Today we start a new series based off this one verse…

...The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure. Matthew 13:44 (NKJV) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Imagine with me a Hebrew man walking along with staff in hand headed to the city for business, and to save time, he cuts through a field. This was permitted. The field is uneven so he thrust his staff into the dirt to balance himself. He keeps walking and thrusting the staff into the ground when all of a sudden there is a thunk. Didn’t sound like a rock. He bends down curiously and begins to wipe away dirt and he sees a box. It looks like it has been there a long time. Hands shaking, he finally unlocks the chest. Gold and silver coins, jewelry, precious stones. A fortune! Some wealthy man must have buried it quickly when he was in danger and then, died before he returned to get it. The landowner evidently has no clue it is there. The law of the day was specific, whoever owned the field assumed ownership of everything in it. But how can I afford a big piece of property like this? I will sell everything!

1. The Bible and Our Connection to Money. This parable of the hidden treasure is just one of many references Jesus made to money and possessions. Jesus referenced 15% of His teaching to this topic. More than the topics of heaven and hell combined. Randy Alcorn says “Our approach to money and possessions is central to our spiritual lives.” Zacchaeus, New Testament believers, and the rich young rulers are just a few examples of our connection to Jesus and money. Maybe you have forgotten this but even one of our Distinctives as a church is Generous Giving. 

2. Smart or Stupid. Watch this…the rich young man wasn’t willing to give up everything for a greater treasure, and the traveler in the field was. Why? Because the traveler understood what he would gain. Key – If we miss the part of the verse where it says “for joy” he sells everything he has. This was not begrudging sacrifice; it was him being a joyful giver. Lord, help us!

3. A Treasure Mentality and Principle. Jesus doesn’t just tell us where not to put our treasure, He also gives us the best investment advice ever, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Alcorn said, “Anything we try to hang on to here will be lost. But anything we put in God’s hands will be ours for eternity. If that doesn’t take your breath away, you don’t understand it.” Where is your treasure and where is your heart?

Today we conclude the series “A Quest for Intimacy”...

... but hopefully this is not the end of our quest to be intimately acquainted with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Philippians 3:10 AMP [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [the power it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death.” If we will experience the transformation that we need, it will be from getting more intimate with our God. That I might know Him. Today I want to use an acronym for the word TIME. 

1. T – Time. If we will have this intimate relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it will definitely take time. Paul said it in the amp version. That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him. Progressive – happening or developing gradually or in stages proceeding step by step. I am sorry to be the one to break the news to you but if you will get close to God and have this wonderful intimate relationship, it will take time. You have to be intentional. 

2. I – Intimacy. Obviously this is an invitation for closeness. Time alone with God is a crying out to God…Into Me See! The discipline of solitude is a welcoming of God to be close. When we draw near to God in His presence and draw near to Him by reading and studying His Word, we begin to see ourselves for how we really look. Why I have trouble with prideful spiritual people.

3. M – Meditation. Meditation - to focus one's thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over. The act or process of spending time in quiet thought. Meditation, in its self is not wrong, it all depends on what we are thinking about. To be intimate with God is a process whereby we find ourselves thinking about Him all day long. Psalm 4:4-5 (NKJV) “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.” 

4. E – Evolution. Evolution - A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. Intimacy with God can become the process where we evolve into something better. Our intimacy causes cleansing from sin and the effects of this nasty world. That I might know Him!

Today, again, we continue the series “A Quest for Intimacy.” -3

 Philippians 3:10 AMP [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [the power it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death. Let’s look at two more essential decisions, each related to a discipline (we are disciples), that will help us develop an in-depth intimacy with Christ and Holy Spirit. 

1. Cultivating Serenity: The Discipline of Solitude. Please do not miss the value of the discipline of solitude where we cultivate serenity. Serenity – the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. Solitude has been called the “furnace of transformation.” Swindoll – “In solitude, struggles occur that no one else knows about. Inner battles are fought here that seldom become fodder for sermons or illustrations for books. God, Who probes our deepest thoughts during protracted segments of solitude, opens our eyes to things that need attention. It is here He makes us aware of those things we try to hide from others.” Henri Nouwen describes solitude as a place to get rid of scaffolding that holds us up: no friends to talk to, no telephones, on meetings, not even music, no books except the Bible. Just us, naked, vulnerable, weak, sinful, deprived, broken, nothing. It is in this nothingness that I have to face my solitude. So much nothingness that all I want to do is run my friends, work, my phone. It hurts. Psalm 139:23 -24 (NKJV) “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. 

2. Trusting the Lord Completely: The Discipline of Surrender. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Though it has been used and re-used the fact remains that God is inviting us in all of our ways, in everything we are doing or hoping to do, that we should trust Him with all of hearts. Easy to say but hard to do. If we have a determined purpose, like Paul, to become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Jesus, we cannot do our own thing or try to work out the details of our own lives. We must trust Him fully.

Paul has so much to say about the death, the burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

 In 1 Corinthians 15:17-20 (NKJV)  “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead.”

Can we establish during this time that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ that He is absolutely, positively alive and we know that because He lives in us! Our identity is found in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

We hopefully identify with Him in His death as Paul said about himself; Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)  ^“ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” We have been crucified with Christ which means we have died to self and now live because of Jesus in us. We deny ourselves, take up our cross, and we follow Him or we are not His disciples. We are buried with Him which is beautifully symbolized in water baptism as we go under the water…we are literally separated from life. We are dead and buried with Christ.

But the best news ever is that we are benefactors of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Again Paul says in Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)  ^“ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Guess what? Paul experienced the resurrection power of Jesus and you and I can too! Do we really want to know Him and do we really want the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwelling inside of us? Jesus and Holy Spirit are available to all who are hungry for His presence and power! Go after all God has for you during this Easter season!