I think we're meeting this on Friday. enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him and bless his name, for the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations. Let us come now to the Lord in prayer. Almighty and ever-blessed God, we do come to Thee. We thank Thee for this fresh opportunity to appear before Thee. O Lord, we come, we come confessing our sins for we are sinners, and who are we to approach Thee this day? But we do come, and as we have been reminded, we come with our thanksgivings. We thank Thee for Thy mercy and goodness. We thank Thee for the beloved Saviour, unspeakable gift, the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank thee for him, and we will be mindful of him as we come now to this hour of worship, and we pray that thou would think on him as we think on him, and accept our praise and our prayer. Oh, we thank thee for him, what a precious saviour he is. Oh, may our minds be focused on him on this Friday. Hear our prayer. We ask it in the name of our Saviour and for his sake. Amen. Amen. Let's have a look at our first phrase, number 105. Number 105. And we're singing verses 1 to 5. And the tune is Dunslap Creek. Number 105. Verses 1 to 5. And the tune is Dunslap Creek. Give thanks to God. Call on his name. to make His deeds make known. Sing ye to Him, sing songs, proclaim His wondrous works. Give thanks to God, call on His name, to make His deeds make known. Singing to Him, His arms so great, His wondrous love divine. See that he in his soul remains, True glory to God the Lord. And let the hearts of everyone Rejoice and sing the Lord. The Lord Almighty and His strength, with steadfast heart seeking, His blessed and His gracious face, Seek ye continually. Think of the works that ye have done, which adoration bring. His wonders and the judgments all, which from His mouth proceed. If you would take with me to the Old Testament for our consecutive reading to Genesis chapter 21. Genesis chapter 21 and we're reading from verse 1 through to verse 21. Genesis 21 verse 1 through to verse 21. And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the said time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being 8 days old as God had commanded him. Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born unto him. Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that here will laugh with me.' And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham that Sarah should have given son? For I had borne him a son in his old age. And the child grew, and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto Abraham, mocking Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son, for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be greedous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman. In order that Sarah hath said unto thee, Hearken unto her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be pulled. And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto her, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheban. and the water was spent in the bottle. And she cast out the child under one of the shrubs. And she went and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot. For she said, let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him and lift up her voice and went. And God heard the voice of the lad and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not, for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand, for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled the bottom with water and gave the lad drink. And God was with the lad, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness and became an archer, and he dwelt in the wilderness of Haran. And his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt. Amen. May the Lord add the blessing to the reading of his precious words. Well, let's turn to our second praise, number 66, and we'll note the relevance of this praise in light of what we've just read. Psalm 66, verses 16 to 20, and the tune is St Bernard. Number 66, verses 16 to 20, and the tune is Bernard. All that fear God, come hear our tale, what he did for my soul. I whipped my mouth unto him, cried, my tongue did him extol. If in my heart I sin regard, the Lord will, me will not hear. But surely, Lord, me heard unto, my prayer's voice gave ear. Number 66, verses 16 to 20. All that rejoiced from here up shall what He did for my soul. I lift mine mouth unto Him, cry, my tongue did Him extol. If in my heart I sin with God, the Lord, He will not care. ♪ But surely God be heard as you ♪ ♪ My prayer's voice came in ♪ ♪ O let the Lord our gracious God ♪ ♪ Forever bless and be ♪ Lieutenant, not my prayer from him, nor yet his grace from me. If you would turn with me to the New Testament, to Matthew 13, and we're reading from verse 44. Matthew 13, and we're reading from verse 44 through to verse 15. as a sheer godsweat. Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hidden afield. The witch, when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that he hath, and buys that things. Again the kingdom of heaven is likened to a merchant man seeking goodly parents, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Again the kingdom of heaven is likened to a net that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore and sat down and gather the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire. They shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then saith he unto them, Therefore, every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. And it came to pass that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed them. And when he was coming to his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James and Joseph and Simon and Judas, and his sisters? Are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, safe in his own country and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Amen. May the Lord add the blessing to the reading of his precious word. Let's continue now in prayer. Let us pray. We do thank thee for thy word. Thou hast given thy word, and thy word has been distributed. And we thank thee that today we sit with an open Bible before us. How blessed we are. We thank thee for what we have read this morning, and what we have sung. O Lord, thou art such a gracious God, as we were reminded during the song. Thou hast not turned away our prayer, Oh, how gracious thou art. Many say words in the form of prayer, but they're not heard in that gracious way. Yet we have been heard, and we pray, O Lord, that we will continue to be heard this morning as we come to thee in prayer. Oh, we thank Thee for the pearl of great price, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What a blessing we who know Him here this morning to have Him. Oh Lord, we are so blessed. And may we treasure Him and value Him this morning hour. For any without Christ may it yet be food like a race. They will find the pearl of greatest price. Oh, what a discovery is made. And oh, we pray the poor sinners today would know that wonderful discovery. The Lord Jesus Christ, to any here, O Lord, I pray for them all listening online, that thou would speak to them. And we who love thee, we who have been blessed through Christ, may we go forward, may we go forth as well, making him known. Oh, what a treasure he is. Help us to value him more. As we think of the table later today, O may Christ be precious to us this morning and throughout the hours, and as we come around the table that our love would be increased, that we would hold him dear and near to our hearts. O bless that means of grace, later on today we pray. May it go forth, build up thy people today, strengthen, O Lord. Thou knowest what we need. If it be a word of rebuke or encouragement, direction or guidance, speak to us through thy word. O may the Spirit come and use the word, we pray. We pray that thou would use the word in an effectual way, in the hearts of poor sinners, draw up people to thyself. As we think of these parables, we're reminded of the parable of the lost sheep, how the shepherd went forth until he found, and we pray that Christ today will be going forth, or may sinners be found in this place and up and down the country and around the world, we pray. We do thank thee for thy day. What a blessing that thou hast given to us this day, this special day, when we can draw aside, when we can think much on our beloved Saviour. This is the day which thou hast meant. We will rejoice and be glad in it. We thank thee that thou art merciful and hast given to us this day. O help us to think much of thee on this day day. Lord, may we be careful in what we say and what we think. O Lord, as we turn to thy word, how easily we can break this commandment. O help us. May our thoughts be set on things above, O Lord. May we set our affection on things above. May we delight in thee. May we call the Sabbath a delight. And may we know the accompanying delight of doing so, O Lord. We do pray, O Lord, that many would have a great concern again for thy day in the nation. O Lord, we've lived through a day now when many have no concern of Thee, no thought of Thee, and they do their own things on Thy day. O have mercy, we pray. May Thy day be loved in the church and loved again in the nation. We beseech Thee o'er the blessings of Thy day. Be with them the preaching of the Word, We pray for other fellowships, congregations today. Those that are smaller, we would remember them, O Lord. Be near to them. We thank thee for the promise that where two or three are gathered together, there thou art in the midst of them. We pray for other fellowships. We would remember the church in Salisbury today. We pray particularly for the baptising service. We pray for that young one as she's baptised, O Lord. that she might know blessing and the whole church there, we pray. For other fellowships, we would remember the church in Spring Road and Totten, we pray for them. In Carmel, we pray for the church in Barnstable, blessed our servant there today. And in Cardiff and many other places, we would remember the church in Holywell Road, be with them there and lead them and guide them. and provide for them a man to serve thee in that place as pastor, we pray. And as we pray for them, we pray for other churches. We know there are so many churches in the land without pastors. Oh, we pray, raise up ones to serve thee, O Lord, and send them forth. O Lord, this is a great need. We would remember the seminary in Salisbury. We pray, O Lord, there'll be certain ones raised up, we thank thee for interest. May there be a greater interest in new students in the coming year, we beseech thee. We do pray for those who are going through a particular trial at this time, come alongside them and help them. We do pray for Jennifer, we commit her to thee and we pray for her mum. Oh Lord, we commit her unto thee at this time. We pray also for Dorothy. We thank thee for her being here this morning. May she know much grace day by day. May she know that inward strength and continue to help her, we pray. For others, O Lord, not able to be with us today through sickness or holiday, be with them, O Lord, we beseech thee. Make up the means of grace to them. Be with those in the workplace here. Help them, O Lord, as they seek to work for Thee in what they do. And bless them, O Lord, may there be a light in those places again this week, we pray. We do pray for the situation in the nation, how we need Thee, O Lord. Have mercy upon us. We do remember the Royal Household, we pray for mercy. Oh, we pray that there will be those seeking Thee in the Royal Household. Open eyes, Lord, that's our prayer. May there be converting grace in the royal household, we pray. And for the government, we pray for it too, O Lord. Have mercy, give us leaders that fear Thee, who will walk in Thy ways, who will love Thy word, how we need it, O Lord. Have mercy. We do pray for the situation in the Middle East. May calm and peace continue, O Lord, we pray for the Prince of Peace, that he would write prosperously in Israel, in Lebanon, in Syria, in Yemen, in Iraq, in Iran, in Gaza, so many places, O may the gospel spread in these days, we pray. We pray for the end of the war in Ukraine. These long years of war, may they soon come to an end, O Lord. And may my people in Ukraine Support them again today for those who meet in places where it's so primitive now because of the war. Oh, we pray for them. Those who are fearful today, we commit them today. Lord, we pray for the young people. We thank you for them here and their children. We pray for those returning to their education tomorrow, whether it be at home, or in the school, or in the college, or university, go before them, we pray. Bless the young people in the workplace, bless them, oh Lord, help them. We thank Thee for them. So Lord, we come with our thanksgivings. We thank Thee for Thy goodness and mercy towards us over another month. And Lord, bless the offerings of Thy people today. use them for thy glory here in this place and further afield. O Lord, we thank thee for what we have. We recognise that all that we have comes from thee. We thank thee for our homes, our food, our clothing. We bless thee for these things. We thank thee most of all for Christ, the unspeakable gift. Hear us now in our prayers. Blessed be thy name. with me again to the psalter, this time to number 69. I'm going to sing from the second half of verse 6 through to verse 13. Number 69, the second half of verse 6, commencing with the words, O Lord the God of Israel, let none who serves to make and seek thee be at any time confounded for my sake. Now you notice verse 7 and 8, and we can think again, as we often have in this psalm, of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, and we thought in our New Testament reading how he was rejected. Well listen to these words here, verse 8. an alien I became, because the zeal did eat me up with to thine house I bear. Number 69, we'll commence at the second half of verse six, and we're singing down to verse 13, and the tune is Contemplation. O Lord, the God of Israel, Welcome to this earth to reign, And see thee here at any time Confounded for all thy sin. For I have all reproached for thee My face is inked with shame To brethren strange, to mother's sons Amelia, I behave. Because the deer did eat me up, which to my mouth I bade. And her reproaches constantly shall fall before the dawn. My tears and thoughts that filled my soul would turn into my shame. When Santa Vi gave way to them, a brother I became. The men that in the cage you sit Against the evil spade They all survive While triumphers were, Long may their song be made. But in an acceptable time, my prayer, Lord, is to Thee. In truth of Thy salvation, Lord, And mercy great, dear me. Just to remind you again, the coming meeting on Friday. I received an email yesterday from Mr. Tudor looking forward to seeing you on Friday. There had been some discussion a year ago. It was the 5th of November, the best night to have a meeting, a public meeting, and I heard on the morning yesterday. So looking forward to having Mr. Tudor on Friday and not on Wednesday, not on the 5th, but on the 7th. was wise last year. Perhaps not on the night, but there'll be a lot of bangs around in the area. And also, those visiting may not come if it's the 5th of November. So we're looking forward to having Mr. Tudor. He represents the Trinitarian Bible Society, deputation speaker of the Trinitarian Bible Society, and he's coming to speak. You hear quite a bit about TBS here, but he will focus on the bank, that is done in other countries but also on tinder a little again he's written a booklet on tinder there'll be a number of items for sale at the table on friday so i do commend that meeting to you i do apologize it was short notice for change when i did the newsletter i had it down for wednesday this week i had to quickly change it for friday Well we continue this morning in our series the parables of Jesus and the parables of Jesus. And with this in mind, I'd like us to come to Matthew 13. You notice in this chapter there are a number of parables, but today we're going to look at the parable of the pearl of great price. So come with me to verse 45 and verse 46. Verse 45 and verse 46. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who, when he hath found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Dear congregation, there is none like the Lord Jesus Christ. I have never been disappointed in Him. One of His titles or names given, which is recorded in Isaiah 9 verse 6, is wonderful His name shall be called Wonderful, literally a wonder, a marvel. And then Isaiah, under inspiration, he writes these things and he's taken up with the Lord. He's in wonder. The Lord Jesus Christ is wonderful. And when he came, though many despised him, we sang about it, did we not, in Psalm 69 and read a bit earlier in this chapter, there were those who were taken with the Lord Jesus Christ. Wonderful. A number of years ago I visited Cheddar Caves and I went on a boat and we went in there and well there were amazing sights, the crystals and I was in awe at the beauty of them. But all those crystals, those items there, they were nothing compared to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is wonderful. Is he wonderful to you? Is he the pearl of greatest price? Well, as we consider that He is wonderful, first of all, He is wonderful in His person, but then secondly, wonderful in His work. Just consider Him, what He's like, and then consider His ministry, His work here upon earth, His finished work, but then His ongoing work. Wonderful. We who love the Lord do not we esteem Him. He's altogether lovely. There is none like Him. He is precious. What did Peter say in 1 Peter 2 verse 7? Unto you therefore which believe he is precious, but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner. To the believer he is precious, but not to the unbeliever. Let me ask you this morning, is the Lord Jesus Christ precious? Is he to you the pearl of great price? Well we come today to consider another parable in view of the kingdom. You notice these parables here in this chapter have this in view. Just notice verse 44, again the kingdom of heaven. And then verse 45, again the kingdom of heaven. We think of the kingdom, we can particularly consider it in the New Testament age, but we think of the kingdom And as we think of these parables, certain things are associated with the Kingdom. We can think of the Word of the Kingdom. We can think of those who are in the Kingdom. And we can think of the Pearl of Great Price, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the King of Kings, who is the King in the Kingdom. As we think of the kingdom, there is the excellency of the kingdom. And why particularly? Because the Lord Jesus Christ is therein. Listen to Dr Gerald Bill Keyes. Some of us heard him a few weeks ago in Salisbury. He's written a helpful book on the parables and he writes this, not only does Christ reveal the value of the kingdom, he represents and enfolds that value in himself. It is right that interpreters throughout the ages have understood the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price as essentially the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the pearl of great price. Well let's come to consider this parable this morning, the Lord enabling. I'd like us to consider first of all the pearl of great price. Secondly, the pearl found and obtained And if time permits, thirdly, the pearl greatly valued. Well, let's consider first of all the pearl of great price. Let's come to the parable, verse 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a merchant man seeking goodly pearls. We think of a merchant man, and he goes seeking pearls. Now, what is interesting is the Greek word, and this helps us to understand a little more the parable. here which is translated as bought literally from the Greek it's to go to a market to purchase to buy to go to a market then so here's a merchant he's seeking pearls in the marketplace according to the Greek children I don't know if you've been to the market in Ringwood on Wednesdays there's another market on Tuesdays in Salisbury and on Saturdays I remember as a boy being taken by my grandparents to the market in Salisbury. That was the market we used to go to. My granny would take us around the market, but then my grandfather would take me also to the cattle market. When you think of these markets, there's different things you can buy on these stores. And there are some antique stores, isn't there? You can go along. Certain ones are searching maybe for a jewel or a watch or something else amongst the antiques Well here we consider in the parable a merchant man one that is trading seeking goodly pearls And he bought it in verse 46 he went to the marketplace to purchase to buy So here's the parable then Now when we come to the parables we need to be wise. We see here the parable as a whole. And what are we learning from the parable as a whole? That's important to say that. Some go too far into certain details which are just a parable, just to set the scene. So I say that by way of introduction. Well here's the merchantman then. He's seeking goodly pearls. But then we read in verse 46, who when he had found a pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. So here's the merchant method. He's gone, he's seeking, he finds this pearl of great price and he sells all that he had and he buys it. Now consider, he makes a wonderful discovery. Now what do we learn here? He discovers the pearl of great price. What a wonderful discovery. Sinners through the grace of God, and it's only through the grace of God, make this wonderful discovery. Now why do I say it's through the grace of God? Well, because men by nature are blind. There's a darkness, a spiritual blindness. You read a bit in Isaiah 42 verse The blindness, they cannot see. Men by nature do not see. Now just come with me back a few verses to verse 14 and verse 15. These are solemn words. Listen to these words of the Lord Jesus. And in them is fulfilled this prophecy of Isaiah which say, by hearing he shall hear and shall not understand. And seeing he shall see and shall not perceive. For this people's heart is wax gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Solemn words from the lips of Jesus. And we need to just listen to what the Lord is saying there. But then notice verse 16. What a contrast here. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Blessed, the Lord Jesus Christ is addressing the hearers there, solemn words, but then he says blessed, and if you listen to Jesus through the word this morning, does he say you are blessed? Because you see, there's been a wonderful discovery made in your life, and it's the Lord Jesus Christ, the pearl of greatest price, As you read these words of Jesus, solemn words aren't they? As you come to verse 16, it's the Lord saying that to you this morning. But blessed are your eyes. You've looked, you see. Oh the grace of God, how he opens eyes. Oh the grace of God, it's seen in the work of the Father. enduring in the Son what He has done, and through the Holy Spirit, oh, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit are at work. Oh, has the triune God been at work in your heart? Now, through God's amazing grace, a wonderful discovery is made, and it's the pearl of greatest price. Remember John Newton again? Once I was blind, But now I see, and what did he say earlier? Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. Amazing is the grace of God. You who loved the Lord this morning, how amazing is God's grace. You made a wonderful discovery through the grace of God, through the word of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The pearl of greatest price was found. and you received him by faith. Well, the merchant, he made a wonderful discovery. The pearl of great price. Now just consider what he was doing here in the parable. Think again of the parable. This is verse 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is written to a merchant man who was seeking goodly pearls. We think of the parable. He was seeking goodly pearls. And then this wonderful discovery was made. He was seeking goodly pearls, things that he thought, pearls he thought would be a benefit to him and would bring him happiness. And I'll be very brief here. As we notice in Isaiah 45 or 55, there is a natural thirst. There's a natural hunger. Why do you seek that which is not bread? You see that, you see the connection there. Well, there are those who are seeking, they're searching for things. They're looking for things that they think will bring them satisfaction and happiness. Let me be very brief here. First of all, we can consider a moral life. They're seeking to live their life like that. Well, if I live my life in a way that is right, that will bring me happiness and joy. Now be sure, it will be a benefit if you seek to keep the commandments. But no one has gone to heaven by merely seeking to keep the commandments because no one's perfect. Not one is perfect. People are seeking, well, if I do good, Well that will be what will bring me happiness. Consider another thing, knowledge. That's something I wouldn't mind having. The knowledge of comfort. The knowledge of heaven. Now let me say, it's a wonderful thing to know that I'm going to heaven. It's a wonderful thing to know the comforts from the Lord Jesus Christ. But there are those who, They want to know these things, but they don't know Jesus. And so they don't know true comfort. And they're not on the way to heaven. But there are those, when I want to know about heaven, I want to know about comforts that the people of God tell me about. Some are seeking these things. Some say a prayer. Now it's interesting those words in Psalm 66, if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. Now we've got to remember it was the psalmist saying it first of all. He knows that if he was harbouring some sin in his heart, how could he expect the Lord to hear him? But oh, consider the unconverted. There's many who pray, they say a word, words in prayer, but they're committing the sin They're not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, but they're seeking. Well, if I have a prayer life, and it's good to have a prayer life, but let me tell you, there are many who are saying prayers today in churches who don't know the Saviour. They want satisfaction. They want happiness. They want peace within. As certain ones say, well if I say a little prayer, if I repeat the Lord's Prayer, what is commonly called the Lord's Prayer, all is well for my soul, but so many don't know the Lord. They're seeking for certain things, but they have not known, found the pearl of great price. Now it's interesting, the merchant was seeking goodly pearls. Things that in and of themselves were right, we could say. but only one goes to heaven through the Lord Jesus Christ. There are those who have an outward profession of faith. Lord, Lord, have we not done this? We read of in the gospel. I never knew you. There are those seeking to do certain things. Well, if I do this and that, well, surely that will get me to heaven. The only way to heaven is through the pearl of great price. Though it is good to pray, though it is good and proper to seek to keep the law. We're sinners, our only hope is the Saviour. Oh, can it be said through the grace of God, you've made this wonderful discovery, the pearl of greatest price. The merchant man was seeking goodly pearls, and then, there was the pearl of greatest price. Oh, what a pearl he is! Have you found him? What do we read here? Who, when he had found, won pearl of great price? Now, as we think of the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd goes till he finds, and when he finds, what happens? The sinner can say, I found him! As we read of in John chapter 1, has he found you? Has he presented himself to you? Have you discovered before your eye the pearl of great price? What do we read here, who when he had found? One pearl of great price. Have you found the one pearl? Now it's interesting here in the parable, this is very clear, isn't it? There's no one else but Jesus. who is the pearl of great price, one pearl. There are those seeking, well, if I go to heaven, if I do this, it's only Jesus, Christ alone, isn't it? It's not Christ in works, no, it's Christ alone, who when he had found one pearl of great price, what a pearl, a pearl of great price, a pearl to behold, to wander out. A couple of years ago in a village not too far away, my wife got two pearls. The person selling them didn't realise the value of them, neither did my wife until she came home and said, well look at these, not just the plastic things, these are the real things, valuable. But all nothing compared to Christ. He is the pearl of great price. Is that what you think of Jesus this morning? Think of the merchant man. He was seeking goodly pearls. He was thinking of others. He was looking for other things. And then, the pearl of great price. Oh, is Jesus the pearl of great price to you? Is he precious? Listen to Matthew Henry, Jesus Christ is a pearl of great price, a jewel, valuable, which will make those who have it rich, truly rich, to walk God in having Him. We have enough to make us happy here and forever. Think of the merchantman, he was seeking pearls. There were those seeking certain things. They want happiness, they want satisfaction. If I could have more money, that will bring me happiness. But it's only Christ that can bring true happiness. Now, money is helpful. Let me use the old illustration of the Puritan, Thomas Watson. Water is helpful for the sailing of the ship. It is, isn't it? You're not gonna get anywhere, are you, without water. You'll just be on the side. But the Puritan went on to say, the danger is when the water gets into the ship. And that's the danger, isn't it? What danger there is. Oh yes, money is helpful. But all the danger is if one lives for money. Oh, it's helpful to have certain things. But oh, to have Christ. That's what we need. The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the pearl, the one pearl of great price. Let's just open this up a little further. Firstly, He is of great value. Now, we're told in 2018, one peril was sold for $32 million. Well, I haven't got the money, neither would I spend the money on one peril like that. But I'm so blessed to have Christ, and I was empty-handed. We see that in Isaiah 55. Without money, you can't purchase Him of yourself. We'll come to that in the parable, what that means in light of the parable. But we come empty handed. You can't purchase Him. You have nothing to offer. Oh, He is of great value. He is God of infinite value. Oh, how precious He is. Remember those words from 2 Corinthians 8 verse 9, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that He through His poverty might be rich. Oh, so rich! Our wonderful Saviour, rich in wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2 verse 3, In whom are hid all the treasures, of the wisdom and knowledge, the treasures, and the hidden Christ. He is rich, isn't he? Of great value. He's the pearl of great price. Oh, do you so value him? Consider, secondly, he's wonderful, in wonder. Are you in wonder? Well, no more, it's on there. His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor. The mighty God. Are you taken up with Jesus? Is he a wonder to you? Are you so thankful for him? Oh, what a pearl. He is wonderful. Now, in certain shellfish, like the oyster, pearls are found. And what takes place in the forming of the pearl is amazing. Just think of that. Oh, consider the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider His incarnation. He took human nature. He was conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Ghost, Luke 1 verse 35. Amazing, wonderful. There was an overshadowing power, as we see there in Luke 1 verse 35. Just amazing, isn't it? He's of great value, but He's also wonderful. Consider His incarnation. There's mystery, but there's great wonder as well, isn't there? He who is God took human nature. How amazing. Wonderful. What a wonder. Are you in awe of the Lord Jesus Christ? Sadly today, so many take his name in vain. So many take his name in vain without even thinking about it. Are you in awe of Jesus? Thirdly, he's wonderful. We've touched on it. He's to be admired. Altogether, lovely. Think of the management. He finds, he discovers this pearl of great price. He's in awe of it. Are you in awe of Jesus? Oh, he's altogether lovely. Time is going over. In awe of him, what he is like. His person, His amazing, His attributes, His excellencies, He's so holy, so pure. We think of the spotless One, think of His grace, love and mercy, His compassion. Are you in awe of Him? What a Saviour He is. He is the pearl of great price, the Redeemer, the Saviour, the only hope. Oh, what value is attached to Him. Now before we move on, tell me to 1 Peter 1 verse 18, for as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, the precious blood of the pearl of great price. Oh, what a pearl he is, one to be admired one to be beheld. Well, as we close, time has passed so quickly. The pearl found and obtained. The pearl found and obtained. Verse 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had. Here's the parable. He found, And what does he do? We're told in verse 46, sold all that he had and bought it. Now we considered earlier, the sinner through the grace of God finds the crown of greatest price. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. I was blind. I did not see the beauty in Jesus. I did not admire him. I did not love him. That was me. Is that you this morning? You know of him, but you're not in awe of him. You're blind. You know he came to this world. He lived here upon earth. He went to the cross. He died for sinners. He shed his precious blood. You don't see his beauty in your heart. Blind, said John Newton, but now I see. Come with me to the parable. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and brought it. When he had found, he was looking for goodly pearls. We can think of those seeking certain things which in and of themselves are ripe, but all a discovery is made. been this discovery you may have been going to church you thought well it's right to go to church you may have been saying one or two prayers you may have been reading the Bible and then there he is the Savior I knew of him but now I see him by faith and I know him within oh has this wonderful discovery now let me tell you it's a wonderful discovery to have the Lord Jesus Christ before you. Oh, what a discovery. When he had found one pearl of great price. There can be those there, they're doing certain things, but then the spirit wears, and Christ makes himself known. One's convicted and shown the suitableness of Christ. Has the Spirit worked in your heart? Has the Lord revealed himself to you? Has the suitableness of Christ been shown to you? What do I mean? One feels their sin, but through the Spirit they're shown he's the only one. What do we read here? Who, when he hath found one pal, oh, has the Spirit shown the suitableness of Christ, that he is the only one, and he can meet all your needs. Oh, the suitableness of Christ. One is shown and faith is implanted. What a discovery has been made. Are you rejoicing that this discovery has been made in your life? Or don't you know it? Oh, that Christ would make himself known. The merchant man, when he had found one pound of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. There are those who are seeking, they want satisfaction, but they look in the wrong direction. Turn with me to Isaiah chapter 55. Isaiah chapter 55. Isaiah chapter 55. Oh everyone, let's turn to these words. Isaiah 55 and verse 1. Just bear with me. Whoever you are that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. And he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat. Yea, come, buy wine and milk without price, without money and without price. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? You see that natural hunger, but they're looking in the wrong direction. to you this morning, and your labour for that which satisfyeth none is not going to truly satisfy you. Passing joys, only Christ can bring true everlasting joy. Oh, has this discovery been made? What a person. When the spirit is wed, the poor sinner comes to this point, they see, oh I need him. By nature they would never say that, but when the spirits it were, have you been brought to that place that you see your need of Him and you seek Him? I remember a number of years ago in the springtime, oh the Lord worked in my heart and I thought of the cross and I began to cry, Lord save me. I said the words, Lord save me, what was happening? A discovery had been made through the Spirit. my need of Him. Oh what a blessing. Now in Isaiah 55 verse 6 we have these words, Seek ye the Lord while He may be found. Call ye upon Him while He is near. Seek, that's the invitation, seek ye the Lord while He may be found. Let me say this, there'll come a day when no one else will What a day that is. But all listen to these words here. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call ye upon him while he is near. We're going to consider tonight the coming of the Lord after the communion table. No man except the Father knoweth the hour. We don't know when he's going to come. Seek ye the Lord then while he may be found. Oh, he's the power is found through the grace of God. Now as we close, as we come back to the parable, what does it mean? He sold out what he had and bought it. Is it something in us? Is it our works that save us? No. It's the grace of God. Grace alone, Christ alone, faith alone. It's the grace of God. We come empty-handed, let me stress that term back again to Isaiah 55. However, ye one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters from he that hath no money. Come ye by and eat, yea, come by wine and milk without money and without price. You that hath no money. Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to thy cross I cling. So we need to be wise with the parable. Do you understand that? We bring Scripture together. So what does this mean? Well, we can say there needs to be a receiving of Christ. But what does this mean that he went and sowed in order to obtain? Remember, it's the parable, and I want to underline that. Now, the sinner will part with certain things in order to have. Let me say first of all, a denying of one's self-righteousness. You see, some people think, I'm good enough, I'm good enough. We've got to part with that if we're truly to be found believing in Jesus. Denying, remember what Jesus said, denying people gathered in churches today, they think they're good enough. Remember the Pharisee, I'm not as other men are. That's got to be parted with. Deny says the Lord Jesus Christ. Now listen to the testimony the Apostle Paul recorded for us in Philippians 3 verse 9, 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. Not having mine own righteousness. Is there someone here thinking, well here it is Lord, I'm not too bad, I've done this, I've done that, I haven't murdered someone? We've got to deny ourselves. Secondly, a sinful love. A sinful love. What do we read in 1 John 2 verse 15? Love not the world, neither the things of you in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. I remember a certain missionary's wife many years ago saying, it's very plain there, isn't it? And it is. Love not the world, this is a sinful love. If any man loved the world, the love of the Father is not in him. You remember that certain one who came to our Lord and he went away sad. Why did he go away sad, children? Because he had many possessions. And he loved them. He did not love the Lord. So one must part with a love for the world. Remember, this happened in the life of Moses. What do we simply read in Hebrews? Chapter 11, verse 24, by Faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. No further. He parted with it. Here in the parable, he sold that, as it were. He couldn't have it anymore. No. The Lord now was the one he loved. There are hindrances. Back in the summer I was at a youth conference and a certain young man came up to me. I preached on the pilgrim journey and the first sermon was, I am the door, by me if any man enter in. And then the second part of the verse, going in and out, there's the shepherd leading. And unexpectedly, and I won't say who it was, we just pray for this young man, he came up to me at the end of the conference, can I have a word with you pastor? And at the front of the church there's a door, And he says, there's the door, and I heard you preach on that Christ is the door, but I see all these pews in front of the door, and they're hindrances. I won't say his name, because I'm praying for him. He said, there's a pew. These are like hindrances. I can't truly say that I love Jesus, because I love the world. My heart's taken for the world. That's the thing he was telling me. He knew that Christ was the door. He knew that Christ was the only way in, but he loved the world. Oh, I'm praying for that man, that that would be parted with, and he would make this wonderful discovery of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you see the point here? what we read here in verse 46, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. What's the great theme here? Christ alone. Do you see it there? Christ alone. There were those thinking, well, I'm doing this and that. I believe in Jesus as well, but that will save me. It's Christ alone. That's what the parable's teaching. He found one pound of great price and I tell you what a blessing it is when this discovery of Jesus is made. I had nothing, I'm so unworthy, but now I'm so rich and I'm so blessed. I'm so thankful that I parted with my self-righteousness. I thought I was better than other children until that day I knelt at the cross. Oh, I'm glad to have parted with these things. And through the grace of God, I have the pearl of great price. What a pearl he is. Are you rejoicing in him? Time has gone and I must close. I held him and would not let him go. You ladies, do you sometimes look in a ring or a piece of jewelry or something else and you just look at it? Oh, you hold on to it, you treasure it. Oh, is Christ held near to you? I held him and would not let him go. Consider him such beauty. Oh, consider how precious he is. Stay near to him. I must close now by way of application. As I close this morning, time is gone. In light of this this morning, first of all, as he is the pearl of great price, meditate on him. Remember Mary, after the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, Luke 2 verse 19, but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Children, remember the shepherds, they went forth, making known Jesus through the streets of Bethlehem. Mary was pondering. He's the pearl of great price, isn't he? Think on him. Ponder. Just think about Him. You know, life can be so busy. How important it is just to stop and think about Jesus. I've said this before in my first job. I used to make it a practice that once an hour, I'd just pause and think of a verse of Scripture or think of my saving. Make that a practice this week in the business of life. Once an hour, as you're doing your business, just to think of Jesus. You know, it helps so much, doesn't it, just to think of Jesus. At times we're busy. At times we can be cast down. Oh, just to think on Jesus. Turn your eyes, dear brethren. Oh, meditate upon Him. Secondly, read of Him. He's the pearl of great price. John 5, verse 39. Search the Scriptures. For in them you think ye have eternal life. Read of Jesus. Discover more of Jesus. Oh, we've heard often recently that the whole Word of God points us to the Saviour. And what did He do on the road to Emmaus? He opened the Scriptures. And afterwards, when He was gathered with those disciples, He opened the Scriptures, opened the book, read of Jesus. He's the pearl of greatest price. Discover more of His beauty, more of His love and kindness. Read of Him. And then thirdly, listen to Him by way of application. He's the pearl of greatest price. He's so precious, He's so valuable. We thought earlier that in Him there is the wisdom, the riches of wisdom and knowledge. Listen to Him now. Remember Mary, she sat at Jesus' feet. Luke 10, verse 39. Listen to the power of great price. Discover more of His beauty. What a blessing. If this discovery of Jesus has been known in your life, stay close to Him. He's the pearl. Stay close to Him and make Him known. Make Him known. It's my longing that others would know the pearl, that they would know and find Him. Through the grace of God, one of old wrote, now I will tell to sinners around, What a dear Saviour I have found. Make Him known. Use the prayer. Meditate on Him. Value Him. And make Him known. Let us pray. Amen. O gracious God, we thank Thee for this parable. A well-known parable. What a beautiful Saviour. Oh, what a pearl He is. Oh, may we value Him more. May we treasure Him. May we spend more time thinking of Him, reading of Him, listening to Him, and making Him known. Help us to be taken up with Jesus today. After the service, throughout the hours, help us to be taken up with Jesus more in our lives. Use us to thy glory. We thank thee for this power. May all the children in their lives know the power of greatest Christ. Oh, forgive us our sins. Help us, we pray, for any here who know of Jesus but don't know him. Oh, may this wonderful discovery be made in their life, and if it please thee, through thy grace, may it be made today before they go to their home. O hear us now, forgive us our sins, for Christ's sake. Amen. We conclude by turning to number 72, verses 17 to 19. His name forever shall endure, lost like the sun it shall. Men shall be blessed in him, and blessed all nations shall him call. Number 72, verses 17 to 19. His name forever shall endure, Thus like the sun it shall And shall be blessed in heaven and earth, All nations shall live more. Now blessed be the Lord our God, the God of Israel. For he alone doth wondrous work, in glory let it sound. And blessed be His glorious name to all eternity. The whole world let His glory fail. Amen. So let it be. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.