{"id":5176,"date":"2018-06-17T23:58:03","date_gmt":"2018-06-17T23:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/?post_type=ctc_sermon&p=5176"},"modified":"2018-07-08T00:01:37","modified_gmt":"2018-07-08T00:01:37","slug":"noble-cedars-humble-mustard-seeds","status":"publish","type":"ctc_sermon","link":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/sermons\/noble-cedars-humble-mustard-seeds\/","title":{"rendered":"Noble cedars & humble mustard seeds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Disculpa, pero esta entrada est\u00e1 disponible s\u00f3lo en English<\/a>. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.<\/p>

A few months ago I threw some avocado seeds into my compost bin, and now I\u2019ve discovered I have a beautiful avocado seedling growing in my compost.\u00a0 I\u2019ve very happy about that \u2013 but all I did was throw it away! I was expecting to make compost, but now I am very pleased that I need to ask Alexis to locate a great place to plant an avocado tree.\u00a0 And we all know how big an avocado tree can get.\u00a0\u00a0So, I\u2019m not sure where that avocado tree will get planted, but I am pretty sure that it will produce some great avocados!<\/p>\n

This morning\u2019s parable is about a humble little seed, much, much smaller than an avocado seed.\u00a0\u00a0How many of you know the humble mustard seed? Have you seen one? It\u2019s about this big\u2026<\/p>\n

What about the seed from a cedar tree? Do you know what the seed from a cedar tree looks like?\u00a0 If you can imagine a pine cone, you can imagine a seed from a cedar tree \u2013 they are very similar. Both cedars and pines are evergreen trees, and they produce very similar seeds.<\/p>\n

So, we have the humble little mustard seed and we have the seed from a cedar tree (about the size of an acorn from a pine tree). And from the humble little mustard seed, we can grow a bush, that will produce (in some cases) lovely fields of yellow flowers (have you every driven through the English countryside in spring and see the field upon field of yellow? Well, actually that\u2019s rapeseed, from which you will get Canola oil, but it\u2019s very similar to one kind of mustard bush!). But the mustard seeds and bushes from Jesus\u2019 parable are much more like the bougainvillea or a hydrangea \u2013 if you let them grow as they wish, they can reach as tall as 6 meters or 20 feet. The mustard seed that Jesus was referring to is a much hardier plant than the mustard seed that we know today that is used for crops.<\/p>\n

Now, in the parable, Mark speaks to the seed being planted in the garden, but he was speaking to a specific audience that would probably have had immense gardens because of their vary arid lands. People in Israel, on the other hand, did not typically plant a mustard bush in their gardens \u2013 they tended to plant them in the fields, with enough space so that they could grow. And the beauty of the mustard bush is that it can grow in arid, dry climates and thrive even in clay or sandy soil.\u00a0 It can grow in hot, dry weather or cool, wet climates. It is drought tolerant.\u00a0 \u00a0If you decide to cut the mustard bush down, and leave the trunk, it can grow back again. So even a harsh pruning of a mustard bush means that it will come back stronger than ever.<\/p>\n

And so, we read, this morning, that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed: one of\u00a0the smallest seeds you can sow.\u00a0<\/span>And we read in the gospel that after that seed is planted, it grows into the largest plant in the garden, a plant so big that birds can build their nests in the shade of its branches.\u00a0<\/span>This part of the mustard seed parable implies that the kingdom of God has room for one and all, enough for all of us to build our safe haven in its branches and thrive under its shelter.<\/p>\n

If you recall, we read earlier that the beauty of the noble cedar, growing on the mountain tops, is that the birds can make their homes in its branches.\u00a0 But, if you notice, it doesn\u2019t matter if you are a noble cedar high on a mountain top or a humble mustard seed planted in someone\u2019s back yard, the birds will be able to build their nests in the shade of the branches.\u00a0 So, at the end of the day, whether you grow as a noble cedar, high on a mountain top, or a humble mustard seed in the back of the yard, you still serve the same purpose \u2013 providing a sanctuary for the birds of the field to build their nest and find shelter in the shade.\u00a0 Our ego probably prefers for us to be the lofty and noble cedar, but at the end of the day, the humble mustard produces just as much shade and home for the birds!<\/span><\/p>\n

When Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is like a small mustard seed that would grow large, He was showing the power of God to do His work through whatever instrument He chooses.\u00a0\u00a0Many scholars explain that this parable refers to the \u201csmall beginning\u201d, in which Jesus started out with a handful of followers, each spreading out the word and touching the lives of those who were willing to hear.\u00a0It was from this small beginning that the kingdom of God, the Church, the followers of Christ have spread throughout in massive numbers (approximately 2.2 billion in all the Christian faiths, or 1\/3 of the world population).<\/p>\n

The real question for you & me is \u2013 what can we learn from the parable of the humble mustard seed? How do we apply this in our lives today?\u00a0 If the mustard seed that Jesus was talking about in the parable was the rise of Christianity and its planting throughout the world, is this even relevant to us today?<\/p>\n

First, I think it is important to understand WHERE the kingdom of God is.\u00a0 Luke 17, verses 20 and 21 remind us<\/p>\n

\u201cthe kingdom of God is within you\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If we take a minute to remember what it says in\u00a0Ezekiel<\/strong>, we find:<\/p>\n

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26\u00a0<\/a>ESV)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is very reminiscent of what David says in\u00a0Psalm 51<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10\u00a0<\/a>ESV)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, when we read that the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven is\u00a0within<\/em>us, this is the new heart that we have, the clean heart, the new and right spirit, a heart of flesh that has replaced our heart of stone.\u00a0 This is the spirit of loving and caring that has replaced our selfishness.\u00a0 This is the spirit that fills us with the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If you were a tree, this is the fruit that you would be producing for the birds to come and eat.<\/p>\n

We all know what Romans says:<\/p>\n

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, (Romans 12: 2 ESV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When the Kingdom of God is within you, your thoughts will be transformed.\u00a0 Have you heard the saying:<\/p>\n

Today I\u2019m starting over:
\nA new belief system
\nA new pattern of thoughts
\nA new way of feeling
\nA new connection to the world<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We can only change ourselves, when we change the way we think.\u00a0 And if we say that the kingdom of heaven is within us, then there has to be a corresponding change in the way of our thinking.<\/p>\n

What you hold to be important in life, will change as you change your thinking. You will begin to treasure different things, like inner peace. You will begin to treasure the silence, where you can listen to the still small voice.\u00a0 \u00a0You will treasure Truth and Understanding.\u00a0 You will treasure simple Oneness with the Creator.\u00a0 Moments of quiet contemplation.<\/p>\n

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Proverbs reminds us:<\/p>\n

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
\nAbove all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4: 23)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If in your heart, you are harbouring resentment and anger, then this is what will come out of your mouth.\u00a0 It you are harbouring pain and hurt that you have not released, you will probably hurt others.\u00a0 If you are holding onto and harbouring resentment and bitterness, your words will be twisted and cruel.\u00a0\u00a0On the other hand, if you are harbouring love, then your words will be loving and kind.<\/p>\n

If you want to know what you are harbouring in your heart \u2013 just have a look at your words and actions when you are under pressure.\u00a0 When you squeeze a tube of toothpaste, toothpaste comes out. When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out.\u00a0 When you are squeezed \u2013 what comes out?<\/p>\n

THAT is what you are holding in your heart!<\/p>\n

And this is why Jesus, in Luke told the crowds:<\/p>\n

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Kingdom of God is like a small mustard seed, a small new truth, that is planted in the garden of your mind, and that while you are working and sleeping, that small new truth opens up, and sprouts.\u00a0 As you water and take care of it, it grows.<\/p>\n

What is important to understand here is that there is no \u201cthen\u201d or \u201cwhen\u201d to the kingdom of God. This reign is a current, progressing, maturing reality, which means a kingship of our hearts \u2013 that we are Divinely lead. When we can finally hear the still, small voice, and then actually do what it says, rather than holding fast to our own ideas and ways of thinking.<\/p>\n

I want to finish this morning with a reminder from Peter:}<\/p>\n

Do not let your adorning be external\u2014the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear\u2014 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, (I Peter 3:3-4 ESV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For indeed,\u00a0the kingdom of God is within you<\/em>\u201d (Luke 17:20-21), like a little mustard seed that grows strong and tall in the garden of your mind, and that produces a harvest of the fruits of the spirit, and provides compassion (shade) for others to take refuge.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Disculpa, pero esta entrada est\u00e1 disponible s\u00f3lo en English. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.A few months ago I threw some avocado seeds into my compost bin, and now I\u2019ve discovered I have a beautiful avocado…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5177,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","ctc_sermon_topic":[],"ctc_sermon_book":[41],"ctc_sermon_series":[],"ctc_sermon_speaker":[62],"ctc_sermon_tag":[217,744,740,738,739,31,735,736,743,741,737,742],"class_list":["post-5176","ctc_sermon","type-ctc_sermon","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","ctc_sermon_book-matthew","ctc_sermon_speaker-beth-anne-gray","ctc_sermon_tag-compassion","ctc_sermon_tag-divine","ctc_sermon_tag-fruits-of-the-spirit","ctc_sermon_tag-garden-of-your-mind","ctc_sermon_tag-harvest","ctc_sermon_tag-heart","ctc_sermon_tag-kingdom-of-god","ctc_sermon_tag-mustard-seed","ctc_sermon_tag-reality","ctc_sermon_tag-refuge","ctc_sermon_tag-strong","ctc_sermon_tag-treasures","ctfw-has-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/5176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ctc_sermon"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5176"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/5176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5178,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon\/5176\/revisions\/5178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_topic?post=5176"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_book","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_book?post=5176"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_series","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_series?post=5176"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_speaker","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_speaker?post=5176"},{"taxonomy":"ctc_sermon_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ctc_sermon_tag?post=5176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}