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Sunday Worship 10 April 2022 : “What is the kingdom of God like?”

Text: Luke 13
10 April 2022

INTRODUCTION

1. What is the Kingdom of God?

2. There were so many aspects that the Lord Jesus revealed

3. There were so many problems that existed and these prevented people from appreciating it fully!

THE PEOPLE WHO REJECT THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

1. The Jerusalem self-righteous mindset

a) When the Tower of Siloam fell and killed 18 people
b) Those in Jerusalem felt that this tragedy came them because they were very sinful   (Luke 13:4)
c) The Lord’s response
“I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”   Luke 13:5

2. Those who objected to the Lord Jesus healing on the Sabbath   (Luke 13:10-17)

a) There was a woman who was bent over
b) She had been suffering for the past 18 years
c) The Lord Jesus healed her
“Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity”   Luke 13:12b
d) But not appreciated what the Lord Jesus did
e) The ruler of the synagogue said:
“But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.’ ”   Luke 13:14
f) The response of the Lord Jesus
“15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.”   Luke 13:15-17
i) The problem of hypocrisy
ii) The battle against Satan
iii) The victory won by the Lord Jesus
g) The joy of the multitude
i) They rejoiced in the Lord Jesus
ii) And in all that He did

WHAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD WAS LIKE

1. The Parable of the mustard seed

18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”   Luke 13:18-19
a) The kingdom of God was compared to a mustard seed
b) This describes the kingdom of God when the Lord Jesus began His earthly ministry
c) Few could see the potential power of the Gospel of the Kingdom

2. The Parable of the leaven

20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”   Luke 13:20-21
a) Leaven was used in minimal quantity
b) Its work was invisible
c) Its impact would be made obvious as the bread is baked

HOW MANY WOULD BE SAVED?

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”   Luke 13:22-30

1. The question of the Disciples

“Lord, are there few who are saved?”   Luke 13:23

2. The answer of the Lord Jesus

a) Not all would be able to enter   (Luke 13:24)
b) Strive to enter   (Luke 13:24)

3. Many will be saved

“29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”   Luke 13:29-30

CONCLUSION

1. The reality of rejecting God’s kingdom is sobering

a) Let us be moved to pray even more
b) May His Kingdom be welcomed!

2. The challenge

a) To cultivate a deeper faith in the Lord
b) To have a greater focus on the Kingdom of God