New Hope Notes

All In
Primetime

Pastor Aaron Cordeiro
August 29, 2010 - W1035

 

 

All In

Primetime

 

Pastor Aaron Cordeiro

August 29, 2010  W1035

 

 

In life we go through ups and downs.  Today we will talk about an All In Faith.  We live in the kingdom of this world and at the same time in the Kingdom of God.

 

In reality we have two kingdoms working against each other because of the Man’s world in which we live and the day to day situation we are in. For those who follow Christ, we enter the Kingdom of Heaven but still remain on this place called Earth and so we have to live in both kingdoms. 

 

Sometimes our thinking and perspectives get a little mixed up and we wrestle with ourselves.

When we are people in the Kingdom of God and have - not just any faith - but a faith that is ALL IN then the Bible will truly speak to us but some of us are at different levels of our faith. 

 

Parables are stories that Jesus would use when teaching.  Jesus would use different parables so you and I could discover the deepest truths of the Kingdom of God.   So why would He speak in parables? To reveal the hidden truths from the foundations of the world. 

 

The Bible says there are things about the Kingdom that will develop our faith.  There are divine treasures in the kingdom.  There are certain truths that we need to understand. Jesus spoke to His disciples and said that the mysteries have been giving to them, but for some, understanding has not been granted. So blessed are the eyes that see and the ears that hear.

 

Parables will be given to you and me and blessed is our eyes for they shall see, and our ears for they shall hear.  What Jesus was saying was that God will give us treasures when we come, but we must earnestly seek them. As the Bible says, "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." (Matt.13:44-46) In other words, we should seek God and totally commit to Him.

The Bible says that when our soul prospers, everything else will follow suit. When we take the time to grow our faith, we grow from glory to glory. We get better and better. We really can.

The Bible says that seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all His blessings will be given to you.  Jesus explained that there is a type of faith that is so valuable, so treasured, and so precious that it warrants giving up everything in order to gain it. 

 

QUALITIES OF A TREASURED FAITH

 

Some of us have a …

  1. ONCE IN A WHILE FAITH.

The Bible advises, "Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress." (1 Tim. 4:15) But some of us demonstrate our faith only sometimes. At other times we behave as if we have not faith, but God wants us to be faithful all the time. In every task, we are supposed to give a full effort.

  1. WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME FAITH.

Sometimes we behave faithful only if we think there will be a reward. We sometimes ask God for a reward in return for our faithfulness but the Bible says, "Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." (Phil. 2:4)

  1. ALL IN FAITH.

An All In Faith is a faith that is constant and forever. It is a faith that is strong without a thought of reward. It is a total commitment to God without any reservation.

The Bible says that troubles will come to you but "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 Pet. 1:7)

Life at its best is a faith that is growing.

 

In understanding the parables we can go as deep as we want or as shallow, but we are encouraged to go deep.  God’s faithfulness is amazing.  It warrants an ALL IN FAITH!

 

 

Discussion Suggestions:

 

  1. What kingdoms do we live in?
  2. Why do some people have a once in while faith?
  3. Why do some people have a what’s in it for me faith?
  4. How can we achieve or enhance our All In faith?