Last fall I I did five-part teaching about the Kingdom of God called “Enemies of the Soil”, where we’re the soil in the Parable of the Sower.

Here’s the video and the notes:

The kingdom multiplies all by itself

• 26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain — first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. – Mark 4

But there are the “enemies of our soul”

• “In Christian theology, the world, the flesh, and the devil have been singled out by sources from St Thomas Aquinas to the Council of Trent, as implacable enemies of the soul. – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_world,_the_flesh,_and_the_devil
• 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. – Ephesians 2

The parable of the sower

• 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” – Matthew 13

Jesus came to preach the kingdom

• From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17
• Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying,“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” – Mark 1:14-15
• “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” – Luke 4:43
• Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3

The kingdom is not of this world

• New Testament
  • receive (28x)
  • coming/near (18x)
  • enter (16x)
  • preach (11x)
• Not in the Bible
  • build the kingdom
  • grow the kingdom
  • extend the kingdom
  • advance the kingdom

1. Mine – The god of this age

As soon as you think something is yours, like your property, your responsibility, or your life, you’re not living in the kingdom, and you’re vulnerable to the god of this age.

• 28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” – Luke 18
• 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers – 2 Corinthians 4

2. Fear – The weapon of the devil

Once you think you have something, you’re naturally afraid of losing it. Fear is not of God. It is how Satan enslaves us.

• 16 God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. – 1 John 4
• 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. – Hebrews 2

3. Control – How the devil works

As soon as you’re afraid, you naturally try to control, like more rules, more supervision and more safety measures. God is not controlling, but it is the devil’s nature.

• 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5
• 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. – 2 Timothy 2

4. Lies – The father of lies

When you can’t control everything, the tendency is to cover things up, not tell the whole truth, or spin the story to protect ourselves. God is truth. Satan is a liar.

• 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14
• 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. – John 8

5. Blame – The accuser

When something leaks out, then someone gets blamed. God forgives. Satan accuses.

• 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. – Hebrews 8
• 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. – John 8
• 10 Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. – Revelation 12:10