Finding the Precious Pearl
Are You Salty?
*SALT – that which gives Liveliness.
*Liveliness – full of life. Full of energy. Active. Alert. Up to date. Fresh.
“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.” ( Mark 9:49-50)
*We will be refined by fire. There is no exception, all have to go through it.
*Jesus used parables to communicate principles of the Kingdom of God. He said Each believer’s life should have the same impact on his or her world as salt has on food.
* Salt gives food Flavor and brings out the Best, while at the same time it serves as a Preservative.
*What allows a Christian to become salty? Fire!!!!
* God knows that each believer needs a degree of testing by fire in order for Christ’s Fragrance to be manifested.
* We cannot become salty without this deeper work of the Holy Spirit’s fire in our lives.
*Fire purifies all that is not of Christ.
*Fire takes away all the impurities that prevent His nature from being revealed in us.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be Proved genuine and may Result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is Revealed (1 Peter 1:6-7).
*Pray that God makes you a salty Christian. It will result in praise and glory at the throne of God.
God desires us to have His abundant Life right now, even in the midst of overwhelming trials and circumstances. ****But we will only experience that abundant life when WE become willing to exchange God’s Life for our Own Life.
” So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love…..”
Revelation 3:18-19
Salt is what made the Old Testament Incense pure and holy before God.
* It also symbolizes God’s eternal covenant with His people.
** Putting these 2 together, when Jesus told His disciples to have salt in themselves because at the end of the age everyone will be tested (salted) with fire, Jesus was in fact telling them that in whatever they do, they must have Jesus as their Foundation and MOTIVE in everything.
*It is through Christ Jesus that we Stand Pure and Holy before God, and it is through Christ Jesus that our Eternal Covenant with God is established.
*When struggling against sin, we are to do it not for ourselves, to promote our self-righteousness, but for Jesus, to bring Glory to His righteousness.
When I watch or listen to the Media I Personally Feel most of Americans idea of freedom has come to mean tolerance and acceptance of almost anything and everything. But this is not freedom. We are becoming slaves.
I’m thinking of the old Bob Dylan tune, You Gotta Serve Somebody. I’m going to make it really black and white. You’re either serving sin, or you’re serving Christ. That said, (speaking and learning from experience here) Real Freedom is ONLY going to be found IN Christ, certainly not in sin (Col. 2:9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.).
* But we are quickly becoming a society void of Christ. And in that, our search for freedom is in vain.
The blessings of redeeming love our Saviour compared to a precious pearl. He illustrated His lesson by the parable of the merchant man seeking goodly pearls “who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”(Matt. 13).
* Christ Himself is the pearl of great price. In Him is gathered all the glory of the Father, the fullness of the Godhead. *Christ is the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of His person.
*Once you find Jesus(beautiful pearl) you give everything up for Him.
God is everything that you need, and more.
The glory of the attributes of God is expressed in His character.
* EVERY page of the Holy Scriptures shines with His light. The righteousness of Christ, as a pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain.
** NO work of MAN can improve the great and precious gift of God.
**** Holy Scripture is without a flaw. In Christ are “hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3.
*He is “made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30.
All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world and for the world to come, is found in Christ.
Our Redeemer is the pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss.
Men will discern the value of the precious pearl, and with the apostle Paul they will say, “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:7, 8.
The gospel of Christ is a blessing that all may possess. The poorest are as well able as the richest to purchase salvation; for NO amount of worldly wealth can secure it.
Salvation is obtained by willing obedience, by giving ourselves to Christ as His own purchased possession.
True riches does not come from material possession, but from Jesus himself. Our sin is worn like clothing, but Jesus can remove it completely and WE can be completely cleansed. True revelation and understanding comes from him.
As we know so well–the only way to have a strong relationship with anyone is to spend TIME with them in order to get to know them. Often, we find ourselves pursuing the earthly things, including ministry, and neglecting our relationship with God.
Just Think— When we first became Christians, we had the zeal of first love. We couldn’t wait to TELL others about Jesus and our new found relationship. We were eager to spend time in His word and prayer.
The church belongs to Jesus. We are called to minister on His behalf, however, we need to maintain our relationship with Him FIRST. Otherwise, our ministry becomes a human effort. Fill yourself with Holy Spirit and minister out of the Overflow of His LOVE and POWER.
Whats worse than being blind? Having sight but no vision -helen keller
*Whats the real issue…vision or obedience? Can we allow our vision to grow and change?
*Vision without Action is just A Delusion!
Father, forgive me for being so self-centered thinking I can do it myself. What I truly need can only come from You(Precious Pearl). Help me to be more focused on what you have to offer and not on what the world offers me. Help me to depend more on you and not on myself. True satisfaction comes from you alone. Thank You Jesus for Your patience and Your Unfailing LOVE!!
Amen!