Sunday Sermon Title: God's Kingdom (Mirrors and Windows - Part 4)
Speaker: Senior Pastor Rony Tan
Date: 15 September 13
Key Scriptures: Matthew 13

1.    Introduction

Parables are like mirrors telling us who we are and also like windows helping us to see others from Kingdom's perspectives. Two Facets of the Kingdom of God

a. Tangible Kingdom which is Jesus' physical reign on earth when He returns.

b.  Luke 17:20-21 - Intangible Kingdom which is within us - Matthew v25:33-34. There are practical and powerful principles in this intangible Kingdom. What does it mean when Jesus said, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand?”.  He means that everyone, regardless of culture, family background, rich or poor, etc. can receive and experience the Kingdom of God.

2. Parable of the Mustard Seed
a. Matthew 13:31-33 - Mustard seed is like a full stop in our Bible, but it can grow to a big tree under the right conditions, and similarly, leaven can rise and grow. Therefore the Word of God can grow and populate an entire nation like what we see in the early church.  It is like leaven and mustard seed.

b. In Singapore churches, we should be like the leaven and mustard seen, rise and grow to populate the entire nation with the Word of God.

3. Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Great Pearl – Matthew 13:44-46
a. Hidden Treasure - In olden times, tenant farmers are poor but owner farmers are rich. The former works from sunrise to sunset and receive little, while the latter simply receives exorbitant renting fees. Then one day this tenant farmer suddenly discovered a hidden treasure and quickly     exchanged all that he had to purchase the land hidden with this such great treasure.

b. Great Pearl - This man liquidated everything he had to exchange this precious pearl of great price!
c. Two Kingdom Principles: One, it is the discovery of the reality and provision of Jesus to all our needs. It sounds simplicity to the unsaved mind for they do not even realize that Christ holds the very breath that they breathe! Two, in Christ, we have this hope of glory. There is glory in Christ - no sicknesses no death, but only peace, love and joy.
d. Reflection: We have all provisions on earth because we are joint heirs with Christ!

e. Question to ask ourselves: What am I willing to forgo to exchange for this hidden treasure and great pearl we have discovered and received?

4. Life is about exchanges. Every day, we exchange our time, skills, talents, and even energy for a certain salary.  We also exchange our hard earned money for goods and services.

a. Christ gave his life at the Cross to exchange for our sinful life.  How deep can we go depends on what you bring on the table of exchange!
b. Illustration: The story of a starved, famished Indian boy who gave the Maharajah only two grains of rice from his hand, which later turned into gold. The boy then filled with anguished as he could have all the grains turned to gold if only he have given this great man everything he has on his     hand.

c. Kingdom Principle: We can never outgive God.  Once we decide to trust Him and give Him everything we have, He shall multiply the 2 loaves and 5 fishes. Everything we touch shall turn into “gold”.
d. Example of Paul - He has everything that this world has to offer, but will have nothing from the after world. In Philippians 3:7-8, Paul declared that he is wiling to give his life in order to gain Christ

5. Four Reasons Why Christ is our only Treasure:
a. Acts 4:12 - Salvation can only be found in Christ. Three things are required to bring salvation to mankind.  He must be a human bring. He must be a sinless man. He must be willing to suffer and die on the Cross. Christ fulfilled all the three conditions.

b. Colossians 2:3 - True knowledge and wisdom can only be found in Christ.  In a TV programme on health matters, Dr Oz  says that what a medical student has studied will be outdated by the time he graduated, and he will also find many things taught are no longer true.

c. Matthew 16:19 - True power and anointing can only be found in Christ. All fathers can exercise the key of the Kingdom of God through binding and loosing.  For example, they can say, “I bind you, the spirit of waywardness and rebellion in my house, and I loose the spirit of obedience and submission in my house”.  Since God has entrusted us with a family or ministry, we must use this key to win our teenage children to the Lord.

d. Colossians 2:10 - Completeness and wholeness are found in Christ. Contentment means that you can do with little and yet be contentedi in life.In Mark 10:28, we are assured that we can have a hundredfold blessings in this life.

6. Conclusion:

a. What are you going to bring on the table to exchange for the things of God?

b. Are you bringing unsaved souls into the Kingdom of God as commanded in Matthew 28:19-20