Learning from the Mustard Seed

Part 2: Extending Beyond Ourselves in Love

“The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Another step towards the fruitfulness described in this parable is reaching out into our environment.

We see that in the agricultural basis for this parable. Once a seed germinates it must extend itself into the soil and the air. It can’t bear fruit unless it goes beyond its shell and affirmatively engages its environment. No extension, no fruit.

Jesus teaches His disciples to do the same. He taught folks that came to Him (and us) to be light in our parts of the world, something that requires us to engage our environment. Matthew 5:14-16.  He taught his first disciples (and us) to actively reach beyond ourselves to help others. Matthew 25:31-46,  Luke 10:30-37. He gave us the great commission, a commission that can only be fulfilled by extending ourselves. Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8.  He sent His first disciples out into the area where they had been planted in ways that required them to extend their faith by taking it to others in complete reliance upon God’s provision. Scripture shows us the fruit that resulted from that.  Luke 10:1-9, 17-19.

 Jesus’ apostles likewise taught that we must reach out to and actively engage our environment. They taught that we must actively support each other within the church. Romans 12:19, Galatians 6:2, Ephesians 6:18, James 1:14-16. They also taught that we must help those in distress, both in and outside of the church, Hebrews 13:3, James 1:27, James 2:14-17,  1 John 3:17-19. They also taught that we must be ready to engage folks who are attracted to the faith. Colossians 4:5-6, 1 Peter 3:15-16.  All of those things require that we move beyond ourselves and into our environment

In short, the implicit logic of this parable, Jesus’ consistent teaching in other contexts, and the Apostles' teachings all tell us the same thing—we must affirmatively reach out and engage our world to reach the high level of fruitfulness the parable describes.

Learning from the Mustard Seed

Part 1: Surrendering to Transformation

“The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Jesus paints a wonderful picture of fruitfulness in this parable. This and several following posts examine the steps towards fruitfulness implicit in this parable.

The first is to let go and let God transform us. The mustard seed must germinate before it can grow into the fruitfulness Jesus describes here. A time lapse view of a seed germinating shows the seed losing its previous nature. It loses its dryness by absorbing water, swells, and breaks far beyond the shell that was its outer limit. In other words, the seed is transformed, its old nature is replaced.

That is essential.  As Jesus explained in John 12:24  “unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies,” i.e. surrenders its previous existence via germination,  “it yields a rich harvest.”   

That is not an easy process. Human nature rebels against it and Jesus Himself struggled with it. See John 12:27, Matthew 26:37-44, Mark 14:34-39, Mark 15:34.    

But we can get through it; God promises that. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Jesus modeled several specific techniques for dealing with the difficulty involved.  He focused on the tremendous good on the other side of the process. John 12:24, Hebrews 12:2. He asked God to help Him through it, and the Father honored that. John 12:28, Luke 22:41-44. He directly faced the difficulty involved without delay or evasion. Matthew 26:45-46, Mark 14:41-42 , John 18:3-5.  He focused on how He could help others as He was going through it. Luke 22:49-51, Luke 23:34, Luke 23:39-43, John 18:7-8.

Bible Study Notes

4-23-2016 work party

A.         Murray, Humility

Chapter 5

Highlighted=quote from book

Pray

Recap

God Created us to show & share His goodness

Pride interferes w/ the great blessings God wants to give us & empower us to give to others

Pride comes from the devil, entered the world at the fall

We must be restored to full humility to regain that connection to the full blessedness God offers

Jesus is the source of restored humility, we get it from and through Him.

Jesus is the model of that fruitful humility; he was perfectly yielded to the Father & the Spirit

We therefore need to prayerfully study Jesus’ life & strive to follow His examples.

        

         Humility brings blessing/effectiveness

         Humility is manifested in meekness & service

We have been looking for insights about humility from Jesus’ life & teaching

This week we’ll look at Jesus' disciples to see what we can learn from their lives and teachings

The Disciples’ humility was far from perfect

Disputing which was greatest. Mark 9:33-37, Luke 9:46-48

Religion & effective service are possible (to a degree) without true humility

The disciples showed great religious zeal & rendered great service, but lacked consistent humility

deeper down than all this there was a dark power, of the existence and the hideousness of which they were hardly conscious, which had to be slain and cast out,

We may find professors and ministers, evangelists and workers, missionaries and teachers, in whom the gifts of the Spirit are many and manifest, and who are the channels of blessing to multitudes, but of whom, when the testing time comes, or closer intercourse gives fuller knowledge, it is only too painfully manifest that the grace of humility, as an abiding characteristic, is scarce to be seen.

External teaching and personal effort are not enough—on their own or in combination—to truly conquer pride

For three years the disciples had been in the training school of Jesus.

They had doubtless often tried to learn His lessons, and firmly resolved not again to grieve Him. But all in vain.

Nothing can avail but this, that the new nature in its divine humility be revealed in power to take the place of the old, to become as truly our very nature as that ever was.

It is only by the indwelling of Christ, via the Holy Spirit, that we become truly humble.

All Christ's teaching of His disciples, and all their vain efforts, were the needful preparation for His entering into them in divine power, to give and be in them what He had taught them to desire.

The work of preparation and conviction, the awakening of desire and hope which His teaching had effected, was perfected by the mighty change that Pentecost wrought.

It is only where we, like the Son, truly know and show that we can do nothing of ourselves, that God will do all.

Those dynamics are reflected in scriptural accounts of the lives of the disciples

Acts 1:6-8, 12-14; 2:1-4, 42-47

When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established (We must rely on God) by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you (Power to do God’s will comes from God, but God will honor/act upon & through those who seek His will), and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, … 14 All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer (the necessary, but not sufficient part that we play—focused/ prioritized/continuing prayer—mutual reinforcement)

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1 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. 2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. 3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit (God honored their efforts)

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42 They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. (contrast that to the disputes about who is the greatest) 43 Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common 45 they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (the fruits of humility)

Romans 7:14-24; 8:18-19, 23, 26-27

… I am a creature of flesh and blood sold as a slave to sin.15 I do not understand my own behavior; I do not act as I mean to (helplessness on our owns, even amongst those greatly gifted), but I do things that I hate.16 While I am acting as I do not want to, I still acknowledge the Law as good, 17 so it is not myself acting, but the sin which lives in me.

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21 So I find this rule: that for me, where I want to do nothing but good, evil is close at my side. 22 In my inmost self I dearly love God's law, 23 but I see that acting on my body there is a different law which battles against the law in my mind…24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death? God -- thanks be to him -- through Jesus Christ our Lord.(we can’t do it on our own, but only through God’s grace, which He will provide if we seek/accept it)

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26 … the Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness, for, when we do not know how to pray properly, then the Spirit personally makes our petitions for us in groans that cannot be put into words;(Bring your weaknesses & failures before God, even if you don’t know what to say) 27 and he who can see into all hearts knows what the Spirit means because the prayers that that the Spirit makes for God's holy people are always in accordance with the mind of God. 28 We are well aware that God works with those who love him, those who have been called in accordance with his purpose, and turns everything to their good (God responds). 29 He decided beforehand who were the ones destined to be molded to the pattern of his Son, so that he should be the eldest of many brothers;30 it was those so destined that he called; those that he called, he justified, and those that he has justified he has brought into glory.

Common Pattern:

Recognition of weakness on their own

Going to God for help

God honoring that

The disciples’ teachings recognized that pattern

Philippians 4:6-8

6 Never worry about anything (accept that you can’t do it on your own); but tell God all your desires of every kind in prayer and petition (go to God for help) shot through with gratitude, and the peace of God which is beyond our understanding will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus (God honors that).

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must hold firm to our profession of faith. 15 For the high priest we have is not incapable of feeling our weaknesses (recognition of weakness/inadequacy) with us, but has been put to the test in exactly the same way as ourselves, apart from sin. 16 Let us, then, have no fear in approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace when we are in need of help.(Going to God for help)

James 1:2-5; 4:8

2 My brothers, consider it a great joy when trials of many kinds come upon you, 3 for you well know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, and 4 perseverance must complete its work so that you will become fully developed, complete, not deficient in any way. 5 Any of you who lacks wisdom (Recognition of weakness/inadequacy) must ask God (Going to God for help) , who gives to all generously and without scolding; it will be given. (God honors that).

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8 The nearer you go to God, the nearer God will come to you. (Going to God for help, God honors that)                                                                                                   

1 Peter 5:6-7

6 Bow down, then, before the power of God (recognition of weakness, seeking God’s help) now, so that he may raise you up in due time (God honors that); 7 unload all your burden on to him, since he is concerned about you.

1 John 1:8-9 & 5:14

If we say, 'We have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and truth has no place in us; (Recognition of weakness/inadequacy) 9 if we acknowledge our sins(Going to God for help), he is trustworthy and upright, so that he will forgive our sins and will cleanse us from all evil(God honors that).

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Our fearlessness towards him consists in this, that if we ask anything in accordance with his will( seeking God’s help) he hears us (God honors that).