Meek Seed and Abundant Plants

Series Big Idea: Good news, Jesus has come! Will you follow him?

Sermon Big Idea:

Intro:

Last week we saw that in the mystery of God’s plan to bring salvation through judgment, Jesus is the seed of that salvation. This week, we will look at the meekness and power of that seed.

Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God is full of paradoxes. Realities that would seem to us to be in contradiction are actually working together to grow the kingdom of God. There are called paradoxes of the kingdom. As one person said last week in community group, “Who else but God would think to it that way?” We’ve seen these paradoxes in salvation through judgment, the secret of the kingdom hidden so that it may be revealed, and now we see it in the power of a meek seed.

Seeds are fragile, tender, and easily destroyed. But in that little seed is everything needed for life. The seed in view last week in Isaiah six was an acorn. A little nut that I could squash under my boot can grow into a tree that produces up to 10,000 more acorns a year. All from one little nut seed.

Jesus highlights the meekness of the seed in vv. 30-32, where he compares the kingdom to the the tiny mustard seed. So small, so insignificant, but when it takes root it provides protection and rest.

The meekness of the seed is highlighted again in vv. 13-19. The seed is snatched up, resisted, and choked out.

The seed is snatched up by the devil’s thievery. (vv. 4, 15)

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 ESV

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8–9 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

The seed is scorched by tribulation and the words of persecution. (vv. 5-6; 16-17)

The seed is scorched by tribulation and the words of persecution. (vv. 5-6; 16-17)

2 Timothy 1:8–10 ESV

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

8-For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.   Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.   Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

The seed is choked out by reasonable cares, deceitful riches, and worldly distractions. (vv. 7, 18-19 )

2 Timothy 4:10 ESV

10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

¶ So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,

just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

But the seed when it takes root produces life upon life.

the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4–6 ESV

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

So take the gospel word of Jesus deep down into the soil of your life.

So take the gospel word of Jesus deep down into the soil of your life.

Last week, we concluded by saying that Jesus is the seed. Why does this matter so much? Look back at . How do we know and experience the glory of God? In the face of Jesus Christ. We never know God except through God the Son. It is in his perfect face, his crucified face, his pale dead face, his risen face, and his glorified face that we come to know the glory of God.

Tim Keller reminds us of the desperate need to take Jesus deep into the soil of our soul by pointing to

Galatians 2:11–14 ESV

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

When Peter came to visit the church in Antioch, he did a terrible thing: he was racist toward the Gentiles who God has saved through the gospel of Jesus Christ. And Paul saw it happen. Peter not only gave into racist peer pressure, his actions led others to do the same. So Paul confronted Peter, but look at why he confronted him. He confronted him not chiefly because he was being racist, but because racism is out of step with the truth of the gospel. At the root of Peter’s sin was a failure to fully believe and rely on the gospel. What he needed was for the gospel of Jesus, the seed to go deeper.

This is the meaning of . As you go back to the face of Jesus seeing him through the gospel, more will be added to you. This is his power at work in you as his grace flows to you not through your works but through his work accomplished at the cross.

And spread the gospel word of Jesus wide.

As the seed of the gospel word of Jesus goes down deep into the soil of your heart and bears fruit by transforming you from the inside out, you and I also spread the seed wide.

During Jesus ministry, he repeatedly forbade people and spirits from revealing who he really was. But here in , he tells his disciples that the time would come when what was hidden must come to light. Now is that time. Those of us in this room who have believed the gospel represent friendships and love relationships with over 100 people who have not believed the gospel of Jesus Christ. We represent over 1,000 acquaintances. Some of those friends, some of those we love, some of those business connections, neighbors, and gym buddies are men and women to whom God will reveal the secret of the kingdom of God through the seed of the gospel word of Jesus Christ. Through the rhythms of our everyday lives, we who are being transformed by the gospel word, now take the word. We must take the word.