our head around these things.

And hard to grasp these things.

But we have before us these images.

That likens it to something else.

That aids our understanding of it.

And we'll fittingly pair them together.

Although we have five.

The last one, the parable of the net.

There are really two divisions in it.

A parable of the mustard seed.

And the leaven.

Can be paired together.

To give us a title of two sizes.

And the following images of the treasure and the pearl.

Sets before us two treasures.

And finally the parable of the net.

Sets before us two gatherings.

Or two separations that are made.

So we have here set before us.

As the kingdom of heaven.

Two sizes.

Two treasures.

And two gatherings.

So we begin with the two sizes.

We look at the grain.

The grain of mustard seed.

And the leaven.

If you look at that section there.

From verse 31.

These two pictures present a great contrast.

And a great impact.

That this kingdom will make.

The mustard seed was a fairly small seed.

About one or two millimeters.

And it would grow into this tree.

That I believe would grow to three or four meters.

As the small quantity of leaven.

That we worked into the dough.

Would have the significance.

Of impacting the whole amount.

And change and convert.

The dough in its entirety.

The seed.

In the first instance.

Is so small and insignificant.

That it could be dismissed.

As invaluable.

If you did not know.

What it was.

Something that could be easily rejected.

But the seed.

In its nature.

Is something.

That grows.

As is.

The kingdom.

The kingdom of heaven.

And it becomes.

The greatest.

Within the whole.

Garden.

The kingdom of heaven.

Becomes the greatest kingdom.

That we could know.

And becomes that safe refuge.

Where the birds of the air.

Take home.

In its branches.

As we sung.

There in Psalm 40.

Of the bird.

That rests.

In the security.

Of the dwelling place.

Of the kingdom.

Such is the kingdom.

Of heaven.

In some man's eyes.

That it is so small.

And insignificant.

The person of Christ.

The word of God.

So despised.

By many.

And rejected.

As being worthless.

And has been trampled upon.

Throughout the ages.

And yet.

The seed of the gospel.

Is a seed.

Which by its nature.

Grows.

Many have viewed it.

As insignificant.

Even those.

In whom that seed.

Has been planted.

And the growth.

That comes with.

The strength.

Of that kinder.

What is weak.

Before men.

Is strong.

And some of the most unlikely.

Seeds.

Have sprouted.

In lives.

The gospel.

Has taken root.

The kingdom.

Of heaven.

Has welcomed.

The most.

Surprising.

People.

In our eyes.

But they are great.

In God's eyes.

And also.

When we speak.

Of Christ.

He was a stone.

That was rejected.

By men.

But he has become.

The corner stone.

Christ.

Christ.

When he lived.

Was seen as such an insignificant.

Man.

Such an insignificant.

Seed.

But from that.

Seed.

And the apostles.

The few.

The little.

The weak.

That went out.

A great kingdom.

Has come.

A great kingdom.

That is secure.

A great kingdom.

That we ourselves.

Have come.

To rest in.

That seed.

That was.

Ready.

Christ.

That people.

Were ready.

To throw on the rubbish heap.

When he was crucified.

Two men.

Took that.

Body.

And it's as if.

They planted it.

That seed.

And that.

Seed.

The most amazing.

And greatest.

Of all.

Seeds.

That could ever be planted.

That kingdom.

That has come.

From.

Christ.

Also.

Despised.

By men.

Has become.

The greatest.

Of all.

Kingdoms.

Likewise.

The leaven.

The woman.

Took her leaven.

And hides it.

In great quantity.

Of flour.

And dough.

Until the whole.

Mixture.

Is leavened.

And the quantity.

Is said.

To be here.

Enough bread.

To feed.

A hundred people.

The three measure.

It's an abundant.

Amount.

Of dough.

And the sour dough.

The leaven.

I believe.

They would keep.

Keep it aside.

And they would tear.

A bit of it.

And mix it in.

With the dough.

I'm not.

A hundred percent.

Sure on it.

But they would mix it in.

With the dough.

And thus.

That fermented flour.

Would work.

Silently.

Throughout the whole dough.

Changing it into.

A dough.

That would rise.

Into bread.

When baked.

It gives us.

An image.

Of something.

Silent.

Working.

Underneath the skin.

An unstoppable.

Food.

That converts.

The whole mixture.

The kingdom of God.

Works in such a way.

To grow.

To change.

In size.

To gather.

The people.

To draw them in.

And change.

And even.

To change.

Ourselves.

The dough.

The fleaven.

That is.

Mixed in.

With our heart.

Changes us.

Slowly.

And works.

Within us.

That kingdom.

To filter.

Into.

Into.

Every.

Every.

Extremity.

Of our lives.

That we may.

Reflect.

His.

Glory.

It is.

In each of us.

But.

Who is it.

That needs.

That.

Into.

Our hearts.

It's as if.

Christ's hands.

Are needing it.

Into.

Our being.

And into.

The church.

You could extend.

That.

That.

That.

That.

That.

That.

From ourselves.

Into the church.

And the strength.

Of that.

Kingdom.

Has been mixed in.

And needed in.

And the needing.

May.

Unsettle us.

In our lives.

The uncertainty.

Of our lives.

As Christ.

Outworks.

That kingdom.

In it.

We're left.

Confused.

Of.

Why.

He does.

Such a thing.

And why.

He outworks it.

In such a manner.

But it is so.

That the whole.

Of us.

And the whole.

Of the church.

Will be affected.

By the strength.

Of that kingdom.

He changes.

Our whole being.

He knows best.

He is the loving.

Father.

And we have comfort.

In the uncertainties.

Of life.

And the things.

That turn us.

Upside down.

That it is the hands.

Of God.

That are doing it.

And it will.

Come.

To be the greatest.

Of all things.

So let us turn.

To the two.

Treasures.

From verse 44.

To 46.

We have two treasures.

Set before us there.

Treasures that are of immense value.

Treasures.

That have been found.

And sought out.

The man who dug.

The field.

Seems to give the impression.

That he stumbles across it.

So it was common then.

To bury your treasure.

There was no banks.

To store your valuables.

And it has become.

A forgotten treasure.

By the one who buried it.

The man who dug.

Seems to be surprised.

By its find.

And what a find.

He instantly.

He recognizes.

The value.

Of this treasure.

He knows.

What it is.

And so.

Sets himself.

To sell everything.

That he has.

In order to gain it.

And only by the purchase.

Of the field.

Can he attain.

The treasure.

And say that the treasure.

Is hers.

Of everything.

That he gave.

It is incomparable.

To the treasure.

That is set before.

Such is the kingdom of heaven.

He is full of joy.

At his find.

And by the eternal providence.

Of God.

Some stumble.

Across it.

By surprise.

The power of the gospel.

Is revealed to men.

And women.

By surprise.

Surprise.

And they realize it.

And they grasp it.

And they say.

How was I not told this before?

And they become receivers.

Of the greatest riches.

And treasures.

That they have.

In knowledge.

Righteousness.

Wisdom.

Peace.

And joy.

The gospel is.

The revealed.

Spiritual.

Treasure.

And people.

Who see it.

And know it.

And understand it.

Are possessed.

The treasures.

Of great things.

Supposing.

They forsake.

All other treasures.

That they have.

Some.

It is true.

It is revealed to them.

And it is a surprise.

To them.

That the gospel.

Is such.

But to others.

They seek it out.

With diligence.

And it is much like.

The man.

The pearl.

The merchant.

Who found.

That pearl.

He worked.

With pearls.

He knew.

The value.

Of the pearls.

He had a treasure.

He knew.

The treasure.

Of them.

But there comes.

To him.

One.

Immeasurable.

One.

Greater.

One.

That he forsakes.

All other pearls.

In order.

To gain it.

And I suppose.

We could say.

That it is like.

The man.

Who wants.

To live.

To live.

His life.

Well.

And has a multiple.

Of good qualities.

And good pearls.

In his life.

And while they may be.

Admired by others.

And all that he has done.

And all that he has gained.

And all that he has worked for.

He is always dealing.

Back and forth.

With these qualities.

To find his satisfaction.

But never quite.

Gains it.

Until.

He understands.

The gospel.

Until the kingdom.

Of heaven.

Is set before him.

And then all his desires.

Are met.

In this kingdom.

Are met.

In Christ Jesus.

Like the man.

That we found.

This great pearl.

Casts aside.

All other treasures.

As worthless.

To invest.

In this one pearl.

And in this.

He invests.

This is the great treasure.

Set before him.

He knows.

It's value.

He understands.

What is set.

Before.

He knows.

There's no other pearl.

Like the kingdom.

Of heaven.

Do we.

Understand that.

Do we.

Have our.

Desires.

Satisfied.

Like what is set.

Before us.

In the kingdom.

Of heaven.

The man.

Would have secured.

His inheritance.

Selling all.

That he had.

And placed it all.

In this pearl.

Are we.

Such people.

That forsake.

All worldly.

Inheritances.

To receive.

The kingdom.

Of God.

What would it mean.

For you.

To set.

To sell everything.

To gain.

Christ.

If you added up.

The treasures.

And accumulation.

Of your life.

What value.

Does it come to.

Is it enough.

To sell.

To forsake.

The riches.

Of this world.

To receive.

The heavenly.

Kingdom.

Does the kingdom.

Of heaven.

Have such a value.

To you.

More than these things.

And it's not really.

As to us.

To sell everything.

That we have.

In measure.

In measure.

I suppose.

It does.

But not.

Entirely.

Everything.

Physically.

Materially.

It asks for that heart.

Of first place.

And that if we have.

That heart.

That forsakes all other.

Loves.

And treasures.

That our heart.

Inclines itself to.

In this world.

And we place our hearts.

And our lives.

Entirely.

Upon what is set.

Before you.

In the kingdom of heaven.

What Christ.

Has done.

For you.

It is that image.

Of the heart.

And the hand.

That I said.

To the kids.

That at heart.

Knows.

And understands.

This love.

Forsaking.

All other loves.

And the resulting.

Thing.

Is that at hand.

Is set to do.

And react.

To how that.

Love.

Is implanted.

In our hearts.

So the man here.

Who knows.

And loves.

This pearl.

Forsakes all.

To gain.

What he has.

The two treasures.

Let us look at the two.

Gatherings.

Very briefly.

In the night.

The parable of the night.

Sets before us.

A kingdom.

That gathers.

A kingdom.

That sifts.

All that is good.

And all that is bad.

And it is.

A simple picture.

Maybe simpler.

And more common.

To many of you.

Who are fishermen.

You keep.

What is worth.

And you throw away.

What is worthless.

And it is compared.

To the gathering.

Of the church.

And to the gathering.

Of eternity.

And the judgment.

Ultimately.

Of all men.

The good.

Are safe.

And the evil.

Are cast aside.

And it really needs.

Little of my explanation.

To set before you.

What the kingdom.

Of heaven means.

There are.

Two gatherings.

In this parable.

You can see.

That like a net.

It was thrown out.

Into the sea.

And gathered.

The fish.

Of every kind.

And while it was full.

The men drew it ashore.

And sat down.

And sorted it.

Into containers.