Thy Kingdom Come: Parables Recap

[0:00] Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God.

[0:15] Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application. This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day.

[0:26] Let's dive in together into God's Word. Well, good morning, everyone. Today, we are doing something a little different. We finished our series on the parables of Christ.

[0:40] That was a 38-week sermon series. We thank God for that. We thank God that, number one, we had the opportunity for us to go over His Word, but also for us to learn and grow together.

[0:57] We think of parables as these simplistic teachings from Christ. And these teachings are all part of God's plan, God's story.

[1:12] It helps us to not only minister to us, but for us to minister to others. And so I felt it appropriate.

[1:23] This next week, we're going to celebrate Ontario Community Church's 80th anniversary. And so before this celebration, I felt it was so appropriate for us to do a recap and to go over, in a very simplistic manner, what it is we have gone over and what it is we will go over.

[1:48] I originally titled this, Thy Kingdom Come, Parables from Heaven for Life on Earth. And this is to help all of us, no matter where we are in our spiritual walk and in our journey in faith, to grow deeper in our relationship with the Lord.

[2:08] For those of you who may not know the Lord, it's coming to know who Jesus is. And for those of us who do know the Lord, to strengthen in your walk.

[2:21] It's a great encouragement that no matter where it is you come from, no matter what it is you have been through, what you have gone through, what you're going through or what you will go through, God extends that invitation for you to receive the free gift of salvation.

[2:40] And so typically, what we do is we use the OIA method, and I did the best that I could to follow that method, right? Observation, interpretation, and application.

[2:52] So let's go to this next slide here. And we have in here parabolic symbols, right?

[3:03] We have things that show up as patterns within the Word, specifically within these parables that help us understand. We began with the seed and the soil.

[3:16] The seed representing the Word, and the soil representing our hearts. And that our hearts should be softened towards the Lord. That our hearts should be transformed.

[3:28] For many of us, we may know someone who has a hardened heart. Someone that we can pray for. Someone who has bitterness or hatred towards Christ or to the Church.

[3:41] For many of us, we may have even been hurt at times. But it's such an important call for us to ask God to soften our hearts and to receive His Word, much like how we are called to receive salvation.

[3:55] We had all these soils representing different statuses of the heart. Sometimes there are moments where there's sin that is occupying our lives, represented by weeds.

[4:08] That we need to clear out these weeds, as it were, and focus on becoming more Christ-like, following in the footsteps of Christ, and letting God transform us from the inside out.

[4:21] So we have the Word, right? The seed gets planted into the ground, and it grows into a tree, representing our spiritual walk in the Lord, and that we are to bear fruit.

[4:34] We also went over this idea of the treasure and the pearl. That salvation in Christ, truth, the truth that we find in Christ, should be regarded higher than any other truth.

[4:51] When we went over the treasure and the pearl, you had different scenarios where one person stumbled upon the truth. They just happened to find something of such great value that they were willing to trade everything for it.

[5:05] Then you had the guy who was seeking after fine pearls, who was seeking those pearls with everything that he had to find something of great value. And so, whether you stumble upon who the Lord is, or you're seeking truth with all that you have, it is important for us to seek after Christ, the truth of his Word, and the salvation that he offers to each and every one of us.

[5:33] So, truth. We also have the lamp and the householder. The lamp representing, we find this in the parable of the ten virgins, right?

[5:44] Where some of them are holding their lamps, and the lamp representing a vessel, representing a person, also representing churches. That you want to have it filled with oil, representing the Holy Spirit.

[5:59] And you need to have the flame, right? You need to have the light that shines in the darkness. And as we went over last week, let it shine.

[6:10] We want our lamps to shine, not only in our own households, but for the world to see. To be examples. And the householder is someone then, who is able to discern, and take out the treasures new and old.

[6:26] Some scholars have said, it's the ability to distinguish the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Some have said it's the old promises and the new promises.

[6:37] But it's the ability to shine your light, and also to be able to spiritually discern. Right? Knowing the difference between right and wrong. Truth from lies. And in discernment, we train in discernment.

[6:52] We also have the shepherd and the sheep. And what's really powerful about that is the shepherd is represented, and a lot of us know this language, it's represented by Christ, the chief shepherd, right?

[7:05] Or the great shepherd. And his sheep are represented as those that know him, right? Just as when scripture says that the sheep know his voice, right? And it's always interesting, in a Bible study that I went to the other day, there was a man there, if Kermit is watching on YouTube or wherever, he'll appreciate this.

[7:27] He told me this story of when he would go outside, and he would call for his cows, his cattle, and hundreds of them would just come right from over the hill, as it were.

[7:41] He would just, they knew his voice so well that they responded, and it's such a real-life connection when we think of the shepherd and the sheep, right? When you have animals, be that cows or sheep or horses, they know who you are, and how often they're happy to see you, even when you're having a bad day, right?

[8:00] There are, that goes to show the familiarity of us knowing the Lord. What beautiful imagery that is, and also the fact, the simple fact that we also can think of those that are watching the gate.

[8:13] We talked about gatekeepers, that that unfortunately has a negative connotation, but a gatekeeper is someone who is to protect and assist the shepherd. So we see Christ as the great shepherd, but also we think of pastors as they are to lead their congregations, not to be a hireling, but someone who cares for the flock, right?

[8:38] Who watches out and checks in with their, makes sure there's no injury or they're not stuck in a rut or whatever it is, but takes care of them. And even in the image of gatekeepers, people who are assisting the shepherd in that, what beautiful language.

[8:54] We also had the, a lot of the language about virgins and the banquet used as this idea of anticipation and being prepared, right? Preparing for the wedding feast.

[9:05] And that kind of language is very, it's difficult for us to think of nowadays, but think of someone who's waiting for their wedding day. That sense of anticipation, right?

[9:15] Is the same type of anticipation when we are waiting upon the Lord to return, waiting upon Christ for, well, the new heaven and the new earth, as it were.

[9:27] So there's so many connections that we're seeing here. And of course, the banquet, which is talking about the great feast. When we think about this, we, when we've just partook in communion, it is the table that is available for those to come and celebrate, to taste and see that the Lord is good.

[9:47] We think about it, just as the table is open for you to partake in communion, so too is the table of plenty when it comes to salvation, right?

[9:58] We've talked about many parables where invitations were invited to certain people and they rejected the messengers or they said that they were too busy or whatever it was. But the invitation now is for everyone.

[10:10] Much like how when we think of Christianity, the mystery of Christ, that which was hidden, is now revealed for all. That which was once exclusive is now inclusive for everyone to come to Christ by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection.

[10:27] We also had the minas and the talents here. Now, it's always interesting. Most people, they go over the talents, right? And we think of, you know, stewarding your money, right? We think of all these different things, but it's so much more than that.

[10:40] The importance of stewardship. Many of us, I know in my own background, I think of how I was taught, you gotta steward your time, talent, and your treasure. I remember learning that very young from my mother.

[10:52] But we also steward our very lives. We steward what God has given to us, even our own testimony. How are you going to use your story? How are you going to use your resources for the glory of God?

[11:04] How you answer that is unique to you. For some of us, especially when we're younger, we may have more time. We may have a little bit of talent. We may have a lot of talent. We may not have a lot of treasure.

[11:16] It's how we are going to use what God has given to us for his honor and his glory. And so minas and talents, it's just the main idea of stewardship and how important that is for us.

[11:29] And then we have the wheat and the weeds, the net and the sheep and the goats. This kind of language has been shown throughout the parables, showing this distinction of separation, right?

[11:42] When we were doing our interactive reading, the final separation or the final judgment between good and evil, right? And when we think of this idea of sheep versus the goat, the goats is, who do you belong to?

[11:57] Do you belong to the great shepherd or do you not? And even though that can be scary language and to some capacity, it's a call for us as Christians to be able to share to the gospel the goats of the world or the weeds of the world.

[12:15] It's also important for us to know that there will be a final judgment or a final sorting as it were. That's nothing to be afraid of. That's actually something that we should be encouraged by.

[12:27] That God has the final say and that God is in control and that we are to trust in him, knowing that you see all of these references about final judgment.

[12:39] It's something that we need to take to heart. And then I put on here, there's a few other ones I haven't gone over, but one important one was the friend at midnight and the persistent widow.

[12:51] Those are some of my favorite ones, right? This widow who is asking for justice from a wicked judge, right? And the judge gets so bothered by the fact that this old widow is just bothering me for justice.

[13:05] I'm finally gonna give her justice. I think of this old guy or I think of this judge and he's like, leave me alone. I'm not giving you justice. I'm not giving you justice. I'm not giving you justice.

[13:15] And then finally she keeps coming, asking for justice and it finally happens. And the whole premise of that parable was God saying, look at this wicked judge who neither feared God nor respected man, as the text says, right?

[13:30] That's a pretty wicked person. Look at how much more God will give justice. How much more God loves us. So that is something that was very powerful.

[13:40] And then the friend at midnight was very similar in the sense of being, asking for assistance and being persistent in prayer, right? So we can think of how we seek God and asking for justice, for love, or sometimes for some of us we've asked for patience and we're still waiting for it, right?

[14:00] We think of these different things. But it's being persistent in our prayers. Just like how scripture tells us that we are to pray without ceasing. We are to continually to pray for others.

[14:14] And there's a few other ones that I haven't listed on here. These are the main patterns. For example, the children in the marketplace was the idea of in good times or in bad, respond and be a part of the community, right?

[14:29] There's certain ones in there that just we would be going on and on basically the entire thing. But these are the main patterns that we see. In other words, pursuing truth, receiving salvation, letting your light shine, knowing who Christ is and knowing the sheep, being in preparation for the final judgment, being in preparation for Christ's return, the importance of stewardship, knowing about the final sorting, right?

[14:57] And then also being persistent in prayer when you're seeking God. That's how we bring it all together. We now go to the next slide then is what can we learn? So we'll condense this even more so that we can understand this.

[15:10] An entire almost 40-week series, how do we condense that into something that we understand, right? What we can learn is from the seed to bearing fruit.

[15:20] That's the first point in here, right? And so it's a call for us to respond to the gospel, right? That let our hearts, let our soil be ready to receive not only the word, but salvation into our hearts.

[15:36] Some of you may know someone who has that sense of bitterness. You may know someone who has a hardened heart. Pray for them. Pray that their heart will be softened and be ready to make that decision for Christ, believing in the death, burial, and resurrection.

[15:54] But it's also, it's not only the fact about salvation though, it's the fact of the kingdom of God. When we're talking about that which is small, right? From the Jewish people, going all the way to salvation available for everyone.

[16:09] Just as I had mentioned many times throughout the series, the stone that knocks over the giant statue and grows into a mountain, very similar, just as the seed, right?

[16:21] It grows into a tree and it bears fruit. So not only can we think of this at an individual level, we can see how the kingdom of God is expanding. That is very powerful.

[16:33] That is very beautiful. And so, when you receive salvation, let God work in and through you. Be ready to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

[16:46] Let God stir your hearts as it were, much like how the Lord will do that, stir our hearts and convict us to become more like Him. So we have from the seed to bearing fruit.

[16:58] And I pray that all of you, first and foremost, believe in Jesus Christ. that you grow in Him and that you bear fruit. The second thing then is stewardship and counting the cost.

[17:11] I had talked so much about the idea of when we had our response stones, right? When you're thinking of counting the cost, it's the very notion, the language is casting your pebble, right?

[17:25] We can kind of think about that nowadays, about casting your vote, but I don't want to get too political here, right? But it's basically where are you going to put all your, what are you going to put your life in, so to speak, right?

[17:36] And so counting the cost, it's calculating, it's considering these kind of things, right? But also the fact when we think of stewardship, that we are to, everything that God has given to us, it's just like when scripture says, every good gift comes from above, right?

[17:51] The gifts that we are given, right? Our time, talent, treasure, our testimony, our very lives, we are to use and we are to discern, we are to steward our very lives in honor and glory to the Lord.

[18:05] Now, again, how you do that is very different from the one person to the next person to the next person. And so that's very, very important.

[18:16] And it's also important as we steward, right? As we're growing in faith, that our intentionality, us, just as we should all seek Christ and his salvation, we should continue to seek God and having him transform our lives, saying, I am ready, God, for you to mold me into who you want me to be.

[18:41] In other words, we think that, let us remember that discipleship is intentional, that our faith is built upon the solid rock and that we, we are to cast our pebble and let God work in and through us till the very end.

[19:00] And then finally, we have grace, compassion, and prayer. These are three things that we find throughout the parables here. That God seeks the lost.

[19:12] That God provides grace. God gives us this opportunity, this invitation for us to respond to him. salvation, newness of life, a new identity, God provides for all that we need.

[19:30] And as we are given, let us give back to God and let us be that light for others to see. And so, let us be like the good Samaritan.

[19:42] Let us be good neighbors, right? Just like, what is it, Mr. Rogers, won't you be my neighbor, right? We think about these kind of things. How we can be an example for others to see.

[19:54] Good neighbors who show mercy and kindness and compassion, love, grace, and the truth of Christ. All of these things. And let us also remember to, again, be persistent in prayer, be faithful to God in anticipation for his return.

[20:12] Now, here's the thing. We don't know the time when Christ will return. I know there's many books out there, many magazines and articles that'll say it'll happen at this moment or another moment, right?

[20:24] How many of you remember Y2K, right? The Y2K bug that'll wipe out everything, right? Other people said it was 2012 because of the Mayan calendar, right?

[20:37] We had that. It's almost like every year someone wants to make a lot of book sales saying when it'll happen. But how embarrassing it must be when you're proven wrong, right?

[20:50] But it's important for us that we wait in anticipation for Christ's return. We live as waiting for him, being faithful to God and to his word, living and loving like Christ for other people.

[21:09] And so, that's what we can learn when it comes to parables in the most simplistic of senses. And then finally, it goes into, then what can we do about this?

[21:20] How do we live with these parables? Something I did not put on here. Every parable is a way that you can minister to someone.

[21:32] Let me give you an example. There's the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. the Pharisee representing someone who's religious, who, the text says that he gave 10% of everything that he owned.

[21:48] On the surface, this man looked like he got everything under control, but yet Christ said that he is not justified. Well, what a way to minister to someone who is more focused on the rules and the rituals and the religion as opposed to the relationship.

[22:08] Does that make sense, church? Because it goes over to the tax collector. He goes in there and some scholars say he was in the outer courts. Some say he was in the Holy of Holies. We don't know specifically, but it says that he wouldn't lift his eyes towards heaven because when you go in there, you are going to pray with your arms open and lift your eyes towards heaven.

[22:28] But this man, he ends up banging on his chest saying, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. This man did not have it together. That parable is a way that you can minister to someone by sharing a simple truth to another person.

[22:46] That's just one parable. And we, as Christians, are to think of how can we minister to people by sharing in the power of parables. So, we still have these three things.

[22:59] I wanted to share that as something that's important for when it comes to sharing our faith with others. Well, the most important thing, right, receive the word, right? Christ being the word.

[23:11] Christ being the solid rock, the foundation. In other words, receive salvation. Let it take roots, grow in it, and produce fruits.

[23:24] Treasure the kingdom. Treasure what you have. Don't take it for granted. The very salvation that we have by you believing in Jesus Christ. The death, burial, and resurrection is the single greatest decision that you could make that not only affects your life here on the earth, but has eternal consequences.

[23:45] Okay? Us choosing what we're going to eat or dress or what college we're going to has no eternal significance compared to that of believing in Jesus Christ.

[23:57] Christ. So receive the word, receive Christ, and treasure what you have. I've always found it so wonderful. Some of you may identify, you may know someone who just became a Christian, and they're so excited.

[24:14] And they say things like, I know Jesus saved me. I know Jesus loves me. I know that my sins are forgiven. And you're like, man, I hope I never lose that enthusiasm.

[24:28] I want to be like that new believer who realizes the heaviness of the salvation they've received. May we never grow cold or bitter towards that. May we appreciate the treasure, the pearl of great price, the very word that we have received, the salvation that we hold dear.

[24:45] May we hang on to it. So ready your heart to respond to the gospel. Seek God, respond to the invitation, cast your stone, enter through the gates.

[24:55] All of this is very similar language. Believe in the Lord and be saved. Let go of the former life and the former things. Let God work in and through you.

[25:07] The second thing then is to steward your life and count the cost, right? Steward everything that you have. Do it. If God gives you everything, won't you give but a little bit back to him?

[25:23] That's, I remember learning that when I became a new Christian and I hated that. I'm like, what do you mean? But when you really think about it, write down every blessing that you have.

[25:35] Write down every gift that you have and just think for a moment. Take inventory of that. What can I give back to the Lord? So your time, talent, your treasure, your very life, your mina, follow in the footsteps of Christ and honor the King.

[25:49] It's just like when we've talked so much about parables, about this idea that we are to build upon the solid rock, right?

[25:59] We are to build our house. Or just like even how scripture says we are to have treasures in heaven. Let us be reminded that we are saved by grace through faith.

[26:11] We are not saved by what we do. We are saved by what has been done. We have been saved by grace through faith so that we can do good in the name of Christ.

[26:26] And that's very powerful. It can be convicting for sure. Build upon the rock and let God work in and through you. Journey with Christ in your spiritual walk.

[26:38] Be a hearer and a doer. Choose the rock over the sand as well. And then finally, practice love, mercy, prayer, and shine.

[26:49] Of course, there's other things. Speak the truth in love. Be an ambassador for Christ. There's so many different things in this. In other words, it's being Christ-like.

[27:00] It's considering how you speak to people. It's considering how you act, your words and your deeds, your words and your actions, but even your very presence life.

[27:13] When you are with someone, how are you exhibiting the light of Christ towards others? And we have these parables to help us to see examples.

[27:26] We think of putting our lamp on a stand and letting it shine. Let what you do point to the Father. Your very life can have such a profound impact on other people.

[27:40] From the everyday, the people we meet at the gas station, whether it's Shell or Maverick or whatever it is, wherever it is you go to get gas, right? Or wherever you shop, your co-workers, students that you know, different things you can exhibit the light, love, and truth.

[27:57] So this is part of what we found. Love, mercy, right? Prayer, and let your light shine. And so, be encouraged by all of this.

[28:08] That God is that Jesus Christ is the good shepherd. That Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Let us continue to grow and to make a greater impact for Christ.

[28:23] Let us consider the words we speak, the actions that we do for others. Now, granted, we're not going to be perfect, right? But we still continue to do the work for Christ.

[28:37] I want to go ahead and shift over for a moment, if we can put the revelation slide coming up. Now, in studying, preaching, and teaching the parables of Christ, this next week, we're having our 80th anniversary.

[28:59] The following week, on September 21st, we will be getting a new sermon series on revelation. The parable series was called Thy Kingdom Come.

[29:10] This is the continuation of this, Thy Will Be Done, the final parables of the kingdom going over revelation. The reason for this is because so much of the language in revelation can be understood by what we learn from parables.

[29:31] Let me give you a couple examples here. we had the ten virgins that were holding their lamps full of oil, right, representing the Holy Spirit, much like how we have the churches in revelation and their lampstands.

[29:53] Very similar language to what we have learned in parables. We also have the harvest and the city that there's so much about the final judgment and things that will happen.

[30:08] This is the continuation of that. We also have the unknown language where there's a lot of debate on the scrolls and the seals and the trumpets and the bowls.

[30:19] There's a lot of people asking which bowl means what, right? But a lot of that language is similar to God's plan for final judgment. I always found it very interesting when we look at the Old Testament and how when you have the story of Moses, right, and the people of God in Egypt and all of the plagues that happened, how they're almost exactly identical to the judgments in revelation.

[30:47] That's fascinating. Like a lot of that apocalyptic language that's happening goes right into what we see in revelation. We also have the lamb and the shepherd from revelation five, just like how there's the parable of the good shepherd who takes care of his sheep.

[31:09] Very similar in there. You also have the marriage supper and the white garments. That's interesting, right? Just like how we talked about the wedding feast and the great banquet and being in preparation for the return of the bridegroom.

[31:26] So many similarities in there. So we have that. We have the books open and the reward. We have the sickle and the throne talking about the separation, right?

[31:39] Talking about the final sorting of judgment, just like we talked about the sorting of the fish, the separation of the wheat and the tares, the sheep and the goats.

[31:51] We even have the, we talk about counterfeit rule, right? The dragon, the beast, the false prophet and the mark. And even the river and the tree of life.

[32:03] So many things are connected in there that we will go over. It should be about a 40 week, 40, 42 week sermon series going over revelation and we will see not only the connections within the parabolic language from the teachings of Christ, but also how revelation is connected with other things.

[32:24] We are not going to focus on the things that divide us because I realize, don't raise your hand here, I know revelation is one of the most debated on books.

[32:35] Pastor, what are you doing preaching revelation? Do you want to divide this church or not, right? You have different perspectives, amillennial versus premillennial versus postmillennial versus rapture versus no rapture versus is the mark of the beast the barcode, right?

[32:51] You have so many different things, right? Is the beast America? Is the beast Russia? It goes on and on. But what we are going to do is look at where are the patterns, where are the connections within scripture and what can we as Christians, as new believers, as existing Christians, how can we grow and view revelation as the final parable?

[33:18] That's why I put it, final parables of the kingdom because the apocalyptic language is very similar to parabolic language. And so I have to tell you as your pastor, I'm very excited to go over this series.

[33:33] It will be different. It won't be the typical, you know, the beast is, you know, the antichrist is so-and-so celebrity or so-and-so politician, right?

[33:43] We're not going to necessarily go into that, but what does it mean? What does the antichrist mean? What does the mark mean? What does it mean in scripture, for example, when it says, blessed is the man who washes his robe?

[33:59] What? I've got to wash my laundry and I'll be blessed and make them white? No. There's so much more than that, right? Or when we think of just all of this language, we can find a wonderful understanding for our growth and in our preparation for things that are to come.

[34:20] And so I hope that you guys will come to as we begin our revelation series in two weeks and what a great way to start after celebrating our 80th year. Amen?

[34:31] Amen. Well, let's go ahead and pray together and we'll go ahead and we'll close it out. Our final thing I want to say. Let us remember the patterns.

[34:42] When we find things that are interconnected with the Word of God, we consider the context. We've got to know what's going on in the surrounding verses. But we've also got to see where is this connected within the entire body of Scripture, right?

[34:58] The Bible, right? Meaning the library. Where else is it in the library? Where else is it found? We think about these kind of things and there, let us receive the Word, let us steward our life, let us practice being Christ-like.

[35:15] Let us let our light shine. And I'll read this final verse and we'll pray. Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out his treasure, what is new and what is old.

[35:29] Let us pray together. Father God, we thank you for this time and this opportunity for us to do this parable recap, this parabolic recap. We're just grateful for your Word.

[35:41] We're grateful for your Son, Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven, being born in a manger, living, teaching these parables, healing the sick, walking on water, even being raised from the dead.

[35:59] A fulfillment of prophecy. We're grateful for the salvation that you give to us. May we never be discouraged in taking that believing in you, making that decision to receive this free gift of salvation.

[36:15] Father, I pray for this congregation and I pray for all of those who are tuned in online. However many there are, we are grateful for all of the people that are here in this place, whether physically, digitally, or those who are traveling, wherever you are.

[36:32] We're grateful for all of them. Father, we're grateful for for your Son, for the Word. And we just pray that as we conclude finally and move on to our celebration of our 80th anniversary, may we consider how you have worked in this congregation, how you have worked in this city, the things that are happening today and even as we look forward to tomorrow.

[37:01] May we seek you and your word. May we become those ambassadors for Christ. May we be able to discern and be a light, holding your light, the light of Christ for others to see.

[37:18] May we be transformed and through you, may we transform others. We love you, we praise you, we glorify you, and we honor you.

[37:31] It is in the name of Jesus Christ that we pray and we all say together, amen. Amen. Thank you for listening for this week's message from Ontario Community Church.

[37:44] I pray that you are encouraged and strengthened in your walk with Christ. For more sermons and resources, visit OntarioCommunityChurch.org. May God bless you as you live out his grace and truth every single day.

[38:02] Thank you.