"Thirteen Thirty-Two (1332)"

14 June 2009

Second Sunday (Communion Service provided today)

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Fortress Chapel

Contingency Operation Site (C.O.S.) Sykes

Tall-afar, Iraq

BIG IDEA: God takes a believer (who have faith and trust in Him) and plants him in a specific location with a small beginning to miraculously grow and become a huge blessings to all people.

REFERENCES: Parable: means to throw alongside; Galatians 6:8-9 (ESV) For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up; Ezekiel 17:22-24 (ESV); Psalm 78:2-3 (ESV) I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and know, that our fathers have told us; Ephesians 3:9 (ESV) and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; Psalm 104:12 (ESV) Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches; Ezekiel 31:6 (ESV) All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young, and under its shadow lived all great nations; Mark 4:26-34 (ESV) The Mustard Seed and The Leaven; Luke 13:18-21 (ESV) The Mustard Seed and The Leaven; Daniel 4:12 (ESV) Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it; Matthew 13:31-32 (ESV) He put another parable before them, saying “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”; Matthew 13:13 (ESV) This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand; Romans 13:3-4 (ESV) For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; 2 Chronicles 36:9-21 (Zedekiah reign eleven years in Jerusalem but did what evil in the sight of the Lord of host); Matthew 17:20b KJV .”… If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you; Galatians 6:9-10 (KJV): Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith; Psalm 20; 2 Corinthians 5:6-17; Mark 4:26-34; 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13;

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Ezekiel 17:22-24 (ESV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Ezekiel 17:22-24 (ESV)

III. READ THE TEXT: Ezekiel 17:23 (ESV) On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that God takes a believer (who has faith and trust in Him) and plants him in a specific location with a small beginning to miraculously grow and become a huge blessings to all people.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “Thirteen Thirty-two (1332)”

VI. INTRODUCTION:

Thirteen Thirty-two (1332).

It has been said that one of the greatest “parables” of the Old Testament is – The Shepherd Psalms of “Psalm 23 (KJV)” - where David utters in the midst of his challenges and circumstances:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.