Sunday, July 19, 2020

Pentecost 7 Proper 11



19 July 2020 
Matthew 13:24-30; [36-43]

The Good planting of the Kingdom

Jesus explains the parable of the wheat and the weeds at the request of His disciples. That’s a good thing! Now we know the meaning of the parable too! The Son of Man (Jesus) sows good seed into the field of the world, producing children of the kingdom. The devil, on the other hand, sows bad seed, producing evildoers. At the end of the age, that is, at the end of all time – angels will remove from the kingdom all evildoers. When that happens, then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
There is a lesson for each of us to heed. While Jesus will be sowing His Word producing His followers around the world until His return (Acts 1:8), Satan refuses to give up! He too will also be distributing his followers to counter our message and ministry. There are in fact two forces at work. The word of God will not stop. But there is another who works just as well. The work of the devil will also continue until the end of time.  Thus we must consider the planting of the Kingdom.
I.        God plants His kingdom in our world.
A.    Jesus is the one who plants and sows.
1.    He does this through the preached word and sacraments.
2.    It will always accomplish what He desires. “My Word will not return unto me void…” He has promised.
B.    The good seeds are the sons, the children of the kingdom.
1.    We have been incorporated into Christ’s family the church. “Build upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets Christ Jesus being the chief cornerstone.”
2.    We now have a bond, a connection with each other. Last names stop when we enter the church door.
C.    The field is the world; the goal of missions is the world.
1.    Christ uses you to be His witness. You share Christ where you live.
2.    The church grows not by programs or plans or agendas but only through people using God’s means of grace. As they share the word the Holy Spirit is there drawing men to Himself.
3.    An encouragement – to be people in mission. Lutheran Hour ministries’ theme says it all, “Bringing Christ to the nations and the nations to the church.” Invite someone! That’s all you’re asked to do.
Transition: “Have no fear little flock...” Jesus has told us. “For the Father has chosen to give you the kingdom” in spite of what the devil might attempt to do. Christ’s kingdom will continue to flourish and grow although it is met with resistance. Where Christ builds a church the devil will erect a chapel. Why is there such evil in this world? The Savior answers, “An enemy has done this!”
II.     Satan attempts to destroy the Kingdom.
A.  Satan sows the “tares” or weeds in the field.
1.  We are living in the world – with its own agenda and world view, one, which is foreign to Christ’s will and way.
2.  The ways of the world are so designed as to choke out the things of Christ.
3.  Jesus knowing all this prayed that we would be kept from the evil one as He prayed in His high priestly prayer. “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.” V.9 (John 17:6-12)
B.  God’s children are tempted to destroy the terrors.
1.  The desire is moral control.  Will it work?
2.  It can’t work for two reasons.
a.  We can’t look into the soul of every man. Weeds and wheat look exactly the same. Only Christ can see the heart.
b.  We can’t control every man’s actions.
c.  Hence the Savior’s word of caution. The more zealous we become we may do more harm than good. So says the Master; “Lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest.” Vv. 29-30  
3.  You can’t legislate morality; the devil’s tentacles are too deep. We simply cannot change man’s base nature.
C.  Christ warns us to be patient.
1.  He alone is the judge. He will rule and judge perfectly at the right time – on the last great day.
2.  He will judge with equity and justly.
3.  And the reward has already been spoken. Daniel the prophet predicted this. “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble; such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.  And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” -Daniel 12:1-3
We need not fear that the world will overcome us. Jesus has already overcome the world. John encourages us with these words; “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
Fare thee well son and daughter of the king, for the Father has chosen to give you the kingdom, have no fear little flock!
Words-925
Passive Sentences-8%
Readability – 84.2%
Reading Level-4.1 

"An Enemy has done this" Copyright (c) Google images

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