July 27 "Our Mustard Seeds Of Faith” Matthew 13:31-32
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 EVERYTHING THAT WE DO HAS A BEGINNING! FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS COMES GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS! Small Beginnings- We should never under-estimate small beginnings…(A Mustard Seed)…Small Beginnings- Jesus was born in a stable, unheralded and unrecognized and, to most, unimportant. The morning after, life resumed in Bethlehem as if nothing different had happened. And only one thing had: a baby had been born and in the least desiring place. But oh the beginning, without-end, that occurred in that single birth! We should never underestimate small beginnings! There are many of us reading this devotion this morning because we heard someone somewhere sharing the Gospel. We didn’t get up that morning and expect our lives to change…We didn’t get up that day and just decide that today we would be saved, however something began in our lives. We have grown from that day to where we are now, because of the seed of faith that was planted in us. Please be aware of some Parable facts: The parable of the wheat and tares: reveals that the kingdom of heaven will be preceded by an age in which good and evil coexist. The parable of the mustard seed: affirms that during that time period, the number of people who will inherit the kingdom will be very small at first. But though it begins like the smallest of seeds, the nucleus will enjoy growth completely out of proportion to its initial size. The birds of the air do not represent evil as they do in the parable of the soils. Here they represent a haven for the birds of the air, some-thing productive & prosperous. 1 Co 1:27 says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” God chooses the small insignificant things of the world to show His glory. God calls those who the world would not choose to do the things He wants to do. Through you, LISTEN…THROUGH YOU, He can accomplish many wonderful things. Remember this? Faith as a Mustard Seed: so what’s faith? Heb 11:1-3 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Why Faith? Faith leads to Salvation; we are Justified by Faith; We are Sanctified by Faith; Our Faith overcomes the world; Our Faith shields us, as Christians!! Why Faith? Our faith may start out small, we may not have all the answers that we want but…Ro 12:3 tells us, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith…” God has given us the measure of faith to believe, and to grow. It starts small; then grows into great things! First, we exercise our faith by receiving Jesus in His saving Grace (to use church words – we are saved), Next, we are Baptized, and Thirdly, we join ourselves together with a strong and growing Church…Then growing into the person that God wants US to be. That may or may not be the same as someone else! Faith to Believe and Grow is not based on our abilities, or how much faith we have. I believe we all start out with the same small mustard seed of Faith. From there our walk with Christ is based on our faith in Him, not ourselves. Believers; our faith, is being put to the test, in these Evil and ever-changing times. It is absolutely critical that we continue to grow in faith and to exercise that faith every day! Regardless of what this Evil and Depraved world and the Great Deceiver (Satan) will say, we have, through our faith in God and His promises, to overcome the challenges of this present Evil! Every one of us, have come, and will come to Jesus, the very same way…BY FAITH! As Faith-filled Believers, we should be committed to God and be excited what He is going to do through us, as we walk in Faith! Please remember, God told us, in His word, that there would be many seeds, but few trees! Simply put, Our seed will only grow when we surrender to him and allow him to work in us. As in the field of the sower, there are many seeds planted. However there are few who will surrender. Mt 7:13-14 says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it..” You have many opportunities to start growing in Christ. You have the same measure of faith. What are you doing with it? What will you do with it? You can continue to live and walk unchanged or You can exercise your faith, right now, today, and be changed for all eternity. Not because you claim it, but because the word of God promises it!! The mustard seed is there, if you will allow Him, God will produce the tree. It is my prayer, that each one of us would become “MIGHTY REDWOODS FOR OUR LORD! It begins with a small seed of FAITH, and grows into a powerful force that Satan and his minions fear the most! A strong, faith-filled, dedicated, growing, Ambassador for Christ, can and will make a difference, one soul at a time! Do not allow the chaos and confusion or the politics and prejudices of this current age to hamper or slow your growing in the assurance of your FAITH! What God does with you, depends upon what you do! It Always has, It Always will!! To God Be the Glory! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!