Sunday, March 18, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Kingdom Secrets 3: The Story of Starting Small and Growing Large
INTRODUCTION: TURN TO MARK 4:30
As we consider how to live as members of God’s Kingdom, it’s vital that we see the simplicity of it. This isn’t rocket science.
In each of the three parables we are looking at, we’ve heard Jesus use something ORGANIC to illustrate how God’s Kingdom works. THINGS happen when we simply decide to allow the power of God’s Word to impact our lives, heal our hearts and change our way of living!
In the parable of the seed and the soils – A harvest comes when the Gospel is planted in receptive hearts.
In the parable of the seed growing on it’s own – we see that God’s word creates life where there was no life!
And today – in the parable of the mustard seed – we see that when we start small and die to self, following the ways of Christ, great things can happen!
THE NATURE OF GOD’S KINGDOM IS ORGANIC
“Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32
I. Kingdom Secret: START SMALL & EXPECT BIG RESULTS (v. 31-32a)
“It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”
Mustard seeds aren’t really the smallest seed. But they are small. This is a figure of speech.
What’s the point that Jesus is making? Small things can become big.
And here’s the point for us: It doesn’t matter where you are at right now in your life – it doesn’t matter how much you do or do not know about the Bible. It doesn’t matter how mature you are right now as a Christian – start where you are.
Jesus teaches us this principle in Mark 12:42-44…
“But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on.”” Mark 12:42-44
Someone has said: “God isn’t interested in your abilities, but in your availability.”
If you are willing to start small, God can do big things.
“The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Luke 17:5, 6
It’s not about US – it’s about HIM.
When the Holy Spirit came to tell Mary that she was going to have a child – even though she was a virgin, he said to her:
“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
Tiny seeds become great plants. Small lives become abundant. And God is the key to it all!
But the question is this: Do you EXPECT God to do great things? Regardless of where you are at today – you can change yoru life forever by changing your expectations. If you DO NOT EXPECT God to do anything – you won’t be able to see it when He does! But, when we SPEAK FAITH and PRAY BELIEVING – we will see the hand of God at work in power! Plain and simple. Start small and expect big things!
II. Kingdom Secret: LET CHRIST’S LIFE BE MULTIPLIED IN YOUR LIFE (v. 32b)
“…with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”
The power of God multiplies the seed and produces a large bush that even birds can enjoy.
Your life – and mine – given over to Christ – can produce something wonderful. And in order to do so, we must let Christ’s life be multiplied in ours.
How?
ß Know what Jesus knows
ß Go where Jesus goes
ß Do what Jesus does.
If you seek to know God’s plans, you’ll know His plans
If you are willing to go where Jesus goes – He’ll lead you
And if you are willing to do what Jesus did – He’ll empower you to do so!
What made the early church grow so rapidly? They became ‘little Christ’s’ in their world. They knew God’s will. They went to people and places that Jesus went to. And they did what Jesus did.
How? Through the power of the Holy Spirit.
ß Are you full of His Spirit?
ß Are you walking in His power?
ß Are you hearing His voice?
These are absolutely vital to living as a member of God’s kingdom.
Let’s look at the third point:
III. Kingdom Secret: MULTIPLICATION REQUIRES DEATH (v. 31)
“It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted…”
In order for a mustard plant to grow, the mustard seed has to die. It goes into the ground and never comes up again.
Jesus said:
“I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12:24-26
This is the nature of things. Just try to hang on to your life – try to control things – and you’ll soon discover how impossible life can be. But – let go. Turn over control to the One who made you and who loves you, serve His agenda – and follow His plans and things will turn around for you. In fact, Jesus says: “My Father will honor the one who serves me…”
But how do we die to self?
1. Confession
2. Repentance
3. Obedience
There is simply no getting around any of these.
ß Confession keeps you honest.
ß Repentance gets you back on track.
ß Obedience leads to abundant life.
If you skip confession – you aren’t dealing straight up with your issues and you won’t feel close to God. There will always be a distance between you.
If you skip repentance – you’ll keep headed in the same direction – towards destruction.
And if you skip obedience, than Christ isn’t Lord of your life and you really are ‘on your own.’
But – what’s the goal of the Christian life? Isn’t it to life and die for the sake of God’s Kingdom?
The Christians of the first century were willing to give up everything this world had to offer – including their very own lives – for the sake of the Gospel - and the results were that the entire known world was reached for Christ!
Every era in church history where Christians counted their lives as expendable for the sake of Christ, has seen extraordinary gains for the Gospel.
I want you to know about HEIDI AND ROLLAND BAKER – Missionaries to Mozambique: Here’s a portion of their story from their website: (irismin.org)
In 1995, after twenty years of praying and waiting, the Baker’s arrived in Mozambique, the poorest country in the world. The government offered Iris Ministries a horribly delapidated and neglected "orphanage," and with no promised support such a project they simply said, "Yes, we'll take it!" They began with eighty children, but their hearts were broken for the lost and abandoned children still on the streets of Maputo. After many years of brutal civil war, thousands left orphaned, displaced and abandoned. The Mozambican and foreign staff of Iris Ministries began to pick up and take in these lost children. God poured down his love and provided food day by day. They grew to 320 children. They planted a church in the community and began to see hundreds turn their hearts to the Lord.
The former communist directors of the government orphanage were furious ever since the Bakers took over, since their extreme corruption and thievery had been stopped. Scheming together with an equally corrupt faction of the government, they concocted accusations and issued a legal decree to Iris Ministries forbidding prayer and worship, Christian singing, etc., and all forms of "unapproved" food and clothes distribution and medical assistance. If they and their children did not obey these new rules, they all had forty-eight hours to leave. Heidi was also told that there was a contract out on her life, and that she was not allowed back on the property. Overwhelmed and exhausted by the fight, they had to evacuate to their office in the city.
At the center the children entered the dining room, which had also been used as a church, and began singing praise and worship songs at the tops of their lungs! They were beaten and told they were not allowed to worship God! One-by-one they began to walk the twenty miles to the city office. They told Papa Rolland and Mama Aida that they would go wherever they were because they wanted to worship God! Not knowing what to do, they all cried out to God in total desperation. They had lost everything. There was no place for them to go. There was not even a pot to cook for all these children! A friend, Nelda Lawrence from the U.S. Embassy, came over with some chili and rice for the Baker family. Heidi said, "We have a very large family!" Nelda said, "No, no this is only for you and your two children." Heidi said, "We have a lot of children and the Lord said there would always be enough!" They prayed over the pots of food and told the over fifty children to sit down. Everyone ate and was full, including the Bakers!
Two other missions, hearing of the situation, offered the use of some unused buildings for three months. As the time ended the Lord graciously provided a piece of land. The children prayed and interceded with the whole staff and believed God for another miracle. Like always God came through and provided a huge circus tent and some used army tents in which the children could live. Holes were dug for toilets and everyone prayed for months for water from the earth (a well) and spiritual water from heaven (more of the Holy Spirit). God answered both prayers and provided a well with clean, fresh water, and poured his Holy Spirit out on the children in a powerful way. Through the trials all have grown stronger in the Lord. The greatest joy for the whole center is that they are now free to worship God.
The challenges of providing physically and spiritually for so many children under unspeakable conditions of poverty and evil are being met in Jesus. Time after time as discouragement and exhaustion have threatened to collapse the entire ministry effort in Mozambique, the Holy Spirit has poured out more grace and mercy on the ministry.
[Since this background article was written, Iris Ministries has expanded to over 5,000 churches all over Mozambique and into neighboring countries. The disastrous flooding of 2000/2001 catalyzed an overwhelming hunger for the things of God in the refugee camps where we ministered, and the Gospel continues to spread like wildfire. We now care for almost 2,000 children at our centers, and our churches are taking in orphans as well. Jesus is revealing Himself through signs and wonders, visions and dreams, and we have never seen such a harvest before us. May the Lord of the harvest send us workers!]
SO – WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE US TODAY?
What is God saying to you?
Monday, March 12, 2007
The Mystery of How it all Grows
INTRODUCTION: Turn to Mark 4:26
“We aren’t PHYSICAL PEOPLE having a SPIRITUAL experience. We are SPIRITUAL people having a PHYSICAL experience!”
This is our true nature – we are people of the Spirit of God.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
Given that we are members of God’s Kingdom – we need to know how to live as members of God’s Kingdom.
What are the SECRETS of the Kingdom of God?
Last week – in the Parable of the Seed and Soils – we discovered that:
KS 1: The Seed of God’s Word – Christ – can turn any life into a fruitful life!
And today – we are going to see this:
KS 2: The Seed of God’s Word – Christ – grows on it’s own!
“He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn--first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29
Now – let’s go through these words of Jesus – line by line – and gather the gold! But – again, like last week, we need a spirit of revelation to come upon us that we might move past the OBVIOUS and experience the secrets of the Kingdom.
PRAYER FOR REVELATION
“He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.” V. 26
1. GOD’S KINGDOM INCLUDES HUMAN INVOLVEMENT.
We get to scatter the seed. In fact, this is our responsibility and privilege.
How do we scatter the seed of Christ?
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” John 13:35
ß Love each other.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
ß Care for the weak.
ß Live as members of God’s Kingdom
That’s it. Now look at verse 27 and the first part of 28:
“Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn…” v. 27-28a
2. God’s Kingdom Grows on its Own.
I love this verse – ‘whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows…’ What Christ is saying is simple: “Yes, God uses us for His purposes. And our role is to scatter seeds. But – we can’t make ANYTHING GROW! No matter what we do – there is one thing we cannot do: Create LIFE where there is no life!”
That’s God’s job. God is the giver of life.
“Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.” Genesis 1:11
“For as the soil makes the young plant come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” Isaiah 61:11
God’s seed – the Word of Christ – scattered, is able to produce a harvest on it’s own.
God is Sovereign. God is able to create life where there is no life. He, and He alone, produces harvest.
What does this mean? It means stop the senseless worry. It means stop trying to force things to happen. It means to REST. Yes, while there is daylight, scatter seed. But then go home and go to bed. Rest in the promises of God. Experience peace. Let the peace of God enable you to put your head on the pillow and enjoy rest.
Can you imagine a farmer – who gets up in the middle of the night to inspect his seeds. What would happen, if in his fear and insecurity, he went out into the field at 3Am and dug up the seeds to see if they were growing? He’d kill the seed.
God says to us very clearly today: Scatter the seed and then rest in Him.
Do you see where verse 27 says: “though he doesn’t know how…” The power of the Gospel is a mystery. In one moment there is no faith, no life – and in the next moment, faith erupts and life begins. It’s a mystery. The Gospel has a power that we cannot understand or fully explain. All I know is – when a person chooses faith – life erupts! And that is a “God-thing”.
Now – I want us to look at verse 27 & 28:
“Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn--first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.” V. 27-28
3. God’s Kingdom Work Happens in Stages.
I see five stages to God’s work in our life:
Stage 1: “Sprout” – A New life in Christ!
Stage 2: “Grows” – A Reestablished life in Christ!
Stage 3: “Stalk” – A Life of Freedom in Christ!
Stage 4: “Ear” – A Maturing Life in Christ!
Stage 5: “Full Grain” – A Full and Complete Life in Christ!
Stage 1: “Sprout” – A New life in Christ!
This is the moment of conversion and conception. When a human sperm fertilizes a human egg, life is formed. With all the potential for a fully developed human being! Where there was not life, suddenly, in an instant, life exists.
When a person receives Christ by faith, something powerful happens. We are ‘born from above’ – we become a new creation – we are adopted into the family of God – we are given an inheritance that cannot be taken away!
And just like the woman rarely knows she is pregnant at the moment of conception, very few new believer’s have a clue what just happened – all they know is that they decided to believe.
It’s important to note that a ‘sprout’ is very vulnerable. Too much sunlight can burn the sprout. Too much water can drown them, not enough water can kill them. A New Christian is vulnerable. But – and here’s the good news: God is able to protect us through this stage!
Now, as the work of Christ begins to develop the new believer, they move to the next stage:
Stage 2: “Grows” – A Reestablished life in Christ!
The little sprout begins to grow and get established. They aren’t nearly as vulnerable as they were before. They can take a little heat, they can take a bit of drought. They are tougher.
For the believer, as we grow, we get reestablished in Christ! We begin to build our lives on Him, and we turn away from false foundations. We move off the beach and onto the rock. Our lives become stable and more secure in Christ!
And as we continue to grow…
Stage 3: “Stalk” – A Life of Freedom in Christ!
Our lives stretch out and grow upward. We aren’t held back by the immature things that we used to cling to. We get free of bondage. Instead, we see that a life in Christ leads to true freedom. I don’t need the things that I used to think were indispensable. My life is being built in Christ!
And then, something amazing happens:
Stage 4: “Ear” – A Maturing Life in Christ!
As I become established and free in Christ, something begins to grow on me – it’s different than the stalk. My life spreads out and I begin to impact others positively. I’m able – in Christ – to touch people in ways that I never was able to do before. In fact, where before I thought that life was all about me, I’m coming to see that my life can help others in their journey.
And then, He produces…
Stage 5: “Full Grain” – A Full and Complete Life in Christ!
This is the will of God – He wants you to experience FULLNESS in Him! He wants your life to become an accurate reflection of who He is. And that means that your life will produce good fruit. You will lack no good thing – and in fact – you will be used by Him to change the world!
Now – look at verse 29:
“As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” V. 29
4. GOD’S KINGDOM INCLUDES HUMAN INVOLVEMENT.
Point #4 is the same as Point #1 – God uses us to scatter seed. And then, when He has produced the life and growth that results in fruit, He uses us to go out into the field and bring in the Harvest.
How cool is that?
Do you know when harvest happens? At just the right time. Which is why we need to be keenly aware of what God is doing!
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25, NIV.
Jesus sends out 72 people to go before him to the villages and towns of Israel and He says:
“He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2
Three things I want you to get from this:
1. There are plenty of people ready to be harvested into God’s Kingdom.
2. There is a lack of harvesters.
Why is there a lack of harvesters? Because we aren’t walking in step with the Spirit of God. We are oblivious to what God is doing around us.
And 3. Pray for harvesters.
Jesus says: Pray that God will raise up people who are in touch with Him and His activity, that the harvest might be brought in.
The Seed of God’s Word – Christ – grows on it’s own!
Here’s the word from the Lord: “You plant the seed. Love people. Invest in people. Demonstrate in your life the love of Christ! And then – go to bed! Rest! Sleep! Be confident! Do not worry. Do not fret. Do not ‘make things happen.’ I am God. I am the giver of life. My seed grows on it’s own. I will bring about my will. I will cause the growth – at just the right time. And when it happens, I’ll let you bring in the harvest that I’ve created.”
“We aren’t PHYSICAL PEOPLE having a SPIRITUAL experience. We are SPIRITUAL people having a PHYSICAL experience!”
This is our true nature – we are people of the Spirit of God.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
Given that we are members of God’s Kingdom – we need to know how to live as members of God’s Kingdom.
What are the SECRETS of the Kingdom of God?
Last week – in the Parable of the Seed and Soils – we discovered that:
KS 1: The Seed of God’s Word – Christ – can turn any life into a fruitful life!
And today – we are going to see this:
KS 2: The Seed of God’s Word – Christ – grows on it’s own!
“He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn--first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29
Now – let’s go through these words of Jesus – line by line – and gather the gold! But – again, like last week, we need a spirit of revelation to come upon us that we might move past the OBVIOUS and experience the secrets of the Kingdom.
PRAYER FOR REVELATION
“He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.” V. 26
1. GOD’S KINGDOM INCLUDES HUMAN INVOLVEMENT.
We get to scatter the seed. In fact, this is our responsibility and privilege.
How do we scatter the seed of Christ?
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” John 13:35
ß Love each other.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
ß Care for the weak.
ß Live as members of God’s Kingdom
That’s it. Now look at verse 27 and the first part of 28:
“Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn…” v. 27-28a
2. God’s Kingdom Grows on its Own.
I love this verse – ‘whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows…’ What Christ is saying is simple: “Yes, God uses us for His purposes. And our role is to scatter seeds. But – we can’t make ANYTHING GROW! No matter what we do – there is one thing we cannot do: Create LIFE where there is no life!”
That’s God’s job. God is the giver of life.
“Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.” Genesis 1:11
“For as the soil makes the young plant come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” Isaiah 61:11
God’s seed – the Word of Christ – scattered, is able to produce a harvest on it’s own.
God is Sovereign. God is able to create life where there is no life. He, and He alone, produces harvest.
What does this mean? It means stop the senseless worry. It means stop trying to force things to happen. It means to REST. Yes, while there is daylight, scatter seed. But then go home and go to bed. Rest in the promises of God. Experience peace. Let the peace of God enable you to put your head on the pillow and enjoy rest.
Can you imagine a farmer – who gets up in the middle of the night to inspect his seeds. What would happen, if in his fear and insecurity, he went out into the field at 3Am and dug up the seeds to see if they were growing? He’d kill the seed.
God says to us very clearly today: Scatter the seed and then rest in Him.
Do you see where verse 27 says: “though he doesn’t know how…” The power of the Gospel is a mystery. In one moment there is no faith, no life – and in the next moment, faith erupts and life begins. It’s a mystery. The Gospel has a power that we cannot understand or fully explain. All I know is – when a person chooses faith – life erupts! And that is a “God-thing”.
Now – I want us to look at verse 27 & 28:
“Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces corn--first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.” V. 27-28
3. God’s Kingdom Work Happens in Stages.
I see five stages to God’s work in our life:
Stage 1: “Sprout” – A New life in Christ!
Stage 2: “Grows” – A Reestablished life in Christ!
Stage 3: “Stalk” – A Life of Freedom in Christ!
Stage 4: “Ear” – A Maturing Life in Christ!
Stage 5: “Full Grain” – A Full and Complete Life in Christ!
Stage 1: “Sprout” – A New life in Christ!
This is the moment of conversion and conception. When a human sperm fertilizes a human egg, life is formed. With all the potential for a fully developed human being! Where there was not life, suddenly, in an instant, life exists.
When a person receives Christ by faith, something powerful happens. We are ‘born from above’ – we become a new creation – we are adopted into the family of God – we are given an inheritance that cannot be taken away!
And just like the woman rarely knows she is pregnant at the moment of conception, very few new believer’s have a clue what just happened – all they know is that they decided to believe.
It’s important to note that a ‘sprout’ is very vulnerable. Too much sunlight can burn the sprout. Too much water can drown them, not enough water can kill them. A New Christian is vulnerable. But – and here’s the good news: God is able to protect us through this stage!
Now, as the work of Christ begins to develop the new believer, they move to the next stage:
Stage 2: “Grows” – A Reestablished life in Christ!
The little sprout begins to grow and get established. They aren’t nearly as vulnerable as they were before. They can take a little heat, they can take a bit of drought. They are tougher.
For the believer, as we grow, we get reestablished in Christ! We begin to build our lives on Him, and we turn away from false foundations. We move off the beach and onto the rock. Our lives become stable and more secure in Christ!
And as we continue to grow…
Stage 3: “Stalk” – A Life of Freedom in Christ!
Our lives stretch out and grow upward. We aren’t held back by the immature things that we used to cling to. We get free of bondage. Instead, we see that a life in Christ leads to true freedom. I don’t need the things that I used to think were indispensable. My life is being built in Christ!
And then, something amazing happens:
Stage 4: “Ear” – A Maturing Life in Christ!
As I become established and free in Christ, something begins to grow on me – it’s different than the stalk. My life spreads out and I begin to impact others positively. I’m able – in Christ – to touch people in ways that I never was able to do before. In fact, where before I thought that life was all about me, I’m coming to see that my life can help others in their journey.
And then, He produces…
Stage 5: “Full Grain” – A Full and Complete Life in Christ!
This is the will of God – He wants you to experience FULLNESS in Him! He wants your life to become an accurate reflection of who He is. And that means that your life will produce good fruit. You will lack no good thing – and in fact – you will be used by Him to change the world!
Now – look at verse 29:
“As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” V. 29
4. GOD’S KINGDOM INCLUDES HUMAN INVOLVEMENT.
Point #4 is the same as Point #1 – God uses us to scatter seed. And then, when He has produced the life and growth that results in fruit, He uses us to go out into the field and bring in the Harvest.
How cool is that?
Do you know when harvest happens? At just the right time. Which is why we need to be keenly aware of what God is doing!
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25, NIV.
Jesus sends out 72 people to go before him to the villages and towns of Israel and He says:
“He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2
Three things I want you to get from this:
1. There are plenty of people ready to be harvested into God’s Kingdom.
2. There is a lack of harvesters.
Why is there a lack of harvesters? Because we aren’t walking in step with the Spirit of God. We are oblivious to what God is doing around us.
And 3. Pray for harvesters.
Jesus says: Pray that God will raise up people who are in touch with Him and His activity, that the harvest might be brought in.
The Seed of God’s Word – Christ – grows on it’s own!
Here’s the word from the Lord: “You plant the seed. Love people. Invest in people. Demonstrate in your life the love of Christ! And then – go to bed! Rest! Sleep! Be confident! Do not worry. Do not fret. Do not ‘make things happen.’ I am God. I am the giver of life. My seed grows on it’s own. I will bring about my will. I will cause the growth – at just the right time. And when it happens, I’ll let you bring in the harvest that I’ve created.”
The Story of the Seed and the Soils
INTRODUCTION: Turn to Mark 4
We all desire to be successful in our lives. But for Christians – as we grow – we even more want to be successful as people of the Spirit.
Why is this? Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:19-22…
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
We belong to another kingdom. We are members of God’s Kingdom.
So – how do we live successfully in God’s Kingdom? What are the SECRETS of the Kingdom?
Jesus lays them out clearly in Mark 4
Let’s read Mark 4:1-9…
“Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered round him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:1-9
This is a story about SEED, SOIL, AND FRUIT (or RESULTS).
Look at verse 10-13…
“When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” Mark 4:10-13
You see – we must have ears to hear. We must have eyes to see. We must go deeper than the OBVIOUS and move into the DEPTHS of Spiritual Truth.
PRAYER FOR HEARING AND UNDERSTANDING – I want you to cry out to God for REVELATION.
I. WHAT IS ‘SEED’?
Seed is ‘harvest’ in potential form!
Plant tomato seeds – and you’ve got a harvest of tomatoes – in potential!
Verse 20 tells us that the ‘seed’ in this story is the word of God. And the seed of the Word of God is a HARVEST of righteousness, salvation, maturity, effective ministry service, and spiritual well-being. Your success as a member of God’s Kingdom is absolutely dependent upon you receiving the Word of God – Jesus Christ – into your life!
Now, let’s look at the four soils, four results and remedies to poor soil.
II. SOILS, RESULTS & REMEDIES
Soil #1: ‘hardened path’ v. 4, 14-15
The seed falls on the hardened path. And what happens? “and the birds came and ate it up.”
The results? NO FRUIT!
What does this means SPIRITUALLY? What is Jesus getting at? Look at verse 14-15…
“The farmer sows the word.” Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.” V. 14-15
The Word is sown.
It falls on the hardened path. This refers to the person who is hardened by sinfulness. They are living such a life that they’ve become cynical, jaded, embittered. The word of God is not able to penetrate this outer shell. So they are easy prey for Satan to come along and steal the seed of God’s word. And God’s Word has no fruit – no harvest in their life.
Tragic. Dangerous. And all of us can be susceptible to this.
So, what is the REMEDY?
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;” Ephesians 4:22, NIV.
The word for this is: REPENT!
If you are involved in sinfulness, the only solution, the only way to have God’s Word penetrate you to is to REPENT of that sin!
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12, KJV.
There is great danger in delay. For delay creates new layers of hardness. You can hear the Word of God today – respond in repentance.
Here’s the second soil:
Soil #2: “Rocky places” – v. 5, 16-17
“Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 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.” V. 16-17
The word is sown.
It is received with joy.
There is rapid growth that is quickly destroyed by the harshness of the sun.
Why? Because the seed – the word – wasn’t allowed to go down deep into the soil, so there wasn’t a healthy root system developing. It’s a superficial connection, that is destroyed at the first sign of troubles. “Well, if this is the way it’s going to be, I’m better off without Christ! I thought that when I gave my life to Jesus, that all my problems would go away! I’m out of here!”
And the results: “NO FRUIT! NO HARVEST!”
Frankly – this is where most western Christians are at! And there is only one remedy
REMEDY: Go deep with Christ!
Look at Ephesians 3:17-19…
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19, NIV.
A superficial faith will not stand the test of time. Sooner or later – when troubles come – the shallow Christian will burn out. That’s why we’ve got to go deep with Him. We’ve got to let Him move in to the innermost parts of our lives. Rooted. Established. You to move into the power of the Holy Spirit. You need to experience His love three dimensionally. Going deep with Christ enables you to experience His love at every level of your life and as you do, you are filled up with Him!
That’s why you and I need to be in the Word. In Prayer. In Worship. In relationship. That’s why you need to be ‘filled with the Holy Spirit!’
Move out of the shallows. Invest yourself in Him!
Here’s the third kind of soil:
Soil #3: “Thorny” soil v. 7, 18-19
“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” V. 18-19
The thorns choke the little seedlings and they are not able to produce fruit.
In the Spirit, Christ is saying that the word is sown, and the word is heard, but the worries this world produces overwhelms and chokes it!
It’s not God’s will that you worry. And when you worry, fret, or get anxious it is a sign that something is wrong.
And there is only one remedy:
REMEDY: “LOOK UP TO Christ!”
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
When I fix my eyes on my problems, my problems become all encompassing. And the only solution is to fix my eyes on someone who is bigger than my problems. If fruit is going to be produced in my life – I must stop worrying and turn my attention to Christ! I’ve got to look up.
Do you know what the promise of God is concerning this?
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7
Are you listening? Are you hearing?
And finally, the 4th soil
Soil #4: “Good soil” v. 8, 20
“Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.” V. 20
The word is sown.
The word is heard.
The word is accepted.
And the word produces a harvest – 30, 60, 100 times over!
Isn’t that what we want?
Right now – God is sowing His word into your life. You are hearing it. The only question is: Will you receive it? To receive the word of God is to EMBRACE it as the key to your life! To receive the word of God is to allow it to INVADE every aspect of your life – body, soul and spirit! It is to allow the word of God to CHANGE you, to REARRANGE your priorities.
To receive the word of God means that not only do you hear it, but you ACT upon it. God speaks. God tells the truth. And God desires a response.
For instance: In Ephesians 5:18 we are told…
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
Do you get this verse? God is saying: “Don’t look for your thrills through chemicals! I’ll be your thrill! Let me fill you up with my Spirit – that is a thrill ride enough!”
And when you pray to be filled with the Spirit. It is done. It is God’s will that you be filled up with Him. And your feelings have nothing to do with it. If you earnestly seek God – you’ll find God. Period. It’s a promise and it is done as soon as you ask.
And as we walk in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit – there will be FRUIT! 30, 60 and 100 times!
CONCLUSION:
So what you do next determines what kind of soil you are right now.
Jesus say in vs. 9
“Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.””
Hear the word of the Lord.
Take action upon what He is saying.
Become successful in His kingdom!
We all desire to be successful in our lives. But for Christians – as we grow – we even more want to be successful as people of the Spirit.
Why is this? Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:19-22…
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
We belong to another kingdom. We are members of God’s Kingdom.
So – how do we live successfully in God’s Kingdom? What are the SECRETS of the Kingdom?
Jesus lays them out clearly in Mark 4
Let’s read Mark 4:1-9…
“Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered round him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:1-9
This is a story about SEED, SOIL, AND FRUIT (or RESULTS).
Look at verse 10-13…
“When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?” Mark 4:10-13
You see – we must have ears to hear. We must have eyes to see. We must go deeper than the OBVIOUS and move into the DEPTHS of Spiritual Truth.
PRAYER FOR HEARING AND UNDERSTANDING – I want you to cry out to God for REVELATION.
I. WHAT IS ‘SEED’?
Seed is ‘harvest’ in potential form!
Plant tomato seeds – and you’ve got a harvest of tomatoes – in potential!
Verse 20 tells us that the ‘seed’ in this story is the word of God. And the seed of the Word of God is a HARVEST of righteousness, salvation, maturity, effective ministry service, and spiritual well-being. Your success as a member of God’s Kingdom is absolutely dependent upon you receiving the Word of God – Jesus Christ – into your life!
Now, let’s look at the four soils, four results and remedies to poor soil.
II. SOILS, RESULTS & REMEDIES
Soil #1: ‘hardened path’ v. 4, 14-15
The seed falls on the hardened path. And what happens? “and the birds came and ate it up.”
The results? NO FRUIT!
What does this means SPIRITUALLY? What is Jesus getting at? Look at verse 14-15…
“The farmer sows the word.” Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.” V. 14-15
The Word is sown.
It falls on the hardened path. This refers to the person who is hardened by sinfulness. They are living such a life that they’ve become cynical, jaded, embittered. The word of God is not able to penetrate this outer shell. So they are easy prey for Satan to come along and steal the seed of God’s word. And God’s Word has no fruit – no harvest in their life.
Tragic. Dangerous. And all of us can be susceptible to this.
So, what is the REMEDY?
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;” Ephesians 4:22, NIV.
The word for this is: REPENT!
If you are involved in sinfulness, the only solution, the only way to have God’s Word penetrate you to is to REPENT of that sin!
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12, KJV.
There is great danger in delay. For delay creates new layers of hardness. You can hear the Word of God today – respond in repentance.
Here’s the second soil:
Soil #2: “Rocky places” – v. 5, 16-17
“Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 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.” V. 16-17
The word is sown.
It is received with joy.
There is rapid growth that is quickly destroyed by the harshness of the sun.
Why? Because the seed – the word – wasn’t allowed to go down deep into the soil, so there wasn’t a healthy root system developing. It’s a superficial connection, that is destroyed at the first sign of troubles. “Well, if this is the way it’s going to be, I’m better off without Christ! I thought that when I gave my life to Jesus, that all my problems would go away! I’m out of here!”
And the results: “NO FRUIT! NO HARVEST!”
Frankly – this is where most western Christians are at! And there is only one remedy
REMEDY: Go deep with Christ!
Look at Ephesians 3:17-19…
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19, NIV.
A superficial faith will not stand the test of time. Sooner or later – when troubles come – the shallow Christian will burn out. That’s why we’ve got to go deep with Him. We’ve got to let Him move in to the innermost parts of our lives. Rooted. Established. You to move into the power of the Holy Spirit. You need to experience His love three dimensionally. Going deep with Christ enables you to experience His love at every level of your life and as you do, you are filled up with Him!
That’s why you and I need to be in the Word. In Prayer. In Worship. In relationship. That’s why you need to be ‘filled with the Holy Spirit!’
Move out of the shallows. Invest yourself in Him!
Here’s the third kind of soil:
Soil #3: “Thorny” soil v. 7, 18-19
“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” V. 18-19
The thorns choke the little seedlings and they are not able to produce fruit.
In the Spirit, Christ is saying that the word is sown, and the word is heard, but the worries this world produces overwhelms and chokes it!
It’s not God’s will that you worry. And when you worry, fret, or get anxious it is a sign that something is wrong.
And there is only one remedy:
REMEDY: “LOOK UP TO Christ!”
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
When I fix my eyes on my problems, my problems become all encompassing. And the only solution is to fix my eyes on someone who is bigger than my problems. If fruit is going to be produced in my life – I must stop worrying and turn my attention to Christ! I’ve got to look up.
Do you know what the promise of God is concerning this?
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7
Are you listening? Are you hearing?
And finally, the 4th soil
Soil #4: “Good soil” v. 8, 20
“Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.” V. 20
The word is sown.
The word is heard.
The word is accepted.
And the word produces a harvest – 30, 60, 100 times over!
Isn’t that what we want?
Right now – God is sowing His word into your life. You are hearing it. The only question is: Will you receive it? To receive the word of God is to EMBRACE it as the key to your life! To receive the word of God is to allow it to INVADE every aspect of your life – body, soul and spirit! It is to allow the word of God to CHANGE you, to REARRANGE your priorities.
To receive the word of God means that not only do you hear it, but you ACT upon it. God speaks. God tells the truth. And God desires a response.
For instance: In Ephesians 5:18 we are told…
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
Do you get this verse? God is saying: “Don’t look for your thrills through chemicals! I’ll be your thrill! Let me fill you up with my Spirit – that is a thrill ride enough!”
And when you pray to be filled with the Spirit. It is done. It is God’s will that you be filled up with Him. And your feelings have nothing to do with it. If you earnestly seek God – you’ll find God. Period. It’s a promise and it is done as soon as you ask.
And as we walk in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit – there will be FRUIT! 30, 60 and 100 times!
CONCLUSION:
So what you do next determines what kind of soil you are right now.
Jesus say in vs. 9
“Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.””
Hear the word of the Lord.
Take action upon what He is saying.
Become successful in His kingdom!
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