The Mustard Seed and the Leaven.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] if you have your Bible go ahead and open it again to Matthew thirteen this week [0:05] Matthew thirteen will be starting in verse thirty one today [0:10] I love the [0:12] the words of that [0:13] text in the song that we just sang that [0:16] when darkness seems to hide his face I rest on his unchanging grace have you

[0:21] ever [0:21] had a moment in your life for maybe long moments long periods [0:26] where you’ve not felt the presence of God where it seems that he’s distant [0:30] where it seems that you’re being overwhelmed by darkness and you pray [0:35] you get nothing you read the scriptures you get nothing and in moments when you [0:40] feel that you need his voice to be the loudest in your life

[0:43] you can’t hear it [0:45] you can’t feel it [0:48] assurance [0:50] of that song is that even in those moments even in the times [0:54] when you feel that you’re getting nothing out of the work of God in your [0:58] life he tells you

[0:59] that you need to rest [1:01] in his unchanging [1:02] grace [1:03] that when you don’t feel the presence of God that doesn’t mean he’s not there [1:08] when you don’t feel the power of God in your life it doesn’t mean it’s not [1:12] working the cross of Jesus

[1:14] what it means is that he’s always for us he’s never going to be against us so [1:19] long as our trust is in him so long as our hope is in him and in those moments [1:23] where we don’t feel him he’s there [1:25] because he’s promised to be [1:28] and you just simply are called to believe [1:32] you’re not called

[1:34] to conjure up his presence [1:37] you’re not called [1:39] to make him work [1:41] you’re not called [1:43] to always feel it [1:45] you’re called

[1:47] to trust [1:49] and so this morning if you’re in one of those periods [1:52] or if this morning you’re just struggling even to believe continue in that faith [1:57] because his grace is more abundant in those moments than it is in any other [2:01] moment [2:02] you can trust in his grace even more when you don’t feel him

[2:06] than maybe the times that you do feel him because in those moments [2:10] are the times when faith is the most important in your life [2:17] because faith [2:18] is the substance of things hoped for we saw last week [2:22] but the evidence of things that have never been seen [2:26] and so when you cannot see it

[2:28] believe it [2:30] God’s there [2:31] he’s sure [2:32] he’s true [2:34] and he’s for you and we know that because of nothing else other than the cross of [2:40] Jesus Christ

[2:41] so whatever it is that you’re trusting in God for or whatever it is that you’ve [2:46] trusted God with [2:48] all along if it’s not grounded in the cross that’s going to disappoint you [2:54] that’s not going to be enough in a moment in your life there’s going to come [2:57] a trial there’s going to come a tension there’s going to come a temptation [3:02] where if everything that you’ve believed in God for and everything you’ve ever believed about God

[3:06] is separated from the cross that’s not going to endure through your life [3:12] your faith must be grounded in the cross and in the cross of Jesus alone for it to endure in your life [3:19] because that is the very thing that grace means [3:23] it means that God paid the penalty for the very thing that hides his presence from us our sin [3:29] and he paid it through Jesus on the cross sacrificing his own son for you and for me [3:34] the thing that seemed the smallest in this world

[3:38] the thing that seemed like failure had encompassed everything those moments [3:43] where Christ is on the cross and especially that moment when Jesus gave up his life [3:48] when the Son of God physically died on the cross [3:51] when failure seemed the most imminent that’s when God was the great conqueror [3:57] because he took all of our expectations [4:01] he vanquished them

[4:04] he said you’ve been expecting the wrong thing I am the God that can defeat death [4:08] by going directly into the face of death [4:13] so his unchanging grace is grounded in certainty [4:20] it’s grounded in absolute it’s grounded in a promise that overcomes everything even death [4:29] because the Son of God got up from the grave and walked out from it defeating everything [4:38] that could ever come against you and come against me

[4:42] and so when Jesus comes and he gives us these parables [4:46] when he comes and he talks about a sower that sows seeds on different soils [4:51] when he comes and he talks about seed that grows up into wheat [4:55] that almost seems like it’s going to be overcome by weeds [4:58] but then he looks and he says the weeds won’t overcome it because I’m going to gather them [5:01] I’m going to burn them

[5:03] when he gives us these stories when he gives us these parables [5:06] what he’s doing is he’s coming into a world that seems to deny everything about him [5:11] and he’s saying that even in those moments when everything denies who I am [5:15] understand that I’ve got a plan [5:17] and the Son of God standing directly in front of them facing the cross [5:21] walking directly towards it telling them you can trust everything about God

[5:26] even in the face of death because that’s where he was going [5:29] and then he gives them a very interesting parable that’s very short [5:34] starting in verse 31

[5:39] he put another parable before them saying [5:43] the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field [5:50] it is the smallest of all seeds [5:53] but when it is grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree [6:00] so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches [6:06] there is a temptation as there was in the day that Jesus spoke this parable in Israel

[6:12] there’s a temptation in our lives to think about the kingdom of God as a far off hope [6:18] that doesn’t really affect the way that we live now [6:22] there’s this temptation for me to sit in the life that I’ve created [6:26] in the things that I’m doing and the actions that I’m taking the decisions that I’m making [6:30] and forecast a kingdom that is far off a kingdom that I haven’t realized [6:35] a kingdom that I haven’t seen a kingdom that doesn’t feel necessarily like it’s impacting me

[6:40] each and every day and for me to simply say when I get to the kingdom [6:45] that is when it will become apparent in me [6:48] when I get to the kingdom that’s when its values will make sense to me [6:51] when I’m in the kingdom and when I see the kingdom that is when everything is going to begin to make sense [6:56] but then Jesus challenges that thought and he continues to give us this reality [7:01] saying the kingdom of heaven is like a little seed that’s been planted now

[7:08] so he challenges our future expectations with saying no it’s not something that’s far off [7:14] it’s something that’s directly in front of you [7:16] it’s something that’s happening in the here and the now [7:20] it’s something that’s happening in our lives [7:23] so point number one this morning that we’ve got to see in this story is that Jesus has made his kingdom certain [7:30] and is building it now

[7:33] note that he doesn’t say the kingdom of heaven is going to be like [7:39] note that he says the kingdom of heaven is like [7:43] so he uses his present thought process and saying the mustard seed has been sown [7:51] it has been planted [7:53] in Matthew chapter 3 John the Baptist is this prophet who’s been proclaimed from the Old Testament [7:59] that would come and the scripture says he came to prepare the way of the Lord

[8:03] and he says in Matthew chapter 3 verse 2 he says [8:07] repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [8:14] he doesn’t look to Israel and say prepare for the kingdom of heaven’s not that far off [8:20] prepare for the kingdom of heaven is coming [8:23] prepare for the kingdom of heaven is going to happen [8:27] no John the Baptist looks to Israel and he says repent because the kingdom is at hand

[8:33] and this goes against everything that they would have ever thought because they’re not seeing it [8:37] they’re not feeling it they don’t know it [8:40] but John the Baptist says it is directly in front of you even when you don’t feel it [8:45] even when you haven’t known it [8:47] 54 times in the book of Matthew the scriptures proclaim the kingdom of God [8:52] Matthew chapter 10 when Jesus sends his disciples out he tells them when you go

[8:56] proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand [9:00] and how could Jesus with absolute certainty continue to tell this world [9:03] the kingdom’s here it’s right in front of your face [9:06] what have we learned? the kingdom is all about Jesus [9:10] the kingdom is all about who he is [9:13] the kingdom is all about the fact that Jesus is God and this must be dealt with in our lives

[9:17] the language that is used in scripture to describe the kingdom of God [9:21] begins to describe it as something that is uncommon and may seem very small to them [9:27] but it doesn’t change the fact of what it is [9:30] you see what had happened in this world then and even now and continues to happen [9:35] is that we begin to look at kingdom in terms that God never described that it would be like [9:41] we think of the kingdom as everything that we see in front of us

[9:45] as military rule as political reign as taking over something through force [9:50] and Jesus never comes in and delivers that [9:53] but he’s fulfilling every promise that God ever made [9:56] the language of the kingdom is urgent and it is present [10:01] in the Old Testament the prophet Daniel described the kingdom of God over and over again [10:06] and this is how he describes it in chapter 2 verse 44

[10:09] it says that in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom [10:14] that shall never be destroyed nor shall the kingdom be left to another people [10:19] it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end [10:25] and it shall stand forever [10:29] so Daniel is forecasting a coming kingdom and he says that in the days of those kings [10:34] and what he means by that in the original language is that in the days when you have already set up kingdoms

[10:41] in those days when everything that you’ve done seems to be reigning [10:46] and everything that you’re doing seems to be the definitive power of how things should be [10:51] and how things should go [10:52] understand that God will even in the face of that he will institute his own kingdom [10:58] and it will overpower those kingdoms and it will destroy those kingdoms [11:03] but it will never be given to a kingdom like the one of this world

[11:08] so even though Jesus comes as the king they don’t recognize it because what are they still looking for? [11:15] a kingdom like the one of this world [11:19] when all through the Old Testament the prophets proclaim it’s not going to be as this world [11:25] because this world cannot contain God’s kingdom [11:29] this world cannot understand God’s kingdom [11:33] because this world wants no part of the kingdom even though it’s coming to break into pieces

[11:40] the kingdoms of this world and bring all of them to an end and endure forever [11:46] in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 28 the writer says [11:51] therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken [11:57] and thus let us offer to God unacceptable worship with reverence and awe [12:04] the text tells us not that we will receive [12:10] but we are to be grateful that we have received and are continuing to receive

[12:19] that’s the tense of that term [12:21] it’s something that has already happened and something that continues to happen each and every day [12:29] it’s an action that has a continuing response each and every day in the life that you are living [12:35] there is an already but not yet aspect to God’s kingdom [12:42] and that’s what Jesus is meaning in this parable of the mustard seed [12:46] he says it’s right here, it’s right in front of you but it seems so insignificant to you

[12:52] and he uses this phrase of the mustard seed which isn’t the smallest seed in the world [12:57] but in Jewish and Roman culture it was referred to as the smallest because it’s the one that they use the most [13:03] and it’s this tiny little seed that seems absolutely insignificant [13:08] that if you saw it strewn along the path you wouldn’t even notice it because it’s so tiny [13:13] but when you cultivate it and when you plant it, it will grow into a plant that’s larger than seeds [13:21] that start larger than that seed

[13:23] and it grows and it towers into this giant plant in the garden [13:29] and that’s where mustard comes from [13:32] and Jesus says that’s what the kingdom is going to be like [13:37] Jesus meant to come, infiltrate the kingdoms of this world [13:41] and begin to grow and develop a kingdom of his making [13:46] right within the very kingdom that we make in this world

[13:51] Jesus meant to engage this world, Jesus meant to infiltrate this world [13:56] Jesus meant to plant the seed of who he is in this world [14:01] right in the middle of every other kingdom that this world is setting up [14:06] and he says that what I will do in that is I will grow my kingdom to where there’s coming a day [14:12] where it will overpower everything and everything will look tiny compared to what I’m doing [14:20] he says it’s already here and it’s growing now

[14:26] when Jesus tells the writer of Hebrews to write that the kingdom of God should give us this great gratitude [14:35] that gives us gratitude, worship, reverence and awe [14:38] it’s because of God’s grand design that is revealed in Jesus [14:43] that these feelings come over us [14:48] but there’s also this reality that apart from Jesus [14:53] you can never have that type of gratitude

[14:58] apart from Jesus you’ll never know that type of reverence [15:02] apart from Jesus you’ll never have the awe that the author of Hebrews tells us about [15:08] and apart from Jesus there is no acceptable worship that God will ever receive

[15:17] this is what we do in our lives [15:21] we set up a kingdom [15:23] we do what we want [15:26] we define success in a certain way [15:29] we set up goals, we set up expectations [15:32] and then we expect the kingdom to live within that

[15:38] and the scriptures tells us that even the kingdom of your own making will be broken into pieces by God’s kingdom

[15:47] Jesus says that you should have absolute gratitude [15:50] for the fact that God would come and he would revolutionize everything about your world [15:55] that he would come and he would change even your expectations [15:59] that he would come and he would change even your goals [16:01] and he would come and even change your very definition of what your life exists for [16:07] because the kingdom of heaven is not necessarily what you were expecting

[16:11] but it is better than what you were expecting [16:14] what else would possibly give us this reverence, this awe, this gratitude, this worship [16:20] what else would do that except something that’s even better than what you wanted [16:26] many of you have been working your entire lives for a kingdom [16:29] and you’re exhausted and you’re worn and you’re disappointed [16:33] because this world has disappointed you

[16:35] people have forsaken you [16:37] yet you continue to fight and push in that very same direction [16:42] that’s wearing you out over and over and over again [16:45] and Jesus comes and that’s why he says [16:48] my kingdom is not what you would expect it to be [16:51] the God of the universe doesn’t have to work that way

[16:54] and my kingdom is better because it means that there’s an end to your wear [16:59] there’s an end to your strife [17:01] there’s an end to your hurt [17:03] there’s an end to your pain [17:05] there’s an end to this race on this treadmill of life that you have over and over [17:11] where the carrot dangles right in front of you

[17:14] and you’ll never reach it [17:15] and maybe you even know you’ll never reach it [17:18] but you continue to grab, you continue to run [17:20] and it’s just disappointment [17:22] and even if you grab the carrot you find that it’s rotten [17:27] doesn’t even taste like you thought it would taste

[17:30] so then you move on to the next one [17:32] and you say but the next one will be ripe [17:34] the next one will be ripe [17:35] the next one will be ripe [17:37] oh no, no, that one’s ripe [17:38] the next one will be ripe

[17:39] and over and over again you fulfill in your very life the definition of insanity [17:44] all the while claiming to be perfectly sane

[17:50] friends don’t do the same thing over and over again [17:53] expecting a different outcome [17:57] Jesus comes to revolutionize everything [18:01] about who you are [18:03] about what you are living for [18:06] and anything other than that is unacceptable

[18:09] because Jesus says I’ve done the work [18:12] I’ve planted my kingdom in this world [18:15] and I’m building it [18:17] and it’s for you [18:19] you can enjoy it [18:20] you can experience it

[18:22] you can even feel it [18:24] because it’s always sin that robs us of that gratitude isn’t it?

[18:31] that’s why secondly [18:33] Jesus is working the kingdom into and out of the lives of those who follow him [18:43] Jesus is working and he says that it’s like a mustard seed that’s planted [18:47] and it begins to grow [18:49] do you know that when you come to faith in Jesus [18:51] when you’ve come to trust in Jesus

[18:53] you will not become that great plant overnight

[18:59] you will not know everything about Jesus [19:03] you will not know what perfect obedience looks like or feels like [19:07] you will not have repented of all the bad patterns yet [19:12] but what Jesus comes [19:14] is he gives us this notion [19:16] he gives us this truth

[19:17] that everything that he does is about him [19:20] and he begins in you [19:22] through this little spark [19:24] that will start a fire [19:25] that will grow and it will grow and it will grow [19:28] and as you fall in love with who he is and what he has done

[19:32] you will begin to see yourself [19:35] turning more and more of yourself over to God [19:38] than you ever thought you would have before [19:41] the one thing I’ve noticed about people who live their lives [19:45] growing in faith in Jesus Christ [19:47] is they never feel that they’ve ever arrived

[19:49] and they’re grateful for it

[19:53] you seem like this Christian giant [19:56] and they’ll look at you and they’ll say [19:58] the more I know of Jesus [20:00] the more I know of my sin and the more repentance that I know is necessary [20:06] do you know that’s what it looks like for the kingdom of God to grow in your life [20:11] do you know the kingdom of God growing in your life

[20:13] is not that you feel great about who you are [20:18] it’s not that you become this great titan [20:22] and this all powerful ruler [20:23] inside of the church or inside of the kingdom [20:26] no, as you grow towards the kingdom of God [20:28] you see how great Jesus is

[20:31] how wonderful his grace is [20:33] and how much more you need his grace today [20:36] than you ever thought you did yesterday [20:39] you don’t grow independent in the kingdom [20:42] you grow more dependent [20:45] and that’s what it looks like

[20:47] he’s growing the kingdom into your life [20:51] the change and growth that Jesus demands in your life [20:54] can be obeyed and sought after [20:57] without pressure and frustration though

[21:00] why? [21:02] because when you depend on Jesus [21:04] that’s comfort

[21:09] that’s comfort [21:09] as many of you try to come to Jesus [21:12] and white knuckle your way to obedience [21:14] change your behavior [21:16] be more moral [21:19] be better

[21:21] be prettier [21:22] be thinner [21:24] be stronger

[21:28] and that’s everything that the gospel stands to change [21:31] about what you see life for [21:35] you know how good you have to be [21:37] to enter the kingdom of God [21:39] as good as God

[21:44] give up

[21:46] that standard is too high my friend [21:48] it’s too great for you [21:50] you’ll never make it [21:52] you’ll never enter into the kingdom [21:53] because you’re still playing a power struggle [21:55] I’ll prove how good I am

[21:57] I’ll prove how strong I can be

[22:01] do you know that if that was the way [22:03] to please God [22:05] Jesus could have stayed right [22:07] at the right hand of the father [22:08] and never stepped off of his throne

[22:12] Jesus came [22:14] because we weren’t good enough [22:16] because we aren’t strong enough [22:19] because I’ll never be pretty enough

[22:24] Jesus came [22:26] to give absolute

[22:30] Jesus came to give absolute [22:33] peace [22:35] Jesus came to give absolute comfort [22:38] He says come unto me if you’re weary [22:40] if you’re burdened I’ll give you rest [22:43] how does he do that?

[22:44] because all the obedience of God [22:46] he did it [22:48] all the sins that keep you away from God [22:50] he took it [22:52] he took it straight to the cross [22:53] died for you

[22:54] gave his very righteousness to you [22:57] that is the only way in which you can [23:00] walk through this life with peace [23:02] if you’re absolutely certain [23:04] number one that you will never have to pay [23:06] for your sin

[23:07] and number two if you will never have to be [23:10] obedient or good enough [23:11] because Jesus did it for you [23:13] apart from that the kingdom can’t be found [23:15] because apart from that it doesn’t make God [23:17] great

[23:18] only grace makes God [23:21] absolutely great in your life [23:23] stop fighting

[23:27] give up [23:29] surrender [23:30] trust the grace of Jesus Christ [23:33] above absolutely everything else [23:35] because in his grace is forgiveness that’s eternal [23:39] in his grace is righteousness

[23:41] that can be realized right here and right now [23:44] because I didn’t have to build that bank account [23:46] Jesus did it [23:47] and he just signed it over into my name [23:49] and so I look at it and it’s full [23:52] no more obedience is ever needed

[23:54] I can walk through life [23:56] rest easy [23:57] and simply grow into the person [24:00] that God would have me to grow into [24:02] with no pressure

[24:06] no fighting [24:08] no worrying is my reputation good enough [24:12] no worrying will I ever grow enough

[24:17] because when Jesus died on the cross [24:19] and he yells out paid in full [24:22] that was enough

[24:27] when you come to that place [24:29] what begins to happen in your life [24:30] is the kingdom will begin to grow

[24:35] and God will not be this warlord in your life

[24:41] he will be father [24:44] he will be the dad that loves me [24:47] the dad who will never turn his back from me

[24:53] Jesus will be my king [24:57] the king who is pleased [24:58] with those who have entered into his kingdom [25:01] the king who is worshipped by our dependence and our trust [25:07] in his rule [25:10] and he will look to us

[25:12] and he will say [25:13] you are my brother [25:16] you are my sister [25:17] you see everything [25:19] that I have [25:21] well you are an heir to that

[25:24] you will receive it [25:26] live for it [25:28] because it is already yours

[25:31] that is why [25:33] in Matthew chapter 6 [25:36] Jesus looks [25:39] and he says but seek first the kingdom of God [25:42] and his righteousness [25:44] and all these things

[25:47] will be added to you

[25:51] because Jesus knows [25:53] that apart from his righteousness [25:55] apart from what he came to give us [25:58] we will never see the kingdom

[26:01] and he says you know it [26:03] he is very literally saying [26:05] seek Jesus

[26:09] seek him [26:11] follow him [26:13] chase him [26:15] and when you live in that type of pursuit [26:19] the kingdom is so alive [26:22] in your life

[26:25] and he says everything you have ever needed [26:29] everything that will ever be the greatest desire of your life [26:34] you will have it [26:36] because it is in Jesus [26:39] but I think so often what we do [26:41] is that we convince ourselves

[26:43] that in seeking Jesus

[26:47] we will have everything we want [26:51] everything we have naturally always desired in our lives [26:56] what kind of a kingdom [26:58] would it be if Jesus defined it by our standards

[27:03] you see when he says seek my kingdom [27:06] and my righteousness what he is saying is [27:08] I will revolutionize your life [27:10] I will change everything [27:12] I will come in and I will remake everything [27:15] because if Jesus is going to move into a house

[27:17] he is going to clean it up first [27:20] and he is going to make it to his standard [27:22] and he knows that you will never do it [27:24] so he just does it himself [27:26] Colossians 1 verse 13 [27:29] Paul writes

[27:29] he has delivered us from the domain of darkness [27:33] and transferred us to the kingdom [27:34] of his beloved son [27:37] he is saying [27:37] I have already moved you [27:40] if you have trusted in Jesus

[27:41] I have already delivered you from your sin [27:44] it is here [27:45] it is now [27:47] live it the values of the kingdom of God are for you [27:50] the values of the kingdom of God are right now [27:52] and God means to grow us

[27:55] into Jesus [27:57] and he seeks to grow us [27:59] and change us [28:01] for a mission that his kingdom [28:03] is wrapped up in [28:05] you see the kingdom of God

[28:07] is wrapped up in trusting [28:09] worshiping and proclaiming [28:11] the good news of what Jesus has done [28:13] to save us [28:15] you see in the old testament [28:17] we see these little pictures

[28:19] of what it looks like to have a king [28:20] when David was about [28:23] to become king they would go through the streets [28:25] and they would say Saul has killed us thousands [28:27] David has killed us ten thousands [28:29] and this was done to honor David

[28:31] and when he becomes king [28:33] they have a triumphal entry for him [28:35] to come into the city of David [28:37] and they proclaim the greatness of David [28:40] you know that this is a picture [28:41] of what Jesus is doing in your life

[28:45] if you have trusted in him [28:47] if you have trusted in him [28:47] it is the victory reign [28:49] it is not about how obedient you are getting [28:51] it is about how great Jesus is [28:53] it is about worshiping him

[28:55] it is about proclaiming his greatness [28:57] to the world around us [28:59] it is as simple as that [29:00] that the good news of Jesus Christ [29:02] is not about how great you are [29:04] but it is about how great our king is

[29:07] and when we [29:09] proclaim Jesus [29:11] with our lives and with our words [29:13] what we are doing is [29:15] proclaiming the kingdom around us [29:17] and that is how Jesus

[29:19] is infiltrating this world with his kingdom [29:23] he is not waiting [29:24] to grow it until the world shapes up [29:26] he knows the future [29:28] it is not a good thing that is going to happen [29:31] what he is saying is

[29:33] I will just do it in the middle of it [29:36] he wants to do it through you [29:37] he wants to grow [29:39] into you [29:40] and he wants to grow [29:41] out of you

[29:42] into the lives of other people [29:45] this enables us [29:47] when God transfers us over [29:49] into the kingdom through our trust and hope [29:51] in him it enables us to [29:53] live for what he wants because we trust

[29:55] him with everything [29:57] Colossians 3 gives us the practical [29:59] outplay of what this is going to look like [30:02] the text starts in [30:03] verse 1 of Colossians 3 it says [30:05] if then

[30:07] that is a very important thing [30:09] do not go on from there [30:12] yet [30:13] that is a big if [30:15] he is saying [30:16] if this is true of you

[30:18] Colossians 1.13 that says [30:21] you have been transferred from darkness [30:23] you have been delivered out of it [30:24] you have been put into the kingdom of God [30:26] Colossians 3 is going to be the natural [30:29] outplay of what begins to happen

[30:30] in your life as you give more of yourself [30:33] over to God and you receive more [30:35] of him into you [30:36] if then you have been raised with Christ [30:39] seek [30:40] the things that are above

[30:41] what are the things that are above? [30:43] the kingdom of God and his righteousness [30:46] where Christ is [30:48] seated at the right hand of God [30:50] set your minds [30:51] on things that are above not on things

[30:54] that are on earth for you have died [30:56] and your life is hidden with Christ [30:57] in God when God [30:59] who is your excuse me when Christ [31:01] who is your life appears then [31:03] you also will appear with him

[31:05] in glory put to death [31:08] therefore what is [31:09] earthly in you? [31:11] sexual immorality? [31:13] impurity? passion? [31:14] evil desire? and covetousness?

[31:16] which is idolatry? [31:18] he just kind of sums up sin [31:22] this is the great problem [31:23] of sin in your life is that you are living [31:25] for a kingdom that is not God’s that is what idolatry is [31:29] trying to find satisfaction in another kingdom

[31:32] trying to find hope [31:33] in something that is apart from God [31:37] it is taking what even can be a good thing [31:40] and making it an ultimate thing in your life [31:42] and then it becomes a God thing to you [31:47] set your mind on things that are above

[31:52] don’t dare reason your way out of that

[31:58] don’t go to the scriptures [32:00] and reason out [32:02] why that is not an absolute command for you [32:07] don’t reason out [32:08] well but I have got to do these other things [32:10] no

[32:11] reason your way out of this [32:13] I am not going to let you out of it [32:14] put your mind on things [32:17] that are above [32:19] there is a saying that don’t be so heavenly minded [32:21] that you are not earthly good

[32:23] well Dr. John Piper writes [32:25] the only people that have ever been any earthly good [32:27] are those that have been heavenly minded

[32:33] that if then is so important

[32:39] friend what kingdom are you seeking [32:43] friend where is your mind

[32:51] what invades your thoughts [32:54] what makes up the desires of your life [32:58] not in this hour [32:59] [32:59] not in the hour [33:00] the rest of them

[33:03] tomorrow morning [33:05] the next day [33:08] what will be saturating [33:11] your mind day in [33:14] and day out [33:15] is it the things

[33:17] that are above [33:19] is it the kingdom of God [33:21] because that is wrapped up [33:23] in trusting, worshiping [33:25] and proclaiming the good news [33:27] of what Jesus has done

[33:29] for us [33:31] will you live the cross centered [33:33] life [33:35] will you sacrifice what you will not [33:37] keep for eternity [33:38] for what you will never lose for eternity with Jesus

[33:43] you are redeemed by Jesus [33:45] to be changed by him [33:47] for a mission [33:49] do you know that [33:51] he didn’t redeem you [33:53] to leave you where you are

[33:56] not even where you are right now [33:59] God did not redeem me [34:01] so that in 2014 [34:03] I could just stay where I am right now [34:05] God redeemed me [34:07] to continue to change me

[34:09] to continue to form me [34:10] to continue to grow me [34:12] because I am not the biggest plant in the garden yet [34:16] God says there is more change [34:19] there is more of you that you can give over to me [34:21] there is more of the cross than you have not even understood

[34:24] there is more gratitude that God can fill my life with [34:27] there is more hope that he can fill my life with [34:29] there is more glory that he wants to get from me [34:33] and so the change continues [34:35] the growth continues [34:37] the mustard seed continues to grow

[34:39] and that kind of life will begin [34:41] to unfold the branches of the kingdom of God [34:47] and friend those branches are larger than you [34:52] this is why he gives us [34:54] the church [34:55] it is the present reality of the

[34:58] collection of his missional kingdom [35:00] right now [35:02] you look around and you say [35:04] it’s not really a kingdom I would want [35:07] and Jesus says that’s why I called it a mustard seed [35:11] it’s going to start small

[35:14] but he says what he is going to do through it [35:16] is going to revolutionize the world

[35:19] thirdly this morning Jesus is [35:22] ruling and conquering [35:24] through his church [35:27] you know God’s kingdom is personal [35:30] I think we have cleared that up [35:35] if you know it’s also bigger than you

[35:38] you know God’s kingdom is not all about you [35:42] look in verse 32 again [35:45] in Matthew 13 [35:46] he says that mustard seed [35:50] is the smallest of seeds but when it is [35:52] grown it is larger

[35:54] than all the garden plants [35:56] and becomes a tree [35:58] so that the birds of the air come [35:59] and they make nests in its branches [36:01] and in verse 33 he writes [36:04] he told them then another

[36:06] parable [36:08] the kingdom of heaven is like leaven [36:10] that a woman took [36:11] and hid in three measures of flower [36:14] till it had [36:16] leavened all of the flower

[36:17] so that it had taken over that flower

[36:23] you know when God writes [36:25] in this text and he says that the [36:27] branches are going to grow and the birds [36:29] are going to come [36:30] he departs from what is a literal [36:33] analogy and he becomes somewhat

[36:35] hyperbolic because what he is saying [36:37] is mustard plants don’t grow [36:39] that large [36:41] they don’t grow to be giant [36:43] trees [36:45] so Jesus makes

[36:46] the analogy bigger [36:47] and he says this is going to be the largest mustard plant [36:50] in the world that it has ever seen [36:52] he is saying it is so large [36:54] the branches will shoot out [36:56] and they will be so big that birds

[36:58] will come they will make nests [37:00] in Mark chapter 4 verse 30 he says [37:02] with what shall we compare the kingdom [37:04] of God or what parable shall we use [37:06] for it, it is like a grain of mustard seed [37:08] which when it is sown it is the smallest

[37:10] of all seeds on the earth and it [37:12] grows into a tree [37:15] that birds come [37:16] and hide in its [37:18] shadow is how he ends that

[37:22] that is a large [37:24] large tree

[37:28] you know what that tells me [37:30] that means I am not enough

[37:34] that means God is not [37:36] just building the kingdom of me

[37:40] that means [37:40] that when God comes into my life [37:43] when he begins to grow me [37:44] he has got more in mind [37:46] than just me [37:48] and my destiny

[37:50] you know some of the problem with the way you are growing [37:52] as a believer in Jesus Christ is because you think [37:54] the kingdom of God is all about you [37:57] and you think [37:58] that you are just going to grow by yourself [38:00] your own way how you define it

[38:02] how you describe it but that is not change [38:04] that is not transformation God is not satisfied [38:07] with just you, God is not satisfied until [38:09] you grow and begin [38:11] to seek what he is doing in this [38:13] world the way that he has defined

[38:15] it the way that he has designed [38:17] it and the way that he has described it [38:19] and that means that there are a whole lot of [38:21] other people involved in [38:23] that [38:25] the example of Jesus is not

[38:27] someone that is completely self centered [38:28] the example of Jesus is someone that sacrifices [38:31] for everyone [38:34] so your spiritual growth [38:35] will only go as so far until it stops being [38:38] about you and starts being about others

[38:41] because when he [38:42] describes those birds what he is saying [38:43] is that the mission of Jesus demands [38:46] and builds a community [38:47] of Jesus [38:49] that is the church

[38:52] branches begin to shoot out and others [38:54] come and others rest [38:55] in that kingdom that you are already in [38:58] Jesus is speaking of the [39:01] spread of the news [39:01] of the gospel throughout the entire world

[39:04] you know if the kingdom never grows [39:06] out of our lives and into the lives of others [39:08] then we do not understand [39:10] what it is to seek Jesus’s kingdom [39:14] the growth of his kingdom is about [39:16] a mission to build it larger

[39:18] and larger in this present age [39:20] into an uncommon [39:22] kingdom here and [39:24] now [39:25] it is not common to live for other people [39:29] it is not common

[39:30] to sacrifice for somebody else

[39:34] what are we wrapped up in our lives? [39:37] me [39:38] what have you done for me lately?

[39:44] that is not the kingdom of God [39:46] the kingdom of God [39:48] he comes and he sets up and he lives inside of you [39:50] and you begin to live like Jesus [39:52] you begin to grow like Jesus [39:54] and you begin to think like Jesus

[39:56] and what did Jesus say? [39:58] Jesus always said things like not my will be done

[40:05] yours father [40:07] he gave up

[40:10] any right [40:12] to deity [40:13] that he ever had [40:14] could have vanquished the world in a thought [40:18] but instead [40:19] he was carried to a cross

[40:20] to sacrifice himself for everyone else

[40:25] you know the church is God’s [40:27] designed to spread the mission of Jesus [40:29] in Ephesians chapter 1 verses 22 and 23 [40:32] Paul writes [40:33] and he put all things under his feet [40:36] his is Jesus

[40:38] and gave Jesus his head [40:40] over all things to what? [40:43] to the church [40:44] which is his body [40:46] the fullness of him [40:47] who fills all in all

[40:51] Ephesians 1.23 [40:53] means that apart from the work [40:55] that takes place [40:56] in and through the church [40:58] you will not find the kingdom of God [41:03] it describes the church

[41:05] as the fullness [41:06] of Jesus [41:08] in other words Jesus has designed [41:11] his kingdom in such a way [41:13] that he makes himself [41:15] full

[41:16] with the church [41:17] apart from the church Jesus does not [41:21] have fullness and that is by his design [41:25] what does that mean for you? [41:27] that means that when you seek [41:30] to build a spiritual

[41:32] kingdom by yourself [41:34] you are not seeking the kingdom of God

[41:43] that any environment [41:45] that you will create [41:47] will not be as great as the environment [41:49] of the church [41:51] as imperfect as it is

[41:54] if you do not seek to be [41:57] and build the church as God [41:58] has designed it you are seeking [42:00] the kingdom of yourself

[42:05] God wants to build you [42:06] and grow you for his mission [42:08] he does

[42:10] and he has designed the church [42:12] for that very purpose [42:16] the uncommon nature of the mustard seed [42:18] is that we give up authority [42:20] over ourselves to find real power [42:22] and a real kingdom

[42:23] we give ourselves fully to Jesus [42:25] and he delivers us into his body [42:28] the church

[42:32] you say that sounds pretty vulnerable [42:35] because people are imperfect [42:38] and are not people who make up the church [42:40] yes [42:42] yes they are

[42:45] but as imperfect [42:46] as I am [42:48] that is even more of a reason [42:50] for me not to try to change the script

[42:55] if Jesus says it is good [42:57] it is good, why? [42:59] because Jesus is good [43:01] and when we fight [43:04] to do things our way [43:05] what we are doing is

[43:07] we are fighting God [43:11] friend do not do that [43:14] friend do not do that [43:15] that is not God’s design [43:17] and this is how God is working the kingdom [43:19] out into every corner

[43:21] of the world [43:22] it is personal [43:23] but God says through the church of Jesus Christ [43:26] I will do more [43:28] than I could have done just through you [43:31] because God wants to build

[43:32] an army for mission [43:34] and you cannot live mission [43:37] without transformation [43:38] and it takes a whole heap of chains [43:40] to join a lot of other people [43:43] to live that mission

[43:47] and God [43:48] gives this final

[43:53] parable

[43:55] he really says the same thing twice [43:57] just in a different way [43:58] but I think [43:59] if you have ever seen bread being made [44:02] or if you have ever made bread [44:04] you know that a leavening agent

[44:08] put it in his whole [44:09] giant clump of dough [44:12] just put this little leavening agent [44:13] in there [44:15] over a period of minutes or hours

[44:19] it just takes over everything

[44:23] it just changes the [44:25] actual chemistry

[44:29] of that dough [44:31] and it revolutionizes everything [44:33] and so what God is saying is [44:34] if you will trust his design [44:36] if you will trust his way [44:39] if you will repent of the

[44:41] sins that are so selfish [44:43] about seeking your kingdom [44:45] about building the life that you want [44:48] apart from what he has already said [44:50] life needs to be about [44:52] if you will do that

[44:56] he will use you [44:58] even if you feel [44:59] insignificant in this life [45:02] he will use you as a part [45:04] of what he is doing to change the entire world

[45:09] because he means for the gospel [45:11] to invade every corner [45:14] of this earth [45:16] and he wants to start [45:18] right here [45:20] right now

[45:21] with you

[45:25] you must surrender [45:28] to him [45:30] in his ways [45:31] first

[45:35] this is what Jesus means to do [45:37] through the gospel

[45:40] Jesus wants his kingdom [45:42] to spread through the world [45:43] and he will do it [45:44] the question is will you trust him

[45:49] all trust requires change

[45:52] will you obey him

[45:57] from what kingdom are you building [45:59] with your life [46:01] in this moment [46:03] it is just you

[46:09] consider that [46:10] where do all your efforts go

[46:14] what do all your actions actually say [46:17] about your life

[46:21] are you becoming more obedient [46:23] to the call of the gospel in your life [46:25] are you becoming more sacrificial [46:26] are you becoming more loving [46:29] towards others [46:30] are you giving up so that you can give to others

[46:34] or are you growing into you [46:38] are you growing into your kingdom

[46:42] are you just doing every day to get [46:46] friend the hope [46:50] is that everything can change [46:52] in a moment [46:55] that is what [46:56] grace means

[46:59] for right now you will trust in Jesus [47:03] he will take what you think maybe [47:05] this is too small [47:07] a little bit of a planet [47:09] right into your life

[47:13] he will be the master [47:15] who will grow you

[47:20] to be his child [47:23] as the band comes up [47:25] I want us to take a moment and consider these things [47:29] every week we respond [47:32] to the call of God’s word [47:34] we are going to reflect on our lives through the Lord’s Supper

[47:37] this morning as you reflect on [47:41] the blood and the body of Christ [47:44] these representations [47:46] of what he did on the cross when he bled for us [47:50] when his body was broken [47:51] for us

[47:53] as you consider these things [47:55] if you are a follower of Jesus [47:57] and you partake of these this morning [48:00] I want you to do so with a mind set [48:04] of trusting his grace [48:07] above all else

[48:09] trusting his commands [48:12] trusting his ways [48:16] trusting [48:17] the cross of Jesus [48:19] to change your life [48:22] today

[48:24] and tomorrow [48:25] if you have not known Jesus [48:28] if you have not trusted in him [48:30] maybe you have come to a realization [48:32] today that there is no part of God’s kingdom [48:35] in you

[48:36] friend I am not here to shame you

[48:40] friend I am here to offer you hope

[48:44] because hope is in that same Jesus [48:47] who makes those commands [48:50] and he says no matter where you are [48:52] no matter what you have done [48:54] no matter what you are doing right now [48:56] no matter what your struggle

[48:57] no matter what your sin [48:59] you can come to him [49:01] as you are [49:03] and he will forgive you of anything [49:06] and everything [49:07] and he will make you new

[49:08] and he will begin the growth of that seed [49:11] in your life now [49:14] if that is you friend trust Jesus [49:17] and Jesus alone [49:19] I would love to pray with you [49:21] I would love to talk with you about that

[49:22] if you are in that situation [49:23] I will be over here in the corner [49:25] there will be some in the foyer [49:26] if you prefer to go out there [49:30] but friend your life [49:32] is too fleeting

[49:33] to wait [49:35] today is the day of salvation

[49:38] when you are ready [49:40] come