8/13/10

Paint a picture of the kingdom

The kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by......Matt. 25:14

I love how even in Jesus seemingly connecting words there is a message.  The Kingdom CAN be illustrated.   So much emphasis is put on the fact that God can't be seen, but the truth is that God's kingdom CAN be illustrated so that we can see it.  3 pictures are painted in Matt 25 that give us great insight into what the kingdom looks like and how it operates, and who it encompasses from the 3 parables of the chapter.

1. The kingdom can be illustrated by those who are ready and have enough oil.

  • Those who look to Jesus as the source instead of men.  
  • The kingdom is illustrated by those who keep their eyes on the King.
2. the kingdom can be illustrated by the servants who invest and increase what they are given.
  • Using our God given gifts by investing in people and seeing them increase the kingdom for God.
  • It's never about how much you have, but what you do with what you have.
  • Those who do much will have more. That's the way of the kingdom.
3. The kingdom can be illustrated by those serving the least of these, the naked, the poor, the imprisoned.
  • Jesus identifies w/ the broken and hurting.
  • We serve Jesus when we serve the "lonely"
God sets the lonely in families, sets the prisoners free, and gives them great joy....Ps. 68:6

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