The Parable Of Influence Series

The Influence of the Kingdom

November 10, 2024

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Luke 13:18-21

We have been away from the parables for a few weeks as we looked at the issues of spiritual blindness. We only have a few more parables to go in our study. This week I want to invite you to turn into your Bibles to Luke chapter 13 and we're going to read verses 18 - 21.

He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” (Luke 13:18–21)

Among the many functions of Messiah Jesus while he was here on earth, perhaps one of the significant records is the preaching ministry of our Lord. The preaching ministry is one of great responsibility and was passed down from our Lord to the disciples and on through the ages.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel (Mark 16:15).

The Kingdom of God was central to the message of Jesus and his disciples. That was all he ever talked about. The Kingdom were those who were under the rule of God because they believed in faith. The Kingdom given to them because they repented and have been saved. That was the message of Jesus. That was the message of the apostles.

In the minds of the disciples, the Kingdom was more than internal; it was external. So they were questioning themselves as to where were the trumpets or the horses or the conquering armies. They were so eager about this, that they even asked Jesus about their positions in this kingdom that was coming.

Even at his trial, after all the things he had said, all the miracles he had performed, all the parables he had taught, Pilate could not understand the Truth that was standing right before him.

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36)

There was nothing about Jesus that looked kingly, at least by worldly standards. There was nothing sovereign visible about him. He had no nation within the borders of this world. He was not a visible King with a visible Kingdom. The world didn't see Jesus through scriptural eyes. They didn't see Jesus through messianic prophecies. They didn't see the Kingdom then, and quite frankly, many can't see that today. So sadly many people turn away from preaching and churches that are centered around serving God's Kingdom and not the Kingdom of this world.

To help us understand that, Jesus gave us these parables that we just read. You say, “that doesn't really help they sound more like riddles to me.” The truth is these parables if they were to remain unexplained would continue to be a riddle. If you remember from our study, parables our visual illustrations cast alongside spiritual truths that reveal truths of the Kingdom that we would not be able to understand on their own.

What Jesus was saying to his disciples and what he is saying to us today is that he does not want us to be deceived. Do not be deceived about the power and the influence of the Kingdom. Do not be deceived about it providing you with a better position in your job, or power in this life. Rather, Jesus tells us to focus on the humility and meekness of our faith and its influence on others. Tiny things can have great endings. Just like the mustard seed or a little bit of leaven. The influence of the Kingdom of God can be hidden and working in the background.

When I first started working in Biombo, the spiritual darkness was obvious. The absence of the gospel and its influence made the presence of evil and the demonic overwhelming. In our interactions we came across demoniacs and there were those who were delivered. But the greatest influence in Biombo did not come from casting out demons. The greatest influence came from the small seeds that were planted in the lives of little children. Over the years, as those little lives have grown into young adults, the influence of the gospel in the village has made the greatest yet subtle change.