Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• How do you feel about our nation at present?
• How do you feel about the church and the days ahead?
• As Christians we are told to think about those things above
• It is easy for our eyes to be on that which is around us
• Have a burden and concern for the land around us
• Above that - lift your eyes to God
• These parables were to the disciples
• The disciples were discouraged in many ways:
• 12:24 - The Pharisees were saying Jesus was devilish
• 12:38 - The Pharisees were continually testing Jesus
• Jesus taught the disciples in parables
• Secret things
• Those to whom had ears to hear
• Jesus explained only two parables to His disciples
• Jesus is encouraging the disciples
• 13:16-17 - You are blessed, you can see what even the prophets could not
• 13:35 - They were to understand things kept secret from the foundation of the world
• 13:31-32 - The Kingdom of God was to spread and spread to the whole world
• 13:33 - God is doing His work
• The first parable emphasis an outward growth and the second an inward growth (in people's hearts)
• [Overview:
• God's ways are not our ways
• Do not underestimate what God can do
• It is God's work]

God's ways are not our ways

• Example of advertising, politics
• God uses insignificant people
• God uses the sowing of His word to change life and nations
• God uses the proclamation of His word
• Jesus uses the metaphor of a seed
• It's small and appears lifeless
• The results seem out of proportion
• Some doubt Jesus' words:
• Is the mustard seed really the smallest?
• Is it really bigger than all the herbs?
• Yes - for the known seeds at the time
• Example of Gideon & Jonathan
• God will have the glory
• Example of 12 educated disciples to turn the world upside down
• God's ways are different
• Examples of how God uses us (as we are)
• Example of how God's Kingdom had come
• See how different Jesus was
• 12:16 - He told others not to make Him known
• 12:19 - He preached the word
• He would die, be buried and produce much fruit
• He would triumph over sin and be raised from the dead
• Jesus is the Son of God
• God is working on the inside - this is encouraging to us
• Examples
• There is often a silent/quiet work unseen
• God may be working in another country
• His Kingdom is always increasing
• A mustard seed - a proverbial saying, colloquial language
• Jesus is using it to speak spiritual truth

Do not underestimate what God can do

• Example of the Amazon River
• The fulfillment of prophecy
• Isa 54:2-3 - God is building His Church
• Isa 9:7 - Christ will reign
• Psalm 72:8, 11, 17
• Rev 11:15
• God's normal pattern is quiet/silent growth
• He can bring revival
• Sometimes we are observe too much
• We must not despise the day of small things
• Example of William Carey and of the young man

It is God's work

• 1 Cor 3:6-7 - "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."
• We are not to look to marketing and technique
• Example of Mark Driscoll
• We believe in prayer, preaching and living Godly lives
• It is God's work
• He can multiply - example
• Our job is to sow God's word
• Our job is to trust in Him

Closing Remarks

• Do you have ears to hear?
• Have you trusted in Jesus for your salvation?