Going All In For God

Going All In For God

By: Joe Mack Cherry

Text: Mat. 13:44-46

I. Introduction

A. Textual Background

1. Read Matt 13:34-36 / Psa. 78:2

2. Jesus was speaking parables to the multitude.

a. Seed and the different types of ground it might fall on when sown.

b. Enemy who sowed tares in the field

c. Kingdom of heaven likened unto a mustard seed

d. Kingdom of heaven likened unto leaven

3. He goes inside and speaks to his disciples.

B. Read the text

44 “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.” 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

II. Body

A. Parable One – The Hidden Treasure

1. Why is the Kingdom of Heaven a Treasure?

a. Kingdom of Heaven is Gospel

i. Salvation

ii. Forgiveness

iii. Fellowship with others

iv. Heaven

b. There are so many other treasures buried in the gospel.

2. The treasure was hidden but once discovered the man re-hid it and went immediately and sold everything to procure it.

a. This treasure is not a single ring, a necklace, or even a chest full of gold deblooms.

b. The indication here refers to something the magnitude of a gold mine.

c. He went all in to procure this field immediately.

B. Parable Two – The Pearl of Great Price

1. Analogy of the Pearl being formed at the discomfort of the oyster

a. Starts as a grain of sand or something that causes irritation

b. The oyster secretes nacre (mother of pearl) which surrounds the irritant

c. Usually takes 6-7 years of constant secretion to produce a pearl in nature.

d. It had great value just as the hidden treasure in the previous verse.

2. The merchant is the focus in the second parable, and we are to emulate him in that he immediately went and sold all he had to own the pearl.

a. He knew the worth of the pearl.

b. He didn’t balk at the price.

c. He went all in to procure it.

d. Jesus gave His life to purchase our salvation.

C. What are we willing to give up (our payment) to attain the Kingdom of Heaven?

3. Lk 9:23 – “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow after me. For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

a. The cross in the first century time was a symbol of a horrible death and shame.

b. The cross today carries another meaning when we look at it from the aspect it being the symbol of salvation.

c. Today, we must die to self. This is our application to the parables we’re discussing.

i. Rich Young Ruler – Matt. 19:16-29

ii. What stands between us and eternal life. Anything that comes before God.

iii. Mk. 8:36 – “What does it profit a man if gains the whole world and loses his own soul?”

III. Closing

A. “Going all in”

1. A term that is used in poker.

a. When a person goes all in, he wagers all he has.

b. Poker is the epitome of gambling. You can lose everything you have.

c. When a person goes all in for God, he never loses!

B. Why Can We Trust God and Go All in?

1. God has many names.

2. Each name has a significant meaning and depicts a certain characteristic of Him.

3. Adonai – Hebrew word plural used for God (encompassing the Trinity)

a. The singular form “Adon” refers to a master who owns slaves.

b. With this ownership comes with responsibility.

c. God will watch after us as much as we will let Him.

4. When Sarah referred to Abraham as “lord” the Greek word for Lord was Kyrios which is equivalent to the Hebrew word Adon. I Pet. 3:6

5. This is the same concept regarding Husbands and Wives

a. Eph. 5:22

b. Col. 3:18

c. Men have the responsibility of ownership not just dominion.

C. Faith is the key element to giving up oneself completely.

1. It is not natural to just submit.

a. We all strive to be self-sufficient.

b. We view submission as a sign of weakness, not strength.

c. We waste years of our lives sometime before we submit to the idea of faith equals strength, not weakness.

2. We live in fear of the anticipation of losing it all.

a. I don’t want to give up my money.