Feb 9 Sermon

Place to go if you want to learn The Parables that Jesus taught.

Matthew 13, I want to go to rise as we read the scripture.

Matthew 13:44 excessive the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then it is joy. He goes and sells all that, he has and buys Garfield. Again, Jesus says, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who owned finding one. Pearl of Great Value went and sold all that he had and bought it. Please be seated.

So here we have an opportunity to be able to consider what Jesus is teaching.

About the kingdom. If I let us both teaching us something that will come in the future. When the whole the kingdom of God is completely on earth, right? But also teaching us about the nature of the kingdom in which we live today as Christians. so,

let's start with a thought experiment.

You're into computers or whatever. Or you just ended up in a thrift shop or a place where they buy used stuff. And you just went through stuff. And like, you just saw this computer that you like with your parents and your like you look at it, it's like 20 bucks it's definitely worth 20 bucks. I'll do something with this. You take it. And your parents buy it for you and then you get home, start up the computer. It's an old computer so you're not expecting much. You just trying to look around. And then there is like the whole thing isn't actors files on it and it's open. There is no password passcodes and everything. So you can see all the files that the previous person have.

To your surprise, you find that there's some crypto in it. And to your surprise, you find that this old old computer has 10,000 Bitcoins in it.

So when I mean, tell me surprised. Who is HBK Bitcoin costing 80? 90 $100,000 now You can easily do the math. That's a billion dollars, almost, if not more.

What would be your reaction?

First of all, definitely worth 20 bucks, right?

Second of all, even your imagination will grow wild. By the way, 10000 Bitcoin is like, what a guy used to buy two peas us at some point in the Bitcoin history. Right before, any transactions with a possible? So it is possible to find that much all at once.

That's basically what Jesus is saying in these two parables.

image, I want you to hold Your your brain fire since like what am I going to do next? Like what am I going to buy? What kind of change is going to happen to my life? What things am I going to? Like what am I even going to speak? Like who am I going to be friends with? Where am I going to move? Maybe even your next idea like what is my future going to be like do I have to really go to college? Now that I'm a billionaire like all of that changes? All of a sudden Imagine, knowing this before you buy the computer. Finding out the truth at the thrift shop. Nobody else knows it's up to you. There's no one to clean the computer.

it's pretty, like, Fair and square. As long as you buy it, it's yours. The first thing you would do with me, make sure to buy it as soon as possible and even if they told you, it will cost, $1,000 know you're willing to pay for it. If you had like, I don't know, 50 bucks and they told you it cost like a hundred and fifty bucks. You might end up trying to figure the other hundred to get me cuz why whatever you move now? You don't even try to keep your cool. Like you might try your best but you might not even be able to keep your cool because of how much this thing matters to you. If you feel like, dude, I thought we were going to go through the scripture, why are we talkin about money? But it doesn't see, it doesn't last team on spiritual worldly. Why do you care about it? Why do you give us this kind of image? I don't give you. This guy is the one who uses imagery, like, money or treasure. to show us what the spiritual nature of the kingdom of God is like

so, The first thing I want us to see in 44 and 45. Is this idea all the way through 46? The first way? Jesus depicts the Kingdom of Heaven. What it is like is hidden treasure. Right. In our case and example that we took a hidden treasure would look like you know, about what's inside the computer, nobody else knows. So it's hidden in plain sight basically but you know information that there's something in it. So an ancient times Jesus talks about how this treasure was buried in the ground. Donation times, people used to put their money and their ground, any Treasures in the ground because there were no banks in, even though there were places where people put their money. Unless you have a huge amount of money, you don't even trust those places where you can put money. So, that the best thing to do and Humane Society, when you don't have bags is, like, Barry your money and treasure, and everything that you value that, that if anybody sees it, they can steal it take it or, you know, claim it as their own. So that's the way it happened, right? So the man Who found this Treasure of this great? We're worse, was not the kind of man who was looking for treasure. Right? You just stumbled upon it, just like an hour. Example, if you want it, I'll just browsing and you found this amazing treasure. And you be like, oh wow, I got to buy this. You wouldn't be looking for it. So do you guys, what's it like this? The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field which a man found and covered up. Then it is Joy. He goes and buys

Wright Lake. If you found a computer worth that much in a Thrift Shop. The first question to ask is why would the owner Give It Up? Right. Well because either the person didn't think it was worth much and they gave it up then they left the last track of it and it's gone. Or because the owner is not around it, he knows the secret, Nobody Knows the secret, you know what I mean? For one reason or the other, the owner is not there, whatever their reason is, they gave it up now because they taught it was a treasure. They want throwing away, it's because they thought either it's worthless or they were not capable of getting back to it, once they found out it's worth. But that works for markets in this world, some things don't have value until they do like Bitcoin. But when it comes to, the kingdom of heaven, is always had worse. Is just a matter of if people can recognize the worth of the Kingdom of Heaven or not.

Mickey truth and not Parable is the Kingdom of Heaven is worth infinitely. More than all the treasures in the world. Everything combined

Only Our God, who is a sovereign God? Can reveal that Kingdom to us. Ozzy desire.

So it's not based on whether we were looking really hard to find this treasure, that God gives us the treasure. But it's based on God's Sovereign, will that he gives us this treasure.

To bring it down to Everyday Life language. This treasure that were talking about is the kingdom of heaven, right? And the kingdom of heaven, translated means god is rain. God's rule, God's Kingdom, right? So there is a king that I Kingdom

so, the king is more important than The kingdom itself. That's why the entire kingdom is subject to the king.

So, we're talking about God's. Rule over life. And we're talking about if we're talking about, what is the treasure in the Kingdom of Heaven? The treasure or the most valuable person in the Kingdom of Heaven is the king of Heaven, who is God So Matthew 6:33 cestus, but seek first, the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, all these thing, and all these things will be added to you. There is a picture in which the kingdom of heaven.

Is so much value. It's worth seeking out the most important thing with your life. When you wake up tomorrow, there are a lot of things that are important that you need to do, starting from brushing your teeth, taking care of your school work. Whatever is important in your life, you got to take care of, right? I'm saying or the the Kingdom of Heaven is depicted in the scriptures. As the only thing that is important in your life is the Kingdom of Heaven. The only thing that is important in your life, the primary thing, that's the only thing you should with all of your heart Pursuit. Is God's rule over your life relationship with God. Obeying God or seeking the righteousness that God gives, that's the only thing you should focus on.

If you're finding it hard to follow, it's okay. But for everyone, that's following. I'm speaking to the person who's listening Don't be distracted by anything.

So Jesus has all the things that you worry about what to eat, what to drink, what to wear, whether you're going to look good wearing some day. Don't worry about it. Go to be friends with influences, whatever, don't worry about first seek the kingdom of God. This most valuable treasure in this life and in the Life to Come.

In fact, if you think of Eternity, have you asked the question? Okay. 100 years, I can imagine keeping myself content in a perfect world for 100 years. Okay? Give you 300 years, you'll be fine. You can enjoy life. What are you going to do like a thousand years later? How about ten thousand How about a million years later? How about a trillion years later?

Are you going to be miserable?

Because just too long. There's nothing to do at that point, there is nothing new. Is that what you're worried about was the reason why that's not going to happen? Is because the Kingdom of Heaven, is a treasure, beyond your imagination. That everything is going to be fresh every second of the day. There's going to be something that will really truly from your heart going to want to make you live forever. And at the center of that is God and him being revealed to us one day at a time.

so Jesus says, don't Imagine anything else seek the kingdom. Now and forever. The kingdom of God is the only thing that's going to make you that's going to fulfill your heart's desire. The kingdom of God is the only thing that's going to be new and interesting all the time and growing and how interesting it is, the more you mature, the more you grow, the more, you know, the more it opens up into something bigger than you can ever imagine. That's because that's the nature of God. Or Roman 311 says, no one understands no one seeks for God yet. And who Grace is teaching us. God reveals himself to those. Who he has chosen.

so, we're talking about,

Whatever you think is valuable in this world.

you're just, Getting by. You're at the level of systems, basically. Or let me put it this way. If you've never as a Christian experience, this experience of when you found Christ,

Everything else faded into the background?

When you found Christ, he became the most important person in your life. When you found Christ, everything you believe, believe about life changed when you found Christ, the reason why you live changed when you found Christ, there was a value that you see in Christ that you do not have anybody else. Simply but your parents would love you. For example, you can imagine the person that loves you the most right now. Ask the question, how much do they know you? Really like the moments that you're not proud of the moments when you're at school or they don't see you or whatever. Do they know you that? Well, they don't write. You can imagine some of the stuff you could forgive me, they can understand. But even with small stuff, they don't understand. Right. Well, imagine a God who sees it all. Who is infinitely? Holy who sings, the how horrible our sins are and still loves you?

Does the treasurer. Christ is? Not only does he love you he chooses to sacrifice himself on our behalf to actually give us life to actually free us from tyranny. Under Cent talks, really free up into a hopeful joyful and internally unending life. A life full of joy and freedom and growth and excitement that never ends. So, this is what Jesus would say. Because it's telling us the Kingdom of Heaven is like a hidden treasure. It's the most valuable thing you can ever imagine.

The second thing, these has the saying is the Kingdom of Heaven can also be represented as a great Pearl. In the second example in the second Parable, there's Parable shift our Focus from a regular person who stumbles upon just like any one of us would stumble upon a valuable treasure to a merchant who is and not Profession of finding out. Great Treasures. Any find this amazing pearl of great value.

I like that man in the field. He knew what he was looking for and he just hadn't found it. So this is the person who was like looking for the Kingdom of Heaven. The first person you can do pick that as most of you guys came from Christian homes, right? Before you even were able to speak the words to ask, what is the purpose of life? Like what am I supposed to do owners who, like, why am I here? How am I here? What's going on? You are already told God created you, you are already told you are here for a purpose and you are living for the glory of God. You have this Faith called Christianity and it's going to have an eternal life attached to it on the other side that all sounds nice but that's Sunday School.

Vanguard pursued, you over and over and over and over again until you saw the treasure that Jesus really is Right? Cuz the answer in every Sunday school question is like Jesus, right? You might have been like this is boring as just humdrum then eventually be like Jesus. Jesus is the answer.

If he is the greatest treasure, he's the most important person in the world. In the form of Jesus created everything. He owns everything including me but also in the form of he is my savior, he died for me, he loves me despite my Brokenness. Does the child who grows up in a Christian home and may not take their face, seriously. But eventually the Lord opens their eyes to the value of the treasure. They've been offered from day one in their life.

If you grew up in a Christian home from day one, when you are born all the way to. Now, you've been walking and privilege after privilege after privilege cuz they've been praying about you before you were born. They are praying for you. Now, there are going to keep praying for you, whether you decide to be faithful to the Lord or not. I'll send Oz, they understand the concept of, they don't see you as like, a bunch of Sinners. They see. Why Saints they see you as people just like them who are saved by the blood of Christ and they need help. They need supporting me love, no matter what they do, they can be loved. That's what Jesus did in their lives. You get that treasure, you may not value it, but that's what's given to you, who is the person that's nice. But the person that is seeking is the percentage in the world. That person is pursuing success is pursuing what makes them happy. A person is pursuing relationships. That person is pursuing money. That person is pursuing influence, a person's pursuing everything and anything that the world's ours is going to give you Joy and contentment and fullness of Life success, whatever they may call it Is pursuing, and this is the funny part. This person is so diligent, so capable. They got the money, they got the influence, they got the connections, they got everything of the worlds. They got. They meet again.

And this person really knows, there's empty nose and all those things. There's not a person who's like, I tried. And one day when I get there, I'll be happy. This is not a professional Merchant. Who already buys pearls, who's capable already? And is looking for all of this stuff is empty. I need something bigger. What is bigger? This is the person usually who didn't even grow up in a Christian home. This is the person usually who didn't even have mentioned in their lifetime. This is the person usually who taught religion was like, you know, some like crotch for people who are emotionally struggling or something.

This is the person who was turned off from Christ from day one who was who didn't have the privilege to know Christ and the first day they hear the gospel, they see the value. The first day they see Christ, they cannot believe this Treasure of great worth was Available.

And they already know he's worth giving up everything. This is the first time you came like a very bad lifestyle or I don't know an empty lifestyle even though they're successful in their morally, good. And they just give it all up. I've seen this happen over and over and over again. People living their friendships, people living their richest. People leaving their own lifestyle. Everybody talk make made them look cool or whatever.

So it's like that this great pearl of the pearl of great value. When is 1st and finally, discovers the pearl of this extraordinary value, he didn't hesitate, he sold everything he has to make it his own and just found out the truth that we need to contend with. Is this salvation, which is the work of God. And those who are drawn to Christ recognize that she alone, satisfies, the deepest longings of the Soul. When are you come from a Christian family? Whether you came through the pods and which you are pursuing everything else and nothing was satisfying, you

if you are a Christian at some point Christ must have paused you, maybe like I can believe

The God Who created all things? Is this incredible? This amazing this valuable

In fact it's not just seeing how valuable he is. It's realizing everything that I have been doing. That is country, that goes against this. God, I want to sell everything that I had, that was even good. I want to give up in order to have him to have a relationship with him in order to start afresh in this new life.

Jeremiah says, you will seek me. That's Jeremiah 29:13 and find me. When you say Seek me with all your heart or John 6, Jesus says, no one can come to me, unless the father who sent me draws him and I'll raise him up on the last day. Many pursuing many meaning in relationships success or approval. But these things cannot satisfy spoiler alert.

Your life. Is it going to be one disappointment after another? If you think when I get that job, I'm going to be happy. If I did this activity, I'm going to be happy. When we watch the Super Bowl later on, I'm going to be so, excited is going to be amazing. You're going to be the same old person, 2 minutes later. if not disappointed to me, if you're happy, it's going to last 10 minutes.

Same old Super Bowl that has been happening over and over, and over again, throughout your lifetime. There's nothing new there. Couple of teams are going to go against one another other one's going to lose this, it all boils down to that.

Only Christ. And in Christ, do we find fulfillment only in Christ? Can you encounter Christ? And if you see him as the treasurer, that he really is, It's not going to be paid off. 10 minutes later. It's not going to even fit fade off into eternity is actually going to grow. Whoever drinks of the Living Water that I give Jesus as out of his belly, will flow rivers of Living Water. It's Jesus, knowing getting to know. Jesus get meeting. Jesus is not something that starts and feeds. It's actually something that strikes us like a match and it grows and it grows and it grows until it becomes a blazing fire into. Eternity. Keeps growing in our heart.

You've been drawn to Christ that way.

Have you?

is talking to your friends, more exciting, right now then, Listening to the words of the Living God.

Is like the last minute of the sermon, so exciting for you. So you can leave and do the thing that you love the most

Are you going out thinking about something that you love so much that you don't get to do right now?

Or.

Have you encountered Christ in such a way that he's the most valuable person in your life? He's the most valuable thing in your life. It's not even at church. You give up those things that you love even at home, or with friends, when everybody's doing some acts exciting activity at school or in your time, with your friends, whatever, call it sleep over, whatever. You decide? No no no. I'm sorry I need time alone with Christ. Is that you when everybody's like pretending like, This life is nothing but just one, exciting enjoyment after another, do you stand and say no? Like my Lord I'm a Christian. This life is not about whatever the world says it's about. It's about being a Believer, a true person. A human being created to show the image of God and human being who has heard the good news who has met Christ who cannot wait for other people to meet Christ through them.

I'm not asking these questions to say you have responsibilities and roles to play and you must play them. You must grow up and you got to do this. Now, you cannot do anything for God. He would do it all by himself. He doesn't need any one of us. I'm telling you, you're living your life. That way your life is super boring. I can tell you already. Your life is like a dead end. After a dead end, your life is going to be dissatisfaction after dissatisfaction, your life is going to be confusing. You don't even know what you're doing with your life, give it a little bit of time. But if you knew see the treasure that Christ is in, you pursue him with all of your heart when you grow up out of all this world says, is what makes you a grown up into the real grown-up that you showed me as a Believer? Whatever your age is. Then Jesus is telling you, your life will open up with meaning, your life will open up with value. Your life will be even used to present other people. This great treasure that Christ is in your life will impact. Every person you talk to, whether you have five minutes with them or 25, or an entire life to spend with diapers. In every way imaginable. This is the pearl of Great Value. That if you really were a very meticulous, a very successful, a very intelligent person, and you looked for the treasures in the entire universe. And you were the kind of person who's like, I'm not going to settle for small stuff like small-time, small stuff I'm going to only pursue the greatest valuable most important thing in the universe. This is where you're going to end up. With all the success, with all the privilege, with all the money, with all the intelligence, with all your Pursuits, with all the power that you may have Christ is going to be the most valuable. When you can, if you get to that place where you're have the money, then I'm going to stay until like 10 everything you see Christ. And you think he's more valuable you can't bring

Possibly trash in the Kingdom of Heaven. You have to give it all up salad in order to gain Christ. you have to give up making your friendships, the most important thing and instead give up whatever doesn't work for Christ, And keep the ones that online or submit to Christ in your life.

You can't bring all of the money. Who knows, how you made that money? Who knows how anybody makes money in this world. If it's not pleasing in the side of about the same way? Exact you did. Right? He was a tax collector. He was an extortion or he took bribes. He did so many. So the first thing you have to do it every sinful game that I've had, I'm going to give up.

That's what Jesus is saying. This treasure is not just worth great and it's not available to us by the grace of God. This treasure requires If you have one thing in your hand, you can't hold this treasure. If your heart is in love with anything else, there's not room enough for Christ. If your loyalty is to anything else. First, if you're not first seeking the kingdom of God and the king of that Kingdom, Christ doesn't settle for. Adjunct field heart. You can remove that junk, you can remove that trash and our lives. You can remove whatever we called. Treasure in the world to give us the true treasure. We should have but he's not going to. You're not going to be a roommate in your heart. With all those stuff that you might hold. So ask questions, we need to ask What do I love handles it. Aligned with Christ doesn't submit to Christ.

Right, by the way. Whoever is excited about the Super Bowl. I'm with you. Like, I don't watch it, but I understand. Right. I really do. But if it's more exciting than worshiping Christ, if it's more exciting than prayer if it's more exciting than submitting your life to Christ, just like it is in the world, right Lake today. What's going to happen? If people are going to paint themselves before are going to wear clothing, that represent their team. People are going to line up for hours and hours. People are going to get in the stadium. They're going to shout to the top of their lungs. People are going to be sitting everywhere watching over big screen TVs, paying for pay-per-view or whatever it is that you pay to watch. People are going to spend money, people are excited. People are going to spend their time. People are going to endure pain today, like the lining up or being in the cold. And at the same time be excited and Shout at the top of their lungs. What does that sound like to you? The national sound like worship.

I mean, if that's you End. You come to church, you're fired up. You go to your room, you're like, kneeling down and praying with joy. If you are here, singing along, if you are excited about the word of God. God is about to tell you. If you were the kind of person who applies the truth, God teaches us into your life props to you. And if you watching the Super Bowl is a lot more less than your worship of Christ, great, right? They give you which I hope and believe most of you are great. But if you're not come back, repent.

And in the place of the Super Bowl, whoever you are put, whatever excites you, whatever looks like Worship in your life, if it's greater treasure than your life. Greater excitement than Christ and worshipping him and serving him and living with him and trying to get to know him and fellowshipping with those who are followers of Christ called Christians, then you need to reset your priorities. I make Christ your number one priority, and ultimately Jesus talks about. The cost of the kingdom and I've already mentioned it. The cost of the kingdom is you sell everything you have. Seems to exalts itself above Christ in your life. if it's like I said, an activity you love doing. And you don't have time both for that activity and Christ. You need to give it up. You need to give up that activity so that you can do what Christ wants you to do in this life. Whether it's fellowshipping or brothers and sisters, whether it's going to work and doing a decent job whether it's going to school and doing a good job on your scope. Whether it's obeying your parents, whether it's like being a holy person, whatever it takes The new life that Christ has given us, you need to give it any activity, any valuable thing in your life you need to give it up. If it contradicts or take it takes away your money or resources from worshipping Christ.

Luke 9 sisters and he said to all, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself. Take up his cross daily and follow me, Philippians 3, what we read our car says, indeed, I found everything. I was lost because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Jesus, my Lord, for his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish. In order that, I mean game Christ. Effusion to 4 and 5 says, but God being rich and mercy because of the great love with which he loved us. Even when we were dead in our chest pass has made us a live together with Christ by Grace, by rich rich Grace. You have been saved. Because the death of Orson was so bad. This treasure is the payment that we need. To pay off our debt before we enter the kingdom. In this treasure is the treasure that we need to sustain our lives forever. And this treasure is the deepest treasure in the world. That would never be exhausted because it is Christ. That is going to give us hope for eternal life, enjoy and internet like meaning and eternal life. So we gave up everything, what are you call it success whether it's decent where the weather is sent off. Course if it sent for you got to give it up. Whatever it is you got to give up everything and first Focus On Christ. First meet Christ first by this treasure that Christ is first. Give the first waking hours of your day to Christ. First, give the strongest energetic moment of your life for Christ. He be like oh I got a lot of energy. I'm going to go out and do something know you got a lot of energy kneel down and pray. You got a lot of energy, open the Bible and read you got a lot of energy invest time and effort. To fellowship with brothers and sisters, integral in the face and you want to go out and meet people and tell them about your transformed life. You you have a lot of energy, go out and serve people randomly love them, do something for them so that they might see Christ in you. You got a lot of energy. How do I share the gospel with people? How do I figure this out? Sit-down research, learn bro, you got a lot of energy. Use it to serve Christ to worship Christ on the other side of that effort. I promise you, you can come You can ask me for any type of compensation, I'll pay for it. If you feel like I was let down, I invested in Christ and he let me down. I am not satisfied, I'm not fulfilled. He's not worth as much as I thought he was worth. I'll pay any compensation. The Lord will help any compensation for your loss. But if you do encounter Christ, the only thing you're going to say is I can't believe I've been wasting my time with all that garbage when I could have been pursuing Christ. Homeland long ago. You will see the treasure. He is. And finally, finally, the one thing you might have missed in the parable of the hidden treasure. This person not only sells all that he has the says in his Joy he goes and tells all that he has the field so that he can on the treasure.

So you might have missed out idea of You don't just sell, like I love my console but you know, what Christ is forcing me to give it up?

When Peter and James and John were fishing and Andrew, his brother were fishing. You just didn't come to them and say you need to give up your life. And I'm going to force you to stop fishing and I want you to follow me. That's not what he said to them. He did a miracle in front of them. They saw it. The first thing they realize this Lord I'm a sinful person, stay away from me what Jesus told them is. Don't be afraid. I'm not here to judge you basically, right. I'm here to save you, not only to save you. He says to him. What I'm here. Not only to forgive you, but to make you Fishers of Men. I'm here to change your life. I'm here to change your professional here to change your identity. I'm here to cleanse you make you, I mean, to share this good news with others. So Simon was like, yeah, what am I going to do about the fish that you need me? Just call or, what am I going to do about my business? What am I going to do about? Like, my friends, how they mediately left, everything and followed him. He doesn't. He just said, follow me. He didn't force them to do anything. They gave up everything cuz they see how valuable he is. So there is Joy there is just ease their Simplicity if you're gripping to something that's keeping you from Christ, if you're gripping your phone it's because you don't know what Christ looks like.

It's because you are not finding this joy and my prayer for anybody who's holding on to something else. As more valuable is that God may open your eyes.

. God me replaced. The fleeting Pleasures that this world offers you like entertainment or immorality, or this activity. That if you do it, you'll be awesome. What is group of friends that are so valuable? You want to impress them, you lose yourself and trying to do so. Whatever it is. I pray that Jesus replaces it with the joy of seeing how valuable and amazing he is. Let me bring you back to the first picture that I gave you. If you found 10000 Bitcoin in a computer. if you like, this is exhausting, Is that how you're going to respond? This means like I'm going to have to go to the bank and get a ton of money is that all you're going to do? This feels like, you know what? I got to give up all this stuff that I own that's cheap and replace it with expensive stuff or with everything that I like is that how you're going to feel you think that's how you're going to do before you even do anything about it. The very fact that you have this treasure in your possession, is it going to do my dance? You might run, you might scream, you might try to hide it from everybody so why didn't nobody takes it away from you, whatever it is. It's an auction of Droid that is going to come from your life, or from you. It's an act of worship is an act of valuing that treasure. That's going to be in your heart. You know why? Because you know what is money? To show us what the kingdom is going to look like. It's not because I mean because it's perfect is not worldly, it's because he knows we treasure our money. Money is capable of giving us the privilege of services and goods unlimitedly in this world. We know the value of money. If I talk about a million dollars, you would know what to do with it. If I talk about how valuable the Kingdom of Heaven is you need to learn what to do with the kingdom of heaven.

So, I've said it before, 2. So, these are goes into. This is Joy. This person is going to have to sell everything and not joy and by this treasure. This person doesn't feel like down this person and doesn't like, doesn't feel like it's a burden. I got to sell everything I have. Are you sure I got to sell it? Are you sure? I got to give up like, the amount of time I spend on my phone, are you sure? I like, I got to walk away from my friend. What's wrong with it? If I dress this way, like, what's wrong with it? If I do this activity, that's how we talk, right? That's not the way this person is to see this. I really don't even want other people to find out and take it away from me. I want to say. I'm going to give up everything that I got joyfully because the treasure I'm getting here is much more worth than no. This is not joy that you produce and joy. Overflows in your heart and in your life, because of how valuable Jesus is when you actually truly see him, as he really is,

So following Jesus is not a Duty or Barden, it's a privilege when you truly grasp, the value of knowing him, surrendering to him, isn't a sacrifice.

It's an exchange of temporal things for Eternal joy, and freedom and life. Psalm 16:11, you make known to me the path of life in your presence. There is fullness of joy at your right. Hand are Pleasures forevermore.

If you want went on an amazing adventure. If Money Was No Object, you can imagine doing so many activities. Well. It's almost. Here is saying those don't hold a candle to the enjoy. The last forever that we can find in the presence of God, that God gives Romans 14:17. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but the of righteousness and peace and joy, in the Holy Spirit, 2nd Corinthians 4:17 for that this life. Momentary Affliction is preparing for us, an eternal weight of Glory beyond. All comparison things that we will give up for the Kingdom of Heaven, the things that we will give up to hold on to Jesus. I'm not worth anything compared to what we're going to find an attorney. Even the sufferings that we go through when people realize your Christian. Seriously, I don't deal with Christians or Christians are like clothes, mind it if you're okay with that. You're willing to be like, I disagree, but friends walking away, or people hating you or things happening to you if you're okay with that, there's an eternal weight of Glory that you will receive for that suffering that you go to for that separation for the things that you lose. If you're trying to keep your friends while having Christ, you can't. If people that are your friends hate Christ and you are claiming you're a Christian and you love Christ and you are just hiding Christ to be with those people who hate Christ. it's because you need to see how seriously valuable Jesus is, and you need to realize, he doesn't compromise in your choice of either your friends or Christ, and I situation, so if you really understand, even the suffering of being separated from your friends, because they hate guys, because they think religion is done or whatever the reason is,

Whatever you lose on Earth. There's an eternal reward for it in heaven. And when you do that with your friends, they have the best chance of receiving Christ through your life. You have the greatest chance of sharing with them. The gospel of God, when you separate from them and tell them know, Christ is more valuable than even friendship. Did you have to make me pick between Christ and you up at Christ every time? That is the best way they can hear the gospel through your life. so, in conclusion, What do these Parables? Teach us. The Kingdom of Heaven is worth more than anything else in this world. whether you stumble upon it unexpectedly, whether you grew up in a Christian home and you have been learning Christ from day one, and eventually he opened your eyes, whether you still having seeing him as a treasure after this point and today, you stumble upon him

Or search for him. Your whole life there is one has to be the same thing. Not only is Jesus, the treasure, the greatest treasure we could ever have the unending or satisfying that the Christ you can live with forever and your life will be full of life and joy. But he requires that you give up everything to gain Christ. In other words, he is your number one priority.

He is the most valuable thing in the world. The most valuable person in the universe that giving up everything else is like dirt cheap.

So the scriptures put it this way and we will call over here. Matthew 16:26 for what will it profit? A man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul or what shall a man give in return for his soul. Ephesians. 13:4, blessed, be the God, and father of our Lord. Jesus Christ was blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing. In the Heavenly places. Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him. If you haven't seen the weather Christ respond with faith as a Christian. If you're not a Believer yet respond with faith to what the scripture is saying in this place.

If you're living double lives respond with faith and give up the life that contrary to the faith that you have. Turn from everything that holds you back. Then Embrace Jesus, as Lord and Savior. And more importantly expect to do that, not forced expect not to feel like I'm going to give up that thing. I expect to find joy as your power when you give up these things expected to me. Whoa, what happened to this person? The last day I saw them. They were just like, all of a sudden they're serious about this Jesus business.

Expect that to happen now because you're like some kind of religious robot that because your life is full of joy, you don't need anything external. Other than Christ to be happy to be full of life. You don't need friends, you don't need money. You owe me your console's. You don't need the Super Bowl, you don't need anything. If it comes down between a choice between Christ and anything else come by, what does it profit a person, if they gain the entire world as their own possession, lose their soul, is why Jesus Jesus is here to rescue our souls and to give us a rich Eternal, unending joyful life in himself. That's why?

father, God, we are grateful that you are our God and