FOUNDATIONS: KINGDOM COME LESSON #2: THE SEED OF THE KINGDOM

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1 FOUNDATIONS: KINGDOM COME LESSON #2: THE SEED OF THE KINGDOM Intro. We are going to continue our series on the kingdom of God. Luke 11:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." 2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. When Jesus spoke of the kingdom He was speaking of God s rule, authority, and dominion Your kingdom come means as God s people we are called to help establish His kingdom on earth We do this by our presence (salt and light) and through our prayers 1. Tonight we re going to talk about the seed of the kingdom Mark 4:26-27 (NKJV) 26 And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. I. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE INVOLVES A A. THERE IS A CERTAIN IN HOW GOD S KINGDOM GROWS IN US 1. Jesus said the kingdom is like a farmer planting seed a. It sprouts and grows b. He doesn t understand how but it happens Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 1

2 2. What God does in us can surprise even us a. How we see Him moving in us, changing us This is the miracle of the kingdom the seed sprouts and grows in us and we don t know how. B. THIS MIRACLE STARTS THE MOMENT WE ARE John 3:3 (NIV) In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 1. When we are born again a miracle happens a. We begin to see the kingdom of God b. It means we begin to see the kingdom of God working in us, changing us Mark 4:26-27 (NKJV) 26 And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. The Christian life begins with and is an ongoing miracle of God s grace It can surprise even us how God moves in us and changes us; the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how This doesn t mean we don t play a part in our own spiritual maturity If we are to continue to grow and develop in our Christian lives we need to keep planting seed II. THE SEED OF THE KINGDOM IS THE Luke 8:4-15 (NKJV) 4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 2

3 5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" 10 And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.' 11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. A. THE SEED OF GOD S WORD If we want to grow in the things of God, we need to grow in His word Mark 4:26 (NKJV) "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground 1. Jesus said in Luke 8:11 The seed is the word of God. 2. God s kingdom will grow in our lives if we re planting seed a. And the word of God is the seed b. If we re frustrated with our lack of growth, fortunately this is something we can remedy immediately c. We can begin to plant the seed of God s word in our hearts 1 Peter 2:2 (NKJV) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, d. Peter is writing to new believers; desire the milk of the word in order to grow Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 3

4 e. As we grow older in the Lord we should be growing up Hebrews 5:12 (NKJV) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. f. The writer of Hebrews is chiding these believers saying they should have grown up God intends for us to mature spiritually One of the primary ways for that to happen is to increase our appetite for the word of God B. THE BIBLE SAYS GOD S WORD IS John 6:63 (NKJV) The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. Psalms 119:25 (KJV) My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. 1. The word quicken, when it s used in the Bible means to make alive or give life a. The Psalmist is writing and asking God, Give me more life according to Your word. Strong s Hebrew Dictionary further explains the word quicken as meaning; to revive, keep alive, nourish up, preserve, recover, repair, restore to life, be whole. Psalms 119:50 (NKJV) This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. 2. God s life is in His word a. God s life is in His word, we just have to plant it When we feel spiritually anemic we need to plant some God seed in us / get into His word / it s a life force / it will grow Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 4

5 C. WE CAN DO TO PLANT THE WORD IN OUR HEARTS 1. Mark 4:26-27 (NKJV) 26 And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 2. a. We need to confess the word to ourselves Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. The word meditate means to think about it and quietly repeat it to yourself. a. Through our day thinking about and quietly repeating to ourselves God s word God, I believe You will supply all my need Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Jesus, I believe You will bless me enough so I can bless others. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (MSG) God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. If we have a problem loving people. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 5

6 Romans 5:3 (Phillips NT) Already we have some experience of the love of God flooding through our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us. ex. Lord, I believe Your love is flooding through my heart by the Holy Ghost Physical or emotional healing/ Instead of talking about the symptoms we need to plant some God seed; By His stripes I am healed, He heals all my diseases 1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) by whose stripes you were healed. Psalms 103:3 (NKJV) Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, When we talk it meditate on God s word, we allow that seed to germinate in us and grow 3. act on the word obey it James 1:22-24 (NIV) 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. a. God s word is like a mirror We may not always like what we see but we can do something about it. When God s word reveals a need or lack in us we ask for God s help to act on it- obey it. When we obey God s word a miracle happens we grow 4. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 6

7 Luke 8: Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. a. In the parable of the sower, Jesus said the seed that matures is in the hearts of those who keep it b. We can t allow anything; Satan, temptation trials, cares or worries in life, to steal the word out of our hearts c. Daily we have to make conscious decisions to keep the word regardless of how we feel at the moment or when negative circumstances surround us ex. I refuse to give up on the truth of God s word. John 15:7 (NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary says abide means: to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) : continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand. To plant God seed; read it, talk it, do it, keep it Prayer and confession: Jesus, thank You for the good seed of Your word in my life. It is working miracles in me. It gives me life. I will read it, talk it, do it, and keep it. In Jesus name, Amen. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 7

8 FILL IN THE BLANKS FROM LESSON #2 I. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE INVOLVES A (MIRACLE) A. THERE IS A CERTAIN (MYSTERY) IN HOW GOD S KINGDOM GROWS IN US B. THIS MIRACLE STARTS THE MOMENT WE ARE (BORN AGAIN) II. THE SEED OF THE KINGDOM IS THE (WORD OF (GOD) A. (PLANTING) THE SEED OF GOD S WORD B. THE BIBLE SAYS GOD S WORD IS (LIFE) C. (FOUR THINGS) WE CAN DO TO PLANT THE WORD IN OUR HEARTS 1. (Read it) 2. (Talk it) 3. (Do it) act on the word obey it 4. (Keep it) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ (928) Alex Wilson, Pastor 8