INTRODUCTION: TURN TO MARK 4:30
As we consider how to live as members of God’s Kingdom, it’s vital that we see the simplicity of it. This isn’t rocket science.
In each of the three parables we are looking at, we’ve heard Jesus use something ORGANIC to illustrate how God’s Kingdom works. THINGS happen when we simply decide to allow the power of God’s Word to impact our lives, heal our hearts and change our way of living!
In the parable of the seed and the soils – A harvest comes when the Gospel is planted in receptive hearts.
In the parable of the seed growing on it’s own – we see that God’s word creates life where there was no life!
And today – in the parable of the mustard seed – we see that when we start small and die to self, following the ways of Christ, great things can happen!
THE NATURE OF GOD’S KINGDOM IS ORGANIC
“Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32
I. Kingdom Secret: START SMALL & EXPECT BIG RESULTS (v. 31-32a)
“It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”
Mustard seeds aren’t really the smallest seed. But they are small. This is a figure of speech.
What’s the point that Jesus is making? Small things can become big.
And here’s the point for us: It doesn’t matter where you are at right now in your life – it doesn’t matter how much you do or do not know about the Bible. It doesn’t matter how mature you are right now as a Christian – start where you are.
Jesus teaches us this principle in Mark 12:42-44…
“But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on.”” Mark 12:42-44
Someone has said: “God isn’t interested in your abilities, but in your availability.”
If you are willing to start small, God can do big things.
“The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Luke 17:5, 6
It’s not about US – it’s about HIM.
When the Holy Spirit came to tell Mary that she was going to have a child – even though she was a virgin, he said to her:
“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
Tiny seeds become great plants. Small lives become abundant. And God is the key to it all!
But the question is this: Do you EXPECT God to do great things? Regardless of where you are at today – you can change yoru life forever by changing your expectations. If you DO NOT EXPECT God to do anything – you won’t be able to see it when He does! But, when we SPEAK FAITH and PRAY BELIEVING – we will see the hand of God at work in power! Plain and simple. Start small and expect big things!
II. Kingdom Secret: LET CHRIST’S LIFE BE MULTIPLIED IN YOUR LIFE (v. 32b)
“…with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”
The power of God multiplies the seed and produces a large bush that even birds can enjoy.
Your life – and mine – given over to Christ – can produce something wonderful. And in order to do so, we must let Christ’s life be multiplied in ours.
How?
ß Know what Jesus knows
ß Go where Jesus goes
ß Do what Jesus does.
If you seek to know God’s plans, you’ll know His plans
If you are willing to go where Jesus goes – He’ll lead you
And if you are willing to do what Jesus did – He’ll empower you to do so!
What made the early church grow so rapidly? They became ‘little Christ’s’ in their world. They knew God’s will. They went to people and places that Jesus went to. And they did what Jesus did.
How? Through the power of the Holy Spirit.
ß Are you full of His Spirit?
ß Are you walking in His power?
ß Are you hearing His voice?
These are absolutely vital to living as a member of God’s kingdom.
Let’s look at the third point:
III. Kingdom Secret: MULTIPLICATION REQUIRES DEATH (v. 31)
“It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted…”
In order for a mustard plant to grow, the mustard seed has to die. It goes into the ground and never comes up again.
Jesus said:
“I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12:24-26
This is the nature of things. Just try to hang on to your life – try to control things – and you’ll soon discover how impossible life can be. But – let go. Turn over control to the One who made you and who loves you, serve His agenda – and follow His plans and things will turn around for you. In fact, Jesus says: “My Father will honor the one who serves me…”
But how do we die to self?
1. Confession
2. Repentance
3. Obedience
There is simply no getting around any of these.
ß Confession keeps you honest.
ß Repentance gets you back on track.
ß Obedience leads to abundant life.
If you skip confession – you aren’t dealing straight up with your issues and you won’t feel close to God. There will always be a distance between you.
If you skip repentance – you’ll keep headed in the same direction – towards destruction.
And if you skip obedience, than Christ isn’t Lord of your life and you really are ‘on your own.’
But – what’s the goal of the Christian life? Isn’t it to life and die for the sake of God’s Kingdom?
The Christians of the first century were willing to give up everything this world had to offer – including their very own lives – for the sake of the Gospel - and the results were that the entire known world was reached for Christ!
Every era in church history where Christians counted their lives as expendable for the sake of Christ, has seen extraordinary gains for the Gospel.
I want you to know about HEIDI AND ROLLAND BAKER – Missionaries to Mozambique: Here’s a portion of their story from their website: (irismin.org)
In 1995, after twenty years of praying and waiting, the Baker’s arrived in Mozambique, the poorest country in the world. The government offered Iris Ministries a horribly delapidated and neglected "orphanage," and with no promised support such a project they simply said, "Yes, we'll take it!" They began with eighty children, but their hearts were broken for the lost and abandoned children still on the streets of Maputo. After many years of brutal civil war, thousands left orphaned, displaced and abandoned. The Mozambican and foreign staff of Iris Ministries began to pick up and take in these lost children. God poured down his love and provided food day by day. They grew to 320 children. They planted a church in the community and began to see hundreds turn their hearts to the Lord.
The former communist directors of the government orphanage were furious ever since the Bakers took over, since their extreme corruption and thievery had been stopped. Scheming together with an equally corrupt faction of the government, they concocted accusations and issued a legal decree to Iris Ministries forbidding prayer and worship, Christian singing, etc., and all forms of "unapproved" food and clothes distribution and medical assistance. If they and their children did not obey these new rules, they all had forty-eight hours to leave. Heidi was also told that there was a contract out on her life, and that she was not allowed back on the property. Overwhelmed and exhausted by the fight, they had to evacuate to their office in the city.
At the center the children entered the dining room, which had also been used as a church, and began singing praise and worship songs at the tops of their lungs! They were beaten and told they were not allowed to worship God! One-by-one they began to walk the twenty miles to the city office. They told Papa Rolland and Mama Aida that they would go wherever they were because they wanted to worship God! Not knowing what to do, they all cried out to God in total desperation. They had lost everything. There was no place for them to go. There was not even a pot to cook for all these children! A friend, Nelda Lawrence from the U.S. Embassy, came over with some chili and rice for the Baker family. Heidi said, "We have a very large family!" Nelda said, "No, no this is only for you and your two children." Heidi said, "We have a lot of children and the Lord said there would always be enough!" They prayed over the pots of food and told the over fifty children to sit down. Everyone ate and was full, including the Bakers!
Two other missions, hearing of the situation, offered the use of some unused buildings for three months. As the time ended the Lord graciously provided a piece of land. The children prayed and interceded with the whole staff and believed God for another miracle. Like always God came through and provided a huge circus tent and some used army tents in which the children could live. Holes were dug for toilets and everyone prayed for months for water from the earth (a well) and spiritual water from heaven (more of the Holy Spirit). God answered both prayers and provided a well with clean, fresh water, and poured his Holy Spirit out on the children in a powerful way. Through the trials all have grown stronger in the Lord. The greatest joy for the whole center is that they are now free to worship God.
The challenges of providing physically and spiritually for so many children under unspeakable conditions of poverty and evil are being met in Jesus. Time after time as discouragement and exhaustion have threatened to collapse the entire ministry effort in Mozambique, the Holy Spirit has poured out more grace and mercy on the ministry.
[Since this background article was written, Iris Ministries has expanded to over 5,000 churches all over Mozambique and into neighboring countries. The disastrous flooding of 2000/2001 catalyzed an overwhelming hunger for the things of God in the refugee camps where we ministered, and the Gospel continues to spread like wildfire. We now care for almost 2,000 children at our centers, and our churches are taking in orphans as well. Jesus is revealing Himself through signs and wonders, visions and dreams, and we have never seen such a harvest before us. May the Lord of the harvest send us workers!]
SO – WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE US TODAY?
What is God saying to you?
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