KINGDOM INFLUENCE - Matthew 20:1-15

INTRO: CNN, MSNBC, FOX, BBC…so many News channels.

If they’re all saying the same thing, why so many? TO INFLUENCE YOUR OPINION WITH THEIR TRUTH.

They did it Jesus’ time too. SCRIBES, PHARISEES, SADDUCEES…all had opinions the Messiah, and the Kingdom.

People always try to INFLUENCE YOU WITH THEIR TRUTH. Thank God for His Son, Jesus, who brought us the message of truth.

John 14:6 “ “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

John 8:31-32 “31 To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””

In today’s passage Jesus teaches a great truth of the KINGDOM SO THAT we are INFLUENCED with HIS TRUTH.

Kingdom of Heaven = the realm ruled absolutely, eternally by God.

The Kingdom is GIGANTIC - 1-7

Can you imagine the size of the Kingdom? That would blow our mind.

For this reason, Jesus describes the Kingdom in an agricultural parable.

v.1 - Landowner -wealthy, powerful, owns big properties (God). Has workers but invites more. It’s HARVEST SEASON. Cannery Workers.

B/C the kingdom is Gigantic, there are Three Categories of workers...

Hired with salary - v. 2 “agreed to pay”

hired hourly - vs. 3-5 “whatever is right”

Hired with hope…vs. 6-7

These additional workers were invited by the Landowner...to WORK in this gigantic vineyard.

v.7 - “No one hired us.” USELESS; AGE; UNSKILLED

IN GOD’S GIGANTIC KINGDOM THERE IS WORK FOR EVERYONE. His invitation is still open to all.

The Kingdom is GOVERNED - 8

Governed…Music, Movies and literature have INFLUENCED many to believe that Heaven is a place where I can do whatever I want…

… causing to look us at an untrue future and totally deny the present.

REMEMBER JOHN 8:31 “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

To be a Disciple of Jesus you must believe in Him.

If you believe in Him then you must obey His teachings.

If you believe and obey then you ARE in the Kingdom of Heaven…NOW!

That means that we, as Kingdom citizens, are GOVERNED , under the rule and reign of God. That’s the TRUTH.

V.8 - Notice the order - Landowner; foreman; workers.Even among the workers there is order - FIRST/LAST.

In God’s Kingdom, we are citizens not chiefs; righteous not renegades; servants not sovereigns;

We are individuals but not INDEPENDENT.

That’s why the scriptures say

HEBREWS 13.17 “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”

The Kingdom is GOVERNED and We Are under Kingdom GOVERNANCE NOW!

The Kingdom is GENEROUS - 9-15

A problem arises in the parable. Everybody gets paid but the LAST gets paid first.

That says alot about the GENEROSITY of God and the EQUALITY OF GOD.

The first workers grumble.

Grumbling is really complaining. God doesn’t like grumbling.

NU 14.27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.”

PHIL 2.14 “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.

James 5:9 “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters!”

We grumble because we don’t believe God is fair. v. 12 - “You made them equal to me.”

God is fair. He’s more than fair…in life (provisions); in blessings (peace, love, joy); in death (mercy, eternal rest).

Look at the generosity of God, “Take and pay and go your way.”

Look at the EQUALITY OF GOD...

“Don’t be envious because I’m generous.”

I GIVE TO THE POOR, WIDOWS, ORPHANS, CHILDREN IN FOSTER HOMES, JAILS,

CLOSE: C.S. Lewis-Lion, Witch , Wardrobe - "He'll be coming and going. One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down - and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. "―Mr. Beaver (Chapter 17)[src]

Aslan is the noble golden lion who epitomizes the goodness and justice of Narnia.

Aslan sets all wrongs to rights,

Aslan removes the White Witch from her terrible reign.

Aslan's power is unmatched and his goodness unlimited.

Jesus Christ is the Lion of Judah. Magnificent and wise.

He never changes but changes His people in wisdom and character.

He is the one TRUE King of kings. He is good everyone. He loves the poor, the weak, the old, the orphan, the wealthy, the abandoned child, the forgotten father, the disheartened employee, the unemployed.

He watches over all His kingdom, even though He does not choose to solve all problems like we think.

he can save, , heal, and deliver

because it’s His kingdom. He gave His life for it. He rose again for it.

HALLELUJAH! He reigns forever.