Sermon
30th July 2017
Text
Matthew 13:321-33, 44-52 – Kingdom Parables
Jesus
today continues his teaching in Parables and gives us 5 ways to imagine the
Kingdom of Heaven:
Like
a mustard seed;
Like
yeast in flour;
Like
treasure hidden in a field;
Like
a priceless pearl;
Like
a net that catches all kinds of fish.
These
are not just a repeat of each other but each one contains a particular aspect
that Jesus wants to highlight.
So
how is a mustard seed like the Kingdom of Heaven?
The
focus here for Jesus is the size.
Sometimes
we confuse God’s mighty acts with worldly mighty acts.
We
talk of multi-national corporations and their success – huge companies like
Microsoft, Apple, Facebook – the Big 4 banks as they are referred to.
God
on the other hand shows his might in different ways – strength through
weakness, wisdom through foolishness.
These
include the life and death of Jesus: rejected from birth when Mary was forced
to give birth in a manger in a barn, rejected by his religious leaders leading
to his arrest, humiliation and death and yet through these God brought about
the greatest victory over sin, death and Satan.
So
as we look at our own lives we should not be saddened if in our own eyes we
feel we don’t shape up to God’s awesomeness.
Maybe
you don’t read the bible all that often, maybe you don’t pray when you should,
maybe you don’t feel like you get anything out of church including Holy
Communion.
Even
St Paul, the example of commitment and dedication to the Christian faith knew
that feeling of letting God down but did not despair.
Instead
he looked to God and wrote:
The
Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who
searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
That
doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to better ourselves in our faith but we should
recognise that God doesn’t judge according to worldly standards.
When
the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith, he didn’t do that but
pointed them to the strength of the faith that they had – again using the
example of a mustard seed:
"If
you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. (Luke 17:6)
Jesus
continues on the matter of size but talks about Yeast
When
making bread you use the tiniest amount of yeast but it makes dramatic changes
to the dough.
Without
it the dough would remain flat – but with it, it rises and changes its
appearance totally.
So
too with faith.
Our
faith changes us.
It
permeates every part of our being.
It
permeates every aspect of our daily living.
It
changes the way we look at things.
We
see things through the eyes of faith and it has changes that it makes in us..
We
turn the other cheek instead of taking revenge.
We
love our enemies and pray for those who hurt us.
Sadly
our “old Adam” – our sinful nature – still hangs around and tries to influence
otherwise but through our Baptism we drown the “Old Adam” and a new self rises
each day just as the yeast causes the flattened dough to rise anew.
Jesus
then changes his aspect of the Kingdom of God away from our personal qualities
to what it is that we are focusing on.
A
treasure hidden in a field.
The
treasure of heaven is sadly hidden to so many people.
It
is hidden behind sin in the world that people don’t see the true meaning of
Heaven and the church.
It
is hidden behind the human failings of Christians and the church that people
reject God’s free gift.
As
Christians we are called to reveal what is hidden.
Just
as our lives are hidden as St Paul says: your life is now hidden with Christ in
God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him
in glory. (Colossians 3:3,4)
When
people finally discover what the Kingdom of God is all about they rejoice just
like the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner who repents and finds the
Kingdom of God (Luke 15:10)
So
we are called to present the true picture of the Kingdom of God by loving one
another as Christ loves us and by this all will know we are his disciples.
The
pearl of great value is a similar discovery with a minor difference.
The
pearl trader is looking for the pearl.
It
comes as no great surprise but perhaps more of a relief that he has found what
he has been looking for.
We
keep hearing how our world is more and more spiritual but they just don’t know
Jesus Christ as their Lord.
A
few of us went along to the Islamic Museum last week and the tour guide was
saying that as a Muslim she believes in Jesus Christ.
She
just doesn’t believe he is the Son of God.
Like
her there are so many who are searching but have not discovered the true pearl
that God has revealed in his Son Jesus Christ.
As
the body of Christ we have that mission to present the pearl of great value
that gem we call Jesus Christ as Saviour.
There
are people searching;
30%
may have ticked the No Religion box but that means 70% have not rejected their
spiritual journey.
That
70% includes the 52% who ticked the Christian box but how many are struggling
in their spiritual walk with God as we don’t see that many in church.
We
have (Ringwood) over 200 on our membership list and average between 80 and 90
on good Sundays.
We
have (Knox) around 70 to 80 on our membership list and average around 30 on a
good Sunday.
Where
are the rest?
We
have a long list of Baptised contacts who do not worship.
They
are all searching but have yet to discover that Great Pearl.
And
that’s where the Holy Spirit becomes their helper – their intercessor praying
with sighs too deep for words
That’s
where the Holy Spirit becomes OUR helper as he searches the heart and
intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
So
how is a net that catches all kinds of fish like the Kingdom of Heaven?
The
final parable is also about the Kingdom of God but it is the reason why we
become passionate about sharing the Kingdom with others.
Although
Jesus died for all sins there are many who reject his grace.
The
net is spread wide to catch all humanity but there are those who refuse his
grace and refuse to repent.
This
parable reminds us that while God is patient not wanting anyone to perish,
while God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, he will and he must
deal with sin that is not repented.
These
are not my words – these are not the words of the Church – these are the very
words of Christ himself.
As
St Peter says:
The
Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead
he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance.
The
Kingdom of God is a precious gift and it is a gift given to all people.
And
God wants all people to have the opportunity to hear the good news and he
promises that he will not bring about the end until all have had the
opportunity to hear it.
Jesus
says the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a
testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
And
God assures us that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”
Romans 10:13)
But
Paul also puts the challenge before us:
How
can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in
the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone
telling them? 15 And how can anyone tell them unless they are sent? As it is
written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
Those
feet bringing the Good News of the Kingdom of God are yours and mine.