Good things Come in Small packages
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Claim - however small or weak the kingdom of God appears, it will be bigger and better than we could imagine
Focus - Consider how the kingdom of God may look weak and pathetic in the world’s (and our eyes), but we must trust it will be incredible at Christ’s return
Function - To be excited by the hope we have in the kingdom to come (whatever it looks or feels like now!)
I mean it’s not often you get a sermon in church that promises so much potential to be one of the shortest sermons in history.
The bible reading was barely 3 sentences!
I mean - how long can this be dragged out!
Well let me misquote a bible verse to you to warn you:
Matthew 13:32 (NIV 2011)
Though it is the smallest of all ‘bible readings’, yet when it grows, it is the largest of sermons and becomes a great tome, so that the listeners come and perch in its pews to sleep’
Ok, so don’t worry too much - we’ll be our customary 25minutes.
But I deliberatly start with this illusatrion -becasue it makes the point Jesus is making.
Just becasue something appears to be of relative insignificance - to be small - it’s certainly does not prove it will be.
But that is where the comparisons end between what Jesus is talking about and my abilities to explain it!
For his point is that the Kingdom of Heaven may seem like nothing now - you might not even believe in it - you can’t even see it!
but Jesus wants to tell us
- it will one day be beyond our comprehension in size and glory
- offergin untold blessing and reward for those who are in it.
So, if you’re prepared to listen - then you will find the keys to this coming glorious kingdom.
Or as Jesus has been explaining through this sectiuon of Matthew’s gospel that we as a church have been working through..
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
So - first off we have a mustard seed.
I have one here, in my hand - you can’t see it - why?
becasue it’s tiny.
I mean I don’t know what this man is doing in the parable - he’s taking some risk - just taking 1 tiny seed and planting it in the middle of his field.
He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
When i plant seeds I use at least tripple what the packet says, it to hedge my bets. (no pun intended)
Planting 1 seed is risky enough - But this seed will suceed.
Planting the kingdom of heaven through one man Jesus - seems risky - but he will succeed.
God does not need to hedge his bets - 1 seed is enough.
Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’
We’re so used to the idea that plants can grow from seeds,
perhaps we miss the significance of it -
but it truely is a wonder
that contained in a tiny seed is all the information and design required to grow into a large tree!
The seed contains all that is required to determin it first must
sprout and break the surface,
then grow simple roots,
then stems,
and leaves,
then trunks and bark,
branches, and leaves,
flowers and fruit,
extensive roots.
Sure it draws on the nutrients and water from the ground, and the power of the sun
- but the tree itself - relies entirely on what it is from that tiny beginning!
The mustard tree would have been the largest home grown garden tree typically planted in Israel at the time
- growing upto 3 or 4 metres tall.
Who - picking up this tiny seed - could logically expect it to turn into this large tree - large enough for birds to perch and rest in.
The point is the same with the yeast.
He told them still another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about thirty kilograms of flour until it worked all through the dough.’
The word yeast is more likely better translated leven.
Leven is a very small amount of dough that is kept back from the previous batch of bread,
so their are live bateria agents in it.
They would keep this small amount to activate the next batch they made.
So then 30 kg of flour - I mean that is a lot - is mixed and this tiny amount of leven is added.
You’d think by all logic - it’s far to small to make any impact in 30kg’s worth of flour!
And also by logic it’s going to take quite some time for someone to kneed that leven all the way through such a huge amount of dough.
Just like the mustard seed it’s tiny - so tiny you’d think it will come to nothing.
Insignificant,
not enough to acheieve anything,
a waste of time even trying.
certainly nothing to put your hope in for a big fruitful tree for food and for rest for birds,
certainly such a tiny amount of leven shouldn’t come to anything in so much flour.
And yet a big tree - big enough for the bords,
and 30kgs of fluour will rise 3 times in voloume to feed many.
Well - actually, we’re not that surprised at all by these parables are we?
- it’s normal, seeds and yeast - that we’re not shocked - even if we take time to consider it’s wonder - we’re still not that impressed - it’s normal.
We know some tiny things become great big things.
So what the point here.
Well the point is profound.
This model - this picture - is exactly how the kingdom of heaven is going to be!
It starts as a tiny seed, a dolop of leven - but will become immense.
But for some reason when we look at or think about Jesus and His kingdom and it looks small - we use that to conclude it’s nothing.
Think about how you view and think about life.
What is it you see each day as you look at and consider life.
DO you see Jesus - and glorious King sitting on his throne - in absolute power and authroity. Where all people bow at his feet and serve him in joy and obedience?
No. So small is the kingdom of God that you’ll do well to see it at all most days.
We wake up and scroll through our news feed or social media - most of us wont see anything of Jesus.
We’re reading of elections and wars,
we’re flicking through the latest clothing fashions,
we’re checking the financial markets,
flicking through holiday options.
We’ve not even gotten out of bed yet!
We’re at work often stressed out about a few things there.
We’re trying to hit a deadline, increase a profit margin, manage a difficult staff member.,
Perhaps you’re still at school, a bit worried about exams, your homework that you forgot to do,
Your friend who now seems to be an enemy.
And we’re doing all these things to afford the things we flicked through on our phones in bed that morning!
I haven’t seen the kingdom of Heaven yet today - I haven’t seen Jesus.
Day after day
- the dog gets sick has to be taken to the vet,
I’ve got a lump I really should ask the doctor about,
the architect hasn’t returned our extension plans yet,
The boss is on our case,
my friend has been rude to me,
Ohh - but the holiday to Centre parcs is coming up.
Where is the kingdom of God - Where is Jesus - I haven’t seen any evidence of Him or his kingdom,
Well along comes Sunday.
You get invited along to church to go to some kids baptism - maybe we’ll find Jesus and His kingdom there.
Or maybe
you come every-weak, becasue you do trust in the Kingdom where Jesus is King.
But let’s be honest -
everyone lives kind of look the same as we’ve described - where is Jesus the King?!
Sure you have sung some songs, said some prayers, thought more about God than most the rest of the week,
But where is the victory!
Where are the untold blessings of belonging to a Kingdom where the God and creator of the universe is King.
Why is sufferings till here,
evil,
stress,
depression,
anxiety,
altziemers,
cancer,
theft,
bullying,
relational troubles
If the kingdom of Jesus is a real thing - I don’t see it - it must be tiny - like a mustard seed.
pause
This the problem the people in Jesus’ day also had.
They were expecting a promised King to come from God.
One who would bring victory and justice for God’s people the Jews for the day.
And here is this simple man - from a carpenters family,
no crown,
no army,
How is he going to rid us of the Roman occupation,
How is he going to make our nation glorious!
If this is the kingdom of God - well i don’t see it.
Or more to the point - I don’t want it.
It seems to make no difference - and offer no benefit.
Why are the disciples following this guy -
Why do Christians follow this Jesus.
Their King is ineffective - in fact so small did his kingdom begin - that he was sentenced to death on a cross for crimes he didn’t commit against the Roman authorities.
His own people called for his death -
because this Jesus claimed to be the King,
the saviour,
the Christ,
the Messiah,
the son of Man,
the Son on God,
the King of Kings,
Lord of Lords,
God incarnate!
Rubbish - we don’t believe it they all will shout - kill him!
He’s a blasphemer - claiming to be God when he’s not!
Where is His kingdom!?
Perhaps that’s your view about Jesus, the man of history who walked the earth 2000 years ago.
Perhaps you havne’t ever given any serious thought about who he is, and what he offers, becasue you just don’t see it.
Sure - Christians often seem to have a ‘purpose’ in life - something bigger than themselevs to rally behind - but what sort of life is that?
Surely just ‘some purpose’ - that in reality is nothing - is no better than living for yourself.
Or perhaps some of us once believed, or grew up in church - but we’ve moved away from Jesus - cos - where is the power - where is the substance - where are the great branches to perch in and enjoy.
Where is the bread to eat?
Perhaps even those of us who are Christians and follow Jesus are tempted to feel like we don’t know where this Kingdom of JEsus is - even though we belong to it,
Why is life still so hard - where is our king in our time of trouble and need?
Where is the kingdom of God?
Well - it’s here - but it’s ever so small to our human and sinful eyes - it’s so small we can barely make it out.
So why bother, it’s not enough substance is it - to give our lives to Jesus for?!
The point Jesus is making in these 2 tiny parables - about tiny things - is that tiny things do not mean tiny results or promises!
That tiny seed - of no real substance - will become the largest of all substnaces!
This Kingdom of mine - may well look very tiny, it may have minute beginnings - but it’s going to be massive!
The felt benefits of entering his kingdom may be really quite little now - your life right now might not be that much different from those around you in felt substance and reward.
You wont avoid sickness, avoid stressful exams or difficult relationships.
(Of course there are tremendous benefits now in many ways - peace with God in our hearts, assurance of forgiveness, purpose for life - but all of that is tied up with a future hope of real substance!)
We live awaiting the day when Jesus will return and bring about the fullness of His kingdom!
When there will be bread to eat,
a tree to perch in
and feel and
experience every kind of joyful blessing
and comfort and joy in every way
and for ever more!
But for now - be patient, the kingdom is just a very very pale reflection of what it will become.
The design is all there in the seed, - but we must remeber it’s a seed - true glory and substance is to come.
Don’t be fooled says Jesus - I might look weak,
my kingdom may look tiny now
- but do not mistake His plans for weakness
- Just like a seed is tiny - that is absolutely no evidence at all that it cannot or will not become the greatest thing of all.
So, we might ask,
Why is Jesus’ kingdom so small right now - why does he not bring about the glory of his kingdom right now!
Why are we still waiting for it?
Well it’s simple - becasue he wants to show his love to more people.
He wants more people - I hope some even here today
- who haven’t yet accepted Jesus, or for a time moved away from him,
to come to him - before it’s too late.
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. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
If you have looked at life, and not seen the Kingdom of Jesus yet - then maybe you’ve been looking for the wrong thing.
Jesus does not promise you a wonderful, easy, successful, blessed life here are now.
Christians are not super successful, miraculously healthy and healed.
If that is the kingdom you are looking for now - no wonder Jesus is of no interest to you - , or no wonder you feel he’s let you down,
he never promised such things right now!
Right now he promsies a life in hIs kingdom,
but for a time - it will be still in this world with all the challenges that brings,
BUT - don’t be mistaken in thinking that those blessings will never come!
They are coming! Jesus will return with a kingdom and life beyond our imagining!
BUt right now - you must realise God is being patient with us - repent before it’s too late.
He loves you enough that he has not yet brought about his Kingdom in it’s fulness
You would never doubt the potential of a seed, or some yeast - don’t doubt the Kingdom of Jesus and his promise to return in glory.
Repent and believe before it’s too late - becasue the kingdom is coming - whatever it looks like now.
And the keys to this Kingdom?
Well the key is Jesus.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
I expect that if you’re not a follower of JEsus
- you look at your life and while you may have many joys and happy times - you are deep down disappointed, or disillusioned with the purpose of things.
And that’s becasue you don’t know your creator. You like all of us have rejected him and so need his mercy and forgiveness - you need his love and his grace.
And Jesus dying on a cross may sound tiny - but not when we realise it’s the son of God,
choosing to take the judgement of God
for our rebelion and sin in our place
- so that justice if satisfied and we are then given - everything!
A place in the kingdom of God forever.
Yes - only a tiny reflection of it can be seen and enjoyed now - but as a Christian - you can live with the certain hope that it is fully coming and it is yours in Jesus!
The great tree of rest, the great banquet of eternal feasting with our king.
Revelation 21:3–8 (NIV 2011)
‘Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practise magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death.’
I know which side of eternity I’d like to be on
- and so don’t mistake small beginnings to mean a glorious kingdom isn’t coming.
That would be as illogical as saying a seed cannot produce a great tree.
Thank God for his patience in allowing you to hear this message before it’s too late,
repent and believe and live with joyous hope of the kingdom to come.
And as Christians - what a joy and a hope we have. Stand firm in this life - when little of the glory of Jesus is known or experienced or felt - for he may seem tiny now to the world - but one day!
He will be glorious for all to see.
PRAY