Luke 13:18-35 Considering the Kingdom

1. Recall back in LUKE 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem
2. At that point Jesus was beginning the LAST 6 months of His earthly ministry

1) He is leaving Galilee for the LAST TIME

3. He is steadfastly heading for Jerusalem Where He KNOWS that the cross awaits Him there

1. He KNOWS that He is heading for His death/ He is headed toward

D) Despite that FACT - He is moving about through the cities and villages

1)He is healing the sick / He is teaching/ giving constantly of Himself &

ministering to the needs of People.

1. This is often called the PEREAN MINISTRY / because much of his time was spent in the area of PEREA – around the Jordan River / on other side

1. As we look at this we will DISCOVER that He had some really interesting things to say – about what would take place w/ His Kingdom

1. READ V.18-21

A) This was a FAVORITE term of Matthew in His account of the life of Jesus

1. There are those who have made a BIG thing over the SUPPOSED difference between the Kingdom of heaven & the Kingdom of God 1) But These terms are used INTERCHANGABLY..... They BOTH

refer to THE KINGDOM WHERE GOD RULES

2. In REALITY The MOMENT that you submit to the King you become a

part of the Kingdom

1. He Begins by saying that the KINGDOM is going to be like a MUSTARD seed that grows into this HUGE TREE.
2. Now Jesus uses some imagery here that would right away – be a signal to his listeners that something ODD was going to take place.

1. See the Mustard seed – doesn’t grow into a HUGE TREE - but actually it is SHRUB / a little BUSH – ( no birds nest )

1. So what Jesus is describing is ABNORMAL GROWTH - & He is likening it to the Growth that would take place w/ His Kingdom.

1. We Know that is absolutely true of the Church – Began w/ 11 Disciples & a few others who saw Him in upper room after Resurrection

1. Then 120 gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem – PENTECOST – spirit fell – Peter Preached – 3,000 saved - that is HUGE

1. That is _6%__ of the crowd –
2. On the day of Pentecost – 3,000 saved – huge # / but what is really amazing is to think about how many where in the crowd outside of that house
3. I can Guarantee there wasn’t 50,000 - / maybe 5,000 / I wouldn’t be surprised if – there were only 3,000 –

1. They all got saved !!!!!!

41 Then those who( gladly )received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

1. Now that is ABNORMAL GROWTH - understand –what I mean by that

1. It is ABNORMAL in that it is not NATURAL - / This is SUPERNATURAL

1. This is part of what Jesus is explaining – If Mustard seed to grows into a tree – something ABNORMAL has taken place . / Not Natural

1. Something SUPERNATURAL - God was Behind it ./ Miracle

1. Reminded of the words of the Psalmist - 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;
2. Too be Honest I am tired of all the man made attempts to build God’s house / build God’s Kingdom.

1. All the man made gimmicks for " attracting People" – Many of which come right out of MARKETING SEMINARS

b) They have Seminars that Pastors go to all over the country – teach you

how to market your Church – how to increase offering /

1) No Basis in the Bible - One Churches fund raising / 35 dollar club /

50 / 100 / Buy a Pew – or a Chair – Your name on it !!!

Demographic studies / I know of one Church that spent 10,000 dollars on having a company – tell them where to Build ( Moved there & Shrunk)

Come to our Church – free expresso / Aerobic classes /

Couples activities /sporting events /topical seminars & Workshops /State Licensed Pre – School - & LOTS MORE – ( Wonder includes Jesus)

1. Buzz words – RELEVANT ( Relevant Positive teaching – that mean not mention sin – Mike Rozell )

1. Other Buzz words – CONTEMPORY - EXCITING WORSHIP / the Friendly Church - ( What does that say about the rest of us)

1. Now there is so many Churches going in that direction – Seeker Sensitive – Positive appeal – be attractive

1. One Church went to the opposite extreme in their advertisement - Here you will find Holiness & Peace – Singing Sacred Hymns /Preaching from the KJV .

Now my point is not to bash other ministries - & I don’t know the heart of those people – but I do Know that much of what is going on today in "Church growth Seminars is nothing more than- Man inspired marketing

1. Get these brochures – come to our Seminar / read our brochure see how we BUILT THE CHURCH.

WAIT I THOUGHT JESUS WAS THE ONE WHO BUILDS THE CHURCH

2. I Love when People ask about this Church – How become so big – started w/ 25 people 15 yrs ago / now 2500
3. Started 11 Churches in the U.S. all of which are still going – 10 overseas / local ministries to Jails / Camp Pendelton / Homeless
4. How Survive getting a New Pastor after – 13 yrs of the same guy ? How all that happen / how come together ?

1. SIMPLE – GOD THING – Nothing to do w/ Us. / Philosophy : Get out of the way & watch him work !!!!!

1. There was no Strategy – no studying Demographics – half the time we felt like we stumbled into things -

1. We are Reminded all the time that our God is into doing the Miraculous / uses simple sinners like us .

1. Began w/ 11 guys – 120 in upper room / tiny country / tiny city – spread through the centuries / countless millions all around the world
2. But Jesus continues by describing that the birds will come & nest in the Tree – WHAT DO THESE BIRDS REPRESENT ?
3. Some have suggested that Jesus was speaking of how the Church would start small like a mustard seed – ( One of the smallest)

1. But it would grow & expand until it took over the whole world .

1. And that All kinds of People from all over the World & from all Religious faith’s would come together & Lodge in its branches .

1. And it really wouldn’t matter what a person believes / they all can find shelter in this great tree / able to accommodate everyone.

1. Hermeneutics is the Division of Scripture for the sake of Interpretation.

Basic rules / Concepts – we need to follow when interpreting a section

2. One Basic Concept is the need to understand CONTEXT .

1. The way in which you Divide the word accurately is to take a verse in context w/ those preceding & following

1. CONTEXT w/ the flow of the chapter / Context w/ the THEME of the Book & the writers thoughts
2. When some one doesn’t follow those basic rules of Context / take verses

out of context / isolate / create their own Doctrine – say what ever you want

1. Also Language – terms – idioms - such as Fulfill her week –WK ref 7yrs

Adds UNDERSTANDING

 

 

2. Another important Law in Hermeneutics is the law called EXPOSITIONAL CONSTANCY

1) It means that when you are interpreting the parables or allegories there

is a CONSTANCY in the interpretation of the figures

C) Example if the fig tree in one Parable or allegory represents the nations of Israel , then it will not mean something different In another Parable or allegory

3. So if we apply that rule to this Parable & the Birds of the Air – we have already Learned what the Birds represent from a previous Parable

1. Turn to Luke 8:5

1. Following the rule of expositional constancy or the Law of first mention – the birds in this parable would also – rep. The Devil & evil
2. So what Jesus is saying about his Kingdom is really a warning – there is going to be this Abnormal supernatural growth that is going to occur

1. But at the same time the Devil is going to seek to infiltrate the Church/ to destroy it by Corruption & Carnality

1. Interesting thing about Leaven is that it – a very small amount can affect the whole loaf of bread .
2. Now there are those today who ignore the fact that Leaven is always used in scripture as evil – they come up w/ a different meaning of this Parable
3. They Suggest that the Kingdom of God Like Leaven permeates a loaf of Bread is going to Permeate every area of society

1. We as Christians need to engage ourselves in our society until we permeate every aspect / become a Powerful force to take over.

1. Called DOMINION THEOLOGY / or POST MILLENIALISM –
2. A theology that says we need to Permeate & Gain control over every area of our society / Govt. Schools/ Economics

1. In Order to CHRISTIANIZE our society so that we can USHER IN THE KINGDOM.

1. Get things ready for the Coming of Christ !!!!

1. As well as other parts of the WORD – Best commentary ……. Is Bible

1. Paul – Ephesian ELDERS - Beware of Wolves that come into the flock – feed on the sheep.

B) Look at the History of the church see – true / SATAN started in his

attempt to come against the Church – by Persecution / Acts

2. But his plan backfired – instead of killing the Church – the Persecution caused the Church to grow & to Spread – ( Safer regions – gospel)
3. Well after a time of seeing that wasn’t going to work – he said if you can’t beat them join them. – Exactly what he did.

1. Result was Carnality / Corruption & a host of false teaching / & Heresy INFLITRATED THE CHURCH
2. Satan is using that same tactic today – especially here in the U.S. – weaken through Carnality / Corruption & False teaching.

1. Shouldn’t surprise us / Jesus warned that this would be the case as did Paul

1Tim. 4: 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

Then in 2Tim.4:3,4 Paul gives some other reasons

Moving on v.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,

1. Now this is interesting because the question had nothing to do w/ the man who asked it/ ( Often debated subject – who & how many will be saved?)

1. Let’s ask that Jesus guy?

1. Today people do the same thing "What about the people in the unreached jungles of the world who have never heard about Jesus?

1. Will they be forever lost for not hearing the Gospel?"

1. They are asking a question that is intended to relieve them of any

personal responsibility

24. "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

A) In other words: "Don't worry how many will be there... MAKE SURE

1. Rather than being so worried about the people in the unreached parts of Africa who have never heard,

D) Strive = agonizomai / AGONIZO -

We get our English word AGONIZE from this word

Authorized Version translated - strive 3, fight 3, labor fervently 17

1) to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games

2) to contend with adversaries, fight

3) metaphor to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers

4) to endeavor with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something

1. When an athlete is training for an Olympic Marathon, the runner has to run through the point of PAIN

1) That pain that a marathon runner experiences is the Agonizo

1. Important that we understand what Jesus is saying here / Striving agonizing is not seen as the MEANS OF SLAVATION.
2. Not saying that if you work hard enough you will make it in .

Eph.2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

3. Not talking about the MEANS but the METHOD OF ENTRY

1. The narrow gate is not a DESTINATION – but rather a point of ENTRY – IT IS A PASSAGE WAY INTO THE KINGDOM
2. The Bible tells us that it is not a place – but a Person- Jesus is the Narrow Gate –

1. John 10 – Between v.21 / 22 - I AM THE DOOR -…. NO ENTRANCE

1. John 14:6 I am the way the truth & the Life …… through me .
2. So Jesus is telling these folks – to Agonize w/ strenuous ZEAL in making sure you are seeking to enter by the right means

1. Idea of Battling off every other option. –

1. Example – Israel – SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS
2. Today Good works / RELIGIOUS AFFLIATION / New age / Mormonism / JW
3. If you asked any of them – they would tell you that they want to be saved / want to be there – their idea of Heaven / what ever is beyond here.

D) But In following their method they deny the Sufficiency of Christ

1. Only one who died / Rose

1. John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. ABSOLUTE STATEMENT
2. Narrow yes but I am so glad it is because He makes it so very clear – I don’t have to wonder – am I in the right thing ?

1. I just need to Know that my faith is in the one who died for me & Rose again to Prove He was the only way.

1. Guys this is interesting – what we have here are a group of People who have familiarity – but not intimacy

1. Religion but not Relationship

1. Knowledge but not knowing –

 

OPPOSITE IS TRUE OF TRUE FOLLOWER

John 1014 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

2. Those who really Saved – Know the Shepherd – know his voice / He knows them.
3. But what does Jesus say to these ? Depart from me I never Knew You.

v.28 Israel v. 29,30 Gentiles

VERSE 31-33 On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You."

A) What Jesus said was a LOT tougher than what the NKJV translates

The word fox in the Greek was FEMININE / Go tell that vixen

B) A name in our society that refers to a prostitute

1. The story of Herod is a SAD story- pick up here next week – look at v. 34,35 in closing