January 29, 2012

Growth is often imperceptible. It seems like days and weeks will go by. I see my boys every day. But one day it suddenly hits me that they have really grown. One day I look at Matthew and say, “Wow, I think you are taller than me. Sometimes I can remember saying to Angie, “I think Drew or Matt has just turned a corner in his maturity. It’s happening all the time, but you just don’t see it.

Today we look at the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast. In these parables Jesus speaks about the unique nature of the kingdom of God. Jesus makes it clear that the Kingdom of God is established in a surprising way.

I. THE MINISTRY OF JESUS IS THE BEGINNING OF KINGDOM FULFILLMENT. Mt.13:31-32

The Presidential election of 2012 is already upon us as we watch the Republican primaries. During the time of campaigning, the candidates lay out their agendas and make their promises. Once a president is elected the people expect the president to deliver on his promises.

Now in the Old Testament we read about God’s Kingdom and we see that the nation of Israel was a primary manifestation of the Kingdom of God. The kingdom of Israel was not the kingdom of God but the kingdom of God was revealed through the kingdom of Israel. Just as today we would say that the church is not the kingdom of God, but the church reveals the kingdom of God. In the days of Jesus, the Jewish people had a number of expectations about the kingdom of God. By en large, they believed that at the end of the age, God would come and defeat Israel’s enemies, gathering Israel together in the Promised Land under the rule of God. It would be a time of peace and security, with the curse of sin and evil broken. This is what they were looking for.

After Jesus rose from the dead and just before he ascended, his disciples came to him and in Acts 1:6-7 we read, “So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” Clearly the disciples were thinking that Jesus was going to restore the kingdom of Israel. But the kingdom of God is bigger than the kingdom of Israel, and Jesus didn’t answer them in nationalistic terms. But the Jews understood this to be the promise of God from the Old Testament and it affected the way they looked at Jesus.

In the parable of the mustard seed Jesus gives us a window into how the kingdom of God is fully established. The mustard seed is not literally the smallest seed, but proverbially it is thought of as the smallest seed. A mustard seed is about one millimeter in diameter. The seeds of black mustard germinate in five days and quickly grow into a plant about 10 feet tall.

As we know, the primary message of Jesus was about the kingdom of God. When he tells this parable he is speaking to those who saw his ministry and who questioned whether Jesus was really bringing the kingdom of God. As they watched Jesus it didn’t seem to them that Jesus was fulfilling the Old Testament promises regarding the kingdom of God. Jesus wasn’t meeting their expectations. Roman oppression was still as strong as ever. There was no one on the throne of David. As far as they were concerned, Jesus had good things to say, but he couldn’t deliver.

So Jesus tells this parable. As best as I understand it, Jesus is saying that in him is the fullness of the kingdom of God. In other words, everything that the kingdom of God is and will be is found in Jesus. Think about the tiny mustard seed. In that little seed is all that is needed to grow the tree. You might say that the tree is in the seed. What Jesus began with his amazing teachings and miracles would blossom into the full establishment of the kingdom of God. The fullness of the kingdom is in Jesus.

Now there are a couple of things going on here. For one thing, Jesus is indicating that the people of Israel didn’t have a clear understanding of the kingdom of God. Their expectations of the kingdom of God were different from what Jesus was presenting. So in this parable, Jesus is exhorting the people to watch and listen carefully. He was exhorting them to consider that maybe their expectations were not correct.

So what does this parable tell us about the kingdom of God? Well it tells us that we shouldn’t look for a grand entrance. The kingdom of God doesn’t begin with a parade. It begins in a small and seemingly insignificant way. This is important to know because one might easily misinterpret events. Case in point: The crucifixion. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, God in the flesh and then he dies on a cross. Is this the kingdom of God? O yes. It is the kingdom of God in process. The mustard seed grows until it dwarfs the other plants in the garden. And the birds of the air come and rest in its branches. The kingdom of God may seem to have an insignificant beginning but it too will come to fruition and it will dwarf any and every power and principality in heaven and earth. And without pressing the parable too far, many will find rest in the kingdom of God. The ministry of Jesus is the beginning of kingdom fulfillment. All that the kingdom will be flows from the person of Jesus, our King.

II. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE KINGDOM CANNOT BE STOPPED. Mt.13:33

We move from the garden into the kitchen. Here a woman is baking bread. Those of you who bake bread know that you have to have yeast which sets off a chemical reaction, releasing gas bubbles into the dough, causing the dough to ferment and rise. The woman in the parable was working with a lot of flour and it is estimate that she would have been using about three to four pounds of leaven, which is dough that has already been fermented. She would’ve baked enough bread to feed between 100-150 people.

The main point of interest here is the effect that the yeast has upon the dough. Over a period of time the yeast ferments the entire batch of dough. It happens very quietly. The power of the yeast is unseen. But even though it is unseen, it is no less effective. Once the yeast is in the dough you can’t stop it. You can’t get the yeast out of the dough. It will ferment the entire lump of dough. And so, Jesus again applies this parable to the fulfillment of the kingdom of God.

The people in Jesus’ day did not perceive the growth of the kingdom. Why? As was mentioned before, it was not happening in the way they expected. Both with the mustard seed and the dough, there is an interval of time. The kingdom of God is established over a period of time, moving from something rather small and seemingly insignificant to something large.

But as far as this parable is concerned, I want to emphasize the fact that there is no stopping the establishment of the kingdom of God. What was begun in the ministry of Jesus will surely be brought to completion. We believe that when Jesus comes again, that is the time when he will fully establish the kingdom of God. In 2Pt.3:3-9 we read, “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this ’coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

How easy it is to misjudge the work of God in this present age. Maybe there are times when you feel as if the work of God is so weak. Nothing seems to be happening. It’s enough to make one question their faith. You must remember the parable of the yeast. God is working. God is bringing about his plans and purposes through all that is taking place today. Nothing and no one will stop the work of God

III. THE PROCESS OF THE KINGDOM IS SIMILAR TO THE GROWTH OF THE BELIEVER.

We have seen that the kingdom of God begins in the person of Jesus Christ in a small and quiet way. However as time goes on the kingdom of God is powerfully working, and the time will come when the kingdom will fill the whole universe.

But there is a sense in which the way that the kingdom is established is similar to the growth of a follower of Christ. Think about how a person comes to know Christ. One’s conversion may be a powerful event, but the real work takes place inside the person. We can’t see the cleansing of sin. We can’t see the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. To be sure, there may be a deep and abiding joy that has never been felt before. There may be a sense of release with the knowledge that one’s sins are forgiven. But for the most part, this is unseen.

God comes to dwell within us, much as the yeast is mixed into the dough. The Holy Spirit begins to work in our lives, convicting us of sin, assuring us of God’s forgiveness and grace. Over time, we find that we want to honor God in our daily lives. The Word of God becomes very important to us. We no longer feel right doing some of the things we used to do. We become more aware of our language. We can no longer speak little lies without being aware that we have not told the truth. We are less interested in hanging out with some of the people we used to hang with. All of this slowly begins to take place in our lives

What is more, our values begin to change. As we learn more about Christ and his Word, we begin to think more of his thoughts, and slowly, over time, our lives are changed. We are not the people we once were. The Holy Spirit gives us some gifts for ministry in the church. God begins to use us to encourage others and point others to Christ. What appeared to be a small, insignificant beginning blossoms into a life in which you are fully surrendered to Christ as your King.

Now, just as the kingdom of God is always working in this world, so Christ is always working in our lives. If you know Christ as Savior and Lord of your life, not only will you see some of these changes taking place in you, but you will pursue these kinds of changes in your life. If that is not the case with you, then you must entertain the possibility that you don’t know Christ. And if you don’t know Christ then these changes will not be taking place in you.

One implication of this is that we must exercise care that we don’t make judgments about one another in the church. All believers are in process. It is generally true that those who are young in the Lord will not be as far along as those who are older in the Lord. So we must be patient with one another and try to encourage one another to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. The more mature we become in Christ, the less apt we are to judge our brothers and sisters. We know what sinners we are. That said, there is also a place for exhorting one another in our walk with the Lord. In Heb.3:13 we read, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Elsewhere Paul tells us to build each other up. When we don’t behave in a way that is appropriate for a Christian, then we need let go of our pride and apologize and confess our sin. As the kingdom of God is a work in us we can look forward to being raised with Christ and spending our eternity with him in heaven.

I want to urge every believer here this morning to take encouragement from these parables. Maybe your spouse doesn’t know the Lord. Maybe your work environment is pagan and difficult. Maybe you are frustrated at your seeming lack of ability to be obedient to the Lord. The kingdom of God is at work in this world. When you are with your spouse, God is there and is working. God is working in and through you. The same is true where you work. And as you yield to God and focus on obeying Christ in your life, you will see progress. Christ is the King, and if Christ is in you, the kingdom of God is in you. And you are in the kingdom of God. Amen