Classic Episode - The Mustard Seed

Jesus spoke of many parables regarding the Kingdom. He told these stories to convey deep spiritual truth. So today let us look at the parable about the Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

God's great mission is to redeem, renew and establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. His perfect eternal Kingdom is one of peace, justice, equality and respect. The King and His Kingdom are key themes in both the Old and New Testament. 

God's right to rule and reign is established where His will is done. Jesus in His earthly mission inaugurates the Kingdom. As King He is also the embodiment of God’s kingdom. 

In love, truth and power, He breaks through fear, bringing healing, peace, equality and respect. In power Jesus demonstrates God’s kingdom and in truth He proclaims it.

Jesus spoke of many parables regarding the Kingdom. He told these stories to convey deep spiritual truth. So today let us look at the parable about the Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. 

This particular parable is included in all three of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. As it is mentioned in all three of the four gospels it must be very significant and relevant. So let us begin with Matthew's account. 

Matthew 13:31-32 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

In its beginnings the mustard seed is the least of all seeds, both in size and reputation. Yet when it's destiny is fulfilled, the mustard seed becomes great in both size and strength.

The Kingdom of Heaven, being a reality on this earth that became damaged by evil began the least of tribes. God chose a people group that were both small in number and reputation. He chose them to be the object of His great love so that He would reveal Himself to the world. A world that chose to build their own kingdoms instead of living in the reality of His.

To Israel He said in Deuteronomy 7:6-8 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

God does everything out of love. He loves all people equally. To reveal His love He made a covenant promise to the forefathers of ancient Israel. He said to Abraham and to his descendants that He would make them a great nation. A blessing to all people, so that the world may know Him. 

Israel's destiny was to be a holy people. A light amongst the nations, to reveal His great love, truth and power to all people. 

Jesus fulfils the destiny of Israel. He is the glory of Israel and the light of the world, revealing the love of the Father and what His kingdom looks like on earth.

In Jesus' earthly ministry the Kingdom of Heaven had come on earth. God the Creator of heaven and earth and all things good became human, born of the Holy Spirit, came as a baby. He was from one of the twelve tribes of Israel. 

He took on the form of a servant and began His ministry declaring the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The establishment of God's right to rule and reign on earth sets the captives free, bringing healing and transformation. For this is the heart of God the Father and His good pleasure. 

In the surrender of self will to that of the Father's will, God’s power and authority becomes established in the hearts and minds of every disciple. 

After His death, resurrection and ascension, Jesus commissioned those who received Him as King and sent them out. 

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Luke reveals to us in the book of Acts that God's Kingdom was the central topic of discussion between Christ Jesus and His apostles during the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension.

Acts 1:1-3 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

The realisation of the Kingdom on earth started with Jesus. He imparted everything into His disciples and through the Holy Spirit continues to do so today.

The first disciples physically saw and touched Jesus. They did life with Jesus and were eye witnesses to who He is, what He has done and will do. They testified of His willingness to suffer for our sakes. He paid the cost of all humanity’s offences every said, thought or done. Jesus defeated death and was physically raised from the dead. They saw, touched and testify of Him.

The first disciples testified that in Jesus life’s, death and resurrection, He brings salvation to all people. Salvation is only available through Jesus Christ. Apart from Him it is impossible to enter into His Kingdom. Reject the king and reject His kingdom. The two are one. 

They testify that Jesus is the anointed one with all power and authority over life, death and eternity. He is the king of all kings and the kingdom of God ruler. To receive the King is the only pathway of entry into God’s kingdom.

Upon receiving the king we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into His glorious kingdom of light. From death to life, bondage to freedom, shame to honour, defeat to victory. 

Once entered into His kingdom ruling and reigning within begins. It is the daily journey of surrender and receive. Surrender of self will, to that of the Father’s will, being still receiving from Him, is letting God’s kingdom take root. The more we surrender and receive the deeper His truth, love and transforming power goes deeper into the spirit, intellect, emotion, and ultimately will. 

In Jesus’ earthly ministry at the cross He paid the cost for us. In His resurrection He obtained  the crown of victory for us. In Jesus’ humanity and divinity His victory over evil, death and self, He gives to us.

In His ascension He gives to us His Spirit. The power and authority of Jesus Christ in His Spirit is a surging, rushing, relentless river of new life. After Jesus' ascension 120 gathered according to His instructions. 

Then it happened. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost gave birth to the church as the body of the resurrected Christ. Empowering and mobilising the church throughout the new age to announce the Kingdom of God among all people on the earth. Every individual disciple of Jesus, together by our very existence as the body of Christ testify of God to the principalities and powers. 

Ephesians 3:10-11 …to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,…

By His Spirit through His disciples, Jesus' mission continued and rapidly grew. After one sermon by the Apostle Peter 3,000 Jews entered into God's Kingdom. 

Journeying though the book of Acts we see how the word of the Lord spread throughout Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Salvation is for all people.

Acts 13:44-49 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.

So the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed. The word that has been translated as took is very interesting. It means to lay hold of in order to use, claim and name as one's own. The Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God requires participation. The action to lay hold of it and take responsibility as if it's one's own. 

God the Father gave the Kingdom to the God the Son, who in turn gives it to all who are willing to receive His right to rule and reign. In receiving the King we lay hold of God's right to rule and reign in our lives. 

The mustard seed when planted germinates and grows to its future purpose.

In all three accounts of this parable included in the Bible the primary action is the growth. A growth that has a purpose. For such is God's Kingdom. 

In God’s kingdom each one is given a place of purpose, growth, fulfilment and the realisation of their eternal destiny.

Jesus explains the purpose of this extraordinary growth is so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches or as in Mark's account, nest under its shade. 

To nest is to dwell. What a beautiful picture of living in God's Kingdom here on earth. To live out of a position of perfect peace, justice, equality and respect in amongst this world of chaos, injustice, inequality and shame. 

Time is short. We herald in His kingdom, being established in His truth, rooted in His love and transformed in His power. We are part of a movement far greater than ourselves. 

We are a part of the universal history and love story of God that gives meaning to our lives. We have a place, purpose and position in God's eternal love story. 

Remember Jesus said the purpose of the growth of the kingdom is so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. All people, all tribes, all nations who are willing can dwell in His Kingdom. Find rest and shade on this earth. Free from all offences, judgement and ultimately eternal death. 

All that is required is to say to Jesus, yes to God. Acknowledge His right to rule and reign and give full allegiance to Him. Worship only Him.

The final word recorded in the Bible from the church in oneness with the Holy Spirit is to invite all who are thirsty to come. 

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Together by His Spirit let us the universal church, the entire body of Christ throughout the world take hold of His kingdom. Living in the daily reality of surrender of self will to that of the Father’;s will. With a heart mind condition of surrender take a moment to receive from Him. Being established in His truth, rooted in His love and transformed in His power. Where His right to rule and reign is a constant in our hearts and minds. As this is the heart of our Father, the mission of our King and saviour, the work of the Holy Spirit, in which every disciple participates.

Praise His holy name!

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!