The Kingdom of god: Planted Mustard Seed
Theme:
Text: Luke 13:18 -19
Opening Text:
Review
Last Sunday we established the importance of the message of the Kingdom of God. John preached it like a mad man. Just like the prophets of old. Jesus’ first message was to draw attention to the Kingdom of God. It was what he emphasized for 40 days teaching those in the upper room.
We also established the fact that the kingdom of God is bigger that what we assume. We learned that being “born again” is not the kingdom. But to be able to see the kingdom of God you must be born again, John 3:3
We said that the kingdom of God is not heaven. Heaven is part of the kingdom.
The biggest thing is asking God’s kingdom come and God’s will be done no matter what that means.
Jeremiah
Sometimes I feel like Jeremiah the prophet. God had called him to prophesy to the land. The invasion was coming. He told him “go buy some land and then get invaded but I am coming back”. God told him to surrender to the ways of the Babylonians so His purpose could be done.
I want us to have men and women of God in office who follow God’s will. I want us to pass laws to protect the unborn. I want us to be in a nation that reflects our values. But bigger than that is I want, “God’s will be done, God’s kingdom come.
There is a bigger agenda here that goes beyond this country. We are focused on a better land.
Jesus used ____ parables in scriptures to describe the kingdom of God (or heaven).
Luke 13:18-19 Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? (19) It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."
This is an interesting parable on the kingdom. A couple things we notice.
1) The seed is small yet when planted it grows into a large healthy tree.
I was praying this morning. Sometimes it doesen’t seem like God is “doing” much. But He takes the smallest things and turn them into something big.
2) The seed was planted by a farmer (God) into his own garden. God has a plan and a purpose.
3) The birds of the air nested. Why? They felt the kingdom as being a place of shelter, hope, peace and assurance.
4) The branches extended out.
To me this is an important part. To see the roles that are played in the kingdom. Although the church is not the kingdom it plays a major part in the kingdom.
Last week we also established that the kingdom is not the church. But the church plays a vital role in the kingdom. The church was first established by Jesus in Matthew 18.
Matthew 16:13-20 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" (14) So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." (15) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" (16) Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (17) Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (18) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed [78] in heaven." (20) Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
The church, the Ekklesia – the called out ones.
I am not going to spend a whole lot of time in the overall passage because we just spent a whole sermon back in June. But I want to point out one peace that shows us how vital the church is to the kingdom and that is the word keys.
Although keys have been around for 1000’s years before this they really hit their purpose and usefulness in the Roman kingdom. Here they were made of metal in stead of wood. They had these intricate designs that we call “skeleton keys” and they were easy to carry.
They were signs of authority. When you have the keys, you have the authority.
(19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed [78] in heaven." (20) Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
Now that is authority.
Another part I like about this parable of the kingdom is the unity of the tree. You know the church is also called the “body of Christ”.
Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that fills all in all.
Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (12) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (13) till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (14) that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, (15) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- (16) from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Two purposes
1) Equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry (Acts 6)
Equipping - kat-ar-tis-mos' – furnishing, perfecting. Getting ready
2) Edifying (encouraging, giving hope, challenging) of the body of Christ.
Edifying – building up.
Get Connected
The Body of Christ
1Co 12:12-31 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into [40] one Spirit. (14) For in fact the body is not one member but many. (15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? (18) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. (19) And if they were all one member, where would the body be? (20) But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. (21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." (22) No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. (23) And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, (24) but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, (25) that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. (26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (28) And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? (30) Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? (31) But earnestly desire the best [41] gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Church has parts that work together
