WEBVTT 00:04.334 --> 00:11.025 [SPEAKER_00]: Continuing our week on Jesus' parables, we'll look today at the parable of the mustard seed. 00:11.966 --> 00:18.296 [SPEAKER_00]: As we take into this rich, beautiful parable, may our hearts and minds be enlightened. 00:19.338 --> 00:23.865 [SPEAKER_00]: Take a moment even now to ask God to give you fresh revelation. 00:25.207 --> 00:27.591 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 00:49.154 --> 00:54.883 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 13 verses 31 and 32. 00:56.365 --> 01:05.660 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says, the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and soared in his field. 01:06.922 --> 01:09.947 [SPEAKER_00]: It is the smallest of all seeds. 01:10.214 --> 01:21.484 [SPEAKER_00]: But when it has grown, it is larger than all of the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. 01:25.807 --> 01:30.511 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus tells a beautiful parable of the kingdom of God in Matthew 12. 01:31.792 --> 01:39.799 [SPEAKER_00]: He teaches the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and soared in his field. 01:40.910 --> 01:54.545 [SPEAKER_00]: It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is 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. 01:56.748 --> 02:10.123 [SPEAKER_00]: Trees are beautiful pictures of God's ability to take what we view as weak or insignificant, a seed, and make a magnificent and life-giving creation out of it. 02:11.048 --> 02:18.156 [SPEAKER_00]: Matthew 12 reveals how trees can be viewed as pictures of the very kingdom of their creator. 02:19.438 --> 02:29.870 [SPEAKER_00]: It's remarkable that God would begin His kingdom small and grow it by His faithful stewardship into a beautiful and life-giving creation. 02:31.973 --> 02:36.178 [SPEAKER_00]: God took the seed of the death of one man, Jesus. 02:36.378 --> 02:41.184 [SPEAKER_00]: to create a beautiful tree of salvation for all of humanity. 02:42.465 --> 03:04.731 [SPEAKER_00]: John 317 says, for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him, or Heavenly Father's wrath over sin, poured out on Jesus, allowed God to free the rest of us from eternal condemnation. 03:05.943 --> 03:20.000 [SPEAKER_00]: and through the seed of Jesus' death, God has been creating a powerful and eternal global movement, bringing people to restore relationship with himself across thousands of years. 03:21.542 --> 03:27.730 [SPEAKER_00]: Just as the mustard seed grows large enough to become a tree in which birds make their home. 03:28.631 --> 03:34.498 [SPEAKER_00]: The kingdom of God has transferred our citizenship to a new home with him. 03:35.643 --> 03:45.356 [SPEAKER_00]: Philippians 3, 20 says, but our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 03:47.038 --> 04:02.359 [SPEAKER_00]: John 15, 19 says, if you were of the world, the world would love you as a tone, but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 04:04.685 --> 04:16.382 [SPEAKER_00]: The kingdom of God established through Christ has saved us from slavery to this world and ransomed us back in a restored relationship with our heavenly Father. 04:18.104 --> 04:25.174 [SPEAKER_00]: Not only does the parable describe the incredible expanse of God's kingdom from a few to many. 04:25.357 --> 04:36.542 [SPEAKER_00]: It can also illustrate the seed of salvation planted within each of us that God intends to grow into a beautiful and fruit-bearing tree. 04:38.005 --> 04:43.517 [SPEAKER_00]: Luke 1721 says the kingdom of God is in the midst of you. 04:44.932 --> 04:49.416 [SPEAKER_00]: God's kingdom is not built of brick and mortar, but of human hearts. 04:50.618 --> 04:57.925 [SPEAKER_00]: In 1 Peter 2, 2 commands us, like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk. 04:58.565 --> 05:01.869 [SPEAKER_00]: That by it, you may grow up into salvation. 05:03.590 --> 05:06.773 [SPEAKER_00]: God's desire is to water the seed of salvation. 05:07.094 --> 05:10.517 [SPEAKER_00]: He's planted in us with the Spirit and the Word. 05:11.392 --> 05:22.163 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to mold and shape us into the likeness of Jesus, that we might live lives that bear incredible life-giving fruit. 05:22.183 --> 05:31.113 [SPEAKER_00]: Ozea, 14, verses 4 through 7, illustrates God's heart beautifully when it says, I will heal their apostasy. 05:31.774 --> 05:33.375 [SPEAKER_00]: I will love them freely. 05:33.395 --> 05:36.859 [SPEAKER_00]: For my anger has turned from them. 05:37.362 --> 05:39.564 [SPEAKER_00]: I will be like the dude is real. 05:40.365 --> 05:42.307 [SPEAKER_00]: He shall blossom like the lily. 05:43.188 --> 05:46.151 [SPEAKER_00]: He shall take root like the trees of Lebanon. 05:47.232 --> 05:49.414 [SPEAKER_00]: His shoots shall spread out. 05:50.355 --> 05:55.040 [SPEAKER_00]: His beauty shall be like the olive and his fragrance like Lebanon. 05:56.081 --> 05:59.184 [SPEAKER_00]: They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow. 06:00.045 --> 06:02.067 [SPEAKER_00]: They shall flourish like the grain. 06:02.868 --> 06:05.310 [SPEAKER_00]: They shall blossom like the vine. 06:05.881 --> 06:09.165 [SPEAKER_00]: Their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 06:12.168 --> 06:26.444 [SPEAKER_00]: God wants to constantly steward this gift of salvation in each of us, as He does with the global advancement of His kingdom, that we might bear the fruit of the Spirit in every area of our lives. 06:28.045 --> 06:30.488 [SPEAKER_00]: And God is so patient with us. 06:30.788 --> 06:33.150 [SPEAKER_00]: The earth illustrates his patience. 06:34.191 --> 06:40.118 [SPEAKER_00]: Trees grow here after year, season to season by his faithful stewardship. 06:41.239 --> 06:45.263 [SPEAKER_00]: Flowers never begin as beautiful as they are in full bloom. 06:46.484 --> 06:53.952 [SPEAKER_00]: The earth is constantly undergoing abundant transformation as God's creation grows and changes. 06:55.333 --> 06:57.235 [SPEAKER_00]: You and I are no different. 06:58.025 --> 07:03.371 [SPEAKER_00]: God's plan has always been to mold us into the beautiful pictures of his love. 07:04.533 --> 07:11.081 [SPEAKER_00]: He's always longed to fashion us until we walk in full restored relationship with him. 07:12.382 --> 07:18.750 [SPEAKER_00]: And by the life and death of Christ, he's paved the way for his desires to come to fruition. 07:19.625 --> 07:26.453 [SPEAKER_00]: All that's left is for us to engage fully in this wonderful process he's created for us. 07:27.695 --> 07:48.180 [SPEAKER_00]: Engage in the growth he longs to birth in you by spending time in his presence and his word, allow his gaze to transform you into his likeness, live in obedience to the word, and allow it to lead you to an unconfirmed life in this world. 07:49.460 --> 07:56.075 [SPEAKER_00]: follow the guidance of the Spirit as he brings healing to your heart and fruit in your life. 07:57.699 --> 08:06.338 [SPEAKER_00]: Spend time and prayer, allowing God to work in your heart today. 08:23.750 --> 08:51.985 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on God's desire to grow the seed of salvation He's planted within you. 08:53.146 --> 08:58.591 [SPEAKER_00]: Ozea 14 verses 4 through 7, I will heal their apostasy. 08:59.632 --> 09:03.355 [SPEAKER_00]: I will love them freely for my anger has turned from them. 09:04.636 --> 09:06.718 [SPEAKER_00]: I will be like the dude to Israel. 09:06.778 --> 09:09.821 [SPEAKER_00]: He shall blossom like the lily. 09:10.922 --> 09:17.088 [SPEAKER_00]: He shall take root like the trees of Lebanon and his fragrance like Lebanon. 09:18.269 --> 09:21.752 [SPEAKER_00]: They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow. 09:22.222 --> 09:24.185 [SPEAKER_00]: They shall flourish like the grain. 09:24.806 --> 09:26.849 [SPEAKER_00]: They shall blossom like the vine. 09:27.531 --> 09:47.082 [SPEAKER_00]: Their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 09:56.849 --> 10:19.614 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, where do you need growth in your own life? 10:21.075 --> 10:23.498 [SPEAKER_00]: Where do you need to bear more fruit? 10:56.840 --> 11:09.013 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, ask the Spirit to fill you a new today. 11:10.254 --> 11:16.982 [SPEAKER_00]: Be filled with the presence of God, and allow His love to mold and shape you into his likeness. 11:18.283 --> 11:22.948 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the Spirit to guide you into areas where He wants to grow you today. 11:24.008 --> 11:38.964 [SPEAKER_00]: 2 Corinthians 3, verses 18 and 19, and we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. 11:39.004 --> 11:47.653 [SPEAKER_00]: For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 11:56.155 --> 12:18.231 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 12:24.067 --> 12:31.596 [SPEAKER_00]: How great is God's love for us that He doesn't leave us where we are, but is always transforming us. 12:32.918 --> 12:39.206 [SPEAKER_00]: In the blink of an eye, God sees who we've been, who we are, and who we will be. 12:40.568 --> 12:46.075 [SPEAKER_00]: He knows your form, how He's created you, and what you were born to do. 12:46.115 --> 12:53.584 [SPEAKER_00]: The more time you spend allowing Him to transform you, the more you will understand yourself. 12:54.695 --> 13:00.661 [SPEAKER_00]: May you discover and engage with all that your Heavenly Father wants to do in you through His Love today. 13:15.395 --> 13:17.477 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 13:17.898 --> 13:20.280 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First 15. 13:20.547 --> 13:27.160 [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, look for opportunities to allow your faith to grow and produce fruit. 13:28.142 --> 13:31.549 [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe it will be believing for breakthrough in the life of another. 13:32.330 --> 13:38.843 [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe it will be asking for God to move in a supernatural way and truly believing that he will. 13:39.245 --> 13:50.743 [SPEAKER_00]: Whatever it is, practice faith today, and watch as that practice connects you to an increasing awareness of God moving in you, around you, and through you. 13:51.705 --> 13:56.072 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek Him.