Series: “Summer Stories”  Sermon:  “Kingdom Of Little And Unseen.”

Series: “Summer Stories”  Sermon:  “Kingdom Of Little And Unseen.”

Luke 13:14-21

“But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; 

…therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

The Lord then answered him and said, ‘Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?

So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?’

And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

Then He said, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.’

And again He said, ‘To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.’”

Jesus announced that He was the Christ. 

He came as the Son of God to introduce the Kingdom Of God.

Heaven is invading earth a new Government is beginning to be enforced.

Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”    God has changed location.  A historical turning point.

For all the people being healed, set free, and restored to wholeness, the world is still very much broken.

Rome is still in charge. We are not free. We are occupied!

Luke 7:18-19 “Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’”

For the religious leaders of the day:  Jesus is not religious enough.

For the prophetic forerunner of the day: Jesus is not confrontative enough.

John 18:36-37 “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’ … ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.’”

The Kingdom of God does not come the way other kingdoms come.

In God’s Kingdom littleness is powerful and hiddenness is transformative.

“THEN He said, What is the kingdom of God like?

It’s Like A Mustard Seed:

It begins very small but it will eventually big a large tree that can nest many birds.

Ezekiel 31:5-6 “Therefore its height was exalted above all the trees of the field; … All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs;”   Egypt was a great kingdom that impacted other nations.

Daniel 4:11-12  “The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, … And in it was food for all. … The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it.”

Ezekiel 17:23  “On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell.”

His Kingdom begins very small. Committed Himself to twelve disciples.

These Apostles took the Gospel of the Kingdom to the whole world.

Acts 1:2-3  “He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles … during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Jesus last instructions before ascending.

In God’s Kingdom littleness is powerful.

One person with the Gospel can transform society.

Romans 1:16 “…the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,”

It’s Like Leaven:

The Kingdom Of God will work in the world the same way leaven works in dough.

It is unseen but it’s effects will be thorough and complete.

Acts 17:6 “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”

They flipped the whole system. Transformed society!

1 Corinthians 4:20  “For the kingdom of God is not in word (Logos) but in power (Dunamis).”

Romans 14:17  “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

God’s Kingdom will be great and it will influence every aspect of human experience.

BUT, How does it work?

In God’s Kingdom littleness is powerful and hiddenness is transformative.

Abraham   Moses   Gideon   David

Jesus

Evan Roberts  William Seymour

YOU!

Romans 5:17  “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”    

He is the King of kings.