Spoken at SGBC

11-23-97

Luke #107

13:18-23

What is the kingdom of God like?

(Luke 13:18-21 NASB) Therefore He was saying, "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 threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree; and THE BIRDS OF THE AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES." {20} And again He said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? {21} "It is like leaven, (baking powder or yeast) which a woman took and hid in three pecks of meal, (This equals five and one quarter gallons of flour) until it was all leavened."

It is obvious to the careful reader of the scriptures that the kingdom of God grows very slowly. It grows one individual at a time as they are added to the church at God's appointed time. This is the point of the first parable in our text. The church or the kingdom of God grows slowly but surely and steadily.

The beginning of the kingdom by the proclamation of the gospel was a very small thing indeed. It was like a farmer casting a tiny mustard seed into his garden. The seed is so tiny it can barely be seen yet, by the blessing of God, it often grows into a plant ten to fifteen feet tall. When mature it looks more like a tree than it does a garden herb. So it was and is with the kingdom of God.

By appearance, at least, the Christian religion seemed feeble, helpless and powerless in its infant days. Many thought and hoped it would disappear as quickly as it had begun. At first there appeared to be many things against Christianity. Its founder, for instance, was poor as concerns material wealth. He lived only thirty-three years and then died the death of a criminal. Some believe that at the time of our Lord's death that there were only about one-thousand true followers. The first Christian preachers weren't very impressive either. They were uneducated fishermen and tax collectors. Even the place in which Christianity was born, Judea, seemed to speak out against it. Judea was a small province of Rome and of very little importance.

Add to this the fact that, measured by human wisdom, the religion was not user friendly. For instance its foundational doctrine was a great stumbling block to many. That doctrine is the substitutionary death of Jesus by crucifixion. The Jews would not accept this. Therefore, they did not accept Christ or Christianity. Hear the word of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:17-24 NASB.) "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the CROSS OF CHRIST should not be made void. {18} For the WORD OF THE CROSS is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it (That is, the word of the cross, i.e., the good news of Christ's death in the place of sinners.) is the power of God. (Romans 1:16 NASB 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 to the Greek.) {19} For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." (Which is to say, "I will not save my people in a way that makes sense to men.") {20} Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? {21} For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, (In other words God has chosen to save His people from their sin in a way that contradicts all human wisdom. God has seen to it that men cannot, on their own, find their way to God! Salvation is, therefore, impossible with men but . . .) God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. {22} For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; {23} but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, (They were looking for a physical salvation, a military overthrow of Rome by the Messiah. They could not believe that the meek and mild Jesus, crucified on a cross, could possibly be the Messiah?) and to Gentiles foolishness, (The message of Christ crucified for sinners sounded just as stupid to unbelieving Gentiles as it did to the Jews.) {24} but to those who are THE CALLED, (Those who are called by God to faith in Jesus no longer think the "Word of the cross" is stupid. Their minds are changed because with the call of God to salvation comes the ability to understand the Gospel. The called now see the worth and necessity of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The gospel only makes sense to those called to faith in Jesus by God the Father. This call comes to . . .) both Jews and Greeks, (Who because of grace now understand that . . .) Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." When one is called he is also enabled to understand the truth. From this point on he sees the crucifixion of Christ as a display of the power and wisdom of God in the salvation of His people. But until God intervenes Christianity looks and sounds quite lame and foolish. That is why both the Jews and Gentiles expected it to just go away in a very short time, but it did not.

The progress of the gospel and, therefore, of true Christianity has been steady and continuos to this day. Though its beginnings were small like a mustard seed the kingdom of God has grown into a great tree and continues to expand day by day. In spite of persecution, opposition and violence the church out grew the borders of the "Holy Land" and has now spread throughout all the world. Our Lord predicts this world wide spread of truth in Acts 1:7-8 NASB. He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; {8} but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you SHALL be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to THE REMOTEST PART OF THE EARTH." Indeed the gospel has reached into the remotest parts of the earth. There are true Christians and true churches in every nation under the sun. The one true universal church of Jesus Christ has spread its branches from north to south and east to west. These branches, or local expressions of the universal church, are resting places for the children of God who are often weary from the journey.

We may be certain that the kingdom of God will continue to grow for He will see to it. The scripture bears testimony to this. Look with me at Isaiah 61:11 NASB. "For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise To spring up before all the nations."

(Isaiah 9:6-7 NASB) "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. {7} There will be NO END TO THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. THE ZEAL OF THE LORD OF HOSTS WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS."

What shall we learn from this first parable? The first thing is this, we must never despise small beginnings. As it has been in the past so the growth of the kingdom shall continue. Is there a godly man moved to begin a new work in a corrupt city? Let him begin! If it is God's doing he will remain and the work will prosper in a way that pleases the Lord. Is there the need of reform in a local church? If so let one man speak and be faithful in setting forth the truth. God may be pleased to germinate the seed of truth in enough hearts to redirect a ministry into more accurate paths. I am aware of one man south of here who, by the grace of God, has succeeded in reforming an entire church. He began by putting truth into the hands of one person and then another and another. He planted a small, mustard-like, seed and God was pleased to give the increase. That church has been turned around and at last the Bible is its only rule of faith and practice. Let us not despise small beginnings for the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed cast into a garden.

The second parable draws our attention away from the outward expansion of the kingdom to the beginning and growth of the kingdom inside the sinner. (Luke 13:20-21 NASB) And again He said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? {21} "It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened."

The beginning of grace in a sinner's heart is often very small and unnoticeable. It can be compared to placing yeast in a large lump of dough. Having placed the yeast in the dough you must wait. It looks, for a time, as if nothing will happen but then, slowly, surely, the yeast causes the whole lump to be affected.

But what is this yeast in a spiritual sense? What is it that is planted in the heart of the sinner that can, if God blesses it, bring about change and even salvation? It is truth, of course. It is truth written, spoken or lived out in the presence of the unbeliever. This is the leaven that will change the whole lump.

A single sentence in a sermon may be the seed planted. A word of correction from a friend may begin the work. A godly conversation overheard by an unbeliever may be used by God to save him. An act of kindness and love, turning the other cheek to an abuser, or handing out a tract may be the leaven that will raise them from earth to glory. What are the signs that the seed of truth has begun to germinate? A guilty conscience where there was none before may indicate the work of God begun. A sudden interest in the Bible or in attending worship services with the people of God. A growing distaste for the things of the world or a change in companions. All these and of course many more could be signs that the leaven of truth has begun to do its work.

How will we know if our suspicions are correct concerning an individual? We will know because God never leaves his work unfinished. If the seed of God's truth has taken root in a person's heart it will at last bear the fruit of repentance and faith toward Jesus Christ for salvation. Not only that, this person will continue to grow in grace and knowledge until the whole lump of his person and character is leavened! Hear the word of the Lord.

(Philippians 1:6 NASB) "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect (complete) it until the day of Christ Jesus." God begins the work of grace in the sinner and continues the work till his death or until the Lord's return. The goal of God's work in us is Christlikeness and He moves His people ever closer to that goal. He will take them from their spiritual infancy to spiritual adulthood without fail. Look with me to a few texts that teach this wonderful truth.

(Psalms 92:12-15 NASB) "The righteous man will FLOURISH like the palm tree, He will GROW like a cedar in Lebanon. {13} Planted in the house of the LORD, They will FLOURISH in the courts of our God. {14} They will still YIELD FRUIT in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green, {15} To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." We see nothing in the word of God to support the idea that one can be saved and yet bear no fruit. This text declares that from the spiritual cradle to the grave a Christian will bear the fruit of holiness and will bear witness of his faith and trust in God.

(Proverbs 4:18 NASB) {18} "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day." When God brings a man, woman or child to faith in Jesus they are spiritual infants. We might say they are small plants in the garden. But they do not remain small. They do not remain babies, they eat God's truth and thereby grow in grace and knowledge. This is the way of all the children of God. There is always birth and never ending growth. This Proverbs text tells us that the Christian experience is like the rising of the sun. At first you just think its getting brighter but you are not sure. Then you know it's getting brighter and then before you know it the sun is up bathing everything with light. Likewise the life of the Christian always progresses in the way of holiness and obedience to God. This is the fruit, the result of salvation. This is how you tell when the evidence of grace you thought you saw was indeed the grace of God working in the sinner's life. If it was just emotion or human determination to reform it will not remain or increase and it was not the work of God. Hear the word of the Lord on this.

(Matthew 13:3-9 NASB) And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow; (The sower of seed could be the preacher, the welder, the house-wife or any other Christian who broadcasts seeds of truth.) {4} and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. {5} "And others fell upon the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. (The sower was pleased to see signs of life but he was cautious for he had seen this before. Was this plant, this professing Christian really saved? The answer is no for . . .) {6} ". . . when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. {7} "And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. {8} "And others fell on the good soil, and YIELDED A CROP, (That fruit is repentance and faith in Jesus plus a pursuit of godliness and ever increasing success in the same.) some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. {9} "He who has ears, let him hear."

Now let's hear Christ explain His own parable. (Matthew 13:18-23 NASB) "Hear then the parable of the sower. {19} "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. {20} "And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; {21} yet he has no firm root in himself, BUT IS ONLY TEMPORARY, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. {22} "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes UNFRUITFUL. {23} "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; (This understanding is a gift from God.) who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." This hundred, sixty and thirty fold measure of the fruitfulness of the believer may have to do with their age and progress in the faith. If so, we must see the younger producing thirty fold and the mature Christian one hundredfold. Whatever the case, the point is this: The real believer goes from the seed of the Gospel planted in his heart to a mature, fruit-bearing plant. He does not die out. He is not a fruitless plant. Those who are saved always proceed from germination, to fruit bearing, to glory. Hear again the words of our Savior. (Luke 13:20-21 NASB) "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? {21} "It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened."

What are the lessons taught by this parable?

First, do not despise small beginnings. Do not think lightly of small changes in those you pray for and witness to. It may just be the beginning of a work of grace in their lives. Further know this. A seed germinates and grows hidden in the ground for quite awhile before anyone is aware that it lives. So it may be with those around you who presently appear to be lost. So, be not weary in well doing. Continue to sow the seed of the Gospel in anyway you can. Continue to pray that God would give the increase. Do not be impatient, for a seed sometimes takes many years to germinate.

Second I believe we have here a call to self examination. Has there been a work of grace in our own hearts? Has the seed come to life and is it continuing to grow? Do I now have faith in Christ as Savior and am I growing in grace and knowledge? It is not enough to say I once believed in Christ and followed Him. You must believe right now and you must be following Him today. Is the fruit of repentance and faith in my life and is the leaven of truth moving forward to affect every aspect of my being? If you are born again you can answer yes to these questions. If not, you are yet a slave of the evil one. Therefore, I encourage you to run, immediately, to Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life. He has promised that all who believe on Him shall not perish but will have everlasting life. He has made me His ambassador and as such I beg you, "Be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ the Lord."

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