Get It? Got It? Good!, Part 2

Today on Insight for living from Chuck Swindoll.

Somewhere in this great world of our neural goals coming to Christ, you might look back and so you know it's I picture all of this in my mind I realize the Lord found he found by his greens. He came to my rescue and what an incomparable change has happened as a result. Start with the question what is the kingdom of heaven is an actual place destination or is the kingdom of heaven. No state of mind, or even the choice we make. Most of us would agree that the kingdom of heaven evokes mystery and intrigue, but we're hard-pressed to find today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll points to several references in Matthew's gospel where Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven. In these moments, we get a glimpse of the glory to calm Chuck titled today's message got it good with me, will you, and as we follow. If you've never trusted in Christ. This is your moment right prayer sitting receive Christ the gift of God accept him as your own Savior. Thank you father for your faithful incessant consistent leadership never leading us in the places we shouldn't go, but always where we should go helping us in the process to understand along the way while you were doing that and the things you were teaching us in the process. Some sit in this room today afraid and of all we had to go on the evening news. We all have reason to tremble.

World has never been more chaotic.

Our nation awash adrift, not just spiritually but culturally the fences is been removed, the boundaries it changed the rules if there are any or confusing the young and older like and yet you were there faithfully incessantly consistently leading us you have led us to this place today to worship and how privileged we are to be in this place, protected from the elements comfortable a Bible in our lab truth placed their for us to understand and apply, maybe not waste these privileged moments. Lord, thank you letters here. In fact, all the way our Savior leads guiding us with your eye upon us, we remember that this day our father and we also remember those who have been led into battle fighting is fierce is treacherous. Perhaps more brutal than ever. The enemy is hard to find often hidden, treacherously deceitful, protect our men and women in uniform, the hearts of their family members and how we pray for safe return.

Finally, Lord I pray that you will live.

Guide us in the giving of our gifts. This ministry cannot continue without the faithful contributions of your people. May we be generous today. May we be unafraid, willing to risk even larger amounts and we have normally given knowing that you will watch over and care for your we worship you today Lord and we love you as we love.

No other we set our hearts on you as we concentrate on things that matter and as we give our gifts for the purpose of making your truth known more broadly that it could be known without these gifts, it's in the name of Jesus paid it all. We pray everyone said Matthew to download his searching the Scriptures.

Studies by going to Insight world.org/studies another message from Chuck titled get it. Got it good when you get to verse 24 he tells another story on this one is about week and we of all things that I never heard this story before, though they have seen it through their lives, but he has a story to tell him so they can understand how right and wrong grow up together because the weeds would give a poisonous green were as the fleet nourishing product rather than talking about shirking out the weeds early and grow together, you're curious about that, but right and wrong continue then what he doesn't tell he doesn't interpret that story you got to verse 36 look at the verse in Matthew 13 we read, leaving the crowds outside Jesus went into the house with his disciples.

Now he knows everybody and is already earlier.

He didn't know most of them are many people that Lakeshore that he had never met. They listened. He interpreted them story but he comes into the house and is 12 are there within. I can imagine them as they look at him and say in the verse 36 what in the world with Wheaton weeds about what you mean about Jesus doesn't rebuke him.

He never changed his audience.

He never makes you feel uncomfortable because you don't get it unless you don't care if you care and don't get it will help you they want to know really you remember last time we were together. Well, the farmers, the settlement in the field is the cosmos. The world system. The seed represents people of righteousness. The bad seed represents the wicked the enemy who planted the weeds. None other than the devil.

And then there is the harvest which is the end of the world and there are the harvesters the Angels who separate the righteous from the unrighteous.

There is much dialogue there because the story of the unrighteous is a very sad ending. We read in verse 42, the Angels throw them into the fiery furnace for there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth is read back into the disciples centuries of time we give them credit for knowing things that I don't believe they put together yet. I think their jaws often dropped open as he told him what he had to tell the sea what he says at the end of verse 43 and I said to everyone of you.

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand what wise counsel Jesus now has their attention on the edge of their seat as it were, that your pencil ready and ready and have you marked something that's mentioned for time in the words that follow 44 the kingdom of heaven is like 45 the kingdom of heaven is like verse 47.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like no is not a parable but a challenge. Nevertheless, the words appear in verse 52. The kingdom of heaven is like. Trust me on this anytime.

Jesus uses the same phrase again and again and again we sure it's important when you write an email. You make it PEOPLE say to to us your screaming when Jesus repeats he screaming but is not lifting his voice loudly. He's just getting your attention by the repetition. Now we clarify something because I know there are those of you who are eschatological students you love eschatology you want me to get into the nuances of the end times you want me to go into the kingdom of Christ when he sets up his rule on this earth. When he comes in he takes over and is a thousand year reign. Believe me I know about it. I believe in it with my whole heart. But that's not from going today. If I were teaching the passage simply to give information. I was certainly spent time on that but I'm preaching when you're preacher driving for decision you desire to have people reimagine their lives and make a decision, a response that will make a difference and I think in the disciples case. This might very well been what Jesus had in mind rather than teaching the depths of eschatology so bear with me story the kingdom of heaven is like, and when I read this I'm going to think in terms of salvation while think of the kingdom. I'm thinking of kingdom life, the kind of life Jesus offer life abundantly life and live that is lived in peacefulness with the Holy Spirit residing within a life of power a life of definition, a life that has reason to it and a destiny that is filled with hope. Heaven is our home.

In the meantime, we have the joy of touching other lives for good to encourage them and to equip them with information that could help prepare them for death and for life after death. So I'm suggesting we use these words and that way for the sake of this message. Look at the story. The kingdom of heaven.

Salvation the life of Christ is like a treasure that Amanda discovered hidden in a field in his excitement he hit it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

What on earth is he doing that for you see here we are with a difference of 20 centuries in the first century have been clearly understood. 21st century. You can put treasures in the dirt. But back then they didn't have banks.

They didn't have safe places to deposit their valuables so they put them under the ground that was their bank if you will. It was a place of tracer medicine man in this case stumbles upon something he wasn't looking for your reading.

He discovers a hidden treasure that's in the field he realized that this valuable so that no one else would come and take or that he would lose any part of it. He buys the whole field realizing the value you know what that says to me by way of application.

There are some of us who weren't looking for an eternal answer to life. We were that interested in spiritual things, and we stumbled across an individual who told us about Christ only came across as one man put it, a Bible that I thought was simply a boring book until I opened it and began to read, so he stumbled across the treasurer of the Scriptures, whatever it may have been you may be in this first category you discover a treasure. That's been hidden. Up until now, and you come to know Christ.

The next verse 45.

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant.

He's on the lookout for choice for these different he's not stumbling upon it. He's looking for it. Get it the name Robert Ballard. Most of you do for 14 years.

Robert Ballard spent his time in the boat with very expensive gear things he could send out into the depths as he looked for the Titanic. He was convinced he was near it, but he didn't know exactly where it was and so finally he came across it, some 2 miles deep in the North Atlantic.

There it was, as he put it. This is something I waited for half my life. This man is looking for treasure, not the Titanic but in this case, choice pearls, another analogy with salvation when he discovered the pearly been looking for it and he finds this pearl of great price, great value sold everything he owned and bought. He realized that this is worth everything just as you realized when you came to know Christ. Some of you made a change that was like hundred and 80° you turned away from a life and lifestyle and you have been led in another direction balance of your days because it was such a transforming moment for you. I thought about the rich young ruler mentioned in Matthew chapter 19 Jesus tells them when he ask about how you might tap into this message of Christ is eternal kind of life Jesus told him what it would require a necessity lift and wasn't interested. He was addicted to his possessions, like being rich in bread of the rich.

Then deal with it so how unlike Saul of Tarsus show your passage that reveals the difference in terms of Philippians chapter 3 love these verses. Philippians 3 Paul the apostle is writing but he's writing those days when years earlier. He was Saul of Tarsus lost religious not interested in Christ. But in fact an enemy of Christ and those who follow Christ. He says in Philippians 35 I was circumcised when I was a diesel I am a pure blooded citizen of Israel, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, a real Hebrew if there ever was one. I was a member of the Pharisee's who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish will also sell us that I harshly persecuted the church and as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without I followed it to the very extent and extremes of my life. I once thought these things were valuable.

Notice the difference.

But now but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite God sounds like the pearl of greatest price, the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for his sake.

I discarded that it everything else counting it all is garbage so that I could gain Christ to become one with beautiful testimony back to Matthew 13 some of you have known that kind of salvation experience you are seeking for peace. You were longing for an answer. There was a hole in your heart you could fill with anything else, someone for the grace of God made you aware of the good news of Jesus and is changed to completely but there is yet another part of the story that you need to see verse 47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet of a fishing net if you were to call it by the name we would use here in Texas down down at the Bay areas of South Texas.

It would be a sane net kingdom of heaven is like a like a fishing net that was thrown into the water caught fish of every kind look at this when the net was full. They dragged it all up on him to the shore sat down and sorted the good patient into crates and through the bad ones way. This is about God's sovereign suite in life where he reaches people of all time.

At this moment. Somewhere in this great world of ours.

There are those coming to Christ, you might look back and say you know is I picture all of this in my mind I realize the Lord found me he found me by his grades. He came to my rescue and what an incomparable change is happening as a result, Chuck Swindoll is helping us understand how people submit their lives to Jesus coming from all walks of life. He's teaching from the Gospel according to Matthew chapter 13. This is insight for living learn more about this ministry. Please visit us online@insightworld.org, let me offer some context for our current teaching series for the entire year of 2021. Chuck is guiding us through a verse by verse study through Matthew this is the very first time he shared this series on Insight for living. It's called the King of Kings.

Keep in mind if you missed any portion of this presentation, you can catch up with previous programs by going to insight.org/listen. In addition, you might be surprised to learn. Chuck wrote a biography on the life of Jesus. And if you're looking to get better acquainted with the real Jesus, the one that writers like Matthew described that we highly recommend adding this book to your personal collection is called Jesus. The greatest life of all to purchase a copy right now. Go to insight.org/offer will chuck the gospel writer Matthew spent a lot of time describing a group of first century religious leaders who, in many respects were like spiritual villains stealing joy from those who follow Jesus. The Pharisees were spiritual outlaws.

They were bandits like bank robbers. They had a way of ripping off the treasury of joy. These religious thugs made up all sorts of untenable rules and tight regulations that were impossible to follow and then they look down their noses with pride and disgust when people failed to keep those rules and regulations. Legalism, their first love is an exhausting lifestyle. Plus, it sucks the joy right out of anyone who aspires to a grace filled life well in Matthew chapter 11 Jesus specifically targeted an audience of battle weary warriors who found a legalistic lifestyle impossible to sustain and exhausting when they tried Jesus opened his arms and said to them come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and you will find rest for your souls. The rest that Jesus offered that day and still offers to you and me today is different than you might think. He's not talking about wiping sweat from her brow after your morning jog. He's not offering a vacation or a good nights sleep is far more than that Jesus pinpointed your soul. You see, his invitation penetrates your inner self that mysterious all-important place within us that represents the spiritual core of our being. This is the focal point of everything we do at Insight for living ministries. Our goal is to teach the word of God so that the spirit of God can accomplish what no one else can do we want to see Jesus liberate all who listen to insight for living liberate from the tyranny of religious legalism. And so today I'm appealing to your shared vision to bring men and women around the world to the same place of freedom and grace in Jesus that you and I enjoy you've heard us mention the importance of June 30. Well it's for more than a an accounting deadline God could use your generous donation to deliver his message right into the heart and soul of individuals right now and I can assure you everything you give will allow us to share the good news of Jesus who said come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and you will find rest for your soul.

June 30 is right around the corner. Let me explain how you can respond. Chuck Swindoll right away. The quickest way to get this to go directly to insight.org many prefer using our convenient mobile path process is quite simple.

Speak with one of our ministry representatives by calling us glistening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8880 phone number.

Once again, 1-800-772-8888 or give a contribution today online, go to insight.org Chuck Swindoll explain how Jesus brought his listeners to a point of decision.

More on that Wednesday on Insight for living. The preceding message get it. Got it was copyrighted in 2016 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R.

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