To Be a Christian Is Worth More Than All Else

This is the manuscript of the fifth sermon in the series, “The Master Speaks to the Present through the Parables". It is a series based on Jesus’ parables that describe the nature of the kingdom of God.   All the parables deal with the same subject, the kingdom of heaven, but each one approaches it from a different angle.

Matthew 13:44 NIV “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Have you ever heard Christians talk about building the kingdom? It is interesting, though, that the Bible never uses such language. The Bible talks about, waiting for the kingdom of heaven, inheriting the kingdom of heaven, and receiving the kingdom of heaven. Jesus was telling the parable to illustrate one great truth: He and His kingdom is worth more than anything else or everything else in the world.

Listen to an audio recording of the sermon by clicking on the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.

Vsit the Christ Church website at christchurchlosangeles.org.

 Scripture Reading:

Mark 10:17‭-‬30 NIV As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

Introduction

Text: 

Matthew 13:44 NIV “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Have you ever heard Christians talk about building the kingdom? It is interesting, though, that the Bible never uses such language. The Bible talks about waiting for the kingdom,

Matthew 25:1‭-‬13 NIV “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

seeking it, 

The Bible  talks about inheriting the kingdom of heaven, 

1 Corinthians 6:9 NIV Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men

Galatians 5:19‭-‬21 NIV The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

And the Bible talks about  receiving the kingdom of heaven.

Mark 10:14‭-‬15 NIV When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

The gospel is what God has done for us, not what we do for God.  We have been talking a lot about that in our Bible study “What’s so Amazing about Grace”.

The kingdom of God is both personal and social. The parables we have studied thus far have emphasized the universal aspect of the kingdom, setting forth its growth and development in the world. The parable we are examining today, and the one that we are going to look at next week, stress the value of God’s kingdom to the individual.

We do have to admit that the gospel is a great influence to everyone in the community. Even those who have never personally accepted Jesus as Savior share in the benefits that have accrued to community life because the gospel message has been preached. Hospitals, orphanages, shelters, and humanitarian organizations and agencies of all kinds are products of the compassion that people have because the life and actions of Jesus has influenced civilization. Yet the treasure of the gospel is primarily a personal possession. It is a personal one-on-one relationship that each of us has with Jesus.  

Jesus told the parable, we are going to look at today, to illustrate the worth of the kingdom of God to an individual life.

Matthew 13:44 NIV “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

1. First a word of caution.

This parable was not given to instruct people in business ethics. We often try to make every detail of a parable into some symbolic meaning. 

If we did so in this parable, we might find ourselves in trouble. Just think about this.  Would it be honest if we found treasure in another person’s field, or yard, or house, to slip around behind his or her back, get the money somehow, and buy the field, or the property without them knowing you found something of value? Now some might say that’s just smart business,” but we know better! 

I know some  people and I bet you do too that if you asked the question about how they would respond if they found a treasure in someone’s field, they would respond, “Well It depends on whether I’m buying the field from you, or you are buying it from me as to whether it’s dishonest or not.”  Now we may joke about it, but deep down we know it would be wrong. 

The point is that Jesus was not dealing with ethics when He told this parable.   Jesus was telling the parable to illustrate one great truth and one truth only and that is that He and His kingdom is worth more than anything else or everything else in the world.

II An accidental discovery.

The story Jesus told easily could have happened in his day. You see the land of Palestine was invaded often because of its strategic location as the bridge between three continents, Africa, Asia, and Europe. 

When a man accumulated a treasure, he did not know where to hide it because invading armies looted homes indiscriminately and thoroughly. An old tradition said that in the East, because of the frequent revolutions and changes of rulers, many rich men divided their goods into three parts. One-third they used in commerce or for their necessary support; one-third they turned into jewels, which if they had to flee quickly, could be easily carried with them; and one-third they buried. A person who works purely for material reward could be plowing in another man’s field and come across the hidden treasure of a previous owner who had been killed. What would he do? He might quickly bury it and seek to raise sufficient cash to buy the man’s field.

This parable, in contrast to the one that follows, which talks about losing and then finding something that you already own, suggests that some people come upon God’s kingdom unexpectedly. The Samaritan woman that Jesus met at a well is such an example. 

John 4:5‭-‬15 TPT Jesus arrived at the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Wearied by his long journey, he sat on the edge of Jacob’s well, and sent his disciples into the village to buy food, for it was already afternoon. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” She replied, “Why would a Jewish man ask a Samaritan woman for a drink of water?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus replied, “If you only knew who I am and the gift that God wants to give you, you’d ask me for a drink, and I would give you living water.” The woman replied, “But sir, you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is very deep. So where do you find this ‘living water’? Do you really think that you are greater than our ancestor Jacob who dug this well and drank from it himself, along with his children and livestock?” Jesus answered, “If you drink from Jacob’s well, you’ll be thirsty again, but if anyone drinks the living water I give them, they will never be thirsty again. For when you drink the water I give you, it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, flooding you with endless life!” The woman replied, “Let me drink that water so I’ll never be thirsty again and won’t have to come back here to draw water.”

This woman went to the well to draw water, never expecting to find the Water of Life. Some people find Jesus unexpectedly at a worship service. Maybe the person went for some other reason than to engage in meaningful spiritual activity, but the Holy Spirit operated through the singing and preaching. The person discovered the hidden treasure of a personal experience with Jesus Christ. 

Here’s a real life story of a man who discovered Jesus when He wasn’t looking for or expecting it.  The man’s name is Mike Da Silva and here’s his story, written by him.

This man was like the person pictured in the parable.  He went to church not expecting anything just like the person plowing the field he was just plowing and low and behold he found a treasure he never expected. The man in the parable found a material treasure, Mike DeSilva found salvation, peace, and eternal life.  

III Give all you have.

There’s a poem written by Sarah Teasdale,  the title is  “Life Has Loveliness to Sell”. The last stanza begins, “Sell all you have for loveliness. Buy it and never count the cost.” That’s the way it is with God’s kingdom. Don’t miss it because you hold on to something you refuse to give up.

Frequently we are called upon to give up ambitions and lifestyles that are inconsistent with the Christian life. This is a part of the act and process known as repentance. The point of this parable is that if we have to give up everything we have, or are, to follow Christ, and become part of His body it is worth it.

Conclusion

Notice that the man in the parable, the woman at ths well, and Mike DeSilva, seized the crucial moment when it came. They did not linger to debate the matter but acted on the moment. James Russell Lowell said, “Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide.” One of life’s greatest dangers is that when we are moved by some high impulse, we  don’t right away. When we delay the impulse often dies. We must seize the great moments of opportunity when they happen.   Someone said it well: “Lord, help us to take advantage of the opportunities of our lifetime during the lifetime of our opportunities.”

John 17:18 NIV As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Here is the way this verse is rendered in the Message Bible 

John 17:18 (The Message) “In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.” 

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, God has given you a mission in this world. You’re not here just to take up space; you’re not here just to strive after your own personal goals. You have an assignment from God himself. Once you’re in God’s family, your life changes. You have a new reason for living. Your life isn’t about you anymore; it’s about God’s mission.

The mission that God first gave Jesus he now gives to the body of Christ—the church. Once you know Jesus, you have to go! You must tell your friends and family about him. But you can’t stop there. God has never made anyone he doesn’t want saved. He loves everyone, everywhere.

1 Timothy 2:1‭-‬4 NIV I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

God wants you to live out his mission everywhere: in your family, your community, and the world. His mission for your life is both global and local. 

Isaiah 49:6 NIV he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

That’s God’s plan for the world. That’s his mission for you. He wants everyone on Earth to know him. And he wants to use you to make that happen. 

God’s words in Isaiah aren’t just for missionaries or pastors. If you’re in his family, he gave his mission to you!

Prayer

Lord God, your kingdom is worth more than all human treasure. Teach us to value your kingdom above everything else, that we give ourselves to your service; now and always.

ion. The heart that believes in him receives the gift of the righteousness of God—and then the mouth confesses, resulting in salvation.

Romans 10:13 TPT And it’s true: “Everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will experience new life.”

Silent Forces Are Often the Strongest

This is the manuscript of the fourth sermon in the series, “The Master Speaks to the Present through the Parables". It is a series based on Jesus’ parables that describe the nature of the kingdom of God.   All the parables deal with the same subject, the kingdom of heaven, but each one approaches it from a different angle.

This parable and the one we examined last week, about the mustard seed,  are very brief, with no explanations and both appear to be describing the remarkable spread of the kingdom of heaven but there are some differences, so this parable of the leaven is certainly worthy of careful consideration.

The point of this parable is not whether leaven, or yeast, is good or bad; it is used to illustrate that the most unlikely or weakest things could become the strongest.

Yeast is a single-celled microorganism which when added to flour with water, ferments giving off a gas. The small gas bubbles transform the bread making it lighter, softer and much bigger i.e. the bread is said to be leavened.

Jesus was saying in this parable of the leaven, that the amazing effect of yeast on bread was like the effect of his Gospel on us and the world. Jesus wanted us to open our hearts to his Word, live its message and, in return, enjoy everlasting happiness with Him.

Listen to an audio recording of the sermon by clicking on the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.

You can also watch a video recording of the entire service on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/EUBJ14tZ6lQ

Matthew 13:33 NIV He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Mark 8:14‭-‬21 NIV The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Matthew 13:33‭-‬35 NIV He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Introduction

Last week we examined a parable in which the kingdom is depicted as having remarkable growth despite humble beginnings,

Matthew 13:31‭-‬32 NIV He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 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.”

Jesus may have told the disciples that parable to reassure them that their involvement in the kingdom would not be for nothing, especially after hearing the first two parables where we see that not all would receive the Word properly, that is the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3-9, and Satan’s efforts to hinder growth of the kingdom through sowing evil that in the beginning looks like good. Matthew 13:24-31

Another parable that has the same purpose of reassurance, is the one we are going to look at today “the parable the leaven, or what today we call yeast.  That parable is our text today

Matthew 13:33 NIV He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

 

This parable and the one we examined last week, about the mustard seed,  are very brief, with no explanations and both appear to be describing the remarkable spread of the kingdom of heaven but there are some differences, so this parable of the leaven is certainly worthy of careful consideration

In this parable Jesus turned to everyday life in Galilee in order to illustrate the kingdom of God. Smaller towns and villages had no bakeries; women made bread in their homes. Jesus had, no doubt, often seen his mother use leaven—dough that had been kept from a previous baking and had fermented. When the leaven was mixed into the new batch of dough, it changed the characteristics of the dough—that is, the dough rose and made full loaves of bread when baked. Jesus observed that just as leaven changes the dough into which it is mixed, God’s kingdom likewise changes everything with which it comes into contact.

I.   The difficulty of interpretation.

This is a controversial parable, because often leaven symbolized

an evil influence for the Jewish people. 

In fact, elsewhere in the New Testament leaven is depicted as something evil. For example Jesus advised his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.

Mark 8:15 NIV “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

Paul talked about leaven a couple of times. 

1 Corinthians 5:1‭-‬2‭, ‬6‭-‬8 NIV It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Galatians 5:7‭-‬12 NIV You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

You will remember that when God gave Moses instructions about the Passover the Jews were to make sure there was no leaven around during the feast.

Exodus 12:14‭-‬15 NIV “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance. For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.

If a Jewish person returned to their pagan ways, the rabbis spoke of it as a “return to his leaven.”

On the other hand, it is not fair to say that the Jews always used leaven as a synonym for wickedness or bad influence. One rabbi actually said, “Great is peace when that peace is to the earth as the leaven is to the dough.”

The point of this parable is not whether leaven is good or bad; it is used to illustrate that the most unlikely or weakest things could become the strongest.

II.    So we need to take the long view and look at things from God’s perspective which is the eternal view not limited by time.

Too many people today want to see their success immediately. They do not want to wait for rewards. They believe that Christianity means all of our problems are immediately solved and prosperity will come by tomorrow afternoon. This is simply not true!

Of course, when we receive Jesus as our Savior, the guilt of our sin is dealt with immediately on the basis of Christ’s death on Calvary and his resurrection from the grave. This should bring immediate peace with God, because we know that we will not come into condemnation and that our sins have been covered and redemption assured under the blood of Christ. 

Romans 8:1‭-‬4 NIV Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

This doesn’t mean that you will no longer have problems.  In fact, Jesus told us that we would have problems. 

John 16:33 NIV “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We will still have personal problems that we have to deal with on a day-to-day basis.

The glorious truth, however, is that, we have assurance of victory. 

Romans 8:37‭-‬39 NIV No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Knowing that we are going to “win the game” helps us in time of need, strength for battle. 

In the book of Revelation, Jesus had John write to the church in Smyrna, which was struggling, at the time 

Revelation 2:8‭-‬10 NIV “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

In other words, Jesus was saying “Take the long view. Do not set your eyes on short-term goals. Give God time, and he will work out your problems like the yeast works through the dough. In the meantime, while you wait be faithful.

Isaiah 40:29‭-‬31 NIV He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

III.     History renders strange verdicts.

The last two years have been great, if you are a pessimist, in fact many of us might have agreed that these last two years have been the darkest years in our history.   Everything seemed to indicate the world had no future. COVID-19, racial unrest, extremely divided political environment, soaring prices, natural disaster after natural disaster, and on and on.  We were on the borderline of complete frustration, ready to give up and call it quits.  Everything seemed hopeless.   

The truth is, however, that God was at work.

Let me tell you what else has happened in the last two years.

1. Leaders have learned to trust employees. 

Many businesses, including churches have found themselves faced with the need to shutter their doors during the pandemic but not necessarily shut down operations. Instead, management, leadership teams and employees have banded together to create virtual work environments that are not only productive and successful but enjoyable too. 

2. Businesses have learned how to think differently.

Many businesses and churches have come up with new  models. Restaurants that never offered takeout have figured out how to do so. In many towns, restaurants have created “drive-through dinners” that allow families to pick up family meals without ever getting out of their car and with little to no contact with others.  Churches had had online and virtual services and becomes of it people who would never have come to church participated in worship and many gave their lives to Christ.

3. Technology has been embraced in new ways.

Companies, and churches, including us,  have started using Zoom, Facebook Live, GoogleChats, and other technology to  stay connected and reach others they may have not reached any 9thee way. 

4. Life has slowed down just a bit.

With fewer places to go and fewer things to do safely, it would seem that this could be viewed as a negative. And sure, we all wish we didn’t have to go through the  past couple of years.  But think about it, the pandemic has given us the opportunity to slow down a bit and focus on the essentials. Whether it be spending more quality time with our family and friends, taking time to phone a long lost friend or relative, or having a video conference with friends and family over the holidays, of for a birthday. Chances are you have had the opportunity to reconnect with people you haven’t talked to in a long time.

5. We have learned who and what matters to us most.

As we shared in the point above, we have reconnected with people we haven’t talked to in a long time. In addition to that many of us have had a chance to sit back and reflect on what is essential. You may have prayed more or studied the Scriptures more.  For many, it might mean that we have taken this extra time at home to get more physically fit. For others, they have tried new recipes and learned how to eat healthier. And yet, for others, they have put new self-care routines into place to help manage their stress and overall health. Whatever it is you discovered about yourself, you may be able to thank these weird times for those epiphanies.

6. We’ve thought about more than just ourselves.

Perhaps you have read a news story or know of a situation where people thought about the bigger picture during the pandemic. In troubled times, it can be easy to go into despair. But many have found a way to do good for others, whether it be by delivering groceries or medicine to somebody Or maybe you donated to a GoFundMe site for a family in need. Stories of people doing good for others have been on a historic rise over the last two years, and that’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?

As Christians we can put our faith in the fact that history will vindicate our trust in Christ and His message of service and love.

IV.    God is always there.

If one were to ask what is the chief appeal of the gospel to so many people in so many generations and in so many countries, what would you say? 

Is it not the influence of Jesus as a person? Jesus loved and proved it by offering Himself for others.Others have come and gone. Military men have conquered large portions of the world but have had to give it up. Merchants have cornered the market on certain products, but they could not hold out forever. Entertainers have become a household word but have perished, some of them tragically. Jesus Christ, however, is stronger today than he was in the first century. His kingdom is greater and more people claim allegiance to him than ever before in the history of the world. Even with the surveys here in the US that says more and more people are becoming,  what they call u churches.  The That's not what`s happening throughout the world.  Napoleon is reported to have once said, “Caesar, Charlemagne, and I built kingdoms on force, and they have crumbled. Jesus Christ built a kingdom on love, and today there are countless thousands who would gladly die for his sake.”  That was right when he said it and it is right today.

 

Conclusion

Do not let the appearances fool you. Forces are at work for God when and where we least expect. 

Think about this.   What if somebody in the outskirts of Bethlehem might have said one day, “Nothing new ever happens around here. We’re just a hick town. Oh, by the way, some girl from Galilee had a baby out in the stable last night. But nothing new ever happens around here.” 

Remember what Nathanael said when Philip told him that they had found the Messiah, and that He was from Nazareth?

John 1:45‭-‬46 NIV Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

I said this last week anything ever began in miniature, it was the Christian movement. A baby in a manger! A Roman ruler issuing an edict to kill him! A little boy in a carpenter’s shop in a small village! This was the start of it all. Yet from that small beginning, God’s kingdom, based on love and righteousness, has extended and become worldwide in its scope. 

Jesus started by himself. He taught 12 men to follow him, and slowly the Kingdom began to grow.  He had but a handful of followers, He was a man of no rank and without natural and material means.

Be careful about believing that the forces making the loudest noise are the most enduring or the most important.  It is often the voices that are softest, that are the strongest and have the greatest impact. 

Those still small voices that speak like Christ spoke.  It says in.

1 Corinthians 2:15‭-‬16 NIV The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Philippians 4:8 NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Jesus said that if you just abide in Him, you will produce fruit and that fruit is love 

Galatians 5:22‭-‬26 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The God kind of love, Jesus, indeed of love, when poured out will result in growth of the kingdom of heaven.  

John 15:5 NIV “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Yeast is a single-celled microorganism which when added to flour with water, ferments giving off a gas. The small gas bubbles transform the bread making it lighter, softer and much bigger i.e. the bread is said to be leavened.

Jesus was saying in this parable of the leaven, that the amazing effect of yeast on bread was like the effect of his Gospel on us and the world. Jesus wanted us to open our hearts to his Word, live its message and, in return, enjoy everlasting happiness with Him.

Matthew 13:33 NIV He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Lord, help us to be honest and see what sort of leaven we sow each and every day. Help us to get rid of the bad and be filled with the good. Inspire us to be that good leaven in all the many daily interactions we have. Jesus, we trust in You. Amen

 

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