2819 Church - WISDOM AND WONDER | Power In Hidden Places | Matthew 13:31-33 | Arik Hayes

Episode Date: January 4, 2025

In Season 2, Episode 4 of “WISDOM & WONDER,” Elder Arik Hayes pours out the wisdom and heart of Jesus found in the pages of Matthew 13:31-33. Welcome to the official Youtube channel for 2819 Church. This channel features powerful and life-impacting messages from Philip Anthony Mitchell and guest communicators. As you listen to these sound biblical messages you can expect to be challenged, stirred, matured and inspired in your faith and walk with God. For more information about us visit 2819Church.org.

Welcome to 2819 Church. Amen. My name is Eric Hayes. I'm one of the elders here. Amen. One of two, the other one is Elder Milton James right there. I'll give it up for my other elder. Amen. it up for my other elder. We are a church that is a house of prayer, proclamation, and presence. Right now, I want to go and shout out our digital disciples, our online community. I just want to shout you out, whether you're watching live or you're actually going to come

back and watch the recording. I just want to shout youall. I tell you, we love you. We plan for you. We pray for you. We honor you. All right. And also I want to welcome the unbeliever. We want to be very, very intentional about that. Because we preach the gospel here and we're not going to make the assumption that as soon as you walk through the door that you already believe. Amen. But I don't want you to feel awkward. I want you to let you know that you can absolutely belong before you believe. Thank you, brother. I'm going to need that.

Amen? All right? And usually I do this honorable mention. He's not in the building. I get the honor of giving honor to the pastor, the senior pastor of this house.

It's ironic because, you know, when I came down here in 2015, you start to think we launched in 2012, right? I've grown. You actually married me, me and my wife, November 7, 2015. We now have had four children. Amen. So, my Lord, amen. And so I'm keenly aware more of the weight that sits on top of the shoulders of the pastor. And the husband.

And the father. And the father. And you're still a son. The Father has gone on to glory, we believe. You're still a brother. We know you're sisters. All these things happen simultaneously, beloved. We can't put either one of these down.

All of them are important. So, I always say it when you're not here. I want to say it to you. Thank you for keeping your hand. And sometimes you don't appreciate it until you wear a similar weight. You don't appreciate it until you wear a similar weight you don't appreciate it it's not to condemn you

but you just don't know until you wear a similar weight and I wear a similar weight and I'm just glad you're here today and I wanted to I wanted to glad you're here today and I wanted to I wanted to honor you okay pray for your pastor

yes pray for your pastor. Pray for his wife. Pray for his children. Pray for each other. Pray for your leaders. Hey, we could use the prayer. Yeah. And we are continuing in season two in a series that we call Wisdom and Wonder. You can have a seat.

I have the honor and privilege of delivering the fourth episode of this series to you. And the title we've given it is power in hidden places power in hidden places please allow me to pray for us a holy father you you know the heart of every believer you know the hearts of the unbeliever you know the circumstances that are on the minds of the people that have walked in here and those that are watching live and will watch the recording you have not missed one memo

you know the end from the beginning you are Alpha and Omega. God, sometimes we deal with what's in the middle called time. I pray God you would give a revelation on time today and how you sustain those that are involved in the plan

that you had from the very beginning for the scriptures say that the Lamb of God was slain before the very foundations of the world right now I ask that your Holy Spirit would not come because he's already here that you would permeate the hearts here that we could plant the seed of the word on the inside God and we would get a harvest I ask that you would till ground in the soul of man today by your spirit and your grace

it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Help us, Holy Ghost. So it's ironic that pastor is here because I mean, can I just be honest with you? Can I just share in some humanity this morning? what he just preached last Sunday was easily to me, and I told him this, the most impactful sermon I've ever heard him preach. Like, no cap. Like, that was my real, real honest opinion. And even before that, I've been saved since I was 17 years old so we over two decades

with the Lord by his grace in spite of me and I was enriched in my soul when he said exactly why and I haven't heard that preached until now that the parables were actually a judgment

that he wasn't just going to sit there and explain and use all that the parables were actually a judgment. That he wasn't just going to sit there and explain and use all his energy and preach to you, and you're going to sit there and talk about him and reject his knowledge, and you think you're still going to get that same access to him. Right? And then I realized it was a judgment against those, but it was a judgment for us.

That the truth that's in the scriptures was hitting from them but for us and I don't know about you but it actually gave me it made me lean in a little more because I realized it was exclusive to the kingdom of God and the believers So that means it's for me, so I should not leave that on the table. Okay? So with that being said, I have a very short assignment this morning. There's only three verses.

Okay? And in my humanity, can I talk about being human? I was like, my humanity. I got right in my past, my humanity, right? I was like, how am I supposed to come behind that? I'm talking about my humanity. I know you don't deal with stuff like this. With three verses where Jesus doesn't do a lot of explaining.

This ain't the shepherd on the mountain. He blessed all ye, blessed all ye, blessed all ye. This ain't the son went on the mountain. He blessed all ye, blessed all ye, blessed all ye. And he's just talking. He just came and jumped in with the judgment and went on about his business. Okay. All right. So with that, I want to jump right into the scriptures. Let's go ahead and put up Matthew 13 chapter.

31st verse. And speaking of Jesus, it says, he says he put another parable before them as a judgment. It says the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. Verse 32, it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is larger than all the garden plants, and it actually becomes a tree. So that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. Okay? Now, I've been in church a little bit.

Some of you have not. We're going to meet in the middle, right? So when I heard grain of a mustard seed, it gave me this reference, right? Go ahead and put it in Matthew 17, 20 for me. All right? I love to hear the pages turning. I know we're a digital society, but I love the fact that pages are turning. It's something about the feel of a book. I'm old school.

I got like a library. Matter of fact, Brandon's actually building me another shelf right now because I got more books and I got a place to put it. It's something about the pages turning. Amen. But the word of God is good in both formats. All right. It says in 1720, excuse me, he said to them, this is Jesus speaking, because of your little faith, he was talking to the disciples.

For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. Same reference, grain of a mustard seed. I got a bone to pick, small bone to pick with some of my brothers and sisters that minister the gospel. A lot of time, we take that, and we go straight in.

Hey, with the mountains of your life, God will move them. And that is true. But if you look at it, Jesus says, this mountain. That's why I love the recording of the scriptures. That means he was referencing an actual mountain. Nah, nah. No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no.

An actual mountain. He was sitting there and he said, if you will say to this mountain, go from here and to there, it will do it and nothing will be impossible to you. Now that, my love, is power. And what we do is we undermine the scriptures

by not saying what it says and try to apply it as something a little more easier or easier for you to digest. Jesus was not interested in doing that. Faith. Faith. Small. Grain of a mustard seed.

Kingdom, seed, grain of a mustard seed. I'm going to jump ahead here. Could it be that we're underestimating the power of the things that God has given us. Could it be? Listen, I'm with it. God, give me more of you. God, give me more of you. God, give me more of you.

With it, I'm saying I love the relational aspect of God. But listen, he's already given us the gospel. He's already given us the gospel. He's already given us the kingdom. So speaking of the seed in the parable, the seed was in fact the smallest of the garden seeds known. Now orchid seeds, those smaller were unknown in that part of the world. So God wouldn't use, Jesus wouldn't use that example in front of them. He used the one that was in front of them so they could actually understand it.

Though its seed is so small, a mustard plant actually grows to a height of 12 to 15 feet. I was thinking about giving you a picture and putting it over there. That picture would do you no good. It would have been a white background there because you cannot see it. The smallest of seeds grows into a tree.

Now, as we already said, Jesus did not directly interpret this parable. However, we take its meaning to be that maybe the sphere of influence with the kingdom, the followers, which Jesus mentions in the second parable, would have a small beginning, but will go rapidly in a large entity. You know that to be so. Many of you answered the call to God at an altar call here or somewhere at another church. And it was a small beginning. I want to speak to those that don't necessarily believe that you accepted Christ because it's not going as quickly as you want it to go. All right, I'm gonna come it to go. All right, I'm going to come back to that.

All right. Matthew 13, chapter 33, verse. It's the last verse in the assignment. All right. He told them another parable. He said, the kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour. So all was leaven. All All right? Now, also, I've been in church for a while, so if you thought something, I want to be able to talk about that.

How many of you heard leaven and automatically thought something bad? All right? That would make sense because in all of the references, it is something that's bad. As a matter of fact, let's go to... It's Matthew 16, 12. Are we good on the mic there? Amen. All right. It says says in the meantime just jesus speaking to the disciples when so many thousands of the people that had gathered together that they were trampling one another so they're in the crowd of oppress he meaning jesus began to say to his disciples first beware of the leaven of the pharisees which is hypocrisy all right meaning take heed and beware of the leaven of the pharisees is hypocrisy. All right? Meaning, take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

And after the preceding conflict with the religious leaders, Jesus gave that warning to his disciples using the metaphor of leaven. So I just want to make sure we're not talking about that. We're actually talking about a righteous leaven. Okay? All right? And I want to make sure we're just not talking about something that you would feed your family. All right?

We're talking about three measures. That's about 60 pounds. And about four pounds of leaven. And when it gets finished, I was looking up, we're talking about 150 pounds of bread. We're just not talking about one little meal. Right's why jesus used us in the parable 150 pounds of bread i'm thinking we can feed everybody in here and then some over but it has power to affect the whole batch

of bread both parables are about growth of the kingdom and the work in the hearts of men causing people and even societies to rise are about growth of the kingdom and the work in the hearts of men. Causing people and even societies to rise. Things are going to get better. I just want to come to one point. Even with the amazing power sometimes,

things in the kingdom take time. It takes time. The full expression of the kingdom does not happen overnight. Why do I keep nailing that home? Because a lot of times we want a miracle. And a miracle is God's power compressed in a short amount of time. Lay hands on the sick,

they're healed instantly sometimes. Sometimes it takes time. Lay hands on the blind man, we healed instantly. Sometimes it takes time. Lay hands on the blind, man. We've seen where it was done immediately. That is a miracle. It's the power of God. But oh, how we often discount the power of God that's stretched over decades. Isn't that what's happening in your life you're still struggling with something but you're not struggling with everything at the same

intensity over time so because that's so it's very easy and we don't understand the truth of the word of God for the enemy to come in and, it's not working. Just because you have a thorn in your side doesn't mean you're not moving in sanctification. I'm preaching good. I'm preaching good. And I come to encourage you this morning that even though it is taking time, some of the elders we've been saying for decades. Did we want it to go faster? Yes. Did we want a to go faster? Yes.

Did we want a deliverance miracle? Yes. A lot of us have seen some, but he does not miraculously deliver us from every sin and every circumstance in an instant. And we cannot discount that still being the power of God. Because you have been sustained in the middle. And even with discipleship. Because we've doubled down on that. 28, 19.

It's important to note that some plant, some water, but God brings the increase. I'm going to say that again. It's some plant, some water, but God brings the increase. In discipleship, we don't make people mature. Wouldn't we have done it already? Wouldn't you have worked that miracle on your own self? It would be already done. I'll be sitting here white, as angelic.

I will have a halo over my head, just like Jesus. I will walk in and the glory will shine I have to wait for my glorified body but it's coming okay I want to take some of the pressure off of those you actually some of you actually preaching the gospel and sharing the scripture with people and it looks like nothing is happening but I need you to know that inherent in the word of God inherent in the gospel inherent in the kingdom is power to change the souls of man and it's always been that way speaking of that give me a Romans 116 hopefully you got that note

all right for the sake of time it says for i am not ashamed this is paul speaking of the gospel for it is the power of god for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek right I want to read it a little differently with a little emphasis on what I want to land on okay for I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek. It is the power of God. What? The gospel, the message of the gospel. So I've been trying to spend more time with the leaders of the squad. So I jumped on a call and I think I made them a little nervous. I didn't mean to, right? And I just said out of nowhere, I was like, hey, hey, who can explain the gospel, right? Which is a little nerve-wracking as your

elder. I'm not even like that, but if you look at me like that, you're going to be nervous, right? So some of them was just like... Now, I believe all of them knew the gospel right but but when it came to them explaining it they were a little nervous and a little shy right right because because this is how we treat the gospel we treat the gospel the power of god and the gospel is powerful depending on who actually says it this is why the average plan even if you don't say it out loud of the average churchgoer across the u.s is say hey come to church with me in the event that we're going to sit down next to each other and the man of god is going to say something that's going to change your life but that is not the design of God that is not the design of God he

saved you is cleaning you and sitting you out there with the power in your soul call the gospel to change the lives of the men and women only what you say was it's powerful when elders say no it's powerful because the word of God says it's true and Jesus died to give it power all you gotta do is believe it we got to stop this superstar nonsense beloved you don't see it like this but you put all the pressure on one person that's part of the weight we're feeling up here we gotta get it right

because ain't nobody else gonna preach the gospel to them so we gotta get it right and dot our I's, cross our T's and get them knowing all now listen, we wanna be clean before God. We want to handle the pulpit with care and grace. I'm not saying we come here to get reckless. But the design of the kingdom is to have thousands of preachers.

And you only got to perfect one son not a lot just one son said God was with man in the garden walking with the cool of the day there was a breach and sin and man fell away

from God and all throughout the Old Testament God would make covenants and we would break it he will make companies to be a break he would reach out we would slap his hand away disrespectfully but God had a plan of salvation to send the son of God down through 42 generations to be born of a virgin Mary. I feel good already. Raised as a man in the likeness of sinful flesh,

not sinful flesh. Had a miraculous ministry between 30 and 33 where the Holy Spirit came and rested on him. And God said, this son, I am well pleased. Did miracles, signs and wonders.

So it was his time to fulfill his assignment. Went to the cross. Can I back up? Can I take my time for a second? We skip over the whipping post. Come on, sir. Come on, sir.

Before he got to the cross, the whipping post. Cat of nine tails. He was laid over back there hit for healing for you and me over and over again by his stripes we were healed that doesn't take for and take place on the cross that's's the whipping post. Don't skip over the sacrifice at the whipping post. Then carried a cross to cross. I was looking up and said it was about

some guy archaeologist looked and said it was about 165 pounds. Right? So a buck 35 is a regular weightlifting bar with 45s on the end it was heavier than that after you've been beaten went to the cross nails died buried in a tomb on the third day. Thank you, Lord.

Aren't you glad that the stone was rolled away? They went looking for him and the stone was rolled away. Was in his glorified body. Appeared to over 500 people. Talked to disciples, ascended to glory and now sits on the right hand side

of the father. And those that believe in him are now seated in him. And believe on him, have everlasting life. Thanks, Trey. I need to look at that more. I got caught up in the preaching. How many of you can memorize that? Or stumble through that?

Or open up your Bible and read that. And can I say something? This is what I love about the kingdom. You have evidence in the sense of, doesn't it do something

for your spirit man even though you're already saved and you hear it again? The kingdom is still getting more real estate of the souls of man I would encourage you again who sits there and watches a tree grow

no one but if you come back after some years, every year it gets another ring and another ring and another ring and it grows and it grows and it grows. That's why we preach discipleship, not Christianity. Because if you continue to come and hear the word of God and apply the word of God and worship him and let his spirit do his work on the inside of you,

you, just like the tree of the kingdom, will grow. Just because it's slow doesn't mean that the power of God is not at work. Amen. Amen. Put up Isaiah 9-7 for me. One of my favorite verses and one of my favorite books. I actually named my son, his middle name is Isaiah because I love this book so much.

Right? 9-7. It says, of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end. On the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. Say forevermore. Forevermore. That means it's still growing. From hundreds of years before he showed up on the scene, speaking of Jesus, this is a prophecy of Christ.

And thousands of years after he died. It shall know no end. Don't you ever think that God ain't working. I don't care how dark it looks. I'm not trying to get into politics, but some of y'all do not want a certain presidential candidate to win. Because you think it's all going to go down. No. The government does not rest on any political candidate's shoulders.

It rests on the shoulders of Christ himself. Acts 17.6. And we're actually talking about Paul and Silas in Thessalonica and the context is Paul and Silas were there and he had some brothers and the Jews were jealous and this is what they did and they could not find them talking about Paul and Silas they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities shouting these men who have turned the world upside down have come here also. This is just Acts.

And the world was already turned upside down because of the gospel and the kingdom. But God was not just interested in one generation. And I'm so glad about it. Look at it. I know Christianity gets a bad rap, but we are still permeating the whole globe. We support ministries in a ministry in Madagascar. There are people in Russia. There are people in Islamic countries underground.

I know it's not going to make the headlines. Our kingdom doesn't rest on the headlines. It's still building right now by the power of the Holy Ghost and the obedience of the disciples. Because Christianity ain't trying to get disciples. The body of Christ is. You know, I say Christianity,

I'm talking about really churchy, that's what I say. Right? Just come and sit in church, having an assemblance of Christianity, but no real power. he put glory in our hearts Jesus put glory in our hearts anybody just want to just take a second and think about what your heart looked like

somebody already did it don't take long for me just take a second and think about what your heart looked like. Somebody already did. It don't take long for me. I still have wickedness that runs through my heart that I don't like. But think about before the Holy Spirit started to influence your heart. Think about how dark and wicked and selfish that was. You have evidence that God is moving. Don't you think about people more? Don't you think about prayer more?

Aren't you attracted to things of the spirit? The kingdom and the gospel is still moving. Frank, I'm closing. Give me my last verse Philippians first chapter third through sixth verse this is Paul speaking and he said I thank God in all my remembrance of you

always in every prayer of mine, for you are all making my prayer, for you all making my prayer with joy. Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I want to land on verse 6.

Paul says, and I am sure of this. I am sure of this. I am sure of this. That he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. And I'm going to tell you, that gave me immense joy when I was doing sermon prep in my garage and I got a little excited because some of you

you know that Jesus began to work but you're really low key depending on yourself to complete it. And it gives you angst. And it gives you worry. And you lay down in condemnation.

And some of you may even want to give up on the gospel. But Paul says, I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. And if I had to depend on myself, maybe because you feel like you may need to depend on yourself, we have good reason to worry. Good reason to have angst and stress. But the same one who holds the government on his

shoulders that was prophesied in Isaiah, the same one that spoke these parables in Matthew 13, is the same one who orchestrated the plan that Paul was talking about in that verse. He's going to bring it to pass.

Listen, salvation was not your idea. You didn't come up with the plan. Why do you feel like you got to come up with the plan to finish it? This is why our worship of God and worship of God and honoring the Father through the son is so serious. He is the cornerstone. I didn't know y'all were even singing that today. He is the cornerstone upon which we build all of our godly activities on. Because he is the one that will bring it to pass.

Y'all with me, beloved? Let me pray for you. Holy Father, I thank you for even what you did with this outline. I didn't see it. I thank you that even the preacher needs to learn how to depend on you more. And I thank you for being faithful even when we are not. God, I pray, God,

that those that are listening, that we would continue to get a revelation on the things, the powerful things that you've already given us that are in our hands. Speaking specifically of the kingdom and the gospel.

I pray we just continue to work out our salvation with us so that we can meet you in glory. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Amen.