Sometimes, even when enjoying something good, we hunger for more. It isn’t that what we have is not good, but we know that there is better. There are times in life that we hunger for more. We may have a good life, but we know that God has more for us. This desire and hunger can consume us. We have had good services and good worship, but we know that there is more. Bro. Hughes explains that he is hungry for something that cannot be explained. There are times when God pours himself out and all we can do is say “thank you!” It is easy to look at the times in which we live and know that there is something missing. Never have we had so much, but still needed so much. We have lost something in the process of living. Not standards or traditions. What we have lost is not something that we can buy at a store. What many of us have lost is desire. We experience success in life and business, but we lack a desire for something more. Something is missing from life and we do not even seem to be aware of it. There are things that are more important than the trivial things that we often pursue. There is nothing wrong with reaching goals but are we reaching the right goals? Are we pursuing temporal things when we should be working toward eternal things? In our text, Jesus compared the kingdom of God not just to good things, but the best pearl. There was a focused intent by the man in our story. People may describe something as the best based on their perception. To some Taco Bell is the best Mexican Food. It all depends on our perception. If we eat enough junk food, we can come to think that it is okay. We can live with enough junk in life that we can think that it is okay. Junk is still junk! Too many of us have become satisfied with lesser things by telling ourselves that it is the best. We cannot settle for less than the best. Not physical things. Some people live with too much junk in their spiritual life. In our text, there was something in this man’s life that pulled him to the best. In biblical times, the pearl was the most valued gem. The pearl represents getting past the irritants and aggravations in life. The beautiful pearl is the result overcoming things. The man in our text was looking for the pearl. He knew what he was looking for. He was not just randomly looking for his purpose, he was purposed looking for the goodly pearl. Because he was living with purpose, he found his purpose. We cannot find our purpose, we will live into our purpose. When we live with direction and intent in life, we will work into our purpose. The merchant in our story had more than desire, he had direction. He was not just wandering, he set out to find what he desired. Too many people do not have direction in life. They just move from place to place chasing things that do not matter. Keeping up with the Jones’ is a path to nowhere. The things we acquire in this world will rust and fade. All of the things that we are concerned about in this life will burn up in a fervent heat. The pursuits we have to the eternal will carry on forever. God help us to make wise decisions. Help us to seek good counsel in times of trouble. The man in our story had made decisions that, in turn, made decisions for him. He had set out to find the best, and that led him to reject things that were less than the best. He was not worried about what he did not want to do, because he knew what he wanted to do. We have to make decisions that set us on a course for the best. We get what we seek. If we seek less than the best, that is what we will find. Our merchant found the best and recognized it. That indicates that he had discernment. When we eat something, if it doesn’t taste right we spit it out. If we don’t we risk getting sick. We have to have spiritual discernment too. If we allow bad things into our spiritual life, we can easily become sick. We have to have spiritual discernment. To find the best, we must seek the best. To find the best, we have to be purposeful. To find the best we must able to recognize the best. The last thing that we observe about our merchant: When he found the best, he sold all that he had and bought it. Too many of us can seek the best, find the best, but we do not want to pay the price. It costs to have the best. It it takes everything, we must give everything. That is how the best can be found.

Sometimes, even when enjoying something good, we hunger for more. It isn’t that what we have is not good, but we know that there is better. There are times in life that we hunger for more. We may have a good life, but we know that God has more for us. This desire and hunger can consume us. We have had good services and good worship, but we know that there is more. Bro. Hughes explains that he is hungry for something that cannot be explained. There are times when God pours himself out and all we can do is say “thank you!” It is easy to look at the times in which we live and know that there is something missing. Never have we had so much, but still needed so much. We have lost something in the process of living. Not standards or traditions. What we have lost is not something that we can buy at a store. What many of us have lost is desire. We experience success in life and business, but we lack a desire for something more. Something is missing from life and we do not even seem to be aware of it. There are things that are more important than the trivial things that we often pursue. There is nothing wrong with reaching goals but are we reaching the right goals? Are we pursuing temporal things when we should be working toward eternal things? In our text, Jesus compared the kingdom of God not just to good things, but the best pearl. There was a focused intent by the man in our story. People may describe something as the best based on their perception. To some Taco Bell is the best Mexican Food. It all depends on our perception. If we eat enough junk food, we can come to think that it is okay. We can live with enough junk in life that we can think that it is okay. Junk is still junk! Too many of us have become satisfied with lesser things by telling ourselves that it is the best. We cannot settle for less than the best. Not physical things. Some people live with too much junk in their spiritual life. In our text, there was something in this man’s life that pulled him to the best. In biblical times, the pearl was the most valued gem. The pearl represents getting past the irritants and aggravations in life. The beautiful pearl is the result overcoming things. The man in our text was looking for the pearl. He knew what he was looking for. He was not just randomly looking for his purpose, he was purposed looking for the goodly pearl. Because he was living with purpose, he found his purpose. We cannot find our purpose, we will live into our purpose. When we live with direction and intent in life, we will work into our purpose. The merchant in our story had more than desire, he had direction. He was not just wandering, he set out to find what he desired. Too many people do not have direction in life. They just move from place to place chasing things that do not matter. Keeping up with the Jones’ is a path to nowhere. The things we acquire in this world will rust and fade. All of the things that we are concerned about in this life will burn up in a fervent heat. The pursuits we have to the eternal will carry on forever. God help us to make wise decisions. Help us to seek good counsel in times of trouble. The man in our story had made decisions that, in turn, made decisions for him. He had set out to find the best, and that led him to reject things that were less than the best. He was not worried about what he did not want to do, because he knew what he wanted to do. We have to make decisions that set us on a course for the best. We get what we seek. If we seek less than the best, that is what we will find. Our merchant found the best and recognized it. That indicates that he had discernment. When we eat something, if it doesn’t taste right we spit it out. If we don’t we risk getting sick. We have to have spiritual discernment too. If we allow bad things into our spiritual life, we can easily become sick. We have to have spiritual discernment. To find the best, we must seek the best. To find the best, we have to be purposeful. To find the best we must able to recognize the best. The last thing that we observe about our merchant: When he found the best, he sold all that he had and bought it. Too many of us can seek the best, find the best, but we do not want to pay the price. It costs to have the best. It it takes everything, we must give everything. That is how the best can be found.

We will all weather storms. Like the disciples in our text tonight, we will never weather a storm without Him being there. We often fail to recognize when He is there, but he still bids us: Be of Good Cheer. When they heard “It is I”, they all knew who it was. On land “it is I” could be anyone, but on the water it could only be Jesus. Peter jumped out of the boat in the middle of the storm. Peter knew that if he was speaking with Jesus, anything was possible. Peter would not have left the boat for just anyone, he would only have done it for Jesus. In other conditions, any of them may have jumped over the edge. On a calm day they might have reasoned that they could swim back. But at three in the morning and in a roaring sea, Peter took a leap of faith. Many of us are waiting for the perfect moment and conditions to make a leap of faith. If we wait for the enemy to rest, or the storm clouds to clear, we will wait for a long time. The bible tells us that Jesus was passing by. The disciples called out to Him. Peter was the only one to ask to come. There must come a moment that the fear of missing Jesus is greater than the fear of the storm. Peter’s greatest struggle and his greatest quality was his impetuous nature. On this night, that impulsive action led to one of his greatest victories. How many times has Jesus bid us come and we remained still? Jesus is looking for people who will not question or negotiate. He is looking for people to respond and come to Him. The real danger that night was remaining in the boat. Peter was a man of the sea. He had encountered storms before. He knew that the boat might be lost. He also knew that going to Jesus would be safer than staying with the ship. As soon as Peter started walking, we might think that the other disciples would be climbing over the side, but none did. Even if none of the others in the boat with us go, we must get to Jesus. Some would say that Peter failed that night because he began to sink. Peter was close enough that Jesus reached out and lifted him up and they walked back to the ship together. It is okay to step out of our comfort zone, because none of the others got to experience what Peter did that day. The others may even have been jealous. They may have looked back on that day and thought what if? God is looking for people who are tired of being in the boat. God sees the storm we are in. It may seem as if He is far off, but He is there. In the midst of our circumstance, He is there. We need to call out to Him: Bid me come!

We will all weather storms. Like the disciples in our text tonight, we will never weather a storm without Him being there. We often fail to recognize when He is there, but he still bids us: Be of Good Cheer. When they heard “It is I”, they all knew who it was. On land “it is I” could be anyone, but on the water it could only be Jesus. Peter jumped out of the boat in the middle of the storm. Peter knew that if he was speaking with Jesus, anything was possible. Peter would not have left the boat for just anyone, he would only have done it for Jesus. In other conditions, any of them may have jumped over the edge. On a calm day they might have reasoned that they could swim back. But at three in the morning and in a roaring sea, Peter took a leap of faith. Many of us are waiting for the perfect moment and conditions to make a leap of faith. If we wait for the enemy to rest, or the storm clouds to clear, we will wait for a long time. The bible tells us that Jesus was passing by. The disciples called out to Him. Peter was the only one to ask to come. There must come a moment that the fear of missing Jesus is greater than the fear of the storm. Peter’s greatest struggle and his greatest quality was his impetuous nature. On this night, that impulsive action led to one of his greatest victories. How many times has Jesus bid us come and we remained still? Jesus is looking for people who will not question or negotiate. He is looking for people to respond and come to Him. The real danger that night was remaining in the boat. Peter was a man of the sea. He had encountered storms before. He knew that the boat might be lost. He also knew that going to Jesus would be safer than staying with the ship. As soon as Peter started walking, we might think that the other disciples would be climbing over the side, but none did. Even if none of the others in the boat with us go, we must get to Jesus. Some would say that Peter failed that night because he began to sink. Peter was close enough that Jesus reached out and lifted him up and they walked back to the ship together. It is okay to step out of our comfort zone, because none of the others got to experience what Peter did that day. The others may even have been jealous. They may have looked back on that day and thought what if? God is looking for people who are tired of being in the boat. God sees the storm we are in. It may seem as if He is far off, but He is there. In the midst of our circumstance, He is there. We need to call out to Him: Bid me come!

Societal change happens slowly over time. There are things that are commonplace now in our life that not so long ago would have ever been considered. The change happens incrementally and slowly. One of these is the degradation of men. Popular culture and television portrays men as lazy, incompetent and stupid. Television shows do this in a humorous way but over time, men are seen as disconnected and who has no clue about reality. The expectation of manhood are being lowered every year. The current definition of manhood is very different from the description of manhood in the bible. The new normal of manhood is that we are buffoons. Society accepts this new norm. Our text in II Samuel depicts a man according to God. David’s mighty men were a long list of heroic characters. Bro. Hughes focuses on Benaiah. Benaiah was himself the descendant of might men. He slew lions and might warriors. The bible also notes that he was an honorable man even above the others. His name is unique. It means “the God built man.” What does a God built man look like? First, he was a man of great courage. He was undaunted about what he faced in life. Beniah faced things that were overwhelming, but he faced them head on. Beniah was not afraid to work and fight. The challenges that Beniah faced made him the man that he was. Our text mentions lions twice. Once was men who were compared to lions and the other was an actual line in a pit. Lions devour. Benaiah face things that would devour him and his family. He was a man that had the courage to face the daily assaults on him and his family. It was courage in the face of great odds. Our world places great odds against the Godly man. We need men who are not afraid to face life head on and take their cues from God. No one encouraged Benaiah, he did it of his own convictions. We do not get to choose the things that come against us and our family, we only get to choose how we respond. We need men who can face frightening things without being afraid. We need men who can face the lions of the day with courage. We need men who will go to the enemy in his own territory and slay him with his own sword. A God built man does the best he can where his is with what he has. Success in life is dependant on where we stand. Our success is dependant on us understanding on who we are: A God built man.

Societal change happens slowly over time. There are things that are commonplace now in our life that not so long ago would have ever been considered. The change happens incrementally and slowly. One of these is the degradation of men. Popular culture and television portrays men as lazy, incompetent and stupid. Television shows do this in a humorous way but over time, men are seen as disconnected and who has no clue about reality. The expectation of manhood are being lowered every year. The current definition of manhood is very different from the description of manhood in the bible. The new normal of manhood is that we are buffoons. Society accepts this new norm. Our text in II Samuel depicts a man according to God. David’s mighty men were a long list of heroic characters. Bro. Hughes focuses on Benaiah. Benaiah was himself the descendant of might men. He slew lions and might warriors. The bible also notes that he was an honorable man even above the others. His name is unique. It means “the God built man.” What does a God built man look like? First, he was a man of great courage. He was undaunted about what he faced in life. Beniah faced things that were overwhelming, but he faced them head on. Beniah was not afraid to work and fight. The challenges that Beniah faced made him the man that he was. Our text mentions lions twice. Once was men who were compared to lions and the other was an actual line in a pit. Lions devour. Benaiah face things that would devour him and his family. He was a man that had the courage to face the daily assaults on him and his family. It was courage in the face of great odds. Our world places great odds against the Godly man. We need men who are not afraid to face life head on and take their cues from God. No one encouraged Benaiah, he did it of his own convictions. We do not get to choose the things that come against us and our family, we only get to choose how we respond. We need men who can face frightening things without being afraid. We need men who can face the lions of the day with courage. We need men who will go to the enemy in his own territory and slay him with his own sword. A God built man does the best he can where his is with what he has. Success in life is dependant on where we stand. Our success is dependant on us understanding on who we are: A God built man.

There is a common phrase to explain our uncertainty about a situation: God only knows. Scripture tells us that is literal truth. God knows all. He taught the sun how to shine each day. He placed all the mountains and all the stars and planets. God knows all things. What a comfort to know that the God we worship is the same God who knows all things from the beginning to the end. As humans we become frustrated not knowing. We want to see before we believe. We do not like to walk into uncharted territory. We serve a God that not only knows the way, but is the way. We have trouble some time stepping out in faith. In Jeremiah, we read that “I know the plans I have for you.” Sometimes we wonder “what is God thinking?” Because we are more comfortable with things we can control, but the problem is that some trust more in what man can do over what God can do. Humankind has made great advances and discoveries in the realm of engineering, medicine and technology. Even so, all that man has done pales in comparison to what God knows. Nothing surprises God. He is not worried about what we will do tomorrow, He already knows. We need to quit listening to what man tells us, and go back to His word and read what God knows.

There is a common phrase to explain our uncertainty about a situation: God only knows. Scripture tells us that is literal truth. God knows all. He taught the sun how to shine each day. He placed all the mountains and all the stars and planets. God knows all things. What a comfort to know that the God we worship is the same God who knows all things from the beginning to the end. As humans we become frustrated not knowing. We want to see before we believe. We do not like to walk into uncharted territory. We serve a God that not only knows the way, but is the way. We have trouble some time stepping out in faith. In Jeremiah, we read that “I know the plans I have for you.” Sometimes we wonder “what is God thinking?” Because we are more comfortable with things we can control, but the problem is that some trust more in what man can do over what God can do. Humankind has made great advances and discoveries in the realm of engineering, medicine and technology. Even so, all that man has done pales in comparison to what God knows. Nothing surprises God. He is not worried about what we will do tomorrow, He already knows. We need to quit listening to what man tells us, and go back to His word and read what God knows.

Lot was given a choice. He looked around and chose the greener grass. He chose the already developed area. The reputation of Sodom and Gomorrah were known, and Lot chose to live near these wicked cities. Lot made a choice to live near a sinful place and believed that he could do that and not be affected by the sin. He never intended to live in Sodom, but he wanted to live close enough to enjoy the benefits of living by a large city. Lot’s best of intentions got the better of him as eventually by chapter 14 he and his family were living in Sodom. He set out to live in a safe place, but by living too close to Sodom, he sowed the seeds of his family’s destruction. He no doubt tried to intensify his devotions and prayer, but over time, he and his family became complacent with the sinful nature of their neighbors. Complacency turned to indifference and indifference led to acceptance. They did not participate in the sin, but they became comfortable with the sin of others. God had compassion on Lot and sent angels to save them ahead of the pending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot is not much different than us. It is not so much taking the easy way out. We think we are making the best decisions, but we do not get to where we need to be. Lot set out for Zoar, but settled in Sodom. With death at their door, they lingered. Lot and his family surely knew what they should do, but they lingered. When it bothered them how the sodomites lived, they lingered. When the angels of forced them to leave, they lingered. As they ran to salvation, Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. She was saved but looked back to her old life. She knew what she should do, but longed for her old life. Lot and his family knew God’s plan, but little by little, they allowed their sinful environment to dilute the divine message. Lot’s wife is an example that it does not matter where our feet are, it matters what we are looking toward. She was free. She had her husband and daughters with her. She was safe, but something in her longed for her old life in Sodom. Sodom had a hold on her. Like Lot’s wife it does not matter where we are standing, it matters where we are looking. We can be standing in freedom but still not be free.

Lot was given a choice. He looked around and chose the greener grass. He chose the already developed area. The reputation of Sodom and Gomorrah were known, and Lot chose to live near these wicked cities. Lot made a choice to live near a sinful place and believed that he could do that and not be affected by the sin. He never intended to live in Sodom, but he wanted to live close enough to enjoy the benefits of living by a large city. Lot’s best of intentions got the better of him as eventually by chapter 14 he and his family were living in Sodom. He set out to live in a safe place, but by living too close to Sodom, he sowed the seeds of his family’s destruction. He no doubt tried to intensify his devotions and prayer, but over time, he and his family became complacent with the sinful nature of their neighbors. Complacency turned to indifference and indifference led to acceptance. They did not participate in the sin, but they became comfortable with the sin of others. God had compassion on Lot and sent angels to save them ahead of the pending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot is not much different than us. It is not so much taking the easy way out. We think we are making the best decisions, but we do not get to where we need to be. Lot set out for Zoar, but settled in Sodom. With death at their door, they lingered. Lot and his family surely knew what they should do, but they lingered. When it bothered them how the sodomites lived, they lingered. When the angels of forced them to leave, they lingered. As they ran to salvation, Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. She was saved but looked back to her old life. She knew what she should do, but longed for her old life. Lot and his family knew God’s plan, but little by little, they allowed their sinful environment to dilute the divine message. Lot’s wife is an example that it does not matter where our feet are, it matters what we are looking toward. She was free. She had her husband and daughters with her. She was safe, but something in her longed for her old life in Sodom. Sodom had a hold on her. Like Lot’s wife it does not matter where we are standing, it matters where we are looking. We can be standing in freedom but still not be free.