Wk 1 we are to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Wk 2 Most will not accept the kingdom. Like the good soil, we have to be receptive and obedient God's word. Wk 3 This is a time of God's grace and patience, but it will come to an end with a time of separation of those who do not follow Christ. Wk 4 The Kingdom of heaven is destined to advance. Matthew 13:31-32 the parable of the mustard seed The mustard seed is like a tiny speck- the smallest seed a farmer would plant. But it would grow to be the largest plant in the garden, growing to 10 or 15 ft high. Matthew 13:33-35 the parable of the yeast Usually yeast is portrayed as representing sin in the Scriptures because of the way it decomposes the dough and a small amount permeates throughout. But it is used here to show that the kingdom of God starts small, but grows to affect the whole world. This was not the first time that God's kingdom was prophesied to advance from small and insignificant to huge growth. In the Neo-Babylonian empire, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. He was so upset with it that he called his wisest advisors to interpret it, but he wanted to be sure that the interpretation was true, so he told them to tell him his dream first and then to give the interpretation - or he would have them killed. Daniel was a Jew, a captive from Judah. He prayed and God revealed Nebuchadnezzar's dream and the interpretation. Daniel 2:31-35 The meaning of the dream is a vision of five earthly kingdoms that would rule their world. [show picture] Head of gold - the Babylonians Chest of silver - the Medes and Persians The waist and thighs of bronze - the Greeks The legs of iron - the Romans The feet of iron and clay - a restored Roman Empire in the end times that will be crushed by God's Kingdom The stone not cut by human hands is the kingdom of God. It started small but crushed the statue - the kingdoms of men - and grew to the size of a mountain. Two points of application: 1) God's kingdom is destined to advance. We feel like we're the underdogs, like we're in retreat as our society walks further away from God. But God loves to start with something small and insignificant so that he can show that it grew and advanced by His power. Slaves in Egypt escaped a powerful nation - and plundered them - why? Because God fought for them. David was a boy when he came to a battle where warriors were afraid to face Goliath and he said, this man defies the God of Israel, I will fight him. Why? Because God fought for him. "Jesus grew up in a backwards province of a conquered people to poor parents; He taught for three years in neighboring villages, and occasionally at Jerusalem; His followers were mostly the poor and uneducated; then he fell into the hands of his enemies, and died the shameful death of the cross; That is how kingdom of God began - but it would advance to world-wide influence. Ultimately, the kingdom of will outlast all earthly kingdoms, all philosophies, all societies, all religions. Are we defeated? No, God's kingdom is destined to advance - God will work to advance his kingdom. 2) The kingdom of God advances around us as we let it advance within us. You want your kids to follow Jesus? You follow Jesus everyday, more and more. Your coworkers need the kingdom of God in their lives? You take hold of the kingdom. Matthew 11:13 The Kingdom of Heaven advances into this world with conflict. There are forces of evil which oppose God’s word and His work. But God’s Kingdom is also coming with power and many people are being freed from the power of Satan as they take hold of the good news of Jesus Christ.