The Powerful Parable of The Mustard Seed | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

Mark chapter 4 together, please. I know you agree with me when I

Mark 4 · chapter mention

say that. It's an honor to open God's word

and it is a wonderful blessing to sing God's word, right?

And we sang God's word. So clearly, I mean we had like

five sermons already but now we come to the scripture, the

scripture that has been ordained for us this afternoon and I

asked you to point your finger there at verse 34 a moment.

As we will deal with another parable.

If you were here last week, you know that we explored a unique

Parable, that is exclusively found in the gospel of Mark.

And our hearts were prayerfully strengthened.

As we understood that Parable provided Insight regarding our

function and God's responsibility when it comes to

the kingdom of God, growing and advancing in our world and

surely it was a relief for these early disciples when they

understood and learn from their master that it was God's word

with its automatic power that has the sole ability to

transform the life. That is received the truth into

their hearts. It is in no need of human

Ingenuity to produce results. There is nothing that we can add

to the power of the spirit behind the truth of sacred

scripture, that would help it produce.

What only God can produce and whatever encouragement these

disciples felt in that moment will only increase.

Now, it's about to intensify because the Lord is about to

reveal yet another glorious promise.

Elected to the advancement of his purposes, from generation to

generation. But before you and I look at

this Parable, that holds that promise you have to understand

that these disciples did not say yes to the call of Jesus Christ

in a day like ours. They did not choose to follow

the lord, when it was generally and culturally acceptable to be

a Christian, did it? They didn't say yes to following

Jesus. When there are tens of thousands

of churches that were already planted across the nation's.

There were no Bible schools. There are no private Christian

schools. There are no libraries filled

with gospel themed books. There are no conferences, every

single year there is none of that.

And sure they had the Son of God, living and standing and

breathing before them. But they have not yet

comprehended the extent of his mission and his message and how

expensive it would be. They didn't have the full

confidence yet and you can imagine how and why specially

when around them is that growing?

Contention and conflict and resistance from the religious

leaders and the differing opinions of the masses.

Where is this all heading to? What is this going to lead to

what is this going to? Ultimately guarantee?

And what the Lord is going to do, now is not just show them as

he did last week. The capability of God's word, he

is now going to stamp on their hearts, the confidence that they

need to realize that the movement that they joined has a

glorious end, as a glorious finish, has a glorious outcome.

And we read it here in verse 30 of Mark 4.

And he said, with what can we compare?

The kingdom of God or what? Parable shall we use for it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sewn on the

ground is the smallest of all the seeds on Earth yet when it

is, sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the other garden

plants and puts out large branches.

So that the birds of the air can make nest in its shade.

With many such Parables, he spoke the word to them as they

were Were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without

a parable, but privately to his own disciples.

He explained everything in this Parable.

You and I are going to Drought, incredible, insights, that will

bless your faith as you. I hope and pray have also said,

yes to the call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I pray that as you sit here this afternoon, you are a true

disciple and a true servant of the Living God And how we're

going to understand these insights is by putting them

under three headings and the headings are very simple to

remember. Number one, we will look at the

smallness of the seed, the smallness of the seed.

From there, we will look at the success of the seed.

And finally, we will look at the suggestion of the seed.

The smallness of the seed is found here in verse 30 and 31.

We realize that Jesus mentioned something that he has mentioned

before and it's something you've probably read over and over

again, but I wondered this afternoon if you have ever stop

to ask the question, what is that?

What does that really mean? What I'm referring to is this,

the kingdom of God Jesus love to preach about the kingdom of God.

Jesus love to explain components and realities around the kingdom

of God. But I wonder if Believers know

what the kingdom of God. Really is Is it the church?

Or is it something else? Is it literal or is it

spiritual? Is it present or is it future?

What is the kingdom of God? And I think a good place to

start as a simple definition. What is a kingdom and it's not

complicated a kingdom as any place.

Any region, any territory, any country that is governed by a

king that is ruled by a monarch. That is overruled by.

A ruler in this capacity. And when Jesus says about the

kingdom of God and explains about it, what he's essentially

saying is, there is a government that has been, that will be and

forever, will be ruled by the almighty, the kingdom of God.

And when you understand that, the kingdom of God is just that,

then you kind of just make the equation from there.

Because you and I understand that from the beginning of this

book, we see that our God is, in fact, the king of all Kings.

He is the Creator and sustainer of all things.

Everything in this universe is under his Under his authority.

And if that is the case, then maybe we make this simple

answer, then the kingdom of God, surely must mean that everything

belongs to him and the universe is the kingdom of God because

he's the king over all the universe.

And that may seem like a quick relief to this apparent mystery.

But we have some problems. If we just leave it at that, we

have some problems because you were with us in Mark chapter 1,

Mark 1 · chapter mention

where you not and do you not read what Jesus said there in

verse 14 and 15 out of his own lips?

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee.

Proclaiming the gospel of God and saying, the time is

fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent, and believe

in the gospel, right? From the gate, we are introduced

to in the gospel of Mark about the kingdom of God, the kingdom

of God, history has known many kingdoms that have risen and

Fallen, but God's word is concern about and Center on one.

Reality the kingdom of God, but if the kingdom of God is King

ruling over things, and we know that God rules over all things.

Then how is it that Jesus had? Come on the scene and say, well,

it is at hand. It is at hand, which is a way of

saying it is closed, it is near. It is ready to introduce itself.

How do we marry those two things?

When we have so many Old Testament descriptions and

declarations that, we have a king in heaven.

We sang it. He does observe and manage and

control and determine all things.

Only for the Son of God to come and say it is at hand.

It is at hand. Surely the concept of the

kingdom of God is much more complex.

And we would like it to be, but if you just pay attention a

little bit longer, you'll realize that it's, it's pretty

clear when we understand the kingdom of God, we know that it

undoubtedly is defined by the fact that our God rules over

every sphere and Arena of life. But when you come to the New

Testament, you realize that the kingdom of God is more

specifically, the rule of God through.

Appointed Messiah. Through his appointed Messiah,

it speaks of the era. When the Lord Jesus Christ, the

son of God Son of David promised one comes and breaks into our

world establishes, a physical throne and Will from their

govern everything. Everything from the nation's to

Nature itself in all the details in between So, very simple

definition of the kingdom of God is the rule of God, the reign of

God exercise, by the son of God. And this is why we can believe

that. Yes, there always was he King.

But the kingdom of God coming and arriving through the sun is

as more manifested in the fact that it will be Jesus who will

rule and reign. and perhaps you're sitting there wondering,

well that makes a little bit more sense, but how do we

reconcile that understanding with different parts in the New

Testament where Jesus says something along the lines of The

kingdom of God, is in the midst of you.

The kingdom of God, is in the midst of You, Luke 17:21.

Luke 17:21

He told that to the group of Pharisees who are wondering,

when is this whole thing happening?

Are you, are you the one that was supposed to be waiting?

For if you're supposedly the king that the prophet spoke of

in the psalmist wrote about then, where's your kingdom?

And Jesus looks at me, says, in the midst of you, Well, is it at

hand? Is that are arriving?

Is it here? How do we make sense of this?

And here's how we saw that. Jesus could say, the kingdom is

in the midst of you because the king of the kingdom was in the

midst of them, I'm here. Yeah.

The kingdom is in the midst of you and Jesus through his

authority over disease and demons his Deliverance.

His power were glimpses were flares Ours were Sparks of the

glory of God and the authority and the Dominion of God, that

showed the people. There is something happening

here. And so, yes.

The kingdom of God was at hand. And yes, Jesus could say, at one

point in his ministry, it is in the midst of you, but there are

still other things that are not clicking yet, not connecting

fully. Because there are other Parables

where Jesus alludes to a future aspect of the Kingdom.

There is a kingdom to come and through Parables and even direct

teaching, and even answering the questions of the disciples and

acts one. Will you now restore the Kingdom

of Israel? And the Lord graciously

impatiently says that's not for you to figure out.

That's not for you to understand the specific time or the hour,

just go preach the gospel, I will Empower you, with my Holy

Spirit, it will come, it will happen.

And we even see that in the Lord's Prayer, when the Lord

instructs his disciples pray, this may, your kingdom come

well, I thought it was in the midst already so is it?

There is a not there and here's how we can solve all of this

dilemma. The kingdom of God was in the

midst of them. Because Jesus, the King was in

the midst of them. And when Jesus arrived on the

scene, he inaugurated the kingdom, he set it into motion,

he came and he pressed start. But he did not fully manifest it

and through his ministry. He did not yet complete it.

But you and I understand that as Jesus did inaugurate it with his

first coming, it will be consummated when he returns.

And so the kingdom of God will know its full manifestation at

the consummation of the age when the Lord will indeed.

Yes, come again. And when he comes he will plant

the flag and the banner of his name on every Hilltop.

And he will for a thousand years with absolute unmatched

unchallenged Authority. Prove the kingdom of God, that

is the final stage that we are awaiting.

And so, it is a present, and not yet understanding of the kingdom

of God. But if that is the case, then

you and I the church, how does that fit into all of this?

Are we the kingdom of God? Is Jesus teaching the kingdom of

God as a synonymous term for the local church sprinkled across

the globe. The Church of Jesus Christ is

not the kingdom of God, though. She is an expression of it.

She is an expression of the kingdom of God.

Not the full definition of the kingdom of God.

And so, how do we make sense of that?

Well, we are like what a country would be when it has an embassy

in it. An embassy being a foreign

representation of a different country establish and place in a

different land. And that is exactly what you

are. You're not just somebody who

comes to sit on a Pew every Sunday.

No, no, no. You are an ambassador of Jesus

Christ, and you have a citizenship in heaven.

And Christ though there is a future aspect.

The Final Phase of his kingdom. Manifesting in our world, he

still rules in heaven today with absolute Authority Dominion,

wisdom, glory, and power. And he governs the hearts of

those who have accepted him as the king of their lives. and

they submit their lives, joyfully under his law, the law

of his kingdom, which is continually in operation And

what we do, our purpose here in this world as ambassadors, who

are a part of this institution that represents the kingdom.

This Embassy, we try to recruit others.

And we tried to show others that this King that we represent, he

purchased a Heavenly citizenship, for you with his

blood, would you accept it? Would you accept it?

And we demonstrate to the World As We submit to his law and Obey

him and worship and day-to-day, we exemplify to the world.

What it's like to live under this Kingdom, and what it's like

to have this King as our King, And that it would stir Hearts

prayerfully to say. I want that King.

I want that King to be my king, and I want to be among the

number when his kingdom fully and finally comes.

So you see you and I hear as the church, we have a very important

role to play. we have a very we are, we are rolling out the

carpet, so to speak for the king and the kingdom to fully come

And we have a duty, we have a duty to represent It Well by the

help of the holy spirit. That is how you.

And I understand the kingdom of God on this side of the cross.

That is not how these disciples understood at this point of

their development in the school of Christ, the kingdom of God,

you know, how they understood it.

They had selective reading just like many of the Jews of that

day. They were waiting for.

You know, this. Well, a David like figure who

would arise from the tribe of Judah.

And with swift military strength and power would cancel.

All oppression would restore the nation of Israel and it would be

the triumphant Light of the Nations were all other nations

would come and receive from and and receive some kind of

guidance from the Lord who would sit upon that mouth.

And that's what they're waiting for.

They're waiting for something that is unmistakable.

Overwhelming and lightning fast. And you read that when Jesus

talks to those disciples on the road to Emmaus, you get an idea

of how even some like Christians today, they did not fathom the

and they could not accept the idea of a messiah of a king of

the anointed, what suffering and dying.

How do we merge? Those two things, there's a

kingdom coming, how can he die? How can a subject himself to

other authority and other power? How can he be overwhelmed?

He's the one who's supposed to overwhelm.

And so this is what they're looking for an up to this point.

This Man from Nazareth, who's doing these amazing signs and

wonders, they're convinced this has to be him.

This is a, this is the one that the prophets spoke of this is

the one that we've studied ever since we were children, surely

this is him. They've at least believe that

much. And as now they stand before

their teacher, the teacher of teachers the Glorious King,

telling them about the kingdom of God.

Finally he says, what shall we compare the kingdom to, to what

Parable should we point to and there the disciples waiting?

And understanding in their own Hearts.

Yeah. What is it going to be like?

Tell us. It's like a mustard seed.

Like a, what? You can imagine them looking at

one another. Did he just say what we thought?

He said. Like a mustard seed.

The kingdom is like a mustard seed and to emphasize the point.

Yeah, like the Mustard Seed, the smallest seed.

Of all the Earth. now, as a side note, people like to jump on

that to try to discredit the inerrancy of the Bible by saying

there are smaller seeds than mustard seeds that you can find

understandable, nobody's debating that and we're not here

trying to Claim that Jesus is making a scientific statement

about agriculture. That's not what the Lord is

doing. We know that Jesus used the

Mustard Seed in another place in, Matthew 17:20, when he

Matthew 17:20

talked about a quality of faith, that is like what a mustard

seed. And so, he's speaking with an

expression that must have been familiar in his day.

It was a proverbial expression. It was hyperbolic muster seeds,

were commonly used in Israel and there were, if not the smallest

seed used in that land. And it was just part of their

expression. When you wanted to refer to

something or compare something with the smallness of its size.

And so Jesus is just borrowing, something that was common to the

day and using it and applying it in his own teachings.

He's a wonderful teacher. ER he's relevant in that

regards. So again, we're not we're not

here trying to say that Jesus making accurate descriptions of

seeds and plants, he's just making a point.

I'm making a point that they would have understood and I'm

sure it's startle them when they understood that the kingdom of

God with all its glory and might and majesty and strength is like

a mustard seed, how can it be? Christ is making the simple

point. My kingdom may seem

inconsequential. It may seem insignificant it may

seem overlooked. It may seem so vulnerable that

it can be crushed in a moment, but I want you to understand

something, it's going to grow. And it's going to grow, not just

to be among other things, it will be the greatest and it will

cause other kingdoms and all governments to sit in the shadow

of my authority. This is how their understand,

this is what he's trying to say. And this is extremely valuable

for the disciples to here. Because they're just a group of

12. And already, they're hearing the

grumblings and the Rumblings and the plots of this thing being

eradicated before it even starts.

And the Lord wants to assure them prophetically.

It's going to start small my boys.

Listen up here. My future Apostles.

It doesn't seem impressive today but just wait.

And it will be beyond your life, but just trust my words that

from generation to generation, my kingdom is only going to

increase in this world. so, they're hearing this and

hopefully they're understanding this and I wonder what went

through their minds. We're not told we can't say

dogmatically, but I wonder if they had enough understanding of

the Old Testament. If one particular text came in

mind, this is a text that came to my mind, when seeing and

understanding what Jesus meant here.

And it's found in Zechariah Chapter 4 and I would invite you

Zechariah 4 · chapter mention

to turn there for a moment. And the prophet Zechariah What's

Happening Here is this generation of the nation of

Israel has returned from Exile Babylon.

Was used by God as an instrument of judgment to remove the nation

of Israel. At least the tribe of Judah.

The southern Kingdom away from their land, and to plant them in

a foreign place, and he's chastising them, but he promised

them restoration, you will come back and finally, they get, they

did, they arrive back and now they're trying to restore all

that was brought to Rubble. Now the knez I brought

everything down to fine powder including the house of God, the

temple of God. And so here they are trying to

build everything back again and try to go back to normal and

hopefully try to restore the glory that they lost because of

their sin. And they're discouraged.

This generation is dejected. They're discouraged, primarily

because as they laid the foundation of the temple again,

they felt like this is not what it was.

Like when Solomon was here, this is not what it was.

Like, what after Solomon did, what is this?

What? And they despised it.

They had contempt in their hearts toward it.

It was the work of their hands and they knew that they receive

God's favor again and permission again to restore everything that

was lost. But the it's just not the same.

It's not what we hoped for. It's the Lord speaks to his

prophet and he speaks to this generation.

And he says, in verse 8 of Zechariah, 4 and the word of the

Lord came to me saying the hands of zerubbabel have laid, the

foundation of this house, his hands shall also complete it.

Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.

Verse 10, for whoever has despised the day of small things

shall rejoice. And shall see the Plumb line in

the hand of zerubbabel. Whoever has despised the day of

small, things shall rejoice. That's how God referred to that

season in the life of these people.

The day of small things. When the efforts don't seem to

be effective. When the fruit seems to take too

long to produce when the hopes and dreams and prayers seem to

be delayed and nothing seems to move forward, nothing seems to

expand. Nothing seems to grow it.

Just just like a slab of concrete that nothing is added

on. And this prophecy is the Lord,

telling them you're going to rejoice.

This is not the end of it. This is just the beginning of it

and you can't see the end from the beginning like I can't.

So you have to trust what I'm saying.

It will be completed, something will come out of this.

And you know what, I take from this I was looking at verse 10

specifically and it reveals to me and it reveals I hope to you

that it is man it is man who is prone to despise small things

but not God. God didn't say and God didn't

Express a shared contempt of the humble beginnings of the nation

of Israel. He didn't say and we who have

despised the day of small things.

We shall rejoice. He doesn't include himself, he

is the encourager. He's the one who is outside of

their dejection and is trying to infuse them with the faith.

The faith to believe that this is just the beginning.

And there are so much more in store.

And so it is man who tends to be unimpressed with what is before

them and to think to themselves is this it You and I listen,

this is not going to help those who are not serious about seeing

the kingdom of God events, but it will help.

Those who are eager to see the kingdom of God Advanced.

We are so often tempted to write off.

And to give up and to turn our backs on the very efforts of our

own hands, though. It is for the glory of God and

all the while through this verse, you have to understand

our Lord has a completely different perspective on the

whole thing, a completely different perspective.

The reason why we tend to look down on the thing that we want

to do for the glory of God. It's because as I said earlier,

God sees the end from the beginning you don't and neither

do I. So all the Lord is asking for

through this prophecy is Faith. Believe it and understand that

your investment is not in vain. Your investment is not in vain.

And this generation hopefully would have understood that.

I want you to see who our God is more in this.

In this regard, I want you to turn to Romans 15 verse 5 and

Romans 15:5

look at this title that the holy spirit gives to the father and

understand that it is so important for you and I to grass

for ourselves. Romans, 15 5.

I pray that you would never forget this reference about our

God, May the god of endurance and encouragement, Grant you to

live in such harmony with one another in accordance with

Christ. Jesus, May the god of

encouragement. God is a god of encouragement.

Do you understand that? That is exactly what he was

doing. Through Zechariah, to those

people who return to their land, he wanted to encourage them as

they were serving him. He didn't criticize them.

He didn't agree with them. He didn't fuel their

disappointment. He wanted to fuel their faith.

And if God is a god of encouragement, again for the

person who is serving the lord and perhaps you are a little

just a little even or even more than a little disappointed

wondering if this is worth it ready to quit on serving God and

the particular place that he has put, you understand what I'm

saying? The thoughts that come into your

mind that caused you to despise the work of the Lord that cause

you to unnecessarily criticize your faithfulness.

When and whether or not you are truly a servant of God.

Because here, if you're truly a servant of God, this should have

happened by. Now, if those thoughts come

crashing in, or haunt you at night understand this, it's not

God, Because he's the god of encouragement.

He looks at his people serving and he says, keep going.

This will be completed. You will rejoice.

Yeah, you may so tears and night but you will in the morning reap

a harvest. Believe it.

Keep moving forward. Keep pressing on.

Keep discipling. Keep raising.

Keep teaching, keep praying, keep studying.

Keep witnessing Don't despise. It don't estimate with your

limited view. Don't calculate your results and

equate it to your Effectiveness. He's the god of encouragement.

So I know one thing. Right?

I know one thing that as I am endeavoring to please my god,

when those things come rushing into my heart, you really cut

out for this. Is this really, really what you

thought would happen, more should have had, whatever the

case may be. I know one thing in that moment,

according to Romans 14:5, my God is a god of encouragement.

Romans 14:5

He doesn't make me less excited about serving him.

He doesn't make me less filled with faith as I'm serving him.

Oh, so then you can understand and put all those thoughts away

and realize that is not my king. Because he's the god of

encouragement. And he's the god of

encouragement and we are his people, then let's be a people

of encouragement. And let's look at one another

and encourage each other in the faith, more and more for his

glory. And that is something that you

and I have to see under the reality of the smallness of the

seed. Do not despise the day of small

things that was true for the nation of Israel.

Then it was true for the disciples in Mark chapter 4 and

Mark 4 · chapter mention

is true for you. And I today the smallness of the

seed, the success of this feed, whatever startled Hearts they

had in that moment it would have been conned by the next point

that Jesus was about to make in the next verse he tells them and

yet when it is sown it grows up, it grows up.

Becoming larger than all the garden plants and puts out large

branches. So that the birds of the air can

make nest in its shade, these disciples had no reason to fear

after that truth. There's no reason to be

concerned, they had now ultimate confidence in realizing that

they are part of a movement, that would not be shaken.

It's not going to fail. You are part of a establishment

that will Encompass the globe. And I want you to think about

that. The fact that you and I are

sitting here in 2023 in Chicago Illinois.

Worshipping week after week. All started with a band of men

in the countryside of Judea, scratching their heads.

And trying to wonder how how is the kingdom of God?

Like a mustard seed? And that incredible.

And we're just one piece of The Grandmaster piece of the kingdom

of God advancing across this world.

And we see here that this ministry that began in Galilee,

would one day, take over everything as Jesus predicted.

But here are some controversy, you like controversy.

There's some controversy around this, Parable saying what it

seems so simple and clear. Yes.

But it has to deal with Jesus words here at the last part of

verse 32. He says, so that the birds of

the air can make nest in its shade, What's the big deal?

Do you remember when Jesus shared the parallel to soar?

There is the first soil that he mentioned.

And with that soil, he mentioned the invasion of what birds These

birds came and they plucked up the seed from the surface of

that hardened path. And when you're there, a mark

for look at verse 13. Jesus gives the interpretation

of what the birds are. And these are the ones along the

path when the word is sown, when they hear Satan.

Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sewn

in them. Now here's why that's important.

Because when Jesus gave the parable of the sower, he

corrected and rebuked, his disciples who didn't understand,

and he says, how then will you understand all the other

parables? Which tells me that in the

parable of the sower, is our keys to interpret future

Parables. And this one's not too future

from what he just said in the parable of the sower, it's very

near its in the same context. What are you saying?

Here's what I'm saying that you have some who would interpret

this in the following way, if the birds and the parable, The

Source signify Satan's activity, And surely, you must mean the

same here in the parable of the mustard seed.

The idea is that as the church enlarges and gains more ground,

over the generations, the infiltration of Satan, and his

emissaries, will also emerge. They will.

Lodge in the midst of Christendom, the Lord here is

what some would believe. The Lord here is predicting that

there will be with the growth of my kingdom and my church.

Servants of unrighteousness, clothed, in righteousness,

supposed righteousness, fake righteousness, a facade

righteousness, and will be in the midst of my people with a

destructive purpose. So it's almost like a warning.

Yes, the seed is going to grow and become this wonderfully

large Plant. But with it will attract Satan's

assaults. And his attempt to pervert.

And to pollute my kingdom. Some have a problem with that

interpretation. And the one that I just gave is

not the popular one. What you have others who would

say as well? Okay, I understand that, but the

way Jesus shares about the parable of the Mustard Seed, the

way his languages, implies that the birds coming in is a good

thing, right? So we read that the, the plant

will grow. And then he says, so that the

birds of the air can make nests in the branches, so that a

desired outcome, the birds should be coming.

In fact, the kingdom is growing, the tree is going in order for

the birds to be able to find a home.

And again, you can't fully understand the new without the

old, and these men had some grass of the Old Testament and

surely the word of God in flesh has perfect understanding of his

own word. And so, could it be that a text

like Ezekiel 17:23 is what the Lord is alluding to when it says

Ezekiel 17:23

here about a prophecy about the Kingdom on the mountain height

of Israel. Well, I plant it that I'm a bare

branches and produce fruit and become a Noble Cedar and under.

It will dwell every kind of bird in the shade of its branches.

Birds of every sort will nest. I can tell you one thing about

the birds and Ezekiel 17, not talking about demons.

What is he talking about? Gentile inclusion.

Every kind of bird every sort will Nest.

Once I plant my kingdom on this mountain and it has its full

expression made known. Could it be that Jesus is

referring to the same thing? That these birds will come.

And they will find stability. They will find shade, they will

find peace. They will find security under

the kingdom that has ruled and reigned by Jesus Christ himself.

It's not just confined to the Jews.

Now, it's now open to the nation's now and the nation's

income and say he's also my king, the son of David is also

my master, my Lord, my king, Regardless of what point you

hold to, even if it's to the former one, that I just

explained even of those birds are unwelcomed things.

The end result is still the same of Jesus.

Parable. These birds that come and Lodge

in the branches. They're not like the parable,

the sore, where they actually are succeeding and removing some

kind of influence. Now, they're just sitting there,

they're sitting there and the tree is still a tree.

The plant is still fully grown. Nothing could throw it that and

that's exactly the point. So wherever you say well I hold

to that I hold to that realize that what Jesus is declaring is

still the same. His kingdom will come.

Regardless of the pushback of Satan, regardless of all, the

armies that will come on that day of Armageddon and raised

their fists, in their weapons. To the heavens Christ will come

with one breath and deal with them.

He'll deal with them. The success is inevitable.

It's clear. It's obvious.

And now we come to the suggestion of the seed.

What does this mean for us? I know this is more of a

teaching than preaching. I know that you were learning

things in terms of definition, and Theological implications,

and all that. But what does that mean for you?

How does understanding the past of the kingdom of God?

The beginnings of the kingdom of God and that's continuous

progress and evolution. How does that help me?

Now, do I just hold on and wait and just trust that it's going

to happen? Yeah, sure.

It helped the disciples who were starting out the pioneers of the

movement. You can understand how this

Parable would have been a sigh of relief.

Okay, good, we're headed in the right direction.

Our Lord never lies promise that this will be good.

And I'll just, I'll just give you one one practical

application and understanding that you are part of the kingdom

of God. And it's in Hebrews 12 and we

read here in verse 28. Therefore, let us be grateful

for receiving a kingdom. That cannot be shaken.

And thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with

reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.

I hope you wouldn't disagree with me.

If I said that generally speaking people yearn.

To be a part of something. That will enhance their quality

of life. and that's why these guys on YouTube that Are like

entrepreneurs and motivational speakers that's why they're so

viral and attractive because people want to enhance their

quality of life, and they're willing to make great

Investments. Whether that be in personal

discipline, or some kind of plan or idea, that might most

promised them a future of stability and solidity.

And you see that in many ways, some of you have left a country

that had an oppressive regime to be here in America because you

saw that there was a Promise of Greater freedom and opportunity.

And you have people young people who are willing to make great

sacrifices and take great risk. In order to start something

whether it's a business or an idea or invents something in

order to promise them a more prosperous future.

People are making Investments all the time.

In fact, that's, that's really what life is.

Unless there's something drastically wrong with your.

You've reached a place of such destitution that you don't even

care. People are constantly trying,

that's why you go to school. That's why you get a job.

That's why you work out. That's why you try to stay on

that diet is because you want to see something come out of an

investment. That would ultimately profit

you. And as good as that might be and

as healthy as that might be understand.

And, you know, this that there are risk in any investment And

any investment that you make even if it's good and it's not

necessarily evil, it's still a risk.

And yeah, you try to measure your Roi or return on investment

and what's the best place that can minimize those risks.

But there are still risks Even if you go to the gym, you can

hurt yourself, whatever the case may be.

And here's the thing in the past 3 years, If the church has

learned anything. The world, I can see has

understood it, but at the church has learned anything.

It is this Everything can be shaken.

Even this wonderful country. With its glorious Constitution,

right? And the American dream.

Oh how quick the American dream can become a nightmare.

Everything can be shaken. And as Jesus, that even gives,

even if you didn't make an investment, even if somebody

handed you something and put it in your hand, did he not say

that moth can destroy it? They not say that rust.

Can he wrote it? Didn't that?

Say that a thief can come in and break it.

And take it profit from it. Yeah, we come to Hebrews 12 and

we realize That in a world that is marked by a people, a

Humanity ever since the beginning that longed for

purpose and hope and to do anything that they can to ensure

a greater purpose and A Lasting Hope.

You and I have been given something that is unshakable.

Unshakeable. Untouchable.

Immovable. Guaranteed success.

It will not be taken from us. By foreign enemies, it will not

erode after centuries. It will not be usurped, it will

not be dominated by anything nor will it be even stunted by the

failures of its followers? We are told that this kingdom is

invincible. Invincible.

Meaning you will be on the good side.

You will be on the profitable side when King Jesus comes back

and you will know unending. Joy, unending, peace.

True Prosperity. Fullness of Love, fullness of

strength and vigor ultimate happiness and blessing.

That does not have an expiration date on it.

That is a promise and here's the best part, you didn't earn it.

You didn't work for it. You didn't get a loan.

Nor did you try to impress The King, The King with his blood

gave it? And we're told here in Hebrews

12 wide that we have received this Kingdom, it's a gift, it's

a gift, you know, you look at the book of Acts and you see how

and different occurrences, Paul's Roman citizenship really

came to help him. Really came to help him.

And I always looked at that and I and I thought, yeah, there's

some practical teachings there of how if you are in a place

where a nation or region that does offer you some kind of

freedom take advantage of it for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yes, you point to a secular law if it's going to help you

advance and sustain and proclaim the gospel but I thought came to

my mind. How much more should we be able

to realize the great joy and security?

We have with our Heavenly citizenship?

I know you don't see it now because you're still not a life

where you have to make natural Investments.

But it's really going to come in handy when the king comes and he

says, where are my citizens? And you can say I'm yours, I

have my citizenship and it's stamped with the blood of Jesus

Christ, and you will not sit on the judgement floor.

You will sit and Rule and reign with him.

So what do we do with that knowledge?

Do we Rejoice then know Hebrew says Rejoice now and give God

worship and give him all aah and let your praise be reverential

and let it not just be Sunday morning where you tried to sing,

let it be something that you do throughout your week.

As you are an ambassador of this Kingdom.

That's the point. That's what we take from this.

That's what we're supposed to do.

Realize that it's coming. He predicted it and so far.

After 2000 years. Can I tell you something?

He's been, right? If he's been right.

The past 2000 years, I can guarantee you he's going to be

right for the next Thousand Years.

And so understand that the suggestion of the see, the

parable of the mustard seed, is this, you who are his citizens?

We're ship worship your king now, love him now, crown him

with praises now. So that when he comes to really

be crowned you'll be ready and not ashamed, not ashamed.

I have not been a citizen of your kingdom Faithfully.

Oh Lord, please forgive me. No, no, we've been waiting for

you King. Jesus.

We believed you. When we heard about your Parable

there in Mark, chapter 4 that indeed, your kingdom would come

Mark 4 · chapter mention

to full fruition. And we've been anticipating,

Eating your arrival. Come now and have your rest Rule

and Reign forever. You are worthy.

You are worthy. You are worthy.

And let me tell you this, if you don't believe Jesus king, he's

going to be king anyway, because it's one Pastor said it, when

Jesus comes one of the things that he will most likely do.

Is arrive and look at the scale of the Horizon of our world.

Take out those righteous pierced hands and say mine mine.

Mine mine and you can't stop him.

No one will be able to stop him so I invite you on the Sunday

afternoon. I don't know if you expected

more of a pep talk, but I invite you this Sunday, afternoon to

Bow, your knee to King Jesus. He is Lord, he died.

He was buried. And he rose from the grave and

he, he will come again. And we are told there by 2nd

Peter that he waits patiently, he waits patiently to break the

Skies open and calm. Because once he comes, there is

no chance to reverse this thing. There's no Second Chance.

In fact, once he comes its final, his kingdom will be

established. It will grow.

It will take over. But the reason why he has been

waiting, these past two thousand years is because he wants your

heart. My son, give me your heart.

My son, my daughter. I want you to realize that I

created you my image but you are not truly a child of God, like

the popular opinion might say, until you receive the Son of God

as your savior and Lord. Are you ready?

Are you ready for his arrival? if you think that this world is

permanent just take a little history lesson and realize that

no matter how great empires have been, they have all Fallen and

no matter how wonderful America has been.

And prayerfully will continue to be.

America is not the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God will have America.

And every, everything, every Other Nation for that matter.

And the only thing that will matter is whether or not you

have received the king before the King has come, Repent and

believe. Put your trust in the savior's

blood before it's too late, seek Him from mercy and he will give

it seek Him for forgiveness and if it's truly from the heart,

you will be forgiven. Not just forgiving the holy

spirit of God will seal you and he will put that citizenship as

been purchased by the blood of Christ in the safest place

possible. Where is that the faithfulness

of God? He will not reject you, he will

not push you away, he will not cancel you.

Like that temple in Zechariah what was started.

He will complete low. We thank you for this word.

And we ask, oh God, that the mustard seed, with all of its

truths would renew our faith and our worship and the reality of

the kingdom of God. You reign?

You have always rained. But we anticipate the reign of

the Messiah. Fulfilling the prophecies made

to David. We ask Lord of there's even one

who is not confident about their status in your kingdom.

That today would be the turning point and for those who are who

have given their hearts to you, we ask Lord, that worship would

be renewed. That what was said, would really

make an impact on how we view Our lives, our investments in

this world. And when all things might shake,

and if they do crumble, if they do, fail us to be able to know

that we have something that cannot be taken its

imperishable. It's a reserved.

It's all waiting and we will know it and it will be kept

forever. This is our joy, and we sing to

you. Oh, Lord, help us to see beyond

this life. Help us to see into the future

and really realize what this means.

It may you receive the necessary Glory.

As a result in Jesus name. Amen, let's Stand Together.