Embracing Genuine Faith in God's Eternal Kingdom

Devotional

Day 1: Genuine Faith in a World of Weeds

In the parable of the wheat and the weeds, Jesus teaches that real and fake Christians coexist until the final judgment. This parable urges us to examine our faith and ensure we are genuine believers. Only the true wheat will be gathered into God's barn, symbolizing heaven, while the weeds will be burned, representing hell. This calls for self-reflection and a sincere commitment to living out our faith authentically. We must ask ourselves if our actions, thoughts, and words align with the teachings of Jesus and if we are truly living as His disciples.

The parable also serves as a reminder that judgment is God's responsibility, not ours. We are called to live faithfully and leave the separation of the wheat and weeds to God. This perspective can help us focus on our spiritual growth and avoid the temptation to judge others. Instead, we should encourage and support one another in our faith journeys, fostering a community of genuine believers who strive to follow Christ wholeheartedly.

Matthew 13:24-30 (ESV): "He put another parable before them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

Reflection: Reflect on your daily actions and thoughts. Are they consistent with the teachings of Jesus? How can you ensure that your faith is genuine and not just a facade?

Day 2: The Mustard Seed and the Church's Growth

The mustard seed, though small, grows into a large tree providing shelter. This represents the church, which started small but has grown worldwide, offering comfort and salvation. As members of the church, we are called to be a source of light and refuge for those in darkness. The growth of the mustard seed into a large tree symbolizes the expansive and inclusive nature of God's kingdom, which welcomes all who seek refuge and salvation.

This parable encourages us to recognize the potential for growth and impact within our own lives and communities. Even small acts of faith and kindness can contribute to the growth of God's kingdom. We are called to be active participants in this growth, using our unique gifts and talents to serve others and spread the message of Christ. By doing so, we can help create a welcoming and supportive environment where people can find hope and healing.

Matthew 13:31-32 (ESV): "He put another parable before them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.'"

Reflection: Think of a small act of kindness or service you can do today. How can this contribute to the growth of God's kingdom and provide comfort to someone in need?

Day 3: Prioritizing Heavenly Values

Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a hidden treasure or a pearl of great value. We are encouraged to prioritize heavenly values over earthly ones, investing our lives in God's eternal kingdom. This requires sacrificing temporary pleasures for eternal rewards. The parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl highlight the incomparable worth of the kingdom of heaven and the joy that comes from discovering and embracing it.

In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices that reflect our priorities. These parables challenge us to evaluate what we truly value and to make decisions that align with our commitment to God's kingdom. By prioritizing heavenly values, we can experience a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment, knowing that our efforts are contributing to something eternal and meaningful.

Matthew 13:44-46 (ESV): "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

Reflection: Reflect on your current priorities. Are there any earthly pursuits that are taking precedence over your commitment to God's kingdom? What changes can you make to prioritize heavenly values in your daily life?

Day 4: Being Leaven in the World

The kingdom of God is like leaven that causes dough to rise. As Christians, we are called to be leaven in the world, spreading the influence of God's kingdom. Our presence should bring growth and transformation, expanding God's kingdom wherever we go. The parable of the leaven illustrates the transformative power of the gospel and the impact that even a small amount of faith can have on the world around us.

As followers of Christ, we are called to be agents of change, bringing the message of hope and salvation to those we encounter. This involves living out our faith in practical ways, demonstrating love, compassion, and integrity in our interactions with others. By doing so, we can help create an environment where God's kingdom can flourish and grow, touching the lives of those around us.

Matthew 13:33 (ESV): "He told them another parable. 'The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.'"

Reflection: Consider how your actions and words influence those around you. Are you being a positive influence and spreading the message of God's kingdom? What specific steps can you take to be leaven in your community today?

Day 5: Trusting in God's Eternal Kingdom

Daniel's vision of a rock destroying earthly empires assures us that God's kingdom will prevail and grow continuously. This vision encourages us to trust in God's ultimate victory and invest our lives in His eternal kingdom, knowing it will never end. The vision of the rock represents the unshakable and everlasting nature of God's kingdom, which stands in contrast to the temporary and fragile nature of earthly empires.

As members of the church, we are called to be laborers in God's harvest, spreading the gospel and bringing light to a world in darkness. This involves trusting in God's plan and being willing to invest our time, energy, and resources in His kingdom. By doing so, we can be confident that our efforts will have a lasting impact and contribute to the growth of God's eternal kingdom.

Daniel 2:44-45 (ESV): "And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure."

Reflection: Reflect on your trust in God's ultimate victory. Are there areas of your life where you struggle to trust in His plan? How can you invest more fully in God's eternal kingdom, knowing that it will never end?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we gather to worship our holy God, who forgives our sins and fills us with His Spirit. As we celebrate Chuseok, let's prepare our hearts to lean on Jesus, the hope of all nations. He protects us, hears our prayers, and gives us strength.

We explored the parable of the wheat and the weeds, where Jesus teaches that both real and fake Christians coexist until the final judgment. At that time, God will separate the true believers from the false ones. This parable reminds us to ensure we are genuine in our faith, as only the true wheat will be gathered into God's barn, symbolizing heaven.

We also discussed the parable of the mustard seed, which grows into a large tree providing shelter for birds. This represents the church, which started small but has grown worldwide, offering comfort and salvation. Similarly, the parable of the leaven illustrates how the kingdom of God expands and influences the world.

Jesus emphasized the value of the kingdom of heaven, comparing it to a hidden treasure or a pearl of great value. We are encouraged to prioritize heavenly values over earthly ones, investing our lives in God's eternal kingdom.

Finally, we reflected on the vision of Daniel, where a rock representing Jesus' kingdom destroys earthly empires. This vision assures us that God's kingdom will prevail and grow continuously. As members of the church, we are called to be laborers in God's harvest, spreading the gospel and bringing light to a world in darkness.

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds: Jesus teaches that real and fake Christians coexist until the final judgment. This parable urges us to examine our faith and ensure we are genuine believers. Only the true wheat will be gathered into God's barn, symbolizing heaven, while the weeds will be burned, representing hell. [23:43]
2. The Mustard Seed and the Church: The mustard seed, though small, grows into a large tree providing shelter. This represents the church, which started small but has grown worldwide, offering comfort and salvation. As members of the church, we are called to be a source of light and refuge for those in darkness. [31:49]
3. The Value of the Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a hidden treasure or a pearl of great value. We are encouraged to prioritize heavenly values over earthly ones, investing our lives in God's eternal kingdom. This requires sacrificing temporary pleasures for eternal rewards. [28:33]
4. The Parable of the Leaven: The kingdom of God is like leaven that causes dough to rise. As Christians, we are called to be leaven in the world, spreading the influence of God's kingdom. Our presence should bring growth and transformation, expanding God's kingdom wherever we go. [33:22]
5. Daniel's Vision and God's Eternal Kingdom: Daniel's vision of a rock destroying earthly empires assures us that God's kingdom will prevail and grow continuously. This vision encourages us to trust in God's ultimate victory and invest our lives in His eternal kingdom, knowing it will never end. [40:12]
### [40:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:37] - Opening Prayer
[14:56] - Worship: "You Are Worthy of It All"
[20:44] - Real vs. Fake: The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds
[22:13] - The Wheat and Weeds Explained
[23:43] - Judgment and Separation
[25:18] - The Parable of the Mustard Seed
[26:53] - The Parable of the Net
[28:33] - The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
[30:05] - The Mustard Seed and the Church
[31:49] - The Parable of the Leaven
[33:22] - Christians as Leaven in the World
[34:59] - The Church's Role in God's Kingdom
[36:39] - God's Kingdom Will Prevail
[38:28] - Investing in God's Eternal Kingdom
[40:12] - Daniel's Vision and God's Eternal Kingdom
[41:55] - Call to Serve and Pray
[43:35] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds, what does Jesus say will happen at the time of the harvest? ([23:43])
How does the mustard seed parable describe the growth of the kingdom of heaven? ([30:05])
What is the significance of the leaven in the parable, and how does it relate to the kingdom of God? ([33:22])
According to Daniel's vision, what does the rock represent, and what does it do to the statue? ([40:12])

Interpretation Questions

What does the coexistence of wheat and weeds until the final judgment teach us about the nature of the church and the world? ([23:43])
How can the growth of the mustard seed into a large tree be seen as a metaphor for the church's mission and expansion? ([31:49])
In what ways are Christians called to be like leaven in the world, and what impact should they have on their surroundings? ([33:22])
How does Daniel's vision of the rock provide assurance about the ultimate victory of God's kingdom? ([40:12])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own faith. How can you ensure that you are genuine wheat and not a weed? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Christ? ([23:43])
The mustard seed starts small but grows into a large tree. What small steps can you take this week to contribute to the growth of God's kingdom in your community? ([31:49])
As leaven influences the dough, how can you be a positive influence in your workplace, school, or family? Identify one specific action you can take this week. ([33:22])
Daniel's vision assures us of God's ultimate victory. How does this assurance affect your daily life and decisions? What changes can you make to live more confidently in God's promises? ([40:12])
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a hidden treasure and a pearl of great value. What earthly values or pleasures might you need to sacrifice to invest more fully in God's kingdom? ([28:33])
The church is described as a source of light and refuge. How can you actively participate in making your church a place of comfort and salvation for others? ([31:49])
Are you ready to sell everything for the kingdom of God? What specific areas of your life do you need to surrender to God, and how can you start doing that this week? ([38:28])

Sermon Clips

1. "Lord, we trust in you because you are the light of the nations. You are the hope of the nations. And we will lean on you, on your everlasting arms of love. Because we know. You take care of us. You are able and you desire to take care of us. So we will lean on you. Hallelujah. Yes, we believe and we know for a fact that when we lean on your everlasting arms, Lord, You hold us up. You protect us from all fear and darkness. You shine Your light. You are with us. You hear all our prayers and give us strength to heal and to keep our hearts from being One more time, all the saints." [14:56] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So there are things in life that look similar and indistinguishable and jesus talks about it with the parable of the wheats and the weeds the wheats and the weeds and here at 24 it says he put another parable before them saying the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field so there's a field and he sowed seed but while his men were sleeping his enemy the bad person came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away so these weeds they look the same as the wheat so when the plants came up and bore again then the weeds appeared also and the servants of the master of the house came and said to him master did you not sow good seed in your feed how then does it have weeds and he said to them an enemy has done this so that servant said to him then do you want us to go and gather them but he said no less than gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them why because they look the same exactly the same the fake and the real let both grow together until the harvest and at harvest time i will tell the reapers gather their this weeds first and buy them in bundles to be burned but rather the wheat." [23:43] (77 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So he's saying when they grow up together then you will distinguish you'll be able to see clearly who is who what is what and he's basically saying this parable is about us people people on earth we live together and we really really never know who is real christian who is fake christian there are real christians there are fake christians on this earth and jesus says hey let everyone know who is real christian who is fake christian everyone just grow together and then when judgment time comes i will we will all know for sure who is fake who is real and so our encouragement today in church today my encouragement for all of us is that my hope is that all of us here right now will be the real wheat the real christians amen amen in your hearts you you you should know for sure that you are a real christian why because there's coming a day when god will gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned and jesus explains the parable later on and he says to be burned means to be thrown into hell fire to hell and those the wheat into my barn which means the heavens into heaven to be with jesus there's there's a distinction a clear-cut distinction there's no in between there's no gray ground there's no middle ground there's either yes or no there's either heaven or hell one or the other wheat or weeds amen and this also tells us another thing you." [25:18] (101 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in the field which a man found and covered up then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field so there's a field and there's treasure inside that field and the man who finds this treasure he sells everything to buy this field why because he knows there's treasure there's something more valuable more important than what he right now has so he sells what he has right now for the future for the future uh you probably maybe seen this video where they put little kids like five years old or something and there's a couple of them in the room and a person comes in says hey kids uh here's chocolate right in front of you uh you can eat it right now or if you wait one hour in the future one hour later we'll give you many more chocolates many many chocolates." [28:33] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "And you they put cameras and they watch these kids there are some of them are waiting there and they're like should i eat it or not and some of them within one second they're like let me just eat it but some of the other ones smart ones they wait for an hour and then they get a lot of chocolate so in the same way it's giving up what you have right now what you can have right now for the future greater glory and that's what jesus is talking about here heaven is this treasure that's hidden and it's better to give up the earthly pleasures earthly comfort for the sake of this thing called heaven because it's way better and he continues again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls beautiful pearls who on finding one pearl of great value went and sold all that he had and bought it same idea he finds this pearl that he's been looking for and he's like i found it finally it's here right in in front of me i'm gonna sell all my possessions for the sake of this pearl and jesus is teaching his disciples this is the mindset you should have if you are a christian you should think like this earthly values don't matter compared to the heavenly values heavenly values are way better are way greater our minds should be set on the heavenly things there's the pearl and treasure." [30:05] (91 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field a small tiny mustard seed he put in the field and he put it in the field and he put it in the field and he put it in the field it is the smallest of all seeds but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches and these mustard seeds they are tiny they're not the tiniest in all the earth yes but they are tiny seeds and it's like in english we say the grain of sand it's not the smallest thing but we talk about as a small tiny thing so jesus is bringing an example this tiny seed it can grow into one of the biggest trees and they say that this tree it can grow into three and a half meters high let's see right there three and a half meters and under this tree what did jesus say birds of the skies they come and find shelter find shelter and what and they find comfort and what it's representing this seed is representing jesus christ who came to this earth to die on the cross and resurrect so that he can begin the thing called the church and we talked about the church three weeks ago what is the church it's us the people of god we are the church we bring the light of god to this earth we bring the salt of." [31:49] (94 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God to this earth and we bring good things into this earth we bring the kingdom of god to this earth that's who we are we are this tree that came in this in the likeness of jesus two thousand years ago and over two thousand years it's been growing and growing and growing and we keep growing even now and we're all over the world it started in jerusalem but now we're all over the world there's about two billion christians in all the world wow this mustard seed it started to grow and it's growing and the bible says of the increase of his kingdom there's no end it's going to continue to grow and grow and grow the church is this ark of salvation the ark of noah it brought salvation to the family of noah and in the same way we the church we're going to bring salvation to all those who enter into the ark of jesus christ and that is why we keep evangelizing and going out to tell the people about the gospel we go all over the world to preach the gospel so people can hear about who this jesus is so they can be saved in this tree of jesus the church he continues he told them another peril the kingdom of him is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour till it was all leavened i never touched leaven until i got married and my wife she likes to bake make things baking and and she puts dough together and she." [33:22] (93 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Puts leaven in there and yeast and as as she waits for a while like an hour or something suddenly the dough that's this big it becomes leaven and she puts leaven in there and she puts leaven in there and she puts leaven in there and she puts leaven in there and it becomes double triple size and that's what it does it's amazing that jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like that jesus came to this earth and he was this leaven and and he entered into the earth the the dough and it started to get bigger and bigger and he says not only i am the leaven but you christians are this leaven and when you walk in the society at work in your school wherever you go your church your families your friends your family your friends your friends your family your friends wherever you are you are this leaven and you're supposed to bring increase of the kingdom of god to this earth tell people about the light of god tell people about jesus who saves and loves people you are this leaven and this leaven is the king of god and it's going to increase and increase and increase there's no end to it jesus says i tell you you are peter on this rock i will build a church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it so jesus is giving this picture mind picture that the gates of hell hell itself is against the church of god satan is fighting against god himself on this earth and we can see all the atrocities all the negative things all the." [34:59] (96 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Bad things that are happening in this world and we see it daily maybe even at your workplace maybe in your schools wherever your family your family your family your family your family your family you might see darkness and satan is fighting against god and jesus says my church me the gates of hell will not prevail will not overcome will not have victory over us it will continue and continue and continue and isaiah says this of the increase of god's government and of peace there will be no end on the throne of david and over his kingdom the messiah and the king of the world will not prevail against it so jesus says this in his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from the time this time forth and forevermore the zeal of the lord of hosts will do this god's power god's passion god's love it will make this thing happen what thing the kingdom of god the mustard seed the church it will keep growing and growing and growing and it will never end it will never stop and if we sarang church if we are rooted in god's kingdom in god's teachings purely from a pure heart if we continue to follow jesus sarang church will also never be uprooted it's going to continue to grow and grow and grow god will bring the increase he will do it his zeal will do it's not because of our programs or because of what we say or do it's because of what god does his spirit." [36:39] (98 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Holy spirit will bring the revival it will bring the increase of god's kingdom and all we have to do is trust and believe that god will bring the kingdom of god to this place to kongnam to seoul all over korea all over the world through each one of us here sitting here today amen god is good he's gonna do it he will do it as we go into the world the bible says the birds they find comfort in these branches the earthly people out there they are lonely they are lonely they are lonely they are lonely they are in darkness they are sad they are depressed korea has one of the highest depression rates one of the highest suicide rates why is that because the world does not have the light of jesus they don't know who jesus is they don't know the love of jesus that's why they end up their lives they think it's meaningless life has no meaning why because they're in darkness but the bible says birds the people of this world they will come and shelter comfort in jesus in the church and my prayer my hope is that we will see this clearly we will we will invest ourselves into god's kingdom that will never end that will never break god's kingdom and so the church is the church the people of god who bring god jesus heaven to earth we help the poor yes the broken the depressed." [38:28] (109 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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