Matthew 13:44-46Matthew 13:44-46

44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

Matthew 13:44-46Matthew 13:44-46

ALL-IN FOR THE KING?

Hardin Valley Church of Christ

December 19, 2010

Christmas Lesson? Not Exactly…

State Champs? State Champs? Maybe a little… Maybe a little…

But Playing Poker?

All In for the Kingdom!Mt. 13:44-46

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Mt. 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be

my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

God Already Went “All In” for Us!• God sent a part of himself to come to earth and

live as a man …• Lk 1:30-31 - But the angel said to her, “…You will

conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”

• Jn 1:1,14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

…for the specific purpose of dying in our place!• Rom 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were

still sinners, Christ died for us.

Paul Lived “All In” for the KingGal. 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Phil. 3:7-8 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the

sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…

How do we live “All In” for the King?

Know we don’t have the winning hand on our own• No matter how hard we try, we can’t be good enough!• Phil 3:9 – …not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the

law, but that which is through faith in Christ…

Know that In Christ the game is won• Jn 16:33 – “… in me you may have peace. In this world you will have

trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”• There is no doubt! We have to believe it fully!• 2 Tim 1:12 – “… I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he

is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”

Eustace: “No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do it on my own …”

How do we live “All In” for the King?

• Don’t let Satan bluff us that he has a better hand• Everything the world has to offer is cheap and temporary• 2 Cor 4:18 – So we fix our eyes on not what is seen, but what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

• Don’t lose focus – keep our eyes on the King• Commitment can wane when we are distracted from the prize• Heb12:2-3 – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus … so that you will not grow

weary and lose heart.”

When We Are All In …

Rom. 8:28-39

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him …

If God is for us who can be against us?

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors.

It’s All Good!