Introduction:

* No Kingdom ⟹ No people, no peace, no prosperity.

* It is therefore of paramount importance that a kingdom must be protected.

* Yet history tells us no human kingdom survives.

* Foreign invasion or civil war destroys kingdoms.

* Yet, our Lord Jesus has given us a Kingdom (of heaven) that will last forever.

* Though this Kingdom is unseen, it is forcefully advancing right here today.

* We have to see the value of this Kingdom and witness its expansion. 

Read <Mt 13:31-35> 

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

* The Kingdom of Heaven is unseen in the fallen world, its magnitude not perceived by human mind. Yet, it influences everything under heaven.

* Jesus is the King of the Kingdom and he brought this kingdom with him to this earth when he incarnated.

* Yet, how it grows and expands is a great mystery!

Mustard Seed growing to become the largest tree in the garden

* Small and Insignificant

* E.g. Jesus and the Apostles

* It cannot be expanded through human hands, but only those who acknowledged Jesus as Lord.

* Confirm: How religions of Rome Era have all vanished but Christianity prevails.

* Confirm: How the Christianity extend its branches over legal system, political system, music, science and technology, etc.

* Confirm: How worldly kingdom fell? E.g. Babylon.

* Confirm: How Christianity prevailed?

* “… on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” <Mt 16:18>

Parable of the yeast mixed into large amount of flour

* The workings of the Kingdom of heaven is not in the obvious. Its hidden!

* Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world”. <Jn 18:36>.

* Yet, it could happen suddenly before we even realized it.

* Confirm: Do we felt left behind in this world? That’s a deception!

* The truly wise will invest their all in the kingdom of God.

Two simple applications:

1) Be involved in its expansion and live a committed church life.

2) Do not be discouraged if we are really doing a good work for the Lord.

* Believe in the principle of “accumulated blessing”.