In 2020, one of the most popular video game was Animal Crossing---It sold five million digital copies in the first month after its release, more than any other video game in history. By early May, it had sold over 13 million copies worldwide.
What does it take to create a popular video game? Experts say the most popular video games consists of three things, and this comes from a theory called; the Self-Determination theory: 1. Autonomy, 2. Competence, and 3. Relatedness.
If you are forming a new human society. And you get to set it up the way you want (structures, systems and values), what kind of a world would you create? What are some important values would you set?
For Americans, what do you think the most important values are?
They say still the top 3 are; 3rd Justice, 2nd Equality and #1 is Freedom.
Whatever structure and values you created...in that little exercise… that is your kingdom!
Sometimes...you set up your little homes as a little kingdom...or your work places… Whenever you place your set of values and culture and rule and reign that is your little kingdom….and we are acting as kings and queens!
And the Bible says...God has a kingdom...and His kingdom has its values and rules and culture...and the Kingdom has a King...the creator of the Kingdom.
From today’s text from Luke 13 we are going to look at just one dimension of the Kingdom of God. In God’s kingdom...things are different.
First, The Kingdom is about small beginnings.
During Jesus’ time, the Mustard seed was known proverbially as one of the smallest seeds around.
The Kingdom of God...it starts like a small seed that is being planted.
I love planting and growing plants.
However, there is nothing slower than growing plants especially from a seed.
Yet, Jesus is reminding us, something about HIS Kingdom...it often starts like a small, insignificant seed. The beginnings of it is humble.
Zechariah 4:10 "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin,"
In one sense, even the whole Bible story...God starts small and grows it; from Adam and Even to Abraham to one nation. In the New Testament from the 12 disciples the Gospel spreads to cover the whole world.
Second, but the Kingdom is not just about a seed, but a seed that grows into a tree.
It is never just about potential. Or just about receiving the seed...but the Kingdom of GOD is a seed that is planted that grows into a tree.
If you carefully think about the parable. The point isn’t the Kingdom is a seed.
But it’s a Seed that grows to a Tree.
This small...humble...seed in the Kingdom...will grow...
It is a small seed...but seed...not a rock...it has life.
What has life will progress...and grow...and will become a tree where birds will come and rest.
Point is also not just matter is growth and size, but utility!
God grows it and will be useful.
### See In the Kingdom, God sees you not just as the small potential, but He sees you as the Fullness of you that one day you will become!
I love the story of Gideon! In Judges!
"Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!” Judges 6:11-12 NLT
See before Gideon did anything mighty before the Lord. Before he was actually fighting the war as a warrior, God calls him "Mighty Hero!" He sees you as what you will become one day!
That is a Kingdom principle. The Seed becomes a Tree.
Howard Thurman said
God sees us wearing crowns that now in the present doesn’t fit us, yet He gives it to us to wear...because that is what he sees.
In the Kingdom, the Seed becomes a tree.
One of the most frustrating thing sometimes is; People don't believe that they are becoming a tree.
Once we are part of this Kingdom...we need to begin to see the tree...we need to begin to dream of that tree.
Do you have a dream?
What are you praying for these days.? What are your Hopes?
What do you really want? And what to see? What is that true desire? That hunger that is in your heart?
Dreams are important.
Dreams are what gives life. Scripture says...Without Vision people perish...what is vision...it’s dreams!
Dreams are often what gives us LIFE!
Lack of Vision...perish...dreams will give you life!
As Kingdom people...we need to continue to dream! Because the LORD dreams over us!
Also Dreams often beget faith.
What we are dreaming for...praying for...that often is the thing we can have faith over.
What does that Tree...that you are becoming look like?
What kind of tree do you want to be?
Dreamless generation is a faithless generation.
You often lack faith because you have no dreams to place faith into.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Why you feel so stuck...because when you are constantly in survival mode...you can’t dream.
Application
Some of you...you are no longer a small seed. You still think you are. But you are not.
The Lord has graced you...and He has been so faithful...This is the season to step into branch out. To Show some of that green leaf.
Spiritual life is not only about just constant feeding. Important yes! But also major part is obedience and loving and serving and sharing and living out the Gospel.
What do you dream and pray and hope over your church?
What are your prayers?
In God's Kingdom...The seed will always become a Tree!
