KINGDOM TREASURE: A Little Can Be a Lot 3-10-24

KINGDOM TREASURE: A Little Can Be a Lot 3-10-24

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Last week, we discovered that the Kingdom of God is like a treasure that is buried in a field. When a man found it, he sold everything he had to have it. The Kingdom of God is worth any price, and it is a sacrifice we must make to experience a full life. Today we are discovering a new Kingdom treasure that reveals more of what God has for us.

 

Little things can make a big difference.

 

Story: In October 10, 1871, it had been a season of dryness. Little rain in sometime. The little buildings were small little WOODEN buildings. A little couple named Patrick and Catherine O’Leary lived in their little house. The little lady got up early that morning. She got a little match and she lit a little oil lamp. Later she went out to the little barn to milk their little Jersey cow. There was a little wind blowing that morning. She got a little hay and placed it in front of the little cow to milk. The cow got excited and knocked the little dim lamp over and the little fire from the little lamp caught the little hay of fire. Quickly the little fire ignited the little barn, the wind carried the fire to their little house. 

 

The fire burned from Oct. 8 to Oct 10 out of control. 17,000 buildings were destroyed, 300+ people died, 100,000 people were left homeless. The fire burned a four mile long and one mile wide area of Chicago. 

 

Finally a little rain came blowing in and the rain helped the firefighters in their effort. Looting and lawlessness broke out and martial law was declared and many companies of soldiers were called to duty to establish control again. Today the Chicago Fire Department has a training academy on the property where all the little things came together at once.

 

The truth is that just because something is small does not mean that it cannot make a big difference.

 

”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.”“

        Matthew 13:33 NIV

 

Jesus steps into the kitchen for this parable and compares the Kingdom of God to leaven or yeast that a baker uses in baking bread. In the story, a woman has 60 pounds of flour that she adds yeast to. Now, even with such a large amount of flour, the amount of yeast that would be added would be tiny in comparison. This is because yeast is a fermenting agent that is added to help the dough increase and grow. A small bit of yeast spreads throughout the dough. Too much and the dough won’t rise correctly. A little bit goes a long way.

 

Let us pray.

 

I.  A LITTLE OF GOD’S POWER CAN DO BIG THINGS

 

         A.  Small beginnings 

                  1.  Abram and his family

                      2.  A baby saves humanity

                      3.  12 apostles change the world

 

Story: Coca-cola is one product that has far outgrown its humble beginnings. In 1886, Pharmacist Dr. John Pemberton first introduced Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. The pharmacist concocted a caramel-colored syrup in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard. He first "distributed" Coca-Cola by carrying it in a jug down the street to Jacobs Pharmacy. Almost 140 years later, surveys show that 97% of the world has heard of Coca-Cola. 72% of the world has seen a can of Coca-Cola. 51% of the world has tasted a can of Coca-Cola. YOU KNOW WHY? All due to the fact that the Coca-Cola Company made a commitment years ago that every one on the planet would have a taste of their soft drink.

 

           B.  Big results

                      1.  God grows things

                      2.  God provides

 

”Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”“

           John 6:1-14 NIV

 

                                 a.  A boys lunch becomes a feast.

                        b.  Everyone was filled.

                               c.  There were baskets of leftovers.

 

II.  KINGDOM POWER MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

 

“With God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26b NIV

 

           A.  God can do anything.

                 1.  Change your life.

                    2.  Make you a difference maker.

                 3.  Change your world.

 

          B.  Faith makes all things possible.

 

“Everything is possible for one who believes.”

           Mark 9:23b NIV

 

                      1.  It is not our belief.

                      2.  It is our Father.

 

Story: There is a story told in the book Holy Sweat by Jim Hansel about trust between a father and son. One day, while a man and his son, Zac, were out in the country climbing around some cliffs, the man was caught off guard. He heard a voice from above him yell, "Hey Dad! Catch me!" He turned around to see Zac joyfully jumping off a rock straight at him. He had jumped and then yelled, "Hey Dad!" The father became an instant circus act, catching him in mid-air. They both fell to the ground without incident. For a moment after the man caught the boy, he could hardly talk.  

 

When he found his voice again, he gasped in exasperation: "Zac! Can you give me one good reason why you did that?" The boy responded with remarkable calmness: "Sure...because you're my Dad." His whole assurance was based on the fact that his father was trustworthy. He could live life to the hilt, because his father could be trusted.

 

III.  DON’T UNDERESTIMATE GOD

 

           A.  God can out do your imagination.

 

”Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.“

      Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

 

           B.  God can do more through you than you can imagine.

 

”Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.“

           1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

 

“There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.”

           Kurt Hahn

 

                    1.  Stand firm.

                      2.  Let nothing move you.

                      3.  Give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.

                     4.  Trust that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

 

“Small kindnesses, small courtesies, small considerations, habitually practiced in our social intercourse, give a greater charm to the character than the display of great talent and accomplishments."

           M. A. Kelty

 

CONCLUSION

 

A little of God’s power can do big things.  Kingdom power makes all the difference.  Don’t underestimate God.

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.