Luke 13:18–21 (ESV) He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Jesus knew the disciples did not get it and the Holy Spirit knew that we would have a hard time understanding the concept of the Kingdom of God and the impact it would have on the world so we have the words above from Luke 13. As we consider the impact of the Kingdom both externally as well as internally on the world, it is obvious that the realm of the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people in bringing about a submission to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word has an impact on the world, some of which we can see and most of which we cannot see but a step back will show God’s Kingdom moves and grows.

Before we consider the illustration in the analogies Jesus presented, let’s consider the title of this article as a pressing question for each of us as members of the church and Kingdom of God. Would anyone notice or would anyone really care if our doors were closed? Are we making such an impact on the community that people know we are there and would miss us if we weren’t?

You see, the Kingdom of God grows and makes a difference and if we are part of that Kingdom, we should be making an impact on the world around us.  If we aren’t, it only emphasizes the need to pray for a great revival of the power of God as the church in the book of Acts prayed and were known for turning the world upside down.

Acts 17:6 (ESV) And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

The Mustard Seed

Jesus used the illustration of the mustard seed to describe the external growth of the Kingdom. The mustard seed was used to refer to something very small. It is so small that if you placed a mustard seed in your hand you would not even feel its presence. It was used as a comparison in the days of Jesus and is still used in Middle East culture to refer to something really, really small.

Matthew 13:31 & 32 (ESV) He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

Matthew 17:20 (ESV) He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Luke 17:6 (ESV) And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

The mustard seed, in the illustration Jesus used, grows to a tree. It actually grows to what we would call a bush about eight feet high and fifteen feet wide, but in His day was called a tree.

As you consider the Kingdom of God from the days of Jesus, it started mighty small as in just twelve disciples. If you add the 70 that Jesus sent out you still have less than a hundred. Even though over 500 saw Jesus after His death, it was only 120 who met in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. Nevertheless, from the minute beginning, the tree grew, and boy did it. The Kingdom expanded through the book of Acts to thousands in Jerusalem, so much so that it was said that the entire city was filled with the doctrine. Once the persecution began and believers were driven from the city, the tree grew to the known world. The Kingdom expanded mightily through the days of reformation and today there is hardly a place on the face of the earth were there are not believers. You cannot stop God’s Kingdom. It will grow and grow as a lively plant that may have started as a very small seed but grows and expands.

Not only does the plant grow but Jesus said it becomes a haven for birds to nest. That is a great illustration, going back to Daniel chapter four and other OT examples in Ezekiel of the blessings of the Kingdom on those outside the Kingdom. Everywhere the Kingdom of God has expanded people have been blessed by Christian principles. The founding fathers of own country were influenced by the Kingdom of God and everywhere the Kingdom of God has prospered, people have been blessed. We may not be a Christian nation but our nation has been blessed by the people of the Kingdom.

You cannot stop the external growth of God’s Kingdom. As we pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,” may we consider the multiplied growth that God intends for His Kingdom as we pray that such growth might have on our part of the world, where men and women, boys and girls, submit to King Jesus, where His rule and salvation reaches those around us.

The second illustration of the leaven gives us insight into the internal influences. The leaven is placed in what scholars believe was a fifty pound bag of flour and soon the entire flour is influenced by a little amount of leaven.

We will never know what influence the people of the Kingdom are having. Too often we look at people of influence to make the greatest impact on the world. We turn to well known sports or political figures and think we can change the world through their lives. Too often these people let us down because we set them up to fail, looking to them instead of the King. On the other hand, Jesus is teaching the Kingdom influence is really through each life of each servant of the King as He works in them and through them.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV) And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

We will never know the impact that living a godly life in the world has made on people around us but we can be sure that is the intention of God. When you love your spouse, live a life of integrity, give your employer a full day of work without slacking, when you treat your neighbor with kindness, etc. – you are being leaven and you are having an influence.

The Bible speaks of leaven in a negative way to remind us that the “leaven” principle is that of internal influence. Jesus speaks of the leaven of the Pharisees – their hypocrisy and false doctrine having a bad influence. Paul speaks of the leaven of ungodliness having a negative influence on the way Christians think and he speaks of the leaven of legalism that again influences us away from Christ.

Luke 12:1 (ESV) In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Matthew 16:11 & 12 (ESV) How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

1 Corinthians 5:7 & 8 (ESV) Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Galatians 5:9 (ESV) A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

In the same way, the positive influence of our submitting daily to our King, Jesus has an influence on the people around us. Jesus is teaching that the Kingdom is designed that way. People may not appreciate what is happening but our influence by living our lives and being ready to give a reason for the hope within us makes a difference in the world.

Back to the question: Are we demonstrating that external growth and the positive influence on the world? Would anyone notice if we were not there?

It’s time to pray that the power of God bring the growth to our lives and influence both as individuals and as a church body to reach our community and make a difference. We are held accountable for everything God has given to us. If He, by His grace and power has brought us into the Kingdom, let us pray that we will grow in our subjection to Him and be part of the mighty growth of His mighty Kingdom.

Let us pray for a great revival and pray that He will begin with us—individually and as a church. Wouldn’t it be great to see the affects of revival spread through the area, the city, the county, the state, the nation, and the world?

Godspeed,
Pastor Bob
727-539-1434 (home) or 727-612-3976 (cell) or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it