Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“Parables of the Kingdom” Part Five
I. The Kingdom is open to all but not accepted by all
A. Parable of the Wedding feast – some refuse to accept the invitation
B. Parable of the Sower – some refuse to assimilate kingdom truth
So open your heart and accept the invitation while you have a chance.
II. Entrance to the Kingdom requires a core change by God
So put your faith in Christ brings the necessary changes.
III. Citizenship in the Kingdom demands kingdom participation
So dedicate your God-given resources for the sake His kingdom.
IV. Kingdom citizenship is worth the sacrificial investment
A. Parable of the Hidden Treasure (sell everything acquire the treasure)
B. Parable of the Priceless Pearl (sell everything to acquire the priceless)
So seek first His kingdom and His righteousness
V. Citizenship in God’s kingdom focuses on forgiveness
So receive and reciprocate forgiveness as often as necessary.
VI. Reward in God’s kingdom is available up to the end
Parable of the land owner
A. Perspective – Does my sacrifice count in the kingdom? Matt 19:24-30
B. Parable of the Landowner and the wage for labor Matt 20:1-16
Oh we have so much to learn about service to God and God’s generosity and grace.
C. The point – God rewards as HE sees fit
Right up to end God will accept faithful service from His citizens and reward them as HE sees fit. This parable does not necessarily teach that those who work all their lives for God will always get the same as those who wait till the end. It teaches that because eternal life is all of grace, none of us deserve reward. All of us should be overjoyed at restored relationship with God apart from reward. It also teaches that God can reward whoever he wants to reward with whatever he wants. God looks at the motive. God looks at the heart.
God may even honor labor for the kingdom right up to the end so it is not too late to get to work. It is not too late to change your lifestyle to a kingdom focus.
Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. "Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.” Jo 4:34-38
God rewards labor. God rewards labor up until the end. There will be a time when the harvest has been brought in and God pays wages. WE all know that the wages of sin is death and the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. But God does pay wages and rewards faithful service in the kingdom.
… we will all stand before the judgment seat of God…each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10-12
We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor. 5:9-10
the Lord will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. 1 Cor. 4:5
If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Cor. 3:14-15
D. Basis for earned Reward
1. Labor and sacrificial service 1 Cor. 3:8
2. Deeds of kindness and righteousness Prov 11:18 Matt 10:41-42 Mk 9:41
3. Proper motives 1 Cor 4:5
4. Keeping God’s Commands Psa 19:11 2 Tim 2:3-7 Gal 6:7-8
5. Humility and fear of the Lord Prov 22:4
6. Enduring persecution, trials and hardship
Galatians 6:9; Matt 5:11-12; Rev. 2:10; Hebrews 11:24-26; 2 Cor. 4:16-18; James 1:12; 2 Tim. 2:3-7
7. Leading others to the truth Daniel 12:3; 1 Thes 2:19
These come from Matthew 5
8. Quiet deeds of kindness
9. Secret giving
10. Private prayer
11. Unnoticed fasting
12. Excellent fervent service from the heart
1 Cor. 3:14; Col. 3:22-25; Eph 6:5-8; Philip. 3:13-16
13. Sacrificial Giving Matt 19:21; Matt 6:20-21; Luke 6:38; Mal 3:10-12
14. Pure Heart and hands for God Matt 5:8; 2 Sam 22:21; 2 Sam 22:25
15. Desire to see the Lord’s return 2 Tim. 4:7-8
16. Faithful leadership 1 Peter 5:4
17. Faithful investment of God-given resources Luke 19:17 Matt 25:21
18. Disciplined service 1 Cor. 9:24-27
E. Specific earned rewards
1. An imperishable crown of righteousness, glory, life, exaltation
2. Eternal weight of glory
3. Increased responsibility
4. Praise and affirmation from the father
5. Increased riches and honor
6. True and great reward
7. Good returned for good rendered
8. Prophets reward for serving a prophet
9. Better and lasting possession
10. Shining glory
11. Greater inheritance
12. Incorruptible treasure in heaven
13. Upward call of God
14. Deeper insight into God’s presence
15. Increased joy
A pay day is coming. Once the harvest is in, it is too late to labor in the field for the Lord.
So get back to work or keep up the good work. The first principle is that even though the invitation to become citizens is open to all, not all will accept God’s gracious invitation. Be sure the God is not willing that ANY should perish but that all should come to repentance. But there will be some who will not accept the kingdom and who never did serve the king. Their motives were merely selfish. They never surrendered their heart to Christ. They never really trusted Him.
Be sure also that God will most certainly weed out the look alikes at the end of the age.
VII. True citizenship in God’s kingdom will be sorted out at the end
A. Parable of the dragnet (root) Matt 13:47-50
B. Parable of the wheat and tares (fruit) Matt 13:24-43
Don’t wait until it is too late. You may look like a sheep. You may be indistinguishable from wheat. But unless you allow Christ to change your inner nature through faith in Christ you are still a weed and will be seen as a weed. You are still a goat at heart and will be separated from the true sheep.
Separation of the sheep and goats Matt 25:31-46
Genuine kingdom character demonstrates itself in service to those in need. Those who claim to be members of the Kingdom of God are expected to actually serve the king. Since the king is not here, the only way we demonstrate service to Him is to serve those he puts in our path. I find it interesting what he doesn’t say ministers to Jesus. It all has to do with people.
They had NOT:
Built great churches
Designed great programs
Kept clean houses
Had a great yard
Attended more church services
Applied for church membership
Said religious sounding words
Carried a bigger Bible
It all boils down to tangibly loving and serving Jesus by loving people -- especially those in need. This parable does not teach that good works gets you to heaven. It does teach that those who are genuine sheep will serve the shepherd by serving the sheep.
Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Peter affirmed that he did. Jesus told him to feed his sheep; shepherd his lambs. True kingdom kids will give their lives in service to the King.
'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
The true sheep will one day inherit the kingdom prepared for them from eternity. Those who are not truly kingdom kids will not serve the king by serving the needy. They will be sent to a place not prepared for them but for the devil and his angels. They will be sent there because they served him as king and belong where he belongs. You can be sure that God will sort it all out in the end. The Lord knows those who are His.
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." 2 Tim. 2:19
First, don’t wait until it is too late.
The Day of the Lord will come when it is least expected. 1 Thes. 5:2-5
Second, how are you tangibly serving Jesus?
Feeding the hungry
Watering the thirsty
Clothing the naked
Inviting the strangers
Visiting the sick
Ministering to the imprisoned
Jesus called these needy people, “BROTHERS OF MINE!” What do you call them?
Application
the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
Come -- Listen -- Live
Come to Jesus today. Come in humility. Admit your need. Come in faith. Affirm your trust in His power and his love. What has Jesus said today to you?
Listen to it! Live it!
• Reward for labor in God’s kingdom is available up to the end.
So work in God’s field before it is too late.
• Citizenship in God’s kingdom will be sorted out in the end.
So don’t wait until it is too late.
Citizenship in God’s kingdom comes through absolute simple trust
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-6
The day will come when it will be too late and God will sift out the illegal aliens from the kingdom and deport them to their true kingdom and the true citizens will enjoy unfathomable delight and bliss for eternity.
You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 16:11
